He knew it was coming. He forced himself not to steel his body, not to tense his muscles in preparation. He took the full force of the blow willingly. His body went limp as he crashed against the wall, and he lay there for what felt like an eternity, struggling to catch his breath. His entire body trembled with the pain now shooting through his chest.<br/><br/>He couldn't breathe... the air had been completely taken out of him in one blow. He lay there, fully expecting himself to lose consciousness once more, but eventually his breath returned in short, sharp audible bursts.<br/><br/>He heaves himself up off the floor. With his legs barely able to hold him and his body aching all over, he slowly makes his way towards the gardens.<br/><br/>It was time to meditate... time to think on what he had done, and what was required of him now.<br/><br/>He needed the hum of his buzzing bees, to clear his thoughts.<br/><br/>He quietly sat down in the grass between the hives once more, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. His face gave away no expression as he shut out his mind to the world outside... to the guilt swirling in his head. All he could hear now was the hive buzzing quietly around him.