Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

The air was thick with a sweet scent, blending with the smell of the dried, withered tree. The space was filled with the hum of wings, the buzz of the golden hornets working tirelessly to bring warmth to the hive.

The sun had risen, casting its light to spread warmth across the dry tree, as the hornets beat their wings to gather the heat. These creatures, like bees, struggle in the cold, only able to fly when warmth is present. Their wings fluttered in the early light, spreading the heat within the hive.

The golden hornets, which seemed to mix the traits of hornets and bees, had habits resembling those of bees more closely, as hornets usually hunt for honey even under the full moon. These golden hornets, however, would only begin their activity in the early morning hours.

"Has the queen awoken yet?" I asked, looking up between the honeycomb cells. The fluttering wings paused for a moment before continuing, and then the queen bee appeared, descending to my eye level in an upside-down position.

Buzz!

She flicked her wings, as though answering that she was already awake. The silence inside the dead tree followed, and I quickly spoke up.

"The reason I came this morning... I have a creature named Bini with me, and there's one that looks just like this scent—O-Gong. Do you know him? He's gone missing. Could you ask any of the worker hornets to inform me if they see him while searching for honey?"

I showed her the scent bottle wrapped around my wrist. The queen paused, looking a little surprised, before nodding in acknowledgment.

Buzz!

"Thank you. I’m sorry to bother you so early. I’ll be on my way now."

The queen flicked her wings again, acknowledging my gratitude. Just as I turned to leave, I felt a sudden sensation on my shoulder.

Tap, tap.@@novelbin@@

Turning, I saw the queen tapping my forehead with her antennae.

Tap-tap.

Then her mouth came closer to my face.

‘No, not again! This is too much...’

I could feel my body tense. The approach was a sign of nutrient exchange, a common social practice among bees and ants. For reasons unknown, the queen suddenly wanted to engage in this exchange.