Ahh, the land of Bugaria.

A peaceful, prosperous place where many adventurous bugs gather.

Although, it wasn't always that way...

Lured by the promise of riches and lush fields, a young Queen visited these lands many moons ago.

Together with her daughters and fellow ant servants, she established Bugaria's modest first settlement.

Her people were happy, the Ant Kingdom flourished... And yet, the Queen's dream had still not been fulfilled.

For she had heard of an ancient people, who safeguarded a treasure of unbelievable power. It was none other than...

The Everlasting Sapling! A plant which would grant unending youth and strength to any who ate even one of its leaves!

She searched, and searched...and searched...

Alas, she never found it.

She entrusted her dream to the princess, before falling into a hard-earned sleep.

Determined to succeed where her mother did not, the new Queen rallied the people together under her cause.

Opening the doors of the kingdom to bugs of all shapes and kinds, she attracted ambitious and skilled adventurers!

Her decree was loud and clear: "Find me the Everlasting Sapling, and you shall know wealth like no other bug ever has!"

With this, The Explorers' Association was founded, with its many members searching across the kingdom for clues and treasure.

Even though to this day, the sapling has not been found. But every bug dreams of one day claiming it for themselves...

-

The green beetle finished his reverent recounting with a sigh, concluding by saying "... Or at least, those were the stories I was told in my land. Despite many unfortunate incidents, tales of your people helped me keep my adventuring spirit alive."

The mantis he was speaking to responded respectfully. "Rest assured, Kabbu. They are not mere legends, but real history. This explorers' Association, and all the explorers who risk their wings for glory, are proof of that."

As Kabbu responded, a young female bee strode confidently into the building and made her way past the two males deep into their discussion. "Then, Sir Maki, would you consider my earlier offer?"

"Kabbu, I respect your passion. But I take missions of the highest danger. An unproven warrior, and a male at that, is not fit to accompany my team."

"Unproven!?" Kabbu responded with flustered offense. "Maki, you're a male yourself! You know that we are just as capable as females if given the chance. And I've bested many hardships in the north!"

"Or so you say. Your knowledge of our culture, and your passion for exploring are as true as my blade's edge, Kabbu. But, I find it hard to believe any male could have come here from the north without a female to escort them. So I would ask you not to press the issue - this is not the place to cause a scene." Maki responded dismissively.

Kabbu gritted his teeth and grumbled to himself, but before he could respond a shout sounded out from the rear of the building.

"WHAT? care to say that AGAIN?" The bee who had walked in earlier was shouting.

"As I said, we cannot allow children to explore! Much less Snakemouth Den!" The guild associate responded indignantly.

"I'M NOT A KID! Where do you get off speaking to a female that way, male!?" She shouted back, as if to disprove her own assertion.

".... So much for that. Would you accompany me, Kabbu? It is my duty to investigate." Maki said calmly.

"Hm? Well, if you insist." Kabbu said simply, following the mantis towards the commotion.

"Eetle, bee, lower your voices! What is the matter?" Maki inquired.

The bee rounded on him, flailing with offense. "This MALE is calling me a kid, says I can't explore!"

"Shouting isn't going to change the rules, you child." Eetle said.

"Shut it, male! It's not about age, it's not even about sex, it's about skill! I'm Vi, the best explorer the Hive has ever seen! I'm not some random bee!" The bee insisted, still shouting.

Kabbu cocked his head inquisitively. "An explorer bee?"

Vi huffed and crossed her arms. "Yeah. Got a problem? Saying bees can't explore? Expected honey and paint? How would you like it if I said YOU can't explore just because you're a male?"

"I didn't say that, but..." Kabbu began, only for Maki to cut him off.

"Silence, please. This guild of ours is no place for petty squabbles."

"Look. I can't just give a permit to some bee. Much less without a partner. Teams should be a duo of explorers, at least one of them female, you know?" Eetle interjected.

"I'm worth like four bees, okay!?" Vi shrieked while stomping her feet, as if throwing a tantrum would get her what she wants.

Kabbu paused in thought before speaking up. "... Hey. Vi."

"What do you want?"

"Why don't we join forces? We both wish for a permit, yet lack a companion."

"What, do I look that desperate? I don't even know you! Some random male wants me to just carry him around in my thorax while I do all the hard work?" Vi scoffed.

Kabbu insisted. "I have a promise I must keep, and for that I must explore. And I would not be a burden, you would not have to carry me. I would earn my keep. How bad could it be?"

