Chapter Text
His little claws scraped against the unforgiving rocks as he hauled himself up a few more feet. His stubby limbs were already shaking, and he wasn’t even halfway up. He couldn’t help but look down, shivering at the yawning chasm beneath him. He could just make out the countless broken skulls littering the ground from where his siblings had fallen. After a few more harrowing moments he was able to find a small ledge to perch upon, his small chest heaving with exertion. He was getting weaker by the day, and that was the least of his problems. He was almost certain that he was starting to hallucinate, dark shapes flickering in the corners of his eyes and sharp noises echoing out despite his relative isolation. He glanced up, the way forwards littered with barbed thorns and sharp, jagged rocks.
He couldn’t tell how long it had been since his hatching. It felt like an eternity, but for all he knew it could’ve been a week or two. Time had a way of slipping by in the depths of the abyss, seconds stretching on forever. But he couldn’t allow himself to give in, not when he had a fellow lost soul to care for. So, he forced himself to keep going, wincing every time a new wound was opened by a careless mistake. Void dripped from the palms of his hands, leaving black imprints behind. They would heal in time, but until then he would have to endure the sensation of grit rubbing against countless cuts. If he ever found a way out of here, he was going to punch the Pale King so hard the bastard’s chitin would crack.
How did one justify genocide? It wasn’t the first time he had wondered such a thing, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely. There had been so many corpses, enough to walk on without ever seeing the ground. Piles upon piles of the dead, all slowly decomposing into dust as little shells and skulls shattered under his feet. He banished the thought from his mind before he could cry, knowing it would only slow his progress. He’d done everything he possibly could. He had to focus on the one sibling that had been saved and needed his help more than ever. He was past the halfway mark now, taking another brief respite as he curled up on a larger outcropping. He was so very tired. His sanity was at least intact, but he wasn’t sure for how long it would stay that way.
But he kept going, until he finally crested the lip of the plateau and collapsed onto the flat rock. He gasped for air, little streaks of void running down his mask despite his best efforts. His limbs were shaking so much he didn’t think he’d be able to get up even if he wanted to. The sealed door loomed before him, a massive stone with glowing runes etched into its surface. He propped himself up on his knees, slowly crawling forwards until he was able to reach out and touch it. Ancient magic buzzed against his skin, the runes marred only by little scratch marks born from previous attempts to break the barrier. He squinted his eyes shut and did his best to focus, pressing both palms up against the cool rock. A few minutes ticked by in silence before he gave up, the only exit the Abyss had to offer locked tight.
It started with his claws digging into the rock beneath him and he tried to settle himself. Then with an agonized screech he lunged forwards, slamming his little fists against the door as thick rivulets of void ran down his cheeks. He kicked and clawed until he couldn’t any longer, slumping to the ground as he tucked his damaged hands against his chest. He was breathing too quickly, panicked gasps escaping him as his vision blurred. What was the point of trying over and over again when it never made a difference. There had to be an exit here. He knew a few vessels had somehow made it out, but he had already searched every nook and cranny this wretched place had to offer. A choked sob echoed out as he curled in on himself, hiding from the sickening reality he was forced to endure.
When he finally came back to himself, he wasn’t even sure how much time had passed. Standing was an effort in itself, his legs wobbling beneath him as he shakily got to his feet. He stumbled to the edge of the plateau, staring down at the descent that waited for him. A part of him was tempted to jump. But he couldn’t leave his sibling behind, not when they were down there all alone waiting for him to return. He started the long trip down, the old wounds in his hands immediately reopening the moment he clung to the jagged rocks. He bit back a hiss of pain, blinking back the void that threatened to well from his eyes once more. Thankfully, going down took less effort than going up. But that didn’t make it any less dangerous, not when a single loose stone could send him plummeting.
Breaks were all too frequent, his vision still blurry as he blinked away black spots. It was halfway down when he descended too quickly and his legs slipped from under him. He clung to the rock wall with his claws, scrambling for purchase in a desperate attempt to regain his bearings. When he did manage to find footholds once more, he slowly inched over to a small outcropping. He collapsed on the spot, gasping frantically as he pressed himself as far away from the edge as he possibly could. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to make this climb again. Every time he tried to ascend up to the doorway it became more dangerous. Minutes slipped by until the shudders running through him faded away. He continued his descent until there was no more rock left to hold him.
