Askan didn't know whether he was coming on going, whether he wanted to go this way or that. He supposed he liked exploring, that the variety in landscapes was a nice change from his mountainous home but sometimes he wondered why he even bothered. Sooner rather than later he'd need to get his shit together, to figure out what he was going to do from here on out. He knew that packs dotted the land and maybe it'd be a good idea to sniff around and see if he could get some more info, but what then? Raelyn didn't seem to want to settle down and by no means was he tied to her but he could also see where she was coming from. Had he really wormed his way out from his Father's grip to just throw himself at the paws of yet another wolf? Hmph, maybe not.

With a huff Askan stomped to a stop as he finally took note of his surroundings, his eyes glaring like the midday sun above. The terrain was rocky, with jagged slopes and withered trees; not even an inch of snow to be seen. Had he known the name of this place Askan would have thought that it was fitting cause even at a glance he could tell it was a shit hole, that nothing lived or lingered here for a reason. He had no reason or desire to stay, if anything he probably should've headed back north to see if he could figure out where the hell Raelyn had gotten to, but instead he found himself staying put as he rested back on his haunches. His tail curled around his side as he let out a long withering sigh, his head bowed and shoulders hunched.

It had taken him a while but he'd figured out why he'd been so moody as of late. The life of a loner was filled with silence and solitude, he had too much time to think and mope and honestly...it wasn't doing him any good. Somethings were best left alone, there was a reason his anxieties and insecurities were kept in the back of his mind under lock and key. If he kept this up the mask would slip and his facade would unravel at the seams. He needed to get a grip of himself, to shake off the dust and just be. It was the only card he had left to play and if he threw that away cause he couldn't handle his own thoughts then maybe he should have just stayed at home like a good son, allowed himself to be groomed into the perfect heir.

"Fuck that!" Askan hissed to himself as he got to his paws, hackles raised and tail twitching in agitation.

He needed to hunt, to fight. Anything!

Not that he didn't enjoy doing his duties in the Armada or anything, but it was only a short time ago that he was roaming the lands free, without a care, and enjoying every moment of it. Sirius had caught him in a moment of weakness and he'd easily joined, looking for a higher purpose at the time. While he was grateful for his place in the pack, he still longed of going wherever and doing whatever he wanted. Today, well, it was time for a run.

He finished his patrol and decided that maybe he'd return with a stash of rabbits or something for the cache, plus plenty of soft furs for the rest of the winter. Rabbit fur was one of the softest he'd felt, and despite how small they were, they made a good pillow. He'd already caught himself quite a collection of rabbits and now was choosing to carry the small carcasses back whole instead of skinning them on sight. The scent of blood would easily attract others, so keeping the pelts whole was probably best while alone. He'd taken a soft tree branch he'd found and stripped it of a few strips of it's soft bark and tied it to the hind feet of the rabbits. Keeping the weight equal on either side, he could now carry the rabbits strung over his back or simply in his jaws. Although temporary, it worked and allowed him to carry more than he had intended.

It was the sound of cursing that caught his attention and his ears swiveled towards the sound before his eyes followed, searching for the source. It took him a moment to see the darker other, clearly annoyed at something he could tell. Hopeful to pass by the other without being caught, he huffed as he realized it was the direction he needed to be heading. Not exactly the most camouflaged wolf in the hills, he could only hope that he wasn't going to be seen and he'd make it home without losing any of his catches.

"Speech!"

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Askan was alone and then he was not. He wasn't exactly sure how it happened as he'd been so wrapped up in his thoughts, but he only realised that he had company when his ears twitched at the sound of footfalls. He turned, shoulders hunched and looking little defensive as he eyed the stranger with his smouldering gaze. He didn't think much of the wolf at first; sure they had weird coloured eyes and their pelt had an odd pattern to it but considering the fact he'd seen wolves that glowed and had tusks, well this guy was on the lower end of the strange scale. Rather Askan was distracted by the stick that he was carrying, after all he'd never seen a wolf use tools like this before. His gaze lingered on the rabbits as the dangled, their fur gently ruffling in the breeze. His nose twitched and he noted that they'd been freshly killed, a few hours ago at most.

He stayed where he was, paws planted and made no move to approach the stranger.

"You catch all them by yourself?" Askan asked, his tone low and flat as per usual.

