Chapter 29

Six Months Later)

"Mother… Mother" A little voice said, waking Artemis out of her nap. Artemis opened her eyes and groaned and stretched herself awake. Her youngest cub, the White Ape Princess and the Little Snake Princess Eden, were standing in front of her looking bored and upset. "Everyone left me and the Ape cubs to go off and have fun Mommy" the Little Snake Princess said. Hearing the Little Snake Princess' voice made Artemis' heart melt. She had just begun talking and she did it so fluently. Her older Snake brother Ezekiel must be working hard to teach her well. Soon the Ape cubs will be shapeshifting and talking too. "Oh baby, they will come back. Did they say where they were going?" Artemis said, holding her arms open for the Princess. The little Ape Princess shook her head no and climbed into her mother's arms. "That's okay. Like I said they will come back. We can find our own fun to get into" Artemis said, hugging the Princesses. "I warmed up your lunch and brought you a tub of water like daddy Danny does." Princess Eden told her. Artemis patted the Princess's head and smiled. "We can spend some time looking after the baby foxes in their barn today," Artemis suggested. The Snake Princess and all of the Ape cubs nodded their heads in sync.

Meanwhile Danny, Thomas, Bowen ,Ezekiel and the rest of the Cubs were off half a day's walk away into the forest on a secret hunting party. Danny had Promised the Wolf cubs that he would take them to hunt down a rare huge bird called an Ostrich. The little Wolf Princess Winter was infatuated with eggs and wanted to try an Ostrich's Egg since she'd heard that they were so big. Winter was all too excited for such a challenging task while her brothers were weary and disappointed. "Winter, next time we get a free pass to do whatever we want, how about we vote on something we all want to do? I can grab an Ostrich egg in my sleep!" Walker said, complaining. "Walker mind your manners to your little sister" Thomas warned him. "Little? But she is the same age as I am!" Walker commented. "Walker, your mother would not be happy to hear you chastising your sister like this. Behave!" Danny warned him. Walker let out a sigh but said nothing else because he knew his mother would pop him upside his head for being too hot headed. "Maybe we can come up with a special mission for just you boys. How about that?" Bowen offered to even the playing field. The Wolf Prince's agreed excitedly "be careful. She might not like that neither" Thomas replied. "I will deal with that when the time comes," Bowen said, sure of himself. "You do know what you'll have to do for her to let you go take them hunting again after we kept this a secret?" Danny implied referring to Bowens abstinence with Artemis. Bowen was quiet at first but then he nodded his head. "If I have to then I will do what my Queen demands of me" he said sure of himself again, Danny and Thomas responded with a burst of laughter while the children were all clueless. "Look daddy look!" Princess Winter said jumping up and down and pointing up ahead. There was one single Ostrich sitting on its nest not bothering anybody all of the sudden, Prince Walker rushed forward and growled, scaring off the huge bird. "Walker! I wanted to do that!" Princess Winter cried. "Don't worry. The most dangerous part is collecting the eggs before the mother comes back. Here use my basket" Prince Christopher said, offering her his woven basket. "Thank you Chris!" Princess Winter said as she stopped crying. "Here you go. Stop being such a jerk" Prince Christopher said, popping Prince Walker upside his head. The two Prince's started a round of chasing each other and fighting and ran off leaving the others.

