22 april 2026
(I made this back in 2021. It follows me on every platform I join.)
There, down the hill, I saw a human. I waved an arm at her, in the manner of their species, but she did not respond. Making my way over to her, I realized why: she was dead, and had been for a long time.
I knew humans tended to be uncomfortable with the handling of dead bodies, but I was curious and figured that no one was around to complain. I wiped some of the thick layer of dust that covered her flat elytra, revealing the familiar dark tint of old semiconductor leaves; she must have been some sort of exploration drone, from back when humans were uncomfortable sending their organic caste off- planet.
Taking a step back, I looked at the human's wheels and noticed that some of them were sunken into the ground somewhat deeper than others. I cautiously probed that patch of soil with a leg which, sure enough, immediately sank into a hidden sand trap. I understood what had happened: that poor human must have gotten stuck and, unable to move to a windier area to clean herself, presumably starved to death the next winter.
As I marked coordinates and kept moving, I wondered how she must have felt.