In a far-distant future, humans no longer inhabit Earth. The cause of their disappearance (or perhaps their demise) is unknown, but their absence left a void ready to be filled by another sentient species. Over the span of untold generations, one species of the humble honeybee evolved to fill that void. They grew in size and intelligence to become a highly advanced society. They call themselves Mellifera. Mellifera have made substantial technological advances in addition to the technology they adapted from human ruins, up to and including space travel, but the species has not managed to completely escape its own evolutionary history. Although Mellifera has overcome the short lifespan of its predecessors, this longevity comes with the cost of prolonged hibernation. Each year, members of the species are active for just a few short months (the Flow) before going into hibernation for the remainder of the year (the Dearth).