Stark hadn't visited Octavia recently. It wasn't from lack of want, exactly, because Stark's thoughts frequently still turned to her. They had only had a few months together, but the life they had lived was a strong one. Stark gave a soft sigh, turning from her gravemarker. He heard someone nearby along the river's edge and turned to find them, seeking out the only other soul he'd encountered in the Watch since he'd buried Octavia there. Being so close to the Keep Stark was full of pride, defensive not only of his territory but also of the area that he considered to be hallowed ground. 

"Hello," It was a neutral statement, he'd used a neutral tone, it didn't exactly matter how he spoke when his body betrayed his caution, his defensiveness. He wouldn't bemoan the male for his wandering so long as he behaved himself. That was the important part. If he was disrespectful he'd remove him from the area. 

Stark watched the man seat himself in the waters, curious even more of the man. Stark shook his head at the man's concern over his plans though he did not relax. "Should you disrespect this land, I'll be sure you're aware of it. Otherwise, I have no issues with you." Stark said evenly enough, his body still between the male's and the area of Octavia's grave. It was also, of course, the way towards the Keep but he wasn't going to volunteer that information. "What brought you out here?" The general impression he'd gotten from most wolves was that the Watch unnerved him - his own sister included. 

Stark had never truly found an issue with it, but, he didn't seem to have the same sensibilities that most wolves did either. Even in the best of his days he'd never behaved like people expected him to - and in the darker days he'd found himself it hadn't helped. Still, he didn't give up - that wasn't who he was or who he'd ever been. 

Fooling around was what Stark had done before life and responsibilities. Although he didn't think the other male was necessarily alluding to what Stark's mind went to - after all, only days after spending an afternoon with Peregrine the man had died. It was unfortunate but it was almost a reminder that Stark had to put that behind him. "I...was visiting a friend." He said, somewhat lamely; it wasn't as festive as he made it sound. 

"I'm Stark, by the way." He offered as he decided he'd venture an olive branch out. He couldn't very well blame the guy for not knowing what the lands meant to him or why, after all. 

Stark was surprised by the fact his name meant anything. He'd never known why his parents gave him his name, nor his sister's theirs, but he didn't worry so much about the meaning behind the title. It was his all the same. He'd made it something more than he imagined he ever would. Strong - he had become strong. He'd refused to be anything else. Stark gave a little laugh at the man's words, shaking his head. "Ah, you won't find me out in the ice." He wouldn't dream of it - he hated the cold. 

"How...how exactly would one be tree like anyways?" Stark asked, warming up somewhat, pushing past the emotions that visiting Octavia's grave gave him. It wasn't Birk's fault - and all he needed was to find a way to chill out some. 

Stark gave a little laugh, shaking his head at the thought of it. Well, he was definitely untreelike, of course, he wasn't covered in bark and he wasn't stuck to the ground. "Well - you aren't rooted to the ground, so that's an obvious difference." Stark hummed out. "And I've never seen a tree take down some prey, so, there's another difference." He was rambling a bit, but the idea was a pointed distraction from the thoughts plaguing him before. 

"Are all your family named like that? Mine's all over the place." He admitted. He and his siblings had odd names, nothing in common that he could tell, so he didn't find it strange at all when others popped up with unusual titles.