"Well... it can't be worse than having to stay put. As long as you don't freeload in my belly, then deal." Vi accepted with a smile.

Eetle spluttered. "Wait, you two are just crazy! You won't last a second at Snakemouth!"

"I'll prove you wrong! Then you can apologize by giving me a belly rub!" Vi shouted still irate.

"No." Maki said simply after a pause. "You are both, most likely, mere novices, rules by your strong emotions... I have no doubt that if you left today, you would return in a bruised heap."

"Sir Maki." Kabbu said resolutely. "Although you outrank me in spades, you shouldn't underestimate me. I... went through quite a bit to get here, more than the typical male with whims of becoming an explorer."

"Yeah. Bugs like you that look down on others are really annoying!" Vi said without any sense of tact.

"Hmm. Very well." Maki said, with a sharp sparkle in his eye. "I shall test your resolve."

"Test us, huh?" Vi shouted with a flail of her arms again. "Who names you king of this joint?"

Maki twirled his sword and brought it to bare. "The Ant Queen herself, for she has knighted me as her Royal Blade!"

"I accept your challenge!" Kabbu said with a confident beckoning of his arm. "Vi, get ready!"

"Watch your own horn, I was born ready!" Vi said, unholstering a boomerang.

"Vi, your opponent is no amateur. Would you like to review some combat tips?" Kabbu offered.

"I don't need a tutorial on how to eat males, I bet I know more stuff than you do! I'll be fine."

Vi and Kabbu fought with Maki for a few bouts, but soon Maki ended the skirmish. "... You pass.

"What!?"

"You performed well enough. I could feel your desire to see the world through your attacks. I am no one to keep you from your Explorer Permit. Eetle, you may grant it to them." Maki concluded.

"I get no say in this, huh?" Eetle sighed shaking his head, thinking not for the first time that Maki allowed his status to make him think he could act as if he was a female in how he conducted himself. "... But Maki IS the Queen's Blade. Here, you can have it."

Eetle handed the two their explorers permit, which Vi greedily accepted. "I did it!"

"er, we did it." Kabbu muttered.

"Snakemouth Den is going to be all mine! All the riches, all the glory!" Vi continued with with stars in her eyes.

"MAKI!" A shout suddenly rang through the guilds building as a female mantis scurried inside. "Seriously, brother! How long are you going to keep me waiting!? You know I don't like letting you go so long outside of my belly, you must be getting cold out here in the open air."

"My apologies, Kina." Maki said, stifling a blush on his cheeks. "Vi, Kabbu, I must be going now. As you can see," he coughed into his hand as Kina's stomach growled loudly and hungrily "duty calls me. May you succeed in your mission."

The brother and sister mantises walked off, Kina licking her lips as she reached out a hand to hold Maki close while they strode away.

"What a weird bunch." Vi astutely observed. "... So uh. I'm Vi, I guess. From the Hive near the big tree." She introduced herself to her new explorer partner.

"Oh! I am Kabbu. I moved in just one moon ago, from the north."

"Cool."

"Indeed."

There was an awkward silence between them, not even broken by a stray rumble of hunger from Vi's belly.

"Um, Sir Maki said Snakemouth was to the west, right? Should we get moving?" Kabbu suggested.

"Right! Yeah! Let's go right away! I'm not going to carry you in my belly, so don't fall behind, okay?"

Chapter 1 A Dysfunctional Trio

Vi and Kabbu chitchatted with the other members of the explorers guild on their way out.

"Oh, Eri, why must Maki be so dreamy?" Gen, an ant explorer, said while some drool dripped down her chin.

"Have you gone mad, Gen!? He's so arrogant! He acts like a female, even though he's just a male with a fancy title!" Eri responded.

"You tell her, Eri." Vi agreed.

"Pompous as he was," Kabbu piped up "he was at least kind enough to test us."

"Oh, no. He does that to everyone. You see this once a week." Eri said.

"Oh, Maki... such a show off~" Gen swooned while rubbing her belly.

"Argh! That stupid, female roleplaying wannabe gatekeeper! I'll show him!" Vi shouted while flailing her arms.

"This will not stand!" Kabbu said, just as offended to have been seemingly mislead by Maki's treatment. "I shall challenge him to a duel, our honor on the line!"

"H-hey! You don't have to go that far!" Gen said defensively, rearing on Kabbu with a hungry stare.

Vi winced. "Oh, um, he's just kidding! Right, Kabbu?"

