A massive, reverberating roar grew louder with every passing second, jerking Isiah awake. He had not even realized he had drifted off on the cold sand until the deafening commotion shattered his slumber.
He sat up instantly, dark eyes darting across the bleak expanse in total alarm as the ground beneath him trembled from the sheer volume of the noise.
The moment he bolted upright, Eijar slithered swiftly up to his neck, coiling her small form for safety. Beside him, Jafar was already bowing low to the dunes, positioning his wing to offer an immediate mount.
Though Isiah knew danger was imminent, his mind remained heavy with sleep. Reacting on pure instinct, he scrambled onto the winged steed's back, clinging tightly to Jafar's dark mane as his fingers sought a solid grip.
Seconds later, Jafar expanded his massive wings and launched into the air.
Isiah had no clear sense of how long they had rested on the sand, but the rapidly escalating atmosphere left zero time to ask.
