Bitterroot Valley ✢ Natural blood-stained blond

sky eater, he repeated, tasting it, low in his throat. strong name.

he shifted, the heavy frame of him easing to sit. for a while he said nothing, only watched the boy’s breath fog against the cold.

then, softer, i am sega, toshkah. of big sky. hunter of great sky now. his tongue worked over the shape of his own name like a small promise.

his gaze lingered, steady and unjudging. your family… where they? a pause, heavy as the quiet between storms. river take? or war?

he turned his head toward the wind, eyes narrowing as the horizon stretched pale and endless. great sky not leave child to storm.