Stark was feeling unsettled and while he didn't feel right leaving the packlands it was clear that something had to happen. He could take a few days, maybe a week at maximum, and hope that things wouldn't completely fall apart. There was a nagging sensation that he might return to find Octavia had taken Tambourine off to who-knew-where and that might have been the biggest betrayal of all to him. It burned him up to think of them gone, but, it wasn't enough of a fear to make him abandon his duties to the pack. 

He needed to get the word out about Pippin and see if they could track him down - aside from that, he was woefully ignorant of the other packs natures and their locations. He'd started out with the first light of dawn, saying a quick goodbye to a few of his wolves and headed out on a similar path as he'd crossed before with Nova Rose. This time there was no annoying elder to bother him, no wolf to put their pride before their pack. 

He'd stopped a midday, the plains settled before him a stark (hah!) contrast to the landscape he'd grown used to in the Keep. It was near barren, evidence of herds that had crossed through the plains but otherwise life seemed as devoid as it had been during the famine. It wasn't exactly comforting. 

Stark had been watching for any slight flash of gold, any bit of movement that might have been the missing puppy. Octavia's trail had sent him this way but he couldn't find her either. She was an adult. He had to focus on the child who would need more help than anything. Stark turned abruptly when he was called out to, his blue eyes narrowing on the source of the call. He shook his head, crossing over the brush carefully until they were a few yards away. "Not hunting," He admitted. "A puppy got separated from our pack." So - really, yes he was hunting but it wasn't a herd he was trying to track. 

"I'm Stark." He offered after a moment, choosing to just trust in people's kindness. To others they might have been cautious, might have tried to evade the normal questions and answers but really Stark considered it more important to try and get whatever information he could out of the other wolf. He'd start by offering things, and then, they could see where they went. 

Stark frowned for a moment, shrugging. He had no idea where Pippin might have been, and when he returned to the pack for another break he'd find out that Mordecai and Larkspur were gone too. He breathed out slowly, trying to figure what to do. "His father's been going as far as he could, but the other children and their mother are still needy." He said with a sigh. What had happened here? He'd expected a pack - not to be leading so quickly, not to be taking everything on his shoulders because no one else was capable of doing so. 

Stark sighed softly, his gaze falling to his feet again. "I appreciate the help, if you do spot a puppy. He's mostly golden, about half a year old, name Pippin."[/b] Stark said as he looked up at her again. "Where are you from?" He asked, trying to garner some information about where she might have been going and what she might have been seeing. 

Stark hated to think the way that he did, but if it was Silas, he probably wouldn't have worried as much. First, he didn't think the boy would stay gone for so long, second, if he was out there at least he could trust the boy would be able to get something to eat. That made him feel better. But Pippin? He didn't know Pippin at all and he didn't know what he knew and what he didn't. Maybe he was resourceful in ways that Stark couldn't even imagine. Maybe he was getting on the way back home. 

"I get the wandering bug every once in awhile." Stark said evenly, agreeing with the notion of wandering, of that itch to his feet that sometimes he was just compelled to obey. "Hey, just mapping out land is still a good reason - you're still learning stuff." He hummed out, offering that other angle. "There's still a lot of the land I haven't mapped out but it's harder trying to juggle the home life and my need to know things. It was definitely easier as a loner." He said with a little laugh. 

Stark shook his head at the notion of seeing it all in one day - it was impossible. A month, two, three, Stark would probably still be out learning things and finding new little details. He'd consider it a reprieve and the glutton in him would just continue to get as much information as he possibly could. "Probably not. But that's the beauty of it." Stark said with a little grin. "It's gonna constantly change and I think that's kinda amazing."

It had been a really long time since he had encountered anyone who gave him something to think about that wasn't just superficial. Stepping outside of the task that he'd given himself was healthy. It was good even if later Stark would probably feel guilty about it. "So what's the job you're working on?" He asked conversationally, hoping she wouldn't mind opening up a little bit. 

Stark listened and nodded; the system of everyone working was good. They had scouts, they had guardians, they had hunters. "We've got a fair share of workers, but, I'd love to find a healer for the pack." He admitted. For Stark he didn't want to force people into their tasks but if he could have asked for anything specific, it'd be a healer. 

"Scouting is a natural desire of yours?" He confirmed. He couldn't remember when he'd stumbled into scouting - truthfully, it had been natural to him from the start. He'd wanted knowledge and exploring was the best way for him to acquire the knowledge he craved. "I've always wanted more knowledge. It's hard to keep seeking when you're so tethered though." 

It seemed it was a dead end and no amount of speculation would bring the child home. In the coming months Stark would find it to be a useless venture. When the boy wouldn't be found, he'd know it was because he chose not to be. There would be no avenue not checked. After discussing the Taiga some and the lands beyond it Stark departed, returning empty handed to the Keep.