With a wet slurp, the Bahss jerked the boot free of the mud and fitted it over his fist. He examined it for a moment, thick fingers rubbing worn, muddy leather, then he strode off through the swamp.

"This way," he called back over his shoulder.

Norch exchanged glances with the Jemily, who for once looked as disconcerted as he. With a sad sigh, it hitched its shoulders, adjusted its cloth pack, and trudged after the Bahss, leaving Norch to trail along behind, socked foot squelching in the mud.

***

As they walked, the wood changed to fat-bottomed trees with thick roots exposed well above the water-line. The branches were draped with what looked to Norch like unspun cotton that often hung down far enough to dip into the water. Wooden knobs and massive roots poked up through the algae, and moss covered everything. The light dimmed, and the stench grew worse. The Bahss never slowed his pace, tramping on. Now and then it growled back at them, "Faster" or "Root". The last was a warning, but often given too late. He lost track of the number of times he or the Jemily stumbled. Both his feet were wet, regardless of footwear. Once or twice, he thought he saw movement in the water. An eye, or a scaly ridged back. The swamp appeared to have a sameness to it, that after a time, fed into a growing suspicion.

He leaned over to whisper in the Jemily's ears," I believe we're going in circles."

The Jemily didn't look up, only said, "We are."

Norch stopped. Mud slipped between the toes of his bootless foot. He caught the Jemily by the shoulders and spun it around to face him, for once not noticing the coolness of their skin.

"Why didn't you say something?" he demanded.

The Jemily looked miserable and avoided meeting his eyes, "Knowing is not helping. Bahss says we go this way, so we go this way."

Norch glanced at the figure further ahead, stamping along, "Let's go now. While he's not looking."

The Jemily shook its head, "No good. Bahss is always looking. We walk behind, or get dragged behind. That way, maybe we drown. It has happened to some."

He scrubbed a hand through dark hair and was going to suggest they try anyway when a movement in the branch above caught his eye. Taking a few steps closer, he peered through the woolly growth. A grey, frowning face peered back at him.

"What is that?" he asked aloud.

The Jemily followed his gaze and its despair melted into glee.

"Gargiggles!" it exclaimed.

The Jemily pointed further along the branch where another frowning face was staring at them. With a laugh, the Jemily stretched up on tiptoes and waggled its fingers as near as it could to the little furry creatures. The gargiggle sidled away from them several inches and stopped. It readjusted itself on its perch and resumed frowning at them. The Jemily moved along the branch with it, and it slid sideways again. They continued along until the gargiggle pressed up against the side of the trunk with no where else to go. The base of the branch being closer to the ground, the Jemily's fingers brushed against the gargiggle. It didn't appear alarmed, just altogether unimpressed. It tried to push more of its furry body into the trunk of the tree, leaning away from the Jemily.

"Oh, don't be a grumpy lump," The Jemily admonished, stretching further to scratch under its chin, "I know you missed me."

Sure enough, after a moment, a soft rumbling sounded from the gargiggle and it bent towards the Jemily for a better scratch. The other gargiggle shuffled over next to its mate and the Jemily stretched up another set of hands to stroke its small round ears. Fixated on the gargiggles, Norch had forgotten the Bahss until he turned and nearly jumped out of his skin. The Bahss was standing not two feet from him. A sturdy finger jabbed Norch in the chest, forcing him back a step.

"No standing," the Bahss growled. He waved the booted fist at him, and used it to provide direction, "That way."

His glower encompassed the Jemily, whose hands shot out of the tree. He swung long arms and body back around and resumed his steady slog through the swamp. Norch and the Jemily followed behind.

***

Norch felt sure they were still going in circles, but as they walked, he noticed more and more gargiggles gathering in the limbs overhead. They sidled along, silent and frowning. If the Jemily or the Bahss noticed, they said nothing. Morning wore on, and the temperature rose. The moisture in the air made the swamp smell stick somewhere in the back of his throat.

"How much further?" Norch called ahead.

He knew the Bahss must have heard him, but he didn't answer.

Tired, Norch stopped. The Jemily bumped into him, but instead of stepping back, it leaned its body onto him; It was as tired as he was.

The Bahss swung around and stamped back towards them. Five feet from them he halted and backed up. He backed up several more steps and stopped to stared at Norch and the Jemily in consternation.

It was then Norch realized they were sinking. He tried to wrestle his feet out, but they only sank further.

The Bahss' eyes flicked between them and the safe ground behind him. Decision made, it inched forward and reached out a hand to help. Norch stretched forward to grab it. For a moment, he started to slide out of the mud, but the hand he held was the booted one. The boot popped free of the Bahss's hand and Norch and the Jemily tumbled back.  The Bahss spared them one more anxious glance before he turned and fled.

Norch cursed and struggled to lift his legs. They had sunk past their knees now. A tap on his back made him turn to the Jemily. It raised its fingers to its lips and pointed to the lower branches nearby.

Dozens of gargiggles stood in the branches surrounding them. A few crept down the trunk towards the water. Fur-tipped claws dipped in, followed by whole bodies. A smooth waddling stroke brought them closer.

Norch stood still.

Wetness against the back of his leg made him look down. A sodden face frowned up at him. Another came up on his other side, and another, until a mass of gargiggles pressed into him.

Bit by bit, they pushed him upwards and forwards, until he could yank his foot free. His sock didn't make it, but he didn't care. He turned to pull the Jemily the last few steps and when he looked again, the gargiggles were retreating into the trees.