Stark is getting a bit more confident around the pack grounds. He still hasn't met the other Alpha but he knows a few of the wolves - Trick, Kunik, Grace. He's headed back in with part of a fish from their little fishing group's grand attempt when he diverts from the main room and heads back towards the little hollow that has become Octavia's. He'd promised before he filled his own gullet he'd do something about hers, his sense of self preservation going right out the window when it came to the new mother. 

"Octavia?" It's a quiet little sound, equally muffled behind the small fish he's carrying and still his fear of an angry Alpha and mother. He doesn't want to wake the puppy (he still has no idea how old Tambourine is and he's really bad at guess with children) so he tries to be quiet especially since he isn't sure if Octavia herself is awake or not.

With the fishy scent in his nose and the salt water spray still clinging to his legs Stark didn't notice much of the other scents filling the little den. It was probably a good thing too, it would leave more questions than answers for him and he didn't need to bring up the type of wounds that Octavia was probably carrying from her whelping. Stark waited until she told him he could come closer, his eyes adjusting slowly to the dark at least enough to see the mother and the little bundle of fur at her side.

As he had before Stark laid the offering down, giving her the fish. It was little more than a sardine, not enough to sustain her much but he figured anything was better than nothing. "He's a cute little thing," He murmured quietly as he stepped back, giving them both room to be more comfortable. He didn't want to crowd her in and she was being polite enough to let him near in the first place. "Grace and Kunik went with me to try fishing. We managed to snag a few, although it wasn't the best attempt. I think I'll keep at it, though." He explained in regards to his offering. It was also a thanks for letting him in - she could have sent him on his way, after all. 

Stark could imagine the sort of change that came over someone when they had a kid. Since being present for awhile he realized that Octavia was single. Not that he was eager to take on a kid or anything but it had in a way become his mission to just check in. He wasn't beating down her door by any stretch of the imagination but he liked the thought of taking her into consideration in his day to day life. He owed her that much, he felt. Since he wasn't gonna step on anyone's toes he didn't feel out of place doing so.

"I'll try and bring more." He promised, licking his lip to get the taste from his mouth. He hadn't been partial to fish, but, it was something that a loner could drum up more easily on his own. "Oh yeah, it was pretty decent. The girls were fine enough company." Stark said with a small smile. He'd ran into Grace twice already, and each time she was pleasant enough. "I mean, I'll be tugging tangles out of my tail for a few days with all that salt water, but, hey - it was worth it." Stark said and grinned. "I hear the beach-blown curls are gonna be 'in' this year." He quipped. 

Of the wolves of the pack so far he was naturally most drawn to Octavia, given that she had accepted him without much cause. He didn't pity her, not at all, considering her determination and devotion to be strengths. He could only wonder if he'd met her two months prior what she might have been like. Maybe he would have followed her from the start still. 

God, what a domestic life that would be. He'd come home, say hi to her and the kid(s), put his kill down for her to do with it what she pleased. Stretch out, take a load off from the day of scouting and trekking about. Of course, Stark had every expectation of what a shit father he'd be - while Curran hadn't neglected him he had always felt he was second place to Captain. Maybe even third place, because while Banner had her temper she was brilliant in a way that rivaled Stark's thinking process. Maybe moreso because she could adapt to other people's thinking styles more quickly than he could. He was not so domesticated, however, and instead was just trying to do what he felt was his duty. Octavia couldn't go out on her own, after all, even if she wanted to.

"Yeah, but it'd just mean a string of broken hearts I'd leave behind me." He said with a little chuckle. The notion of settling down was almost alarming to him - he didn't expect he'd make a good enough mate to be worthwhile to someone. "Think maybe he'd split the difference with me?" He asked with a teasing grin. "Not that I've met him, but usually most guys are after one thing or another. Maybe he's an ass man. I like a girl that can keep me on my toes." He answered honestly. He was a sucker for wit over all else - maybe a pretty pair of eyes, but humor was what kept him going.

He swallowed back a grin when Tambourine caught his mother's attention, all but demanding from her that she focus on him for a moment. "You guys really get the raw end of the deal. We just get the fun stuff - you get all the uncomfortable feelings and eventually, the back talk too." 

Maybe it was in Octavia's good fortune Stark had spent the last six months alone. If she was awkward, he didn't notice it, and her quick scrambling into the conversation wasn't noticed. Her explanation of the process and the children did make him chuckle, though the pup gave her another nip it seemed and Stark tilted his head before he sank slowly to his side, back towards the entrance of her little nook. 

He didn't notice her sudden sadness and couldn't guess that his comments might have been a little...ill timed. There was no way of knowing, after all, how many pups she had birthed although he had assumed that Tambourine was the only one to make it. He knew each litter his mother had produced had multiple pups, after all. "Some getting more favorable seasons to do it in - yours should have been perfect, but the damn bugs ruined it." Stark lamented. "He'll appreciate you more, for it," He added softly, looking the pup over as his mother tended to him. "I don't doubt there's a number of folks who will be there to help make sure he does."

It was then he noticed the grounds were fairly lumpy, not as smoothed and well worn as the other areas of the Crook. "You should get a decorator in here." He hummed out. "I'll see if I can find an old fur anywhere - maybe make it more cozy for you and Tambourine." 

He did notice the shake to her shoulders, tongue shifting across his lips this time in a bit of unease. He wasn't sure what the cause of her discomfort was - and he hoped earnestly that it wasn't his presence - but it didn't mean that he didn't care. For a moment, he wasn't sure how to address it. He didn't really know her after all, he'd just gone hungry for a couple of times. No big deal. Not in a famine. 

The quiver in her voice only made him suspect more of her feelings in that moment, and the Marauder kept his eyes downcast for a moment, focusing on the tiny little pup who seemed quite pleased at his mother's side. She was close enough that Stark could reach out and nudge one slender leg, near enough her ankle where maybe it wasn't too outlandishly forward of him. "You're kinda awesome, y'know that?" He blurted out suddenly - god why didn't he have better control over his mouth when he was uncomfortable. "I mean, the whole mom thing. It's amazing." He needed to stop talking. Quickly. 

Her stomach was the easy out for both of them it seemed and he gave a little nod at the notion of her eating as he straightened himself back out. "Please do." He said encouragingly. "I'll keep trying, see if I can't find anything...y'know. Better." 

She didn't respond, which was probably just as well. It left him the chance to just shut up for a bit and to also clear out of her personal space and that of her child's. Stark did offer her an encouraging smile and a dip of his head, even a brief moment of interaction with her to check up on how she was doing was good enough for him in that moment. With the taste of fish out of his mouth and the taste of foot replacing it Stark backed up to the edge of her little den. 

When Octavia finally tore into the fish Stark took that as his sign to leave, heading out of the Crook to rest out front and start working the tangles from his tail as he'd mentioned before. He was a bit vain in that regard, but, if he was working with his mouth it meant he couldn't say anything else outright foolish like he had with Octavia.