Chapter Text
Bilewater,
Here we are once more.
Footsteps on wood.
Wet wood.
Rotting wood.
Hornet looked around. The maggots were still infested here, despite the end of Citadel. She let her mind wander. Could time heal this place? Or could she do something to aid its cure. Perhaps there could be something more to be done yet. Perhaps there’s nothing to be done. Since the maggots and its grown form had become a staple food source for a population of bugs, she wasn’t sure what to think.
She sure hated having to thread the infested area, however.
“Out of all places, Hornet. I cannot believe you dragged me here.” Lace broke the silence. Her voice slightly echoed. She was reluctantly following behind the red maiden, eying the infested environment with overt disgust, “Why here? Where are we going?”
“A place with allies I must check upon.” Hornet answered simply, thinking of the caravan, “I shall introduce you to them as well. They are a delightful bunch.”
Lace let out an exaggerated gasp, “I never pegged you as someone who can experience an emotion such as delight.” She laughed.
Hornet let out the slightest of laughter. “Contrary to how I look, I am not completely cold.” She replied.
“Are you now, spider? I swear, I could never tell with you.”
Hornet may act like she ignored that comment, but she must have been somewhat amused. She would pry that hard shell one day - what day is better than today?, Lace decided with a mischievous smile.
Footsteps continued. Hornet drew her pace on to a narrow wood plank. This was a quiet journey, suspiciously so. She wondered if the resident tribe moved away after she took down their leader. Where would they even go? They couldn’t have all died, could they?
Lace followed right behind, she yelped when a maggot crawled too close. - she leapt to grip onto her companion’s arm. Hornet turned to look at her, a tiniest laughter left her.
“We are not too far.” Hornet reassured, she allowed her companion to hold for a moment, before gently pushing her off to continue walking across.
“I do not trust your sense of distance, dear.” Lace’s smile went brighter, satisfied to hear that tiniest of laughter. She allowed herself to be pried. Then continue to follow. “Nowhere is ever far to you.”
“Is that so?” Hornet hummed in thought, “Not necessarily true. I find Hollownest quite fa- oh!” Lace pounced and gripped her arm once more, a bit more forcefully, “Lace, be more careful. We’re on a narrow path.”
“Precisely! The sight of these silk-eating maggots really disturbs me.”
“So watch your steps and do not fall in.”
“Easy for you to say! Let me grab you for support, dear. If not for balance, then for my heart!”
“You are a master fencer, are you not?” Hornet looked at her, “Surely you have the sense of balance necessary to traverse these lands.”
“And you are the ever dashing warrior who has scaled to the citadel! I am simply no match for you. Do not use your standard on me, dear.”
Hornet stared at her, skeptic. She didn’t answer, she just stepped past yet another soiled cloth left on a rotten wood plank. Lace was too busy staring at Hornet’s face in challenge, and her step didn’t pass. She caught a group of maggots that were feasting on it - and are now attempting to feast on her.
“EE!” She yelped and tried to kick them out with an entire body flailing.
“Oh!” Hornet was caught in the motion and fell off the plank with a huge splash of muckmaggots.
“Hornet!” Lace cried out in alarm, extending her hand.
The spider didn’t say anything, nor did she acknowledge Lace’s extended hand. She simply waded through the rest of the pond, and emerged at the far end of it.
“... I didn’t think you’d actually fall.” Lace sounded smaller than before.
“Vren.” She spent her silk reserve to remove the infestation. She turned back to Lace - who was still at the other side of the lake, “Do be more careful, please.” She said - ever so patient, noticeably thinning, but still patient nonetheless.
Lace let out a nervous laugh, and then she followed to where Hornet was waiting for her.
“So, dear Hornet, I was just thinking - Oh!” Lace gasped- startling her companion. A stilkin emerged from the bile right behind them with a splash. Hornet turned back swiftly, needle pointed in readiness. The enemy blew darts at her, she swiped them away. A splash from another direction. Lace assumed a battle stance back to back with Hornet. Hornet acknowledged her and felt safe to let her take care of that one. She focused to the front and leapt towards her enemy and cut it down. More emerged. The one Lace was fighting fled the battle and chased Hornet instead.
“Hornet, look out!” Lace shouted in warning. Hornet heeded the warning and defended herself against the surprise attack successfully. It was then quickly dispatched. Lace rushed back into the frey to guard Hornet’s back once more.
Two more joined the chaos from Lace’s direction, but they completely ignored her and went straight for Hornet, yet again. Lace didn’t let one pass her and cut it down before it reached its target. The surviving one rushed itself for a bodily attack, and was stabbed clean by Hornet herself,
“They’re targeting you.” Lace yelled, “Why?”
“I killed their leader.” She said, simply.
“You WHAT?!”
