Naive agreed to help immediately, only after realizing it didn’t know what that help entailed. The massive ant waved a limb towards the exit.

“I have told Cognate of the matters at hand. You may inquire him or your escort. Farewell.”

An ant standing by the exit called to the skeletons.

“This way. I’ll lead you to The Hive.”

Passing ants who hurriedly ran about, the three made their way back to the cavern of insects.

“The Queen isn’t usually so dismissive. She is stressed. We’re hoping that your investigations go well.”

Naive wondered what it meant to be stressed and went to voice this confusion when Cognate asked its own question.

“We?”

“Ants don’t think of themselves as an “I”, but rather as a ''we”. We all work for each others benefit so we consider the group as one person.''

The ant turned and faced its followers.

“Before we continue, we should be sure you understand the situation. Cognate, could you fill in Naive? I’ll cover any information your lacking and answer your questions.”

Cognate, now the subject of attention, gave the first exposition of its life.

“The bees are acting weird. We need to find out why. Everything might die if we don’t.”

A moment of silence followed before the ant picked up the explanation.

“Every insect used to be in a constant state of combat with each other until the two most influential factions, the bees and ants, agreed to peace. If that peace is broken then everything will revert back to all out chaos.”

The small insects that had crawled over every surface of Naive began to writhe. Naive found it distracting but found its question all the same.

“If we find out why the bees are weird then you won’t have to fight?”

“If there's no reason to fight then we won’t. If you find out there is a reason then we’ll be prepared for it.”

“Determine what something is doing before they’ve done it.”

“That’s the plan. Any other questions?”

Naive, now confident in its role, couldn’t think of any more it needed to know. Cognate looked to Naive before asking the final question.

“Can I hold your hand?”

The ant stared at Cognate and tentatively offered it a leg, which Cognate grasped. They stood posed like this in quiet before the ant spoke up.

“...can we continue now?”

“Yes.”

“...it is difficult to walk like this.”

“Yes.”

So the skeletons and the hobbling ant walked along. As they waded through the thick layer of insects a distant structure came into sight. Every step became easier as the ground layer began to disappear. The insects on Naive chittered and fled. Through the wave of noise Naive could make out the quiet voice of one of them.

“Be careful.”

Another, much more audible voice spoke out.

“This is the Hive. We now have to wait for their guards to greet us.”

Now completely alone, the three stood and stared at the structure. It was huge and stood off the ground, a great hexagon attached to the wall. The hive was orange, its surface marked with brilliant yellow designs. The edge of every wall met a hexagonal pillar which ran from the top to hanging far below the bottom, making the appearance of fingers pointed towards the ground. The top rose in layers, growing smaller as it continued until it ended at a flat peak.

Naive noticed three dots in the distance. Two dots that were very, very slowly growing larger.

“It seems we’ll have to wait some time.”

The two skeletons stood completely still, watching the bees approach. The ant was less than still, stepping about and waggling its antennae. After some time the bees arrived and with them came a loud buzzing. Landing the buzzing stopped and Naive noticed two extra appendages on their backs. Immediately the new arrivals spoke their minds.

“Who are you?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Skeletons and an ant. You better have a reason to be here.”

Naive was snapped out of its observations and curious thoughts by the questions. With a wave and a word it began to answer.

“Hello. I’m Naive.”

Behind Naive’s greeting came another.

“Hello. I’m Cognate.”

The bees spoke together, catching the ends of each other’s sentences.

“We’re Joanna.”

“Answer the other question.”

“What are you doing here.

“We’re here to find out what your doing.”

Cognate filled the rest of the explanation.

“Ant is here to escort us.”

That very ant in question was shaking far more than before and tripped over its words.

“Y-yes. The skeletons wanted to meet you. Cognate please let go of my leg.”

It’s piece said, the ant began to run and it’s antennae between its claws.

“Skeletons are weird.”

“Curious things.”

“Joanna will find them amusing.”

The buzzing returned as they took off from the ground, hovering from its surface.

“We’ll take you.”

“It’ll be fun.”

“Try not to move too much.”

Two bees hovered over to the skeletons, grabbed them in their claws and carried them off to the hive.