NOVPUBJust as Whisper said this to Farini, there was a scream from the other humans. Most of them were still gathered around the body, even those who weren't busy putting it on a cart.
Now another human fell, convulsing and holding his arm, while others began shouting in fright. This time, there was no chance that this was a work accident, and even humans could see it.
'There's more than one of them!' Whisper realized, and immediately translated the thought to other bees and to Farini.
'Agent Whisper, we can't take more than one,' Sergeant Beemarine messaged right back. 'We will die trying, but we *will* die. Please, retreat—we will win you some time, at least.'
Whisper wondered if maybe humans can run fast enough to run from hornets, but quickly realized that they were faster, thanks to their evolution and size.
'I must call the guards and protect the people,' Farini thought, calmer than before. 'Holy Whisper, do these creatures have weaknesses?'
Whisper didn't have time to reply before the fight began.
The first hornet—and the only visible one so far—charged at the remaining Builder Bees, emanating the powerful smell of attack pheromones.
The surviving Builder Bees, who lacked enhancements of the morphotypes, would've died in this moment, if Beemarines didn't dash to intercept the hornet.
They surrounded it, and the Sergeant Beemarine shouted orders for a swift attack. Although Whisper wasn't a professional in combat tactics, she guessed their intentions—to kill the hornet quickly, so they could brace for a fight against the second one.
This was a very risky plan, and a Beemarine immediately paid for it.
In her attempt to hit the hornet with her bola, the Beemarine got too close to the creature's arm. The hornet swiped at her and caught the Beemarine's wing, tearing a half of it off.
The Beemarine cried out in pain and began falling, frantically trying to slow her fall with the three remaining wings.
To Whisper's relief, the Builder Bees decided to not die stupidly and instead flew closer to the ground. On their way, they caught the wounded Beemarine, too.
'They are weak to fire. Like most things are,' Whisper replied to Farini, watching this fight unfold.
She realized that the presence of hornets here must've meant that they had a nest somewhere. And it will have to be destroyed—later.
'Farini, tell the workers to run before they get stung, too. The fallen ones are beyond help, but these monsters won't stop at this! They will kill until all of us are dead, and more of them will join the massacre soon. At least if the workers spread around, the hornet won't follow them all!'
'I understand, holy Whisper,' Farini replied, clicking his jaws.
Leaving the fighting Beemarines and covering Builder Bees behind, Farini ran up to the other humans, shouting orders in their language. They needed little prompting to scatter in all directions like the tiny forest critters from under a lifted rock.
A few actually tried to stay near Farini—to guard him or hoping he would protect them, Whisper wasn't sure—but he shooed them away with a wave of hand.
Whisper hoped that the second hornet would follow one of the humans, and perhaps even show herself. She could smell her nearby, but while the hornet moved fast and stayed in cover, she was almost impossible to spot amid all the humans.
Once or twice Whisper thought she saw a flash of yellow, but it always disappeared before she could be sure.
'Where is this devilish creature now?' Farini asked when the other builders were running. He made a step back to fighting Beemarines and paused. 'Should I help your sister-warriors, holy Whisper? Their enemy looks very strong.'
She was.
The bolas and hammers which would've killed an ordinary murder hornet with relative ease weren't working as well on this one. The evolved hornet was faster, stronger and smarter than an ordinary one.
Although the Beemarines also had metal weapons and better armor, they still couldn't pierce the creature's armor. And as if knowing that she will get killed if the Beemarines surround her, the hornet often dashed around, not letting them get behind.
The wings were the hornet's main vulnerable spot, and she protected it fiercely.
Whisper wanted to help the Beemarines somehow, perhaps with her human, but she couldn't see how Farini could even touch the agile hornet. He'd just be a nuisance to everybody.
Although there was one thing he could do.
'Get the Builders from down there and carry them away. Let's all get somewhere safer while this monster is distracted. The reinforcements will come soon, and the holy guardians will slay these demons,' Whisper messaged to Farini.
'Of course!' he replied, running back to the fight.
While he did, Whisper messaged B666666 so she would lead the survivors to Farini. He didn't cross all the distance before the Builders flew toward him and landed on his outstretched arms.
The human gently brought them to his chest and turned to run in another direction—toward the city proper and after the main group of the workers.
Whisper let out a sigh of relief. With his massive steps, Farini would escape quickly. If a hornet wasn't chasing them closely, she won't be able to follow them soon.
However, only a few steps later, Whisper knew that her relief was premature.
'Farini, watch out! She's on your back!'
The hornet that just emerged from the cover of trees near the ground flew to Farini's back in eerie silence.
Now she was rapidly cutting with her claws right through his clothing. Her antennae waved as she searched for the scent of his body below the fabric.
Farini stopped to a halt and craned his head, trying to see. He raised his hands, trying to shake the hornet off; but intentionally or not, she landed in a hard to reach place.
Whisper was already flying toward the hornet. Even if she was about to get another wound, she had to shake off this enemy!
