Bees

Chapter One

The sun shines through the dark hive, everyone was working to make sure the bee hive would be sustainable for winter. To be honest, we have the best spot in the entire woods, most hives are jealous. Us bees, work hard as one. Queen Hawthorn was very busy and stressed with all the responsibility held on her shoulders. As for me, my life is pretty simple, nearly every day is the same, well it was. My father has been missing. He left the hive in search for flowers with the others, and they never came back. When the hive heard the news, we all got shivers and now the hive goes unprotected. Rumors spread like wildfires in which nobody knew what to believe. 

As I pass the other bees they give off friendly chemicals to greet, then carry one with their work. Soon I pass by the small bees. They did their dances and gave off chemicals of pure joy, oblivious to the world around them. Their delicate wings flutter, their coats stripped with yellow and black. I miss it. The joy, the happiness, nothing but pure fun. However, now I must be strong and become just like my father, the best honey bee known. After watching the small bees at play I quickly race back and begin getting ready to collect pollen. I fall into step with Orchid, my best friend. Her father also never came back from the trip, but with hope still lingering, we believe that they could still be alive. While getting ready to leave, we promise each other to not leave each other's side. 

Ihave always thought that the outside world was beautiful. Colors rainedeverywhere, from signs to trees to grass and especially flowers. Oh, how I lovemy job! Instead of being cooped up all day in the hive, I'm allowed to explorethe open air filled with opportunities.     

Although today the sky was filled with white puffs of cotton candy, the sun would never leave my side. Noticing that I lost track and slowly started drifting away from the group, I quickly buzz right back into my spot. Sometimes it takes longer to find the flowers, the chemical that the voyager gets is sometimes unclear. Finally, colorful little dots flooded the ground nearly blocking out all the green grass.

As joyful chemicals fill the air we buzz down towards the flowers. Using our ultraviolet vision we easily locate the middle of the flower and begin to collect pollen. I ended up not being able to collect any, the other bees are hogs. As I watch from above, my friends begin to act differently. They start slightly swaying, running into flower stems and some begin to fall to the ground.

Confusion crosses me, what is happening. Is this what could have happened to my father along with the other many men who never came back? Skeptically, I buzz down towards them. With a glint of fear, I try to get a better look. I called their names but they didn't even look at me. I can't understand what had happened. Why were they acting this way? Was this some twisted joke?

I look around and find Orchid. She had fallen with some of the others. However, soon enough, they all dropped. As though it rained bees. I buzzed down to Orchid again. I tried to help her up although she lay still. Tears well in my eyes, I might be not able to save Orchid, but I can surely save the hive. Or at least what is left. I buzz up and begin trying to make it back home, when suddenly a down pour came. With my wings wet there was no way the I could back to the hive.

Slowly but surely, I came down near flowers and held on to one of the leaves. A small red bug was on the leaf to my right. An interest creature with five black dots on its back.

"Why hello there," Assuming the creature was a she, she had a soft angelic tone.

"Hello, I am Buzzy and you are?" Her voice was pure and uplifting, mine was sour and rough. Although I wasn't trying to be rude, I had a particular mean voice.

"My name is Laneybug! What brings you hear, out in the city? Don't you know about the missing bees?" She spoke.

"Why, I am a honey bee, I was only doing my job. The voyager finds flowers then then brings us the scent to then collect the pollen. Why I sure do know about the missing bees, my father was one of them!" My voice grows louder by the second.

"I'm so sorry, that's very unfortunate. Did you ever think that maybe the voyager has been conspiring against the hive?" She asked.

"Never!" I thrash. "Uncle Willy would never go again against the hive!" I add.

"I wasn't trying to upset you I was only trying to help you figure out what might have happened." She said calmly.

"Do you know why they disappeared, or how my group all suddenly fell?" I ask quietly. "Sadly, no. Although I have a few guesses." Her voice so soft I barely hear it.

"Please, do tell."

"There has been word in the forest that there is going to be another hive and they are plaining on taking your hive over by sending your honey bees to the bad flowers that have been sprayed."

I gasp, "They... they can't. This forest has been ours for a long time, there is no way that I will stand here and let them take it."

"Now use that fury, use that anger and passion and don't let them take our forest!" "Thank you Laneybug!"

"Now go! Go!"

Quickly I buzz up and buzz as fast as I can towards the hive. I swerve into the hive and plant myself in the middle grabbing everyone's attention.

"People of the hive, I come to you with answers. My group and I went to the place where Uncle Willy told us, there were not enough flowers for all of us, so I didn't get any pollen. They all started acting differently, in strange mannerisms. Then suddenly they all crashed to the ground and refused to move. Uncle Willy sent us to flowers that had been sprayed. And he knows it. Those flowers had been sprayed with pesticides. Stuff that our voyagers know to stay away from. Which is why when I found Laneybug and she told me of the rumors that had been spreading about a new hive, trying to take our forest. Are we really going to stand here and wait for them to come and take it or are we going to protect our home."

Cheers erupt from left to right. Motivation, passion and friendship. We are all in this together, we are a team and it's about time that we started acting like one. We won the great war of the Buzzy forest. I became the best honey bee, greatest leader, the strongest warrior and a friend to all.