Hornet Hollow Knight Novels & Stories

The way her mother had decided things. Not asked. Not negotiated. *Decided.* Kairen recognized it. She saw him recognize it. Saw the expression move across his face— Grief and love and something that was almost a smile. Almost. "She sounds like you," he said quietly. "Yes," Luna said. "Tell me about the Hollow One." He breathed. "The Hollow One is not a being in the conventional sense," Kairen said. "Not a wolf. Not a goddess. Not anything with a fixed form or a name in the way you and I have names."

They carved toward the far tunnel, each step dragging them closer. A horn blared, deep and resonant, vibrating in the stone. The soldiers pulled back—only to part their ranks. Kaelen’s stomach turned cold. A figure stepped forward from the shadows. Not a soldier, not even fully human. Armor black as night clung to its form, helm shaped like a wolf’s skull. A greatblade rested across its shoulders, runes glowing faintly along the steel. The air itself seemed to recoil from it. Mira whispered, “A deathknight.”

The air tasted wrong—metallic and stale, like a room that hadn't been opened in a hundred years. "They're here," I said. I looked toward the entrance at the far end of the rink. Three figures stepped out . They weren't wearing hockey gear. They were wearing ragged black suits. Their skin was the color of a bruise, and their eyes were glowing with a sickly, pulsing purple light. The Hollow Ones. They didn't even howl. The first one leaped onto the ice, its claws extending six inches from its fingertips. It swiped at a defensive player, sending the boy flying into the boards with a sickening thud.

The hollow shrieked, edges flaring violently, tendrils striking unpredictably, but the lattice held, chaotic yet coherent. The ally from the crevice moved forward, releasing a surge of stabilizing energy that intertwined with the twin currents. “It will test you in ways you cannot foresee,” the figure said quietly. “The hollow is older than anything you have faced. Its hunger is intelligence and instinct combined. It will try to break you, physically, mentally, spiritually.” Kael’s eyes narrowed. “Then we stand. We adapt. Together.”

The mountain groaned. Cracks spread across every wall. The Devourer immediately rose to its feet. "Duck!" Nobody questioned it. Everyone dropped. A second later, a black tendril erupted through the floor. The thing was enormous. A twisting mass of darkness and fractured silver light. It smashed through a pillar. Wrapped around another. And crushed it effortlessly. Warriors scrambled backward. The tendril withdrew. Then another burst through. Then another. Then another. The Hollow had arrived. The First King moved instantly.

“Kill the Luna,” Harlow says. The rifles rise. Draven moves before I breathe, slamming into me, taking us both to the dirt. Bullets rip the air where my head was. “Duskbane,” Harlow shouts. “Stand down or she dies.” Draven’s body covers mine, his claws in the earth, growling. “You agreed to terms,” he snarls. “Terms changed,” Harlow says. “New intel. She’s not just Luna, she’s the Hollow Queen. The witch’s heir. We don’t negotiate with blood magic.”

Rot. Not the sharp stink of decaying flesh. Something older. Something that had lingered in darkness so long it had become part of the air itself. The horses screamed and tore free of their reins, scattering wildly across the snow. The Hollow Ones didn't react. They simply stood watching the crack grow wider. The Guardian's knuckles turned white around his staff. "What is it?" Elian never looked away from the fracture. "The Keeper." Another tremor shook the valley. Snow thundered from the cliffs in heavy sheets.

“It’s ours now.” The figure laughed. It was wet, wrong. “Then come and take it.” They raised a hand. The ground shuddered. From the shadows of the ravine, things moved. Not men. Not entirely. Their skin was pale, stretched tight over bone. Their eyes were empty, but they moved with purpose. Hollowborn. The Court’s foot soldiers. “Get ready,” Elena said. The first Hollowborn came fast. Elena met it with her blade, cutting through sinew and bone in one clean arc. It fell, but two more took its place.

Realization dawned on me that he was enjoying the violence. I hated him and I wanted to hurt him badly. I flailed my legs, unable to kick him. 'Adrianne.. I think I prefer Rianne. Catches the moment. Quite a fighter, aren't you? ' I glared into his eyes and stifled a gasp. His eyes were dead. Whoever said that eyes were the windows of the soul hadn't met this dude. His eyes were blank, lifeless and had a cruel glint in it. 'Feisty. Just the way I like it.'

"Not yet, but pretty sure they are the same ones that want me dead." "And who is that?" "Nate Hogan did this." Knight pointed at the still healing wound on his stomach. His exercise with Raven didn't help at all with his wound, which was now swollen because of the swimming they took together. "Nate Hogan..." Simon chews that name together with the tobacco leaves between his teeth, "Where do I know that name?" "Nolan and Iron." Knight grinned at Simon's puzzled face. "Nolan the Alpha and Iron the--? Ohh! Iron Hogan!" Simon exclaimed, "Wait, it was a Hogan who tried to kill you?!"