Chapter 46

(A few days later…)

After traveling for a few days Artemis finally made it to the outskirts of the Lion Kingdom. Their land was nothing but grassland. No houses or structures standing up and not even any trees just tall grass. There was no barrier set up to separate the Lion Kingdom from the world and it made Artemis' mates nervous to have her out there in the open. The men still found a good spot to set up a camp for Artemis and got to work so that she can have a proper rest. Danny of course set up a kitchen so that he could cook for Artemis and cook for the rest of the men. Bowen got right to work taking precautions and figuring out defenses. King Maximus sent word to his spies inside the Lion Kingdom that he is there so they could meet up and discuss what's next. Lions mainly slept throughout the day and we're active at night so they spent majority of the day setting up and getting comfortable. By night time they would be ready for whatever is lurking through the tall grass hunting the Lions.

Danny currently had Artemis sitting down inside her tent and eating lunch with her grandfather King Maximus. He wanted to keep them distracted from storming through the Lion Kingdom scaring all of the Lion Beastmen. In a split moment the tranquil picnic was disrupted by small activity. King Maximus stood up to see what the commotion was about and discovered his spies being tied up and dragged towards him. "My King. We found these two Lion Beastmen sneaking around our camp!" a Wolf Beastman said bowing his head of King Maximus. "Let them go. They're our spies" King Maximus said. "Oh, okay. Right away!" the Wolf said before turning around to follow direction. "Cone my Great nephews.Tell me and your cousin the Queen what is happening in your Kingdom" King Maximus said extending a hand to help then up. "Royal Uncle!" the two Beastmen said staying on their knees. The two men were really just boys who had just reached teenage maturity. Artemis thought about her Ape cubs and how they will reach that maturity soon as well, it momentarily made her sad about leaving them behind. "Little cousins, please rise and tell us clearly. Tell us everything." Artemis said soft but firmly. "Thank you your Highness." One of the Lion Prince's said standing up straight and wiping his face. The other stood up and wiped his face as well. "It all started a while ago, your highness. Men started showing up throughout the Kingdom. We couldn't figure who or what they were but we let them stay. Then our Lioness' started going missing. Father ordered everyone to destroy any houses or buildings to keep a closer eye everyone. We originally started to gather in a huge hole underground but then we realized that we had an imposter among us down there." The Prince said without taking a breath. "Your Highness. My fathers first and second wives had short lives and I believe my own mother died suspiciously. Father decided to take in another new lioness and after she became pregnant with the next litter of royal descendants, that's when things started to get weird." Said the other Lion Prince. "That Lioness is missing as well and I think she took my father the Gold Lion King, with her." The Prince told Artemis. "Preposterous!" King Maximus spat. "Exactly. Our Kingdom is withering and our King is missing!" One of the Lion Princes said. "My King, My Queen. This problem has been brewing for a while now. We still need to see if this is related to Blackfinger because it'll be an even bigger problem." Yozar said bowing his head to them. Artemis let out a deep sigh and rubbed her forehead.

