The Mohiran Branches was not what Erlea expected. She was thinking the moth city was built on tree branches or buildings around trees. Her imagination couldn't be furthest from the truth, the Branches were a series of tree houses carved out of giant trees themselves. Except for walkways between the trees and wide porches with plenty of landing spots, the rest of the rooms were hidden from sight.
As soon as the knot of young Falene reached home, they flew off to their own homes. There were more of the moth girls constantly overhead as they fluttered from one house to another.
The only one who remained behind was Tira. The moth remained on the ground and walked next to Billie. Her wide hips rocked back and forth with every step and her wings left a dusting of something on the ground.
Erlea and Miere buzzed behind them. It was more comfortable to hover only a few inches above the ground. It felt strange as more of the moth's dust seemed to cling Erlea's toes. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that she had a plume of wind behind her from her rapidly beating wings.
Tira pointed directly at a large, gnarled tree in the center of the village. “The wingless ones are there, they speak for the village.”
At the word, Erlea cringed with the memory of Shucks ripping off the wings of the bees. Next to her, Miere let out a shuddering breath that was almost a sob.
Tira looked sharply back at them, a confused frown on her face. “What's wrong?”
Erlea managed to speak. “W-When the Shucks invaded, they ripped off the wings from the bees—”
Tira stopped, one hand over her mouth.
“—so they could put them into cages.”
“They didn't just breed them?” Tira sounded horrified.
Erlea shook her head as tears gathered in her eyes. “They kidnapped the hive and the queen to take back to their home.”
What was left unsaid was what the Shucks were going to do with hundreds of helpless, wingless Honningbies. No doubt, they were going to rape and breed them but how far.
Her pussy tingled with her thoughts.
Erlea sniffed. “That's why we need to kill him.”
“And you said you were a goblin affinity?”
Erlea nodded. She glanced at Miere and back.
Tira looked at both of them for a moment, then lowered her hand. “I'm sorry. Its one thing to get fucked by a local monster and bred, it's another to be… I don't have words.”
Billie looked back at Erlea and sighed. “We don't either.”
“The wing… elders need to hear this. Will you be okay telling your story?” She turned to Billie who gestured to Erlea.
Erlea crossed her arms underneath her breasts and squeezed herself. “W-We have to. We need help if we are going to kill Caracas.”
“Who's that?”
Billie snarled. “The Shuck in charge, the bastard who killed my Saroia.”
Tira looked at her. “Ah, that explains it.”
“Explains what, moth?” snapped the bettle.
“Come, let's talk to the elders.”
Without saying another word, Tira led the three others to the main tree. There were moth guards, armed with leaf-shaped spears and wearing armor that barely fit over their wide hips and large breasts. One of them had a wing with a rainbow sheen while the other was heavily scared around her thighs, hips, and throat.
Both guards nodded to Tira as she passed. Tira blew the one with the shimmering wings a kiss as they passed.
“Bitch,” muttered the guard.
“I'll be home late for dinner, mother.”
The guard rolled her eyes but she was smiling.
Erlea frowned as she watched the two. She didn't have a mother, none of the bees did. Or they did, but it was a sightless worm that continually pushed out eggs. There was no sense of family that the moths apparently had.
Despite the size, the tree was mostly hollow. The inside had beds shaped or carved out of the inner walls. Each one had a withered moth in them. Blankets and bottles were heaped around their bodies until only feathery antenna and eye peeked out from shadows.
Tira stopped in the center of the room where a metal ring had been embedded into the ground. She spread her wings and bowed deeply before bringing her wings tight against her rear.
Erlea did the same, spreading out the four planes of her wings for her bow.
A moment later, Miere and Billie followed suit, though Billie used her sword arms to mimic wings because she had none of her own.
Tira raised her right arm. “Mothers and friends, leaders of the city, I bring two surviving bees from the Besimmili Hive.”
One of the older moths reached out. Her arm was thin and bony, the skin sagging as she pointed with a shaking hand. “Well met, Besimmili.”
Erlea didn't know how to respond but seeing Billie watching her, the beetle girl didn't know either. She stepped forward and bowed.
Next to her, Tira leaned over slightly and whispered, “Mother Firin.”
“Thank you,” whispered Erlea before she spoke louder. “Mother Firin, my name is Erlea of the…” It was always just “home” for her but not everyone said it that way. “Besimmili Hive. I'm sorry to intrude, but we didn't have many places… to go… start.”
Firin pulled the blanket from her head. She had a round, heart-shaped face and easy smile with just a hint of sadness. “You don't have to be formal, little bee.”
Erlea's wings fluttered. “Sorry, this is all new to me.”
“We found the bodies of your sisters from the ambush.”
Billie's sad exhalation was almost imperceptible.
“You are welcomed at the Branches for as long as you wish. Even though you are bees, you can call this home if you wish.”
It was tempting, but Erlea couldn't stay. “I need to keep moving. Even though I'm just a goblin affinity, I have a Shuck to kill and I need help to do it.”
“Those are four hundred point monsters.”
“Probably more for him.” It sounded worse when she said it that way. She let her wings flutter. “I… I'm not sure but I can't stay too long.”
“Maybe one of us can stay?” asked Billie quietly.
Erlea turned and glared at the beetle woman who glared back.
In the corner of her eye, she could see Miere turning pale as her wings drooped. A tear rolled down her cheek and Erlea's heart almost broke.
She turned back and cleared her throat. “We could use supplies, directions, and assistance.”
One of the other elder moths leaned forward. “How much Shucks invaded your hive?”
“Um,” Erlea wasn't sure of the answer.
Firin waved her hand. “More importantly, start the story at the beginning? Please, we need to know what happened.”
Erlea felt the full weight of attention on her. There was no way she could pass it to Billie or anyone else. She had to be strong even as the tears were burning in her eyes.
“A few days ago, I was… we… I was flying back from a patrol when we saw some from the Kandra Hive. At first, ...”