Travelling to the mountains took a long detour downwards in one step. Rino and Mutt were running away from the angry group of six-armed monkeys who were addicted to bones. Rino simply looked like a tasty treat and easy prey, so they had to escape when the monkeys started walking towards them on water.
Mutt carried his master dutifully, not minding the burning sun and purple flames burning his shadow body. He dodged and snarled when the monkeys came too close to his master, and Rino held onto his mount tightly in fear of getting thrown off.
He could use magic to ward these creatures off, but Rino wasn't here to create trouble or make enemies. Killing the monkeys might attract a more troublesome foe before arriving at their destination, so Rino refrained from doing so and urged Mutt to go even faster.
Looking back, that was his mistake.
