Squinting her eyes, Punkin wakes to the sound of the bees buzzing and swarming outside her window where she can also hear her father working. Feeling excitement for the day head, Punkin quickly swipes her purple and black hair out of her face, straightens her wrinkled tutu, pulls down the rolled up pant legs of her leggings, and straightens her shirt, making sure the bumble bee image on her shirt is centered, before eagerly running outside of their modest shack of a house to seize the day. She can feel it. Today is like no other day!

On the farm where Punkin lives, it is a bright day, lending to a productive harvest. Soft nimbus clouds float by, occasionally offering brief relief from the sun. Surrounding the farm, rests a lush forest bursting with life as birds chirp and squirrels gather nuts and pinecones for their seasonal preparations.

Leading to the farm are four paths, not often traveled. The path to the North leads through a village and some farming homes, to a very large tree and a system of rivers that run through the base of a mountain range. The path to the East leads through a valley and a vast field to various villages, towns, and cities beyond. The path South leads to a port town, just past the desert. The last of the paths lead directly West of Haeven, to the dark clouds just beyond the Western forest, known as the Western Woods. The land below the clouds, once known for its lush fields of flowers, was the home to many bee colonies. That land is now a wasteland with a shadow cast over it, making it hard to determine if anything living remains there at all.

At the center of the four paths, stands the farm. It is not just any farm, it is the beekeepers’ farm. At The Apiary, honey is harvested and bees are kept happy by the Apiarists, little three year-old Punkin and her caregiver, Cer (pronounced ‘Sir’).

Well suited for farm work from a previous lifetime of demon hunting, Cer works diligently in a beekeeper suit, quickly and gently harvesting honey along the neatly organized lines of bee hives, by scraping the honey into buckets and appreciating the bees for their shared crop.

I remember when I was deathly afraid of you. We sure have grown fond of each other, haven’t we? I appreciate you not stinging me. It is funny how things work out; once I thought of you as my enemy, now I call you my friends. How ironic, how we need each other. I keep your flowers alive and you provide me honey. People need us and will leave us alone because they need us; AND with your honey I can provide for my family while keeping us safe. I still wonder if you are bothered by the others or if you don’t see them at all. Hmmm… Nonetheless, thank You for your honey and your partnership. Please continue to keep Pupu and our family safe and I will look out for you all as well.

Near the hive line where Cer works the honey, lay rows and rows of various flowers and plants where the bees gather their nectar. Occasionally Cer would look over to see what flowers the bees visited most to keep mental notes: Hmmmm. So that’s your favorite flavor this week. I’ll have to make sure to spread more seeds by the well for you then… but we also have to balance what you like with what we need. After all, variety is important for flavor.

Startled by the approach of a familiar mystic energy, Cer pauses working and realizes, Ahh it’s just the postwoman.

While the postwoman hands Cer a letter, Punkin excitedly darts over to see what the interaction is about, “What’s that? Is that from mommy?”

Standing in silence, while waiting for the postwoman to leave, Cer turns to Punkin to offer a soft smile, hiding a hint of sadness .

As soon as Cer hears the postwoman exit the farm, Cer drops the mail on the ground with a sigh of frustration, and continues to harvest honey while speaking to Punkin, “Pupu, I don’t think this is from mommy. I can’t read who it is from. I will wait for Kala to return and she can help me read it.”

“Why can't you read it? Are you i-legitimate?" Punkin curiously asks Cer.

Responding with a humorous sigh, Cer patiently answers Punkin, “I think the word you are looking for is ILLITERATE and I am not illiterate, remember I can't see normally like other people. Also, not being able to see like other people would not make me or anyone else illegitimate either. "

Tilting her head with furrowed eyebrows, Punkin inquisitively continues to prod Cer, "How do you get the honey then… I think you are tricking me that you can't see!"

As Cer’s shoulders drop, Cer sighs again “We’ve been over this several times Pupu. How ‘bout you just help me get the honey. There is a lot you have to learn to take over the farm.”

Stomping her foot, Punkin responds with a shout in a bout of frustration “I wanna play. You never wanna play hide and seek!”

Pausing a bit from tending to the honey, Cer looks up towards Punkin and concedes, “After we get the honey we can play hide and seek….. it’s unfair don’t you think? I can’t see things and I am supposed to find you.”

Giggling with excitement, Punkin exclaims: “You are kidding! I know you can see. Hurry so we can play!”

As Cer continues to harvest honey from the honeycombs and hives, Punkin waters the flowers with a mini watering can- running back and forth between the water spigot connected to the house and the rows of flowers, being very careful to not run near the Calla-Lilies as instructed by Cer.

Upon completing several tasks to upkeep the farm, Punkin and Cer sigh with relief, feeling satisfied with the work they have done and head to the small hill East of the house just several steps away.

Sitting with her feet dancing in front of her, facing the forest to the West, Punkin joyfully eats some toasted sliced bread covered in honey and butter with a dash of cinnamon.

Sitting crossed legged next to Punkin, also facing the Western Woods, Cer eats an onigiri rice ball while studying the dark clouds beyond the forest. Those should not be moving this way- they should not be moving at all.

Looking at Cer with a smile on her face, Punkin inquires with excitement, “Do you wanna play now?”

Looking back at Punkin with exhaustion, Cer replies, “I am too busy to play … I have important things to do …”

Realizing what was just said and the implications of the words, Cer slowly reaches over and pats Punkin on the head while calmly and deliberately speaking in a soft, warm tone, “I am sorry…. You are very important to me, let’s go play”

Cer then picks up a rock, studies it, and throws it at the scarecrow in the field. “You think you can catch me before I get to that rock by the scarecrow?” Hopping up from Cer’s seat, Cer starts running towards the scarecrow.

Quickly jumping up in excitement, Punkin chases after Cer, laughing and swinging the rest of her sweet bread at Cer.

As they run towards the scarecrow, Cer shouts towards Punkin, “We don’t have a lot of light left and those dark clouds are moving this way, you better catch me before the darkness does!”

Laughing maniacally in response, Punkin chases Cer more fervently, “I’m gonna get you ‘cause I am fast.” Pulling out a wooden bubble wand, Punkin runs after Cer, swinging it and chasing Cer until the sun sets.

-break-

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Western Woods near the farm….

A mysterious woman knits and hums a soft tune while rocking in her chair. Noticing something awry in the ambient air, the young woman pauses and tilts her head with curiosity, scanning for threats.

Pausing a moment from her knitting, the young woman tilts her head to listen to the air, and then begins to knit again. She detects a familiar presence, smiles softly and asks, "You are early Kala, is everything alright?”

The silhouette of another woman approaches from the trees.

While stepping into the light from the shadows of the forest, the woman responds, “No, Kali. I have to get to them quickly. Close the gate and let nobody in or out. The world is changing, and it’s coming for us. We have to keep our promise.”