What she said to him was a surprise - the first thing that she had asked about was his allegiance. His face scrunched first - clearly displeased by the idea of being aligned with those wolves. "No." He spat it out quickly, nodding back towards the Keep in the distance. "My pack is nowhere near them." Because that idea was the last thing he'd ever consider. He would have chewed off his own foot before he formed an alliance with Reek. 

He had to, in some ways, make things between the two dark males for the sake of Tambourine. Since the one incident they hadn't seen anything of the male though and Stark was growing more complacent again. His worries of Reek showing up like the boogey man to steal Tambourine away had faded considerably. "My name is Stark." He offered finally, realizing that the woman was probably on edge because of the Larksong wolves, not for anything that he had done. 

It was a natural response, one he carried himself though it was far more muted than the brilliantly coated wolf. He was able to hold his concerns to himself and keep them down - which left him to wonder just what had driven her so far.

Perhaps Stark was taking too many of Octavia's memories and prejudices and making them his own. Maybe it was a bias that had been perpetuated by hearing just one side of the story. Maybe it was something else all together and it was just ridiculous but Stark wasn't sure and he still hadn't found Octavia to try and get more information out of her. "We're close." In his opinions, sometimes too close for his comfort. With Tambourine to consider it still leaves him to worry that Reek will come back for him. "Been there since before the famine." He explained, his voice getting a little more gentle, a little more considerate.

It's been so long, though, and Tambourine is getting older. He's never had anyone to worry about him other than Stark and Octavia and the pack. They're family. Tambourine is his. Not Reek's. His ears shift forward when Saena mentioned her name - and he knew then like a lightbulb had gone off to light up the pathway in his brain. Everything all tucked together and rolled up neatly, even slapped a bow on it. "I've heard of you," He said quietly, and he didn't really want to say why because Octavia wasn't there to defend herself but Stark still had to worry about everything else. It wasn't too hard to put two and two together. 

"They're still there, at least, when I was near the area the last time they hadn't moved on. Not sure how many they've got with them now." Stark tilted his head to the side a bit, just a subtle shift. "I don't go near there, personally. Not a huge fan." Like it wasn't painfully obvious.

The longer that Stark had to mull it over the more that he thought he had it figured out in his head. Octavia had referred to her as Reek's former mate. Reek was Tambourine's father. If Stark was a betting man he'd guess that Saena and Reek had been separated just about as long as Tambourine had been alive. Maybe a tad longer. It would make sense then as to why all of it had played out the way it did, why Octavia was so afraid of outsiders, why she had been so terrified of being betrayed. 

"I've heard your name before....and it's not like it's common." He offered with a grim smile. "I didn't hear very much, honestly, other than you and Reek used to be together." Stark didn't know anything about Reek and Saena's children, or the fact that Reek was the logical choice to have those girls right now since they weren't with their mother. Those details would probably send him packing right back for the Keep as fast as he could go and he'd keep his wolves tailing Tambourine constantly. 

"In reality, it's not like it's much information. I haven't been around these parts long enough to really know much more than I'm involved in." Stark admitted. 

It was a complicated thing, being involved with (could he really say that anymore, without Octavia actually with him?) the person that had ruined their mateship. Well. That wasn't accurate. Reek had ruined things by being unable to keep himself under control. He couldn't speak for Octavia's control after all considering that he'd never actually asked anything about the relationship. Stark's lips twitched for a moment as Saena seemed to have her own ire over the events, no matter how long ago, it was still a fresh wound. Stark couldn't comprehend that sort of pain himself. 

"I have," Stark admitted, but he wasn't exactly happy about the entire ordeal or the circumstances. Saena asked him about just why he disliked Reek and he gave a sigh, debating between telling her - a perfect stranger - the truth of things or finding some mundane reason to be angry at him. Stark wasn't sure it was even anger anymore, or if he'd ever been angry at Reek personally. "It's...complicated." He settled for it lamely, and he knew the moment he'd said it that it sounded idiotic - infantile even. 

"It doesn't make much sense to beat around the bush..." Stark said after a pause. "Octavia and I...we're involved. She accepted me into her pack during the famine but...she's been gone for weeks." Stark didn't really let on where Reek fit into it, but, he probably didn't need to. It was easy to put two and two together; if he was involved with Octavia he'd obviously have issues with Reek. 

Stark didn't know much about why Octavia had abandoned her nickname. It made enough sense, honestly, in hindsight but still the dark male had no idea when she'd changed her mind on what she was called. Her assumption of the end of their relationship was one that brought a weird finality to things; but Stark didn't consider them ended at all. "Well. Uh. I'm guessing you do - Octavia said you had run them out of the pack," Stark said with a little frown, and as she went on to explain that Reek had taken their children his own pelt bristled. 

