Thrain paused, gripping his hammer. "Hear what? All I can hear is your whining."
Kael ignored him, his muscles coiling. "Something's wrong. It's too quiet."
James adjusted his goggles, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. The scanner in his hand emitted a faint hum, the light on its surface flickering erratically. "I'm picking up... something. It's faint, but it feels like a distortion."
Sylvia's luminous wings flared slightly, casting a soft glow around them. "Stay close. If there's an attack coming, I'll protect us."
They pressed forward cautiously, the volcanic terrain growing more jagged with every step. The ground beneath their feet cracked and hissed, steam rising from unseen vents. Shadows danced along the edges of their vision, unnatural and fleeting.
Then came the growl.
Low and guttural, it reverberated through the air, freezing them in place. Kael's claws extended instinctively, and even Thrain gripped his hammer tighter.