The next morning, Erlea was assigned to guard from the landing pad on top of the hive. The view was spectacular with the tree canopy forming a shimmering carpet of leaves for miles in all directions. She could see the different regions that surrounded the hive, each one marked by starkly contrasting leaves and isolated by wide rivers and cliffs.
Around the hive was the Proving Grounds with the light green plants. To the east was The Deeps with the blue-green leaves and various ponds peeking through the trees.
The patchwork of colors was confusing as first but it helped that each region had different monsters that rarely ventured beyond their colored limits.
She smiled and hovered over to the northern edge of the platform. The winds buffeted her, warm and fragrant. She closed her eyes to take a deep breath before opening them. Landing lightly on the edge, she looked down to the twisted mass of the hive.
The crafters were building the outer layer on the main hive. Their Transform magic shaped paper, wax, and rock into a thick layer of hexagon chambers spaced by the corridors for traveling, conversation, and the occasional fight. Each chamber was identical to her own sleeping quarters. The new ones would be used to store honey, food, and supplies until they were sheltered enough for housing.
At the base of the hive were many other spirals of honeycombs. In a few months, they would be spiral up into the new outer walls. For the time being, they formed the thick protective walls that kept out most of the ground-based monsters. The outermost walls were only a few honeycombs in height with the closer ones reaching up five, ten, or even thirty tall before smoothly becoming part of the hive's shell. There was no distinction between the wall and shell, only degrees of construction.
“Hey, gorgeous, got your breath back or are you planning on masturbating in front of all these bees?” asked Nilli as the chipper Honningbie came walking up. Her wings were spread out to catch the wind but she was on the ground. She rarely flew around.
A small Smoldering Rat perched on her shoulder, the streamers of magical smoke slipping through her wings before dissipating. It glared at Erlea before letting out a loud of acrid smoke.
Erlea blushed. “Just enjoying the weather. I… I wasn't going to do anything. I can't, not until….”
The other bee winked. “Enjoy the weather. It's always summer here.”
Erlea glanced at her and smiled. “Ever see fall or winter?”
Nilli pulled a face. She tugged on the rat who slipped off her shoulder into the soft expand of her cleavage. It nestled down between the milky mounds until only its nose stuck out. “Never want to. Those zones are always more violent and higher level than me. No, I'm best around the hive, nothing to worry about Green Goblins and those pesky Green Blobs.”
“And rats?”
Nilli grinned and she pressed her thighs tightly together. “Oh now, those I don't mind.”
A blush crept on her cheeks for a moment before she shook her head. “No distractions. Come on, we need you to summon something a little bigger.”
She patted her travel pouch for a moment before pulling out a flat disk. Rolling it over in her hand for a moment, she stared at it.
“What's that?”
“A summoning disk. It's an Obvious Accessible Focus that lets you summon creatures without having the skills yourself. This one has a high Endurance cost but we're working your reserves and recovery, so it is a good choice.”
“Who made it?”
“No idea. Someone with a lot of points to burn. Probably dead now. But it is nice being able to summon something about your power level, you know?”
Erlea felt a little rush of excitement. Summoning was exciting, both in the creatures she could call with nothing more than her own power but also because it was an ability most of the other bees couldn't do. Using Summon made her feel like a hunter already. It had only been a day since she started, but she was already thinking about calling more Smoldering Rats and Thorn Hedges. The Rabid Rabbit was too much though, it had slipped out of her control and attacked her.
Nilli handed it over. “I can't use this one, I never got the energy. I've seen it though. It needs Gestures and a lot of Extra Time. You'll have to wave it around for five minutes, but that shouldn't be too hard for you.”
Erlea ran her thumb along the smooth surface. “What does it summon?”
“A Hookwing, a flying bat-like creature. About one-sixty points or so. Ready?”
Nilli hovered back a few feet and crossed her arms. That caused her large breasts to squeeze together, trapping the rat and pushing the soft mounds up to Erlea's view.
Erlea held the disk in both hands and tried to reach out with her senses into the device, seeking how to activate it.
The directions came like a long-forgotten memory, hazy and indistinct. She held up her hand and then began to swing the disk in the pattern she could now recall, swirling it around as she spun around.
Like Nilli said, it took her five minutes of moving the disk before she felt the power rise up and burst inside her. It was a rush of excitement and more than little pleasure as the world shimmered in front of her.
With a wet ripping noise, the portal opened and the Hookwing flew out. It was a bat creature like Nilli said, with large wings that had two large hooks on each one. Its mouth was parted to reveal rows after rows of teeth. Drool splattered out in all directions as it beat in front of her. The reddish-brown wings were a stark contrast to the honey colors of the hive.
