Stark had found a tiny treasure growing among the grasses. It was the first hint of something pretty, aside from the buds in the Willows and the start of life again in their little Keep. Stark was careful as he moved with it, letting it rest just inside the Crook where @Tavi and Tambourine stayed. He let out a little sigh as he turned, the small red flower waiting on the woman to discover it while Stark went to find something for breakfast. Tambourine would be eating meat and soon, he would need to supply them both better than the fish from the river. 

His morning catch was something better than it had been in a long while. A plump goose had been in the wrong spot at the wrong time and now swung limply from his jaws by her long neck. Life was returning, and even if Stark could not make the rest of the pack settle so easliy without Warbone, he could still support Octavia as he had since the first night he joined the pack. 

He didn't notice the deeper sleep, thinking perhaps that it was just exhaustion from life in general - of a growing child, a growing pack. He approached the crook with the goose hanging in his jaws, only spotting Octavia and pausing to let the fowl fall to the ground. "Hey," He started off, tail giving a few wags behind him. "Got really lucky this morning," Stark said with a smile, nodding towards the goose. 

"Think Tam might try meat soon?" Stark asked curiously, approaching her to nuzzle against her shoulder fondly. He wondered if she just knew when it was time for Tambourine to start trying real food, or, if the puppy would somehow let her know. The whole business of raising a child was strange to Stark, and he felt inadequate in many ways. 

Octavia drew back from him so Stark in turn took a step away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She seemed a bit off, but, maybe Tambourine had kept her up all night, or there was just so much going on - he couldn't blame her. Not really. He drew in a breath, giving a soft sigh as she seemed to work through her issues to focus on what she was saying. "It's alright," Stark soothed. "Rough night?" He would take however long she needed, he could be patient. "You wanna have something to eat, then we can take some back to him?" 

Which wasn't the same as a date. It wasn't. He wasn't gonna put moves on her, even knowing that she wasn't involved with anyone else - still he didn't want to be that guy. He wouldn't push her like that. He'd take his time. Go at a pace they were comfortable with, see if something organically came out. "Are things alright?" He asked, worrying over her.

It wasn't hard to tell that she was still a bit foggy, a bit out of it. Stark bit his lip, his eyes fluttering for a moment as he looked her over. "They're a resistant group." Stark offered, frowning a bit. "It seems that they're disagreeing on the whole concept of listening to anything that isn't right out of Warbone's mouth." Which was disappointing to him. the concept of Alpha was law. 

Stark's eyes widened as Octavia said Harlyn would be Alpha with her. "It would unite the two units - theoretically." Stark said, stepping close to her again. "They're going to complain." It wasn't a secret. It was fact. It was how they'd all taken the news of Octavia's position - but had she not been Alpha, what would have become of the Keep? 

He picked up the goose, following after her to find Tambourine. "I support you - and I'll support Harlyn as well." He said as he sat the bird down at his feet. 

Stark looked over at her, giving a small nod. They had no idea if Warbone would ever return, or, if he still lived and breathed. His blue eyes studied her for a moment, the lines of her face, how she looked. "There are two options. They leave if they will not stand by their Alpha, or we do." They had the majority, they could drive the others out - but if they wanted a new start they could do that too. "We could all start over, if you wanted. Harlyn, her family, Cap would follow us." Although he hadn't seen much of his sister, which was disappointing and worrying. 

"We can easily drive out anyone who wants to challenge us." He was one of the largest in the pack, and with the added benefit of the other wolves their command would hold. He did hope it wouldn't come to that. He didn't want to see the peace he had come to know in the Keep shattered - but he did not want to see the disrespect shown to Octavia, and when it came along, disrespect shown to Harlyn too. 

Stark frowned, watching as Octavia went through the range of emotions, working herself through things. Maybe he should have been more accommodating, maybe he should have waited to pester her. "Hey, hey," He said soothingly, not wanting her to get too ahead of herself. They were talking hypotheticals, they couldnt focus too intently on that. He didn't want to suggest that they were going to have to start over either. "We'll be just fine. You aren't going anywhere. Especially not alone." Stark wouldn't let that happen. 

When Octavia admitted it had happened again Stark's eyes did go a little wider. Curious by what had transpired, though he didn't want to force her to relieve old horrors. Stark frowned, moving a little closer and sitting carefully to block her from anyone else who was approaching. "Octavia," He began softly, wanting to instill some confidence in her. "I can't promise things will be alright - but, I can promise that I'll be there to help make them right." He countered. He gave a soft little sigh, considering what that might mean for them. "Your friends here won't let anything happen - not to you, not to Tambourine." And who would really be so malicious as to hurt a child? 

"You're so strong," He said quietly. "And I Know you'd do the right thing - if it came down to it." Stark didn't want to let that happen. He would weed out anyone else who tried to turn against her. They had so many who would support them. Harlyn, her little band, they had Cap, Grace too. He didn't know about Teagan or Trick, and he knew Nova Rose would love nothing more than to watch them fall. They would stand together, though. He was confident in that. 

Stark watched her, stilling as Octavia came closer to her and then sucking in a deep breath when she nuzzled into him. He draped his neck across hers, making a soft sound on the exhale as he nuzzled into her. He wasn't excepting the suggestion that she gave; for them to retreat for a bit, find someone secluded for the two of them. He pulled back enough to look at her, his blue eyes fixed on hers. "Go somewhere?" His first thought was that there wasn't anywhere pretty enough, but he made a soft sound. "Where you go, I go," He hummed out, nose brushing behind her ear, teasing a bit of fur.

He swallowed thickly, her warm scent drawing him closer. For a bit they could steal away, Tambourine would be alright under the watch of their packmates. He knew Grace had taken to the pup, and it seemed like Octavia needed to get out for a bit. Just get a break. He stood up, willing to follow her lead. 

He met her eyes, a little grin on his face as he followed behind her. He let her lead, only directing her towards the patch of flowers where he'd plucked the one for her from earlier. He just wanted to show her, let her see it - show her something beautiful coming back to her lands. Hers - Warbone may have had intentions, maybe he had ideals that he would follow her through the Willows, but it was the dark male instead. It was easy to forget that though. To forget everything else, but how she looked, how the trees were starting to bloom - how life was coming back. For right then, he could just see that and her.