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Kate buzzed around as she looked for some wood. She perked up when she saw a huge pile of chopped up pine. Based on the smell, it was fresh. Kate dove in, her long wings flapping rapidly as she quickly landed the fresh wood. She looked around and saw no danger. Kate started gathering as much as she could. She looked around again, saw no predators, and flew off at lightning speed.
Kate made it back to the nest in record time. She looked around and internally grinned at seeing she was the first construction ‘jacket to get back. She was queen Wanda's favorite for a reason, you know. Well, Kate kind of gave herself that title…
She got to work, chewing down the wood fibers, very skillfully, mind you, and spit them out once they were a pulp. She started expanding, making more room for the new babies that were soon to come. Kate almost wished she was a forager so she could feed the adorable larvae.
Just as Kate was finishing up, she heard buzzing behind her. She'd know that ‘jacket’s buzz anywhere.
“Yelena!” Kate sang as she scurried to turn around and face her yellow jacket. Yelena looked at her with mirthful black eyes (her simple ones not the compounds on the top of her small head).
“Kate,” Yelena sang back as she brushed their antennas together. Kate buzzed happily. The two yellow jackets had known each other their whole lives. Four days and each one was memorable for Kate. She knew it was for Yelena too. They would often deviate from what their colony was doing and fly away together. Sometimes towards a sunset, sometimes towards a picnic basket.
Yelena dropped a hefty chunk of meat in front of Kate. Kate lightly flapped her wings.
“Is this–!”
“Yes,” Yelena murmured, the smaller yellow jacket buzzing as she watched Kate press her mandibles against the sweet chicken meat.
“I found it in the park. A small human was eating it. The creature started crying as soon as I swooped in.” Yelena internally chuckled.
“The fiercest forager ‘jacket,” Kate mumbled as she munched at her meat. Yelena's antennas twitched.
“The colony's best forager ‘jacket, Kate Buzzop.”
“Yes,” Kate whispered as they rubbed antennas again.
“And you,” Yelena looked around the now extended nest. “The colony's best construction ‘jacket.”
Their mandibles touched as they intertwined their antennas, careful not to touch their many eyes.
“Did you already take care of your duties?” Kate asked. They were still glued together like honey.
“Yes, queen Wanda and the larvae are all well fed.” Yelena grinned slyly. “Though they didn't get sweet chicken.”
They gave each other a cheeky look.
“You know,” Kate started. “On my way back, I saw some campers.” Kate grinned. “They had jelly sandwiches.”
All five of Yelena's eyes lit up. They stealthily snuck out of the nest, careful not to alert their queen. The two yellow jackets spent the rest of their free time torturing giant humans and taking bites out of their jellies and hams. They soaked in the precious time they had together before they had to go back to another day of buzz-y work.