Again with all the fog. It was starting to become a pain in his arse. On one paw it meant whatever prey were around were as blind as he, giving him the chance to sneak up on it, but on the other how the hell was he supposed to catch them? It's not like he was built for stealth anyway, he and his fellow Selwyns-what was left of them anyway- had  almost always been rather chunky. How had his Father put it, compact? Built for conflict?

Whatever. It didn't matter. He'd get through this and find his way back home, hopefully with a little critter to add to one of the caches. Those damn pups ate their fill and more.

Treading along, Askan kept his gaze forward looking for anything to emerge out of the midst. One foot after the other and-FUCK!

"Ow shit, dammnit fuck, fucking arse you shit!" 

He reeled back, holding his throbbing paw in the air as he shouted his tirade of honestly uncouth words. So what? It hurt really really bad. That damn stone, so sharp and jagged like it was designed to inflict the most pain possible. He flicked his foot about, trying to shake off the pain but damn, it wasn't working. It hurt still, pretty damn bad.

Pulling in a deep breath her carefully leaned in to sniff at his foot. Was it bleeding? Would he need medical treatment? Damn, he hoped not. Sure, they had Neko now, who he knew would be happy to take a look at it. But he was a fair distance from home, the last thing he wanted to do was limp home like a cripple.

Reyes would never let him hear the end of it.

Askan turned to the stranger, his teeth bared and eyes glowing with contempt.

It took him a moment or so-longer than he would have liked- to realise just what the stranger had said. Only then did he let his lips relax and hackles de-poof. Assistance huh? He wasn't inclined to accept the help of strangers, after all who knew what sort of shit they could be up to.

"Did no one tell you it's rude to sneak up on people like that? I could have hurt you." He was still half tempted to as well, just to run his point home. But he didn't, he wasn't a complete arse.

As to whether he needed help? He didn't think so. With a hiss, he pressed his paw down onto the ground and applied a bit more weight with each passing second. It hurt, for sure, but with each passing moment the pain was less and less so. He was sure it would be tolerable in no time, he'd be able to walk home with little issue. Unless he stood on something sharp again. Maybe, if he was worried he'd get Neko to look at it. But he didn't think he'd have to. He was tough, he could handle a little ouchie.

"What did you have in mind anyway? Not a lot you can do about a sore paw." Unless he planned on pulling herbs out of his arse...An imagine Askan didn't want to think about, at all.

A little more interesting? Wasn't that a reckless way of viewing things? As a loner he should be doing his damn well best to ensure his safety, and yet here he was poking the proverbial tiger-aka Askan- and pushing his luck. He went onto point out that Askan wasn't the only one with teeth, which was true but a feeble comeback nonetheless, or so he thought anyways.

"You might have them, but I doubt you know how to use them like I do." He sneered, knowing full well he could knock this guy on his arse if he so pleased.

Sure the stranger was a smidge taller than he was but height counted for little. Experience was important and considering his status the Selwyn had plenty of it. Then again there would always be someone out there who knew more than him. He doubted it was this guy, didn't carry himself in the right way. But perhaps it was high time he was a little more cautious when it came to getting mouthy with strangers.

His suggestions weren't bad, but he was right he didn't need any of that. Even if he did he was pretty sure he would have said no anyway, pride and all. He'd much prefer to limp back to the field than have to accept the help from such a....he looked like he'd rolled in squished berries. That was the best he could come up with at that point. Whatever.

He shook off his paw again, for good measure, and pressed it down on the floor. It barely hurt at all anymore, just a fuzzy little stinging sensation that easy enough to drown out if he tried.

"Yeah, I won't be needing your services. I'm fine. It was just a rock, not like a stood on a porcupine or something." Now that would have been shitty.

It was true. Whether the stranger wanted to believe him or not was irrelevant, the truth was the truth and that was the end of it.

Askan was a stubborn man, for sure, but he wasn't feeling particularly argumentative. Actions spoke far louder than words, but even so,he'd rather not waste them on a stranger he doubted he'd ever meet again.

Months back, he would have no doubt felt differently, but now that he'd settled in these lands and called them home...Well, there was always a stranger he'd meet in passing, who'd linger for a while and then fade away like a long lost memory. If someone were to ask him, he would claim that didn't bother him. And it didn't. But he and his fellow Rye wolves had been burned in the past, by those who claimed to be loyal and trustworthy were anything but.

It was simply easier to keep those he didn't know at arms length. To keep them firmly locked out until they truly proved they were worth his time.Only then would he open up, and even then it was a slow process.

Bringing his attention back to the present, Askan regarded the loner with a quirked brow. Bit of a random question, but okay.

"I suppose so? They're about, doing whatever they do...I guess?" Just what did they do? Herm, he'd never really thought about it before. Why was he even thinking about it now? A damn waste of his time."Don't you have something more productive to do...Like eat?"

Life as a loner wasn't easy, surely he should pay attention to trying to stay alive, rather that whether there was a certain critter living in the area. Damn idiot.