Chapter 21

"My Queen… My Queen… Breakfast is ready!" Danny said, tapping Artemis on the shoulder. Artemis mumbled and groaned as she tossed and turned in bed. She was curled up in her nest with plenty of furs and pillows. Her hair was fuzzy and she was bare naked. Last night was a blur. It all went by quickly. Once they all got to the chambers Danny poured everyone wine and took out a pipe for everyone to smoke from. Bowen brought in some food and more wine and Thomas went on telling Artemis about his life and what life is like in the Ape Kingdom. They were all comfortable enough to leave Artemis and Thomas alone to finish mating and now it's morning time the next day. Suddenly all five cubs barged into the room and started jumping around Artemis licking her face and arms. "What are you doing? Let me sleep!" Artemis said, turning over away from the cubs and from Danny. "They are sniffing Thomas' scent on you." Danny said to her. Artemis finally opened her eyes and lifted her marked wrist with the Ape tattoo to her nose and indeed there was a new scent. There was a hint of coconut mixed in with Danny and Bowen's scent. "How are you feeling?" Danny asked her with concern . "I'm okay, my love. Just tired" she replied. "Good, we will teach him if he steps out of line" Danny warned her.

"Any news on the Tiger Queen?'' Artemis asked, as she sat up in bed. "She has set up camp with her two armies. No movement going inside or out just preparation" Bowen said coming into the room. "If she thinks we're gonna waste the time to bargain and negotiate with her she's mistaken!" Artemis said. "She definitely means to humiliate you. She is very intimidated and is trying to prove who is bigger and better" Bowen said. "That old bitch wishes she could live in my shoes!" Artemis cursed. Artemis stood up and stretched. "Where is Thomas?" Artemis asked, looking at her wrist with Thomas' mark on it. "He had to help Little Wen with Jenny's cub's. They're all being quite naughty these days" Danny replied. "They're getting bigger and need more things to do and more space to play with," Artemis said. "They really only listen to you!" Bowen commented "sometimes you have to be firm" Artemis said shrugging. "I made you a pork steak and dug up some potatoes for breakfast," Danny said, offering Artemis her plate. "Yes!." Artemis said, accepting the plate. Artemis sat down at her table and ate her food then she got up and got dressed in heavy white furs covered with a heavy white fur cloak. The cubs were in a corner rolling around play fighting; they still needed their cloaks on too. "Christopher, Knox, Walker, Brayden and Winter! If you can't keep your cloaks on today you can stay in your room. You won't be going outside of the castle anyways so behave yourselves for the nannies and don't make messes you can't clean up!" Artemis told them. The cub's sat back and nodded and waited for her next instructions. "Let's go find your furs!" Bowen said to them, opening the door. "I'm going to go find grandfather" Artemis said watching the cubs form a single line and walk out the door with Bowen. "Do you think the cub's need their own castle just for themselves?" Artemis asked Danny sarcastically. Danny burst out laughing, "I'll work on being more firm!" Danny said, clearing his throat. "It's Princess Winter. She stands up for the boys everytime I stand up to them!" Danny said "I'll start sending Kasper in for backup! He gets through to them!" Artemis said.

The Wolf King was sitting in the dining hall having a cup of tea with the Ape King, the Bear King and Yozar. When Artemis walked in, all three of them stood and bowed in her honor. "Come sit down. We're just catching up while waiting for you, Apollo and Kapser!" The Wolf King said. At that moment Kasper and Apollo came into the dining hall as well. "Hello father," Kasper said bowing. "Hello grandfather" Apollo said bowing as well. "Come on in. We can start discussing the Tiger Queen now!" The Wolf King said "Isn't Uncle Leo going to be joining in?" Artemis asked, looking around. "He is more of an action type of guy rather than sitting and talking. He'll be around a little later." The Wolf King reassured her. "So. How do we deal with this problem!" Kasper asked, getting closer. "Too bad she is too much of a coward to challenge you directly." Yozar said, shaking his head. "Having challenges works for you men. Women are a little more complex." Artemis said to Yozar. "I say we find a battlefield and make it ours so that we can keep the fight away from the Wolf Kingdom" Artemis suggested. "Yes my Queen. Avoiding innocent lives is mandatory. We can't take another hit to our Kingdom" the Wolf King agreed. Yozar and Bowen spread a map across the table. "With the King Consorts flying and my drawing abilities I have made a map of the surrounding areas. This is where the Tiger Queen is now." Yozar said pointing in the map. There was a small town and the Tiger Queen must have been on the outskirts. "We'll have to try pushing her back out. If she lets those Snakes or those Tigers loose on even the smallest town that's a big hit. We need men surrounding the entire Kingdom and our armies could focus on driving her away from where she is holed up at now" The Ape King said. "We need to weaken her two armies. She may go running again though so we should plan to capture her. Dead or alive…" Artemis said. The three Kings nodded agreeing with her. "She would run away only to run back with another Army." Kasper said. "Dead or Alive!" Artemis said firmly. "I'm ready!" The Ape King said, standing up and throwing off his cloak. "Me too!" said the Bear King. "I'm going to consult with the Lion King. He will be happy to hear our plan of action" said the Wolf King. The three Kings gathered their armies and spread out to defend the Wolf Kingdom. Artemis and the Wolf King went out to face the Tiger Queen head on. Jenny and little Wen stayed behind with a few other females to protect the cubs but every other Beastman was outside of the castle ready to fight.

