The dark wolf made his way back to the pack, his first stop without Nova Rose was to return to Octavia. He gave a low chuff to call to her, not wanting to wake up the ankle biter. It was odd, how excited he was at the prospect of seeing the pair again even though he did not have good news to share. Maybe after a few days to stew he would discuss Nova's insubordination, her more flippant behavior. It wasn't his place though.
Right then he could ignore his stomach, ignore how it rumbled and roared, he just wanted to get back to Octavia and let her know that they were okay. He didn't want to say that he understood why Octavia had left but at the same time he understood it in part. Reek had an odd way to him, he seemed downtrodden. Stark stopped just outside of Octavia's crook, tongue briefly flashing over his lips. Hopefully
@Tavi would be awake and alone.
vague thread is vague till the other ones are finished!
It had been some time since the mission had been started, and on more than one occasion Octavia had caught herself wondering when news would reach her of their success. What if they never made it to the grotto? What if Reek met them, but turned upon them with anger? She had no idea why he'd be angry at all - hearing he had a son would no doubt be a highlight for him - but the mother couldn't help but wonder about it. When the time finally came that a familiar silhouette darkened the cave mouth, her breath caught in her throat. She slipped away from the sleeping Tambourine and slunk through the corridor joining her den with the crook, and came face-to-face with Stark. The murk obscured him, but the pale light from the crook's mouth caught on her silver hairs and made her smile easily caught.
You're back,
she whispered hastily, and with a brief glance back at her rolly-polly cub, began to usher Stark out of the cramped hallway and in to the expansive belly of the crook proper. Everything went well, then?
The woman's ears fanned forward as she eagerly awaited a response, and she found her gaze wandering all over Stark, prodding at him slightly with her nose to determine if he was hurt at all. Her worries had clearly distorted her mental image of the meeting. Tell me everything.
He struggled for a moment to not rush her, wanting to make sure that she was fine in turn. He followed a couple steps behind her, careful to not draw more attention to themselves from the rest of the pack. He was irritated. Had his impression of the rest of the wolves not been so good and his own opinions of his leaders so high Stark might have gone elsewhere and fast. He drew in a breath, only exhaling out a little laugh as she nosed him and checked him over. "It went. He asked about seeing Tambourine - all I said was I'd pass the word along." He explained smoothly. He leaned in, nose bumping her shoulder as he briefly nuzzled against her. "Everything okay here? You two doing alright?"
He didn't want to launch into Nova Rose or that mess. He wouldn't be the one to rat her out, at least not while he was so worked up himself over it. He'd rather check in, take a bit, and then they would go from there. If Octavia pressed him, naturally he would discuss what happened. "He seemed.... Lost. I don't know him, obviously, but he definitely seemed like be was a bit... Downtrodden - even before he knew we were there for you."
His comment made her pause and quirk her head slightly, wondering suddenly where Nova Rose was - and what he implied with the tone of his own voice. But she didn't ask, because truthfully, Octavia didn't much care for the batty old woman. The sooner she caught up with Warbone the sooner they could be rid of her. Then he went on to ask about Tambourine and she smiled again, forgetting for a moment about the mission.
Tambourine is growing. I dunno how, since we've all been struggling, but...
she felt suddenly quite silly, grinning the way she was at the mere mention of her sleeping son. Octavia was consumed by a brief moment of embarrassment and looked away, peering nervously towards the dark nook where her son was nested away. Given the momentary pause, Stark continued on with his debrief, and eventually Tavi turned to face him again, listening intently.
It didn't surprise her. Reek had been a big ball of sadness when she'd left the first time, and he didn't get much better while the litter brewed within her. Her own absence must have taken a toll on him, and for that she was filled with regret; yet at the same time, it wasn't her problem anymore. He wasn't her problem. That sounds like Reek,
she murmured blandly, and fell quiet thereafter.
She didn't smile enough. That was the first thought from the dark wolf as he saw the way she lit up at the mention of her son. He smiled gently himself, giving her a fond nudge as she seemed to look a little embarrassed. "I haven't heard him," He offered quietly, indicating that he was trying to listen for the little guy just on the off chance he needed his mommy. "He's got a good mom." Stark offered, and although he didn't know what had happened to the other little boy he wouldn't have changed his opinion. "And there's a whole pack that cares." He knew he did, at the very least. He knew Warbone must have as well, else he wouldn't have offered them a home.
"You couldn't raise them both, you know." that was his take - Reek needed someone to tend to him, keep him afloat. Tavi wouldn't do that and try and take care of Tambourine too. It wouldn't have been fair to any of them at all. He drew in a breath, exhaling slowly. He was being presumptuous but it was the truth. They never would have made it so far if she had to take up the mantle of caregiver to all.
Stark was kind. A bit of a rascal, but that was her type; she hadn't really thought about having a type but when the concept struck her, she felt oddly put-off by the conversation. Confused by herself, maybe. Her ears fell to either side of her head and she mumbled something incoherent (if you say so) and then breathed a deep breath in, steadying some nerves she didn't realize had gone a bit off-kilter.
The man's next comment caught her by surprise, only because she thought first of her children - not just Tambourine, but the one that had died, whose head now decorated her favorite willow tree - and she looked at Stark as if he were some kind of all-seeing thing. A man with nine heads and thousands of teeth, a hydra of shadows like her old nightmares. (How did he know about...) But no, she was just confusing things. They had been talking about Reek. Her expression softened, slackened, became hollow, and she relaxed.