"Err, yes. Of course. 'Kidding'. I was most certainly only jesting." Kabbu agreed wilting under the female appetite he was being confronted with.

"You better have been!"

"Let's just go, Kabbu." Vi said quietly.

"Stay out of trouble." Eri said after that as they walked away.

"And far away from Maki!" Gen added.

Vi and Kabbu walked around the Association grounds on their way to the exit gate to the west. As they inspected the rockslide caused by the rain the previous night, a shameless belch erupted outloud attracting their attention. The two walked over to see a red cricket female with her thorax bulging, the fire spitter of a woman was huffing in frustration while standing next to a lethargic looking snail.

"Argh! These rocks are getting in the way of our trade routes! If this isn't clear soon, we will lose money! Get on with it, ants! This should never even happen!!!" Cricketly shouted.

Her thorax wobbled and gurgled as her husband spoke from within. "I understand my wife is upset, but there is nothing we can do until the rocks are cleared. Though I don't know why she insists on keeping me in here until the path is cleared, since we're in a safe settlement and there's nowhere to go until they finish their work..."

Vi and Kabbu moved on, displaying their explorers permit to the gate guard and finally making their way towards Snakemouth Den.

"This is it." Kabbu said solemnly as they arrived at the entrance of the massive stone cave. "Snakemouth Den."

"It doesn't look that scary, you know?" Vi said confidently.

"It does not make you uncomfortable as a female, the thought of entering the snakes mouth and being devoured?"

"Y-yuck, don't even joke about that Kabbu."

"The interior of this legendary den of terrors has claimed many an explorer, never to return. Even for females, it is not unlike being consumed and never released. We must be extremely cautious."

Vi stomped her foot and flailed her arms. "Geez, way to sell it to me, Kabbu." She huffed and caught her breath, returning to her simple confident expression. "But the higher the danger, the better the treasure!"

"Hm. It's true that the artifact is likely to be inside. But are simple riches worth such a risk to you?"

"Stop trying to scare me, you're probably just projecting and want me to carry you in my belly. Sorry Kabbu, but I expect you to pull your weight on the outside! Let's get in there!"

Kabbu hummed to himself and whispered resolutely "... I must make sure she stays safe."

Upon exploring the interior they soon came across a flowing stream of water, with the walkway bridge suspended above it.

"The bridge seems to be out. How are we going to cross?" Kabbu asked.

"Well, that's it. Game over. Let's go back." Vi said with an exaggerated shrug and turning around.

"Wait, Vi. Hold on! It's too soon to give up! There must be a way..."

"Duh. I was kidding, you know? Look over there! It's one of those ancient switches! We just need to hit it!" Vi declared.

Kabbu hummed and regarded his bee companion. "Can't you just fly over to it? Or moreover, swallow me and fly across the gap with me in your stomach?"

"That's too much effort. You're bigger than me Kabbu, you'd be so heavy I don't think I could make it across the water with you weighing down my gut." Vi concluded, though Kabbu suspected she was just being lazy. "I've got a better plan. The mighty Beemerang!"

Vi hopped up onto a wooden platform brandishing her ranged weapon, and tossed it across the gap. Instead of hitting the switch her boomerang hit a rope that held a bundle of tied logs overhead, dropping it down and creating a makeshift bridge.

"Well done, Vi. I wasn't expecting you to do that!"

"Um, yeah! Of course! Just as planned!" Vi said with a hurried assurance.

"Let's continue. I am glad to have a reliable female as my partner." Kabbu praised.

"Super reliable!" Vi concurred with self satisfaction.

Exploring across the water, they came to a room with a giant stone door that was sealed shut.

"We've reached an impasse." Kabbu said.

"But it's ancient ruins, so not really." Vi dismissed.

"Right. If we leave no stone unturned, we will open a path!"

After exploring the room they managed to solve a puzzle by pushing a pair of heavy rocks onto weighted switches in the ground, causing the room to rumble and quake around them.  But instead of the doors opening, a simple mushroom just fell from the ceiling.

"A mushroom?" Kabbu questioned.

Vi flailed and shouted. "What!? We did all this for THAT? Seriously? It wasn't even a rare item. Heck, it wasn't even a rare mushroom! Who designed this place!? I will sting them in the face! I'll tear the place DOWN!"

Kabbu let her vent her little temper tantrum and then simply said. "Come now, Vi. Unfortunate as it may be,  let's pick it up and start looking again!"

