A habit I will happily continue!!!
WAZZZZZZZZZZZZUUUUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPP!!!!!!
:
Mind you perhaps?
Nah, that's just the talking style of Razo and myself! :^.^:
Eep!! I'm late on updating, my bad!!! I've just been busy!! But here it is!!
-~-
Mai awoke slowly. For a few brief seconds, all was confusion. Where was she? How did she get in here? Why is it so quiet? Her biological clock told her it was still daylight and the hive is always busy and noisy all day. Then, it all came back to her: the hornets, the murdering.....She felt tears burn her eyes all over again and she tried hard not to sob in case the enemy insects were still out there. She should find Sashi now, if the older bee's still...
She stopped herself from finishing that thought. Had to think of something positive for a change. She forced herself to assume that her sister was alive and well, out there somewhere.
With extreme caution, she very slowly poked her antennae out of her hiding place. It smelled of hornet, dead bodies, and blood, intermixed with honey and the smell of fear from the pupae. She didn't want to go out of her hiding place, the only place in the hive she felt safe in. But it had to be done. She had to get out of here, that was her only chance. She can't stay here forever. Taking a deep silent breath, she hesitantly peeked out and almost immediately pulled back as some hornets went by towards the entrance to the hive, carrying crying pupae in their jaws and forelegs. Mai had to fight the instinct to defend the innocent babies. That wouldn't lead anywhere and would only get her killed for nothing.
The hornets did not notice her and continued on their way. Mai waited until she could no longer even smell them before trying to get out again, this time with more success. Glancing around outside her cell, she was struck with utter horror. The bodies of her sisters and brothers littered the ground, literally carpeting it so the floor can't be seen. Blood was everywhere, pooled under the remains and splattered over the walls and cells. There were headless bodies and even just legs clinging to the vertical cells where their owners have been killed on the spot. It didn't take long for the young honeybee to notice something.......
None of the bodies were hornets. Her colony, containing tens, maybe even hundreds of thousands of bees facing hornets that only came by the dozens......and the bees were all dead, with not a single enemy take down. In the wise words of Razo: 'That ain't right....' Speaking of her brother......
Still wary, she crept out of the cell and went over to the decapitated remains of her sibling to pay some kind of respect. This is a first: Drones never get the respect of the dead as they weren't good for practically anything. But this one was a bit different. He went from bossy and lazy to brave and caring. This is one male she'll definitely remember for the rest of her life.
"Good bye Razo....." She whispered softly. "Thank you so much for what you did for me. You didn't have to do it, since it was, as you would say 'too much effort'. But you did it anyway, and I'm forever grateful. I'm sorry I ever thought badly of you." She smiled softly as silent tears went down her cheeks. "But could you blame me? I am your younger sister, mind......" With a shaky sigh, she nuzzled the larger body. "Wish I could've said this sooner, but......I love you, bro-"
"Talking to a corpse? How sweet...." A voice interrupted. Mai shot around in horror as Shon stepped closer. In response, the smaller insect stepped backwards, shivering in fright, which the hornet seem to find most amusing.
"What do you want from me?" She managed to choke out through her terror. She never understood that, never understood why he singled her out. Was it some kind of hornet tradition to pick out a particular innocent victim to torment? The response she got was an almost amused growl.
"You don't know? And I've heard so many others say honeybees were intelligent." He mocked, taking another step. "Seems they're wrong..."
"Just tell me, okay!" She said this with more desperation than anger. If she knew why Shon paid her special attention, maybe, just maybe, she can talk him out of it....even if compromise didn't work before...
With the same mirthful face, he answered quite menacingly. "See for yourself." He snapped his jaws at her and she yelped with a jump. Yet, she knew he missed on purpose. Why, she didn't know. But she wasn't going to question it. Instead, she scurried off as fast as she could towards the entrance. She didn't even know if he was giving chase. She startled quite a few hornets that were hanging around the ledge and they growled at her. Her instinctive terror increased a hundred-fold, but they didn't attack her....
That was another thing she won't question and she jumped off the ledge, opening her wings in an attempt to fly. She was thankful she knew the basics because of Sashi's lessons, but this was only her second experience and she had those injuried Razo gave her. As a result, she was very clumsy and her painful wingbeats only succeeded in softening her crash to the ground below. Dazed, she stood and jumped again with a cry. Another hornet!!...Wait...
This one's dead...
