Regarding the owlcub act 1 spoilers

Unsure if I'm able to recruit the cub now. This is what I've done in order.

I met the Cub and mother in the cave but just left them alone.

I never went back to the cave to see the mother killed by goblins

I next met the Cub at the goblin camp where I made friends with him and won the chicken chase but I never used speaking with animals so I didn't get the prompt to ask him to come to the camp.

I then killed the goblin leaders

Went back to the camp looking for the cub but everyone was agro so not sure if I need to just kill them all now to speak to the cub or if the moment is lost.

I went back to the camp and sneaked around to see if I could even see the cub but I couldn't spot him.

Just went through so many saves to try so I could recruit minthara correctly and now this.. so many missable things in this game 😑