"I am getting a headache!" Artemis said shaking her head. "Calm down and calm your thoughts. We have to think this through." Danny said kneeling in front of Artemis. "Do you have any idea where the missing people could have gone? Any type of direction?" Artemis asked the Lion Princes. They both didn't say a word but just pointed to their right. "What's over that way?" Artemis asked them as she stood up. Artemis walked outside of her tent and looked to the right. She looked far out and saw nothing but grass for miles and miles. "Could you be any more specific?" she asked them sounding irritated. "Our new Queen came from that direction... A small and secluded clan of brown Lions live that way." One of the Princes said. Artemis snapped her head at Yozar and gave him a disappointed look. "They probably didn't recognize a scheme as it slapped them in the face. Did the Great Lion King not have a strategist at his side like how I have Bowen and how Grandfather has you." Artemis said furious. "The great Lion King refuses" King Maximus said sounding tired and annoyed as well. "It sound to me like the New Lion Queen has taken over the throne and is starting her a new Lion Kingdom." Artemis said. "That sounds like the most accurate conclusion out there!" King Maximus said nodding his head. "Why are these females almost always at the root of evil?" Artemis said throwing her hands up in the air. "They can be more sensible than these men with provoking havoc." Artemis said. "Sadly we will need you to take charge in this situation. Taking down a powerful female is a powerful females job." Yozar said shrugging his shoulders. "If that is sarcasm I do not want to hear it Yozar. I want to hear a plan and some strategies. I have half a mind to match through that grass and demand for my uncle back! It would be too easy." Artemis said shaking her head. "It would be quick and easy for you my Queen." Bowen said bowing his head to her. "We at least have to try to ensure the safety of the Lion King." King Maximus said. "Fine. I will just go and ask her nicely then" Artemis said in a sarcastic tone. "Tell Apollo that I will need Jenny to take the lead with me." Artemis said. "Also. Is there any other Lionesses I can use by my side? Otherwise I'd have to take men with me." Artemis asked the two Lion Princes. "Yes. There are a few…. Our two sisters." One of the Princes told her. Artemis snapped another look at Yozar and this time she spread her gazes onto the Wolf King.

"Why do I have a feeling that people have been hiding females and pulling them out at bad times like these?" Artemis asked them. "This seems like a common thing. Hide the females and demand for more. These females come out spoiled and self-righteous. Now, I have to come clean up such mess." Artemis said ranting. "That's right your highness. We will clean up this mess indeed." Said Bowen as he came into her line of sight. "You are the great White Wolf Queen. Everyone through out our Kingdom trembles at the mention of your name. Others will do the same" Yozar said bowing his head to her showing his respect. "You can do this. Calmly try asking for your uncle back. If those people wont budge then you can of course take him back by force." Danny said shrugging his shoulders. "If it is that easy then I am really stupid. I may not be a strategist but I can still think." Artemis said "You are right." Bowen replied nodding his head.

"Your Highness you called for me?" Princess Jenny asked coming forward and bowing. "Look here sister-in-law. Are you ready to do some work?" Artemis asked Jenny. "What do I have to do?" Jenny asked her excitedly. "We're going to visit the Lion Queen and get our Royal Uncle back." Artemis said to her with a sinister tone "okay. No problem." Jenny said nodding her head. "You are going to ask nicely first." Bowen said amused. "Whichever way it goes we are leaving with my uncle. Let's go at nightfall and bring some food to this Lion Queen. She is supposed to be carrying the next litter of royal Lion cubs. I don't want to have to hurt her." Artemis said pacing back and forth. "Good idea. I can prepare a basket of bread and fruits for her by then!" Danny offered. "Thank you my dear husband" Artemis said giving him a strained smile. "I am ready!" Jenny said excitedly. Artemis nodded at her and went back to pacing. "I've only been able to find a few Lioness' who are still loyal to The Lion King and are willing to follow you" a Wolf Beastman said bowing to Artemis. "Bring them in." Artemis said sitting down in her chair.

