Their living space is a well-used area with patted down leaves and large fallen trees to serve as seating.

“Sort of minimalistic.”

“Do not meet need?” Aella’s smile continues to be a terrifying thing.

“I didn’t mean to offend you,” I swiftly apologize.

“We are taking no offense,” she assures me. “We live here long enough this permanent home, but we ready for move. All temporary.”

“Does that bother you? Not having any ties?”

“We are free.”

“What do you do to pass the time?” With no possessions, no sleeping to eat up hours, and no end in sight, how do they keep from getting bored to death?

“We listen, Little Fire.”

“Listen to what?”

“We listen all thing.” She tilts her head to the side. “You assume primitive. We do not lack insight. We choose no making wave.”

“That doesn’t work so well,” I speak from experience. Look at me, learning from all my hard lessons.

She makes a clicking sound with her tongue. “No, it do not.”

I inhale deeply, hoping for a whiff of Chamomile and Clove. What I get instead completely derails my thought train. It’s coming from Evadne, who’s squatting by Aella’s feet. Not quite as feral as before but absolutely not domesticated, despite placement indicating otherwise. She smells like Passion Flower and Vanilla. I lean in for another delightful sniff, causing her to growl low in her throat. “So, we’re just waiting here for Dreyna?” I deflect, stepping out of biting range.

Aella nods. “Wait for Dreyna.”

Dreyna’s filtering methods might give me insight into how I can help my mother. Direct connection is too potent.

Hours pass. I start thinking Dreyna isn’t coming back. As night falls, I lose all hope she will. For a group so bonded by team effort, it seems strange she’s been gone so long without anyone wondering where she is.

“Will she come back tonight?” We’re all huddled around a fire Akantha built to combat the darkness.

“She arrive when she arrive,” Aella notes.

Real helpful, that one. When she arrives could be in an hour, a day, a week, or a year. They’re clearly unconcerned by her extended absence. Time holds no meaning for them. That’s the adverse side effect of infinity.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Do you always move with rush, Little Fire?” Akantha chastises.

“I’m not rushing.” I stare into the fire, watching the colors dance. “I’m just keeping things moving. Some of us have batteries in our clocks.”

She pats me on the back a smidge rough for my liking, though the action is meant as a gesture of comradery. “You hold too much. Others will carry if you let them.”

“I’m working on offloading.”

“No good job,” Aella states unnecessarily.

“Maybe poke fire,” Akantha suggests. “Then it not be so slow.”

“You just gave me a hard time for being in such a rush. Now, you want me to hurry up?”

“I do not say that. I ask if you always move with rush. Only curious. You assume too much.”

I sigh. “I really do.”

“You need wash day away,” Aella recommends.

“Sure, I’ll just pretend it didn’t happen,” I deadpan.

“You are confused,” she replies dismissively.

“I spend most of my time that way, apparently.”

“You need wash day away,” Aella repeats. “Evadne, show falls. I gather aloe for skin.”

Finally, she has something to say I can get on board with. I rake my nails across my arms. The five hundred million mosquito bites I received today are beginning to itch since she mentioned them. The stench of my sweat-dried clothing isn’t aces, either. “I’d love that,” I admit.

Evadne growls in annoyance before standing from her crouch and setting off into the trees. Does she wait for me to catch up? Nope. Not surprising, yet still rude. I numbly follow until my legs threaten to give out on me. Should I tell her I can’t make it? Will she leave me to rot on the forest floor?

Then I hear the gush of water. A second later, I’m standing under the stream, clothing and all. The Amazonians have dug an irrigation ditch from a nearby stream cascading over a rock face’s side. Hail, the glorious mini waterfall.

I’m vaguely aware of Evadne watching me. “I can probably find my way back,” I offer, expecting a debate.

“Listen to trees,” she advises, slipping out of view without hesitation. Yep, called that one perfectly. Good job, me.

While the surrounding area is impossibly dark, the makeshift waterfall is touched by soft moonlight glow, a small light passage through a break in the trees. After a few restorative moments, I step out of the stream. Thankful for the added privacy offered by Evadne’s departure, I shimmy out of my wet clothing and lay it on a rock before returning. I stay under the water for a long time, letting it cleanse the disappointments of the day. The much-needed cooldown is greatly appreciated.

Finally dragging myself away, I reach for my clothes. They’re suspiciously dry. Fresh clothes mean company. My first instinct is to shield myself from prying eyes, so I dress in a mad dash while surveying the darkness for my stalker. I smell him before I see him, his Morning Glories and Sunshine more purifying than the stream.

“You could’ve joined me,” I tease.

“I didn’t want to startle you,” Derry counters.

My nose leads me to him. “Did you enjoy the show?”

“I’m a gentleman.” He smiles against my lips. “I barely peeked.”

I wind my fingers in his hair. “That’s a shame.”

“I miss poking around in your head,” he complains, wrapping me in his arms.

“I miss having you there.”

“What if you could have me another way?” His serious tone leaves me unsure whether to take this game to the next level or continue being playful.

“I’ll take you any way I can get you.” I press closer, my wet hair spilling onto his neck and shoulders.

“You can have me any way you want me.” He wraps his arms tighter around me. We still aren’t close enough.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Hotshot.” He’s playing a dangerous game with my restraint. “I’ll end up burning you like I do everyone else.”

“What if I want to be burned?”