Chapter 8

It has been about four days since Kasper and Apollo went scouting for a nice cave to make a home. At this point they discovered the work Bowen had already put into it behind their backs. It was astounding. They both went to inspect the place and were happy with the progress so far. They were able to walk a pretty good distance inside and explore. There were a couple rooms dug out and it looks like he plans on doing more rooms. It was pretty obvious what the rooms were going to be. A kitchen with a partially built stove and a table inside. Three bedrooms with fireplaces and a bathroom with a toilet. Right before Kasper and Apollo were leaving Bowen showed up and knew he was busted. "I know the Princess didn't ask for me to do this but I really wanted to help somehow" Bowen said to them as they looked at him with smirks on their faces. "You and that Wolf are trying so hard. How far are you really willing to go to earn her favor?" Apollo asked the Eagle Beastman. Bowen didn't have any solid answer; he just knew he always wanted to do something to be able to get close to her. "I'd do anything to get close to her!" Bowen said with confidence. "Remember those words Eagle!" Apollo told him, nodding his head in approval. "Just stick around, okay" Kasper said to Bowen.

Kasper went back and told Grandma Shuu and she responded with a small chuckle. "That Eagle and that Wolf must have very strong feelings for my granddaughter" Grandma Shuu nodded. She was sitting at a table cleaning and cutting vegetables "It's almost as if they both are in competition with each other," Grandma Shuu also said. "I wonder what the wolf boy will do next to get the upper hand on the Eagle digging through the cave," Kasper said. "What do you mean?" Artemis asked, coming in at the end of his sentence. Kasper hesitated and looked to Grandma Shuu for help. She nodded, giving him permission to tell her. "I wanted to surprise you when I maybe had it figured out or finished but I found you the perfect home… it's exactly like you had dreamed, there is even this Eagle Beastman helping to dig through it. Then just now we were wondering what that Wolf beastman will do now" Kasper said to her. Artemis seemed to consider this information.

"Thank you uncle for going above and beyond for my comfort. I'm sorry that my suitors are making it difficult for you" Artemis said to Kasper with a hint of a smile. "As long as you end up comfortable in your own place. I don't mind the extra hands. That Eagle beastman made light work of making an opening through the cave for you" Kasper replied. Artemis rolled her eyes at her uncle and then sat at the table. "So Kasper. When do you predict the mountain will be ready?" Grandma Shuu asked. "If we really get help from that Wolf Daniel and that Eagle Beastman Bowen then it won't take us long indeed. Maybe we should just let the Eagle do all of the work. He would do it all himself just to get Artemis' attention" Kasper said sitting down as well. "Scoundrel!" Artemis said, scolding him. "That's alright now you two. Don't tease her too much, Kasper. She can have a short temper. But it is also natural for one bestsman to help another like this. It's not like the human world or the markets where you have to give something to get something" Grandma Shuu said. Artemis tried to get past the uncomfortable feeling of someone trying to gain her favor. This beastman had saved her from another Eagle beastman. Now he is trying to help build her home. In the end he still has expectations "Nana I still can't get past knowing that the Eagle beastman is doing these things because he expects to get to 'mate' with me. Do I have to mate with every beastman that comes along to help?" Artemis said. Grandma Shuu was quiet for a moment while she pondered what Artemis said. "I understand your frustrations and difficulties with this matter. How about you just worry about the wolf or the eagle until another one comes along and we'll see what he has to offer first before he's able to try wooing you" Grandma's Shuu said. "Besides, remember. Mating is just like getting married in the human world. Find a husband and settle down, Artie" Grandma Shuu added. Artemis silently disagreed in her head but nodded in response anyways. "Well it's not like theseBeastmen will ever give me a ring Nana. They just present gold, clothes and jewelry. I can get and make those things myself. Is it bad to want something with a deeper meaning?" Artemis asked with sincerity in her voice. Kasper gave Artemis a warm expression. "My dear Princess. All you have to do is speak your mind", he said to her. "How about we go practice to take your mind off everything else?" Kasper offered. Artemis knew he was trying to distract her but her mind was still on the wolf and the eagle beastman trying to be her mates. They practiced for about an hour before Jenny came and pulled Artemis away to play.

Apollo was finally on his way back home from his little mission he snuck off to accomplish.He had collected a few gold nuggets and went out to buy a carriage for Artemis. Alk he had to do would be to get two Bisons to pull the carriage and Artemis would be able to get around without walking everywhere. "Are you taking Artemis somewhere with that thing?" Danny jumped out of the trees and asked Apollo pointing to the present. "Just because you want my sister doesn't mean you can mind her business" Apollo snapped at him. "I'm sorry, Prince Apollo. I just wanted to know," Danny replied with a certain innocence in his tone. "You need to be careful. You twon beastmen want my sister already and she doesn't even leave the house" Apollo warned "imagine how it would go if we really took her out to explore around, I actually planned on taking her through the market soon too!" Apollo added frightening Danny. "Please, please don't take her out there yet. I have yet to win her over and if the other males see her my chances will become less in my favor. I want another chance to see her again." Danny pleaded. "You see her all of the time. You watch her thinking we don't notice. This type of behavior is suspicious and it scares her" Apollo said to Danny. "I can't help it…l" Danny said scratching his head "I keep thinking about her and everything she does. She even fights better than me" Danny confessed. Apollo was creeped out but he also felt bad for this poor wolf. Even an Eagle is taking his chances to court Artemis.

Apollo realised that threatening Danny to let other males meet Artemis was a low blow and he didn't like the sound of it himself either. "Look…. If i give you a few pointers you better put them to good use and not waste my efforts. At the very least Artemis needs a wolf mate" Apollo said to Danny trying to think of how he can help the wolf out. "Artemis knows everything a male knows. She cooks, cleans and she can fight. She doesn't really need you. You have to make sure she needs you otherwise she won't even look your way." Apollo said. "Can you teach me how to fight like her then?" Danny asked optimistically "She will be able to recognize her own moves in you. It's risky but it's worth a shot at least you will know how to fight better" Apollo said thinking it through. "Ok lets go" Apollo said, setting down Artemis' present and walking away from it. "You're just gonna leave that there?" Danny asked. "My Grandfather has people watching everywhere. They can't get far stealing the Princess's things" Apollo said with a sinister grin sending a stone cold chill up Danny's spine. Danny and Apollo went far away to the other side of Wolf City to practice together. Danny was ecstatic and showed it with no shame. "Hey, since the King paid me in gold I have been going around doing work for the old people on their farms and they pay me more gold nuggets everyday. When you go to the market she will have lots of gold!" Danny said to Apollo. "I honestly don't think she would even care about them. But keep them safe for rainy days".

(One Week Later)

Danny and Apollo practiced for only a couple of days and Danny's skills improved a lot. Apollo was impressed. Danny already knows what times Artemis goes out to practice now he just needs to show up and show her what he's made of. Danny couldn't wait for that to happen. He's been making more clothes and jewelry for her. He wanted to move from making simple jewelry to making exquisite pieces for her, ones worthy of a Princess. On the other hand Bowen managed to make it back to the mountain to do some more digging. He convinced his father to let him dig at night and study during the day. Bowen thought about it so much he was sure he had a clear image in his mind of what Artemis wanted. A week had gone by and he was almost done digging through. She would only need to decorate the place with furniture and torches. Bowen smiled as he admired his hard work. Kasper sat back and watched it all fall into play. His mother tasked him with overseeing all of Artemis' affairs. If either the Eagle or the Wolf Beastmen fail he won't give them another chance.