Rebecca’s exile

The guards walked Rebecca all the way to the departing platform. The place is always busy with collectors coming and going. But as soon as Rebecca arrived, the collectors started backing away. Even those coming back with freshly harvested goods either landed a bit away from her and the guards or kept hovering above. It is clear that everybody in the hive knew what Rebeca had been accused of. There were however 4 bees who went against everyone and got closer. Four drones whom she had been doting on ever since she had given birth to them. Or at least, up until the incident.

As soon as the guards felt her drones came too close to her, they blocked their way by standing in between them and Rebecca. Reuben, her firstborn, looked at the captain of the guard and said, “We just want to give our final goodbyes.”

The captain looked at the drones from a distance, then pointed at the second oldest, Robert, who was holding a backpack. “I will need to inspect that.” She said.

Robert gently walked towards the captain, fearful of the guards, but they allowed him through. One of the other guards grabbed the backpack from him and started taking out its contents for everyone to see. There were two magazines of ‘Wildbee survivor’, a popular magazine which contains articles about dangerous creatures which can be found outside the safety of the hive. Another two magazines of ‘Beeautiful fauna’, a similarly popular magazine except this one details safe creatures that can easily be approached without danger. Then there was a cooking book with several recipes on how to prepare both nectar and pollen. A bag full of make-up. When they pulled out a map, the captain ordered the item to be removed, saying that Rebecca could use it to find her way back to Pollensville. Finally, there was one jar of low-grade honey.

The captain approved of what she saw and the guard put everything back into the backpack. Then it is handed back to Robert, who is allowed to walk up to his mother and give her the backpack. “Stay safe out there.” The poor boy said with a fragile voice. Rebecca took hold the backpack and replies. “Be sure to be a good boy to Mabel. It’ll be far easier for her to be the daughter queen you need her to be when your first meeting is a friendly one.”

When Robert returns to his brothers it is Rabbie’s turn to say goodbye. He just shook Rebecca’s hand and his mother gave him the same advice as she did for Robert. The next one, Robin, was too scared to come forth. Rebecca didn’t blame him. It was his egg that came out in a wrong angle. Ever since that day, Rebecca has been unable to hug any of her sons again. She was sure Robin feels responsible for that. He is also the one drone that has never known her to be warm and caring.

When Reuben, her oldest, figured Robin wouldn’t step forth, he did it in Robin’s place. Being the oldest, he has seen more of Rebecca before she got traumatized. It is he who remembers the past Rebecca best of all. For his last greeting, he acted all cool by hugging her with only one arm. Probably to show his brothers how to be strong. After saying goodbye, Rebecca then put the backpack on. It was time to leave now. Rebecca spread her wings and started flying upward. The guards flew up with her. She had one last look at her sons, one last look at Pollensville as she started flying backward. Then she turned around and flew away forever.

Rebecca kept flying in a straight line for a very long time. She didn’t look back, but knew the royal guards were close behind her. She could hear the buzzing of their wings. As she flew away from the old large sycamore tree that her home had been built on, she crossed a large field of wild flowers. If Rebecca took a moment to enjoy the colors, she certainly would. But in this case, appreciating the beauty of the lands around her home would make her want to come back. When reaching the outskirts, she noticed a few butterflies trying to steal some pollen. They quickly flew away when they saw Rebeca and the royal guard that followed her. They needn’t have bothered. For once the guards would have ignored them.

Eventually Rebecca reached a small stream. This stream marked the end of Pollensville territory. As Rebecca flew across it, the buzzing of the guards behind her started to diminish. She turned around and saw they remained on their side of the stream. Rebecca took this moment to land. She had been flying for quite a while and could use a break, as well as a drink. The guards landed together with her and watched her drink from the stream. Rebecca then opened her backpack and looked inside to grab the jar of honey, but to her surprise the found two jars. One with low-grade honey that the guards approved of. The other containing high-grade honey which, if the guards had seen it, would definitely have been removed. How could the guards have possibly missed … It’s Reuben. He didn’t hug her with only one arm because he wanted to look cool. He did it to sneak this jar in her backpack. Rebecca closed her eyes and nearly cried, but she took a deep breath and held her tears inside. She then took the jar of low-grade honey and ate some of it in front of the guards.

After she got refreshed, Rebecca got the backpack back on her shoulders and continued her journey, flying even further away from Pollensville. This time the guards didn’t chase after her. Now she was truly alone.