Deep within the endless mountains.
A dog was riding atop a silver mink.
The dog was plump and bulky, its four short legs splayed over the silver mink's back, its belly almost pressed against her spine. With every jolt of the run, layers of fat rippled and swayed.
Its fur was a dull, dusty yellow-gray, and its ears drooped down on either side of its head.
Its tongue hung out long, blown crooked by the oncoming wind. It looked every bit like a homeless dog that had lost its master.
Yet despite that wretched appearance, it somehow rode with an air of supreme arrogance.
Its bare tail was raised high, occasionally lashing against the silver mink's rump as it kept urging her on.
"Faster, faster! Why are you dawdling? If the sky comes crashing down, we'll all be buried underneath it!"
The silver mink's four paws flew as she became a streak of silver-white lightning among the jagged mountain rocks.
She had already pushed her speed to its limit. The rugged mountain range was as flat ground beneath her feet; she cleared sheer cliffs in a single leap and crossed deep ravines with one bound.
The wind was sliced apart by her body, letting out a piercing howl. The trees on either side only had time to shake violently after she had already swept past.
Even so, the dog on her back still found her too slow.
A dog paw smacked heavily down on her rump again, producing a crisp slap.
"Faster! Are those four legs of yours just for show? Back when your ancestors carried ancient great powers across the starry river, now that was speed!"
"And you? You crawl even slower than a turtle!"
The silver mink gritted her teeth and forced her speed up another notch.
Her