Chapter Text
Quirrel hummed, his voice echoing in the small alcove he and the young knight found within Greenpath. Humming wasn’t something he typically did to pass the time when cleaning his nail, but it seemed to soothe his companion to sleep and he wouldn’t deprive them of rest.
Plants that spewed out spiked seeds…he was unfamiliar with the kind —his memory hasn’t always been faithful to him— and they had been quite the obstacle when trying to get to the safe zone. It was a small area, vines and other overgrowth obstructing the view to the outside, and a stone bench where The Knight was sleeping peacefully with a makeshift blanket draped over them. They had squirmed out of his grip earlier and led him to the resting spot with much more vigor than before; how they treaded carefully and dodged the attacking plants only further cemented the idea that they had been attacked in Greenpath.
A rustling in the leaves caught his attention. His nail suddenly felt heavy in his hands as he gripped just the slightest bit tighter and his back straightened.
A familiar needle dug itself into the ground just a few feet away from him, the cloaked bug he had come to know as the protector of Hallownest landing swiftly behind it.
“It’s you, I hadn’t expected to see you again so soon!” He said cheerfully but didn’t loosen the grip on his nail.
“Simple bug.” She greeted back while retrieving her nail. Her stance was one that was alert, her shoulders squared as she occasionally glanced at the entrance.
“I can assure you none of the husks will come wandering in here, those vines serve as a good obstacle for them, and all three of us are more than capable of protecting our shells should the situation need it.” He didn’t know why he had entertained a conversation with her, she had tried to kill him hours prior and he had no idea if she had a run-in with The Knight. She didn’t respond immediately as she divided her attention between him and the sleeping grub.
“…You kept your word.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve seen you, traveling the kingdom’s corpse with more respect than most explorers who come to find riches. Those explorers have found their resting place here.” She added grimly, her needle glinting menacingly as she spoke. “I see you’ve picked up one of those… troublesome wanderers.” The protector pointed at the Knight who began to stir in their sleep.
“Oh! You mean my little companion? I apologize if they’ve caused you any trouble but they don’t mean any harm. I truly don’t know what a grub their age would be doing out here with no guardian but someone has to look after them.” He chuckled, the protector not finding any humor in his words as she stared coldly at The Knight.
“They’re not as respectful as you, they’ve trashed countless ruins with their one-track mind and thirst for violence, it would serve you well if you split paths with them if you truly only wish to explore.”
“I can’t. I promised them I would take them further and I intend on keeping that promise.” His guilt on behalf of his companion’s actions had rendered him unable to look the protector in the eye. He had heard sounds that seemed to follow them during their time in the crossroads, gates opening, glass shattering, and the disturbingly loud sound of rocks falling. He hadn’t taken the time to think about what kind of trouble they had gotten into before their little deal. Perhaps he could talk to them about not destroying everything they see? Considering their age they probably hadn’t been taught basic manners.
“I’ve taken into consideration how little damage you’ve brought to the kingdom and for that, you have my gratitude, so I offer you a compromise.” He stopped polishing his nail, the protector’s words almost echoing in the closed-off area, her tone cold. “Leave this kingdom, take the little ghost with you, and forget about whatever it was that called you here, continue your travels elsewhere.”
“And what are my other options?” She adjusted her grip on the needle, making sure it glinted menacingly in the soft light, “Our next encounter won’t be as cordial as this one.”
“Well then, let’s hope we don’t meet again.” He swiftly stood up and entered a protective stance only to be met by a blur of red leaving the alcove. Quirrel stared where the protector once stood, she hardly left a trace behind aside from a small divot in the ground.
A divot.
A chill ran down his spine as he slowly turned to face the bench, The Knight’s nail resting against it, with a similar divot resting in the middle with cracks forming from it. He wasn’t typically the kind to jump to conclusions, but as his body crept closer to the weapon his mind wandered back to when The Knight had attempted to tell him about their attacker.
His friend took a proud pose, making sure that their cloak covered their entire body and that his nail was held tall. They acted like they were saying something, before crouching into a battle-ready stance, his nail shining brightly and ready to attack…The knight grabbed both nails and tilted them so that his was hitting the middle of theirs, it fit in almost perfectly in a new crack that had formed around it and threatened to destroy the weapon entirely.
Quirrel gently picked up the nail, examining it quietly, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that The Protector had attacked them in a way similar to when she had attacked him outside the kingdom. Maybe he should’ve taken her offer, cut his losses with the kingdom, and taken The Knight somewhere where they wouldn’t be hunted down, but something called for him to travel deeper into its ruins. And The Knight had their reasoning, if they had been attacked once and persisted then he doubted his pleas would have convinced them otherwise.
No matter the reasoning, he couldn’t stand the pit in his stomach that grew deeper as his gaze shifted to the grub. They were curled up into a ball beneath the leaf-made blanket, their breathing even as they stayed unaware of their attacker’s presence which had been there only moments prior.
Quirrel went back to polishing his nail, this time he was much closer to The Knight, hands shaking as he moved the cloth back and forth. Oh Wyrm, what had he gotten himself into?