You're right,
she confirmed. Octavia didn't know why she had abandoned Reek the way she did, but so far it had served her well to think of herself in that desperate moment. The grotto had been a place of desperation — created in haste by two unfortunates, it was doomed to an unfortunate end, and Octavia would be damned before she'd let her baby grow up there. She swallowed a lump in her throat and asked something very important, and the seriousness of her tone made her voice feel alien upon her own tongue: Did he ask about Tam?
There was a range of emotions that ran through Octavia and Stark could only feel sympathy for the woman. He sighed softly, reaching out to give a comforting nudge (at least he hoped it was comforting to her.) He didn't know what he might be able to do in that moment to reassure her of her choices, but, he was happy to do what he could. Her question made him nod, a small sad smile offered to her. "He wanted to know the usual things - how you both were, if you were happy." Really, he couldn't right then think of much other than Nova Rose overstepping her boundaries spectacularly. He couldn't remember Reek asking much about Tam, which was sad in its own right.
Octavia had gone through enough on her own, and while Stark had considered to let the woman find some solace in the task being finished he felt he ought to prepare her. "The only issue really was Nova Rose. I'm not gonna tell you what to do about it, but, you should be prepared - she was fine blathering your rank and your request we specifically did not want to have him track you down." Stark didn't know Reek, didn't know of his recent revelations and spiritual epiphany, and didn't know what the male might be driven to do. Maybe if he were so determined he might try and take Tambourine - an event Stark would not let happen. "I'll keep an eye on the borders for you, if you want, I know Trick runs them often. I can ask him to help look out too, just in case he gets a wild hare and tries to show up here." It wouldn't given them much of a heads up but Reek would have to find them. Stark didn't know how long it might take the male, but, he imagined a bit. Had Nova Rose gone on her own, she probably would have walked him back the entire way.
Octavia nodded as she listened, even let a thin smile shoot across her face, but it faded as Stark went on. Hearing about the repeated insubordination of the old woman was irritating surely, but more than that, it flew in the face of Octavia's dominant position; she was the one to give orders, and Nova was the one that had to obey them to the exact specifications. Really it should not have surprised her to hear this. The woman did not respect her or even like her, but for the sake of Tambourine's safety, Nova's sole purpose was to deliver one simple message and get the hell away from Reek, and she had failed that. The fur along Tavi's spine prickled as she listened, and she inhaled a long, slow breath - trying to keep calm.
Why couldn't things just go the way they were supposed to.
No, don't patrol the borders,
she hastily corrected. Reek has seen you and Nova, and if you guys patrol the borders then he'll just have to scout for nearby packs, and once he sees you he'll know where I am.
She knew that Stark meant well, though. He was an intelligent and obedient subordinate, but there was something else heh could do for her. But, to make things safer for Tambourine, I'd appreciate if you stuck close to him as much as possible. I trust you with him.
It helped that Tam's teeth had begun to sprout, as that would mean less milk and more meat in his diet, so she could be away from him for longer periods - though it killed her.
Maybe it was a leap to entrust the safety of her son to this roguish male, but she saw no other options. Stark seemed capable, trustworthy, and she knew he would defend the boy with tooth and claw if Reek ever came looking for him. As for Nova, I'll... Deal with her.
Her tone was flat, but it was obvious that Octavia was utterly done with the behavior of the older wolf.
It was a fact he hadn't considered himself, how obvious it would he should Reek spot him along the borders. He gave a quick nod - he had only considered defending the borders himself and here she was pointing out how it would leave them vulnerable in to other ways. "Of course, The male said smoothly, shaking out his coat to try and cast out the last of his own irritations when it came to the batty female.
"I won't let anything happen to the little ankle biter." Though often he was sarcastic he knew this was a solemn mantle to take up. He could do that though, he could defend Tambourine with everything he had and he would. No harm would behalf the pup while Stark was around and having an explicit task to tend to him he would do everything in his power to be certain of his safety.
"I mean, if things go super sour at least you'll get some furs to line your den finally." Stark couldn't help himself, trying to push some of the seriousness back out and relax them both a bit more. "And with Harem Boy number 1-7 present, it'll be even nicer. Sort of all in one deal, really."
He accepted the responsibility and she was glad. Stark seemed to be ready for anything and eager to help, and that cast him in a good light. His attempt at humor made her smile, but it was a tired smile, a stressed smile. At least she wasn't frowning or something, since such expressions of exhaustion and worry had already begun to overwork her features; she wondered how tired she looked, suddenly, and huffed. With a brief bup of her nose against his shoulder, Tavi began to leave him to his duties.
Except, then she didn't. She took a step, then stopped, turned back to him, and with a slight lean of her body against his dark figure, reached up with her snout and gave him a proper lick to the cheek. In the next few hours she'd be figuring out what color rug would be going in to her den — a black one, stemming from Reek hunting down his son, or a fleabitten gold. Thank you, Stark. It's nice to know someone has my back,
the woman quietly commended him, gave a small smile, and then turned again — this time leaving him for good.
He was not a very nurturing sort, at least, in his own eyes. He saw the woman looking near wilted, exhausted, and a frown grew on his face. He licked his lips as she bumped her snout against him, for a moment almost leaning into her brief touch as he let her leave. He turned to watch and for a moment was certain that she had caught him - she turned back to him and came back. She leaned in and licked his snout, a pleased little sound leaving his lips even as he turned to nuzzle into her, stealing a moment to curl his neck over hers in a loose sort of hug. "Anything you need." He promised, and he found it an easy thing to offer to her.
When she did leave this time Stark let her go without hesitation, feeling equal parts pleased and let down at the same time - he had to give her bad news along with the good that he had to offer. With her path taking her further past the little nook that had become hers Stark followed this time, diverting to slip himself into the den and curl around the sleeping form of Tambourine to keep him pleased and settled while Octavia was gone.