When the wanderers stumbled across an unexpected oasis in the desert, they couldn’t believe their luck. They climbed a rise and found themselves looking down at a small forest of palm trees, laden with sweet, ripe fruit ringing pools of cool, clear water. It felt like a miracle.
Some fell on their knees and gave thanks, while others rushed forward, intent on taking advantage of their good fortune.
But none of them realized the truth until it was too late. Even a paradise is an ecosystem, and all ecosystems have an apex predator. The beast watched their approach with interest.

“49 Palms Oasis; Twentynine Palms, CA” by Joshua Tree National Park is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2026 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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