I chewed on my tough bee nail.
This was bad, but it didn't have to be *critical*.
Perhaps… Perhaps a clash can be avoided at all!
I perked up, suddenly overcome with optimism.
"Rest here and go back with our Foragers—it's too dangerous to fly alone, and you need more rest. I have a colony to protect!" I said to the Warrior Bee and flew off.
I went right to the Chief Foreman B9381.
"Continue the project without me. Urgent business at the hive—but *you* have nothing to worry about except doing your job."
"Yes-yes, Father!" Chief Foreman raised her hammer. "You heard him! Do your jobs!"
I took a squad of Commando Bees with me for defense. Before we left, though, I asked them if they remembered where all the other anthills they found near our hive were.
They did.
I grinned.
"Perfect. We are going to kill two ants with one stone!"
***
Three hours of direct flight later, we arrived at the hive.