why.because the raven-eater wanted a son , because his own was brutally murdered ... because whisper and smoke speaker needed an excuse to go to the land of the deadbecause cole was tricked by a so-called ghost into attempting to cross the river , where whisper watched him drown and did nothing to save himbecause cole wandered too far away from his father on the playground , and didnt listen to orders to stay in sightbecause .