Since Banner had told him weeks ago about Warbone Buchanan had taken to patrolling the borders. This left a smaller window of time for him to add to her feather collection but in the long run the ex-assassin rationalized to himself that running patrols to ensure that the mysterious male that had propositioned his (Buchanan's) girl did not return took precedence. He moved with purpose, eyes and ears alert. His hyper-vigilance worked in his advantage on patrol as it did when he was hunting prey for the Keep's caches. As far as Buchanan was aware at any rate, Warbone had not made a return trip and if he had then Banner had kept it from him, but as he doubted his mate would keep something like that from him for too long he felt certain in his assumption that for now Warbone had vanished. Inherently, Buchanan was suspicious of the proverbial radio silence. He did not trust that the other male had given up so easily.

Then again, Buchanan drew from how he would react and knew that he, personally, wouldn't have given up. Failure was not an option. It had been one of The Officer's rules and ...threats. Even now, months later, even around Banner who was the only being on the earth that made him feel remotely normal (as well as being the only thing he cherished and loved in the world) The Officer haunted him. He was a broken thing that could not be fixed. Still, he strove for normalcy as much as was possible for him. He had Banner and he had Marauder's Keep and it was more than he had ever thought he'd ever have. The transition into civilian life after spending his entire life being manipulated and controlled was ...far from easy. He knew that he would always bear the struggle.

A call had risen upon the borders, not too far from his position at the time it had sounded. His pace quickened and soon he saw her through the long tangles of willow trees. The leaves had begun to fall from the long, spindly branches which worked at both an advantage and disadvantage. He shrugged through them, silvern gaze locked upon the charcoal coated young woman. His docked tail rose though the affect of dominance was likely lost in that gesture. He was subservient by fabricated nature but she was an outsider and for the moment he was the only Marauder here. In this singular moment he was the highest ranking Marauder present. Never before had he had to confront a stranger at the border and realized he had no idea what he was supposed to say. Talking had never been his strong suit anyway.

“Your name and purpose here.” He demanded simply, cutting straight to the point, figuring he could hold the line until Stark or Banner arrived.

It wasn't often that they got calls to the borders. The last time he'd encountered someone on them was Warbone, and it was enough to make Stark's hackles lift a bit as he loped through his trees. He expected since he was fairly far off in the territory that someone would find the stranger first and maybe get through some of the more mundane aspects of the process. What might they want? Hopefully no more missing children, hopefully no more vagabonds needing a refuge for their growing families. As fond as he was of Harlyn and Silas he'd taken on more than he had anticipated out of having Amara and her brood in the pack but things there at least seemed settled. The children were growing, at any rate, and that had to mean something good. 

When the Alpha finally made his approach it was with a confident stride, assessing the wolf before him as he noted Buchanan had found them first. His brother in law was doing his part and it was pleasing, he felt more assured having him roaming around and he'd never seen Banner so happy. All in all, the Keep had been good to his little family. His blue eyes raked across the female's form and could not find any obvious wounds and he couldn't smell any evident illnesses. He'd just heard the tale end of his Gamma's question, and rather than giving another, waited for the response. 

The stranger at the Keep's borders lowered herself until her belly touched the ground. Her body took one of submission before him, a soft whine given towards him. The ex-assassin's nostrils flared but he his cold expression did not change. Though appeased, his stiff posture did not relent. At least, not until the sound of approach and a sniff of the air told him that Stark approached. Only then did Buchanan's take that of the subservient he was. Making grand gestures of dominance was not a comfortable thing for him but holding the line until either his brother in law or wife appeared was ...well it was his duty. He took a few steps back to allow Stark the floor as his superior but he remained. Not that Stark wasn't capable of handling this on his own but because the dark wraith intended to play sentinel. Buchanan doubted that Banner would ever forgive him if something happened to Stark and Buchanan had been in a possible position to ward it off. Not that he saw the woman on her belly as a threat.

Her stuttering response to his question reminded him briefly of another he'd met once. She replied with honesty, Buchanan was willing to bet, but as this was no longer his mission he was content to remain muzzled. He noted that she did not give her name but as it was not his place he did not point it out or ask for it again.

She was all but sinking into the ground by the time that she stammered anything out. Stark glanced over at Buchanan before returning his gaze towards her. Of course she wanted a home. Winter was fast approaching and they were working to handle the influx of children - Stark was vaguely aware of the fact that his bleeding heart taking in Amara and her young made it even harder on them. Had it not been for the trio of puppies they'd only have Tambourine and he was big enough he wouldn't need fussing after much longer. Stark swallowed thickly at the thought, a ripple running down his spine of some emotion he couldn't place. 

"What happened to your pack?" Stark asked curiously. "And what did you do in the pack?" He was going to assume that she hadn't lead, he'd expect a bit more confidence out of a wolf who'd proven themselves previously. 

 

Stark listened as the woman made her little plea, explaining that she'd been kicked out for the newer generation. It made sense, if someone wasn't pulling their weight they had to move on. For Stark, it made him turn a critical eye towards the wolves of his own pack. Harlyn was going to take Larkspur back to her birth pack for some sort of mystic healing and he couldn't truly support that. Science and logic - that was what ruled his heart. He could believe what he could touch and see and taste and he didn't understand how she'd leave that for the sake of some unknown variable. 

"We can use scouts, but what he need are healers and hunters. I'm not interested in just having a placeholder - so before I'd give you a real place in the Keep I'd like to see you give back in return." Stark spared a glance at Buchanan before he returned his attention to the female. "What's your name, anyways?" 

Zara. Stark committed the name to memory, giving a brief nod before he glanced at his Gamma and then back to the stranger on his borders. "You have a fortnight to prove your worth then....I'd like to see you maintain a cache and then meet some the wolves of our pack."  Stark wouldn't want her to try and stay only to run off if she wasn't settled and he wouldn't allow her to stay if she wasn't a good fit. 

"Call it a trial run, see if it's agreeable to both of us. We don't tolerate abandonment."  Stark wouldn't allow any who had walked away from them to come waltzing back. "Do you accept those terms?"  

It had become obvious to Buchanan some time ago that Stark was not in any sort of danger from the girl before them. She was submissive and her words were stuttering. Stark had given her the conditions of her tentative acceptance into the Keep and it was then that Buchanan thought it safe to take his leave. Stark didn't need him there as physical back-up and the subservient Gamma wasn't truly needed. Buchanan approached Stark to offer him a submissive nudge beneath his chin to silently communicate that he was departing the scene before his silver gaze slid to the girl. She had yet to decide if she accepted Stark's conditions or not and as to if she did Buchanan would not know for he turned, as silent as his given name by The Officer and shrugged past the flowing boughs of the willows and headed deeper towards the heart of the Keep.

While Buchanan was acting more as his guard than anything and if there was one thing that Stark knew he knew Buchanan was more comfortable in that role. He'd apparently done it most of his life and it so far had served him well - Stark wasn't going to try and make him uncomfortable pushing back. Stark gave Buchanan a nod as the Gamma parted from them, his blue eyes turning back to stare at Zara. 

If the woman found the terms agreeable or if instead her nerves got the best of her, Stark would never know. Rather than give an answer she turned and bolted, Stark frowning at her figure as it retreated. He turned instead and caught up with Buchanan, bumping his shoulder with the male. "Well. That was a bust. Wanna go on a hunt?" He asked before they set off - maybe they'd find something to keep Banner pleased for awhile too.