After a quick and uneventful flight back to the forest, I realize something. I have no idea how to find the hive. Flying low over the canopy of the forest, I search desperately with my antennae, but at this height and speed, they can’t pick up anything. This is a serious issue. 

I stop skimming the woods, and instead hover above them. If I can’t smell my way home, how else can I find it? I guess I have to guess, just pick a direction. Glancing around, and seeing nothing but trees, I pick the direction that feels the best and start flying.

After about an hour of flying, my gut suddenly screams at me to stop. With a strong flap I stop midair. As soon as I do, my antennae pick up a familiar scent. Jack!

Dropping through the branches of the trees, I’m greeted with the familiar sight of our grove. The massive mound sitting in the center lords over the nearby trees. And sitting at its base is a naked elf. His drooped antennae perk up as he spots me. 

“Cerci! You’re back!” he says excitedly. I rush over to him and pull him into a hug. 

He looks down at me questioningly. “W-what’s up?” His eyes drift down slightly. “And what’s up with the clothes?” 

I let go of him, blushing. “We’ve been invited to dinner by the noble of a nearby town.” 

Jack’s eyes narrow. “You didn’t.” 

I look away, refusing to meet his eyes. 

He sighs. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on going.” He sounds angry, and his scent is nervous.

I nod. “I am, I think it would be good to see how people will treat us,” I explain.

Jack doesn’t seem convinced, but his shoulders sag dejectedly. “Fine, we gotta tell Lenn.” 

“I’m coming, too!” 

We both stare at the top of the hill, where Lenn’s head is poking just over the edge. Was he eavesdropping? He quickly scrambles down the hill, coming to stop between the two of us. 

“I’m coming, too! I want to meet people, too!” His scent is… it’s hard to describe, it’s adorable. Unique and squeaky, compared to mine and Jack’s. And very determined. 

“Fine, but you’re to do as I say,” I say firmly. 

The bug child nods enthusiastically. “Of course, Mother! I’ll always listen to your orders.” 

I buzz out a sigh. I’m sure he will, just his interpretation of what I say. 

“This is insane,” Jack says, shaking his head. Slowly a grin spreads over his face. “Let’s do it.”

 

────────────

 

Fifteen minutes and one sealed anthill later, and Jack and I are flying over the treetops. This time I have Lenn lay a pheromone trail as we fly to the town, so I can follow it back on our return trip. Jack and I soar through the air, the elf annoyingly flying circles around me. It seems his wasp wings afford him way more maneuverability than my bulky moth wings. 

Eventually when we make it to the town, I head for the upper layer. Hovering over the giant crystal in the center, I smell for the scent of the guy from earlier. It takes me a while, and a bit of repositioning, but I eventually find it. Following the smell to its source leads me to a large brown manor. 

I land directly in front of the large gates at the front of the estate. The two guards standing on either side of it almost jump out of their skins when I touchdown. I quickly let go of Lenn, letting him drop to the ground. His scent is pleased when I do, I don’t think he likes being carried. 

“Memor Immbog!” one of the guards yells angrily. 

I buzz in annoyance. They never did give me an ID, did they. I just stand and stare at the guards, who become increasingly nervous. Eventually Jack steps forward. 

“Hey, guys,” he says with a friendly tone. The two guards run their eyes over his body, realizing he’s totally naked. “We’re here for dinner?” he says, miming eating from a bowl. 

The two meatheads exchange glances, and one speaks into a small glowing crystal. They lower their weapons, and a few minutes later the front gate creaks open. 

Standing in the gateway is the fancy looking guy from before, Lex… something. He’s smiling at me, much more collected than earlier. Was he really that worried about my hive? How nasty do Arikka get? 

A green wisp flies between him and my group, lighting up the area. 

“Hello again, Princess. And who are these two?” he asks, motioning to Jack and Lenn. 

I step forward, past the two guards, Lenn glued to my side. Jack follows behind. 

I gesture towards the smaller insect beside me. “This is my firstborn, Lenn.” Pointing over my shoulder at Jack, I say, “And that’s Jack, my friend.” 

The noble’s eyes drift between the two, a hint of confusion behind within. I can’t smell his feelings at all, probably because of the horrible perfume he’s wearing. I have no idea what it’s even supposed to smell like, because I can only smell alcohol. 

He gives a slight bow. “Hello, I’m Baron Lex Mankom, the lord of this town. I’m happy to meet the family and friends of the princess.” His eyes run over Jack. “Do you want clothes, Sir Jack?” 

Jack suddenly starts laughing, thankfully calming down quickly. “I gotta be honest with you, I forgot I was naked.” He glances down at himself. “It’s been a while since I’ve had clothes on.”

“Ah…” the baron says diplomatically. “Can I take that as a yes?” 

Jack nods. “Sure, I’d love some clothes.” 

I click my mandibles nervously. “C-could I have something too? I… procured these, and they don’t fit my body very well.” 

The baron looks at me with a huge smile. “Of course! We’ll have to take your measurements for that, though, your Highness.” 

I nod. “I hope whoever does it doesn’t faint,” I chitter sarcastically. 

“Me too!” Lenn yells. “I want clothes, too!” 

The baron looks down at the little insect, flabbergasted. 

“Uh… yes, of course.” He looks at us briefly. “Let’s get inside.” 

I nod, and follow the baron into his house, the two boys tailing me.

