For the Hive

This is my entry for @carolkean's "Too Good to Be True" Rhino Rules Contest #2: Animal Stories.
@carolkean can be found at the Fiction Workshop where she helps a world of people improve their writing with her shear genius, not prone to flattery though sadly. I would also like to thank @bex-dk, @tinypaleokitchen, @thinknzombie and everyone for the whippings and edits.

For the Hive

It was the coldest time of year, and only on the warmest day could the little honey bee set out to gather nectar for the Hive. A difficult task, few flowers bloomed and the days were short. She used what hours she had to also scout for potential future locations--to come back when the days grew warm again, for the Hive.

Spotting a wilted plot of plants in a tidy garden patch, she flew by in search of any hidden nectar flowers for harvesting. Though there were none to be seen, she decided to investigate further for the Hive. As she came close, she smelt something sweet in the air, unlike any flower she had known. Closer still and it became unignorable, but where was it? She circled the patch many times and could find nothing. Just a lone proud Tui standing on top of a post. His almost black coat shone a deep metallic blue in the sunlight.

The Tui bobbed his head in and out of a cup. Curious, she flew closer to see what was in it for the Hive. The sweet smell became strong but before she could see, the Tui snapped at her. She turned away, narrowly avoiding the bite. She buzzed around a while longer. There were many different birds in bushes and trees nearby. They all seemed to be waiting for a turn at the cup. Stupid, huffed up, greedy Tui. There was some kind of nectar in that cup he was guarding, keeping it all to himself.

The day grew on and she needed to get back home to the Hive. She had come a long way, but she would return again. She noted the sun’s position to navigate her way back to the Hive.

Once at the Hive, she scurried her way to the vertical combs. All her friends were there, relaying the locations of their own findings of the day, but none would compare with hers. The release of her excitement felt wondrous and she danced around the comb. Some hesitated to believe that such a treasure could be found. She told them about the greedy Tui who lorded over the cup, and that she couldn’t see what was inside the cup on her own. The fervor spread amongst her friends and they organised a squad.

The next morning, as soon as the sun had warmed the air, they set out at full speed, making a beeline for the cup of nectar on the post.

And sure enough the Tui was there, guarding the cup. Bobbing his head in and out as fast as he could. The Tui seemed unconcerned by any threats, but now and then shooed away any other bird that came near. The ladies grouped together and swarmed him for the Hive, buzzing in all directions in their cloud formation. He snapped at a few of them, but they kept on diving at him. He shook his head and flapped about, but the bees persisted.

The little bee assumed the role of hovering around his face to make him angry. Swerving this way and that, she avoided his snapping beak, and each time she moved away the others closed in from the sides. The strategy of the attack maximised their aggression...

Soon, after enough pressure, the Tui gave up. He took off in a flurry, smashing through the leaves of a tree. He perched himself on a branch and cried and sulked, telling a great tale of lies for any that would listen.

The bees were victorious and wasted no time in approaching the cup. Inside, they discovered there was no nectar to be had, but a pond of sweet-smelling water. They tried a little bit. To their delight, it was not really water at all. It was like liquid sugar. Sugar that would feed their Hive in the cold famine.

The little bee circled proudly and watched her sisters indulge in their victory. Their victory for the Hive.