Hushed Willows Dads leave. No reason to be a pussy about it.

The task was different than what he'd hoped for. When it came to baby sitting @Tambourine he wasn't exactly bad - the kid was cute and he'd grown an insane amount to Stark's untrained eyes while he'd been gone - Stark was worried about his fat ass squishing the fluff ball. He leveled his head on the ground, back facing out of the Crook as he watched Tambourine curiously. "Best day ever, huh?" He expected no response from the child but watching him was amusing enough. 

There was always the chance of having someone else find them, maybe come to visit, and while Octavia was out running her errands he was happy to settle for a bit and up living Harem Boy #1's task of minding the pup.

No need to post if you don't wanna, Stark is just baby sitting Tantam

Despite the famine plaguing his pack, Tambourine did not want for nourishment. It was perhaps a bittersweet blessing that his brother had died, for it meant that all the sustenance Tavi could provide went directly into her surviving pup's stomach. In fact, his belly was as round as a typical pup's, which was a good thing—a wonderful thing, even, given the circumstances—except that it was currently Tambourine's greatest source of frustration.

Because he had discovered the nipple attached to his own underside and he wanted it. Oblivious to the adult lingering nearby, keeping an eye on him in Tavi's absence, Tambourine squatted on the cool cave floor, his hind legs sprawled on either side of him as he tried to duck his head down toward the small nub of flesh. Yet no matter how hard he craned his neck and no matter how hard he grunted with the effort, he simply couldn't reach it.

He hadn't realized what Tambourine was focused on but the grunts eventually got his attention and Stark couldn't help the quick bark of a laugh. He could dissuade him, sure. He could try and get him to stop, or, he could watch him for a moment. He reached over and patted the ground, scooting closer as his tail twitched behind him. "Not gonna get much there, kid." He'd probably never stop hoping, either, as most men did. 

He licked his lips, reaching out to gently nudge the puppy with his snout - if Octavia came back and he was just sitting there watching try to self serve, it wouldn't leave the best impression with they young mother. The Theta was a bit more hopeful of making a good impression so he'd try and get the kiddo to focus on something (anything) else.

Tambourine continued to ignore the adult. Perhaps if he stuck one leg in the air and curled in half, he could reach the unattainable nipple...? He attempted it, only to lose his balance and tumble onto his right elbow. Once he was flat on the floor, though, that gave him another idea. He rolled so that he lay flush on his right side, then bowed his body. Still his chubby tummy thwarted him and the pup grunted again.

But he wasn't one to be put out by such things. He did sigh as he finally gave up, then rolled onto his belly with his weight supported on his elbows and his legs sprawled behind him. He stayed like that a moment, peering up at Stark now as if noticing him for the first time. The puppy grinned up at his makeshift babysitter, his good ear pricking nearly to full height while the "dud" remained flopped.

"Who-ee?" the child questioned, head cocking. The resemblance to a real query may or may not have been a total coincidence.

He wasn't one to give up, and Stark immediately admired that trait. He hoped the child would hold onto that trait - keeping on and learning as he grew. Stark gave him a bright smile, the look only fading when it came to the puppy toppling over. He moved closer to nudge him reassuringly, watching as Tambourine fixated on him. Shit. Okay. That was kinda cute. 

Stark wasn't very familiar with being near children. He didn't know what he was supposed to do, how he was expected to behave, but, he would do what he could. The little pup's question was one delivered with the charm of infinite youth, Stark's blue eyes drifting over the two little ears - one up, one down. They'd probably both be upright like normal, but, there was no way to tell so quickly. 

"Hi there. I'm Stark," He said with a grin.

His mouth moved and the pup watched, fascinated, ears quivering at the deep timbre of his voice so unlike his mother's. The words themselves went in one of Tambourine's ears (the upright one) and out the other (the floppy one). He still wasn't at an age where he could truly comprehend that sort of thing. It was all about tone and pitch with him. Plus, there were facial expressions and body language; he was rather fluent in those.

Tambourine returned the adult's grin, then suddenly became aware of an urgent need to urinate (probably due to all the squeezing of his bladder while trying to munch his own wiener). The pup instinctively pushed himself onto all fours and toddled toward the nearest stretch of wall. He had seen Warbone and the pack's other male members hike their legs before, yet his primary role model was his mother. So Tambourine aimed his rear at the wall and squatted, oblivious to the fact that the stream of urine currently escaping his body was in fact coming from that damned unreachable nipple.

Stark watched curiously. This was a new experience for him, after all. He was his mothers last litter, her last born baby, and Stark could only take that as a little bit of pride. It left him at a disadvantage though, and as a rogue male he'd usually been gone by the time that the females whelped their young. He tilted his head a bit, admiring that Tambourine already had his legs about him, and watched the pup toddle towards the wall. 

The pup's unique scent was different to him and there was a curiosity in him if he would keep the same smell as he aged. He was still until Tambourine finished, moving over to kick some dirt over the little puddle that had been left. He didn't want Octavia coming home to a dirty den after all. He flopped back down on his side a couple paces away, letting the pup approach if he wanted to do so. "Can't believe how much you've grown," He said warmly, it was far more drastic since Stark had spent the time away telling Reek that his son was born and thriving. 

The pup finished his wee, then stood up and watched curiously as Stark moved to clean up the mess. Soon after, he flopped onto the floor a few feet away. Tambourine immediately scrambled over to him, no sense of stranger danger whatsoever as he crammed his nose into the hollow of the adult's throat, mashing his face there before backing up slightly to rear onto his hind feet. He wobbled precariously for a second before bracing his tiny front paws on Stark's face and gazing directly into his icy blue eyes.

