Leo moved closer slowly, speaking softly. The bees swirled around the little shape as if they understood. Carefully, he shifted crates aside, revealing a tiny nest of rags. Emma knelt, hand outstretched, still and patient. Her dog whimpered, torn between fear and instinct.

Neighbors gathered, drawn by the commotion. Towels and carriers appeared, hands shaking, eyes wide. Stories of wild animals in the woods were replaced by reality—here, a creature had survived against all odds.

Leo lifted the trembling bundle onto a towel. The bees’ hum softened into a protective halo. It was a newborn puppy, its white paws caked in mud, faint scratches along its side, and a small smear of honey on one ear. The bees hadn’t trapped it; they had sheltered it, keeping it warm and safe. The barn, feared by all, had become a haven, a secret protected by the bravest of creatures.