Similar to Lurien, Xero is also a Hollownest immigrant. He arrived with his mother when he was just a grub. Unfortunately, the trip across the wastes greatly weakened her, as she gave most of their limited food and medical supplies to her child to make sure he would survive. His mother literally collapsed at the entrance of Dirtmouth and was found by a moth couple. Though they did their best to save her, she passed on mere days after arriving. The couple then took in her young son and raised him as their own, no differently than any member of the moth tribe.
Xero’s parents, based on his mother’s appearance, initially believed that he was some species of ant. When he ended up sprouting wings, however, they began to theorize that he was some type of hybrid, which could explain why his mother was alone and not safe with her colony (I head cannon that though there are some ant colonies who may allow other members outside of the queen to reproduce, they DO NOT allow breeding with outside species). In truth, Xero is a type of wasp known as a red velvet ant or cow killer ant. The females are wingless and can be mistaken for ants and only the females have a stinger, so no cool stinger for Xero.
Though Xero’s parents initially kept more to their tribes old traditions, they were not as strict or as inflexible as many of the members of the traditionalist faction. Initially, their alignment fell between the traditional and neutral factions. Due to this, Xero’s closest friend growing up was Markoth, whose own mother was firmly in the neutral faction of the Moth Tribe. However, as time past, the zealotry and conservatism of the Traditionalists increased, which began making life very difficulty for Xero as he was not a moth, for all he was raised in and practiced their traditions. Unwilling to see their son suffer from this prejudice, Xero’s parents switched over to the reformist faction of the Moth Tribe, abandoning their former religion and culture for that of Hollownest’s.
Though Xero and Markoth continued their friendship, it began to become more and more strained as they reached adulthood. Xero, like many of the Traditionalists and Reformists, grew frustrated with the Neutrals not picking a side, seeing this as a weakness of character. They still consider each other friends, but Xero and Markoth are much more distant from each other now.
Xero currently serves as a knight for the Pale King and he aspire’s to become a member of the Great Knights. This is something he is closer to achieving than he realizes, due to his exemplary service and prodigious skill. However, though he buries it deep within him, Xero resents the prejudice his parents have suffered (though they try to hide it from him) and also feels bitter about being forced to abandon the traditions and culture he was raised in.
Below is a picture of Xero’s species:
