A hive can swarm multiple times a year. Each time it does it will take half the hive and the current queen with it leaving a new queen to take over. The numbers of bees in a swarm can range from 3,000 to 30,000. That like being in a traveling rock concert where the music is so loud that your conversations become games of charades.

* * *

It was getting so a bee couldn't turn around. It had been over a month, and the season of gathering was growing long. If one of the scouts didn't find a new location soon there would never be enough time to establish a new colony and get it ready for winter. Things in Burntwood hadn't exactly been delightful either. Everyone seemed to be on edge due to the long hours of work and the tight confinements of the hive. Some bees were even becoming restless at the queen's rule. Her majesty had heard the whispers. It was hard not to in a hive. Sure they would congregate outside to tell their gossip, complain about the queen, and talk of superseding her. They tried to keep those things outside and away from the queen's ears, but those whispers always had a way of following them back inside, where they would rustle throughout the hive.

She pretended not to notice; she had not told them of her plan. She couldn't, not until she knew there was a place to go. She prayed she would hear word soon. If not and the whispers in the hive grew louder, it wouldn't be long before they rose against her. She would be forced to leave before she was ready, which meant an almost certain doom for her and her followers.

She let out a sigh and continued on her queenly duties. One of her attendants came up and offered her some nectar. She turned her head away; she wasn't hungry. How could she be, with so much going on?

Tansy entered the hive. It was good to be back on that old black wood. That, and the mix of the queens perfume that clung to the backs of all of those in the hive signified home more than anything else. It was a calming quality. Tansy climbed down through the hive and over bees, as she continued down to the brood section, paying no heed to the grumbles coming from those that had been stepped on. Excited she called out for the queen before the queen could even hear her. "Queen, oh Queen," she cried out. The vibration of her voice getting swallowed by the hum of the hive. Yet again she cried out, over and over, her voice falling short and getting lost. She rushed past the pollen packers, cleaners, cappers and even smacked into an undertaker who was not pleased with having its corpse tampered with.

"Do you mind?" cried the undertaker.

Tansy continued on, without apologizing, without looking back. It was strange, she had flown all that way and now that she was so close to the queen, now she was out of breath. It was the excitement that had gotten to her. She hadn't realized until that very moment that everything was going to change. She saw the queen up ahead. She called out again. The queen looked up, acknowledging her. Tansy froze, quiet. Everything was going to change, nothing would ever be the same.

The queen looked at Tansy who had just moments before been calling for her but now stood frozen at the edge of the brooding field. The queen waited on but Tansy refused to move. Please don't let there be a mite infestation, that's the last thing we need right now, she thought to herself.

Tansy crept closer.

"It's okay my child. Come here," the queen persuaded.

Tansy came to the side of the queen.

"What is it, my dear?"

"I have found the place," Tansy said, with a shaky voice.

"It's okay, what's wrong?"

"I don't want to leave this place." Tansy said.

"That's okay, you don't have to. You can stay here if you want."

"But, I don't want you to leave either."

"Oh honey, I must leave. Just as Juai must rise, she must fall."

"But, I don't want things to change. I like them the way they are."

"Shush now, everything changes whether you want them to or not. Now you stop your sorrows and tell me of this place you found."

Tansy took a deep breath and told the queen all about the place that she had found in an old barn. As she did, so she smiled, because even though the thought of change made her sad, the idea of something new made her excited.

That night, during the gathering, the queen didn't tell a story. Instead, she told the hive her intentions to leave the colony. Her announcement was met with mixed emotions. But what really got them going was the choice that the queen put upon them, to follow or stay. A question that sounds easier to answer than it is. Either way loved ones will be left behind. It is a question with no right answer, just one that you must live with.

The next day the hive was all hustle and bustle as they tried to get ready for the queen's departure. Four oversized cells were being made, each one fit for a queen. The queen passed by, laying an egg in each of the low hanging chambers.

Tansy was also busy as she was leading groups to the new location in order to prepare it for the queen's arrival. There was a lot of work that needed to be done. The new home needed to be inspected for pests and it needed to be cleaned. Tansy explored around as the other bees did their things.

"Hello," said a small voice.

Tansy looked around but saw no one nearby.

"down here," the small voice chimed.

Tansy looked down to see a small earwig waving.

"Why hello," replied Tansy, "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm very good, and you?"

"Can't complain, I guess," Tansy said.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here?" the small voice asked.

"We're moving in."

"Oh good, it shall be nice to have some neighbors besides those dreadful mice."

"Mice?" Tansy asked. A little concern building up in her throat.

"Oh yes, of course. I mean, it is a barn after all. I wouldn't worry about them though. They aren't new to living with bees and it should be some time before they forget and try anything."

Tansy gave a little sigh of relief. That was one bridge they could deal with when it came time to cross it.

"I'm sorry, what was your name?" she asked.

"I am Derma, son of Patera, grandson to Gideon and great grandson to Gota," the young earwig said with pride and a slightly puffed up chest."We'll I'm very pleased to meet you, Derma. I'm Tansy, Tansy from Burntwood," She said that last part with a little giggle in her throat."The great Burntwood?" Derma asked.

"I guess," Tansy said unsure of what he was asking.

"Oh, it shall be a privilege to live with the bees of Burntwood. My father has told me a great many stories of your exploits."

Tansy looked over at the overly excited boy, who was nearly shaking. "Well Derma, it shall be my privilege to live next to such a fine young man."Derma smiled up at her, with a smile so big you'd think his pinchers were going to snap off.

