The Trapsmith

The best help you would be to anyone right now is to merely focus on recollecting your team's belongings and getting it back to them. Perhaps there would even be something of use to help free them. Welcoming your party's gear in a big sweep over your shoulder, you carry the large bag against your back and stow the orange bandana into one of its pockets. You're going to get out of this place, and ensure none of this 'Golden Hive' profits off of you.

You head to the only exit with more than you expected to find or do in this room. Promptly, it was good that you did; the map Hex had given you was also amongst your things, and would be necessary to find out where you may have been taken. Who knows how far the Hive is from your destination, or from where you had been taken from. Hopefully the map would provide a way to still meet back up with the frog, assuming he hadn't already beaten you there by now considering the daylight you likely lost. Things are finally going your way now, that is...until the door you were heading to begins to open on its own. Your eyes shrink and your tail straightens out.

Oh no.

Immediately, you squat down behind one of the workshop desks as the sound of stiletto-like steps filter through. To your ears, it only sounded like a single individual, but the steps were oddly light. A female voice sighs aloud as she carries a net of apples to her side, "Hmph, damn those scouts...but good afternoon my dearies, your loving caretaker has returned~" Her disgruntled tone was delighted to revise itself when she turns to the three bound individuals.

From your end, you could see a pair of yellow and purple striped legs saunter to the bound trio. The hide of the legs' texture was similar to Razz's own; glossy sleek armor that was oddly but naturally smooth. The stiletto-like ends of the limbs trace up to a curvy red body, meeting arms to be the same striped way as her lower-half. Red breasts bob at her chest with vivid magenta eyes soaking in her prizes, complete with a silver horn at the center of her forehead. Equally silver mandible fangs conceal her mouth, but it was obvious she was glad now to be reunited with the held captives. You swallow, eyeing the large spider abdomen that bobs with her steps behind her that likely weaved the strong silk fibers you've seen strewn about the workshop. You now understand Razz's concern before. This is Valentina.

The Ariados doesn't seem to look in your direction just yet though, approaching the three other men to set her net of apples down as they spill out over at a table. "I've got something to liven your spirits. Apples, these one's sweet and not sour this time~! I hope you all got your rest and didn't miss your mistress too much...~" She coos when pulling out a knife from a drawer. A harsh tingle goes down your back as she brandishes it playfully, gently sliding its flat side along the hip of the portly Excadrill. Her fingers collect to the mole's chin and lifts his groggy head, inspecting his face. "Hmhmhhmm...still sleepy from my toxins? Be thankful I let any of you sleep at all to get your beauty rest. You won't be getting much of it if the Queen decides you're fit for the Breeding Halls~"

The What Halls...?!

The red spider woman gives a spank to the mole's hip with the knife and simply retracts it away, instead letting her other hand trickle down his front and slide her fingertips along his half-erect dick. She steps to the side and grips an apple to simply begin cutting the fruit apart casually, chopping them into edible slices. "Mmhh, but for that, you need to be fed. And believe your mistress when she says this, you'll regret wanting something other than what I give you, especially when it's sweet. You don't want to be **** to live off of the Hive's honey day after day after day~" Valentina murmurs the last few words with every loud snap of the knife to the surface of the table. "Or maybe you'll be like some of the men who do. Though, I'd hardly call them men at that point. A heart still beats, but the mind lacks any real thought; they're cocks to ride and milk, they just happen to have a body with it~"

This Ariados was off her rocker. Her mother-knows-best attitude was a bit much for you when it came to the entrapped men meant as either future food, or a future resource to grow the Hive's numbers. No way were you gonna toil around to find out which fate you'd be picked as. It's time to get out of here while she's busy.

Looking ahead, there's a bookcase near the door exit that can act as a final length of cover before you reach safety. Rushing might just alert her to chase you down, so you'd have to check the coast to be clear first after reaching your next hiding spot. Taking a last look of the spider's back turned to you, you strain yourself up with the bag in hand and creep towards the bookcase. You do what you can to not jostle any of the contents slung inside and gently set your paws down, one after the other, until you safely sidle up next to the bookcase.

Another check on the Ariados presents you with the sight of her slowly poking in the small apple slices she made into each of the men's mouths, ensuring they reflexively swallow the food in their throat before going to the next. "Oh and for you big guy..." Valentina murmurs to the Machamp while gliding a hand over one of his broad pecs. "For you, I found some extra protein, complementary from other lost men in the woods. They won't be needing it anymore, because-" She turns to where you had found your team's belongings, and her sentence pauses. A scanning glance of the room has the spider woman simply drift her fingers off the muscled captive to slowly pivot in place.

You tuck your head back against the wall to end your peek, but the jig may have been up. Her voice rings out loudly as she suddenly slings the knife forward to yell, "-they're a naughty bunch!"

The blade whisks by, almost cutting your nose from how close it was before stabbing into the exit door. Your heart skips a beat from almost losing your snout and your shoulder reflexively lets the shouldered bag slump to the ground.

Shit.

Knowing she'd just chase you down and alert the Hive, you have to take care of her before continuing. Quickly, you skid out from the cover and ready both of your palms off at your side, surging your aura together. The blue light emits around your figure, burning with embers while you center a sphere of it all to blast her with. Unfortunately, she was standing in front of the three captives still. Blasting her might harm them, let alone if she dodges out of the way. A growl threatens out of your gnashed teeth as you simply keep the built-up aura steady in your forepaws until she makes a move.

"...Ooh~?" The Ariados' eyes brighten and she cups one of her cheeks. "...I had heard they captured a Lucario, but I didn't think one would ever just stumble into my web. I hope the bag you took was worth it, little dog..." She coos when slowly beginning to saunter forward, reaching a hand along one of her worktables. From it, she collects a wide spool of strengthened silk rope, only to unleash the entire thing with a loud crack! The length snaps the air harshly, revealing to be a long whip. "I'll be getting a mangy mutt like you on a proper leash."

You snarl. This wasn't going to be easy...