But after picking up the mushroom, the ground where the food item had been sitting shook and then dropped away, sending the pair of adventurers falling down into the darkness. The two shouted and yelped as they crashed into the abyss. But then after a few moments, Vi flew back up out from the open pit.

"Phew. That was close." The hovering bee said to herself, while Kabbu groaned in pain down below. "Kabbu! Are you okay!?" The only response was another groan. "I guess he is. Hmm... This is the perfect time to go home. I don't like the look of that place... But a responsible female would probably fly down and swallow him up and carry him back to safety in her belly..."  Vi sighed to herself and shook her head as she started drifting back down into the dark. "... I'm going to regret this..."

Vi landed next to Kabbu who was face down and grumbling.

"No rush. I can wait." Vi said, making no move to swallow him.

"Oof! I am lucky this mushroom broke my fall." Kabbu grunted as he pushed back onto his feet.

"I would have swallowed you up into my belly and carried you, but you seem really heavy..." Vi said making excuses for herself to avoid the traditional female obligation.

"I assure you I am lighter than I seem." Kabbu asserted, which the bee scoffed at.

"Anyways, this place is really creepy." Vi said to avoid the subject of swallowing the beetle.

"I must agree. And there doesn't seem to be a way back up for me on my own two feet." He said passive aggressively, which Vi chose to ignore. "We will have to look around."

"Let's be careful, okay? You shouldn't push yourself, you're only a male." Vi said condescendingly, while still not intending to keep Kabbu safe in her belly like she probably should be.

"We're trapped. Well, I am." Kabbu muttered. "How shameful, to make a female like Vi come to such a dangerous place.

"Look, I can take care of myself. You're the one I should be concerned about. Don't make me regret coming with you."

"Sorry, I shouldn't undermine your choice. Let's press forward!" Kabbu said, politely avoiding any expectation on his part that Vi should escort him in her stomach.

The two wandered through the dark dreary cave until they came upon a massive spider web that spanned from wall to wall. Tied up in the web was a lone figure, quietly slumbering in a stunned coma.

"Yikes... Is that a moth?" Vi asked.

"Quick! We must free him!" Kabbu exclaimed with urgency.

"Okay, I'm just going to see if the Beemerang can cut through web..." Vi said as she pulled out her weapon.

But before she could try Kabbu turned around to assess the room and then shouted in a rushed panic. "Vi! Watch out!"

The beetle hurriedly shoved the bee aside, just in time to avoid a string of web shooting over from the distance. Heavy thudding footfalls rang out as an eight legged monstrosity strode over and rawred hungrily.

"A... A... A spider..." Vi stammered with terror.

"How could a beast so huge sneak up on us!?" Kabbu growled.

"Kabbu! We've got to run! Treasure ain't worth being cocooned up and kept to feed on until kingdom come!" Vi shouted.

"It's not that! We can't abandon this poor moth to his fate! Who knows how many times this beast has fed upon him as it is!" Kabbu said dutifully.

"I... I..." Vi stammered in stark fear. And then without another word she buzzed away, running off and leaving Kabbu alone to face down the spider.

"Vi! Vi, wait!" Kabbu shouted after her, but she quickly went out of sight in the darkness of the cave. "Curses!" The spider roared and approached its web, but Kabbu stepped inbetween the arachnid and the tied up moth. "This has to be some cruel irony... However, I can't give up, even if I'm alone!"

Kabbu faced down the beast of Snakemouth Den with courage, but unfortunately the spider was able to shoot up a web and elevate itself into the air beyond what Kabbu could reach.

"Crud! It's too high up! If only Vi was here... I-It's too much by myself, after all..." Kabbu said dejectedly, ashamed that his male weakness left him incapable of standing up to this threat. The spider leapt upon him and quickly wrapped him up in a web cocoon, leaving him helpless. "Everyone, I... I failed. You wasted your hopes on a male like me..."

Then from the darkness, the Beemerang flung out and struck the spider before returning. Then it sprang out once again and cut through the webs binding Kabbu, freeing him. Vi rushed in, returning with her boomerang weapon brandished.

"Vi!" Kabbu shouted in relief.

"Look, I-" Vi started, only to be interrupted.

"By the holy jaws of the Queen, Vi! You left me to my fate! What kind of female abandons a male in danger like that? You are vile!"

Vi rushed over and threw a defensive tantrum. "H-hey! I was going to apologize! And I came back, right? You pushed me away from the web, but I still left, so I'm-"

The spider roared, cutting her off. "I will properly scold you later." Kabbu said, turning towards the arachnid. "The situation is dire, but I've got a plan. We will attack the web holding the moth while battling the spider."

