Strange doesn't hear the crunch. Instead, his attention is focused on where he thought the noise was coming from, where he thought he could hear someone. He takes a few more steps away from the inn, frowning into the darkness.

He can't keep the fire burning continuously: even fire hovering an inch or so above one's hand has enough heat to blister the hand. Strange snuffs it out, moving it to another hand as he starts to talk. "They can see the light. You'd think—"

It only takes the moment before Strange can summon the fire to a different hand when whatever Shura heard in the show charges at him. Strange is caught completely off guard as a greater bearbat downright tackles him, knocking him to the ground while his animas flies off of his shoulders with a worrying thump.