june writing challenge day 5

samuel and rook

Samuel and Rook are often asked about one another.

Of course, it is a surprise to no one that they certainly are well aware of the each other's existence. They are locked in to a territory war, after all.

Samuel comes from the old guard; his method and purpose honed by the anvil of time. After a lifetime of training, planning, and execution, his empire has become vast and tightly secured. The reputation he has built fosters respect from his peers and fear from his enemies. At the end of the day, he has shown that time is his fiercest ally.

Rook, on the other hand, is a wild card of the new guard. He truly builds his path one brick at a time. He has been known to flail in the wind, reaching wildly to secure his grip. Still, he has never fallen. His resilience and determination, if nothing else, have qualified his place in the world and his spot on the champions' block. With each and every step, he learns, grows, and soon his compounded knowledge may just become his path to victory.

The two of them, while attentively aware of each other, are very careful not to cross paths. It is their unspoken agreement; you stay on your side of the line, I'll stay on mine. A lesser-knowing witness might think that this undrawn border comes from an allyship or mutual respect, but it couldn't be further towards the contrary.

Samuel's doubtless belief that Rook is one misstep away from blowing up his own volatile empire is what keeps him avast. To avoid the shrapnel of Rook's inevitable demise has become far and beyond more important than advancing that demise himself.

Rook, though he may not look it, is far too careful and calculated to step on to claimed territory unprotected. The belief that his movements are uncalculated and uneducated are his armour. It will take years of careful planning, learning, and execution to so much as behold Samuel's claim, let alone conquer it. While this prospect is absolutely on his list of to-do, he knows to first find his footing. Step One: stabilize his own claim. Step Two: the world.

Until either one makes a move, the understanding is simple: whatevers lands on your side is yours, whatever lands on mine is mine. Stay away and mind your business, and we'll do as we please. Beneath this understanding, though, the tension and fire is building. It really only is a matter of time until one misstep leads to canonfire.

(inspired by the two spiders that live on my porch)

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