One of the nearest Honningbie looked over, saw the Hookwing, and let out a shriek. She buzzed away quickly, followed by the other bees who were going about their duties.
Erlea felt a pressure in her mind as the creature's eyes locked on hers. It wanted freedom, to lash out at her before finding a way home. The beast's desires scraped against her thoughts, giving her a headache and making it hard to concentrate.
“Now remember, Summon doesn't end with the gate. You have to convince your creature to fight for you in a battle of wills. This one isn't Slavish, so it will require you to force it.”
Erlea's heart beat faster as she stared at the creature. There was a connection there, a feeling of another thought close to hers. If she closed her eyes, it would feel like the Hookwing was growling behind, the noise almost on the edge of meaning something.
Used to the earlier summons, she concentrated on the connection between them. The Hookwing's thoughts, violently and angry, beat against her mind but she was more powerful. Gathering her force of will and her presence, she let it slam into the creature's mind. She demanded it obey, to serve her.
A flush of heat flooded through her.
The Hookwing feinted toward her.
She shook her head. “No,” she said sharply.
It was enough. The will of the creature cracked and she felt the Hookwing submit. There was nothing physical about its response, just a feeling that she would be able to command it easily.
“Now, just push out with her mind—”
Erlea commanded the Hookwing to fly out in a wide spiral, buzzing low enough to tug on Nilli's hair before flying out over the empty space.
“—oh, apparently you are better and faster than me. Good job.” There was only the briefest hint of annoyance but then Nilli giggled as she changed her train of thought. “Great, now send it out to patrol. Have it check out those blue trees and come back to report.”
Erlea lifted her hand and send out the mental command to the Hookwing. However, as she did, a wave of weakness slammed into her. The tension in her arms and legs collapsed and she felt herself pitching forward, out into the open space around the landing platform.
Someone screamed.
She felt stunned but without the intense pleasure of submission or the heat of desire. It was a cold sucking sensation as the world grew dark around her and the wind beat against her face as she plunged head-first toward the ground.
Erlea recovered almost instantly, her eyes snapping open. She looked down to see she had fallen a few hundred feet. There was less than a hundred before her body slammed into the top of the spiraled walls of the hive.
Throwing open her wings and beating quickly, she caught herself. Inertia tugged at her body for a moment before she managed to slow to a stop.
Heart pounding and her cheeks burning with humiliation, she looked up. There were bees peering over the edge of the platform, no doubt looking at her. Embarrassed, she launched herself back up. She could feel everyone staring at her the entire time it took to reach the platform and land on it.
“Erlea!” cried Miere as the sweet Honningbie flew over and caught Erlea in a tight hug. The familiar warmth of her lover's body enveloped her as their bodies seemed to fit together. Hard nipples caressed against Erlea's as the bee kissed her on the passionately lips.
Nilli chuckled as she walked over and knelt down. Without a word, she reached over and plucked Miere's fingers wrapped around Erlea's buttocks and pried them away.
Miere looked up in surprise and then she blushed. “I'm sorry.”
The older hunter shrugged. “We are all horny. Just need to be careful until you both lose your cherries. No fingering the honey pots until you get raped.”
Miere tensed and her wings beat for a moment.
Erlea looked at Nilli who smiled sweetly. The summoner was right, though Erlea didn't plan on ever getting raped.
Nilli looked back. “What happened?”
With a front, Erlea said, “I don't know. I was going strong and then… suddenly all the strength left me. I couldn't even stop myself from falling.”
“Damn. Your endurance isn't enough for that item. What did you spend your points on?”
Erlea smiled sheepishly. “Rapid Pregnancy.”
Nilli's wings beat once but she didn't say anything.
Miere looked at her, her breasts heaving as she started to pant. “W-Why? Are you… did you already get raped?”
Erlea shook her head. “No, but it seemed like the best for a hunter. Instead of hours, it will be minutes. That means I can get to killing faster.”
“Oh, Erlea,” buzzed Miere. She hugged Erlea tightly, this time keeping her hands pressed against the small of her body. The embrace managed to grind their large breasts and hips together. One of them, or both, was slightly slick and Erlea couldn't help but enjoy the slickness as their hairless mounds rubbed.
Nilli glanced down and then nodded. “Talents are good, but spend some points on Endurance next. Your RKAs seem to be bought with Reduced Endurance—you can shoot those forever—but the rest of your powers are draining you rather quickly.”