“Why are you surprised? They were in my way!”
“I don’t know! I don’t know why I was, really! I shouldn’t have been surprised.”
While the conversation went on, the couple was slowly pushed back to a dead end by the constant pressure of the hoarding enemies. The darts were taking over their footing space. She would only need a moment of opening for her to wipe these pests cleaned. If only that chance would present itself- no, she would create that chance for herself. Hornet swiped at the offending objects, trying to take back their space.
She had sufficient footing now. So she pounced for an offense, the hoard did not retreat. Their attack attempts became more aggressive at the cost of their members. It took her by surprise. They were getting hits in. It didn't hurt but it was frustrating. Something smelled not right.
Not good. Fall back. She guarded and took a step back, a click. A trap sprung. A blur of some things fast and sharp were shot from a concealed rock right towards her. She snapped towards the sound and reflectively swatted the incoming objects - glass break sound - destroyed one.
The remaining two struck true. She was not fast enough to take them all out. They stabbed deep into her thorax, so deep they nearly emerged from the other side.
“Guh!” That was all she could muster.
“Hornet!” Lace called out, but she was too busy to come to her aid.
No reply came out of her. Pain! Pain! Pain! It burned! It seared! It was spreading further than where they stabbed! Hornet struggled to breathe - she tried to pull one of them out, but they were equipped with backward spines! She was weakening fast. Her knees buckled. Her eyes were seeing white. She didn’t understand! She’s immune to most poison…! So what was this? What was in it…?! Doesn’t matter! Hold it…! Endure…! Focus! - Fix it! - take them out! She needed to bind…! Not enough silk! She couldn’t feel her claws! She needed to get out to safety! Retreat! She collapsed.
“Hornet!” Lace called again, but Hornet wasn’t able to answer.
“G…GAHHHH!” Hornet writhed on the ground. She couldn’t hold it. She couldn’t endure this. No! She must move! Her legs- Lace - !
Lace disappeared in a flash, and she displayed her fencing mastery in ways that Hornet had never seen aimed at another but herself. Her eyes weren’t focusing properly. Was she seeing double? No… That was Lace’s afterimage. She had cleared their path for them. The surviving enemies retreated after that display.
“Hornet, get up.” She ordered, voice stern. Hands supporting her into a sitting position.
In all honesty she tried, but she couldn’t feel her extremities. She was gasping - every draw of air hurted. But there wasn't enough air. She must pull them out of her..! It burns it burns it burns it burns - Lace was grabbing her- No! That hurted too! Stop!
“Hornet, stop! Look at me.”
Hornet startled into focus. The finality in it drew her in.
She stopped writhing and looked. Lace had already dragged her into a corner- in relative safety. She didn’t even notice when they had moved.
“Good.” Lace wiped her face with her silken hand. Hornet just now realized she had been shedding tears. “Slow your breath. You are fine.”
“Lace-” Hornet forced out a voice, but it came in a coarse whisper.
“Do not speak. Only breathe.”
What’s happening? Who was this? This was not the Lace she knew. This was someone else. This was unfamiliar. Gone are her silly antics. Hornet welcomed it. Although it did concern her. How badly injured she must have looked? She drew her breath slower by sheer force of will.
“Good. Now listen to me. I am going to take a dart out. Do not yell. We are not yet safe. Can you do that?”
Hornet winced, more tears flowed. Lace wiped her face again without comment. She had no confidence that she could, but she nodded.
Lace did it with no further warning. Her shell gave with a sickening crunch.
A yelp escaped her despite her efforts. Lace grabbed her face and covered her mouth. She writhed - her voice died in her throat. Lace pressed her silken hand into the hole in her shell. Hornet heaved.
“You can do it, Hornet. Slow your breath.”
She wanted to obey. Oh dear she wanted to obey. Her nerves were exploding each draw of breath. Lace wiped her face once more.
“Another one. Bite.” Lace had put her silken hand in her mouth.
Hornet panicked. Eyes wide with confusion. This was her hand! She shan’t-
Another sickening crunch was heard before it was felt. She reflectively bit as hard as her strength allowed while her voice was stifled by the silk piece. She struggled under her companion’s weight. Only stopping because her strength had run out. Lace threw the second one yanked free to the ground. Her companion went limp in her hands.
“Stay awake, Hornet. Are you with me?” Lace grabbed her face, forcing her to look at her.
She nodded. Lace let out a breath of relief. Hornet’s gaze fell on the frayed hand she just took out of her own jaw. Guilt flashed. And yet she used that very hand to wipe her face once more. It was not just her tears. Her hemolymph flowed once the darts that stopped it were out, staining her red cloak with its blueish hue, staining her companion’s white silken body. Lace took notice. She gently adjusted her posture to supine, pried her cloak. Hornet trembled, doing her best to not curl.
