Synopsis:
As night falls over the hills, Sam notices Hickory's other passenger - a young mouse girl who keeps to herself and lingers in the shadows. Her ability to avoid attention is short-lived, however, when a group of bandits attacks the caravan in search of an artifact they simply refer to as "the Rod." Revealing herself to be the keeper of the relic, the mouse, Hiaté Noumou, steps forth to battle the leader of the bandits, revealing that they are possessed by creatures called the Urakait. Things look hopeful until the leader, Jamal, takes J'Aime hostage and runs into the woods with her. Sam prepares to give chase a voice emits from the Rod consulting Hiaté about her next course of action...
"I'll always remember the voice of he who killed my family!" - Hiaté (page 10)