Chapter Text
The infection slowly seeps out of the veins and bubbles that, like roots, connect themselves in Hallownest, as they grow black and dry until they turn to dust.
By the Black Egg’s entrance stood the protector of Hallownest, Hornet, witnessing the phenomenon with her very own eyes. And out of the Black Egg steps out someone she hasn’t seen for a long time.
The Hollow Knight stood in front of her, piercing their nail into the harsh and cold ground, making Hornet take up a battle-ready stance. It looked nothing like it was in its glory. The shell cracked, one arm missing, and the cape it possessed ripped and shredded by time and nail.
Hornet didn't know what to say, or what else the vessel would decide to do, so she remained still, waiting for its move. But alas, a moment later the vessel fell forward on the ground, shaking, most likely from pain and fatigue. Hornet relaxed, but only a little, approaching with her needle still drawn.
– You are in no state to defend, nor try to fight me, Knight. Your duty has been cut short. There is no need for you nor your violence.
The vessel continued shaking, and after a moment, looked up at its half sister. Their shell was not making a sound, but the air around it was no longer threatening. And then it fell forward into the red maiden, making her yelp and stumble back, the force of the still tough shell of the vessel making her stagger.
The Knight then remained motionless.
Hornet painfully stood back up, helped with her needle. She carefully walked closer to the barely alive vessel. It made her think back to the other vessel, that small Ghost, that she had saved and in turn, it had, it seemed, eradicated the infection in some way.
She was feeling the same feeling right now.
The Hallownest might not be very dangerous right now, but when peace remains, danger is sure to come.
Plus, it might be a danger by itself as well.
Problem was.
Moving such a big vessel was no easy task. It was, after all, 3 times her height.
Hornet lowered her shell, gathering her strength. Many attempts were made. Dragging by the shell, pushing the body forward and literally picking it up, which was a great workout for the Huntress that relied more on speed and precision than raw strength. When she eventually reached the rope leading to the surface town of Dirtmouth, all the strength she had, had sizzled out of her shell. To bring them both up was yet another conundrum.
She took a rest, while she weaved the silk in her shell. She wasn't sure if this would work, but the distance up wasn't that great, so the chance was in place. She weaved and weaved and when she reckoned it was enough she wrapped the vessel in the thread and tied the other end to her weapon.
She gathered strength within her body and hurled the needle with great strength, that it had brought them both upwards and then down onto the grey and gloomishly blue shells that the Dirtmouth's roads were made of. The vessel made a great noise once hitting the ground, which made an old man yelp from fear and surprise.
Hornet felt great relief. Had she not managed to do this the first time, they could have been forced to camp in the crossroads below, for the exhaustion from moving the Knight was undeniable. The old bug slowly walked up to the exhausted sibling pair.
– My, what a tumble you both sustained! Both of you look rather exhausted. The bigger bug reminds me of something, but also is clearly fainted. Are they sickly?
The kind bug elder asked, moving his little arms like he is willing to help, but doesn't touch either of them because he is well aware he isn't certain how to help.
– I require shelter and equipment for treating wounds, sir. This one is unconscious, and it means much to me to bring them safety.
Hornet stated, words sharp but not unkind. The exact state of the Knight was unknown to her, and haste was, by all means appreciated.
– We have a few small shops here. Perhaps they could own a few healing supplies, though I wouldn't expect much. As for shelter, this city has been mostly deserted. A new resident, even if for a while, is merely a matter of picking a locum free.
The bug assured, a bit calmer now, pointing at the two shops open.
This satisfied Hornet, giving a curt nod.
– Good. Please oversee my tall companion. Where something to happen- call for me.
And she dashed away before the old bug could ask anything, as he now stood next to a big, clearly wounded and unresponsive bug, which clearly caused him great distress.
The Huntress rang a bell of a shop by swinging the door open energetically, making the tall woman bug jump behind the counter and the rounder, sleeping bug snore.
– Bapanada… Welcome to our shop. Can I help you in some way?
– Do you own any treatment supplies? This is a grave matter, therefore I ask to not stall.
Hornet quickly stated, voice stern to get the point across.
– Hmm I do have a bit. The shop right across from us should have more though – the tall lady bug said, placing down 3 bottles of Soul liquid and a roll of clean bandages. – This would be 180 Geo total.
Hornet placed the Geo on the desk without hesitance and took the supplies quickly. She quickly thanked and left before the tall lady bug could inquire in any friendly conversation.
The shop on the other side that the Huntress stepped into held many things, and the owner was a very short, but clearly a very focused bug.
– Hello now! I see you are a warrior of sorts! Are you interested in charms or things-
– I have no time for your shopkeeper nonsense. - She interrupted harshly, impatiently. - I was told you have a greater amount of healing supplies. How much do you have?
The sly short bug huffed, in an attempt to regain his own dignity.
– I do in fact, rude maiden. – the short bug stated, gathering 10 Bottles of soul liquid and 2 rolls of bandage. – this would be… 1800 Geo in total.
– This is 500 Geo at most. – the Huntress argued, growing angered by the shopkeep.
– Not many shops, as you have heard yourself, possess this much, and of high quality too, I have gathered the Soul Water with my own strength from the Soul Springs.
The short bug assured, putting his small hand on his chest as if to swear of the legitimacy of the price.
– This is not enough to warrant the price of 1800 Geo. I do not wish to be deceived, bug. Had I possessed the time, I would have gathered more myself. 500 Geo.
Hornet said proudly, trying to keep composed, for now.
– But time, as it seems, you do not have. And time is more precious than many youngins could imagine. Therefore, treat this price as the worth of the product, plus the time quickly you have managed to get a hold of it.
The sly bug said, appearing non challant and almost smug.
– I will not pay more than 1000 Geo, that is a ridiculous price.
