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I can't stop thinking about Travis' face when Lottie mentioned Javi, because of course that would work.
It's not even just because Javi's in the Wilderness and he wants to stay with him, but the thought of going home without him? Out of everyone, Travis is the only one whose return would be painful to his remaining family. He returns home not proud that he survived, but ashamed that he didn't bring his little brother with him. He's probably already ashamed that Javi died instead of him, if Travis died then at least their mother would feel comforted knowing he died protecting his little brother. Now? If he comes home instead of Javi, it's because he failed to protect him. Every time he protected himself he must have felt selfish, like he was choosing himself over his baby brother.
Imagining his life after rescue, I can see why Travis ended up where he did. I can see why anything he does to keep himself safe or make himself happy felt like a moral failing after he couldn't do any of it for Javi. I can see why, as much as he desperately wants to live, the thought of going home and telling his mom what happened made him want to stay in the Wilderness with his brother.