“We’ll keep the bees occupied while you get close to the hive and put the fiery branches around it,” Lily said.

“Alright. Bee careful,” I said stressing the word bee. Lily and the other pixies laughed.

“That was terrible,” Trinity groaned. She at her familiar on the ground. “Stay safe Rikki.”

We watched the ferret run into the underbrush.

“Jase, you stay safe. And if you get hurt stung, it’s going to hurt like the dickens!” Lily said. She kissed my right cheek and joined the other pixies.

“What does hurt like the dickens even mean?” Trinity and I asked at the same time.

“Dickens is an old euphemism for devil,” April said.

“So, it means getting stung will hurt a lot!” Willow adds.

“Those bees are as big as you pixies, so yes, getting stung would hurt, if not kill,” Trinity said.

“They don’t carry enough poison to kill,” May said.

“Unless you get stung a bunch,” Yam added.

“Guys, you’re not inspiring confidence with all this poison talk,” I complained gesturing at the pixies. “Especially when you’re wearing that protective gear or whatever.”

“We’re just being honest,” Lilly innocently said.

“Your grin is ruining your statement,” I told my familiar. The grin slips from Lily’s face. “Too late.”

“Couldn’t help myself,” Lily replied shrugging her shoulders. She shot a small fireball at the stick in my hand. It caught fire. “Bullseye!”

“Nicely done,” Trinity said sticking two sticks to the one in my hand, so they started burning too. She threw one as close to the hive as she cold.

“That didn’t get close enough,” Lily said. Trinity glared at my pixie.

“We’re going to have to get closer,” I said as bent down and stuck the burning stick to the pile we had made. I grabbed another burning stick and ran towards the hive.

“He’s nuts!” Trinity said.

“No. He’s doing what needs to be done,” Lily countered. She looked to her kin. “Let’s go!”

The pixies flew toward the hive, passing me, while zapping bees to distract them. The pixies flew off in different directions being pursued by the mutated bumble bees. I threw the stick in my right hand as I got as close as I dared to the hive. It landed a foot or two away. I threw the other stick and ran back for more.

“Come on. It’s not that bad,” I told Trinity as she stared at me.

“You’re nuts, you know that?” she said.

I grinned at her. “Just run fast!”

“This is what I get for being greedy,” Trinity said to herself. Rikki chittered at her. “Alright. I’m going.”

The next few minutes were frantic as we dodged bees and pixies while throwing flaming sticks around the hive. Trinity and I even started seeing who would get closest to the hive as our confidence grew. More bees emerged as we got closer, which made us start staying further away.

“I think that’s enough. We don’t want the bees leaving to start a new hive closer to the village or my house,” I said.

“Alright,” Trinity agreed. Rikki suddenly chirped at her. Trinity spins around only for a bee to land on her upper arm and sting her. “Ow!”

“Are you alright?” I asked as she smacked the bee away.

“That hurts!” Trinity answered.

“It’s swelling too,” I said.

“Jase, look out!” Lily shouted.

I turned around to see what my familiar wanted. Trinity ducked as a bee flew past her. It hit me in the left shoulder and stung me. I swiped at the bee. It flew away as another bee hit me in the butt.

“Son of a…” I shouted while slapping my hands on my butt. The bee had already flown off.

“That had to hurt,” Lily said flying over. I noticed she was no longer wearing the protective gear but was now wearing a long white skirt with a blue shirt. She had a white hat with a red cross on the front on her head. Her right arm had a band on it that also had the red cross. I fell to my knees. “Hold still and I’ll make sure you don’t have a stinger in your…backside.”

“I’ll check the other human,” Willow said flying over to Trinity.

“I’m fine,” Trinity said. “We need some calendula flowers, basil, honey, or lemon balm for the bee stings.”

“Hold still Jase,” Lily instructed. I could feel her joy over our bond.

“You’re taking way too much joy from this,” I told her.

“At least I didn’t ask you to drop your pants!”

“True,” I replied. I turned my attention to Trinity. “There are none of those plants hear and I don’t want to attempt to mess with the hive until we’re sure the bees are calm.”

“Then what do you suggest? Should we suffer?” Trinity retorted.

“No. We’ll use that,” I said pointing to a weed.

“A weed?” Trinity asked.

“It’s plantain. The leaves make an excellent poultice for bee stings,” I answered. “Yam, will you and the others harvest a few leaves please?”

“Sure!”

“Do you want them to chew it up too?” Lily asked.

“No. Just mashing them should work,” I answered.

“Jase?”

“Yeah Trinity?” I asked.

“You’re going to have to drop your pants to apply the poultice,” she said. The pixies and woman laughed as I groaned in annoyance.