Daughter of Hallownest (NSFW) (CANCELLED)

Ghost

Hornet had previously been caught in a moment of reminiscence and admiration for the world as she sauntered along the cliffs. However, her sudden moment of self-consciousness snapped her back to reality, and after she had faced the issue head-on and put it out of her mind, her gait sped up till her nimble feet were sprinting along the stones. Reaching the end of the cliffside, she threw her needle up into the stone ceiling as a sort of grappling hook and swung across, as she was experienced in doing. Hornet was descending toward King's Pass, the home of King's Gate and the official entrance to Hallownest established by its late king years ago. It was a place with deep, ancient ties to her. As she lowered herself down on a strand of silk, her cloak waved around in the air, sending another surge of tension through her. Why am I like this?

Hornet fully descended into the King's Pass, pulled her nail back, and once again slowed down to a saunter as her gown settled back into place. Devoid of wind, it was usually dead quiet down here besides the patter of crawlers. But she heard an echo in the distance. She stopped dead to make sure it wasn't her own. Sure enough, footsteps were coming from farther down the path. Hornet swiftly scurried into the shadows to watch who went by. The footsteps grew closer and closer as she sat in the dark, until a stout, ghostly figure came by with a pale face and long horns. It looked similar to her in a way, but short and less powerful. It even held an old nail, which meant it could probably fight. It also wore a cloak of sorts, which Hornet wasn't sure how to feel about.

But as Hornet watched the pale little bug tread along, she felt a deep connection to it. More powerful than her ties to King's Pass or Hallownest, yet almost dreadful. She was almost frightened for a moment before calming down, yet she was sure she knew who this short creature was. Before she had time to think over this, the bug drew its nail and struck down a crawler in its way. Intrigued, Hornet silently followed it, watching from afar. It struck down several more crawlers and scaled the cliffs and platforms till it reached the King's Gate. Somehow, it seemed to instinctively know the way around this place.

As the creature approached the King's Gate, Hornet leaned in for a closer look, but was suddenly panicked that it might see her, so she retreated a bit deeper into the shadow. Imagine being afraid of being seen by a frail little bug! I should be ashamed. Nevertheless, she continued to watch it from afar, and what it did next astonished her. It drew its nail, repeatedly struck the gate, and destroyed the wall sealing it off. Never before had she seen anything like it! Of course, the blockade had obviously weakened over time. Hornet realized now she herself could've destroyed it a long time ago. But for an insignificant little bug to so boldly tear down an age-old wall? What was its will?

Hornet decided she was judging the ghostly thing too much by its appearance and that it probably wasn't quite weak or frail at all. She made up never to underestimate it again, and she had a feeling she would be watching it for quite a while longer. The pale one gazed out through the newly open gate, across the vast kingdom inside. Then it sheathed its nail and hopped down. This startled Hornet, as she would have carefully climbed out of the gate and cautiously climbed down the cliff.  But this bug simply jumped down into the abyss.

Now that it was gone, Hornet swung out from her shadow and descended upon the gate herself. She stood in front of it for a moment, remembering the time before it had been blockaded. Now it was open again. Perhaps open to a new future to Hallownest. And with this turn of events- the "explorer" the other week- this other familiar bug- the destruction of the blockade- she had a feeling this kingdom was finally in for an awakening after its age-old slumber.

The ghost was deeply familiar for sure, almost in a sinister way. She was certain she knew who this bug was, but it was simply too early to tell for sure.