Alaisdair, prone to daydreaming, kept his eyes on the target seemingly in the distance and his mind on the seriousness of the hunt. Again, he was followed by the tiny creature who kept a small amount of space until they reached the sight of the last stand, then it darted forward and landed on the collar, burying itself under the flap to have shelter from the raging storm on the mountain top.
The limbs of the stand all fell parallel, landing on the ledge of the mountaintop as Alaisdair clicked open his net, not noticing that the wind had calmed but realizing the cub was slightly larger than when seen only hours before. He quickly threw and landed the netting atop the cub, pulled, and cinched the net, throwing it over his shoulder. He spied the Queen running to catch him as he leaped past the limbs, again in a torrential storm of wind and rain. He did not look back, just as he did not when running from the bear.
The Queen Mother, who tried to leap over the upright branches, was buffered by the rain and wind and fell to the ground. She was upset but not hurt and started down the trail toward the Black Fortress.
However, she needed more hope of catching that swift Hunter because she could only run in short bursts and then rest and do it again. Moreover, she could not break through the mist that covered the Forest and trail, so her Eagle wings were useless. She was concerned there was no one to defend the entrance to the Fortress more than she was about being sent home to the King. She was no longer angry with him calling her fat. What did he reason would happen if she was pregnant? Men! Even Kings sometimes did not think before they spoke.
She was planning on sending word asking for an escort home when she got word that he would go to war if she did not come home. He even got the Panther King in an uproar until the Hunter arrived. Well, it's time to get back on the trail.
From then on, her run was interrupted by trees and boulders jumping in her path. So far, she had been stopped each time halfway between her bursts of running five or six times already. This time, she roared, "Stop this. I need to get to my baby. I am trying to get home to Griffith."
The Trees and Boulders went into a huddle, but the Queen could only hear mumbles. The largest Boulder rolled near her and said we have questions.
"You may ask them," the Queen said.
"First, how do you have a roar for a voice when you have an elegant Eagle face?"
The Griffin Queen Mother chuckled, "Whichever personality is in control when speaking is the one you will hear."
"We have been informed that the Hunter and your baby are at the Fortress cistern Portal awaiting your arrival."
The Queen Mother said, "That is welcomed news. Do you still have a question before I move on?"
"Yes, Your Highness, may we accompany you to the Fortress?"