"And we bail when we free him?" Vi confirmed.

"Precisely. Expect we'll run together this time. Without leaving anyone behind."

"I apologized already!"

The spider roared again and engaged the two explorers. Beetle held off the beast while bee threw her boomerang high to dislodge the cocooned moth from his bondage, and once he was liberated they scurried away from the spider as fast as they could. Vi merely cut the webs free, but made no move to swallow him so Kabbu rushed over to pick up and carry the moth along with them.

"Leave us alone already, monster!" Kabbu shouted as the spider roared at them while its body was lodged between the cramped walls of the cave they'd rushed away through. He struck the beast with his horn and drove it away, leaving them in a moments respite.

"Gee, glad it's too fat to come in here." Vi said quietly. "Um, Kabbu? Sorry for running away..." She finally apologized properly.

Kabbu sighed and shook his head. "Very well. You are forgiven, Vi. It was understandable."

"Took you long enough! most males would be crying at getting rescued!"

The exchange was interrupted as the moth coughed on the ground between them. "Let's turn over a new leaf, Vi. This moth is our priority. Could you swallow him so we can bring him back to civilization?"

Before Vi could reject the suggestion that she keep the new-found male moth in her belly, their rescued victim leapt up to his feet. "You're awake!" Kabbu exclaimed.

"... Mjaj? Ajeukx, yrdiuf... Ghsiaoenbx?" The moth gibbered with a strain.

"What the... Hey! You okay? You hit your head?" Vi asked with concern.

"Jsgsn. Sjaika? Hsjaosidjs...?"

"Could this moth be speaking in an ancient tongue? Perhaps he is of the fabled tribes lurking underground." Kabbu suggested.

"... N-no. We can speak Bugnish." The moth replied, his voice still strained.

"Do you need like, a minute? W-want uhm, want to rest in my belly for a bit?" Vi offered with herculean selflessness to the newfound male.

"..... No." The moth said, an unexpected harshness to his voice. Then he stood up straight. "We are fine now."

"Thank goodness, you had us quite worried." Kabbu said.

"Where are we? Where is the spider?" The moth asked as he looked around.

"Right... Let's get you up to speed." Kabbu said, before the pair explained everything to the moth.

"Truly? It seems we owe our safety to you, Vi." The moth said respectfully towards the female, bowing to her superiority, although with the subtlest touch of sarcasm lacing his tone.

"No big deal. It sucks that we're trapped, though." Vi said humbly.

"Were you looking for treasure as well, alongside female explorers? Err, what's your name?" Kabbu asked.

"Leif is fine." The moth answered. "And somewhat. A scouting mission, in fact."

"You've got some luck if you were separated from the females who were supposed to be protecting you... Did you learn anything scouting? About the artifact?" Vi commented.

"Artifact? If it is here, it's probably ahead." Leif said.

"If we work together, we will surely find both it and the exit!" Kabbu exclaimed reassuringly.

Leif looked between the two strange bugs. "We have little choice. We will accompany you."

"Can you fight?" Kabbu asked.

"A male, fighting? That would be improper." Leif said with mild confusion. "Fighting isn't really part of scouting anyway."

"Seriously!? You came into this place without knowing how to fight!?" Vi shouted. "What were you expecting your females to do everything for you while you just weighed them down!?"

Kabbu ignored Vi's outburst. "Make sure to stay behind us, so we can protect you."

"We? Not just her?" Lief asked, mostly to himself. "How reassuring, to be protected by another male."

"Ok. We've spent too much time here. Let's look for the exit!" Vi stated before anybody could suggest that she carry Lief in her belly, promptly pretending she hadn't offered to do just that minutes ago.

As they exited the spiders next they came into a large water filled room. "This is a good chance to stretch our legs." Leif said as they navigated it.

"Leif. If you need to take a break, let us know. Vi will swallow you." Kabbu reassured.

"That is not happening." Vi said sharply crossing her arms.

"Oh, the fatigue, it kicks in..." Leif said with playful melodrama and pretending to feel feint.

"I said it's not happening!" Vi shouted, while Leif smirked to himself at this funny little female who was half his height, and not the female he belonged to anyway so he was more than happy to stay on his own two feet for now.

