The Dog returned the nod and trotted off towards the mountain. She didn't wait to see if Rain was following. Either the girl did or didn't, and either way, the Dog got to see this new mountain.

There was a bit of a path, more a deer track than anything else, and it was that which the Dog followed up the mountain. She stopped every so often to let Rain catch up, but always seems anxious to move on.

"You move as slow as Lirael!" she commented, though tone and facial expression reflected she was more amused than annoyed.