Between them stood an animosity so deep it was ingrained and unresolvable.
They stood staring, glaring waiting for the other's first move. Not daring to engage but relentlessly needing to regardless.
Their paths had crossed, the wheels were in motion. Nothing now could seemingly mean no other outcome appear, than for them to fight until one or the other succumbed to death.
Again, their eyes locked. Each move, each breath a signal of intent. Each flicker interpreted to mean only one thing and of what would come to pass.
The struggle being to back away to move from where they were in this time and in this place, to move on, move away. To live that other day to each own a different destiny. The struggle was that each believed in what was about to commence. That was each the fault they had. Each believed that their history and their present were a collision of the inevitable. And so it would be.
They both plunged forward towards each other, blows and fury in flurry missing their mark.
Their conflict would not change history. The world would know little other than maybe someone would discover the aftermath.
And someone did.
There on this track where few would walk, he came upon them both. One with a broken back unable to move and near death. The other hobbling and staggering unable to easily stand and finally collapsing, also hearing death's call.
If only they had been able to walk away. If only they had betrayed their instincts and moved back to resume life and live a life fulfilled. But they let their natures consume them!
Now they were two bodies left alone on a track. Each laying either side. One a snake, the other a bush turkey. The struggle and conflict had consumed them both.
(Copyright 2021 Kevin Palmer, all rights reserved)