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Luckily for Hornet, Hollow seems more confused than anything else. She manages to talk them down from attacking, in part because they remember her face, and now she is helping them reach her shelter in Greenpath. It’s the only place she can think to bring them — it’s been the place she calls home for years now.
The first problem arises when they reach the opening that leads from the Crossroads (which are free of Infection, but the shadows seem almost… darker?) to Greenpath. She can walk through it just fine without bending over or ducking her head, but her entire body (horns and all!) is the size of Hollow’s head.
“Uh.” Hornet looks back at Hollow, craning her head just to see their face. They stare blankly at the space, leaning heavily on their old, dull nail for balance. She’s at a loss — at least, until they limp closer.
They lower themselves to their knees — the movement is smooth and practiced, unlike every other jerky, arrhythmic step (are they that used to submission?) — and duck their head, assessing the space and what might allow them entry. Then they seem to come to a decision and curl into themselves, preparing to crawl through.
“I’ll go first,” Hornet offers swiftly. “Just in case something’s on the other side.”
Hollow acquiesces with a tilt of their head, and Hornet passes through the opening. She waits for them to follow after her, and sure enough, they do. Slowly, and stiffly, and definitely with some level of pain, but they do follow.
But then there’s another problem — the gap between the ledge Hornet and Hollow currently stand on and the remainder of the path. Most of it crumbled decades, if not centuries ago. Hornet can just use her needle and thread to cross it, but she doubts Hollow has any sort of tool to do so. She doubts they can even jump.
One look downwards confirms that swimming isn’t an option — and she doubts Hollow was taught how to do that, either. Below the ledge is a bubbling lake of acid without an island in sight.
There’s no way through this path.
“Sorry,” she says to Hollow, and she wholeheartedly means it. “We’ll have to turn back.”
The only response they offer her is a slight nod that indicates nothing.
But where else could they go?
***
There is a small, oft-forgotten path that leads to a room of Goams, which leads to a room of Aspid Mothers, which leads to Fog Canyon. Hornet doesn’t dare try to get Hollow anywhere close to the exploding fauna of that place.
When she explains this to Hollow, they seem neutral on the matter, though there’s a spark of disappointment. Maybe they’d once heard tales of the place, or something.
Whatever. It doesn’t matter anymore.
***
Hornet’s next attempt at getting her half-sibling out of the Crossroads is via the tram. But the moment she walks up to it with her ancient-yet-still-effective pass, she realizes that she’s more than half the height of the doorway… and there’s no way Hollow would fit in any of the seats.
“Not this, either,” she mutters. Hollow only offers a pitying headpat.
***
Hornet takes Hollow down to where that old Gruzzer used to sleep, taking the low route (and pointedly ignoring the bodies). She sees the Charm-Maker’s cottage and looks above, but there is absolutely no way Hollow could fit through that, either.
She shakes her head, and Hollow gives a slight slump of their shoulders. Hornet only sighs and says, “Let’s try another place.”
Surely there must be somewhere, right?
***
Hornet takes one look at the Old Stag and says, “Absolutely not.”
The poor bug looks relieved, as does Hollow.
***
The first entrance into the Crystal Peak is both pitch-black and far too small. The second, they likely wouldn’t be able to crawl out of if it didn’t work, since they could only leave through the first entrance. So that’s off the table, too.
When Hornet tells Hollow this, they merely stare at her. She can’t tell whether they’re upset or not.
***
There’s only one more place to go.
The well.
The well that leads to Dirtmouth.
Hornet doesn’t like people much, and she has no doubt that the skittish surface bugs would flee at the mere sight of Hollow. But it’s the only way to get her half-sibling out of the Crossroads, which houses the Temple where they have experienced so much pain and suffering.
She shows them the way up, and then hands them the rope. “You can climb, right?”
Hollow nods, so she gestures to the rope. “I’ll go first, then you.”
Hollow gives her a blank look and shakes their head. Hornet sighs. “What now?”
They gesture to their missing arm.
Hornet is silent for a few moments, staring at the final (and permanent) obstacle between them both and freedom.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
All Hollow can offer is a helpless shrug.