Princess Winter collected three huge Ostrich eggs and happily carried them over to show her three fathers. "Look at this. I grabbed them all!" She said excitedly. "Good job little one" Thomas smiled rubbing her head "Do you want to go find some more?" Danny asked the Princess, rubbing her head next. "No. I'm ready to go home and have lunch!" Princess Winter announced. "Good idea" Danny nodded. Bowen stood up straight when he realized that Christopher and Walker were still gone, he began looking around and calling out for them. "Boys!" Bowen called out. "Boys!" He called again when he didn't get a reply. That's when his instincts kicked in and he became very alert. "Something's wrong" he said out loud before sniffing the air "Christopher and Walker!" Danny called out with no reply. "This way" Bowen said, turning and running off into the direction that the two boys ran off in. "Oh no. Artemis is really going to be pissed now!" Danny said, running after Bowen. "Thomas. Keep the rest of the children near you at all times!" Danny instructed him. Thomas nodded and then shapeshifted into an Ape for better protection. Artemis was back in her castle with the Ape cubs singing to them when she suddenly felt a tingly feeling in the back of her head. She automatically knew that something was wrong but she did not know what it was. She focused on the feeling and her powers did the rest of the work. Her cubs were in danger and they were scared. Artemis didn't even stand up and announced that she was leaving; she instantly disappeared into the thin air leaving the little Ape cubs speechless. Artemis then reappeared a few feet ahead of her mates and right on the tail of her two boys. Artemis was furious when she reappeared. She landed on the ground like a thunder clap. Four men were dragging Christopher and Walker away while they fought and struggled. "Let my son's go!" Artemis demanded in a deep powerful voice. Making everyone freeze in their tracks. "My Queen!" Bowen said catching up to her. "It was an accident. They went off too far!" Thomas said after he caught up as well. Danny came up and ignored Artemis; he looked straight at the men holding the boys. "Let our Prince's go right now!" Danny demanded in the same tone as Artemis. Danny's voice got the men's attention and they stopped and turned to look at him. "We'll trade him for the two females," the man said, pointing at Artemis. "Not happening," Danny said. "Maybe you acted like you didn't hear me the first time. Let me say it one more time" Artemis said calmly, looking straight ahead. Danny shapeshifted into his wolf and Bowen shapeshifted into his eagle. "Get your hands off of my sons or you will die right here" Artemis said, her staph appeared in her hand at her side making her look dangerous. The four Guards that were on standby finally caught up to them and were furious with the men holding onto the White Wolf Prince's.

"You heard the Queen and King of the White Wolf Kingdom. Undhand the Prince's immediately!" One of the guards said. The guard stayed in human form while the other three shapeshifted as well. There were two White Wolf Beastmen, a Bear Beastman and an Ape Beastman. Artemis' side looked very intimidating and despite her being a female she was also a Queen. The men dropped the two princes' Christopher and Walker and they ran over to their mothers side. "You dare kidnap two Princes'?" Danny roared "they would make fine soldiers in our Silver Wolf Kingdom. And your Queen and Princess are young and healthy. They would give us plenty of cubs!" One of the men said to Danny. Those words made Danny and Bowen lose it. They both charged forward and attacked the men standing across from Artemis. The guards stood closer to the fighting in between that and Artemis. "Mother, I'm sorry I wasn't more careful. But those men were so quick I didn't even have time to react!" Christopher confessed holding onto Artemis' arm. "It's okay honey. Mommy is never too far behind, always remember that." Artemis said, patting Christopher's head. Thomas came over with the rest of the Wolf cubs making sure everything was okay. "Shame on you all. You only brought four guards on a hunting trip with my children. We are not too familiar with this area!" Artemis said, chastising her mates. "It was my idea mommy. I wanted to see an Ostrich up close and take its eggs." Princess Winter said, defending her fathers. Artemis was furious and even sweet Princess Winter could talk her down. "You should still know better. Your brothers were almost abducted! Do I have to keep us all locked inside of that castle? Do you want to be banned from leaving the castle grounds?" Artemis went on. Princess Winter was shocked and hurt that her mother went off on her like that. But then she realized that she possibly could have lost her two brothers forever to those men. The Princess burst out crying and ran up to Christoper and Walker pulling them both into a tight hug. "I don't want to lose any of you. I'm so sorry!" Princess Winter wailed. "Exactly. Now let's get back home before more trouble finds us!" Artemis said, leading the way back home to the castle.

