Replying to the main thread here because Castiel could go either way on the path options. He'd prefer to fight and risk the forest, but he could also be persuaded to agree to kill someone in the group, depending who the group is made up of. He'll be balancing risk vs reward in making the choice, and if he's with people he cares about and one he doesn't, then he'll go the killing route to try to protect the rest of the group and give them the best chance at getting out. If it's a group he likes, or a group entirely of people he doesn't, then he'd be inclined toward chancing the forest.