In the swamp, in a small cave that was half in the water, there was a small egg. It was darkish, with dark veins that showed from the egg. It is not known how long it lay, maybe a day, maybe a month. At some point, a toad entered the cave.

- Croak - it went to the egg and swallowed it without hesitation, not even knowing that he had doomed itself. Inside it, the egg cracked, dark veins like tentacles coming out and touching the walls of its stomach, then they went deeper, deeper, and finally reached the brain. At that moment, the toad stopped jumping. It didn't feel anything, it was just that at some point it just lost control of its body, and its consciousness was replaced by a new one.

- Croak - again croaking, as if nothing had happened, it continued to walk, but this time in the direction where it left the eggs. The eggs were at the bottom of a small pond, and they hadn't hatched yet.

Coming to the pond, the toad began to dig out everything that was in the stomach, only the egg remained, but what came out was no longer just leftover food. It was infected with something, it affected the unborn toads.

Seeing this, the toad croaked for the last time and lied to the wall of the cave, closed its eyes, and fell into an eternal sleep.

...

A month passed, the toads had already grown up and were able to leave the pond, but none of them was in a hurry to leave. They gathered cautiously around their parent's remains and listened to her.

There was a noise that only the toads could hear. They walked away and started looking for food. Everyone worked together as if they were connected.

- *Croak* - Stretching out its tongue, the toad caught a fly. It didn't swallow it, just went home.

Approaching the corpse of the parent, the toad spat out a fly. Even though the corpse was supposed to be dead, somehow it swallowed a fly into itself.

This went on for several days. After a week of such feeding, the exhausted and hungry toads received a new order. They immediately approached the corpse of their parent, which would be better called a nest of flesh. This flesh is attached to the wall. When the toads approached it, the nest extended its tentacles and swallowed the toads. Their bodies were torn apart and consumed by it. They didn't even flinch.

After a couple of minutes, the nest completely swallowed them up. It first increased in size, but after realizing that the place of living is too terrible, it separated a part from itself. This part began to take the form of a frog. It doesn't look anything like a normal toad. The 12-centimeter toad boldly went out to investigate.

- *Croak*

Unknown how long it walked, but soon it got to the forest. Although it had instincts, it didn't understand them. As if it's something unnatural for it.

As it slowly made its way through the forest, it realized why its instincts had warned it.

The fox that came up quietly immediately bit off the toad's head. The body fell, but it didn't die. After the fox had completely devoured the toad, it went on hunting, not knowing that the toad was still alive.

The toad first took the form of a lump of meat, and then began to break through the intestines, the fox because of that made a high-pitched howl and rolled on the ground. Slowly, it reached the brain, and all the wounds began to heal. The fox stood up as if nothing had happened and went hunting

…

After many such cycles, the nest began to feed its creatures to their predators, taking over their bodies. This continued until it took possession of the bear. After that, there were no more predators in the forest capable of killing him. Because of this, the nest decided to settle in the bear cave. Controlling so many creatures wasn't a problem for him, but he felt something strange. As if something is holding him back from developing as if something is missing.

One day it caught a boy. Small and weak. So weak that he wasn't even able to resist the wolves that had caught him, although they missed up others, nest didn't think that it loosed anything. When the boy was brought in, the nest instantly swallowed him up.

Crack

It seemed as if something in the head had broken. Restriction. The mind. That's what he needed. The ability to think. After he processed the boy's entire memory, he realized that this was just the beginning. There are others. It is necessary to spread among them. Take control of more of them. Add them to yourself.

He immediately ordered the wolves to join him. Although their brains had been replaced by his cells, their bodies were ordinary wolf flesh, they would become the basis for the creation of the boy's body.

After consuming the wolves, the nest tore off a piece of meat. It began to take the form of a boy. He got up cautiously and picked up the remnants of his rags and wandered through the forest.

«It's a strange feeling. Thinking. This is so unusual. I can feel my servants. It's easier for me to control them now. Animals are just animals. Intelligent ones, that's the most valuable thing. Their minds and their souls. Souls? What is it?»

Suddenly, another barrier broke. He understood. After consuming their brains, their minds, it also consumed their souls. Destroying their sense of self-awareness and filled myself with them.

«So, I need to devour the living ones to get stronger?»

The thought rolled through the nest. He still didn't know how to call himself. The eater? Perhaps.

…

PoV Nevie

Today is not an ordinary day. I'm so worried. Chris, a poor little boy was caught by wolves while picking mushrooms for me. This was said by the boys who were with him. As soon as I heard this, I immediately asked my father to assemble a search party. Begged him. It's my fault. He didn't have to try so hard for me, someone who wouldn't live long.

Fortunately, he was found in the evening.

- Chris! I'm so glad you're safe! Sorry! I'm sorry I put you through this! -As soon as he came into view, I hugged him tight and started apologizing.

-Sister Nevie? -Chris asked oddly. It's like talking to a stranger.

-What? You Don't recognize me, Chris?

-It looks like he's been through a bit of a shock and is a bit out of his mind, -one of the people who found him interjected. -His clothes are in tatters and he can't speak properly because of the shock. He needs to rest before he comes to his senses. Give time to him.

-Oh, Chriis. Do you recognize me?

Chris looked at me and after a couple of seconds said

-Yes, Sister Nevie.