Amazed and confused, she sniffed the huge body and immediately recognized him. It was the hornet scout that she....In horror, she understood everything now. The scent! She tried desperately to clean it off, but it was too late. It was dried and permanent, the scent mark she'll have for the rest of her life...Whimpering, she backed into the wall, where she picked up the same smell....The scout lived long enough to mark the nest. That's how the other hornets found the hive!
Slowly, she approached the body. Honeybees had a built-in grooming brush on their legs; maybe hornets would have one to get rid of the scent...the scent she wanted so badly to be gone....
--
Shon moved out to the ledge where the bee retreated to, growling at the other hornets who quickly bowed their heads. He made a quick search for Namida, but didn't see her in the group. She's probably still hunting for strays. He got back to business and looked down the edge, spotting the bee examining Khan's body and the scent mark he left. Good, the bee was getting the message. Took her long enough. He glared back at the others.
"Keep this in your heads: That bee is mine to kill." He hissed. The subordinate insects nodded, not wanting to test him. After all, whatever Shon says goes, no matter what. The hornet leader flew down quickly and landed right in front of the bee and beside his deceased soldier. The furry insect cowered back, twitching her stinger as if it can do any harm to him. Shon said nothing at first, looking at his fallen scout. Turning a sharp gaze back to the bee, he growled. "You get it now?"
The Mai bee gulped and nodded softly. "I...I did-"
She was interrupted as Namida and her brother, Sheshu, landed nearby, both keeping a safe distance from him. Shon smirked. "Nice of you two to join us."
Namida and Sheshu nodded respectfully. Sheshu was normally a Guard that spent most of his time protecting the entrance of the nest. He's a strong insect though and proves himself a skilled bee-killer whenever Namida found it in her time to drag him along, sometimes 'dragging' can be taken literally. He isn't against the fun of bee hunting; like all other hornets, he enjoyed it. But sometimes, you just wanna break for yourself. However, when it comes to Namida, he'll do anything for his favorite sister. And this undying loyalty spread to his leader as well.
Shon nodded at the bee, and at the unspoken signal, Namida circled around one way, Sheshu the other, blocking any retreats. The bee looked back and forth from one of the trio to the other, obviously more than a little frightened. Such panic showed in her voice.
"Please, leave me alone. Please..." The Mai bee begged, lowering to the ground. "You all took my colony....Just go...."
The hornets shook their heads and Namida spoke, antennae perked to pick up the scent mark. "You were one of the bees responsible for killing Khan."
"Bu-" Again, the bee couldn't finish as Sheshu continued.
"He was one of the top soldiers, very much respected and a close companion to us all."
"Please, ju-" Once more, she couldn't go on as Shon finished with a loud hiss, always having the final word.
"If it wasn't for that fact, I might've accepted your Queen's offer." The smaller bug looked shocked, distressed, all sorts of other similar emotions showed in her face. He grinned and continued. "It's your fault your colony is dead."
Now the fuzzball seemed like she's been struck in the face by some invisible force and he knew what kind of impact his words were having on her...and he enjoyed it. He could see tears welling up in the bee's eyes, ready to resoak her already matted fur. She looked at the other two as if hoping for sympathy, but it was clear that she wasn't getting any. After a moment of comprehending this, she shivered and seemed to be getting angry.
"Please let me say one thing!" She practically shouted to Shon, apparently tired of the constant interruptions she's been receiving lately. Namida tilted her head at the bee's sudden, somewhat brave change of character, but she did nothing to change her position in this conflict. Sheshu looked about ready to snap at the little bee, but knew it wasn't his place unless Shon ordered it. After all, this was supposed to be the leader's kill, not theirs. The furry insect took a few shaky breaths before seeming to revert back to her terrified and submissive state. "I-I'm sorry....Very, very, very sorry....Please, I didn't mean to cause anyone trouble....But just leave me be...I'm sorry...."
Did she really think a number of 'Sorrys' would change Shon's mind, will change any of their minds? Well, she had another thing coming. This Giant hornet leader did not have sympathies for his enemies. He'll torture them and no matter how much they begged and pleaded, he won't forgive and forget. No exceptions will be shown here. With a deep growl in his voice, as he was none too amused with her previous outburst, he gave her what could be the last words she'll ever hear.
"You will be." He charged and this time, her colony isn't there to save her.
END OF CHAPTER 6