He had reached the bottom, a small drop landing him among the corpses of his siblings. He lay among their broken bodies, vision blurring at the edges. He didn’t want to get up. He just wanted to lie here and sleep until the pain stopped. It was peaceful, or at least as peaceful as the Abyss could be. He stared into the shattered mask beside him, a horned skull that had split right down the middle. He wondered if they had been one of the vessels he had tried to save, to pull away from the treacherous climb. It hadn’t mattered at all in the end. The light had called and his siblings had answered. A sacrifice for the rotting kingdom that would soon be nothing more than a carcass. A genocide of hatchlings by the very sire that had propagated them.
It wasn’t hope that made him pick himself back up. It was rage. A rage so potent that it clawed away at the fog surrounding his thoughts. He stumbled his way through the sea of corpses, wincing whenever a ribcage cracked or a skull split under his weight. His eyes scanned the horizon, a surge of relief running through him as he spotted the form of his sibling slumped against the far wall. He waded his way over, gently kneeling to inspect them. Their mask was still cracked, body curled in on itself as they did their best to stave away the pain. He couldn’t recall how they had gotten the injury, but it hardly mattered now. They could barely move, breathing so soft he couldn’t even hear it. But they were alive, and that was all that mattered now.
Hi. It wasn’t verbal or conventional sign language. It was a communication they had made up on their own, practiced during their imprisonment. You okay? It was rudimentary at best, but it got the job done. He leaned in closer, relieved to see the smallest of nods. With some effort he rested beside them, curling close until their masks gently knocked together. It felt right, like coming home after the effort he had just endured. His little hand reached out to hold their own, a moment of connection among the isolation that haunted them both. But nothing lasted forever. He would have to leave eventually, to continue his search and make sure they both made it out of here alive. For now, he contented himself with drifting between sleep and wakefulness, the only kind of rest he had left.
It took longer than it should have to pull away. He kept his hand clasped in theirs for a moment longer before gently untangling himself. He adjusted his companion carefully, ensuring they were as comfortable as possible. I go. He softly told them, pressing their skulls together before shakily standing and trudging his way through the graveyard once more. He had already completed the climb, meaning it was time to search the left side. After a few seconds he gained his bearing and began to wander in an uneven path to his destination. He did his best to avoid desecrating his siblings more than he already had, but it proved difficult when the broken bodies were the only surface left for him to walk on. The sensation of little bones cracking under him was a repulsive noise that left him haunted.
The tunnel began at a yawning entrance in the side of the cavern, an unseen gust creating an unnerving whistle reminiscent of distant screams. It was pitch black, requiring him to gingerly test his footing every few steps to ensure he didn’t trip or impale himself on a sharp rock. He was lucky not to have run into any shades thus far. While he wasn’t sure exactly when the echoes of his lost siblings would begin to rise from the grave, he now suspected it would be sooner rather than later. All the more reason to find an exit. It took longer than it should have before the dim lighting allowed him to see once more. The room with the same as he had left it, a rounded chamber with screaming faces etched into each of the walls in surprisingly stark detail. The fountain is the middle leaked with a steady stream of void.
As always, he began with the walls, systematically patting the rough stone in the hopes of finding a hidden crack or crevice one might be able to wriggle through. He could only reach so high but clambered up when necessary to investigate any spots that looked like they might be accessible. He preferred this to the wretched climb up the cliffs to the plateau, but it was still an exhausting effort that whittled away at both his body and spirit. And just like every other time he had attempted to uncover some hidden passage, there was nothing to be found. He took a shaky breath, claws digging into his palm as he tried to reign in his temper. Instead, he slowly slid down to rest his back against the fountain, wiping away tears of void before they could spill and further stain his mask with black streaks.
It had to be something instinctual that he was missing. What few of his remaining siblings that survived had already vanished, all while he remained trapped. But he was starting to lose what little hope he had left. He had adored the kingdom of Hallownest back when it’d been nothing more than pixels on a screen. A part of him still wanted to visit his favorite locations from the game, to creep through the undergrowth of Greenpath and wander the streets of the City of Tears. Deepnest he would likely leave alone, along with the other less pleasant environments this world had to offer. But it was nothing but a distant dream to help dissociate by the horrific reality he resided within instead. He curled in on himself once more, giving himself a short rest before he returned to his companion.
