Bee My Baby

Mæva had started sticking closer to home. Her thirst for adventure was finally quenched and the warmer weather made the estuary a wonderful place to hang out. She strolled beneath the willow trees as she kept an eye out for the interesting birds that lived there. The trees were full of song and the shade helped to keep her from getting too hot and made travel here easier and more pleasant. Geira was off doing who knew what. She supposed the cat was hunting birds again but Lini was free and the lemur walked along with her as she moved about.

Mæva had a slight limp to her walk from her last hunt, having gotten kicked sharply by a deer. If she was honest that was the real reason she hadn't gone off traveling again. She was sore and a little tired of picking up injuries left and right. Sometimes a girl just needed a break. Bending her head to get a drink she heard a strange buzzing not far off, in the trees. Bugs were just as common here as birds but she wasn't familiar with this particular buzzing sound.

"What do you think that noise is, Lini?" said Mæva. She wasn't sure if she should go take a look at what it was or turn around and start heading back before she got in trouble with some other creature.

The lemur looked up from his drinking, wiping the back of one of his paws across his mouth as he considered the buzzing sound. "Sounds like bees to me."

"What is a bee, Lini," she asked. Mæva cocked her head to the side, ears twitching as she continued to listen to the buzzing. She was familiar with a number of insects but she couldn't quite remember what bees were supposed to be. She started walking toward the source of the sound as the lemur scrambled after her.

"Well," said Lini, turning to Mæva, "bees are small, striped insects with stingers. You do not want to make them mad or they sting you. They make tasty stuff called honey though. I wish we could get some."

Mæva found the source of the buzzing. In the low branches of one of the trees was a weird looking next full of tiny little holes. Some were stuffed with some unusual substance and the rest were covered in little bees. She eyed the creatures for a moment before glancing at Lini. He said they made something good to eat and she really would like to get some for her friend. But how to get it out of there and not get stung? Mæva spied a fallen limb and she bounded toward it. Picking up the stick in her jaws she carefully aimed to poke one end into the beehive. Maybe she could spear it and then go running off with it. If she ran fast enough maybe they could out run the bees. Lini saw what she was doing.

"Oh, Mæva, wait," said the lemur; but he was too slow. With a powerful swing Mæva struck the beehive and sent it careening to the earth. It cracked and a swarm of angry bees took into the air and dove for her.

"You've done it now! Let's get out of here quick." The lemur raced away and Mæva was quick to follow. Although, she was not quite quick enough as one of the bees stung her sharply on the rear.

"Ow!" she yelled. It really hurt. Furious she picked up the branch she'd dropped and swung her head wildly trying to swat the bees away.

"No! Mæva I— listen that doesn't work, run!" The lemur tugged sharply at her and she yelped as she was stung several more times before the duo was off and running again. They raced through the estuary. Mæva dove into the water and swam across the nearest stream to the other side. Lini held onto her scruff as she swam until at last the took shelter under a nearby willow. Mæva limped and laid down, panting. Lini was on high alert, listening for the buzzing. So far there was no ominous sounds, perhaps the bees would not follow them this far after all.

Mæva reached around and licked at the sting on her thigh, trying to soothe the soreness before she turned to look at her lemur friend. "I do not care how good that stuff is that they make. That is so not worth it." She did not care that much for sweets any way and much preferred good, fresh meat. Something warm and tender. Still flinching at the pain, Mæva moved back to the stream and carefully easer her sore body into the water. She'd have to see if she could find her father and get something from him to ease the swelling and the pain.