Samson's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Samson pressed their paws against the rough bark and peered up at the golden droplets forming on the lowest branch. The honey tree stood in a clearing, its sweet scent filling the air. Other animals would come soon, hungry and careless. Samson wanted to be different. They wanted to guard these trees, to keep them safe and thriving. One day, they would protect every honey tree in Luna. But first, they needed to know where all the honey trees grew. Samson adjusted their orange scarf and started walking. The forest stretched out in every direction, thick with shadows and undergrowth. They needed height. A tall wooden platform rose ahead, its planks weathered but sturdy. Samson climbed the ladder, paw over paw, until they reached the top. From up high, the forest spread out like a golden map. Samson spotted three clusters of honey trees in the distance, their branches dripping with amber sweetness. Bees circled each group in lazy spirals. More trees than Samson had ever imagined. They pulled out a small piece of bark and scratched marks onto it with a claw, making a rough map. Back on the ground, Samson found a wooden perch near the first honey tree. A bee sat on it, wings still. Samson circled the perch, then practiced lunging forward and blocking with their arms. Again and again, they moved their body through defensive positions. Their muscles burned. Sweat dampened their fur. But when the sun began to set, Samson stood taller. They knew where the trees were. They knew how to start training. The work of becoming a protector had begun.