Chapter 28

"Come on children. Today is the first day of school!" Thomas announced, trying to rush them all to get ready. "Is the school hut finished already?" Artemis asked Thomas surprised. "Yes. A few families will be coming by to look at it and send their cubs to learn with me" Thomas said proudly. "That's great Thomas! I'm sure your students will love you and learn a lot from you!" Artemis said. "Me and the children will be gone all day except for lunch time. Will you be okay?" Thomas asked. "Yes I'm sure I will find plenty of things to do to keep me busy. Don't worry about me." Artemis said. "Don't worry about traveling all the way back home for lunch. I will come to the school and build a cooking hut and cook lunch snacks for all of the children!" Danny informed Thomas. "That is wonderful!" Artemis beamed happily. "We should definitely provide food for these children if they will be in our care for the whole day!" Artemis pointed out. Thomas nodded and went back to gathering the children. Artemis watched it all. First the Wolf cubs finally got up and got dressed in their fur skirts and dresses. Then they helped wake the Ape Cubs up and get them dressed as well. Ezekiel and Princess Eden were getting up and getting ready too. The Ape cubs were more wild and unruly than the Wolf cubs were as babies. Thomas had to step in multiple times and use his beastly voice to get the Ape cubs under control. "Don't make your Queen Mother come in and see you guys acting like this!" Thomas would remind them. Once all of Artemis' cubs were up and ready to go Thomas took them on a trip into the Kingdom to the school hut where they would meet up with Jenny and Little Wen's cubs and plenty of other cubs new to the White Wolf Kingdom. In a matter of almost two years since Artemis came into the Beastworld dozens of cubs have been born in every Kingdom. Yozar and Wolf King Maximus tell Artemis it is her mere presence in this world that has shifted the tides and given females the ability to have cubs again. Artemis didn't believe it but she planned to stop by the school to see for herself the all of the cubs gathered there.

"Bowen. Do you think I really made it possible for people to have cubs again?" Artemis asked, stopping him in his tracks. Bowen looked admirably at her as he thought about it. "We all know you are powerful, my Queen. That alone is a good enough explanation to make me believe that theory." Bowen said to her. "It is a beautiful thing though, all of these people coming together and creating life. I don't mind that it is happening like this but I don't want to take credit for it." Artemis confessed. "Don't think too much about it. It's just a beautiful thing that is happening for people who really need it to happen. You and I both have ready the books about the droughts and famine and barren times. It was dark and ugly, but now things are looking bright and beautiful" Bowen said, rubbing her arm. "I'll listen to you this time." Artemis said. "What will you be doing today?" She asked him to change the subject. "Meeting with some more Eagle Beastmen and then going out for fly patrols" he told her. "Interesting . Why are so many Eagle Beastmen joining our Kingdom?" She asked him. "Good question. But there's a simple yet disappointing answer. Those Beastmen are not the type of males who have a preference in women. You are indeed a Queen and if they could they'd still pursue you. But they understand that you have plenty of mates around you so they're chances are slim to none. They are now pursuing other females." Bowen explained to her. "Would you have pursued another female if I did not mate with you?" Artemis quickly offended. "No!" Bowen said sharply. "I knew I wanted you and only you. I honestly would have gone mad and feral or suicidal even." Bowen confessed. "Oh, okay. I'm glad I didn't reject you. I'm even more happy that you stayed patient but persistent" Artemis said to him. "Me too. You have made me the happiest man alive" Bowen said. "Wouldn't you be even happier if you have cubs of your own with the love of your life?" Artemis asked him. "I already am the happiest I'll ever be," Bowen said firmly. Artemis chuckled. Everytime she mentions having cubs with him it makes him uncomfortable and she can't figure out why but she does take joy in his reactions. "I'm just picking at you dear" Artemis said amused. "I know," Bowen said, nodding his head. "I shall get going now. Be safe today" Bowen said before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