Through many trials and tribulations and surprises, the trio made their way through all of Snakemouth Den and at last found the legendary artifact that so many had sought. As soon as they retrieved it though, the Den flooded out and sent them sweeping away in the rushing stream of natural chaos.

The adventurous duo, Vi and Kabbu, dove into Snakemouth Den for their team's first exploration mission. A place known for having consumed any previous explorer that dared to enter.  Even so, the team stuck together, and were surprised with a new friend, Leif. Together, they found one of the fabled artifact that the Ant Queen has been looking for. Triggering a trap, they defeated the vile spider before being swept away. What will happen to this trio who met due to chance? Will they stick together in their journey? Little do they know, that their adventure is just starting...

The three bugs lay out on the grass by the waterside, knocked out from the turbulent experience. Until finally Kabbu stirred and rose to his feet, followed shortly after by Vi.

"Ugh! I'm all soaked!!!" Vi shouted. "Cripes, we really got lucky."

"I'm a bit hazy... We got the artifact... then that spider attacked." Kabbu concurred.

"Eep! The artifact! I dropped it!" Vi squeaked in a panic while searching around, looking over Leif who was still laying face down. "Leif! Did you grab the artifact!?"

"Seriously, Vi!? Worry about the artifact later! You should keep Leif in your belly until he's recovered or we've return back to town." Kabbu scolded.

At the suggestion Leif began to stir and rose to his feet, coughing. "Next time, we'll just freeze the whole dumb river."

"Phew. I'm so relieved to see you well." Kabbu said, shoulders sagging feeling an anxious weight lifted.

"So? Did you catch the artifact or..." Vi continued, not sparing a moment to her responsibility towards the waterlogged males around her.

"Uh, the artifact... It's over there." Leif observed, and indeed the ancient mask was inches away from where they'd washed up.

"Alrighty! Not a scratch!" Vi exclaimed as she collected it.

"Your concern is touching, Vi." Leif snarked.

"Oh, drop it. You look super fine!" Vi said with a selfish smile on her face.

"We may have completed our mission, but I disagree, Vi." Kabbu interjected. "As your partner I need to contribute equally to you, but Leif was merely a scout and we have rescued him. I believe you are obligated to tend to this helpless male and escort him in your stomach until we return back to the expedition."

Leif bristled when Kabbu said that the beetle needed to contribute equally to a female, and Vi frowned at being guilt tripped.  Finally the bee let out a sigh and walked towards the moth. "Fine, I guess I really should. Come here Leif, let me take care of you I guess."

Leif wanted to brush her off by saying "I'm fine, and it's nice to feel the sun again." But his body felt weary and betrayed him. As the bee took him by the shoulders he couldn't help but sigh and relent. He muttered an apology as he knelt down, bringing himself close enough to Vi's eye level for her to open her mouth wide over his face.

The moths skin was crisp and chill against her tongue providing a pleasant sensation as she pulled him into her jaws, she couldn't help but buzz pleasantly as she gulped him down. She swallowed him with ease, slurping him off his feet like a tall lanky noodle and sending him spilling into her body. He disappeared behind her lips and soon slid comfortably into the bees thorax, bloating out the plump stinger tipped trunk. He curled up to fit inside, folding in on himself and folding his legs against his chest while he wrapped his arms and wings around them and huddled into a fluffy ball of insect meat. The digestive juices soaking at him, and smelled faintly of honey providing a soothing aromatic embrace as he settled in.

"Thank you, Vi..." Leif's voice was muffled from inside, the gratitude sounding forced.

Vi belched crassly and wiped her lips. "Sure, but I'm letting you out as soon as we get back to the Ant Kingdom, you're throwing off my balance." The bee stated aloud, a sound of agreement from the male inside her.

"Honestly, Vi may be raving about the artifact. But saving you is the true victory in my eyes." Kabbu stated as he pat the bees thorax, feeling as Leifs curled up body inside.

"Um, thanks?" Leif said, relaxed and feeling tended to despite himself, grappling with internal feelings of guilt that he didn't voice for the time being.

"Geez, calm down back there! Let's report to the Queen and get our reward!" Vi shouted as she began to stride off, teetering with every step as the extra weight in her thorax threw off her balance while she walked. Kabbu observed and suddenly felt he understood why Vi felt so reluctant about wanting to eat either of the males, before following along behind and hoping to himself that the ride inside the bee was comfortable enough for Leif being swirled around in her belly.

"Elizant...." Leif muttered to himself too quietly to be heard over the gurgles of the gut around him. Being carried along by the female bee towards an uncertain future.