The stars moved through the fading night sky, their light diminishing as the day slowly awakened. A gust of wind blew violently over the dunes. A group of children braced themselves as the sand and debris battered their bodies.
"We need to go now!"
"We haven't caught anything to eat yet."
"We can try again tomorrow."
"We're not going to have the energy tomorrow!"
"I'm not going to risk everyone else! Stay if you want. Come on guys, let's go."
The group split off, leaving one behind. The lone child continued on the path, while the others returned to the water hole.
With luck, the child found prey on the other side of the dune. Luck would favour him again, as he was positioned downwind from the animal. The boy slowly descended the dune in a zigzag pattern until he was close enough to shoot his prey.
The bolt flew swift and true, striking its target in the head. The boy scampered quickly over to the body, and drawing the knife from his belt, he slit the animal's throat. He couldn't stay until the carcass was properly bled; the fire bugs would eat him and his catch.
The boy hitched the animal's body onto his frame and began his trek back to the hole. Despite his efforts to move faster, his load drastically slowed his pace. The manner he'd hitched his game was troubling. The animal's blood dripped onto his trousers, causing them to stick to his legs and pick up sand.
Still, he recognised the two cacti among a pile of rocks. The hole was two dunes away. Just as he quietly celebrated, his heart sank as the golden dawn broke. Fire bugs rose from the sand in frenzied swarms.
ns 18.68.41.146da2
