The Birds and the Bees and the Honey Tree

Once upon a time there was a Honey Tree in the middle of the Emerald Forest. Now, I should tell you; Honey Trees are very special. Why? Because Honey Trees were hollow, almost like those Hollow Trees in the stories of pixies and fairies.

But Honey Trees weren't just hollow; it had a very special system going on inside of that Honeywood. Yes, the Honey Tree produced the rarest, most delicious, healing honey that could ever be found. If you ate even one drop of that honey, you could be cured from even the most deadly, most horrible illness there was.

That is why everyone wanted to live in the Honey Tree. But only the Healing Bees were allowed to live there. They were the keepers of the Honey Tree. If any other creature stepped foot inside a Honey Tree, the creature would be Cursed for the rest of its life.

There were many different kinds of Curses. For instance, there was the Falling Curse that made you fall and trip if you walked or anything. Then there was the Ugly Curse, which made you as ugly as you can be.

I could go on and on about each different kind of curse, but I think it's time for our story about the Birds and the Bees and the Honey Tree.

It all started one morning when Chirp woke up feeling very ill. "Mother," he croaked from bed. When his mother, Flutter, didn't come, he tried again. "Mother, please come." He couldn't speak very well, for his throat was so very sore. Finally, after a while, Flutter appeared at the door of his bedroom.

"Yes dear? I heard you calling me. Oh dear!" she cried when she saw Chirp looking ill. "You're as pale as a ghost! I must call the doctor, no, the Healing Bees, no, your father!" Flutter fluttered about in frenzy. Sicknesses were not very uncommon, but when you're as white as a ghost, that's serious. Finally, Flutter calmed down and went to call Doctor Squeak, the nearest doctor (not to mention the smallest) one around the tree the Wing family lived in.

When the doctor arrived, the mouse took Chirp's pulse and temperature. Then she put an ice pack on his forehead and said to his nervous parents, "I'm afraid you will need some Healing Honey. Your boy is just too sick. I think it's from a bad worm. Go check with the Healing Bees." And with that, the mouse doctor was gone. Flutter glanced at Chirp's father, Blue, and said, "The Healing Bees? We can't go to the Healing Bees after the incident!" She was referring to what had happened last winter.

The birds of Emerald Forest had been in a disastrous time of the year. Winter was always the worst. It was when all the food supplies went low, the temperatures froze toes, and of course, plaque. When all the birds fell ill, they just went to the Healing Bees for honey. They had been on good terms, for a while.

One winter morning, the temperatures were way below freezing, and one bird was very sick, close to death. It was the Mayor of the Birds. Of course, all the birds were sick with worry. But they had run out of their quota for honey. You see, every category of animal got a Honey Quota so the Healing Bees wouldn't run out of honey. It just so happened that the Mayor of the Birds had fallen ill right as their quota had run out.

The Mayor was very important to the birds. It wasn't as if the birds could just pick a new one. So, the Mayor's brother, Big Red, devised a plan. It was a terrible plan, a risky one. But since everyone was so desperate to save the Mayor, they agreed to do it. So the next morning, got their supplies together and marched to the Honey Tree. Then they did the most terrible thing; they started to chop down the tree. They chopped all morning, and the bees didn't even know what was going on until the tree was about to fall. By then, it was too late. Most of the bees were killed, and the tree was dead. But the birds still collected the honey that had leaked out of the cracks and marched back towards the Mayor's tree, not looking back once at the terrible sight. From then on, the birds never got any Healing Honey from the Healing Bees again.

Blue glanced at Flutter. "Well, what else are we supposed to do? We can't let our son die!" Flutter looked down at Chirp, who had fallen into a fitful sleep. She took a big breath and sighed. "Alright, let's go." And they flew out to the other Honey Tree on the other side of the forest, not knowing what to expect.

It was nearly noon by the time they saw the rich green leaves of the Honey Tree, waving gaily in the air. They saw the Healing Bees, darting in and out of the entrance of the tree. Flutter and Blue cautiously approached the tree. They were halfway to the tree entrance when a voice stopped them.

"Halt! Buzz sees a bird! Buzz says birds must stop!" Flutter and Blue whirled around to see a plump little bee charging towards them. When the bee finally stopped in front of their faces, he said, "I is Buzz. Buzz says birds are bad. Why are birds here?" Flutter and Blue stared at the little bee, whose skinny black arms were crossed in front of his fat fuzzy body. Buzz wore a scowl on his face as he stared at them curiously. What an odd mix. Finally, Blue came to his senses and cleared his throat.

"I am Blue. We are asking for some of you Healing Honey. We are begging you! Our son is very sick. We are afraid we might lose him Please help us." Buzz looked at him intently. Then he darted back. "I is sorry. Buzz has no authority. Birds must speak to Mayor of Bees." And with that, he buzzed off to the tree.

Flutter stared in disgust at the back of the bee. "I can't believe we wasted our time with that little bug. He wasn't even in charge! He-"she was cut off by Blue, who shushed her and pointed to Buzz, who was leading a bigger bee towards them. When the larger bee finally stopped in front of them, Buzz chuckled nervously.

"Buzz shall get going now. Ciao!" And he quickly flew off, leaving the large bee staring icily at the two birds. "Greetings, I am Blue and this is my mate Flutter." She waved politely. Blue continued. "We know we have had a terrible past, but I wish to make amends. I'm begging you to spare us some honey for our son, who is deathly ill. Please." He stared hopefully up at the big bee, who was frowning at them. Then he slowly said, "You should be Cursed. Your kind has chopped down a Honey Tree that killed thousands!"He paused, and Blue and Flutter lowered their eyes. Then he continued. "But, alas, we shouldn't hold this grudge forever. Alright, we shall give you a small portion of honey. But only if you promise to never do that terrible thing again. Or else there will be consequences." The birds nodded gratefully, and accepted the small jar of the precious Healing Honey and started home.

When they reached their tree, they were just in time because Chirp was fading fast. Quickly, they spooned the sweet honey in his beak and instantly he was well.

After that, the birds and the bees were on good terms again. From then on, No one ever chopped a single tree down again, and no one was short of honey.