This is inaccurate The Hive were once a "Krill" species which had a ten year lifespan, they had a war with the "Helium Drinkers" which are a race we don't know about entirely. The Osmium King, Oryx's father, had the Worm Yul in his keeping. It fed off him, and told him things. Taox, Oryx's mother didn't see any of her children fit to be heir. To be a mother you "drink the jelly" which expands your lifespan greatly. But that is also the way to decide your gender. In the Krill's culture the rulers were Kings, and therefore male/masculine. The ones who are not yet assigned to a role were referred to in a feminine sense, as daughter/sister. As I said Taox didn't see anyone fit to rule. When the Osmium King died Oryx and his sister's went into the Deep, guided by Yul, corrupted by Yul. This is when Oryx assigned himself the role of King. This is when he stopped being called sister