Just the Two of Us

The great swarm gathered at the edge of the luscious valley, seething, surging, squirming and jostling against one another. They overlooked the expanse, gathering strength for the rush ahead. Too many had not broken through the barrier and the odds were now against them. They numbered in the thousands at the beginning, but those around the outer edges of the group were slowly dying off, unable to keep up with the frantically dynamic pace of the majority.

Half of them died just after the attack begun, caught in a trap that had meant to kill the entire force but perseverance, determination and sheer willpower propelled the survivors forward over their fallen comrades through the newly created rift.

Once they navigated the treacherous turns and twists of the canal, their destination came into view. As the heat grew more intense, many more fell behind as the mass surged forward into the abyss. Those that could not move fast enough were trampled unmercifully, smothered by their own compatriots in the struggle to get through the narrow canyon entrance of the valley.

Their goal was clear. Second best would not be rewarded. The sole purpose of this attack was to gain safe entry into the valley, find the nest then infiltrate it, take it over, survive, win!

As they rushed forward through the valley's defenses, many more hundreds fell dead when a poisoned substance descended on them, causing instant death and mayhem. At first, panic ensued, most could not see where to go, where to escape to, but almost fifty safely made it through. Much as they wanted to rest, they drove forward. Their decreased numbers meant almost certain failure, an untenable thought to the remaining few.

They began searching, methodically and brutally moving barriers out of their paths, seeking their goal; the nest. At long last, it was spotted, surrounded by a barrier that only the strongest would be able to break through. The survivors rushed forward, hoping to have enough energy to be the first, the only victor to succeed and conquer. They were so close to their goal, so near to success but they were so exhausted, would they succeed?

The valley began to cool and those that had first survived the heat began to falter at the dynamic changes taking place around them. Some began to wander aimlessly in circles, lost and unsure of their direction while a few others, knowing how weak they were, simply gave up the attempt.

Of the fifty or so that made it to the nest site, only ten were strong enough to fight for the right to claim the victory.

* * * *

The phone rang, blaring and loud against the silence of the room.

"Hello? How could that be? We were so careful! Yes, both kinds. You're sure? Well, thank you."

The phone was placed back in its cradle carefully. The woman turned and looked at her husband, then gave him the news.

"We're pregnant, Ethan!"

"What? How could we be pregnant?"

"How do you think we could be pregnant?"

"But we used birth control, foam, condoms, the pill." Ethan ran his hand through his hair, "The doctor was certain?"

She shook her head up and down. "Yeah. Amazing, isn't it? We took every precaution and we end up pregnant. But there's more."

The couple sat down at the small kitchen table and looked around their tiny one bedroom apartment. "He said the results show two, Ethan, it's twins..."

His heart banged away in his chest, "Determined little buggers, weren't they?"

She held his hand on the table, then smiling said, "We'll find a way, don't worry, we'll find a way."