The Huntress grew even more impatient, resisting the urge to just threaten a better price out of this small bug. Something was telling her not to do so. It was perhaps something of the focus of the small bug.
The small bug thankfully raised their hands in defeat.
– Fine, fine, 1000 Geo it is then.
Hornet bit down on some words she would like to say to this sly small bug, but decided she doesn't have time for that. She laid the price on the counter and snatched the supplies the moment she could, dashing out.
The Knight, thankfully- but also concerningly- hasn't moved for its place even a little bit.
Hornet dragged the tall vessel with all her might, the elder bug helping out additionally by pushing. Hornet, upon searching, found a house that had an already broken door. With a few swift strikes, the door loudly caved under the blows, behind it being an empty, deserted in a rush house full of dust and with little air. She dragged the Knight in and upon thanking the old bug, she put a shelf over the door.
The Huntress was quick to open the window to let some of the air inside, and then she focused all she had on the Knight. Their condition was poor. One arm ripped out of its rightful place, and the body ravaged, like the infection was eating it out. The gendered sibling carefully poured the Liquid Soul over the wounds and the scars it owned. It was in no way enough, but for more she would search for later. She healed what she could and wrapped what looked like it would distress the folk of the small town.
And then it seemed to have woken up.
The Huntress relaxed her body a bit, now that she was sure it was alive.
It immediately hit its shell on the ceiling, because it tried to get up.
– Sit down now, your body is in shreds. Rest is what you need right now.
She said, her tone softer than she intended.
The Knight halted and slowly sat down, crossing its legs. It seemed to have their eyes locked on the gendered sibling.
Hornet thought of what to do next. Even with the Radiance gone, she was still the guardian of Hallownest, and now that the great infection was no more, lesser evils were sure to be more daring to come. But leaving the Knight alone would be unwise, especially in the state that it was, currently.
– How do you feel?
The Huntress asked, before she remembered it had never spoken.
And yet something like a ragged sigh or a whine sounded out of the vessel, and then it shook its tall shell.
– Right. Once you gather some strength, we should go to a soul spring. That should help heal your wounds and shell… Perhaps we should visit the Mask Maker as well.
Hornet spoke both to the Knight and herself, stabbing her needle into the floor of the house, which reminded her she left the Knight's weapon where it had left it. She shook her head, feeling horrible herself, but it was nothing really new to her.
The vessel continued to stare with its healthy eye.
– I would ask you to not stare into me. Having hunted many, gaze such as your own is rather unsettling.
Hornet said, making her tone sharper again.
The Knight slowly raised its remaining arm high, making Hornet naturally brace, out of a hunting instinct. The Vessel then placed its hand on top of Hornet's shell. Not moving it, just placing it on the top, obscuring a bit of her vision.
– What is the point of this?
The gendered sibling asked, grabbing the arm of its hand, trying to pry herself out.
But it was stronger than her. At least there seemed to be no malice behind the action.
She in the meantime brushed the vessel's hand away and looked at them carefully. With all the fresh bandages on them, their near non existant cloak was undeniably unignorable.
– This reminds me- your cloak is basically nonexistent. I am no seamstress, but… I will try to put something together.
Hornet said, moving the shelf out of the way.
– Remain here. I'll go search for a suitable amount of cloth.
And she dashed away, leaving the tall Knight behind.
She looked into a few deserted houses through their dusty windows, until she recognised a house that seemed to have been a seamstress shop in the past. She broke inside with a few blows to the weak glass of a window and jumped inside, picking up cloth and thread that she could find, slaying a few critters that stood in her way. Once satisfied, she left how she entered and dashed to the little house she now owned it seemed.
The vessel was lying down, resting its tall shell on the back of a couch that has seen better days, the rest of its body behind the couch. It raised its head a bit as she entered.
– It is merely me. No need to be alert.
Hornet said the moment she noticed the vessel's attention was on her. It then lowered its tall shell again.
Hornet scrambled for a few luminous bugs to put into a makeshift lamp. It grew windy and dark, so she isolated the shelf to protect from the wind better and shut the window. A faint whistling could be heard, but it was the only sound in the tiny house.
The Huntress has never been the best at wielding thread and needle. In battle, she could manage with being simply experimental, her expertise far from perfection. Manually making clothing however was something she has struggled with, ever since a small weaver.
So she cut and measured and cut, till she realised what she was doing wouldn't be sufficiently big, and had to start from scratch with another cloth.
Her eyes fell on the vessel, for a brief moment. It remained to sit how she found it, away from the light she was working under. Its shell had no way to emote. Still, it looked… fatigued and sad. It may have been the shadows playing with her eyes.
Hornet laid down her work for now. Forcing it was probably the wrong move.
She stood up, and walked over to the Knight.
– This cannot be a comfortable position, though I suppose everything here is a bit too small for you. I should make some comfortable corner for you to rest at.
And the Hornet picked up everything that seemed warm and soft, old pillows, fluffy blankets and cloths, and laid them out so the vessel could rest in. The fluffiness she felt from some pillows made her wish she could rest as well.
The vessel slowly moved over to the corner she set up, moving on its knees and arm. They curled into themselves, gently picked up a plushy pillow and laid it down next to themselves.
Hornet observed this behaviour without understanding the intent, staring.
The Knight pointed at the pillow without a word.
– I need to stay awake. This town may be safe, but who knows for how long.
The Huntress denied the Knight.
The Knight hesitantly grabbed the pillow and put it under their tall shell.
As per her word, Hornet remained awake for as long as she was able. But the fatigue she had was undeniable. The rest she had had over the years has been scarce due to the duties she held.
And due to the calm whistling of the wind outside and the stillness of the house she had felt relaxed enough to collapse onto the couch.