His thoughts frequented back to the stranger at the borders. Thought sure, Warbone had founded the Keep he had not kept it - be it through no fault of his own or not. Stark didn't care - the Keep was his and he had fought to keep it together. He could have let it all fall apart but he didn't want to do that and so he had stayed and it was good that he had. The Alpha made his way through the packlands, thinking of what he needed to accomplish. Banner needed to know first, and together, they would figure out where to go from there. 

He'd made his way to her willow tree in the hopes that he'd catch her there but it didn't look like he was lucky. He was just about to head for the borders to reinforce them again when he caught Banner's scent. He let out the smallest whine and headed towards her, so relieved to see her fluffy form. "B," He murmured, nuzzling against her for a moment.  

For a moment Stark just stayed there, basking in the affections between the two. He pulled his head back, posture still relaxed with Banner. He had nothing to worry about with her. He gave a rough chuckle when Banner asked how his day was, thinking instantly to the one eyed male that had approached on the pack's borders. "Just keeps getting better and better." He muttered glumly. 

"We need to watch when we're outside the pack." He explained softly. They'd never had a threat come to their door before but now it had promised to be a continuous presence around the pack's borders and outside of them. "The pack's first Alpha came to the borders and basically tried to demand I share my rank with him." Stark said bluntly. No use in sugarcoating anything. "He claimed I'd be challenged every time I left the packlands."

Stark drew in a deep breath as the news wracked his sister. He wanted to say a million things - but for then, he couldn't. He just waited. He let her process. He let her do her thing. When she asked questions Stark frowned. "He was alone. Said his sister attacked him and he'd lost his memory - and an eye - when he got his memory back he came back for his pack." Stark huffed. "His name is Warbone. Something he's overly proud of." The dark Alpha's hackles were up a bit, his feathers ruffled in a way he didn't let Warbone see earlier. 

"Tambourine was with me when he came to the borders; the guy is out of his mind if he thinks I'd let anyone I didn't trust lead the Keep." It didn't matter where they were though. If he wanted to live and die by the willows, let him. Stark cared about his wolves. They'd find a better land somewhere else if it came down to it, but, he didn't care in the slightest bit about the deranged ravings of a had-been leader. 

Stark wasn't going to try and reign her in right then. Hell, he might even join her. Stark licked his lips. watching her for a moment as she reacted to what Stark had said to her. "Tam got pretty ruffled," Stark admitted. "He was upset with what Warbone was saying - I tried to be diplomatic. Told him if he proved his worth in the pack I'd consider it. Hell. Whatever the best is for the Keep that's my priority." He admitted. Would he just leave his rank behind? No. Definitely not. But if the best for the pack's sake came down to Warbone he would. 

"It's probably just me." Stark said and shrugged. He wasn't that concerned about it - call it a stubborn sense of pride perhaps, but, he truly didn't care. "He's got some ideal that just because he founded the pack he's got some right to it. He wasn't even here an entire moon's cycle." Stark said bitterly. 

"I told him the only terms I'd ever even entertain the notion on. He refused." Stark said with a shrug. "Said he couldn't be a subordinate. I pointed out that all places in the pack were earned." Stark was trying to recount the conversation as close as accurately as he could but it was hard to do so - his mind was fairly clouded from his attempts at sleeping. "I don't know if he even had time to make any allies." He admitted, thinking of the few wolves he'd met lately he'd consider friends. 

He didn't think he was a lost cause, even if he was struggling, but maybe Banner was the better option to lead while he got himself under control. Or maybe sharing the Alpha title was more appropriate since they were the only two who had really stood up for the Keep and made sure it made it through the rougher weather that they'd been through. "You're the only one I'd ever share the pack with." The only one that he felt he could ever trust with something so important to him.

Stark watched her with nothing but affection in his eyes, even for all her flaws and all her anger she was his and there was nothing more precious to him than his sister. She accepted him without question, no matter what that meant, and she had not only supported Stark in his time of need but she had opened herself up to Buchanan too. She had a mate, a family all her own, and while Stark didn't fear Warbone he knew that should something horrible happen to him she would be tended to. 

Stark smiled gently as she said she'd do anything for him and shook his head. "B, this is for you - not me." He said gently. "If of course Buchanan can share you with me," He teased - just trying to lighten the mood up. "You've been good as Beta, I know we'd do just as good sharing the rank together." He said with a graceful shrug and slight cant of his head. 

Banner didn't seem to really trust herself, or perhaps the mantle was so large it was overwhelming. For Stark he had drug his feet for as long as he could, holding onto some hope that things would magically fix themselves before he had a chance to do so. They hadn't, so he'd done what he had to. With Banner she had supported him and they had managed things well, he thought. Stark nodded as she said it couldn't just be them forever. "I think Harlyn is about the only one I'd trust." He admitted freely. "I haven't seen Rhodey in forever and that's got me on edge." He admitted with a sigh. 

"I'm not gonna force you, Banner - but. Just...know that if you want it, it's yours." He offered with a small smile. Anything that might make her happy he'd want to do, honestly. 

Stark could only offer her a little smile as she finally settled and made her choice. He knew she'd be what the pack needed - she had already managed him so well, and she'd done so much for the Keep. "So..Alpha - first order of business?" He asked with a small grin. He could relax the slightest bit, feeling more at ease with his sister ruling the roost next to him. He wanted things to change. He wanted to make things better - but he struggled with that idea. 

"I want to make things better." He admitted somewhat breathlessly. "We need a healer. Maybe we should up our recruiting efforts since winter's coming." It was something that seemed like the right course of action anyways. 

"Lets go tell the boys," Stark nodded with a smile. He felt a little more settled, a little more grounded, and that was a good thing. Banner always had that affect on him, as astounding to her as it was, and Stark appreciated everything that his sister did for him. "What's the next pack you're thinking of visiting?" He asked curiously. "I'd like to go with you, if you don't mind my company." He offered as they made their way to find the boys - the Crook his first choice of where they might be waiting. 

It would mean some chances to the pack he felt, things that would be good and keep them prepared. As they walked, they fell into a comfortable silence and he relaxed more at her side. It was a good thing for his stress level, and he'd actually get some fitful rest thanks to her assistance.