It was a fear he had as well, but, if push came to shove Stark would end the scrawny male's life before he allowed such a thing to come to pass. "Anything you need, the Keep will assist you with." Stark offered quickly. "I understand it might be a bit awkward, but, we'd help if need be." Stark would have hoped someone would do the same for him if it was a different situation. If Reek somehow got to Tambourine and took him he would truly hope for someone else to give them assistance. 

He wanted to see how Saena would react to that news before he told her anything else - hoping that she wouldn't be too upset. He certainly didn't want to say anything about Tambourine if she was outraged even just at their distant ties.

Stark shook her head as she began to explain herself. He didn't need to hear it. He could guess enough about what was going on during those days. Unfortunately Reek hadn't been able to hold himself accountable and be faithful. Instead the male had betrayed his family and his wife. "Your hand was forced," Stark offered weakly, though he had no idea what that would feel like. Personally he was a loyal creature and he wouldn't try and speculate what might have made Reek so selfish as to betray his mate. Of course, he knew Octavia too, and he could understand her appeal but he had been uninvolved when they'd gotten together. 

"Because if he has your children, you need all the help you can get, and it sounds like you've come a long way for them." Stark said as gently as possible. "If you want somewhere safe to stay for a night or two, either going there or coming home, you're welcome to it." They'd offer food, too. Stark sighed quietly, looking down for a moment. "You should know though, that she's been gone for weeks - and....I've been raising her son. Their son. What you're going through has been a fear of mine for months." Stark said quietly, wondering how she'd take the whole thing. 

If it was him and he was facing someone else remotely tied to such a troubling time he would have been angry, he would have felt hurt even if it wasn't direct. Stark could only imagine what it might have been like to learn of the children your former mate had fathered when he should have been being a father to yours. "If anything happened to Tam I wouldn't stop until he was dead." And it was a flat out promise.

Stark nodded at the offer, considering the two were probably the most unlikely of allies, he appreciated the consideration all the same. It was a close enough pitstop to where the wolves had who had her daughters were, and he felt like it was a decent enough offer in an attempt to help someone in a moment he'd want help himself. If Stark had to chase down his children he'd do so without hesitation and he would do whatever it took - including taking help from a stranger when he'd rather not. 

Stark understood what Saena was talking about - wanting to keep Tambourine close and secure. He'd never let anyone get ahold of the boy. "We keep a close eye on him, as close as we are to Larksong." Stark explained. Saena explained a little of how it happened and Stark wanted to ask if she had any idea how the girls had gotten away, but, it might not be worth it. "At least you're doing better now and can get the girls back." She asked about Tambourine's help and there was a moment that Stark couldn't help - the smile grew on his face of it's own accord. 

"Growin' like a weed." He said with a chuckle. "Has an ear that flops still, he might even keep it that way, but he's strong and he's a good kid." Sure, loud sometimes, and a little....out of touch, but a good kid.

Stark had his guesses. Nova Rose was still a memory to him, the thorn in so many wolves' sides and the one who refused to accept the law of the land. Octavia should have thrown her on her ass and if she hadn't have been gone Stark would have when he took over. She'd been so flippant with information about Tambourine it only made sense to him that she'd somehow insert herself in the girls' situations somehow. 

For Stark there is a strange notion of comfort - maybe Tambourine could have the sort of family life that Stark had, maybe he'd form a strong bond with the sisters that he had never known. Stark wasn't sure how he'd view Saena, it was a strange circumstance to arrange themselves as friends but given the circumstances it was all odd. Stark offered a little smile and gave a nod, looking out towards the Valley ahead of them. "I think he'd like that." He said as he returned his gaze to her. It would be a good thing to offer anyways. "We'd definitely host you guys for a bit, if need be. Or once everything settles, maybe we meet up and let the kids get to know each other." 

How odd being a parent was, arranging playdates and making plans like he had the rights to do so. 

Stark offered her a thin smile as they sat there and laid out plans like good parents might. Playdates and hoping they could bond and be good together like proper siblings should. Stark had to think on what he should tell Tambourine about his sisters and what that meant - but then, he also would have to tell Tambourine what he already knew - that Stark wasn't his father but then there was another dark wolf that was. 

It would have to be considered. "Good luck, Saena." He said with a nod, wishing that she got her girls back safe and sound. "Don't hesitate to call if we can help somehow." He added before they both returned to their respective tasks.