You know, having a family is pretty nice. Or, at least one that cares about you. I think they do anyways? I can't exactly communicate at the moment so I can't ask, but they give off the impression of caring. They're all constantly worried for the young, so I would hope they have my best interests in mind. Benjamin, former human, currently monstrous bee, pondered absent mindedly to himself as he sat comfy in a chamber with some of his fellow black and yellow buddies.

From what Benjamin knew of bees, this wasn't exactly a stage in their life. But he figured that the members of his species weren't exactly ordinary bees. They had two pairs of arms, each with three digit hands. They were also air borne, their little wings somehow generating enough thrust to keep them off the ground. He also wasn't a scientist, don't think scientists starve to death so that's a bit obvious. But he didn't think that was how aviation worked.

Honestly, they really didn't resemble bees, like... At all, besides black and yellow fur. But Benjamin knew they were. Why, you might ask? Why because his status page says so of course.

Benjamin, Sapia Worker Bee.

Level 1

Strength 7

Dexterity 14

Constitution 5

Wisdom, 8

Capacity, 3

Intelligence, 11

Charisma, 5

Manipulation, 4

Abilities, Riftwalker.

Although to be totally honest Benjamin wasn't even sure if he was a "he" any more. Well whatever, it didn't really matter regardless. They didn't have a particular amount of attachment to their past life anyways. The only real issue they were having was...

Passing the time! Seriously what can I do here? I know the older bees have some way of communicating, hell, I can hear it! It's most definitely not english, most certainly not, but it's a clear dialect regardless! Though, whatever they have, I do not. I have no way to speak! I have no mouth and I must socialize! I mean I have a mouth, but no vocal cords! Or at least not ones that can make words... Benjamin took to one of their nearby infants with a zeal to make friends... Even if they didn't exactly know how to reciprocate, I dunno maybe the bees here are like, human intelligent, like me?

So with an awkward waddle (humanoid bee legs are a bit more unsteady, or more accurately, more out of Benjamins area of expertise.) Benjamin made their way over to one of their... Siblings? They assumed that's what they were anyways. And sat themselves down right in front of them. Similarly to themselves moments prior, their sibling sat quietly minding their own business. Yet now with Benjamin's presence, paid him rapt attention.

So... Uh... Hi? Benjamin lifted one of their arms, which by the way they currently had two. And waved with their less then what they were used to hand. The bee whom they'd been attempting to say hi to merely tilted it's head in confusion, clearly having no idea what the gesture even meant.

Benjamin blinked a few times, before opening his mouth open and closed repeatedly. Then they pointed between themselves and the other bee a few times as well. Their attempt at saying "Hey I want to talk!" Was simply met with more confusion. And after a moment, the other bee pointed at a few adult bees present in the chamber while opening and closing their mouth.

So they could either be telling me to go talk to them... Ooooor the more likely option is that they're saying they can't feed me. Why did I even try to use my mouth to show I want to talk? Hello, think Benjamin...

Benjamin reached up with their digited hand to pinch their nose. Before shortly realizing that they infact, did not have a nose. Well, no, they had a nose, just not one that protruded outwards. Benjamin could still smell the hive around him and it's workings. He wasn't nose deaf, it just wasn't particularly apparent. By now the bee that they'd attempted to "speak" with was thoroughly confused. But it didn't seem upset either, just puzzled as to what it's sibling was trying to communicate.

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Instead of being put off, which Benjamin would totally understand, he was being weird. It seemed to think a little harder, staring down at the ground with it's eyes narrowing in concentration. Before looking back up at Benjamin and waving at them similarly to how he had moments prior. Benjamin enthusiastically nodded at this development, both surprised and quite happy with the development.

Alright! New family is at least somewhat smart! I mean-not that it matters or anything, as long as they cared for me I wouldn't mind!... Why am I defending myself from myself...? Bah! Don't leave your new best friend hanging Benjamin!

Benjamin waved back, and the bee did this little half smile thing with their face that despite the actual lack of facial feature besides eyes and a mouth just made his little bee heart melt. It invoked his own smile and with a great effort, he tried to communicate some more.

...

After... Benjamin wasn't quite sure how long, but it was a short amount of time. A few more bees flew into the room. Speaking of the room, it was actually pretty small. The amount of infant bees that had been in here all along was actually a pretty small amount too, numbering to just about eight. And over time the rest of them had gathered around Benjamin and his bee friend. And over the course of, Benjamin guesstimated, thirty minutes? He'd managed to teach the rest of them waving hello, pointing, and nodding yes or no. Not much, but progress!

But back to the point, the adults that had just entered the room. [It's good to see everybody already so active a few hours after leaving the pupa stage. Young workers, are you ready to learn?] Benjamin continued to wonder what exactly this speech was. Their mouths opened and closed, clearly not producing actual words. Well, actually, they were, just not ones that he knew before now... And despite knowing them, he didn't know how to say them.

Click-[ye-]-Click-[es]-Cllliiick-[yes.] Eh? That was you best buddy? Benjamin turned to face the bee who they'd initially tried to talk to, and, wow! They must be a language pro! I mean they're presumably only a day old, like I am but still, yknow? But how did he do it? It was some kind of odd clicking noise before it actually became legible to me... Hold on, maybe I do have vocal cords?

After a short moment of hesitation, Benjamin pushed his hand into his own mouth and felt around a little bit. This wasn't exactly the kind of thing he did often before he died, but he can't say that he never did either. Despite a few odd glances, he continued to dig around and well, his mouth felt... Weird. Really weird, not very similar to his human one. It was a mouth, yes, coming with a tongue and everything excluding teeth. But it was shaped oddly, his tongue was more narrow, a longer strand of flesh compared to the fleshiness of a normal humans. And it was kind of... Narrow? The walls of his mouth closed in a little bit. But he instinctually felt that he could try something.

Click-click-Oh come on work, stupid mouth-Click-clllick-click-[m]-Oh, got it! cliiiick-[m]-click-[me]-Click-[too.] Benjamin felt his fur dripping with own saliva, it was kind of gross, but it'd dry out eventually. A little later the rest of the bees figured out how to work their own voices, and a chorus of slightly unsettling clicks and clacks paired with the occasional legible word rung out. This description makes it sound like a long time, but it was closer to about ten seconds.

[It is wonderful to see you all adapting so quickly. Are you ready to dedicate yourselves to the hive little ones?]

Another set of clicks sounded out as the bees responded in kind. [My li]-click-[life for the hive!] I mean, you guys sure? Your life is a pretty valuable thing-oh I should probably try to fit in... [Me t-]-click-[too.]

That got me more glances then saying nothing at all! What in the world...?

[Your education will begin so that you may become valuable to the hive. Follow us and you will soon learn your purposes.]

Our... Purposes? I mean, having my purpose cut out for me in life could be nice... But... Ehhhh I'll reserve my judgement for a little bit. Show me what we've got mysterious bee hive!