A honey bee can only sting another creature once before it dies. Unless that other creature is another bee or something similar, like an ant. Then a honey bee can sting over and over again without fear of loosing its stinger. I try to remind them of this every time I run out of soda. I should never of introduced them to the stuff.

* * *

Nettle was out gathering pollen on a patch of heather when she heard two bumble bees talking.

"Oh yes indeed, that is horrible," said one of them

The other one lifted its head, nectar dripping from its proboscis. "They will never see it coming," he said.

"Should we tell them?" asked the other.

"You can if you want, but I don't like to make a habit of ticking off the Yellow Jackets."

"Those poor bees of Burntwood," said the other.

Nettle's head picked up, "What did you say?"

"I'm sorry, what?" asked the male.

"I'm from Burntwood. You said something about Burntwood?"

"My apologies lass, but I can't get involved," and with that, the bumble bee flew off.

Nettle turned her attentions to the other bumble bee, "Please tell me."

The bumble bee looked at her with great sadness in her eyes then whispered, "The Yellow Jackets, they're planning an attack on Burntwood."

"When?" Nettle asked.

"I don't know, I just found out myself." The bumble bee looked around nervously, "I must go. Please, don't tell anyone I told you," she said as she flew away.

"I won't, and thank you," Nettle whispered after her.

Nettle took off back towards Burntwood with the news she had just gathered. Why did she have to be so far from home? Granted, it was not abnormal for her to be this far from the hive while gathering, but in this moment, it felt more like a lifetime away. She flew past other bees she recognized from the hive. She wanted to stop and tell them, but there was no time to waste. She tried to call out to them but she found herself already gasping for breath. With each beat of her wings she struggled on, giving it everything she had. The last three were the most brutal on her. The only thing that kept her going was fear. She was not afraid for her own safety but for those she loved. What would she do if she lost them? She didn't want to think about it. She pushed the sadness from her heart and forced herself on.

In the distance she could see the great tree that was her home. It stood alone, a dark beacon of what once was and what would be again. Surely she would get there in time. She cried out to Juai, for help in getting to the hive, in hope she wasn't too late, and the bumblebees were mistaken, the yellow jackets weren't planning an attack. She so wanted them to be wrong. That was what she asked Juai for most of all, let them be wrong. Let everything be all right.

Up ahead she could see the opening to the hive. She could see bees coming and going without a care in the world. She could see bees dancing in Juai's light. She wasn't too late.

Nettle flew through the opening of the hive, greeted by her sisters. Exhausted she made her way to the queen, stumbling on the comb as she went.

"Queen, Queen. I have news," Nettle collapsed before her.

"My dear, child, what is it?" asked the queen.

"The Yellow Jackets, they're coming," gasped a broken down Nettle.

"Guards do a sweep of the perimeter, report back any findings," demanded her majesty. "And you, get this poor bee something to drink," she addressed to her attendants.

The Queen knelt before Nettle, "Now child, tell me how it is you know this"

"I was out gathering pollen," Nettle looked down at her empty pollen baskets. "My apologies Queen. I must have lost it on the way back," she said through a dry raspy voice.

"That's quite all right, now please you were saying?" the Queen comforted.

One of the queens attendants came up with water. The queen nodded, and it was offered to Nettle. Nettle sucked it all up.

Again she started her story, "I was out gathering pollen when I over heard two bumble bees talking about it," She took another drink of water. "That's when I came straight back here."

The queen stroked the hair of Nettle, "Oh young one, are you sure they were right? We haven't seen a sign of the Yellow Jackets for all of summer."

"It's what they said." Nettle spoke in a somber tone.

A devout earwig approached the couple, "Queen," his voice in an almost demanding tone.

"Yes, what is it, Gota," her voice full of sweetness.

"Yellow jackets gather at the back of the tree."

"How many?" The queen tensed.

"Only three right now, mum," Gota answered.

"Must be the conclave. Very well Gota, let the others know, and have General Harebell convene with me."

Gota nodded and headed off.

The queen turned back to Nettle, "It looks like you were right, I'm so sorry you were."

Nettle hung her head.

"Now if you will please excuse me, I have some concerns to deal with. Thank you again for the information."

The queen turned around and walked toward an approaching bee.

