The determination to see Aster gave Timothy tunnel vision and he was barely aware of the trail left behind him in the snow, nevermind someone coming up behind him. He wasn't in the best mind space either and when he heard the voice coming from so close behind him he jumped so hard that he slipped in the snow and nearly went down. The movement sent blood everywhere under his cloak and spattered out in an arc where he'd flailed his hand to keep his balance, the blood now dripping off his thumb and between his fingers.
His eyes were wide and red-rimmed and he stammered a bit, trying to gather his thoughts before a lie fell out of his mouth like a stone. "I'm fine, I'm okay, I, I'm just going somewhere, just, just going somewhere that's all." he explained, breathless and pale already. "Sorry, sorry for-" he indicated the area around them and nothing at the same time, took a couple of steps towards the boy and then stopped again. "I have to go, sorry."