Waterpaw, Windfur, and Wave kept a steady pace. The sun was already nearing the horizon, and the sky was turning pink and blue.
"We are almost there." Windfur meowed over his shoulder. Then he caught a whiff of something. He examined some grass and trees near by. "Leafstar has been here. You don't think she drove your Tribe out, did she?"
"No, of course not! It's a whole Tribe, and Leafstar's only one cat." Waterpaw meowed confidently, smiling one of those genuine smiles of hers.
Wave, however, wasn't so confident. She was shaking with fear. "Could she? My Tribe hasn't eaten in weeks…"
"Exactly." Windfur mewed.
"But still! Leafstar can't take on all those cats!" Waterpaw protested, eyes filled with dignity.
"That's true." Wave meowed quietly. But she still looked uncertain and unhappy.
Windfur glanced sympathetically at the brown she-cat. "Take a sniff. See if you recognize your Tribe scent."
Wave took a deep breath. Hopeful she lowered her jaw and soaked herself in the smell. Her eyes widened. "My Tribe! It's been here! It's been here with Leafstar!"
Windfur nodded. "Can you tell where the smell leads?"
She took another whiff. "It's going in that direction. Right there… in front of that strange tunnel. What is that tunnel anyway?"
Waterpaw gasped happily. "Leafstar didn't chase them out! I knew it! She brought them to stay in our Clan!" She faced Windfur playfully. "I told you! But you wouldn't listen to me, would you? I'm just a small little itsy bitsy little cat who doesn't know a word she says!" She stuck out her tongue at him, but full of mischief instead of insult.
Windfur grunted, not wanting to admit she was right. Wave seemed happier too.
"Ok, if we want to get back to camp before the sun sets, we better start again now."
Wave and Waterpaw nodded back. Wave's was shy and obedient. Waterpaw's was enthusiastic and quick. Windfur was surprised at such a difference in the same action. The tow younger cats turned tail and sped into the trees before them. Windfur trotted behind, glancing mindlessly at some of the dead leaves on the floor.
"Windfur!" his apprentice called. "Come over here! Wave found something!"
Quickening his pace, Windfur stopped staring at the leaves and set his destination this time. As he neared, his eyes became wide open and his jaw dropped.
It was a massive thing on the floor. Something yellow, and sticky with tons of holes dripped inside. There was a small humming sound from deep inside. A familiar humming.
Windfur soon realized the day when he was a kit, when a yellow and black bug landed on his nose. He tried to swipe it away, but it reacted, and it pierced a sharp needle into his skin. It was so painful. He shook his head to snap himself back into reality.
"This is a beehive!" he exclaimed.
"A beehive?" the two cats meowed in unison. Waterpaw said those words in pure excitement, while Wave's was full of fear. Again Windfur thought about how different they were.
"Yes, a beehive." He swallowed nervously. "It is full of bees, which are black and yellow bugs with a needle in its rump."
Waterpaw smiled at the idea, picturing herself with a needle instead of a tail. She laughed a bit.
Wave listened intently. "Go on, please." she mewed.
"Well, when I was a kit, I got stung. But don't worry. They will only sting you if you attack or disturb them. But when their colony, which is like a bee's Clan, is in danger, each bee warrior makes a huge sacrifice."
"What sacrifice?" Waterpaw yowled. She couldn't hold in her curiosity.
"Their own lives. Only hours after they used their stingers, they die. But only because they are no more use to the hive. They used up their weapon of defense."
"So sad…" Wave mewed.
"Do the bees have leaders?" Waterpaw asked.
"Yes, in a way. You see, the leader for bees is called the Queen-" he stopped when he heard Waterpaw begin to laugh.
"A queen? But aren't queens the ones who-"
"Yes, I know what queens are!" Windfur snapped. "But this is for the bees. The Queen is their leader. And it is always female."
"Why? Why can't they be male?"
"It is not in their customs for a male queen. Besides, all of the colony are related. The Queen is the one who reproduces. So all the warriors are brothers and sisters."
"Cool!" Waterpaw meowed. "What do bees do all day, though?"
"They collect pollen, and they transport them. This helps fertilize many species of flower, so the forest will always be plentiful and beautiful."
"Wow. Where do they place their hives? Are they always here, on the floor?"
Windfur frowned. His confidence in the species died out as he responded quietly, "No, I don't think so. They are usually resting in between the branches of trees. I have no idea why this is here though." He looked nervously at the hive, which inside, was bursting with activity.
Waterpaw and Wave became busy talking about all they learned about bees, but Windfur kept silent. The hive seemed strangely big and wet, perhaps he should… He dismissed the thought. "Come on." he told them. "Leave the bees. We have to get to camp." He turned and set off, the other two close behind.