There was a scrape as the basin shifted, nearly sending him tumbling to the ground. Void sloshed over the rim and splattered everywhere just as he caught himself, the substance sticking to his chitin. He hadn’t known it was even possible to move the fountain, but he also hadn’t put his full weight against it before. His breath caught in his throat as he saw another gap just below the pedestal, thin roots twisting through dirt and stone. He threw himself forwards, shoving the basin a second time until it shifted further. The crevice had expanded into a gap just wide enough for him to wriggle through. He peered inside to find a narrow tunnel, tangled roots mixed with loose chunks of dirt and dust. He shakily reached out and brushed a hand against the interior to ensure it wasn’t a hallucination.
He sat there for a second, a single droplet of void welling in his eye and sliding down his cheek. Then he whirled around, running back towards the central cavern. He had done it. He had finally found a way out, and now they could both be free. The answer seemed so obvious in retrospect, but he had been expecting a natural formation rather than a hidden escape route. He nearly tripped over himself several times in the darkness, his own feet catching on stray rocks and rubble. His chest was heaving by the time he stumbled out the other end, ignoring the mutilated corpses of his siblings is favor of stumbling over to his companion. They were right where he had left them, still slumped against the stone wall with their mask tilted forwards.
He gently shook them awake, ignoring how one of his feet had punched through a ribcage of a corpse. His hands shook as he struggled to find the right words, claws fumbling until he managed to squeak out a coherent statement. I go. You go. Okay? It was the best he could manage with his limited vocabulary, but the other vessel seemed to understand. A surge of relief ran through him as he saw them reply with a barley visible nod. They had done it, and would both be free to explore the world together far away from this forsaken pit. With careful precision he scooped up his sibling, ensuring they were comfortable in his arms He would have to go slower to prevent any accidents, taking his time to ensure the other vessel wasn’t injured any more than they already had been.
Bones crunched under him as he walked, his breaths still shaky as he tried to process. A voice in the back of his mind whispered that he was wrong, that he had either hallucinated the tunnel or that it would lead nowhere. An eternity of searching only to stumble upon the way out by pure chance? It seemed far too good to be true. But he didn’t stop, picking his way through the dark corridor with precision until they reached the chamber once more. The crevice was still there, and he gingerly laid his companion beside it. I go. You go. Okay? He repeated to the other vessel, pointing to the narrow tunnel beneath the basin. He was rewarded with another small nod, his sibling silently watching as he shoved the fountain further out of the way.
He was the first to enter, wriggling his way inside the narrow confines of the passageway. His companion game next, carefully guided through the crevice to join him on the other side. The tunnel was pitch black and dry, plumes of dirt and dust puffing up with every tiny movement they made. It was likely they’d catch their horns on the roots if they didn’t go slowly. He started to crawl forwards, shoving his way deeper into the earth before carefully pulling his sibling along behind him. They repeated the pattern, slowly inching along the passageway. He was already starting to feel claustrophobic, but he’d rather die than ever go back to the abyss. His little claws scraped on dirt and rock as he used them to guide him through the darkness.
The process was a grueling one. The tunnel felt like it stretched on for miles. It didn’t help that it forked into different branches, most leading to a dead end that would force them to turn around and make their way back. As expected, the roots tangled in their horns every so often and required a moment or two to unravel. The dirt and dust that completely filled the narrow confines of the passageway made every breath a struggle. He frequently had to take breaks just to cough up whatever happened to be stuck in his throat and lungs. And then there were the creatures who seemed to think his companion was a delicious snack to eat. It was true the other vessel didn’t have the strength required to fight them off, which was why he kept a vigilant eye out to ensure none got too close.
Time stretched the longer they crawled through the endless dark, their breaks becoming more frequent the longer they were forced to endure. His lungs and eyes burned with grit, and his skin itched with the need to escape the cramped quarters. When he finally was able to spot a sliver of light, his heart leapt to his chest, and he powered through the final stretch. He slowly clawed and pushed at the heavy rocks blocking the way, several minutes passing by before he breached the surface and tumbled out into the open air. He sucked in a mouthful of clean air, immediately regretting it as his own lungs spasmed and he doubled over. He coughed and hacked, his chest wracked with tremors as he struggled to spit up the grit that had infested his insides.