Catching a few rabbits wasn't all that impressive but if he'd come up with a system to carry them back all at once on the fly then Askan supposed that was something to be commended. It was a good distraction regardless, his past grievances faded to the back of his mind as he wondered what other tools could be made. In the Arcadian Emirate there was a heavy, almost forced, emphasis on sticking to the old ways, that you didn't try to fix something that wasn't broken. They had their way of life set in stone and if anyone even mentioned changing a thing or two then shame on them! How dare they doubt the Emirate and it's ancient ways! Askan tsked to himself, his brows drawing as his hackes twitched up. What a bunch of baloney.

His attempt at going unnoticed was thwarted and he let another huff out through his nares when the other spoke, asking a silly question. Did it look like anyone else had caught them? Was he being followed by some tamed creature? Obviously not, so who else would have done it? His brows furrowed in annoyance, but he paused and dropped the stick he carried to answer the man he so wished would leave him alone.

"Nooo, a cougar decided it was too full to eat any more and simply gave me the rest." Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer. He rolled his eyes, but smirked at his own dry humor as he watched the darker, plainly colored male. Likely the most normal looking wolf he'd seen since being in Boreas, though that didn't apparently stop them from asking weird questions. He couldn't get over it either, like where else would he had gotten them from?

Snorting, he reached to pick the stick back up and clench it between his teeth, eager to leave this idiot in his dust and get back home before he was asked any more stupid questions.

"Speech!"

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Wow. Askan had met all kinds of unsavoury folks but this guy took the cake. His words dripped sarcasm, so thick and bitter than Askan wrinkled his nose as though they smelled bad. It was so petty too, like the stranger had well and truly gone out of his way to be a dickhead, that he was all exhibitionist about it too, he was howling into the wind that he was indeed a prat. He was so taken back by the stranger's assholery that for a long lingering moment he didn't know what to do or say, but his mind quickly snapped back on and he rolled his eyes so hard they hurt.

"Very original. You got your manners from a cat too?" Askan asked, his voice equally as venomous. "I only asked cause I've never seen that before, " he motioned with a sharp stab of his snout to the rabbits dangling from the stick. "But sure, go ahead and be a dick." He went on, as though he wasn't awfully and thoroughly offended.

Maybe he could have gone about this a different way, could have phrased his question nicer and dropped the attitude, but why should he? He was of the mentality that it was most effective to fight fire with fire, that no matter how much he got burned as long as he came out on top then it was all worth it in the end. But this guy? Askan wasn't even sure why he was bothering, why he let his crass words slip beneath his skin. But they did and he couldn't help but feel as though he deserved some recompense, or at least the stranger be punished in some shape or form.

And then as if on cue.

Askan didn't notice it immediately, too wrapped up in his bitter thoughts to even care.  But then he saw it; a cat far large than any he'd ever seen. Unlike the cat he'd encountered at the Briar it had a golden pelt with a little tuft of fur on the tip of it's tail. It moved across the rocks with ease, making no effort to mask it's approach or it's intent. It wanted the rabbits, or in other words it wanted an easy meal.

"Speaking of, looks like your buddy is here. "Askan pointed out, not quite sure what he intended to do next.

Magnus scoffed at the man's words, rolling his eyes similarly to the dirt colored man. Frankly, before he came here he hardly knew of the ways the wolves of Boreas used, but that didn't stop him from adapting and overcoming. The primitive way of life he'd come from before was laughable compared to the new life he'd found where wolves grew much taller than him before they were even a year old and had wings. Grab Ted, Mortis was the only wolf he'd ever known to have wings, but damn near everyone was taller than him in the armada, even some of the women.

"Might as well." He shrugged nonchalantly, smirking at the man now for his dick comment. Magnus was a pro at dickery and sarcasm and it felt good to use it on this random stranger. He was on his best behavior within the walls of Ashen and the Armada, and even though it was starting to stick, he enjoyed sassing those he found outside the walls.

Even Magnus had failed to notice the lion as it traversed the rocks at first, and it wasn't until the stranger said something that he turned and cursed. He'd fought a panther and a pack of hyenas, but neither alone. He had Sirius for the panther, a massive man, and Resin for the hyenas who was also massive. Those he could trust, but this man? He half expected him to be gone by the time he turned back around. So much so, that he didn't even bother turning his back on the lion to even check if the man was still there.

Hackles raised, Magnus erupted a defensive snarl in the direction of the big cat hoping to ward it off. As if the cat were deaf, it ignored his warning and continued its approach.