The knight from HollowKnigh, the game hornet was first seen in, is their half brother. She is a boss battle however later in the game she helps the knight kill the hollow knight. She fights with a needle and is the daughter of the Pale King and Herrah the Beast. She was born as a bargaining chip for her mother and as such did not spend much time with her. Hornet survived the Infection and the fall of the kingdom. She wanders its ruins, chasing off travelers who would seek to desecrate them.
When we find her in SilkSong much time passed and she is already captured by unnamed bugs and brought to Pharloom. In the begining of Act 1 she escapes her captors and falls down into Moss Grotto. She later learns her captors were followers of the Citadel. The Citadel is a religious institution located at Pharloom's summit and is a supposedly holy place. As Hornet explores she notices that much of Pharloom is choked by silk that ensnare and appear to drive people to madness. She believes that her own ability to produce silk is the reason why the bugs tried to kidnap her. In Deep Docks Hornet encounters Lace. Lace is hornet's rival whose goal is to prevent Hornet from ascending to the top of the Citadel. finally after ringing five bells across Pharloom, Hornet defeats the Last Judge and gains entry to the Citadel.
After entering the Citadel Hornet falls into the Underworks. There Hornet encounters three statues of the Conductors who tell her to learn the threefold melody. After Hornet learns the melody and plays it for the statues. The statues bring Hornet to a second battle with Lace. After being defeated Lance grants Hornet entry to the Cradle, where the source of the Haunting is located, the Grand Mother Slik. After defeating the Grand Mother, Hornet binds with her body and becomes the new Weaver Queen.
Upon meeting certain conditions the story progresses further. If Hornet defeats the Grand Mother Silk after this, Hornet will instead into the Abyss, beginning Act III. Hornet descends to Grand Mother Silk's prison. There she fights Lost Lace, who got corrupted by the Void. Hornet is able to purify her corruption, and the imprisoned Grand Mother Silk grants the last of her power for Lace and Hornet to escape, but it is not enough to return to the surface. The knight from the first game intervenes and carries Hornet and Lace to the surface, saving them and ending the game.