Erlea looked over Miere's shoulder and nodded.
“Summon takes a lot out of you. Okay? No more pregnancy talents for a while.”
“I will, thank you.”
Miere kissed Erlea. “I'm so sorry, I didn't… I would never….”
Nilli beat her wings to stand up. She grabbed the annoyed rat and perched it back on her shoulder. “I'll give you a little moment, it seems like you have a few things to say.” With a grin, she pointed at both of them. “Keep everything out of your pussies, do you hear me? No one losing their virginity while I'm teaching.”
Both of the young bees nodded while blushing.
Humming to herself, Nilli headed to the other side of the platform with her hips swaying and her thumbs hooked into her utility belt.
Erlea turned to Miere. “I missed you,” she whispered.
Tears shimmered in her friend's eyes. “I'm so sorry.”
“It's okay, Love.” Erlea decided to ignore the rest of the bees and leaned over to kiss her.
Miere moaned. Her hand slipped down to cup Erlea's buttocks. “I promise, I won't. Okay?”
“Good.”
“I missed you so much. I thought if I went to the other side, it wouldn't hurt that much but I kept thinking about you.”
Erlea thought about her own loneliness. If it wasn't for Saroia affection and Nilli's attention, it would have been far worse for her. She looked at the tear-filled eyes of her friend and lover and decided not to mention it. “I missed you,” she said as cheerful as she could to hide the lie.
“D-Do you think it would be okay if I came back?” Miere wiped the tears from her face. “I don't want to be away again.”
“What? Of course. Your room is still empty, I wouldn't let anyone move in.”
Miere smiled brightly and then squeezed her tightly. Her lips caught Erlea's, pulling her into a sweeter embrace. Her wings beat, blowing fragrant air and the smell of sweet pussy past the two of them.
The urge to delve her hands between their bodies grew stronger. It beat against her pussy, pulsating with the hunger desire to surrender anything for a single moment of pleasure. It was hard to concentrated, Miere had resumed kneading her buttocks and she couldn't help but feel as the grip exposed the tight, vulnerable opening of her asshole.
Erlea broke the kiss. “Miere,” she moaned, “your hands.”
“Oh!” Miere released her grip.
Erlea's buttocks clapped together. She couldn't help but feel sad because she desperately wanted to feel Miere's tongue against her sphincter once again.
Soon. Soon as she was brutally violated and impregnated. Then she could be with her lover.
Nilli landed next to them.
Surprised, Erlea looked up. A bubble of fear rose up into her throat. Nilli never flew.
“Erlea, can you feel your Hookwing?”
Frowning, Erlea concentrated on the connection.
There was nothing.
The feeling of wrongness surged inside her.
She looked at Nilli with surprise. “It's gone! Why? The summon shouldn't have faded by now. It's just… gone.”
Nilli crouched next to her, spreading her knees on either side of the two embracing Honningbies. She leaned forward as if she was going to whisper.
Reflexively, Erlea glanced down at the tightly pressed lips that would protect the bee from being impregnated, at least until she was stunned or immobilized. She realized she had looked and tore her eyes up and way, but not after lingering over the firm breasts that were pressed to her shoulder.
“See that?” asked Nilli. She pointed off the platform.
In the distance, there was a haze gathering over a distance construction. It looked like rain, but it seemed to be rising in the air instead of coming down.
The feeling of discomfort beat inside Erlea. “What is that?”
“That's the Kandra Hive, our neighbors. Our queen came from there a long time ago. They are allies and friends.”
“What's wrong with it?”
“I don't know, but I don't like it.” Nilli stood up and turned around to glance at the others. “Erlea, I don't think I want anyone to panic, but do you think you could get Sarry and bring her up here?”
Her chest growing tight, Erlea scrambled to her feet. “Of course. She's positioned at the southern gate right now.”
“Miere?”
Miere jumped at her name. “Y-Yes?”
“Come on with me. I want to talk with the Task Mistress. You know where she is?”
Miere nodded. The Mistress was responsible for all the crafters in the hive. Just as Saroia was Erlea's superior, the Mistress was Miere's.
“What's going on?” asked Erlea.
Nilli look at her, the cheer gone. “I don't know. I've never seen that before and I'm probably just jumping at my own wings. It wouldn't be the first time, but I'd rather be safe. I don't want a panic in case I'm wrong, but better see if we can get some guards to check out Kandra. Saroia can decide what to do.”
She turned back to Erlea. “Don't start a panic. If Saroia needs me, I'll meet her at the Queen's Chamber.”