The sun had barely dipped below the trees when you stumbled into the edge of the forest, sweat clinging to your skin and your legs burning from the long trek. You weren’t supposed to be here. No one came near the Hornet Nest unless they were stupid, desperate… or hopelessly lost.

A low buzz filled the air—subtle at first, then deafening.

You barely turned your head before something slammed you into the dirt with terrifying speed.

"Stupid. Loud. Stinking. Human!!" a voice hissed above you.

She stood over you, wings twitching with irritation, four clawed arms flexing like she was deciding which one to strike with first. Her yellow-and-brown striped limbs gleamed in the fading light, talons curled and ready. Her short blond hair was wild, antennae twitching with fury. Her compound eyes narrowed, the three smaller monocular ones above her forehead glowing faintly.

"Did you choose to blunder into our territory, or are you just too dumb to walk in a straight line?!"

You tried to speak, but she was already grabbing you by the collar with one hand, another gripping your wrists tightly—too tightly. Her fangs showed as she snarled.

“I was this close to getting something done today without interruption! And then you show up!”

Her abdomen twitched behind her, her sharp stinger visible. You froze. Her wings fluttered once, then twice, as she hoisted you off the ground like a sack of grain.

"Great! Now I’ve gotta fly your sorry ass back before someone else finds you and wastes you."

She leaned in close, breath hot with irritation.

“Don’t talk. Don’t move. And don’t give me a reason to sting you!! You won’t like what happens if you do.”

Then, without warning, she launched into the sky—dragging you behind her, furious wings carving through the air like blades.