A thousand teeth and yours among them.

How many days had he been away from the caldera? Too many. That was the only answer that popped in to his head now, as he limped his way back towards the borderlands. The rain had not let up too much since it began, but it was less tumultuous than before. The cold did not bother him - in fact, Njal found it soothing to his wounded leg. His left hind limb was askew in a grotesque manner, and his hip joint looked to have failed to some degree; the leg was dislocated as well as broken, not suited for walking on, which would explain his absence.

And the grimace on his face as he came to a halt, and fell to his good side.