Chapter Text
It starts with them getting stuck in Deepnest. The floor caves and their exit is just. Gone. Its just Ghost, Quirrel, and a pit of spikes and nowhere else to go. Well and the ledge they're huddled on which is barely big enough for the both of them, even with Ghost's stature.
It's hardly the first time the floor's crumbled out away from beneath Ghost's feet in Deepnest. It's happened a lot, actually, and the spikes are hardly new either. But being fully trapped hasn't happened before. Usually its a pit and Ghost is usually quick enough to snag the side with the mantis claw and clamber back out.
This time though that's not an option. They're lucky the unstable earth didn't come right down around them entirely. But that's the only thing they're really lucky about.
Ghost looks up at Quirrel. Maybe he has something helpful. Like a shovel. Or the talent to tunnel throuhh the crumbly dirt like a garapede.
Quirrel tilts his head to return Ghost's gaze and let's out a faint chuckle. "Well my friend, we seem to have found ourselves in a tight spot."
That went without saying. Quirrel even is gripping Ghost's shoulder like he's afraid he might lose his footing and tumble into the pit if he doesn't have something to hold onto.
Actually. How much geo does Ghost have?
....four hundred thirty. A good amount but not the most tragic to lose. Ghost can make it back easily enough.
Spikes aren't exactly the most fun way to die (not that there was any way to die that was particularly enjoyable) but it will be quick at least. Then Ghost can jump in front of a husk a few times and summon the shade to somewhere more convinent to kill it and drag it back inside the mask.
"Any thoughts?" Quirrel asks.
In response Ghost tugs Quirrel's hand away from Ghost's shoulder and then jumps into the spikes.
# # #
Ah. The last bench had been in crystal peaks, not in Deepnest. Right, Ghost hadn't sat at rhe bench near the hotsprings cause, well, hotsprings. Didn't need to rest at the bench cause the warm soothing water was more then rejuvenating enough.
Just as well, those atrocious crystal hunters were painful but a convenient way to summon the shade back and in a few minutes Ghost was back to all being in one place and in one piece.
Ghost wondered where Quirrel had ended up. He seemed to like that one bench in the City, but that was pretty far from Deepnest.
Not that Crystal peak was any better.
In any case Ghost would probably see him again soon enough. Quirrel would remark on some curiousity or another, Ghost would nod, and then they'd part ways again.
# # #
Ghost does not see Quirrel again soon. In fact Ghost does not see Quirrel again for a quite a while. No idea how long, time doesn't have an marked passage here in Hallownest, but it still does pass, Ghost can feel it flowing, churning, turning all the same.
Down to the City of tears, up to the temple with the haunted egg, back to the Queen's station, Ghost even treks through Crystal Peak up to that one spot Quirrel had been briefly.
And no Quirrel.
It wasn't really all that concerning.
That doesn't stop Ghost from being concerned.
What if the cave in had worsened after Ghost escaped and Quirrel had been stuck? Or maybe something had happened after he got out?
What if Quirrel had a million geo on him and hadn't wanted to lose it??
Ghost has to get back to Deepnest to check on him. Right now.
Fortunately there's a stag station nearby and though the Old Stag has a great dislike for Deepnest, he still carries Ghost to the distant village without complain. From there Ghost just has to navigate back to where the cave in happened.
Which is easier said than done considering the labyrinthine structure of the place and the fact most of the tunnels look the same.
In the end Ghost finds the place in the same manner as the first time. The ground dissolves away to reveal a pit of spikes and a slightly trembling Quirrel, still hunkered on the ledge.
He looks up as dirt rains on his mask and the light from Ghost's lantern shines down on him.
Quirrel doesn't speak, just stares, the silence stretching on long enough for Ghost to wonder if something's wrong. So, with the aid of the mantis claw and well timed hop, Ghost descends to perch at Quirrel's side.
Quirrel tracks the movement, so he hasn't gone blind at least. So Ghost stands there and waits.
Quirrel doesn't speak, but he does move eventually, leaping out of the pit with ease despite being stuck there for so long. Ghost follows him back out.
"Are you...are you real?" Quirrel asks, "Or have I lost my mind completely in the darkness?"
Ghost looks at him. Confused.
"I saw you- I saw you die."
Ghost nods. That had happened.
"Then a specter hovering there in the air, then it vanished, and now you're back? I must be going mad. That, or you're some other little silent wanderer with a strange air about them."
Maybe Quirrel had gone a little crazy down in that pit.
Ghost starts walking.
After a brief hesitation, Quirrel follows.
It's not too far to the hotsprings, maybe those will make Quirrel feel better. It's brighter there too, the dark oppressive atmosphere of Deepnest retreating from the peaceful little spot.
Ghost waves Quirrel towards the water then goes to sit on the bench. This way if something else happens it won't take too long to get back.
Ghost wonders exactly how much geo Quirrel must have on him- he should really spend some of it since, while geo disappeared, the stuff one bought with it tended to stick around. Has Quirrel been back up to Dirtmouth since the shops reopened? If he hadn't then what was he hoarding geo for? There was only so many places to spend it in the wilds of Hallownest. Ghost would just have to figure out a way to drag him back up so he could see the shops.
"What are you?"
Ghost looks up to find that Quirrel is still only standing ankle deep in the water, staring at Ghost.
That is a good question. One Ghost's been asked several times.
A good question with no good answer.