In a single filed line four women walked into the tent and stood in front of Artemis. "Hello." They all said bowing. "Do you know who we are?" King Maximus asked the Women. "You are our Lion King's brother The Wolf King Maximus." One of the ladies said bowing again. "Very good. This is my granddaughter all Artemis. Princess of the Black Wolf Kingdom and Queen of the White Wolf Kingdom. She has brought her mates here to bring my brother back home." King Maximus said gesturing towards Artemis and the three men standing behind her. They stood there and started at her, they all had a look of fear on their faces. They were definitely a few years older than Artemis and seemed mature as well. "We have lived and experienced this Lion Kingdom for most of our lives. The new Lion Queen is great competition, she is older and more calculating than others." One of the Lioness' said to Artemis who nodded her head. "Who is this Princess! How dare she demand I come out of the safety of my home and serve her?" said another one of the Lioness'. Artemis gave her a calm look as she disrespectful ranted in front of her. "You see me in person and you still don't care for me? Do you think I won't succeed in my mission?" Artemis calmly asked her. "What power does a Princess have against a Pregnant Lion Queen!" the woman yelled out. Everyone gasped and quickly stepped back forming a circle around Artemis and the four women. Some even ran out of the tent in fear. The four Lioness' remained standing in the middle facing Artemis three of them were shaking in fear only one remained standing and looking around. "Wether shes a Princess or a Queen my Artemis can take down whoever needs to go down. Even a mere prissy ignorant Lioness" King Maximus said in a threatening tone. "The ignorance is strong and high throughout this Lion Kingdom. I'll have to handle that." Artemis said holding her head high and unfazed. "This should be light work then." Artemis said standing up. "Danny. Go make your preparations so that we could head out." Artemis said to him without turning around to look. "You four ladies look tough enough to intimidate. I want to take you with me and my sister to retrieve my uncle." Artemis said to the Lioness'. "You and your families will be rewarded dearly." She added. The four ladies smiled and bowed their heads thanking Artemis. "Grandfather i'd hate to see such a promising Kingdom come to waste and either away. You will need to make sure that Uncle sees to this problem once we have him back." Artemis said to King Maximus who nodded in agreement. "You are right. He never cared too much about those things. But the Kingdom can become prosperous with some effort." King Maximus said.

"I have some more preparations of my own to make. Please go on about your business." Artemis said gesturing towards the entrance. Everyone bowed their heads and left leaving Artemis alone to her mates. Danny sat Artemis back down and massaged her hands. "I have already started the preparations for the food. Here, have a cup of wine to calm your nerves." Danny said reaching for her wooden cup. "My son has a mate from here and she acts nothing like these females. Thank Heavens!" Artemis said rubbing her forehead. "To be a Princess who is next in line for the throne in a Kingdom she has no roots, you must behave a different way." Prince Thomas said to Artemis. "In sure the same goes for an Ape Prince becoming a King Consort." Artemis said understanding his words. "I'm sure First Prince has chosen his mate wisely. He will bring make his mate very happy." Bowen said smiling. "What are you smiling so hard for?" Artemis asked him. "I am thinking about the grandchildren we will have running around the castle." Bowen said. Artemis chuckled at the silly look on his face. "Oh really! You're ready to become papa Bowen?" Artemis asked him snickering. "That's cute!" she said laughing uncontrollably. Everyone in the camp could hear her joyous laugh and she could feel everyone smiling with warmth at her happiness. "I can't wait either." Artemis said calming down. "I hope we don't spend too long here. I can't wait to get back to all of my children in the White Wolf Kingdom." Artemis said. "Yes. Yes so do I." Danny said smiling.

(Meanwhile in the Brown Lion Clan)

"My Queen. Everything is in place." A servant said bowing to Queen Indigo. "Good. Very well. Our new guests should feel welcomed to stay in our clan inside our Lion Kingdom. Queen Indigo said with a sinister smile. "They will feel welcomed alright." Said Queen Indigo's Fifth older brother Hunter. "Brother! Father would be so proud to see us taking the throne in the name of revenge for him!" Queen Indigo said happily clapping her hands. "He would be. Back then when the Lion Princess decided to stay in the Kingdom instead of running away with him he was devastated. Then her father dropped us at fathers door and abandoned us he decided to start this clan. Our step mothers were horrendous. We have suffered a lot in our childhood." Hunter said to her. "This Wolf Princess will learn a great lesson in the Lion Kingdom." Queen Indigo said tapping her fingers anxiously. "Don't worry we won't fail. I have our clan's best fighters on stand by. They won't bully us so easily." Hunter said to his sister. "And that is why you are in charge of such things dear brother." Queen Indigo said smiling. The Lion Queen stood up from her throne and caressed her bulging stomach. "My little one's. You've made it this far. We all just need to hang on for a couple more weeks to ensure someone is secured onto this throne of the Lion Kingdom." Queen Indigo said out loud. "Once I officially have these children. We can kill the Current Lion King and sit on the throne with our children." Queen Indigo said proudly.