The work continued for the next couple of days. Work crews continued to prepare the new home while nurse maids cared for the queens to be. On the fourth day the nurse maids brought royal jelly to the princesses, feeding them as much as they could eat. From now on that is all they would eat until one of them became queen.

At that nights gathering she informed the hive that in a few days time the princess cells would be capped signifying the end of her reign and she would leave the following evening taking with her anyone that wanted to go. Murmurs and whispers began to drown out the queen as she spoke.

"Calm down, calm down," the queen said. "You don't have to go if you don't want. In fact I believe it is best if at least half stay here. Another thing you should know is that it is tradition for a great feast the night before the departure. This feast will of course have food and dancing, but will also be a great way to say goodbye to the loved ones that leave and that we leave behind."

The murmurs grew louder turning into a joyous buzz.

"Tonight we sleep, for tomorrow we have a feast to prepare for," the queen stated.

Cheers erupted throughout the hive.

"Now sleep my children, sleep."

The cheers died down to low whispers.

"Please Queen, tell us a story," a voice begged from the crowd.

"Very well, which one would you like to hear?"

"How about, Maybee and the Bear," asked a voice.

"Maybee and the Bear, it shall be."

So, they all settled in for a tale of the little precocious bee, Maybee.

A few days later everything was in full flow as they prepared for the feast. Fox Glove, a bee new to gathering packed some pollen from the apple blossom to her back legs. Another bee flew overhead and landed on a nearby blossom."Hey, have you figured out if you're staying or going yet?"

Fox Glove looked up, "Oh, hey Aster. I haven't yet, you?" "I think so. I mean, I don't know. It should be fun right?"

"I guess."

The two bees hop-scotched to other blossoms.

"What do you think?" Fox Glove asked a nearby bee.

"She's not from our hive," Aster stated.

"Oh," Fox Glove said, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. My hive just swarmed a little while ago. It was tough at first, but in the end it was all for the best," the new bee said.

"Did you go or stay?" Aster asked.

"I went, but I was getting bored with the same thing day in and day out."

"I don't know what I'm going to do yet," said Fox Glove.

"Well, do what you want. There's no wrong answer," she said before flying off to another flower.

"She makes it sound so easy."

"Don't worry Fox Glove, you still have a couple days. You'll figure it out." Aster comforted

"I guess, I just hope I make the right decision."

"Who's to say you have to stick with the decision you make? It's not like we won't know where each other are," Aster stated.

"You're right, what am I worrying about?"

The two bees headed off back to the hive to unload their pollen and nectar.

Days passed and excitement built until soon the feast was upon them. The other bees stood by, cheering as the princess cells were capped, and when the last sliver of light retreated from the sky, it began.

Oh, what a celebration it was, even the earwigs came out to say their goodbyes. There was eating and dancing, even sobs of sorrow as bees announced their intentions to go or stay. There were also cheers. They were sad to see loved one's leaving while happy to see loved one's staying. Sad to be leaving their home yet happy for what awaited them. It was a very complicated emotional time for everyone. One that was dealt with by more dancing and more eating until the cries, cheers and laughter of their reminiscing melted into one of happy heartbreak.

They continued way into the night until one by one they fell into a deep sleep, crashing comfortably on top of one another.

The next morning no one got up early, not until the queen had a few of her servants roust them from their slumber. Once they were more awake than asleep, she made her announcement.

"Listen up my children, the time has come for me to go. I understand that this is a somber time for us all, those of us leaving have a long journey ahead of us, and those of you who stay will be missed and loved. In my time, I have lived many seasons, had many children and had many homes, but I have never loved as much or as strong as I do this day. You are my family, more than any before you or any that will come after. To the great Burntwood I say goodbye. You have been a fine home and will continue to stand long after I'm gone. It saddens me I must leave, but it is the way of things. Those of you going with me please gather outside the hive when you have finished with your goodbyes. I love you all."

The queen majestically walked from the hive as bees came up and thanked her, saying how much they loved her. The queen in turn took each one and acknowledged them, taking a little longer with her gratitude in order to make each one feel special.

The other bees gathered around each other to say their goodbyes. When it came down to it, all of them were more scared than excited to leave the hive, so they procrastinated and dragged their feet. Eventually, with all their dilly dallying they ended up outside. Some bees changed their minds at the last moment, some deciding to stay, and some deciding to go. It was late afternoon when all were decided and the swarm took flight. The Queen was at its center and Tansy in the lead. Fox Glove looked back and waved as Aster peered from the opening of the hive, waving back. Some bees fanned perfume so that those leaving could always find their way back home. With the roar thousands of bees left the hive as a black wind and flew out of sight.

The next couple of days were a bit strange. Everyone was sad that so many of their friends had left but excited about the new queens. On the third day, the first one emerged. The attendants quickly surrounded her. They told her what the queen had told them. They told her how there could only be one queen and for the good of the hive the others must be dethroned. She went to the other cells and opened them up, ensuring her place as queen. The attendants quickly pulled the quashed queens from their cells and escorted them out of the hive.

The new queen looked around and said, "What do I do now?"

The bees looked at each other.

"There's nothing to do now. The day is almost done, and the night approaches. It is time for sleep," said one of them.

"You could tell us a story?" asked another.

"Oh yes, please tell us a story," pleaded another with gusto.

"A story about Maybee," they were all chiming in now.

"Who's Maybee?" the queen asked.

"You don't know who Maybee is?"

"I'm sorry, I don't."

"She's the greatest bee to ever live."

"Let's tell her the story of, The Duwaiha," piped a voice in the back.

So they did. They all gathered around the new queen and told her a story of Maybee.