On the opposite side of the fire, The Jemily and Nae Xali lay tumbled together, mouths agape, fast asleep. Beyond them, in the distance, stood a range of mountains that looked impossible in the moonlight. Arches spanned their heights, creating shadowed bridges between their peaks. Behind him, in the dark, Norch could hear Benjamin trying to put Kei Ta down for the night. Too geared up to sleep, it bounded on all three legs, making that awful noise. What Benjamin saw of value in that lump of fur was beyond him, but Benjamin swore by her. Norch poked the fire with a branch, sending a shower of sparks flying up into the air. It was a pleasant night, even if it was in an unusual place. Re-appearing, saddlebags in hand, Benjamin sat down beside him, firelight reflecting off the rectangular piece of glass fastened above his left eye. He placed the bags to the side and reached for the dinner pot.

He sniffed it, screwed up his nose and set the pot aside again.

"Best not," he said. "Is there water?"

Norch nodded and grabbed the canteen and two small wooden cups. Once filled, he passed one to Benjamin who took it with a murmured thanks. Kei Ta's soft grunting snores reached through the dark to their ears, and long moments went with no word between them. A beetle buzzed past and landed in Norch's cup. He watched it struggle, then with careful fingers, grasped it by the wing and flung it to safety. He downed the rest of the water and stood.

"Tucking in?" Benjamin asked.

"Yes."

"Goodnight then."

***

"Wake up," a voice whispered in his ear. "Wake up now."

Opening his eyes, Norch saw it was still dark. The fire had burnt down to embers. He made to roll over, but the voice whispered in his ear again, more urgent than before.

"No. Don't move," it said. "Not yet. Don't let them know you're awake."

"Who?" he breathed.

"Shhhh," the voice hissed. "Do you want them to hear you?"

There was pause while it waited to make sure he would stay quiet.

"The Rohn," it said.

Norch swore under his breath and something pinched the inside of his ear. He jerked and only just stayed his hand.

"No, no! I didn't--, I'm sorry!" the voice sounded frantic now. "I wanted you to be quiet. I won't do it again, but please, you have stop moving."

Norch waited. There was shuffling nearby, followed by a muffled shout he recognized as the Jemily. He bounded to his feet, heedless of the cries in his ear and charged towards the Rohn. Norch had enough time to register a squat, black, rubbery face before something hit him in the back of the head.

When he awoke again, it was with a headache. He reached up a hand up to touch the tender lump on the back of his head and winced. The sun was well up and he was lying in the dirt beside the now cold fire. He closed his eyes again and something cold and wet pressed itself into the side of his face.

"Uch. Get off," he grunted and pushed Kei Ta back. She licked his hands a few times before she gave up and disappeared from his line of sight. The sound of her snuffling came from behind him as did Benjamin's soft "Stop it. Stop it, Kei Ta. Go away."

She whined. With a start, Norch sat bolt upright. The Jemily. He looked over to its side of the camp. Gone, and no sign of Nae Xali either. He stood and moved towards Benjamin.

"Get up," he said, and bent to shake him.

Benjamin sat up and looked up at him bleary-eyed.

"What's wrong?" he asked. He covered a yawn with a fist.

"Something took the Jemily," he answered, "and Nae Xali."

Benjamin sprang to his feet and strode to where the Jemily and Nae Xali had slept.

"Who?" he asked.

"The Rohn," Norch responded.

Benjamin blinked.

"Who?" he asked again.

"The Rohn," Norch said again. " The Jemily didn't tell you about them?"

Benjamin shook his head. "No, but that doesn't mean much. She's spotty on the details sometimes."

Benjamin passed a hand over his face and was quiet for a moment. When he removed his hand, he looked a few years older.

"I feel like I'm always trying to find her," he said.

He shook his head and muttered to himself.

"Nevermind. Who are the Rohn?"

"No idea," Norch replied. "The Jemily only mentioned them in passing."

Benjamin frowned at him. "How can you be sure it's the Rohn?"

Norch rubbed his head, half-formed memories floated to the surface.

"The voice," he half-whispered.

"What voice?" Benjamin asked.

"I don't --" Norch said. "There was a voice. It woke me up, told me to stay still. It's the one that told me it was the Rohn."

Norch looked up and caught Benjamin's strange look.

"I'm not mad," he snapped.

"Didn't say you were," Benjamin said. "Besides, stranger things have happened here. What else can you tell me about the voice."

Norch closed his eyes. His head pounded.

"I was asleep," he said. "It whispered in my ear."

He opened his eyes. "I couldn't see anyone. When I got up, there was no one around me."

He raised a hand to his ear. "It pinched me. It pinched me in the ear."

He looked at Benjamin and Benjamin looked at him.

"Do you think--?" Norch said.

"Maybe," Benjamin said. He sounded uncertain.

They stared at each other a moment longer. Benjamin gestured at him in a way that implied he try something. Norch cleared his throat.

"Uh. Hello?" he said.

Silence.

"No point staying quiet now," he said. "You might as well come out. "

Still nothing.

"Please," he half-whispered, "we need your help."

"If you plan on going after the Rohn, you need more than my help," the voice replied.

Norch nodded to Benjamin and pointed to his own ear.

"What do you mean?" Norch asked.

There was a tickle in his ear and a small bug floated up near his eye. It was the size of a salt grain.

"You?" Norch asked, surprised. "You're a bug."

The insect flew back towards his ear, but, to Norch's relief, not in it.

"Yes, me, and I'm a Ceratopogonidae, thank you," she corrected.

Benjamin squinted at Norch's ear and removed the piece of glass over his eye.

"Would you mind?" he asked, extending a finger towards her.

She flew down onto it and Benjamin held the glass over her. The little insect's features were magnified. Norch bent his head towards the cera-whats-it.

"You're a Sand Fly," Benjamin said.

"You're a human," the Sandfly responded. A little tartly in Norch's opinion.

Benjamin smiled. "I'm Benjamin. This is Norch."

"I'm gNat."

"Gee Nat?"

"Yes."

He hesitated, then continued, "Listen, about the Rohn."

"You want my help."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"They have our friends," Benjamin said.

"Do they?" gNat replied, "I mean, are they your friends? You just met."

Norch frowned. "How long have you been in my ear?"

"Since the beach," she said, " and the ear was only for convenience. I prefer your hair. You didn't answer my question. Are they your friends?"

Norch floundered. Were they?

"She's my wife," Benjamin interjected.

Norch stared at him. "Who?"

"The Jemily. Well half of the Jemily. It's complicated."

"Forever man," Norch said.

"What?" Benjamin said.

"That's what the Jemily called you. That meant husband?"

"Yes. Look, that's not important right now. We have bigger problems," he turned to gNat, still sitting on his finger under the glass. "Will you help me find my wife?"

"I will do my best," she said, "but I meant it when I said you'll need more than my help."

"Who else can we ask?" Benjamin said.

"Well, there's Fleck," she replied.

"Fleck?" Benjamin asked. He glanced at Norch, who shrugged.

"Yes. Fleck. He's been following you since the swamp. I think he's sorry how things turned out there."

"Oh you don't mean--" Norch began, but cut off when he caught sight of the shaggy beast ambling out of the trees toward them.

"Oh no," he said.

Benjamin followed his gaze.

"That bad?" he asked.

"Worse," Norch replied.

With slow, hesitant steps, the creature approached and held out a filthy piece of cloth. It was Norch's sock.

"Help?" the Bahss said.