Tears of relief streaked down his mask as his lungs finally cleared. He took a few moments to just bask in the sensation, claws digging into the rock beneath him as small tremors ran through his body. He carefully moved to assist his companion out next, their curled form resting against the wall. In the dim lighting of the Abyss it had been hard to tell, but by now he could tell the damage was worse than he had thought. The crack in their mask was deep enough that he was surprised they had even survived the initial impact. Their wings looked ragged, and dried void coated their form from previous injuries. He gently kneeled before them, only able to make out the tiniest whisper of breath. He couldn’t keep pushing them to go further, not when it risked one of them collapsing from exhaustion. He sat beside the other vessel, once again curling into them for the small comfort of companionship.
The cavern they were in was far smaller than that of the abyss. The skeletal remains of a Goam were partially fused to the wall behind them. In addition, massive roots stretched diagonally through the chamber. A wide split in the ceiling suggested the only exit point, a large rock outcropping halfway up providing an easy point of access. He couldn’t be sure, but if he had to guess, he’d say they were somewhere in Deepnest. His own internal map of Hallownest was a bit fuzzy by now, but if they picked the right direction they should be able to find a tram station that could take them to the Ancient Basin. From there they could ascend to the City of Tears, the first stop on his bucket list. He planned to show his sibling every environment the kingdom had to offer. They had earned it after everything the two of them had been forced to endure.
He blinked when he saw something glint in the distance. He slowly picked himself up, his legs aching as he wandered over to the source. A small gasp escaped him as he saw a tiny charm embedded into a stone pedestal. He recalled this one, if only because he’d enjoyed using it back when this world had been nothing more than a game. His claws gripped at the smooth metal as he tried to pry it out of the rock. Even when using his full weight, he wasn’t able to pop it loose. With a huff he investigated his surroundings, finding a rock with decent heft. He raised it over his head and slammed it down on the pedestal as hard as he could. The stone shattered, a resounding crack echoing out as the charm flew across the floor and skid to a stop a few feet away. He startled at the sudden destruction, dropping the rock and looking at his small hands in surprise. He didn’t recall being able to do that before.
The charm fit him like a glove. He hadn’t done much besides roughly shoving it into his inky body with everything else he’d acquired thus far. Sharp Shadow would serve him well so long as he could utilize it correctly. It helped that he already had Shade Cloak from his own venture to the far side of the void lake. He would’ve taken his companion as well if he had thought they could survive the trip. He was resting beside them once more, seeing no need to rush now that they had escaped their former prison. He wondered whether this was the passageway his other surviving siblings had used, or if there was another he had yet to find. It was the evident signs of injury on the other vessel that finally prompted him to cease their temporary respite. He didn’t want to risk the damage getting any worse, and once they were in the City of Tears they could find a hot spring to recover.
He could always go to the one in Deepnest, but he’d rather avoid getting any closer to the Distant Village. He didn’t know what they would do to the forgotten spawn of the Pale King, but he couldn’t imagine it would be pleasant. He carefully situated his companion on his back in a makeshift piggy ride. He peered up to the wide crevice that led out of the small chamber, plotting a path. The roots were far too twisted and gnarled to risk, and so he once again would have to scale the sheer rock wall. The only problem was how to ensure that the other vessel would remain on his back. So long as he held them in place it was fine, but the moment he let go they would slide off him. The roots wouldn’t work, nor would the few thin strips of grass he was able to find. He had even tried examining the skeleton of the Goam to no avail.
In the end, he had to double back and find an alternate route. A separate but narrow path had been constructed against one of the walls. He was forced to slowly inch sideways with his sibling, freezing every time a stray rock or clump of dirt fell loose. It wasn’t perfect, but when they reached the end they were significantly higher than before. It was then that he had a sudden epiphany. He carefully used a claw to cut into his palm, body rigid as he tried to endure the pain. Void trickled up from the wound, and he used it to stick the claws of his sibling together. It took a few minutes to dry, but he found it held on its own. With his hands free, he was able to get a running start and leap across the short gap to a small plateau just below the larger one. He cleared it with a few feet to spare, adrenaline rushing through him at the success.
It didn’t take long after to climb the rest of the way up and hop onto the larger platform. A bit more wrangling and he was wriggling through the crevice into a far larger cavern. Most of it was barren, but one glance towards the ceiling proved otherwise. The sight of Garpedes tunneling above them was enough to stop him in his tracks. A dull rumble echoed through the very rock around them, a grinding cacophony of endless digging. He gently tilted up the mask of his companion, allowing them to see the phenomenon for themselves. He stood there for a moment, the two of them watching the strange creatures and their simplistic ways. But lingering in Deepnest would only bring trouble, and so he started towards the rounded tunnel to their right. He encountered two areas with fossilized geo and used his usual strategy of cracking them open with a rock.
