Chapter 48: The Bee Whisperer (2/2)

As Mike approached, the bees started buzzing angrily. For some reason, Mike could understand their challenge. Proficiency in the strange insectoid language of buzzes, body postures, and scents flooded into his mind.

With a soft, yet strangely resonant voice, he spoke to the bees. ”Calm yourselves. We mean no harm. Please, lead us to your hive, so we might converse with your queen.”

The bees quieted, indicating to Mike an acceptance of his suggestion. Without any prompting they took off and started slowly flying deeper into the woods.

Mike waved the rest of the group forward and started following the giant insects. Evidently, having an escort was all that was necessary to allow the adventurers to pass unmolested. Dozens of the giant bees were visible, flying with almost manic activity throughout the forest, but their group was largely ignored.

”So, what is the plan, exactly?” Kate asked nervously, trying to keep her eyes on all of the bees, but ultimately failing due to their sheer number.

”I'm going to walk in, and politely ask for them to give us some honey.” Mike responded simply. He was a little worried at first, since he wasn't sure if his Communication Magic would work on insects, but he was now feeling confident.

Kate and Philip were left speechless at the sheer brazen simplicity of his plan. Shy merely shook his head, evidently resigned to ride out the adventure regardless of its direction.

”You think that will work?” Kate asked. If anyone else had told her that he planned on negotiating with a colony of giant insect monsters, she would have called him crazy, but with Mike it almost seemed believable.

”I hope so, but be prepared to fight your way out, just in case.” Mike replied with a wink.

This left the rest of the group unsettled, jumping every time one of the bees got too close. Eventually however, they were able to fall into a sort of numb acceptance, resigning themselves to whatever may happen.

Mike noticed that several of the giant insects were hovering around equally giant grey flowers that were growing from the branches of the gargantuan trees. They resembled sunflowers with numerous petals arranged around the circumference of a dark grey circular depression. He could see the bees entered there and left with clumps of a sticky grey substance attached to their limbs.

[This must be the source of the honey that the bees produce. I wonder what grey honey tastes like.]

The escorting bees soon reached their destination. With a simple message of acknowledgement, they departed. The four adventurers were left in front of a massive, dying tree. Much of its central trunk had been hollowed out and then re-covered with a waxy grey plaster, making it clear that this was the Palmeray Bees' hive.

Unfortunately, it was also nearly 20m off the ground.

”I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this is problematic.” Mike mumbled more to himself than anyone else, before turning to address the group. ”Did you have any plan to get into the hive once you got here?”

Philip shrugged. ”Honestly, after getting this far, I have to admit that we were very much unprepared for this whole mission.”

Kate cuffed him in the back of the head. ”That's what I was trying to tell you! We aren't ready for this kind of mission.”

”Ow. Hey, you all agreed to it. It's not like I forced anyone to participate.” Philip tried to defend himself feebly.

Kate threw up her hands in disgust. ”Oh my gods! You are unbelievable!”

Mike signaled one of the nearby bees. ”Would you mind staying with my comrades and making sure they aren't considered intruders?” He asked, once again utilizing his strangely resonant voice.

The bee hummed a note of acquiescence and landed next to the group, focusing on them with its compound eyes.

Philip stared at the bee nervously. ”Mike, what are you trying to do?”

”I have an idea for how to get up there, but I suspect that the rest of you wouldn't want to follow me. So I'm going to go in alone, collect the honey, and be back here before you know it.” He said in as reassuring of voice as he could manage.

”I'm not sure if I like this plan.” Philip replied, clearly worried about being separated from the only person who was able to convince the bees they weren't a threat.

Shy undercut his leader's worries by handing Mike a pair of large glass jars with simple cork stoppers.

Mike nodded his thanks before motioning to a group of nearby bees. ”Could you give me a lift up to the hive entrance, I need to see the queen.”

Two of the bees grabbed onto his shoulders, while another two caught onto his legs. With a little bit of effort the group took off, carrying Mike up towards the hive.

He couldn't help grinning at the trio of astonished adventurers left standing on the ground.