Chapter Text
It was peaceful like that.
No pain, no pressure, no agony, no climbing, nothing that Hornet went through just a few moments ago.
It was just her and her mother's embrace.
As she looked up to see her mask, it was only white blur. She can't remember her mask, so the only thing that she knew it was her were her eight limbs, four of them wrapped around her young body. And her voice was so soothing and welcoming, even when there was a commanding tone to it.
"You've done so much already my child, now you should rest in my embrace..."
Hornet didn't fight, because there was no reason to fight against her own mother.
That dream didn't last long enough for her though.
She was now awakening on a bench in the middle of the encampment, while being jabbed by some bug from her left. Turning to look, she saw the same bug before losing consciousness. The spider rose from the bench to her feet, and looked right in the eye od the cloaked bug.
"Ahh, awake at last! You should mind your strength, traveller. There's no use wasting energy on an old nobody like me." Said the bug.
"I see that now, madam. My welcome to your land has not been kind. I had reason to be wary." Hornet answered.
"So you're another pilgrim then? Scuttled out of the darkness to climb the great path and bow at its gilded peak?"
"I am no pilgrim. I am Hornet, and I arrive in your land by no choice of my own. I was brought to your kingdom by force, captured by strange bugs clad in veils, alongside a stranger that calls themselves Oskar."
"Oho! Ferocious! Intimidating! Yours is no pilgrim's spirit! You've the bearing of a hunter. Welcome then, fierce traveller, to Pharloom! Our holy yet haunted land. Before you depart, permit an old bug a brief warning. Best keep that weapon drawn. Our kingdom is gripped by a curse. Its paths grow wild and dangerous, and though some still attempt the climb to the Citadel at its crest, none return to speak of what they see."
"I am thankful for awakening me from my slumber despite that I found pleasure being in it, but have you seen the stranger that was being carried on my shoulders perchance?"
"That soft shell? They are resting in one of the many structures, being taken care of by a many of pilgrims. If you worry for their health then look for them."
Without any more words, Hornet bolted further into the encampment
He had dreamless sleeps most of the time he went to bed.
Even now his mind was just pitch black, muffling any pain from the fall.
But he started hearing panicked voices around him. Slowly fluttering open his eyes, he rose up and looked around himself; he was inside a small, torn down tent that definitely saw better days, he was sitting on a bare floor and on each of his side were bugs. One had a singular horn with little wings behind him neatly tucked, dressed in a rugged gray garb, and the other one had a mask with eyes that looked always happy no matter the feelings. He also realized that his abdomen was wrapped in cloth as he looked down, confident that it wasn't sterilized.
The two bugs were staring at him, completely frozen.
Oskar used this moment to slowly scramble back from them, until he hit the wall of the rent.
"Please, don't hurt me... I-I don't even know where I am." Oskar wept, trembling from the fear of giant bugs infront of him. He pulled his knees to his chin, trying to ignore them."Just... leave me alone."
The one with the horn and wings came closer with hesitation, before placing a black, sleek and glassy rectangular thing next to him before quickly waddling back to their position.
"You.... you h-had this i-in one of your.... garment's holes." Said the horned one
Oskar picked up the thing, already knowing what it is. He facepalmed.
"I forgot about that I have my phone. Hold on I gotta check something." He said, pressing one of the side button's. The screen instantly lit up, showing him on a beach without anything on his feet which from the scenery looked like it was taken in the Baltic sea.
Even with 100% battery, there was no internet connection since he was in a place which was likely currently in XIV century. Luckily as he swiped the screen and typed in the password, all of his apps were on it with nothing removed. He checked the gallery, showing photos with all kinds of places and foods and buildings and on and on, going to Google his browsing history wasn't really interesting, checking his mail it was empty, going to YouTube it showed that flipped astronaut with spilled coffee.
Before he could do anything else though, Hornet bolted into the tent.
She locked her gaze on him, and he quickly locked his gaze on her, both of them not moving.
Hornet then sprinted towards him, knelt down and wrapped her slightly fluffy arms around him, burying her mask into the green garment.
She felt that warmth, that perfect welcoming warmth of his. He was even soft to the point it felt like a pillow, which made her hug him even more.
"I'm glad you are alright." She spoke to the green, her voice coming out muffled but hearable."I will never let you be harmed by any predators that are looking for you."
But it was something else for Oskar.
He felt her hairy strong arms wrap around his back and her fluffy torso on his own, and it was cold like ice. His fear screamed at him to run from her, to kill her, to burn her body and make sure she never was here to begin with. But he was paralyzed from her hug, completely shocked at the absurdity of it. So he could only hug back at her.
"It's okay, I'm here and I won't leave you alone." Oskar whispered, realizing that at least she didn't want to harm him.
She stood up, her sentinel demeanor returning rapidly. Her posture became cold as she reached her sharp clawed hand towards him.
"Stand, Oskar. Let us both rest at a bench nearby." She said, pointing her needle out of the rent.
Oskar took her hand and stood up, with both of them walking out of the rent and towards the bench.
The bench wasn't anything fancy or complicated. It just was simple makeshift bench made from bones. It sat next to a big glass orb filled with silkflies, emitting a bright white light.
They both sat down, with Hornet placing her foot on the other leg's knee.
"What is that thing that emits light? Is it something that is from other higher beings?" Hornet asked, leaning further into the smartphone in his hands.
"No! It's just a phone. It is a device made from multiple processors, wires and other stuff, all powered by a battery. It is mostly used for taking pictures, downloading stuff or just pure entertainment." Oskar explained, gesturing wildly to her, even though she was confused.
"Every human you will meet is gonna have at least one of them. And this is one of the entertainments we have on the phone's" He said, opening that one Google dinosaur game you play when there is no internet connection.
She stared at his phone, watching the dinosaur jump over the cactuses. But he quickly closed the tab and shut the phone to likely save battery.
"I have a question." Oskar said, turning his gaze towards her "What are you supposed to be?"
"I am the daughter of weaver and wyrm. Long before, there was a plague of blinding light in my home kingdom that took away the minds of others by appearing in their dreams, turning them back towards instinct. My father -the ruler of that kingdom- had a plan to contain and seal the infection inside the temple of Black Egg. It envolved a vessel with no mind, no voice, and no will to contain it, and three dreamers that would be put to eternal slumber to seal the Egg with the vessel inside it." Hornet answered "Those three dreamers were the king's watcher, teacher of the archives, and.... my mother."
"Why was your mother chosen?" He asked, suddenly feeling sad for her.
"She agreed to do it in exchange for birthing a heir of hers. That child was me. We were allowed a short time before she had to fall to eternal slumber."She answered.
Oskar suddenly became tired from the recovery, and said in a tired voice:
"Hey Hornet, would you mind looking out for anything? I would like to rest."
"I understand, I will make sure no danger is going to claw it's way here." Hornet reassured
With that, Oskar laid back and closed his eyes, knowing that with his fear of insects and spiders, Hornet was the only exception because he knew that he wouldn't stand a chance against her if she decimated that bridge, carried his body and still managed to recover. And since she was also sapient, crushing her would not be pleasant for both of them.
Hornet sat next to him, watching the encampment looking for any danger to cut down, even though it was empty.