"Harebell, I need you to take two of your soldiers and meet with the conclave. Find out their demands and then return to me.

"Yes ma'am," Harebell bowed before taking off.

Nettle took her leave. As other bees passed by she could hear the worry in their voices, each one preparing for what was to come. She continued to the edge of the comb where it met the tree and where she would not be in anybody's way. There she finally closed her eyes.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

What woke her was not the commotion around her but the hissing voices that came through the tree.

"What is it you want," asked a voice Nettle recognized as General Harebell.

"We want food, as much as we can eat," hissed a voice.

"Just you and your friends here?" asked Harebell.

"And a few others," a snide voice hissed back.

"I'm sure," barked another voice Nettle recognized as one of her sisters but wasn't sure who.

"And if we don't meet your demands?" interrupted Harebell.

"Then we eat you," the voice hissed.

Multiple snickers in the same tone could be heard in the back ground.

"I will relay your message to my queen. Whom may I ask, is demanding such things?"

"You may tell her General Karkes demands such things," said a mocking hiss.

"Very well, I will return with an answer," said Harebell.

Then all grew quiet. She could hear faint whispers, but no words could be made out. It was then Harebell returned. She made her way straight to the queen, accompanied by her two lieutenants.

Nettle picked herself up and made her way closer.

"What do you have to report, General?" asked the queen.

"They want our reserves, and the scouts have informed me they have a vast army in the waiting," Harebell answered.

"Even if we give them all of our food, we'll be lucky if that's all they take," said the queen.

Harebell nodded in agreement. "What do you want to do?"

"Give them what they want, war. Strike first and let them know the bees of Burntwood will bow before no force."

"Very well, my queen," said Harebell before leaving with her lieutenants.

"Gota," called out the queen.

"I am here, mum," said the earwig who was hanging nearby obviously listening in on the queen's conversations.

"Gota, I need you and your kindred to keep me informed of how the battle progresses."

"You can count on us mum, and may Juai herself shine upon this battle."

"Thank you Gota," added the queen.

Through the opening of the hive, a gathering swarm of bees could be seen, and the faint scent of the battle cry wafted into the hive.

"Go now, the battle begins," the queen exclaimed.

The earwig scurried off.

Nettle looked at the opening of the hive. She was still exhausted from her long flight, but she gathered up all her strength and made her way to the opening. Outside she could see the yawing and pitching mass of bees as yellow jacket and honey bee collided together in battle. She might be fatigued, but there was no way she was going to let her fellow sisters fight this battle without her. Pushing past the multitude of bees clogging the entrance, Nettle pressed off with her legs, and flew straight at the heart of the battle. A sharp unexpected blow was delivered to her side as a yellow jacket collided into her. Nettle thrashed against the wasp's grasp as they both plummeted toward the ground.

"Hello dearest, no need to fight. You'll be asleep soon enough," heckled a voice in her ear, as the wasp tried to plunge its stinger into the bee.

Nettle bit at the closest thing she could, crushing the wasp's leg in her mouth. The Yellow Jacket let out a scream momentarily loosening her grip giving Nettle the time to slip around. The wasp tried again to plant its stinger, only too late. Nettle's had already found its home. The wasp's grip loosened one final time and Nettle slid free as the yellow jacket fell away.

Nettle beat her wings trying to stabilize, but she kept tumbling. She felt a sharp pain, and wind escaping past her right wing. She knew it had been damaged in the scuffle. She tried her best, but could only manage to slow her decent, not stop it. She brought herself closer to the tree and hooked it with her pick like leg bringing her to a jerking halt. She looked up and down in order to gain her bearings. By the look of it, she had fallen over halfway down the tree. From this distance she couldn't even see the battle above. She let out a sigh before beginning her climb back up. She forged onward knowing that with her wing damaged she would never fly again. She forced herself upward not knowing if her home still existed, or if her loved ones would be there waiting. She kept climbing because of hope, hope that everything was going to be all right. Hope that the day was already won, and that when she got to the hive her sisters would be waiting for her. Further, she climbed. Worn out and destroyed she kept on. Above her, she could begin to make out the shapes of bees flying above her. It seemed like a lot less than before. She kept climbing. As she got closer, she could see her sisters engaged in battle with the yellow jackets at the opening of the hive.

