Askan could only mourn for so long. That wasn't to say he was over it, the loss of a loved one never got easier to stomach but...where was all of this getting him? What did he gain from it? The way the Old Man passed- such an ugly way of putting it- denied Askan of any sense of closure. Too many 'what ifs' tumbled around in his mind, he should have enforced his word, insisted that the Drestig stay and rest up. What an idiot, he adored the Old Man but...why did he have to be so stupid, so stubborn? He'd been no spring chicken, Askan knew he wouldn't be around for ever, but this? @Drestig should have known better, if he truly cared for his family, his pack he wouldn't have done this to himself.

A flash of resentment ran through Askan's system, sharp and hot like a searing burn to his skin. He shook his head in an attempt to cast it off. What was the point in being angry? It got him nowhere and brought even more hurt to the surface, like digging up a shallow grave.

It was then he noticed the shape of his-sort of- cousin through the trees. Askan paused in his stomping steps, debating whether it was a good idea to approach his subordinate when he was feeling so...prickly. Whilst Askan was a bit of a dick (or a lot, depending on who you ask) he didn't want to curb stomp his subordinate into the ground. It wasn't Seven's fault that he felt this way, the kid had done nothing wrong. Yet. Emerging out of the treeline, Askan chuffed in greeting. He took a moment to observe Seven's features, those unfamiliar brown eyes were still a bit of an oddity to the Edge Lord. Where did he get them from, or rather, who?

"You look a lot like him." Askan noted, dipping his head to gesture to his subordinate."Kind of weird how you manage to pull off that look of his. Sort of... frowny, but effortless. Like he didn't know how to smile." Not that the same could be said for Seven, he'd seen the yearling smile a time or two.

Askan shrugged. In all honesty he didn't know, but if that was the case then Hadrian hid it so well that his own Mother didn't notice. Not a lot of things slipped by her, she had an uncanny ability to just know. Maybe, unlike Askan, she was just good at reading people. Or-and this was the more likely option- she liked to stick her nose in everyone's business. Privacy hadn't really been a thing back home, but sure enough secrets and plots managed to undermine everything they'd stood for and now it was all gone.

"Maybe. He never seemed to want to stay, like he had better places to be. Didn't settle into any packs, as far as I know. Always came back smelling of himself."Askan thought on it some more, his head tilting a little to the side. "I don't think he liked being a subordinate, wanted to carve out his own course. Or something equally as trite."

What claim did he have to the throne anyway? The fact that Hadrian had wanted it at all was a stain on his character, it was better that he came and went-at least then he didn't pose a threat. Not that it mattered now, Askan supposed.

"You're not miserable, are you?" He asked, stepping closer so he could inspect his expression. There was certainly something eating at his cousin, but what?

Askan scowled at the thought, realising he'd let things slip over the past few weeks. Shit. It was about time he sorted this out, nipped it in the bud.

"Well...good."Askan frowned, unsure how to respond.

He supposed it was a good thing though, Askan and Hadrian had never gotten along terribly well. He much preferred the company of his cousin than his...well, cousin. Perhaps it was for the best he'd grown up without his father's influence, after all Askan wasn't sure if he could deal with another conceited, smug Selwyn.

Apparently Seven wasn't miserable, that's what he said at least. It was hard for Askan to tell whether he was simply telling his alpha what he thought he wanted to hear, or if he was actually speaking the truth. He liked to think it was the latter, Seven seemed pretty dependable, but wolves were complex creatures. Askan would never really know what was going on in his head, at times he struggled to understand even his own.

"About your siblings? Mmm, I know how you feel."Askan planted his rump on the floor as he allowed his shoulders to droop, no use in being so stiff anyway, not around family. "Lach told me he saw my sister, said she was in real rough shape. I thought-" he swallowed thickly." I thought she was dead, but apparently not. So she's out there somewhere, no clue where and I want to find her I just...I'm stuck here."It was the way of things and he'd accepted that.

"So what is it you want to do? Worrying clearly is getting you nowhere."

"Mmm, perhaps. Not holding my breath." Because since when had things ever been that easy? It seemed foolish to hope, to want for something outside of his control, but maybe just maybe Seven was right. At the very least it wasn't an impossibility.

At his question, Seven seemed puzzled, as though he hadn't even taken his own wants and desires into consideration. The Selwyn couldn't help but roll his eyes a little at that, so damn selfless. Attitudes like that, whilst admirable, got you nowhere in life. If Seven spent all of his time umming and uhhing about what he wanted then where would he end up, sad and lonely? Askan scoffed and dismissed the issue with a sharp shake of his head. He would not allow that to happen, not to his favourite cousin.

Eventually, before Askan could give him a prod or two, Seven spoke up- so quiet that Askan had to tip his ears forward to catch his words. The Edge Lord was very uninspired by what he heard, Seven's own wants seemed so entangled by his desire to serve...that Askan couldn't help but briefly wonder if he'd been too forceful in stating his expectations of his subordinates. He didn't think that asking them to earn their keep was overly demanding but what if they thought that was all he wanted from them, to be little more than his slaves?

"You didn't answer my question." Askan corrected, his tone firm but fair. He titled his head forward a little, looking Seven in the eye. His gaze was warm as ever, but not scalding hot, just watchful."What I want is irrelevant right now. But I would feel better knowing that you're content, not worrying over your siblings day and night. So what do you want to do, scouting?"He posed the question again, wondering how he'd take to it this time.

A lot of his subordinates seemed interested in that role, he wondered if he ought to be offended, that no one wanted to hang around the Shallows.

Askan hummed as he dipped his head in acknowledgement. As much as a hard arse as he was, he understood where his cousin was coming from. It was the not knowing what hurt most of all, the boy needed closure because if not he would always be like this. All nervy and serious, as though his face ached from all the frowning he was doing. Seven was many things-not his Father for one- but Askan didn't regard the yearling as a bad subordinate. Perhaps he was a little too reserved, distant from the others. If he found out what happened to his siblings would he come out of his shell some more, or was this all there was to him?

He pursed his lips, aside from barbed quips Askan wasn't really one for making snap responses. Especially not when it came down to family.He looked out at the Shallows, his ears tipping forward as he listened to the trickle of water as it rolled over their own little fall. Things changed but the Falls were constant, steady. Knowing this grounded Askan, made his resolve firm and true.

"No. It's not like you wandered off without a word. Other's would have left by now, but here you are." Askan looked back to him, his bright gaze softening a little. Not so hot, or critical. "If you want to leave, to scout, I won't stop you. If you think this is what's best for you, your siblings, then go."