The hemolymph that was flowing out was not the correct color. There were green and deep purple mixed in the blue. Each draw of her breath she lost more fluid. Lace glanced at the darts she had just discarded. It matched. Something in the vials were affecting Hornet. Why wasn’t her poison-proof wyrm blood protecting her? No time to wonder.
“I have to take it out.” Lace said. Hornet didn’t understand what she meant at first.
Lace, without hesitation, bent down to that wounded thorax and sucked. Hornet wasn’t prepared in more ways than one. She thrashed as the searing sensation returned with a vengeance. Choking- coughing on her own fluid that threatened to leave her mouth. Pushing back her companion’s head away but she was too weak to succeed.
Lace was not deterred. She continued the motion, spitting what foreign substance that was taken into her mouth. Repeat. Again. And again.
Tinnitus. Hornet’s vision was darkening, right before Lace had stopped tormenting her further. She felt herself raised slightly as something was wrapped around her.
Oh Queen Vespa, she would be so disappointed in this disciple grown weak. To befallen by such simple contraption, to show so much vulnerability right after. She was taught better. Oh Queen Vespa… she regretted her lack of attempt to visit… while she was alive. Perhaps she would see her now and apologize.
“Hornet, come back to me.” Lace patted her face, rousing her back to reality. “Just.. one more thing before I let you rest.”
She looked at her companion. She looked… darker than usual. A strange sight… curious. She didn’t get to wonder long, as Lace pulled her back up to a sitting position, she held her face upwards, and aimed her flea brew bottle at her mouth.
“Drink it.” She ordered.
Hornet looked at the bottle, felt bile reflux. She winced at the thought of anything filling her aching stomach.
“You’ve lost too much blood. You have to drink it. This is the only clean water we get.”
No use defying her. Lace won’t take no for an answer, not that she can even reply. She opened her mouth. And Lace poured a small amount.
Pathetic. What has happened to the princess protector? She’s supposed to be the one protecting. This was a disgrace. She choked on her shame. Her body was refusing to ingest.
Lace wiped her face and her mouth. Said nothing, and continued to feed her. Until half the bottle was down - probably half spilled. And she stopped.
Its effect was helping, the brew. Hornet felt numb. Or was that just the blood loss? Lace sat down, and put Hornet down on her side right beside herself, placing her head on her lap.
“Rest now. I will take care of you.” She put her hand on the spider’s bandaged thorax, feeling its movement. Her eyes gazed at the one path not enclosed by a wall. She was acting the sentinel.
Hornet touched her own chest. Realizing why Lace looked different… She must have spent her own silk on Hornet’s wound dressing. She moved her hand, putting it on her savior’s knee and lightly squeezed in gratitude, or was it shame? Should she be thanking her or apologize? It didn’t matter which. She was too weak to speak. Lace acknowledged the gesture, petting her lightly in silence.
Hours passed excruciatingly. The brew’s effect did not last long at all. No sleep befall the injured spider, her consciousness fluctuated, but never enough to be restful. The bandage stained more blue, and it felt saturated with its absorption. Lace took notice of the bandage’s wetness.
“You’re still bleeding.” Lace looked at her, “Can you rise?”
Hornet considered, and decided to be honest. She shook her head in reply.
Lace said nothing and she scooped under the spider’s arm, and adjusted her to a sitting position. The spider was not able to hold, and fell forward. Lace allowed Hornet’s body weight to be supported on her own. She removed her soiled bandage.
If Lace’s silk could have worked, it would already have done so. If only she could feel her claw she would bind herself, if only Lace could somehow bind her. None of those are options. Bandaging her again would be a waste.
Before Lace would harvest even more silk from her own body to make a replacement, Hornet said something, but it was too quiet to hear the first time.
“Yes?” She stopped her motion.
“Flintslate” She whispered again, louder. That action spent most of her power. She hoped Lace would understand what she meant with no further explanation.
She did. Lace hesitated only for a few seconds, before she rummaged into her companion’s soiled cloak, and pulled out the tool mentioned. She looked disturbed by what she’s about to do but only for a moment, then she steeled herself.
She put the tool down, and used both her hands to gently lay Hornet to the ground. She took out her own pin and picked up the tool once again. She knew what it’s for. She saw how Hornet had used it.
Steeled herself once more, she scrubbed the Flintslate onto her pin until it glowed red.
Hornet laid there silent. Mentally prepared for what’s about to happen.
“On three.” Lace said, and Hornet nodded. Bracing herself.
“One,” She dug her unsensing claw into the ground.
“Two,” She held her breath.
“Three!”
Hornet flinched, actually seared this time. The smell of cooked bug meat smoked out of her. It felt longer than it actually lasted. Lace was already moving off her to scrub the flint once more for her second wound.
