Summary

Chapter 26 signals the close arrival of winter. The spiders have arrived and the air is cold. Flora prepares for her punishment flight. Flora finds some nectar, but must return home half full. The guards will not allow her to enter the hive. However, the other assembled foragers deposit their nectar into Flora’s hold so that she can be called successful. A nearby spider taunts the assembled bees, sharing that the Sage trade the older bees in exchange for information. Several spiders join in, making the same offer to Flora and her friends. An old forager nearby submits, flying willingly into the spiderweb. Flora flies out to meet the spider to get her information: the spider tells her that winter will come twice, and that that she, Flora, will have one more egg.

In Chapter 27, summer ends and Flora has no more eggs...