The door creaked open, revealing a dim warmth that hummed. The whine returned, softer now, almost shy. Emma pressed her ear to the crack, catching a sweet, earthy scent of hay mingled with a faint floral note. Leo counted down: three… two… one… and they nudged the door wide enough to peek inside.

Their hearts skipped. A swarm of bees floated through the air, moving not with aggression but with purpose, as if protecting something. Golden bodies blurred past, focused on guarding the barn’s secret. Emma and Leo stepped back, letting the gentle river of bees flow.

The barn floor was littered with straw and broken crates. In the corner, a tiny shape shivered, barely more than a fragile lump. Emma’s flashlight caught a pair of shining eyes and a small pink nose. The figure tried to stand and fell again.