Chapter 24

(Two Months Later)

"My Queen. The frame to your castle has been finished. We are preparing to make bricks and cement and gather stones," A lead worker informed the Queen. "That is good to hear. The boys are getting even bigger and need more room to play" Artemis said, sitting down holding her swollen belly. She had been watching the cubs run around outside chasing each other with sticks in their mouths. Bowen says that next winter they should be ready to shapeshift into their human forms. "Is there anything you need? Food, supplies or Gold for food or supplies?" Artemis asked. "No My Queen, we have plenty. Our King and King Consort makes sure we have all that we need on a daily basis" he told her. "Good. I'm glad we could accommodate everyone" Artemis replied, nodding. "I won't keep you from your work any longer. Don't be afraid to let me know if anything is needed" Artemis said. "You are the busiest Queen I have ever known Ah'Xhi!" the Wolf King said coming into her cave home. "Oh papa!" Artemis said excitedly. The worker left to give them some privacy. "Hello my Princess. How are you doing these days?" The Wolf King asked Artemis. "Tired and hungry Papa. I thought I had told them that I wasn't ready for another litter right away" Artemis said exasperated. "It's okay, my love. You have less than one month left. I'm sure Little Jenny and Little Wende are feeling the same way!" The Wolf King said, rubbing her belly. "You're bringing nice and strong Ape cubs into this world. It's supposed to be hard work but it'll be worth it in the end." The Wolf King said to her. "I'm sure it will be Papa" she said relaxing. "I'm really excited for Kasper and Little Wen. They're finally gonna be parents and you're gonna be a grandpa again." Artemis said to the Wolf King. "I know. I'm excited. This whole grandpa and great grandpa thing makes me feel good." The King said.

"I originally came because I wanted to inform you that the Tiger Queen has gone into labor and is going to give birth soon. I have brought her here along with some midwives and the Little Snake King" the Wolf King told Artemis. "Okay that is great. I have another daughter on the way!" Artemis beamed perking up a little. "You really want to raise this child as your own?" The Wolf King asked Artemis, noticing her happiness. "The Tiger Queen does not want the Little Snake Princess. She wanted war. She expressed to me herself how she did not plan on rearing the child but abandoning her with the rest of her brothers. She left Prince Oliver to raise their cubs all alone. She had nothing to do with them back in the Tiger Kingdom. I regret going to see her. I already knew what she was gonna say but I guess I needed conformation" Artemis told the Wolf King. "Well. As long as the little Snake King remember's his place as your Adopted son and protects you and the Little Snake Princess. You treat him very well considering he should be a captive." The Wolf King said. "I'm sure Ezekiel has had some time to mellow out and learn more Papa. He shows me that everyday" Artemis said confidently. As long as you are safe and happy my child" the King sighed. "I will have Bowen prepare a room for the Tiger Queen and take charge of her delivery." The Wolf King told Artemis. "Okay Papa, thank you. I'm about to be a mommy again and again" Artemis said to the Wolf King. "I will gather everyone here. You stay comfortable and don't move okay" the King told Artemis, who nodded in response. Bowen and Artemis had everyone running around in a frenzy making preparations for the Tiger Queen and The Little Snake Princess. Ezekiel has prepared plenty of food for The Little Snake Princess and when he had shed a few weeks ago, he kept his old skin to make clothes and shoes for her.

Artemis waited in her family room for the Tiger Queen to give birth. She was in the room yelling and screaming at the top of her lungs to get the egg out or kill her. Finally the yelling stopped and everything went quiet, the Wolf King and Bowen came out of the room exasperated and following them was the midwife, carrying a huge egg the size of an Ostrich egg and it was bundled inside of a fur cover. "My Queen," the midwife said, presenting the egg to her. "The Tiger Queen did not make it. We had to cut the egg out of her." Bowen told Artemis. "That's too bad. I think we were finally starting to bond" Artemis said sarcastically, looking at the bundled egg with curiosity. "She shouldn't take long to hatch," Artemis told the midwife. "Yes, My Queen. I will send word as soon as she makes any movement!" the midwife said bowing. "How are you feeling, My Queen? Are the Little Ape Princes' behaving?" Bowen asked, rubbing Artemis' swollen stomach. "I'm pretty sure carrying one little girl would be way easier than carrying these boys," Artemis complained. Bowen smiled "You are the strongest Queen Mother I know, you can do this!" He said before kissing her forehead. "I wish I could trade places with you, My Queen. This will be over soon though. Hang in there okay" Thomas said, rubbing Artemis' stomach and kissing her forehead.