"Own?" Tambourine mimicked, rat-like tail wiggling.

Stark had been unprepared for the advance the puppy made on him. The nose made him squirm a bit as it touched his delicate skin, Stark ducking his face down to hide the nastier scars carefully hidden beneath his fur. It only invited questions and although Tambourine wouldn't remember he'd still rather not risk it if Octavia came back and saw him. 

Tambourine quickly plopped his little paws on Stark's face and he laughed softly as the word was mimicked. "Close!" He said encouragingly, giving the pup a little lick to his soft and thankfully round tummy. "You're a smart one, huh, Tam?"

"Uhn!" the puppy parroted crudely, apparently in agreement. "Tam!" he crowed next. That word was slightly familiar, having been repeated around him probably dozens of times, if not more. Of course, he didn't realize it applied to himself. Words and their meaning were still quite a mystery to the little tyke. It would be another month or so before he really got the hang of speech.

For now, it was just fun to babble. "Oo-ee! Own! Huh!" Still he grasped Stark's face, peering into those handsome eyes the color of glaciers, his own the same color as a pair of well-loved, faded, stonewashed jeans.

Stark had a little flash where he thought about it - he liked this. He breathed out slowly, startled by the fact that he didn't mind the puppy stomping his face, that little determined look in the pup's eye and his boyish smile making Stark feel pretty good about being there. He smiled softly, giving the slightest nod. "Tam! Good job." He said encouragingly. Oh god he hoped that Octavia had heard this first, and that it wasn't him getting to hear Tambourine's first words. 

The male curled an paw behind the puppy, still grinning at him even as they had their little heart to heart. "Can't wait till you're bigger and we can have some real adventures kiddo." He said, bumping his nose against Tambourine's tummy again.

The touch of Stark's cold nose against his pudgy belly caused the boy to laugh, squirm and slip off him. He plopped onto the cave floor, his hips splayed as he sat partially upright. This gave him another view of his underside and that tantalizing teat he couldn't reach. Mindless of his earlier struggles, Tambourine lunged for it again, only to overbalance and tip forward so that he face-planted into the cold stone. This dazed him for a second, then the puppy burbled and tugged his forelegs from where they were trapped beneath him, slowly pushing back onto all fours.

He was really starting to get hungry. Tambourine wasn't a crybaby, yet there was the slightest quiver in his lower lip as he tipped his head back and peered up at Stark. "Tam," he blurted, choosing the word that seemed to elicit the most positive reaction in the hope that his sitter would reward him with something edible.

Stark leaned in when Tambourine toppled, trying so hard to reach himself that he didn't right himself in time. Stark sniffed at him, the puppy seem to shake off any sort of lingering effects in favor of facing him again. The pup had gained a certain look to himself and Stark wasn't sure what he needed to do - he wasn't exactly prepared for what to do in that situation. 

Tambourine offered his name again and Stark nuzzled him, offering a little smile to try and make him happier. "Should we call Mama?" He asked, tongue washing over Tambourine's face for a moment. "I'm not sure I've got what you need there, Tam." Stark admitted. 

Stark did not reward him with food. Tambourine's little brow furrowed thoughtfully, though the adult's tongue seemed to wipe it clean off his face, leaving the puppy smiling after the wet lick. Stark spoke and though the youngster didn't understand, he still aimed to please—and do whatever it took to earn some noms.

"Maw!" he parroted hopefully, dancing from foot to foot.

Stark smiled down at him, giving a little nod. He took a moment, nuzzling against the puppy carefully - keeping in mind the stature of the pup and his large skull. "Good job, Tam - lets call your Mama." He said again, standing fulling and stepping back to the edge of the den so he could call for @Tavi to ultimately give Tambourine what he wanted. 

There wasn't much the male couldn't do, but this - this was something he wasn't made properly for. 

cameo!

She heard the squawking child even before Stark called for her, having entered the Crook a few moments prior. It was warm, and Tavi needed the shade - and to see her son. Once the dark male did call to her, she slipped through the gray. Once she popped her head in, she smiled wide upon the scene.

You two getting along? She asked, but oddly, her tone was a bit.. Dull. Tavi moved in and plopped herself next to Tambourine, hearing him bawk and squeal, and she nosed at him. You hungry? C'mere...

The pup's head cocked, floppy ear in particular twitching in response to the adult's howl. His lips formed an o shape as he prepared to mimic it, though Tavi arrived before he could get out so much as a single note. Upon seeing her, Tambourine yapped happily instead and bounded over to her, completely forgetting all about Stark as he thrust his tiny snout into his mother's plush fur and inhaled deeply.

As soon as he was finished greeting her (and the instant she plopped her butt on the den floor), the babe began to root around for a nipple. He sucked greedily, thick, rich milk flooding his mouth. He whimpered as he fed, his already round belly growing even rounder. After a time, he unlatched and, milk-drunk, flopped at Tavi's feet and promptly conked out.

Stark watched them, smiling as Tambourine immediately nuzzled into his mother. He settled down, sitting to watch the pair as the puppy fed and then fell asleep. Stark offered a small smile to Octavia, letting his head rest on his paws and for a moment was pleased to just be present. It was an odd sensation, but he'd noticed the lack of excitement to her voice, the flat nature to her tone. If she wanted to talk he was there, he'd be happy to support her needs - but only if she wanted it.