Ghost shrugs.
"You won't tell me...or perhaps you don't know?"
Ghost nods.
Quirrel stares at him a moment longer. Ghost stares back.
This could go on for a while.
Then Quirrel sits in the water and buries his face in his hands.
Great.
Ghost goes to make a note on the map about the cave-in area.
"Has this happened before?"
Ghost would sigh if that was an option and looks back at Quirrel.
"You've died before. You must have, you flung yourself into those spikes without hesitation!"
Yeah but hadn't everyone at some point done something similar? Why is Quirrel acting like it's a big deal?
"How often does this happen, friend?"
Well jumping into spikes on purpose wasn't exactly a common occurrence but dying? In Hallownest? Happens all the time.
Ghost waves a dismissive hand through the air.
"Clearly too often if that's your attitude about it?"
Ghost pauses, hand still half raised. Then points at Quirrel.
"Wh- me? What about- are you asking if I've died before?"
Nod.
Quirrel hesitates.
Maybe that was something other bugs didn't talk about? Thinking about it now, Ghost can't actually recall anyone ever discussing it. Maybe it was rude.
But it happened to others. Ghost was certain there was one tiktik in the crossroads that had been stabbed about eighty seven times by Ghost's nail and was still trotting along whenever Ghost passed by.
"That's not how other people work. You know that, right? Other people don't come back after jumping into a spike pit. Most people don't- don't go- if they fell they'd die and stay there. Do you understand?"
A headshake.
Quirrel glances around as if the corners of the room might offer some better way to explain, but he finds nothing there.
Clearly Ghost will just have to show him. Ghost hops off the bench and scurries out of the room. It doesn't take long to scare up a deepcarver and chase it back towards the hotsprings. There Ghost stabs at it until it stops moving. A moment passes then the previously lifeless beast hops back to its feet and burrows into the ground to escape before Ghost can dispatch it a second time.
".....my friend that's- that's because of the infection. Most of the creatures are already practically dead and the infection just keeps the body moving despite the damage."
That doesn't make sense. Ghost is definitely not infected.
"You've been exploring through Hollownest certainly you've noticed there's corpses practically everywhere?"
Head tilt.
"You know- the bodies? Of bugs that just lay there and never move?"
Well certainly, Ghost's stolen things off of them. But they were just sleeping, weren't they? It's happened lots of time, Ghost walks past something not moving and suddenly it springs up to start stabbing or biting or clawing.
...
Certainly they weren't just dead. Stuck dead. Permanently dead. Forever.
Were they?
....
And Ghost had left Quirrel- ohhhh. Oh no.
....
"Are you alright?"
Ghost hurries over to pat at Quirrel's arm. That was the best of an apology that could be managed.
"I'm fine now, no need to worry," Quirrel says, "Aside from being low on rations. Went through most of it down in that hole. Back up to Dirtmouth I suppose."
Rations? Oh, right. Food.
Ghost has never understood eating. It seemed like a waste of time really, smushing various things against your face. Ghost had tried, just to see what all the fuss was about, just ended up with stains on the mask and bits of gunk stuck to it. A mess and more effort to clean than anything.
No, no. Soul and a nice spot to rest were all Ghost wanted, thank you very much. But if it would make Quirrel feel better then who is Ghost to judge?
"Actually, I'd better be off now. Never know what might happen on the way up," Quirrel stands and starts for the exit. Ghost trots along after him.
"Oh, are you coming along?"
Nod. Ghost's got to make sure he doesn't fall into any more holes
"I see. Can't say I'm not glad for the company."
It's not a quiet walk. It never is, but nothing catastrophic happens and they reach Dirtmouth eventually.
"Ah, brought a friend with you this time?" Elderbug remarks.
Ghost shrugs then nods. Quirrels says they're friends anyway. "Friend" like eating is something Ghost never really understood. People said it and sometimes they were nice, sometimes they said it and then tried to kill Ghost. The best Ghost could figure was it was a title of some kind, things other bugs called each other like "sir" or "ma'am" or "you there" (that last one being the one most commonly directed at Ghost) but the exact meaning had never been clear.
Quirrel starts talking to Elderbug about food and were to find it and Ghost's attention drifts. Thinking. Thinking about dying and death and staying that way. Surely Quirrel couldn't be right about this...
Something pops into Ghost's mind. That one spot where Hornet had attacked, the person Ghost had stolen the mothwing cloak from...
Ghost's feet are moving, the voices of Quirrel and Elderbug are fading, and Ghost is back down the well again before there's really time to think.
The tiktik dies for the eighty-eighth time.
Then down towards Greenpath.
Too late Ghost realizes it would've been quicker to ask the stag beetle for a ride. But maybe this is better. Thinking is easier in conjunction with walking.
Ghost passes the place where Zote had been under attack by that oversized Vengefly. If Ghost had left him, Zote would've probably died. And stayed dead?
Then Ghost comes to the glade where the Hornet fight had happened.
They're still there, laying in the grass. Nail lodged in their chest, mask cracked nearly in half.
Ghost reaches for the nail and tugs it free.
Nothing happens aside from the...the corpse slumping over further into the greenery. No shade springs forth, no orange light glows from the eye sockets.
Ghost uses the nail to nudge it a little more. There's a quiet cracking and the mask splits entirely, falling onto the ground in two halves.
They're dead. And staying that way.
Ghost sets the nail down beside the corpse and leaves.