Epic of Bee

Other bees brought over a bucket of something steaming and dipped the female's severed arm into it. The girl squealed, and then passed out, but when they took the liquid away, there was wax covering over the stump.

"Which way is out?" I asked.

I was still staring at the Queen, but I watched the others as well out of the corner of my eye. If this was like a normal beehive this would be hanging from something or attached, and I wasn't ready to try out my paper wings yet.

"You can't be serious? You're going to kick her out? In place of that vicious one?" asked a female voice, but it came from a male bee, or so I thought.

After squinting, I could see that she was smaller, but had no sexually defining traits. The real question was why did she stick up for me?

"Messia, are you questioning my authority? What is going on today? Guards toss her out with the other two!" The queen sneered at the woman.

I was really not liking this woman, but there was nothing I could do. I wasn't about to sick my new friend that didn't have a name on her.

"Fine, I will go with Ashia, she will need me, and I will be taking three more with us. The girls must have attendants, " Messia told the queen as I watched confused.

I knew nothing about bees or what they did, but this seemed like my nanny was stepping out of line. I really hoped this didn't turn into a bloodbath.

"Three? I refuse!" The queen spat, but Messia shook her head.

There was a roar from the gathered bees and the Queen was cowed. This was interesting, looks like the queen didn't have control of everything.

"I didn't ask. You can have your cruel fun and decide some things, but this will go to a vote. Ladies, can I get two volunteers to join us? Leah, you will be coming with us," Messia said, pointing to one of the larger females.

"Yes, I will join you!" The robust bee said with a bit too much excitement.

That one seems eager, but the Queen looked relieved at the choice, and that didn't make me feel good. If she was fine with getting rid of her after she had just refused must mean she was a dud.

"Aunty Messi! Pick us! We want to go with you!" Two very small versions of Messia cried, running up to latch on to her.

"KYA KYA KYA! These are who you want to take? I think you will actually be doing me a favor! You are all banished, effective now!" The queen cackled, pointing to a tunnel.

I Looked over at Messia and she nodded for me to follow. I turned more and bumped into…

"Do you ha-ave a name?" I asked, after bumping my… ass into her?

The thing was big and striped like the others had, but it didn't weigh me down. It just got in the way and was odd-looking, but that could have something to do with being a human male for ninety-nine percent of my life!

"I don't know," The girl knight bee said with confusion, losing some of the confidence she had before.

"Riza? I like that one, and that red hair you have helps!" I said with a smile, finally getting a hold of my tongue.

"Umm, okay, but we should get going before they change their minds. I don't think that I can fight all of them," Riza said.

I turned back to Messia, watching my back end as I did. She waved her two right arms at me to follow her, and I did, but I grabbed Riza's hand.

The hive had gone quiet, no wings buzzed and everyone was looking at us. Each had a different expression, but the only one that seemed mad was the queen.

The rest wore blank expressions, but some of them did look sad or upset. Part of me wanted to feel bad for them, but I was not a killer, nor a baby machine.

I followed the four with Riza holding her spear in one hand, and the other was being pulled by me. I had never had any siblings before, and it was weird to think that I had just gained a sister just like that.

"Ashia, you need to stay with us at all times, your sister and Leah will protect us. I don't know what you did to her, but she looks more than capable of fighting now. The world is very dangerous and you are a Virgin Queen, and some might try to harm or capture you," Messia explained to me.

"Capture me? For what?" I asked a bit worried now.

"That doesn't matter right now, what matters is getting to the Ferret Sages safely. To do that you will need to listen to what we tell you. You are still an Immature Queen, and you have a lot to learn if you hope to survive in this world," Messia told me as we turned a corner.

Around the corner, there was a light coming from what looked to me like a cave opening.

Finally, I would be able to get outside and see the world that I had been dropped into. I picked up my pace and dragged Riza with me. I wasn't going to run ahead, but I was excited to see the world.

When we got to the opening, I felt like there was something wrong. The land was scarred, and dead, the only trees were brown, and even the earth looked dead.

"What happened here?" I asked in confusion.

I didn't think that the world would be perfect, but this was a bit much. Was this world just a constant battleground, or what could do something so life-draining to the land?

"This is why we need to be careful. All of this death and dying of the land? All a result of the queen's cruelty and idiocy. The queen refuses to pollinate the lands for everyone and only does it for the ones that pay her," Messia explained with a sign.

Oh, this was rich, sins of the father, well mother in this case. Now I would be hunted for something I didn't even do or not do.