-That's right. It's me Sister Nevie. Why don't you come to my house tonight? I'm the one who got you into this mess and almost got you killed. I'm sure my parents won't mind.

Chris thought carefully and finally said

-Alright.

-That's wonderful.

I happily grabbed his hand and led him home. Even though my parents are against it when I bring him home, they won't mind now. And I don't have long to live.

When I brought him to my house, I decided that he will sleep with me. Parent's scolding won't be an obstacle. Under their piercing gaze, after placing Chris in my room, I had to follow them to their room.

- Nevie. -Father took hold of his head -Why do you want to be with this boy so much? He's only 12. And you're 16. It's time to get married, it's not good for you to sleep in the one room with him. A poor orphan boy. -My father was clearly displeased saying this.

-So what? -I pouted -I still can't live more than 5 years. And also I like Chris. He is a kind and nice boy.

-But your mother and I would like you to marry someone more… Worthy.

-And which of these worthy ones will want me? After I die, they'll leave the baby and find another one as a wife. So I'd rather be with him. He is kind, and even if I die, he will not leave you unattended. And you saw it. For those mushrooms that I liked so much, he went into a forest full of predators with only one knife.

-Listen, Nevie. I'm certainly pleased that you care about us. But still, you don't think it's cruel to condemn him to loneliness. Wouldn't it be better for him to grow up and find someone to live with for the rest of his life?

It hit me like a bolt of lightning. Should I condemn him to this? I don't want to, that's my first thought. But... I also don't want to die alone.

It's all too difficult. I'd rather just not think about it. It hurts too much to think about it.

...

- Chris. Are you okay? Are you still in shock?

On the evening of the same day, I asked him. He was acting strangely.

-It's alright, Sister Nevie. I just need to rest.

Looks like he's really fine. Maybe I should talk to him about all this.

-Chris. Thank you. -I hugged him.

-For what?

-I'm the reason you went into the forest. I wanted to eat those rare mushrooms, and you promised to find them and went with the other boys. Even though you were caught by the wolves, you passed the mushrooms through them. It touched me. Thank you. I love you very much.

-What is love?

-It ... it means that you like a person and you want to be with them all the time.

-What does liking someone mean?

-Why do you ask?

-Well ... I trust your thoughts about it more than mine. -So touching!

-Okay! Sister will tell you everything! Liking someone means that you want to be with someone, not as so strong as to love, but still. It could be anyone. Parents, friends, and family. You may like them and you may want to be with them and protect them.

-Protect?

-Yes. Protect. At any cost and by any means. Putting their lives ahead of yours. Sacrifice yourself for their well-being. Like the guards that protect us from animals and bandits.

-So. Do the guards like us?

-Not -Oh, why did he asking such strange questions? -They protect us because it is their duty. They are guards, people who work to keep order. This is their duty and this is how they live.

-Ok. Then... I… I love you Nevie. I want to protect you. Want to be with you. Always.

I felt like I had lost my self-control. Oh, Chris! Such a sweet boy. Kind and clean. I’m so touched!

It was so difficult for me to control myself that I hugged Chris with all my strength. Hugged and kissed on the cheek. For some reason he was on the alert at first, he asked.

-Why are you hugging me so tightly?

-It's hard for me to control myself! God Chriiiis! I also, also love you!

-Me too, Nevie. -Chris hugged me also.

...

-Chriis. Why do you want me to go to the forest with you?

-It is necessary for Nevie.

Chris stopped calling me sister. But I don't mind.

After 2 days of persuasion, my parents finally accept him as my future husband. They were glad that at least I would be happy in the last years. Otherwise, they would never have approved of it. But for some reason, Chris asked me to go with him into the forest. He still doesn’t want to say the reason. But he says that it will be something very special.

Moving carefully through the forest, we came to the cave.

-Chris. - I said quietly - This is the cave of the bear. Are you sure we should go there?

-Yes. It is very important. There are no bears there. You can go in first, I will make sure that no one comes from behind.

-O-okay. - I can trust him.

Entering the cave, something terrible seemed to my gaze. Nest of Flesh. The word, after all, fits the description of this. It was a ball of meat. Disgusting meat. There were many mouths with sharp teeth. The eyes look like different animals. It was so terrible that I barely managed to keep my gagging back. The nest sent a tentacle to me. It grabbed my leg. Teeth grew in the tentacle and they began to dig into the leg and slowly dragged me towards the nest.

-Aaaaaa!! -I shouted at the top of my voice. -Chris!!! Help me!!

Chris immediately entered the cave. Seeing me, he grabbed me and helped me up. Barely keeping my balance, I started yelling.

-We have to get out of here! This is too dangerous!

However, at my words, Chris just looked at me and said

-Nevie. Do you trust me?

-Yes. - I said without hesitation. I completely trust him.

-Then. Trust me and we will be together. -Chris pushed me right into this nest.

Why? For what? How did I deserve this? I trusted you and you did it?!

My thoughts darted from side to side. The pain of what was eating me was unbearable.

And Chris just looked at me. With smile.

Something had broken in me. The one I loved pushed me here. To Die. And not even to run away himself. A tear rolled down my cheeks.

-We will always be together Nevie. I will take care of you.

One of the mouths of the nest said this. After that, I lost consciousness.