\n Life... Hard, unforgiving, painful life... Day in and day out, in a giant bowl of flying sand, digging every plot of solid dirt in search for water tables, filled with dusty liquid... And nothing to eat for months...

\n I would've give up of everything if I wasn't expecting my little visitors.

\n A year or so ago, I thought I was alone in this wasteland. No life for kilometers, not even a scorpion at sight. It's still like that. A lonely sandbucket. But back then, I had him. He was a sturdy fellow, braving that lifeless zone in search of happiness, according to his very words. Back then, meeting each other was a great fortune... Finally, I wasn't alone anymore.

\n I first saw him as a friend. Banded with him in order to survive, to find an exit of this hell. We adventured for so long, I still can't remember how much time we kept enduring the distances. Days, weeks, maybe months... But thanks to our rotten luck, no signs of changing ever crossed our way. No oasis, no forests, not even a tiny grass leaf trying to reach the surface. Nothing.

\n But we had each other. It took me quite a while to notice, but suddenly I wasn't waking up day after day to find an exit from this neverending desert. But to see him again. To enjoy his company. To do what I always did, with him at my side. Nothing else was more important than that for me.

\n One night, I decided to end this charade. We burrowed the ground to make ourselves a resting place for the night. To our surprise, we ended in a concealed cave. Nothing better for a bed than something more solid, for a change. But, whenever we would end, it wasn't of importance. I had to end this growing desire, I had to make him mine. I simply had. Because I had nothing else.

\n We ended belonging to each other at that night. We barely slept. But I wasn't regretful... On the contrary. I found out he also wanted me for his safekeeping, in his heart. I couldn't remember another joyful day.

\n That was only the beginning, though. Our lucky starts finally begun to smile for the both of us... The cave we've rested in was the entrance for a gigantic waterbed, which made itself clear after the first sun rays poked through the holes in the celiling disguised as quicksand traps. Our problems with water were solved, but we still had the crave for chow growing. Occasionaly though, as we decided to settle down on this place, the many quicksands gifted us with assorted lifeforms now and then. It was gross, I reckon... But it was us, or them.

\n Food and water aplenty. We had a home.

\n Moreover... I needed sustenance for another reason... I was going to be a mother... That night which our current of bad luck ended in romance, I've been gifted with life growing inside of my womb. A pact of love from me and my mate. Newborn life, to bring a new joy to both of us. Finally. That's why I've stopped to care who felt in our traps, and feed on their bodies. I had to see their faces, I simply had...

\n I couldn't think, though, that someday I would be the prey, not the hunter. There were almost a year since we had anything falling on our territory, so it was usual to see my dear mate awaking up much earlier than I to hunt. I couldn't see where he gone to, and sometimes he would go missing for days, but always returning with a prey, its size proportional to the time I've waited for his return. I couldn't complain to him about the loneliness though... I had to stay behind and take care of our kids. I could sense it. There weren't much time lasting for them to crack clear of their eggshels. We would be mother and father...

\n One week has passed since I last saw him. I passed the days, not moving at all, to save my energy. I felt like that cursed misfortune was returning to me... It was a horrible feeling... And then, it was all over. Someone felt through one of our our quicksand traps once again. The critter squelched in pain for the fall. I didn't even thought twice, I simply lept towards him.

\n I was so hungry, I didn't even noticed he wasn't to be trifled with... I don't know exactly what happened, my vision got blurred for a second, pain surged through my whole body. It was painful... He wasn't mine everyday prey, he was dangerous...

\n All I've noticed before was seeing him atop my chest. I could hear his stomach growling, his mouth watering so much, a cold drop felt on me... It was so cold... As cold as the blade he thrusted in my chest moments after... I was so helpless...

\n Right after that... The last thing I could do... Was to reccollect my story in this accursed desert... While seeing him... Walking towards my nest...

\n Don't kill... my children...

\n