Plagued by catastrophic environmental changes, the end of the land was imminent. Once vibrant and teeming with life, the Earth had succumbed to the ravages of pollution and deforestation. As the final sectors of land were swallowed by rising tides, a pair of great egrets embarked on their last desperate quest for water. They soared through the ashen skies with dwindling hope, tirelessly scouring the desolate landscape for life-sustaining moisture. These majestic birds symbolized grace and resilience amidst the impending doom with their long, slender bodies and snowy plumage.

Their journey was arduous and fraught with despair. The once mighty rivers had run dry, leaving behind barren riverbeds that cracked under the weight of the scorching sun. The once lush forests had withered, their trees reduced to skeletal remains. But in the face of despair, the great egrets pressed on, driven by an innate instinct to survive. Their wings carried them over vast expanses of lifeless terrain until, at last, a shimmer of light reflected off a distant mirage. The Great Pacific. As the last Great Egrets to roam the dying land, they stood as silent witnesses to humanity’s irreversible destruction, their search for water a poignant reminder of what was lost and what could have been.

~ Robert David Atkinson

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