Cyrus suddenly felt out of breath the moment Kiara had wrapped her arms around his midsection, grasping onto him in a vice-grip to avoid falling off. To help, he angled the pole he was holding in his free hand so that the back end of the stick pressed against Kiara's back, doing his level best to try and keep his own balance while making sure neither of the other riders would fall themselves. Xia in front didn't seem terribly nervous, but a quick glance over his shoulder suggested to him that Kiara behind him was at least as uncomfortable as he was with the recent turn of affairs. Cyrus looked up, and the color drained from his face when he saw some large, winged creature just behind them. His mouth hung open while he searched for words, but all he had to say was a flat "Oh..."

Before Cyrus knew what was happening, he felt a shove against his torso, Xia had pushed off; pushing himself into Kiara, and in turn, throwing all three clear of the horse when it collapsed in a wounded heap just ahead. Cyrus's lowly pole was tossed aside by the impact with the ground, knocked loose from his hand. He rolled over onto his back in time to see the dragon, looming ahead, as it landed and crushed a ghoul under its massive weight. Cyrus scrambled for his would-be weapon of a broken broom handle, but instead of taking off behind Xia, he took a moment to extend a hand to Kiara and help her to her feet. Yes, he didn't even know the woman's name, but she'd taken the time to help him before, and the least he could do was stick together. He beckoned her, "Come on! We've already been halfway through hell itself, we can't let it end here!"