Much like the Sharp Shadow charm, he simply picked each shiny piece up and stuffed it into his body. Having an internal storage that could be accessed through his own body was extremely convenient. Once he had scoured the area for anything valuable he once again proceeded to the dim passageway. There was a slight draft that whistled through the air as he walked, checking every few seconds to ensure his companion still had a good grip. The first bug they encountered was an elderly beetle heading in the same direction. He was slowly outpacing them even with the extra weight on his back. As they drew closer the old bug seemed to sense something, antennae twitching as they sniffed the air. Just a moment later he heard them gag, turning around just as they passed him. The beetle took one look at the pair and went pale, flattening against the wall.
He wasn’t sure why the bug had reacted in such a manner, but it put his already frazzled nerves on edge. He quickly slipped by, picking up his pace in hopes of avoiding any kind of confrontation. Unfortunately, the pattern only continued as they ran into others, sharp gasps and choked noises escaping every passerby. One poor weaver looked like she was about to faint at the sight of them, claws clasped over her mouth. By the time they reached the tram station he was practically running, pushing through the small crowd gathered in search of someone in a uniform. It didn’t take long to spot another weaver in a stiff uniform trying to organize the throng into a single line. The bug glanced up as he approached, only to reel back and grip the railing for support. Before the panic could grow, he gently tugged on one of their legs, pointing to the tram.
“You want… to ride?” The weaver choked out, sounding somewhere between horrified and nervous. He nodded, rifling through the interior of his inky form and pulling out ten geo. He displayed them proudly, hoping that his status as a paying customer would be enough to get him access. The weaver’s expression was slowly beginning to shift from fear into clear concern. They hesitantly knelt before him. “Little one… how old are you? Might you just be a hatchling?” He considered the question. Technically he was, even if his mind was mature. He gave a little nod, hoping his status as a child would gloss over any suspicions. The poor weaver paled further, one claw covering their mouth. The small crowd of bugs around them gasped, turning to whisper in hushed tones. “Oh dear.” The weaver finally choked out, one claw gently reaching out to refuse the geo.
“How did this happen?” One beetle whispered to another, a small shiver running through their shell. “I’ll bet you it was Herrah and her ilk.” Their companion responded with a small glare towards the uniformed weaver. “Savages, the lot of them. It is only through the mercy of the Pale King that they endure.” He looked around in confusion, hesitantly stuffing the geo back into his inky form. “Someone should do something. Call security or find a blanket at the very least. They’re so small…” A mantis crooned, looking on the verge of tears as she inched away from the scene. He shrunk in on himself, eyes darting back and forth as more exclamations of pity rang out around him. The uniformed weaver went to reach out towards his sibling. He jumped back, crouching defensively at the idea of anyone touching his only companion.
“Little one…” The weaver clicked softly. “You must release them. You will grow sick. We will take good care of them, I promise.” They reached out again and he took another half step back. He wasn’t sure what sickness the weaver was referring to. His breaths became too quick once more as panic began to settle in. Something was very wrong, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what. “Little one, please. There’s nothing we can do. Your sibling is…” The weaver took in a shaky breath, eyes wet as they cupped his mask. “Your sibling is dead.” He froze, blinking at the sudden statement. His sibling wasn’t dead. They were right here, on his back. The weaver had to be mistaken. He glanced back, looking into the eyes of his companion. He couldn’t hear them breathing. He hadn’t been able to for as long as he could remember.
Void began to pool in his eyes. He could see the rot now, the shredded wings formed from decay, the flesh split open along their sides. How long had he been deluding himself? Had he been so desperate for a purpose, for companionship? Of course he didn’t remember how they’d gotten that crack in their mask. He had found them like that, one corpse among tens of thousands. He reached up and pulled apart the claws wrapped around his neck. Immediately his sibling flopped to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut. They were dead. They had always been dead, and he had just refused to accept it. His breathing had gone from quick bursts to strangled gasps, droplets of void streaking down his mask. He was alone. He had always been alone. His vision blurred at the edges with shadows. Something cracked inside him and he screamed.