[He pauses only once at a familiar ankle, yipping just long enough to earn a much-deserved pat on the head. But not enough for them to realize mommy wasn't with him.]
[The path he takes her down...or, rather, up...is small. It was no wonder mommy didn't know about it. She wouldn't even fit! But he did, and since Naiad was smaller than him, she would too. Up and up and up, until they were in a sand dune behind the beach so tall, he could actually see over people's heads. A perfect view of the water!]