Chapter Text
After the Soul Spring peace, the two bugs had for a little while Hornet raised first to easily dry her cloak from the liquid.
The Knight followed, rising to their feet without much fatigue. In fact, it looked almost energised, despite simply standing very still.
– It was good we came here while no one arrived yet. I am sure the bugs of Hallownest, now free from the Infection, will either rebuild their homes anew or seek refuge somewhere else. I doubt though, that any bug would pass on visiting a Soul Spring.
The vessel tilted its shell at the Huntress, curious about her words.
– One says of being lucky because you still look a wreak. Providing you with a more suitable cloak is likely to lessen this impression. – She explained herself.
– Let us go, Knight. While we are able, we should get back your weapon as well, that was left behind somewhere by the entrance of the Black Egg. Unless you do not wish to.
She said, as the vessel showed neither a nod nor shake. It simply stood and eventually tilted its tall shell.
The Princess of Hallownest figured that it might not mind and led the way, as the Knight followed closely after.
They have walked by a few liberated bugs on their way through the crossroads, as they all rather quickly moved to the side away from the tall bug and the avid warrior, a mixture of emotions behind the masks of their shells.
The vessel looked at a lot of them, often frightening some walking by.
Without too many issues did they find their way back to the silent empty Black Egg in front of which stood; a weary tall nail, fractured by time, unmoved.
– Curious no one has taken it for themselves till now. While all is in disarray, nothing is foul play, and this is known, high quality metal.
Hornet pondered, while the vessel came over and ripped it from the floor, disrupting the ground around where it stood.
– …Or perhaps no one managed to lift it, is a possibility as well.
The Knight held the nail in a way which would drag it along the floor, hunched. That caused a rise in anger in the Huntress.
– You should respect your weapon more, while it looks a ruin, it can be brought back to its former glory if we ask the right bug. And would you walk less slouched? Bugs will be wary of us less when they don’t fear you.
The vessel straightened up a bit, yet not all the way, staring at the gendered child. Hornet believed the topic closed and was ready to move back to Dirtmouth, but the genderless sibling didn’t move an inch.
When the Huntress looked back at it, it rested the nail in the ground, their hand resting firmly on the handle, as if to show some sort of defiance.
That both excited and annoyed the sister. It was thinking of its own, which was good, but it clearly chose a poor time to do so.
– You may think of me younger than that of you, and that you are right. Yet still I know better of what Hallownest has become and how bugs could behave.
Hornet assured, crossing her arms.
– Whilst I don’t mean to school you, during your recovery I would prefer you listen to me.
She added walking over closer.
The vessel’s stature slowly grew less tense.
The sister silently hoped this had not quelled any fighting spirit in the tall sibling.
– Knight, something has occurred to me– a plan much better than trying and failing to weave a cloak for you. But I need to quickly retrieve materials, and we shall need to hunt afterwards. I will be here shortly.
And the Red Maiden dashed away as quickly as she could, haste being her comfort of sorts.
The vessel stood in place, hunching out of habit, looking around the area. Hunt, but there is nothing around here. Naturally the tall bug decided to change the scenery and find something worthy of being hunted.
The Huntress wasted no time, getting all materials needed from their little abode, making sure she didn't forget anything.
Upon returning to the Crossroads she quickly found the Knight with Tiktiks stabbed onto its nail, as it looked for more. Hunter anticipated this.
– I believe we might need more. Follow me, we are sure to get enough on the way.
And as they walked through the crossroads they passed confused or recovering little bugs as well as mindless critters Hornet smited on sight, collecting their corcades for later.
The Knight had no chance to hunt with the Huntress’ agility and ability to throw her weapon quickly, which made it take longer to take up the bodies of the prey, as if dissatisfied.
From the Crossroads they both ventured to the Fungal Wastes, where due to the floaty and quite empty interior of many bugs there, Hornet chose to ignore them.
The vessel however, was more than willing, bringing their long nail out to aim.
– Attacking these creatures will not provide the amount required for once we arrive – The Huntress spoke before it could swing, speaking for the first time in a while, the previous moments having been nothing but silence.
– Hunting for them is practically pointless. – she added, seeing as the Knight was not putting its nail away.
The tall vessel slowly lowered their nail and turned slowly to Hornet, and then it put its nail away ridiculously slowly.
Hornet grew impatient.
– Would you possibly be dissatisfied with how much you’ve hunted? After we pass the Fungal Wastes, I’ll leave the hunting to you. We still do not have enough food. Does that satisfy you?
The red maiden asked, in some way understanding the possible frustration of idleness that just walking and climbing provides.
It lowered its shell by tilting its head to the side. It could not articulate itself clearly, but at the very least its movements weren’t needlessly sluggish.
Hornet took this as confirmation and continued on the vessel following right after. As they ventured further, the Huntress noted that the mantis tribe had increased its territory, which was to be expected from such a strong united force.
Fortunately Hornet has fought with the Mantis Lords before, which caused the surveying mantis warriors to not attack, making them simply stare after the two siblings.
And they walked right into the Mantis Village to take the gate to Deepnest. Hornet was soon bowing lightly but respectfully to the Mantis Lords and they did so back as well.
– I am glad to see you in good health, Mantis Lords. I seek no fight, but a path forwards to Deepnest.
– Yes, yes of course, pleasure to see you, Princess of Hallownest. You may pass…. – Assured the much more passive Lord, the most prone to peaceful decisions.
– But say, do my eyes deceive me? Is it the vessel that not-so-contained the power of the Infection? Does it come to assert the power of the Old Wyrm onto us? And how does it live, if the source of everyone’s suffering is now gone? – Another Lord demanded to know, their words filled with venom still mostly contained within their grace.
