#I LOVE RAREPAIRS!!!WAAAAAHHHG!!!

[shangstrudefender]

The sun hung low in the sky, casting warm streaks of gold and amber over the plains. Tilly sat behind Eagle Flies on his horse, her arms loosely wrapped around his waist. As they rode away from camp, The familiar sounds of the camp members, the cackle of the fire, the murmur of voices, and the occasional laugh had faded into the distance, leaving only the steady rhythm of the horse's hooves against the earth and the rustling of the wind through the tall grass. They wouldn't often slip away like this, away from the watchful eyes and their responsibilities.

She leaned her cheek slightly against his back, feeling his breath's steady rise and fall. "Where we goin'?" She asked, her voice soft.

Eagle Flies smiled, though she couldn't see it. "Nowhere in particular. I just wanted to get away for a while."

Tilly understood that feeling all too well. Camp life was always moving, busy with people needing things, tensions rising and falling like the tide. She loved having a place to belong, a family not bound by blood but by choice. But it was nice to slip away, if only for a moment.

Eagle Flies held the reins with one hand, the other resting lightly over hers where she clutched his waist. His body was warm against hers, solid and sure.

"Do you ever think of leaving this all behind?" He asked, his voice low but carrying easily in the quiet.

Tilly thought about that. She talked about how often she wanted to escape her past and start fresh in a place where no one knew her name. "I used to think about runnin'," she admitted, her voice distant. "When I was younger, I was stuck with those men. I dreamed about getting a horse and just ridin', not stopping until I found a place where no one could hurt me."

Eagle Flies turned slightly, just enough for her to see his dark eyes soften. "And did you?"

Tilly smiled, tightening her arms around his waist. "I think I found something better." 

He's quiet momentarily, guiding the horse towards a small stream, the water shimmering in the late afternoon sun. The sound of the water added to the moment's stillness, and Eagle Flies slowed the horse to a walk as they neared the bank.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter and thoughtful. "You are like the river, Tilly. You carve your path, no matter how hard the land tries to stop you."

Tilly laughed softly, shaking her head. "I don't know about that. Rivers don't have much of a choice where to go."

Eagle Flies glanced over at her, his eyes steady and unwavering. "But you do." He paused, then added, "You chose to live. You chose to fight for yourself. That is not something everyone does."

Tilly's chest tightened, and warmth bloomed there. No one had ever spoken about her like that before, not in a way that made her feel strong. She swallowed the lump in her throat, met his gaze for a long moment, and felt something tender and steady between them.

Her hand tightened on his waist, not out of need, but out of something deeper, something that settled comfortably in her chest. She didn't answer at first, just letting the quiet stretch between them, broken only by the sounds of the horse shifting beneath them and the distant rush of the stream.

Finally, she whispered, "Maybe I'm still figuring out what it means to fight for myself."

Eagle Flies nodded, slowing the horse until it stopped near the water's edge. They both dismounted, and as Tilly stepped away, the soft fabric of her dress fluttered in the breeze. He reached for her hand, his fingers warm against hers, as they walked toward the stream. The evening sky cast everything in a soft, golden hue.

They stood there long, watching the water flow past them. Eagle Flies' steady and unwavering presence made the world seem smaller and quieter. Without the weight of the camp or the tension of their lives, Tilly felt at peace in a way she hadn't known she needed.

She looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think I'm starting to see where my path is."

Eagle Flies turned his head toward her, his dark eyes searching for hers. "And where is that?"

She smiled softly, the answer hanging between them, unspoken but understood. The wind picked up, tousling her hair, and for the first time in a long while, Tilly felt as though she had the choice to carve out a life for herself where the road was hers to travel, and she didn't have to walk it alone.