Well, I've been waiting for soooooo many people to update their stories… So why not continue my own?

:)

Here it is.

Two

Eavesdropping

The next few days were boring for Hunter. He was confined to bed. Bleh. Corona and Aqune's attempts to magically heal him had failed. The power of the Oracle was weak at the moment.

Hunter, however, now felt fine. When he was finally allowed to leave, he ran away without looking back. He and Shadow rushed outside.

"Ah, fresh air!" the spider exclaimed.

"Hey, you could've gone outside without me," Hunter said. Shadow huffed. He really didn't want to leave his rider's side when he was injured.

What a nice 'bromance'.

Sparkle was outside too, playing with Hotarla.

"Hunter!" she squeaked when she saw him.

"Sparkle! Wha'ch'ya doing?"

"Hortala and I are playing tag. You wanna join?" the little princess asked.

"Of course!"

Sparkle was 'it', and Hunter and the two spiders ran. The princess almost caught Hunter, when he stopped abruptly.

"Hunter?" Sparkle asked, as she almost bumped into him.

Shadow turned a wary head towards the humans.

"Sparkle! Get into the castle immediately!"

The princess followed Shadow and Hortala in. Hunter pursued them swiftly.

"I'll be back," the rider said.

Hunter went to find Prince Lumen.

"Lumen!" The prince was didn't stir from his nap.

"Noia…" he mumbled. Hunter sighed and shook the Lumen awake.

"Hunter. This better be important," the prince said, disgruntled.

"Lumen. The Invectids are coming!" Hunter exclaimed.

"W-what? How do you know?" Lumen's eyes widened.

"It doesn't matter. Trust me." The prince gave the rider a long, hard look.

"Very well. I believe you." This made Hunter sigh in relief.

Soon, everyone was alerted. Thanks to Hunter's prior warning, the citizens had enough time to hide and prepare. Sparkle was ushered into a secured room with Grasshop, who had finally gotten the hand of "Cat's Cradle".

The Spider Riders got together in the dining area. Everyone was preparing themselves for a battle.

"Sir," Igneous addressed Lumen. "How do we know the Invectids are going to attack?"

"Well, Hunter was the one that told me," Expectant eyes were laid on said person.

"Hunter, how would you know that?" Magma asked.

"Well… it's kinda like how I knew the Oracle was hurt. I… just had a feeling," he finished awkwardly.

"So everybody is freaking out because your gut said so?" Magma asked.

"Well," Corona said, gazing out the window. "It's not just a gut feeling now…"

The other riders joined her at the window. The sight was unfortunate.

"Invectids," Aqune whispered.

-ooo-

Bugese was at the head of the attack. Battle beetles thundered behind him. Invectid warriors trailed after. Beerain was in the sky, along with other levitating fighting machines.

Their group was huge. Never, had so many war forces all come at once to the Arachna Castle. The odds were definitely not in the favor of the humans.

"I'm gonna get a closer look," Hunter said, before anyone could stop him. Hunter rushed outside.

"Shadow, spider out!" The giant arachnid that had been previously put in the manacle was now summoned by his rider.

"Arachna power!" Hunter said. He was engulfed in a light. When it faded, armor replaced his regular clothes. He was ready, should any Invectid or otherwise attacked.

Hunter snuck up to near where Bugese was marching, concealed by vegetation. A young Invectid soldier was conversing with him.

"Sir, are you sure the plan will work?"

"Of course," the leader said confidently. "The Spider Riders will fail without Hunter Steele, holder of the keys. Well, at least three of them."

Hunter gasped. Three keys? He reached into his pocket. Bugese was right. There were only three Oracle Keys.

"I bet he hasn't noticed we took one of them," Bugese continued. "And we shall take the rest when he falls."

Hunter wasn't planning to fall any time soon. Especially not into the cold clutches of Mantid, but Bugese confused him a little. What plan?

Bugese laughed. "How little the Oracle knows… Her own power will defeat her…"

-ooo-

Hunter returned to the other riders. They all listened carefully to his discoveries about the attack. They were as confused as he was.

Then a rumble shook the castle.

I'm probably gonna post the next chapter later today…