Artemis

Chapter 29

Artemis, they are close

She nods her head and slows down hiding behind a nearby tree. She appears around the corner and can see a small fire emitting in the darkness. She steps cautiously towards it before hiding behind another tree. The pack following her lead slinking their bodies to the earth. Artemis closes her eyes to speak to her missing friend.

Goliath, are you okay?

Artemis!

Answer me Goliath, stay calm

Her words making the wolf focus. He looks around slowly until he sees a small movement a mile out knowing it's her. He turns to his mistress behind him. Her form weak and tired. The shackles on her wrist leaving red marks upon her skin. He leans forward licking her wrist trying to ease her pain before turning back to glance at the men.

We are okay... They have us locked in a cage.

Artemis nods her head listening to him before peering out from behind the trunk. She then sees uniformed men she does not recognize. These uniforms do not belong to King Casden. She notices a tent off to the side.

How many can you see Goliath?

The wolf lifts his head looking around at the 4 men cladded in iron before glancing to the tent with a small light illuminating within. The queen notices Goliath's focus on the scene and furrows her eyebrows in confusion. Her body to weak to move she looks around trying to see what the wolf is seeking.

Four guards and two unarmed within the tent

Artemis turns to her five pack mates who look to her. She opens her mind to speak to them all at once directing them to what she needs. She gets a little closer and climbs up a tree. She gets herself into position and looks to the scene. She can see the guards are doing a rotation on keeping watch as the others lay down to sleep. The two within the tent are resting with the light still on. 

The wolves attempt to reign in their growls seeing one of their own locked up like a beast. Artemis notices this and hums lowly making their tense forms relax slightly. Artemis waits patiently for the three guards to be asleep. After a half an hour she lines up her shot. Releasing the bow hearing a soft thud as the man falls to the ground with an arrow throw his neck. One of the guards stir lifting up, Artemis doesn't think twice letting the next bow fly.

Goliath by this point is standing up in the cage. The queen's eyes are heavy from the exhaustion of the being shackled and dragged around. She looks around to see what is going on when she hears a thump. Catching sight of one of the guards falling to the ground, she finds the strength to keep herself awake.

A growl rumbles in Goliath's chest making the queen stroke his head. His growl turning to a purr. A branch breaking wakes another guard who instantly sees his fallen brothers.

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"

Artemis curses her feet from stepping on that branch. The other guard wakes up with a jolt unsheathing his sword instantly. Artemis sprints to the men with her sword ready for the attack. Her pack howling loudly as they race in attacking the two guards.

King Maximus and Princess Lena come out of the tent in nothing but their robes catching sight of the wolves attacking the men. The king doesn't have the time to question as Artemis places the blade to his throat. His eyes wide in fear as he now sees who is the masked figure. Her eyes glowing with the light of the moon. He raises his hands in a surrender form.

"Unlock them NOW!"

Her voice low and deadly. Lena runs back inside the tent quickly come back out with a set of keys. Artemis glances to the petrified princess nudging her head to the cage. Her wolves come to her side coated in the blood of their victims. They growl looking hungrily to the pair before them. Lena looks horrified at the blood dripping from their fur.