His breath grew more and more labored, his lungs like a bellows struggling for air. He found some strength somewhere to shake with the effort of raising his hand to touch that tiny flower-like face, forcing a smile.,His father's lips trembled as he cried out, his words draining him of all energy and making his grief even more palpable.,The snake flicked its forked tongue, catching the faint scent of prey in the air. It slithered past a large rock, raising its head to search with its heat-sensing organs. Suddenly, it accelerated, diving into the grass and startling a flock of birds. Its jaws gaped open, swallowing five bird eggs the size of goose eggs. Afterward, it left the nest without looking back and continued searching for more food to satisfy its hunger.。