From Alma’s standpoint, this situation could not have been worse. Certainly Noah’s priests could no longer be considered his friends. In fact, few are such intense enemies as former comrades.
Geography: The Lamanites’ travel from the Amulonites to the land of Helam had to be on a west-east line. The Lamanites would not have gone north; and had they headed directly south, they surely would have missed Helam. Thus, they were traveling through an east-west pass. This is curious as they have departed from the more direct path to their homeland. Being lost might explain their movements, but they were probably capable of discerning the difference between west and south. It would appear that rather than being lost, they were intentionally searching adjoining valley systems.