The mountains were vast, and searching them was no small feat. After entering the Blackstone range, Leylo followed the ridgeline eastward.
By mid-afternoon, a dozen small black specks appeared in the distant sky, moving with incredible speed. As they drew closer, Leylo realized they were raptors shimmering with faint electrical sparks.
"Lightning Falcons!"
Leylo recognized the species. These were Tier 3 flying magical beasts. Though only slightly larger than a common hawk, they were lightning-fast and capable of discharging simple electrical spells, making them quite troublesome.
Leylo felt a spark of interest and urged Tempest to give chase, hoping to find their nest. However, the falcons were as agile as bolts of lightning. With a few flaps of their wings, they vanished into the horizon as streaks of light. Even Tempest, the Storm Griffin King, could only screech in frustration as he was left in the dust. The other griffins were even further behind.
Leylo had no choice but to give up. These creatures were too fast; unless he set a trap, capturing them was nearly impossible.
On the second day, in an open valley, Leylo stumbled upon a hunt. The Two-Headed Wyvern that had been lingering near his border was diving fiercely toward a Land-Drake. He remembered this specific wyvern because of a large, head-sized spot on its chest.
The Land-Drake was sturdy and covered in thick scales, but it was no match for the wyvern's talons and fangs. It soon collapsed with a mournful cry. The wyvern let out a triumphant roar and began its lunch.
Leylo didn't disturb it. Instead, he signaled Tempest to circle low. Where there were Land-Drakes being hunted, there was a herd nearby. Sure enough, after a careful search, he found a hidden nest beneath a rocky slope containing at least twenty drakes.
Leylo was delighted. He noted the location, planning to send men back to claim them later. This was an unexpected harvest. Moonlight, however, seemed bored by the heavy lizards and pawed at Leylo's hair, urging him forward.
Hard work eventually paid off. On the afternoon of the third day, as they flew over a jagged stone forest, Leylo caught a glimpse of an unusual shift in the shadows. The stone forest was a chaotic maze of pillars—a perfect natural hiding spot.
He signaled Tempest to descend cautiously. Pushing aside a dense cluster of shrubs, the view opened up. Beneath a massive, mushroom-shaped rock sat a crude nest.
It was a family of griffins, but their feathers were a deep, dark gray, blending perfectly into the shadows of the cliffs. They were slightly smaller than the Storm Griffins but had more fluid lines and eyes that held a chilling, piercing coldness.
"Shadow Griffins!"
Leylo's heart skipped a beat. This was an incredibly rare sub-species, famous for their stealth and ambush capabilities. Their value far exceeded that of ordinary Storm Griffins.
There were four in total: two adults vigilantly preening their feathers, and two partially grown chicks huddled beside them. The chicks still had patches of downy fluff, looking endearingly clumsy—clearly not yet ready for independent flight.
The two adults noticed the intruders immediately. They let out low, warning hisses and spread their massive wings, their golden eyes fixed on Leylo and Tempest with intense hostility.
Tempest responded with a resonant rumble of his own, projecting his aura as a King. Leylo quickly calmed him, signaling him not to act rashly. Moonlight, perched on Tempest's back, squinted her pale gold eyes, looking far more interested in the two fluffy chicks than the adults.
The King's Invitation
Leylo watched the protective parents. A forced capture would likely end in casualties or the death of the chicks, which he wanted to avoid. He leaned in and gave Tempest an order.
Tempest understood. He let out a low call and led the other eleven griffins to retreat to a flat stone pillar on the outskirts of the forest. The position allowed them to monitor the nest while maintaining a respectful distance.
"Tempest," Leylo patted the solid neck. "Remember how you won over your companions? Go. Show them who the true King of the skies is."
With the chicks present, the adults wouldn't abandon the nest. This gave him a chance for a peaceful recruitment. Using Tempest's status as a Griffin King to intimidate and then "invite" them was the best strategy.
Tempest rose his head, pride flashing in his eyes. He stretched his powerful wings and let out a high-pitched, majestic cry that echoed with confidence. In this region, he was the undisputed sovereign.
Just as Tempest prepared to take flight toward the nest, Moonlight moved. With a graceful leap, she landed squarely on the crown of Tempest's head. She adjusted her posture, gripping his head feathers firmly with her claws, half-closing her eyes with an air of nonchalance.
Leylo was stunned for a moment but soon chuckled. This little cat always did the unexpected, and it often worked. If she wanted to join the parlay, so be it.
Tempest, now accustomed to his "hood ornament," didn't even dare to shake his head. With a powerful beat of his wings, he took off. A moment later, he hovered directly above the Shadow Griffin nest, his massive shadow enveloping the entire family below.