– It would be a lengthy story to tell at this moment. I would prefer to describe all that had happened at a different time. But assertion of dominance is not what they come to do. They wish to pass the gate, just like me. – The Huntress spoke calmly, even in the face of the Mantis Lords growing rather disgruntled.
– You of course, may pass, Princess of Hallownest – said the Mantis Lord on the highest throne, showing the Hornet the tall open gate.
At these words the gendered sibling began walking to the opening with the Knight behind her, but the gate closed right in front of her face.
– …Forgive us, Mistress. You have fought for us to now hold your name and status with respect – It, however, has not. For the Wyrm’s spawn to pass, it should prove itself a worthy combatant first.
Hornet grew displeased at such an arrangement, thinking that she should have taken some of the other paths to enter Deepnest. She was under the impression traveling through the gate could get both siblings a relatively easy path to the place they desired.
And they cannot use the stag for as long as the Old Stag is busy taking care of a young of its kind to adulthood.
– You need not do that. We can try and find another way – The Huntress assured, annoyed with the situation. The Knight stood in place, seemingly thinking, but it soon drew its nail quickly, presenting a challenging stance.
Hornet figured this would have happened, but she still had hope that maybe the vessel wasn’t that restless that it would pick a fight with three, very nimble and dangerous bugs, especially during recovery of the wounds the Radiance provided onto its shell and body.
The gendered sibling was ready to stand alongside the Knight, but a cage that fell from the tall ceiling stopped her in her tracks, which caused her a great amount of anger. She hated how they did this before she earned their respect, as much as she hated it right now.
– This fight is against us and the vessel, Princes of Hallownest. We ask you to stay out of this. – said one of the Mantis Lords as they all three raised from their seats, ready to fight already.
As the Lords leaped into the cage with swift dashes, the Knight swung its nail at all three, and only two managed to dodge, one getting powerfully hit and flung onto the cage wall, staggering to catch their breath.
The other Lords quickly attacked from above, which the Knight did not manage to dodge, and before it could raise its nail again, the remaining Mantis Lords dashed away to attack from the sides, hitting the vessel as well.
The Huntress outside of the cage appeared restless, walking back and forth like she was the one that was stuck in a cage. She knew of the strength of the vessel, but she was very aware of how damaged it was as well. Additionally, the Knight not gaining the Mantis Lord’s respect after all this fighting was a frustrating thought as well.
The vessel gripped its nail tightly and let out a flurry of swings the Mantis Lord’s way, having caught onto their rhythm.
The first two swings the Lords managed to parry, but it took them quite a bit of strength to achieve. The free consecutive swings appeared to be unavoidable for one of the Lords however, threatening to fillet them into a fresh pulp.
Before the blows could connect, the previously staggered Lord dashed into the endangered Lord, taking both of them out of harm’s way.
– You shouldn’t have. You are wounded enough to wait out the rest of the fight. – said the saved Lord to the other, seeing the wounded Lord hold its body in pain.
– Shouldn’t have? If I didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to say such prideful hogwash…! – said the hurt one, mildly annoyed.
Now a bug of similar lineage of Lord and higher beings would perhaps wait until the quarrel passed, so that a fair fight could continue.
The Knight cared not of such a concept.
It raised its nail high over the shells of the disoriented Mantis Lords and slammed down onto them.
The strike hit none of them, but the third Mantis Lord, who had dashed in the last moment to take the most of the blow with their weapon in an attempt to parry it. The Mantis stomped twice, so that all three could reorganise, and they all began attacking again.
But the vessel has seen enough to understand the speed at which the Mantis Lords operated. And between exchanged blows, one Mantis Lord retreated to their throne, then another, and finally with one, final and calculated blow, the last Lord had retreated to their throne.
The vessel was a bit battered, but it was in no way actively endangered.
– We, the Mantis Lords, now see your strength and resolve, as well as your skill and instinct as a warrior. We now recognise you as someone worthy of respect. – The Lords all said after a short whispered conversation amongst each other, ending it with a synchronised bow and the cage rising.
The vessel bowed right back.
The Huntress ran up to the Vessel right after quickly to grab onto its only arm and begin dragging it to the gate, and it complied.
The gate was soon open to both of them, as they walked past and Hornet stopped right in front of a tall soul-holding statue.
– Mend your wounds this instant. And I would like you to avoid a direct fight against foes for the foreseeable future. Do you not comprehend that you are crippled and should mostly rest? I allow travel, I allow low-risk hunting, but challenging three very powerful beings was a reckless and a mindless idea, even though you were rendered victorious. – She was quick to say while the vessel was healing the wounds it could with a considerable amount of frustration in her tone.
The Knight looked down on her and then looked up at the ceiling, which read to the Huntress as ignorance.
– Do not look away from me! I understand the willingness to fight, for I possess one as well, but there is time for fighting, and time for retreat, so one has an easier road ahead! – Hornet was quick to anger, her disapproval apparent.
The vessel looked back down at the Huntress and then squatted down so she could look at them comfortably, making no other gesture. Its bandage on its shell was a bit loose.
The gendered sibling stood in silence for a moment before she came closer and fixed the bandage, so it securely hid the other sibling’s wound.
– You probably are aware that I do not mean to cause you harm, quite the opposite. One hopes simply for your quick recovery. I ask you to exercise more caution before entering a battle. – Hornet spoke, in a much calmer manner, almost apologetically.
The lone hand of the Knight went over their chest, likely meaning a promise.
– You have my gratitude. Now come. Time for your hunt awaits. – The Huntress said, and the vessel straightened up and looked into the direction of the sounds of fast, angry bugs moving around in the depths of Deepnest.