Chapter 5 - V

Narïah called the Forson out of her thatch-ridden cave, 'Simianette, wake up! The Bees' ambassador is at Her Majesty's audience.'

Arnitikós lazily stepped out of the cave, yawning and rubbing her eyes, 'Aaaa. . .' She complained, for she only received a few hours of shut eyes, but she complied, now fully understanding her role in empowering the Fireflies of the River. This giantess can devour entire colonies of insects in a matter of minutes. Her presence is a boast of power in front of the Bees of the Hill.

The puerile arrived at the fireflies' main tree, Abiesfīr, a large conifer tree of matte dark green. On its branches were several homes made of dead leaves that house the firefly workers, and in the middle of the tree, there hung a hive-like sphere. It was the Queen's dwelling.

The ambassador, Mr. Safir-Flavum, was bargaining. He addressed the Queen.

'As the ambassador of Ugric, King of the Bees, I hereby offer an extended truce regarding the shared waterfall in which the previous battle took place. Us bees find great value in the flowers of that region among the river.'

The Queen listened and gazed at the bee.

He continued, 'We are aware of the intrusion of the region, but the King himself made an offer within the truce, and I am in your presence to relay our part of the truce: We use said flowers of the waterfall for nectar harvesting. In exchange, we ship one-third of the processed nectar to your colony.'

Thumps were heard, not new to the fireflies yet dreadful for Ambassador Safir-Flavum, 'E-excuse me, the sound—'

He looked back, and out the hole of the Queen's hanging castle, he beheld a pair of enormous eyes, one red and the other black, gazing at his own. Arnitikós smiled at the uneasiness of the bee ambassador. He looked back at the Queen, only met by a confident and smug reply to the offer.

'Mister Safir-Flavum,' she called him out, flying away from her throne to his position, then walking back and forth horizontally, 'As you can see, we have a giant creature. Haven't you wondered what horrible fate erased our mortal enemies, mind you, our cousins, the fireants? A single step by this giant behind you.' She then surprised the ambassador with the intent of startling him, yelling, 'And they were no more! So, in other words, our territory is our territory. You can keep whatever nectar for you and your King, but you can ask my advisor for a written pact: A single bee who steps into our border shall decide the downfall of his kind until the end of time.'

Safir-Flavum looked back at the giantess. She waved innocently, but he perceived it as a threat. 'V-very well, Queen Fiorā! Off I go. . .'

The bee headed to the edge of the hanging castle's door, and Arnitikós, in his perception, is now a celestial being. She waved innocently, 'Ooo—'

'By honey and nectar, spare me!' Cowardly yelled the ambassador in a pathetic flee above her head. The gesture saddened the puerile, and she pouted in disappointment, thinking she could be friends with anyone. Yet, the simple doctrine of being a threatening device to fend off the bees for good made her believe that she could only befriend the fireflies in the region of Yura.

'Oh dear Simianette,' called the Queen, flying to the discontent Arnitikós, 'Brighten up. You just saved our colony from the nagging of the bees indefinitely.' The Queen waved her hands to the audience, 'I say: Rain this giantess with gratitude, my children!'

And every firefly, including Narïah, had gathered around the puerile, clapping and cheering for her supposed role in ending the feud between the bees and fireflies.

'And thus wars have been prevented!' Said the Queen's advisor.

'See, Simianette? I told you that you are important to us!' Narïah said, landing on her shoulders, and the cheers were only but starting.

'Aaaaaa. . .' She was confused.

'Thank you for restoring peace!' Yelled a male worker.

'You saved our siblings from imminent wars!'

'Long lives the giantess!'

'Truly, a new age of prosperity awaits us.' Said another male worker; he seemed melancholic.

'Bring our giantess a crown of flowers!' Ordered the Queen.

And then, a bunch of fireflies flew above the puerile's head and placed a simple crown of pink and white flowers.

'Ooo!' She liked the sight and feeling of it, not even knowing a single reason for this celebration; she couldn't understand their happiness, but theirs made her happy, too.

The fireflies celebrated, and when starset was approaching, they danced with their bellies bright in lime light, sang songs of ancient times, and fed the puerile much of their feed, mostly fruits indigenous to Yura.

By the time of stardawn, everyone was asleep, and the puerile too was sleeping, surrounded by fireflies tired of the long celebration, and Narïah was taking a bed above Arnitikós's chest, tucking herself by the slightly torn fabric of her clothing.

Safir-Flavum sheepishly entered the King's hive and explained the terror he had seen at Abiesfīr tree. The ambassador anticipated banishment or public execution by the needle (which was stupid since the act cost the life of another bee, the executioner itself). Still, he was met with a relieving piece of news.

'Sir Safir-Flavum,' called the King of the Bees, Ugric, 'At your departure, we have found the perfect antidote to your blunder. Behold!' He pointed again at Safir-Flavum's back, and there arose another giant outside the royal hive, 'Wolfheze!'

The ambassador saw the sight of another Simian-like, but he was a tad different: blonde and had a pair of blue eyes. This giant looked at the ambassador's eyes, 'We've finally met. King Ugric told me much about you.'

Ambassador Safir-Flavum fainted dramatically.