"Tomorrow we will go on a trip to visit the White Wolf Kingdom. I hear it's coming together pretty nice" Danny told Artemis. "Let me guess… You all don't want me to go." Artemis said. "Well yes. You can't shapeshift right now or else it'll harm the cub's you're carrying. You can't ride in the carriage for too long or else you'll get sick. My hands are tied" Danny said defenseless. Artemis sighed. "I will have Young Ezekiel and the cubs here to keep me company." Artemis said. "One of us could stay!" Danny offered but Artemis shook her head. "You guys can go. It'll make me feel worse if I make anyone stay" Artemis said. "We will try to make it as quick as possible. I promise" Bowen said to her. "I know. Just remember everything and come back and tell me what you saw" Artemis said smiling. "We will. I'm sure everyone is working hard. I'm glad the weather is finally warming up." Bowen said "Me too. The cubs love going outside to play now!" Artemis said. "I can't wait to show you the new home we're building. I think you're going to love it." Bowen said proudly. "It's a very unique castle!" Thomas said having seen the plan's for it. "I will tell you that all of our cubs will have rooms and we have two guest houses nearby for your Uncle Kasper and brother Apollo." Bowen said bragging. "The workers we have hired are very talented and determined. I'm sure other people will hire them to build their houses too." Danny commented. "That's good to hear. I hope there will be more jobs available in the future." Artemis said, nodding. "There is also a group of merchants gathering already creating a market in our White Wolf Kingdom. Maybe as people settle in more they'll post up in the market as well" Bowen said. "Okay stop talking. You're all lucky I am trying to be well behaved but I'm starting to want to see this place for myself!" Artemis said, putting her hands over her ears. "Don't worry. You'll love it how everything all comes together" Bowen said smiling.

The next morning Danny got up and cooked everyone breakfast then after cleaning up all of the men said a few goodbyes they dispersed except for Little Wen and Jenny and her cubs. "Well I guess I'm going to walk through the vegetable garden. Would you like to come?" Artemis asked the other females and the cubs. Jenny and Little Wen looked at each other and then back at Artemis. "You really look the same way you did when you were near the end of your pregnancy with the Wolf Cubs. You were unhappy and very busy" Little Wen commented. "Well look at me now. I can barely walk or I have to walk very slowly. I cannot bend down, over or squat or else I can't get myself back up. I have to wear big loose dresses all of the time!" Artemis ranted "Okay now, breathe. Calm down. This stress is not good for your health!" Little Wen encouraged. "I can't even hold or pet my cubs unless I'm laying down!" Artemis said, finally crying. "Oh don't cry, please don't cry!" Thomas said coming back into the family room. "What are you doing back here?" Artemis asked. "I make you sad. I can feel it. Danny and Bowen said to come back and make you feel better or else they'd kick my ass!" Thomas said. Little Wen and Jenny stood to the side snickering. "Take me outside!" Artemis said seriously no longer crying. "Ok My Queen. Where would you like to go?'' Thomas asked her. "To the garden to pick vegetables!" Artemis replied. Thomas pulled Artemis out of her seat and pulled her forward. "It's okay My Queen. This pregnancy is almost over." Thomas said to her. He hugged her from behind and gently lifted her belly a little. Artemis leaned back and relaxed into his arms. "Oh Thomas, that feels so good. It's like they're not even in me!" Artemis said out loud. "I'll do this as often as you'd like. I don't think you're carrying five boys again. More like three but they are kinda heavy for a female." Thomas said. You'd better be right. Having those five boys tired me out during labor" Artemis said. Thomas carefully let go of Artemis' stomach and backed away before he started to get too excited. "What are we picking vegetables for?" Thomas asked. "Danny is going to come back home and cook a big meal. We have a new baby, The Little Snake Princess!" Artemis said smiling. "Have you thought of a name for her yet?" Little Wen asked Artemis. "Not yet. Neither has Papa." Artemis said, shrugging her shoulders.