“Drowning In The Buzz”
In theory, Kain has a path to follow: the map that leads back to the Kingdom. In practice, it turns out to be a map through tunnels, and finding the tunnels’ entrance is another matter entirely. He knows the entrance is by the base of something called the “August Falls”… but in the wild world outside the kingdom, how is he supposed to know where that is? How can he keep from running around in circles, covering the same ground, looking for a river he can’t find? Kain sees a man chisel a sign into a tree, and gets an idea: he’ll map the Forest.
Proceeding with his plan, Kain meets a friendly bee-creature named Django, who’s drawn to Kain’s efforts to make a map. Unfortunately, Kain also draws the attention of one of the Forest’s many monsters: an unnamed, hungry, many-toothed Beast. Only through the use of a Paul-Mart smoke bomb does Kain narrowly escape the attack.
Safely away, Kain resumes his mapping quest, and is rejoined by Django, with company… other bees, all curious, all who want to see where he’s going. They make a distracting case, but not enough to dampen his enthusiasm when he at last finds himself standing at the top of the August Falls! The only problem: his side is a cliff, and the other side has the trail to the bottom. Kain realizes he will have to cross the river, and sets out upstream to find the safest spot to try.
The effort fails. Kain shuffles out along a fallen tree, but is quickly surrounded by a chaotic chorus of buzzing bees, all seemingly energized by the concentration Kain applies to his task. The effect is more than disorienting; it becomes almost hallucinogenic. And in the middle of it all, Kain is seized by a message through the madness, sounding as if from someone with the Kingdom… saying that he will never return. Kain’s balance is lost, and he is swept into the river and ultimately over the edge of the falls…!
In the end, Kain lands himself safe and sound — and shovel-equipped! — at the tunnels’ start, ready to begin the path that will lead him back into the Kingdom. All that’s missing now is the map… lost in the mayhem of his watery ride.
