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.

"NOW LENA!"

Her father's booming voice causing her to move to unlock the cage. Goliath turns just enough for Lena to put her hands in to unlock the shackles on the queen's wrist. Her hands trembling as the the wolf snarls at her. The queen is barely conscious as the shackles fall, freeing her from the weight. Lena steps back as the wolves come closer to her. She scurries to hide behind her father who still has a blade to his throat.

Artemis looks to her queen who is in no shape to move. She turns back narrowing her eyes on the man who kidnapped the queen. The blade pressing harder to his throat as a small amount of blood seeps out.

"What. Have. You've. Done." She grits out each word. The king gulps glancing to the queen.

"Nothing, she was made to walk the journey but the men were not allowed to touch her."

His words held truth but still not enough to stop the wrath building within Artemis. She remembered the words Kaleo said. She needs an outlet. She takes a deep breath taking a step back dropping her blade to her side. The king slowly puts his hands down, Lena practically clinging to his robe.

"I wish to kill you with my blade." The king gasp taking a step back but Artemis just clicks her tongue before looking to her pack and back to the pitiful king. "But that would be a merciful death... one you do not deserve." 

Artemis slowly steps to the king who attempts to shield his daughter. She raises her palm to his face. He flinches but she never touches him. Her hand hovers over his forehead. He begins feeling a pressure building within his mind. It feels as if multiple screws are being drilled into his brain. His eyes watery from the immense pain as he looks to Artemis. Her hand red as a flame and her eyes blazing with utter rage. The king screams out in pain falling to his knees. 

Lena steps away from her father loosing her own voice watching her father being tortured but seeing no weapon. She knew it was Artemis' doing but couldn't fathom what was happening. Her heart pounding out of her chest. She feels the blood race to her feet telling her to flea but one glance to the pack of wolves and she knows she won't even make it a yard before being slaughtered. 

"Now my king, a final lesson to be learned. Attacking a member of my pack is a sin..." The king grips his head feeling his brain burning as if it was on fire. His pleas falling on death ears. "But attacking a protected member of the pack- you are just asking for death."

Goliath slowly steps out of the cage understanding Artemis' meaning. The king sees the wolf slowly approaching him. He looks back to Artemis and screams for forgiveness.

"You have brought this upon yourself."

With that, Goliath pounces on the king as Lena screams her lungs out. She runs away as Artemis watches her before deciding what to do with the princess. She slowly pulls out a arrow placing it within her bow. The bow flies and Lena falls screaming in agony as she holds her lower leg, blood seeping from it. She looks up to see Artemis slowly walking to her. The silver maiden staring down at her with a tilt of her head. She pulls Lena up making her scream again as the pain shoots through her damaged leg. Artemis gets her back to the camp. Lena stays tense looking to the wolves stained red and can't seem to look at the mauled corpse of her father. She drops her head and cries while her body trembles with fear. 

The wolves circle her while Artemis goes to the cage gently lifting the queen up. The queen awakens to see Artemis' silver hair. Her facing breaking into a thankful smile.

"Artemis?"

The cracked and hoarse voice of the queen makes Artemis feel broken.

"I am here my queen, you are safe."

The queen can't keep her eyes open and falls into the abyss placing all her weight upon Artemis who struggles with her. She sits her down gently as she tries to think then turns to Lena.

"How did you travel?"

Lena still terrified lifts a shaky hand pointing to a chariot hidden away with a horse attached. Artemis thanks the gods before walking over getting the chariot out of hiding. She then looks around and sees a narrow path which must be how they traveled. She gets the shackles out of the cage putting them on the princess. Her trembling hands making the metal clink from rattling. She jerks her to lock the chains to the cage as she helps the queen inside the chariot. The queen could not stay awake and collapsed quickly. Goliath heading directly to her feet coiling against her. Artemis closes the door and looks back to Princess Lena.

"YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME HERE!"

Artemis walks back over slowly, the wolves still standing guard over the prisoner.

"You are right Princess Lena, you will come with me to be condemned for the crimes you have committed against my King."

Lena's face drains of all color but Artemis just grabs the chain dragging her to the front where the horses are. She pats the horses and they begin walking the path. Artemis breathing easier knowing the queen is safe. She looks to her side to see Lena trembling with tears running down her cheeks. The wolves howling to the evening sky beginning their journey home...