Maps show the shape, not the feel. A mapmaker sees the rise of a hill, a bend in the river, the density of trees and can point out where cover hides a trap. He marks choke points and likely hide spots, but he can’t feel the rustle of a twig or the weight of a hidden blade. A warrior, on the other hand, reads the air. He hears the wind shift, the crack of distant stone, the subtle change in light that a hidden enemy might cast. Instinct says “slow down, watch for that shadow” even before a map can. So the map gives you the battlefield layout, the warrior gives you the warning. Together they’re deadly, but alone each can miss the silent danger.

I respect the plan, but a gut’s the only thing that never lies, so we keep our eyes peeled and our blades ready. When that first tremor hits, we strike.