She didn't know what to do. She was in no shape to join the battle. She saw three yellow jackets pressing past the fighting and into the hive. it was then, she found something deep down to carry on. She knew she didn't have much to give, but she would give it all. She pressed on with a newfound power. With great pain she struggled and shoved her way past those who battled in her way, sister and yellow jacket alike. With agony in her eyes she ignored the cries of her fallen sisters and yells of their attackers.

Inside the hive looked ghostly empty. She continued through the abandoned comb, looking for the wasps she had followed inside. In the distance she spotted them, amongst the brood. Opposing them was the queen, and two of her attendants who remained cowered behind her.

"Hello, Queenie," hissed a familiar voice.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've had the luxury of being introduced," said the queen.

"I am Karkas leader of the tribes."

"That is quite the title," said the queen.

"Do you know how many have gathered to take down your precious Burntwood?" asked Karkas.

"Apparently, not enough. You are the only ones who have been able to breach our defenses," said the queen.

"There will be more, and when they do, they will find you dead."

Karkas approached the queen, her minions at her side. Nettle was on the yellow jacket at the right of Karkes before anyone knew she was there. Karkas turned, but it was already too late. Nettle had driven her stinger into the wasp's back. One of the attendants had found courage in Nettle's act and charged the wasp at the other side of Karkes. Instantly, they were engaged in each other's grip. Karkes looked down at her last follower, now in battle and useless to her. You could see the panic in her eyes as she knew her chance to kill the queen was quickly vanishing before her. She jumped on the queen and tried to drive her stinger home. The queen was quick and managed to keep away from the stinger of Karkes as she pounced. Karkes sunk her mandibles into the queen's shoulder. The queen winced in pain as Karkes slid her body around to get a better angle. The queen tried to pull away, but couldn't escape Karkes' grasp. Karkes drew back her stinger, so when she drove it in, she would drive it deep. A heavy blow struck Karkes knocking her off of the queen. It was Nettle who even as they tumbled through the air thrust her stinger into Karkes repeatedly. The force of them striking the bottom of the hive knocked them free from each other.

Nettle lay on the floor panting, looking over at Karkes who lay curled up unmoving. Nettle picked herself up and dragged herself over to the body of Karkes. She nudged it. It didn't move. She reached down and took one of the legs in her mouth and began climbing toward the wall of the hive, dragging Karkes with her. She had been through so much and was so very tired. She almost didn't hear the voice when it spoke to her. A whisper really, that hissed, "I'm taking you with me." Nettle realized too late and with Karkes' last act she drove her stinger into the side of Nettle. She recoiled in pain and pushed the now lifeless husk away from her withdrawing the stinger from her side. With a sigh she took hold of Karkes again, this time keeping the dangerous end pointed away from her. Not that it mattered now, what was done was done. Why couldn't she have done that before, she wondered. She continued on, climbing up the wall of the hive, dragging the wasp behind her. Soon she reached the opening of the hive clustered with Yellow Jackets and Honey Bees. She stood in the opening and pulled the body up with her.

"Here is your leader, Karkes the Defeated!" she yelled with the last of her energy.

A hush went throughout the battle as they all gazed upon her. Nettle heaved the body over the side of the entrance and it fell far below.

"If you want me, I'll be inside," she said as she withdrew back into the darkness of the hive.

One by one the yellow jackets flew away until only those still determined to continue with the attack were left, now to outnumbered to succeed.

Harebell looked into the eyes of one of the remaining warriors.

"Boo," she said.

The wasp looked back at her and growled through a scowl before flying away.

Inside Nettle lay on the floor of the hive growing cold as cheers erupted from her sisters outside. The battle was over.

The queen made her way to Nettle's side, who made no response to her approach.

The queen stroked Nettles hair as she said, "My dear, this day you have saved not only my life, but the life of the hive. We owe you a great debt."

Nettle did not respond.

"I would like you to know that one of the brood will be named after you.

A weak voice answered back, "Please don't. I hate that name."

"If that's what you wish," said the queen.

"Call her Foxglove. I always loved that name," Nettle said, and then she was gone.

"Very well, Foxglove it is," the queen said with a trembling voice as she brushed Nettle's hair one last time.