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The Bee & the Beetle

29/04/2024

Title: The Bee & the Beetle Panel 1: A cartoonish bee flies over a field of purple and pink flowers. Panel 2: The bee lands on one of the flowers Panel 3: The bee collects some pollen in a little bag. Panel 4: As the bee is flying over a house, she spots something in the distance. There's container with a bright red lid, and something blue inside. Panel 5: Inside the container is a cartoonish blue beetle with an iridescent shell. Panel 1: The bee lands beside the container. Bee: 'Excuse me! Are you stuck? Do you need a hand?' Panel 2: The beetle's expression is neutral. Beetle: 'I'm not stuck. I live here.' Panel 3: The bee is embarrassed at her mistake. She removes her flying goggles. Bee: 'Oh! This is your hive? I'm sorry, I didn't realise.' Panel 4: The bee looks up at the enclosure lid. Panel 5: She observes the plastic bars covering the openings in the lid. Panel 6: The bee looks up sadly. Bee: 'Do you... ever leave?' Panel 7: The bee and beetle continue to talk. The beetle's expression never changes. Beetle: 'No.' Bee: 'Why not?' Panel 8: The bee and beetle continue speaking through the wall of the container. Beetle: 'Why would I want to leave? I have everything I need right here.' Panel 9: The bee looks excited. Bee: 'But there's so much to see out there!' Panel 1: The bee talks enthusiastically about all of her favourite things. Bee: 'There are pine cones, and mushrooms, and ant hills, and... and flowers!' Panel 2: The beetle doesn't seem impressed. Beetle: 'I can see flowers from here' Bee: 'Yes, but there are so many other kinds of flowers out there!' Panel 3: The beetle is still unbothered. Beetle: 'Sorry, but I'm not really interested in that.' Panel 4: The beetle puts her flying goggles back on and goes to leave. Bee: 'Alright. I won't take up any more of your time, then.' Panel 5: The beetle watches as the bee flies away. Panel 6: The bee is flying through the sky. Panel 7: The bee remembers the beetle. Panel 8: The bee blushes at the thought of the beautiful beetle. Panel 1: The beetle is sitting on the small log in her enclosure. Panel 2: The bee arrives, and the beetle jumps up at the sight of her. Bee: 'Good morning!' Beetle: 'Oh, you're back!' Panel 3: The bee smiles and blushes Bee: 'Yes, well... I really wanted to see you again.' Panel 4: The beetle blushes in return, this being the first time her expression has changed at all. Panel 5: The bee talks to the beetle. She bends down slightly to be more on the bee's level. Bee: 'Say, I know you don't want to go outside, but I was wondering...' Panel 6: The bee blushes again. Bee: 'Do you mind if I join you in there?' Panel 7: The bee takes flight. Beetle: 'Yes, I suppose that's alright...' Bee: 'Great!' Panel 8: The bee approaches the red lid of the container. Panel 9: The bee kicks the bars on the lid, breaking them. Panel 1: The bee lands inside the enclosure. Panel 2: The two approach each other for the first time. Panel 3: They silently stare at each other, nervous. Panel 4: The bee looks bashful. Bee: 'Now that I'm here, I don't remember what I wanted to say.' Panel 5: The beetle looks back at her. Beetle: 'Do you think you could tell me more about the other flowers out there?' Panel 6: The bee grins. Bee: 'Sure!' Panel 7: The two of them sit together on the log. The bee is telling a story while the beetle watches. Bee: 'So, just a bit further that way, there's this giant field of sunflowers.' Panel 1: The bee smiles at the beetle as she's telling this story. Bee: 'It's my favourite place to go, because they're al--' The text fades out as it goes on. Panel 2: The beetle doesn't actually seem to be all that concerned with what the bee is saying, but she's still blushing. Panel 3: It's gotten a bit darker. The bee looks up, surprised. Bee: 'Oh! Look at the time!' Panel 4: The bee puts her flying goggles back on. Bee: 'I'm sorry. I need to get back home, but I'll see you again.' Panel 5: The bee flies away once again. Panel 6: The beetle looks up. Panel 7: The beetle is looking at the hole where the bars of the enclosure used to be, before the bee broke them to enter. Panel 8: The beetle looks contemplative. Panel 1: The bee arrives again to see her friend. Panel 2: The container is empty. Panel 3: The bee is shocked. Panel 4: The bee looks into the enclosure, but can't see the beetle at all. Panel 5: The bee continues looking, but still can't find her. Panel 6: The bee looks anxious. Panel 7: The bee flies away, not looking where she's going. Panel 8: The bee crashes into something, or someone...? Panel 1: The bee is on the floor post-crashing. Bee: 'I'm so sorry, that was my fault.' Panel 2: The bee realises that she crashed into the beetle. Bee: 'Wait, it's you!' Pannel 3: The bee is surprised. Bee: 'I was so worried! I thought you had... You...' Panel 4: The bee relaxes and looks at the beetle. Bee: '...You left your hive.' Panel 5: The beetle looks a little bit nervous. Beetle: 'Yes, I did. Because...' Panel 6: The beetle finally smiles. Beetle: 'I just couldn't wait to see you again.' Panel 1: The bee and beetle smile at each other. Panel 2: The bee and beetle hold hands. Panel 3: The bee and beetle turn away, ready to leave. Bee: 'Would you like to come see the sunflowers with me?' END

Credits

Story and art: Kels
Character design assistance: Rosa
Writing assistance: Connie