Jealousy

These two trees had this ongoing fued. By the way, this is unusual, trees are typically universally cooperative. Not these two. They seemed alike, but quarreled over everything, silently of course, as trees interact by their nature. But, tension sapped thru their limbs daily, the winds bearing witness. 

It was some ordinary jealousy in play, as the two competed for the sun's casual approval, quite unnecessary and odd. Neither could recall how it all started, being saplings at the time- but their instinct was to joust, although the winner's prize was never defined.

In truth, each tree was secretly afraid that the other was better, as jealousy always employs the fear of being inferior as measure. Nearby trees couldn't relate to the peculiar conflict, but an old tree remembered the story. Deciding to get involved, the old tree asked its resident owl to pass on a message to the battlers.

The owl flew over and shared the old tree's memory. All at once the two feuding trees stopped and realized- they were siblings? No wonder similar in nature and kind, no wonder a will to compete. So, the strange familiarity of jealousy felt is a clue: without your inner dread, no one is  better than you.