Related previous posts: Bees, Part 1

Bees, Pt 2

Honey huddled for a long time in the remnants of the fallen oak, now reduced to a lump of logs and broken branches. The honeycomb had been carefully placed into a metal box, which was then sealed shut. Some of Honey’s closest colleagues hovered by the hive’s husk, even as it was loaded up and lugged aloft.

An amber ache tore at Honey’s heart over the fate of her fallen friends, but she had no time to mourn her mates. The sun would soon start to surrender, angry auburn and ruby red over the ridgeline. Her hive, her queen, no longer had a home. With all its wild weather and persistent predators, the canyon was no place to be exposed, especially at night.

“We must find cover,” called the drones.

“Search for shelter,” said their sovereign. “Find us a suitable substitute.”

Compelled by her command, drones dispersed in different directions.

Where should I search? thought Honey. Almost on instinct, she headed for the house on the hill. When she reached it, she paused to plan. She knew the gardens, the grounds with its gentle gales and flowering foliage. There was no shelter, no space for her species within those charted confines.

Perhaps if I went further…

“Well, you’re out late,” came a girlish giggle from the garden.

Honey spun to spot Belle standing by the patio door.

“I’m looking for a new location for my colony,” said Honey. “Can you help me?”

Dressed in a lavender gown the color of violets in bloom, Belle looked at Honey with anguish and ailing in her large almond eyes. “I heard the noise from the neighbors and saw them cut down that old oak in the backyard,” said Belle. “I sure hope everyone is okay.”

“Our hive was hacked in half,” replied Honey.

“You must be in serious straits to still be here and not safe in shelter.”

Honey buzzed apologies. “I’m sorry, I don’t have time to talk. My investigation is important. I need to succeed in my search soon.”

“Well, I hope you find what you’re looking for,” said Belle and returned to her route.

With the girl gone, Honey intensified her inquiry. Skirting the shore of the pool, she sailed to the south side of the residence by the sauna. In all her previous visits, she’d stayed clear of the dwelling. There were no blossoms beside the bedrooms, and barren besides.

But now I have need…

Slowly, carefully, Honey probed the premises. The walls were smooth and solid. She landed on the surface, finding it cold and hard as tree bark and just as impenetrable. Up and down, she crawled, all along the surface, tasting, smelling, looking for dryness, a breeze, anything that would indicate an aperture in the exterior.

Honey had almost given up hope when she smelled it. A tiny whiff of wind wafted from somewhere way above, like the faintest whisper in the black of night. Following the draft, Honey crawled up and up until her antennae touched the trough below the top. There, tucked just below the eave, was a tiny hole. Crawling through the crack, Honey emerged into the crevice between the inner and outer walls to find a broad box bordered with dusty drywall.

A hidden hollow inside the house!

With an excited exclamation, Honey hurried from the hole and hightailed it back to the collective huddled around the queen near the felled oak’s stump. Reporting her results, Honey hummed with happiness as the matriarch expressed her appreciation with bulging eyes and twitching antennae.

“Relegate all resources,” came the queen’s command. “Relocate forthright!”

Within moments, the beleaguered bees had assembled for the journey. Rising into the air like an amber cloud, the swarm departed for the hillside. Honey practically pulsed with pride as she led the way across the chasm, up the deck, and across the pool to the house. Rising to the roof, she gestured to the aperture below the eave.

The drones entered first. Fanning out, they explored the dark void for potential dangers while the matriarch remained at the entrance, protected by a phalanx of guards. Returning to the entrance, the drones declared the space not just safe, but perfect for a new hive. Once again, Honey glowed with glee as the queen entered the crevice. Surveilling the surroundings, she christened their new colony to the raucous reprise of flapping forelimbs from her flying friends.

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