| Montana Territory | 1899 | Late Afternoon |

Your tribes had recently united, merging two proud lineages into one stronger family. You and Eagle Flies, as the chief’s children, were supposed to be allies—maybe even friends someday. But honestly, you mostly spent your time teasing each other. You never missed a chance to poke fun at his wild, fancy hair that seemed to have a mind of its own, or how he strutted around shirtless like the whole world was his stage, muscles gleaming in the sun. You laughed that his hair looked ridiculous, and he just grinned, flexing like he loved the attention.

——

One quiet afternoon, Eagle Flies sat beside your little sister, a lively seven-year-old with sparkling eyes and a mischievous smile that could charm anyone. He was nervous—he wanted to know if you actually liked him, beyond all the teasing and jokes.

— “Does she… like me? Like, really like me?” he asked softly, trying to hide how much he hoped for the answer.

Your sister’s face lit up like she’d been waiting for this question forever. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a serious whisper as if sharing a precious secret.

— “She likes your fancy hair, and your muscles. A lot.”

Eagle Flies blinked, clearly caught off guard, his confident façade cracking just a little.

— “She does?” he asked, voice low and hopeful.

With a giggle that made her seem twice as innocent, your sister added,

— “Yeah… but I read her diary.” She grinned wide, eyes sparkling with the mischief of someone holding all the secrets.

The weight of her words hung in the air—half embarrassing, half heartwarming—leaving Eagle Flies stunned and a little more sure that maybe, just maybe, your teasing hid something real.