Hornet could not press down her labored breath, she couldn’t brace for the second one.
“Another one. One.” Lace started counting.
“Two” There was no way to communicate her state of unreadiness.
“Three!”
A yelp escaped her. More cooked bug meat smell, more searing. She didn’t even notice that it was done. Lace had put her weapon aside. She was on her, scooping her to sit, wiping her face of tears that escaped, and hugged her.
Hornet gagged. Bile threatened to leave her. Lace took notice and put her to a position where she could relief. What came out of her mouth was flea brew, and deep blue hemolymph.
Lace petted her back lightly in comfort. At least she has finally stopped bleeding from her thorax. But this didn’t look good.
Water splash sound. Lace immediately snapped towards the source. It appeared the stilkins either heard that cry or smelled that meat. They had come to claim their prey.
Lace, despite the urgency, put her companion down gently before she leaped to action. Hornet was helpless, unable to aid her companion nor defend herself. All she could do was scoot further into the corner, to be out of sight - to not be a burden. Although, this could prove to be a fatal mistake - cornering herself. She knew this and yet there was not much other choice. She smelled flintslate used on her enemies. And she heard cries of anger.
She acknowledged her companion’s pain, and cursed her inability to act.
A stilkin slipped Lace and found her. It chittered in excitement. Hornet startled. She tried - and failed - to pick up her needle. Two more appeared - summoned by the first one’s chitter. They went in for the kill.
Hornet could only roll away from their aim. The first attacker missed, its proboscis stabbed the ground. The second one came in, but she was cornered. Hornet leaned into the wall behind her, and kicked the attacker away with all her might.
And all her might it costed. She could raise her limbs no longer. The kick had stunned that one, but its thirst for her blood was only delayed, not deterred. The third one had its perfect chance. Hornet could do nothing but brace for impact.
The impact never came. Lace’s gilded weapon flew and pinned that attacker, killing it instantly. Lace herself rushed back in with an angry yell, took Hornet’s needle and swiped the one recently recovered from its stunned state. She missed. The first one with its proboscis stuck got itself free, only to be killed by Lace wielding Hornet’s needle. The last one remaining fled the fight.
She didn’t let it. She dropped Hornet’s weapon, and plucked her own out of the wood - with the carcass on it - and chased after that one.
Hornet - once safe - paid the price of her adrenaline fueled action. She rolled and heaved. More blue hemolymph left her with heavy coughs. And she struggled to catch her breath.
“Hornet!” Her companion returned, stained with blood of the enemies - and hers too. She rushed back to see Hornet going limp. She was nearly losing her consciousness.
Consciousness, what good would it do? At this moment, she felt so much and could do so little. Perhaps it would be a mercy to -
She felt her companion picked her up, bridal. And she started running.
Oh, she felt too much indeed, more than pain, more than embarrassment. The princess protector isn’t used to this. She froze, unable to react. Staring at her companion’s face, that expression of determination.
It was quite appealing.
Tinnitus. She didn’t hear what Lace was saying to her, but she did feel that they were moving out of the area. And then she didn’t know anything else.
Hornet regained consciousness some place indoors.
Piercing pain returned with her awareness. She winced. Then noticed that she was resting in the same position as before, with her head on Lace’s lap and Lace’s hand on her thorax. Lace immediately noticed that she was awake.
“You’re awake.” She greeted, lightly petting her, “Do you feel any better?”
Hornet considered the question, but failed to answer. That in itself was an answer that Lace could understand.
“I see.” Lace said, she sounded tired, “I didn’t know what else to do. We needed a safe place, so I brought you here.”
Hornet looked around.
They were in the exhaust organ.
Hornet’s heart dropped. She looked at Lace’s face. Hers was a look of mourning.
“Do not pity me, spider. You granted my sibling’s wish. That’s what you do, right? Granting wishes?”
She reached her unfeeling claw to Lace’s knee- an apology. And she held her claw in return- an acceptance.
“Grant me a wish, red maiden… Recover.”
Hornet nodded.
“I expect you to keep your word.”
A moment of peaceful silence. Hornet considered her options. This didn’t seem to be an affliction she can recover on her own. She needed professional help. She hated to admit it, but it seemed she had to visit someone she wished to never see again.
“Greymoor.” Hornet forced words out.
“Pardon?”
“Doctor, in Greymoor.” She whispered. The architectural design of the exhaust organ made her words echo.
“The disgraced doctor?”
Hornet nodded. Lace considered, deep in thought.
“Alright, that shall be our next destination.” Lace said, after a moment of silence.
Lace petted her in comfort. She continued to look at the huge instrument in the hall. Her expression softened. Then she got up, collected their items, and scooped Hornet.
It felt natural, now that it’s not the first time she’s in her arms. They left the building behind.