 

────────────

 

Lex quickly abandons me with Lenn in a waiting room, running off with Jack somewhere. The two men seem to have hit it off in the twenty seconds from the door to the room. I don’t understand how guys do that. 

I look over and see Lenn rushing around the room, picking things up and looking at each of them closely. After scanning each object visually, he runs his antennae over it before moving on to the next item. He starts with the blankets and pillows, and moves onto the knobs of the dresser. 

“Don’t break anything, Lenn,” I chitter, forgetting the language magic left with the Baron. How annoying, back to clicks and squeals, I guess. 

“I won’t, Mother!” the small bug says, excitement gleaming in his eyes. Right, of course he won’t. 

Someone gently knocks on the door. 

“Ksssskiiik,” I say. Fuck. Before the person on the other side runs off from the demon noises, I rush to the door and open it. 

Standing on the other side is a girl who looks to be about sixteen. Her eyes slowly travel up from the floor, taking in each part of me in turn. After seeing everything, her eyes go wide. 

“Ahhh…” she says quietly. 

Great, now this poor girl is going to freak out because of the scary bug lady. Who even put her up to this? Did the other maids send the lowest on the totem pole? How annoying. 

“Beefen impor!” she squeals… excitedly? She rushes past me, into the room, and circles me. She tugs on the hem of my clothes, trying to get me to take them off. Is this girl really unfazed by my face? Whatever, let's just get this over with. 

I strip naked, throwing the ratty clothes onto the floor. Again the girl runs around me, taking in my body in a way that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. Her eyes are gleaming like how the doctors’ would at the facility. 

“Zzzzzzztop!” Lenn says firmly, standing between me and the girl. I glance down at him, confused. He looks up at me. “She is distressing you, Mother,” he explains through pheromones. 

I gently push him aside. “It’s alright Lenn, let the poor girl do her job.” The insect boy hesitates, but listens in the end. 

The girl stares at Lenn the same way she had been looking at me. Eyes full of curiosity. When he steps away, she zips around me again, measuring each part of my body with a tape measure. I almost scream when she wraps it around the base of my abdomen, but I keep myself under control.

Once she’s done with me, she turns on Lenn. She flits around him like a hummingbird, focusing her measurements to his upper body. I guess they aren’t going to even try making him pants. It takes her much less time to finish measuring him, and once finished she sprints out the door without a word. 

“Mother… was that girl… odd?” Lenn asks, tilting his head at me. 

“Yes,” I say flatly. “Very.” 

 

────────────

 

About an hour later, a pair of older maids come into the room, arms ladened with clothes. They’re both on the verge of being elderly, and don’t even flinch when they lay eyes on Lenn or me. The one zeros in on Lenn, helping him into an adorable dinner vest. 

The other maid sets her focus on me, and pulls out the first of many pieces of clothing. With her help it doesn’t take very long to get dressed, but by the end of putting on the layers of cloth, I’m feeling almost suffocated by them. Maybe being naked hasn’t been the worst. She goes to the other side of the room, and pulls a full length mirror in front of me. 

“ZZZIK?” I creak in shock at the image looking back at me. It’s clearly me, except… I’m really pretty. They made me a long green dress, one with a large gap in the back to let my wings be free. There’s also a hole that lets my tail out, and then buttons up around it to keep my ass from showing. The green of the cloth blends with the many shades of green across my body, making it look… almost natural. 

I click my mandibles happily. Looking at the maid, I try to thank her, but remember I can’t really. Then I think of something. 

“Hey, Lenn?” 

The small insect looks over at me. “Yes, Mother?” 

“Do you know any of their language yet?” I ask. 

He nods. “Yes, but only some of what the baron has said so far.” 

“What about 'thank you'?” 

His small mandibles scrape together happily. “Yes, that was one of the phrases he said.” 

I smile at my prodigal child. “Could you tell the maids thank you for us?” 

He nods before making eye contact with the two elderly women. “EzzzzzkIIIm Orrrrrrm,” he says clumsily. 

The two maids look shocked. Glancing between Lenn and I. “Isspa neevar,” the one woman says, before bowing. The two ladies quickly leave the room, closing the door behind them quietly. Not long after, the Baron returns, Jack in tow. The stupid elf opens the door without even knocking, letting the Baron’s green magic float over us. 

Annoyed that the elf would just barge in, I go to glare at him. But once I see him, I falter. He’s wearing a tight fitting white dress shirt, with black ruffles in the front. His legs are covered by pressed black pants, and he’s wearing shined black leather shoes. His wings flutter behind him, poking out of slits in his clothes. On top of all that, his hair is washed, pulled back into a gleaming ponytail. 

I can’t help it, I drool. Just a little though, and I’m able to keep it from view with my mandibles. Slowly pulling myself together from the visual assault of a suddenly appearing hot guy, I realize that Jack’s eyes are wide in shock as well. They glide up and down my figure, taking in everything as they go. His face flushes as his eyes get an odd gleam to them. 

“Cerci, you’re gorgeous,” he says, his voice weirdly soft. 

I feel myself blush furiously. “You don’t look that bad, either,” I say, avoiding his gaze. 

Suddenly the weird mood floating between us is shattered as the Baron claps loudly. He gives me a smile as I try not to glare at him. “You both look wonderful, as does the little one.” He motions to Lenn, who looks super cute in his little outfit. He looks like a tiny insect butler. 

“Shall we go to dinner, then?” the Baron asks. Jack and I nod, as my stomach growls angrily.