Getting to the edge of the Wolf Kingdom only took half the day and unfortunately they were half a day too late to save the small Wolf town currently being occupied by the Tiger Queen. Artemis and the Wolf King were furious. The small town was completely crushed and there were dead bodies here and there. "They must have taken half of the townspeople," Kasper said exasperated. "This is outrageous! How can this Tiger Queen be so cruel!" Bowen raged. "She will not leave this Kingdom alive!" Artemis said, pulling her cloak off. "My Queen. Let us go first! There could be a trap!" Prince Thomas said, jumping to put her cloak back on her shoulders. "It's okay my Prince. Our Queen is not the weak female you jumped in to save months ago." Kasper said to Thomas, putting a hand on his shoulder. Artemis and Apollo and Danny all shifted at the same time, Artemis of course was bigger. Kasper shifted next followed by Bowen and then the Wolf King. As Artemis walked through the town she picked up the scent of the Tiger Queen and followed her trail back outside of the Wolf Kingdom. "We're headed into an unclaimed territory. There could be Ferals here!" The Wolf King said after shapeshifting back into a human. The ground rumbled a little and Tiger Beastmen army started to march forward coming out of the rubble of destroyed houses. There were hundreds of Tiger Beastmen standing opposite Artemis and the Wolf King.

All of the Tiger Beastmen stood quietly while the Tiger Queen made her way to the front with Prince Oliver in tow. Behind them was a tall pale man with long black hair flowing down his back. His chest was chiseled and his arms were bulging. Below the waist the man did not have legs and feet but he had a long endless black snake tail that wiggled as he moved forward. "It's a shame that I'm about to fight what used to be my First Prince" the Wolf King said. "A true shame!" Prince Oliver said. "I want her head!" The Tiger Queen said, pointing at Artemis. "Come and get me yourself!" Artemis growled in Wolf form. "Protect the Queen!" Voices yelled from behind Artemis. Ape Beastmen and Bear Beastmen as well as Wolf Beastmen and Lion Beastmen stormed in and surrounded Artemis. "Protect the Queen!!" The Beastmen repeated. "Queen? What Queen is she?" The Tiger Queen said, genuinely confused. "Queen Artemis of the White Wolf Kingdom! And if anybody dares to lay a hand on her they will suffer!" The Wolf King said. The Tiger Queen scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Are you here to challenge me from one Queen to another?" The Tiger Queen asked. Artemis nodded and took a step forward. I won't be fighting you. I'm with child!" The Tiger Queen said, rubbing her flat stomach. Artemis shapeshifted back to a human and started at the Tiger Queen with disbelief. "With child, but you lead two different armies into a fight along the borders of the Wolf Kingdom?" Artemis accused. I simply don't have to do the fighting. I have mates for that." The Tiger Queen said casually, shrugging.

"Alright bitch! Do your worst!" Artemis said. Artemis was still in human form and Danny had given her a new dress to put on. Artemis came closer to the middle ground still waiting for anyone to make a move. "I'll make this easier for you. Stand back. Let your men fight for you. But my patience has run out. I will put everything I got into taking you down whether you're a pregnant captive or just another dead female" Artemis said slowly pacing back and forth. "Alright bitch! Do your worst!" The Tiger Queen said quoting Artemis. Artemis chuckled while giving the slightest head nod telling Kasper to lead their men forward. While their men charged into the waiting Tiger Beastmen, Artemis and Danny Charged after the Tiger Queen and Bowen followed behind in Eagle form. As soon as Artemis and Danny got close enough the Snake King crinkled up his perfect face putting effort into sweeping his tail at them. Danny was knocked down and Artemis jumped, avoiding being hit. Bowen screeched and flew down like lightning slamming right into the Snake King tossing them both to the ground. Artemis wanted to stop and see if Danny would be okay but she knew not to turn her back on the Tiger Queen. "I'm right here!" The Tiger Queen yelled laughing "I'm coming!" Artemis yelled back as she continued forward.

Artemis almost felt bad for wanting to hurt a pregnant female but she needed to take this one down. Artemis lounged at the Tiger Queen and took her down to the ground. "What type of Queen attacks another Queen? A pregnant one at that?" the Tiger Queen asked, laughing as she struggled with Artemis. "A smart one. One who wants to protect her people!" Artemis replied. Artemis let go of the Tiger Queen so she could hit her in the face two good times knocking her out. Artemis was happy until she suddenly heard loud hissing sounds. The Snake King's army had come! Artemis quickly found something to tie the Tiger Queen down with. "Great. Now we have to deal with Tiger Beastmen and Snake Beastmen" Artemis complained. As soon as Artemis spoke, rumbling and loud roars could be heard coming from the direction of the Wolf Kingdom. Help was coming. "Where do you think you're going with my mate, little Princess?" Prince Oliver asked her, blocking her way. "Don't make me kill you traitor!" Artemis warned him. "As if you could!" Prince Oliver said. Suddenly King Maximus jumped in between them. "Father!" Prince Oliver said immediately. "My son. If you touch my granddaughter I will kill you with my bare hands!" The Wolf King threatened. "I was your First Prince until you found out about her! I will avenge her for taking you from me. And I will avenge my mate as well!" Prince Oliver responded. "You're such a loving mate, brother! But if you make one move towards my niece I will not hesitate to end your life!" Kasper said, walking to stand in front of Artemis and the Wolf King. "Fine by me, brother!" Prince Oliver said as he took a step. Kasper jumped up in the middle of his shape shifting and launched himself at Prince Oliver and they began brutally fighting each other. Artemis began to have mixed emotions about this as she realized that this was her family fighting each other. On one hand she didn't want to lose uncle Prince Oliver this way, and on the other hand she knew a level of respect had to be restored to her family's name.