Danny and Bowen finished up with the two kidnappers and then cleaned off in the nearest pond. Everyone got back home and did not say a word or make a single sound afraid that Artemis would go off again and she did. This time she went on about a new threat and unknown enemies. "Who the hell is the Silver Wolf Kingdom anyways! Yozar!!" Artemis yelled as she paced back and forth. Finally Yozar appeared in front of her with her grandfather Wolf King Maximus. "What took you so long!" Artemis fumed. "I had to make sure I came with some help, my Queen." Yozar said formally bowing. "My children were almost abducted today, by two beasts from the Silver Wolf Kingdom. You said we are in an unoccupied land so I let them build a castle but now I find out I have hostile neighbors nearby!" Artemis yelled. Wolf King Maximus changed his whole demeanor from confused to angry. "What Wolf put their dirty paws on my Grandchildren and upset my most precious Granddaughter?" King Maximus roared. "They said that they were from the Silver Wolf Kingdom and they refused to acknowledge me because I am a female. Then they said that me and Princess Winter would be great baby makers for them" Artemis said to her grandfather. "I will rip them to shreds!" King Maximus roared. "We already did" Danny said, nodding his head. "I expect nothing less of you. I tolerate no disrespect towards my bloodline" King Maximus said, calming down a little. "There is no such place as a Silver Wolf Kingdom. They are a tribe of feral beasts. They have been displaced from a proper kingdom and ruler so they live in caves. They must have recently built a nest nearby." Yozar said to Artemis and King Maximus. Artemis sat down in a chair completely bewildered. "Papa, how could a tribe of feral Beastmen make a nest in my Kingdom?" Artemis asked him. "Don't you worry yourself anymore my Princess. I will work with your mates and uncles to figure this out." King Maximus said, rubbing her shoulder and nodding his head. "My boys must have been so scared Papa. I could feel their panic in my chest as if it were my own!" Artemis said painfully. "As Beastmen, we are connected to our loved ones that way. It's a blessing and a curse but you were able to get to them immediately and save them so you shouldn't get too upset anymore. I will handle the rest of the dirty work" the Wolf King said. Artemis nodded and sat down in her chair. "Now that I've seen you I need to go see my grandchildren and have a nice talk with them" The Wolf King said kissing Artemis on her forehead.

Artemis stood all alone in the huge room. She suddenly felt little and helpless and began to feel goosebumps all over. This overwhelming fear to protect her children just would not go away. With time and the more children she has the fear only gets worse and worse. "What's wrong?" A deep concerned voice asked from behind her. Artemis turned around and found Bowen entering the room. "I don't know. Who are the Silver Wolf Beastmen and why did they make a nest here when I became Queen and built a Kingdom?" Artemis asked him. Bowen slowly walked over and embraced Artemis into a tight hug. Then he pulled back just a little so that he could put his huge hand over her heart. "I've never felt you so scared before. I don't like it. It makes me angry for you" Bowen told her. "Scared?" Artemis asked him. "You have so much love for the children that it scares you. They need to grow faster so that they can take care of themselves and you wouldn't have to worry so hard" Bowen told Artemis. "No. I think I'll always love them this much. Our children are the most precious innocent little things. They are fragile at first and then they do get bigger but so does my love for them" Artemis said. "You are right. I still don't like the way loving them upsets you" Bowen said firmly. Instead of getting offended Artrmis chuckled. "Maybe you would understand a little bit more if we could hatch a few eggs" Artemis suggested. "No. But if you're craving intimacy then I can call in the King or other King Consort, and even brew you some tea" Bowen said unphased. Artemis shook her head and then pushed Bowen away from her. "You know what. I'm going back to sleep until dinner time. Make sure my children are safe. And I want you to run me a bath when I wake up!" Artemis demanded angrily. "I'm sorry to upset you my Queen. Just..just" Bowen pleaded, reaching out for her. "Just what? You don't like me? Do I disgust you? Am I no longer attractive after having cubs for other males" Artemis cried "No" Bowen said firmly "I feel like you don't love me and you don't love my other mates and you don't love our children as well. Are you just here for a place to eat and sleep?" Artemis demanded, crying still. "No it's not that. I love you all I promise! I just!" "STOP with the excuses. Just go away!" Artemis yelled, jumping into her nest and covering her entire body with furs. "Ah'Xhi don't be too angry. I love you all with every fiber in my body. I have no desire for any offspring or intimacy right now just love and protection" Bowen explained "GO AWAY!" Artemis yelled from under the furs "And don't call me Ah'Xhi. Only Papa calls me that!" She added.