Chapter Four- Changes and Desire

Aladdin moaned softly as he gingerly flexed his wings. Jasmine perched herself on the same rock she had sat on when they first searched for the tree, her tail uncurled and lying beside her left leg. She arched an eyebrow. "Overdid it?" she asked.

"Yeah. But, it was amazing," he answered.

"I could tell. Perhaps, I'll get mine before we reach the tree."

"Maybe. I see you're looking up now."

Jasmine smiled. "You wouldn't believe what I can see with these eyes. It's incredible."

"That's nice to hear. Listen, Jasmine. I think this was a lame plan of Mozenrath's. When I think of the merchant, he was the same height, he wore a robe and hood, and had a scarf over the lower half of his face."

"Mozenrath? Why would he want to change us?"

"Use us to rule the Seven Deserts, I would think or keep us as pets. But it won't work as the tree will cure us."

She nodded and looked over at the tunnel they had to take. "This part of the trip is the most dangerous part."

Aladdin nodded, remembering it well. "Genie, the cover you put on the top is still there, right?"

"Say no more, Al. I'll zap it away in an instant."

"That just leaves the dog," Aladdin said. "Well…" he trailed off as pain stabbed through him. He groaned and he heard Jasmine groan as well. Aladdin felt as if he was growing more muscles. The pain receded and he opened his eyes to find everything seemed a little smaller. He turned to see that Jasmine had indeed gotten taller and bigger and had sprouted a coat of golden fur. We've both gotten bigger; at least half as big as griffins.

Jasmine stared at her furry arms before looking at him and then behind and to his right. "You've got a tail now," she said.

Aladdin looked back and saw a long lion's tail, the end swishing along the ground. "Let's hurry," he said before leading the way into the tunnel. We do need to hurry. Jasmine and I don't need to change any further, though we probably will.

Jasmine brought up the rear, using her eyesight to keep an outlook for the dog. It was the dog that made this part of the journey dangerous. She knew it was a guardian in a way, but it seemed to be vicious in its duty. So far, no sign of it and I don't hear anything either.

Her thoughts turned to her previous conversation with Aladdin. Was this really a plot of Mozenrath's? The transformation part was more Mirage's style. Mozenrath usually acquired the real creature instead of changing someone into one. But just because he hasn't before, doesn't mean he wouldn't do it. If his plan is to enslave us, how would he do it? Perhaps a magical collar. Aladdin told me of his first encounter with him and the magic-eating creature he was tasked with collaring in order to save Genie. Jasmine pondered this as they walked, content in doing so as Mozenrath clearly didn't know about the tree.

Mozenrath sat on his throne, watching the group as they proceeded down a tunnel. He was pleased at how Aladdin and Jasmine's progression to griffins was doing. Jasmine already had the fur, eyes, and tail of one while Aladdin had the wings, front claws, and tail. Both had gotten bigger, at least half the size of a full-grown griffin.

They still need to change more, obviously. As it so happens, night is about to fall and surely they will want to stop and resume their journey in the morning which will be perfect as they will change more as they sleep.

The whimpers of Amin caught his attention and he looked disdainfully at his servant who was in an energy cage, the space between the bars was too small for anything to escape. "Stop your whimpering," he sneered. "You knew the consequences of failing me. You will do as I say and I think I will use a spell on you." He fired his magic at Amin and he cried out in pain and fear as the spell engulfed him. When it cleared, a white mouse was where Amin had been. He squeaked as he scampered around the cage.

Mozenrath smirked and laughed at the mouse. "I will reverse it once I have my griffins," he said to him before turning back to the group of friends who were reaching the end of the tunnel.

A howl of rushing air was heard as the group approached the Tunnel of Wind. The updraft ran up against the cover overhead, making the wind howl at it couldn't escape. A snap of Genie's fingers made the howling cease as the cover vanished and the air could escape.

"Let's go," Aladdin said, leaping into the updraft and was sent up and out. Jasmine followed as did Abu, Genie, and Carpet. They quickly left the area and were where Jasmine had filled their water holders on their first trip before they stopped. Aladdin looked up at the sky. "Let's stop for the night and start again in the morning."

Jasmine reluctantly nodded as did the others before Genie zapped up a fire and food. She wandered over to the river and crouched over it, her mixed-up reflection looking back at her. Her appearance was so bizarre right now and she was a little afraid of how she would look in the morning.

"Jasmine?"

She looked over as Aladdin came up beside her and crouched also. "I'm afraid of how much I'll change overnight," she admitted.

He put a hand on one of her hands. "I know, but we need to rest and the rest of the trip will be easy."

"What if we wake up and find we're too big to ride on Carpet? How will we cross the chasm?"

Aladdin rustled his wings a little. "You might grow wings overnight. If not, I'll carry you over."

Jasmine tilted her head a bit. "Yeah, I might and you could."

Aladdin smiled at her as he stood up and she followed suite. When she did, he was struck by how big and tall they really had become not that long ago. We may well be as big as adult griffins in the morning. It's likely that we'll be all griffin when we reach the tree, which is fine. When Jasmine and I were full snake people, the tree's fruit was able to change us back.

They returned to the campsite to find Genie cooking up meat on a strange object instead of using the campfire. There was a plate of already cooked meat nearby and a plate of raw meat next to it. It was the second plate that drew Aladdin's attention and a low growl came out. He blinked a little at this. He was starting to make lion sounds. A growl sounded behind him and he looked back to see Jasmine also stunned at the sound.

Genie looked at them upon hearing the growls and then at the uncooked food before giving it to his friend. "You and Jas would probably prefer it this way."

"We…would?" he asked before swallowing back his saliva as the raw meat's scent filled his nose."

"Well, it's just that, uh, griffins prefer raw meat. I can cook them, though," he said, hastily adding the last statement.

"It's fine, Genie," Jasmine said, leading Aladdin away to sit by the fire. "I know you're fighting the griffin's desire for uncooked meat," she said softly to him. "I find it disgusting too, but fighting instincts is a losing one."

"Yeah, you have a point," Aladdin said before picking up some meat and eating it as did Jasmine.