Artemis was almost all alone and she didn't like how uncomfortable she felt. She didn't want to follow behind Danny because she might be a distraction to him so she decided to go find Jenny and Little Wen. They surely could find something to do together. Artemis got herself washed up and dressed and then snuck off to find Jenny and Little Wen. Both of them were in Jenny's living quarters. "Oh great. Both of you are here. Saves me from making another trip through the castle" Artemis said, putting her hands on her hips and looking between the two. "Exactly. We were just talking about coming over to see you" Jenny replied. "Okay. So what are we doing today?" She asked them. "Taking a tour. One of my mates and one of Jenny's mates are with Thomas and Kasper is with the Army, so that leaves us with Apollo as our nanny for the day" Little Wen said. Artemis rolled her eyes. She was tempted to trade Apollo for Kasper for the day but she let it be. "A tour sounds perfect," Artemis said smiling. "Yes. I love seeing everything come together" Jenny said, clapping her hands together. "I can't believe we have Wolf Cubs walking around in human form!" Jenny said to Artemis excitedly. "Me neither," Artemis said smiling. "By next year they'll be big enough to start looking for their own mates'" Little Wen said, nodding her head. "What?" Artemis asked, shocked. Little Wen nodded again. "They're growing and maturing right on time, you'll see" she replied. "Oh I'm not ready for that discussion" Artemis said, shaking her head no. "Me neither" Jenny said, shaking her head as well. "That's okay, we don't have to talk about it. It's better to watch them grow anyways" Little Wen smiled. "Shall I call the carriage now?" Little Wen asked, trying to change the subject. "Carriage? I'd prefer to walk after having so many cubs, it's good exercise!" Artemis said, patting her stomach. "Our mates would hate to hear us say these things about our weight" Jenny commented. "That's okay. They would have to just suck it up elthen." Artemis said, sticking her nose in the air.

Artemis, Jenny and Little Wen accompanied by Apollo left the castle with four other guards. The center of the Kingdom was not too far and it took them little time and effort to get there. Once they wandered into town they saw people everywhere having different discussions. "Look at this. There's so much like and love in the air" Artemis said, looking around and smiling. "This is all because of you my Queen" Little Wen said, smiling as well. "Look Ah'Xhi! There's a bread stand!" Apollo pointed out excitedly. One thing Artemis and her twin brother Apollo have in common is their love for any food. Apollo went over and kindly asked the bread seller for a few loaves of bread. He paid him in gold and then rushed back over to hand a loaf to Artemis. "Here you go. It's fresh and fragrant. The old man even gave me a bag of tea to brew later!" Apollo said, showing Artemis. "This does smell nice and fresh, '' Artemis said, pulling off a piece of the bread. "Look here! The Queen bought some of my bread!" the seller announced happily. "The Queen?" Someone else asked out loud. "Long Live the Queen" the people cheered. Artemis felt goosebumps all over listening to the people bless her and it put a proud smile on her face. Artemis bowed her head a few more times and then started to continue through town. She smiled and said hello to everyone she came in contact with drawing them in. "Your people love you Artemis!" Little Wen beamed. "They are all of our people, Little Wen. And if they love me then they love you too. You are my most loved ones" Artemis told her. "That's right. I get more recognition as Prince of the White Wolf Kingdom than I did when I lived in the Black Wolf Kingdom under Papa" Apollo commented. "Besides. As the years go on we will grow and evolve. There is a lot more to learn and love in this vast Beastworld" Artemis said to them.

The group had wandered out of town and came across a cluster of different houses. "It's so diverse," Jenny commented. "I like that about our Kingdom. Most Kingdoms have separate areas for the different beastmen they let stay. I feel like if we want to increase our population we should allow all beastmen to live together. I don't care if a Wolf Beastman mates with a Bear Beastman and then carries Bear cubs or if an Ape Beastman mates with a Eagle Beastman and they have Ape cubs. I want everyone to find love all around my entire Kingdom" Artemis said looking around. "That was beautifully said my Queen." Little Wen said, nodding. "And it's true. I don't want a Kingdom built upon war, fighting, killing and taking hostages'' Artemis replied. "I agree" they all said, nodding. "Look here. A livestock farm!" Little Wen said, pointing it out. There was a small plot of land with a tiny hut and a huge one. "How do you know that this is a Livestock farm?" Apollo asked her. "My family used to breed foxes and a few other wild animals back in the Wolf Kingdom" she replied. "I grew up around them caring for a lot of animals. I could recognize the smell of dong from miles away" she added. Artemis chuckled as she looked out into the land. "My Queen. It's a pleasure to host you and your family as you grace our lowly lands" said a frail older man. "The pleasure is mines" Artemis said, bowing to him. "This old black Wolf can pass away peacefully now that I have met a Queen such as yourself" said the old man with a wide smile. "Are you living all alone here?" Little Wen asked curiously. "Not exactly. I have my two grandchildren living with me helping me out with things" the old man told her. "Okay that's great. Are you raising animals here?" She proceeded to ask. "Yes I am. I'm teaching my grandchildren to raise Silver Foxes" the man told Little Wen "oh really!" Little Wen said intrigued.