With the statuette held out away from Huaisang, the monster can sniff all over it exactly as an eager dog might, tail wagging a little more. When it lifts its muzzle to sniff Huaisang's face, however, its demeanor begins to change.

The beast's ears come forward--in an expression of either curiosity or surprise--and the wagging of its tail slows to a stop. It stares for long seconds at this little Nie standing before it. As it does so, the line of its mouth begins to slide backward as if melting, its maw lengthening back down through its throat. Numerous new teeth become visible in a horrifying mouth that now reaches down the length of its neck, nearly to its shoulders. New, confused eyes blink open in random places all around its skull, each staring at Huaisang until he has more than half a dozen fixed on him. It's almost as if the dog is having trouble holding a believable dog-shape as it mulls over some puzzle in its head.