Apislong - A race of bugs which the Shashelm consider eager traders usually. Have one all-mother.
Bombomori - A different bug race that creates materials that Shashelm use as garments. 
Burning light - Sunlight. 
Call to the King - A prayer to the King of All Shashelm to take the pain of a loved one on as your own. 
Egg sleep - Innate, automatic knowledge which is either whispered by Shashelm parents to their children while still in the egg or coming from genetic memory. It tells them everything they need to know to survive.
Instar - Molting for a bug who is still developing.
Milk light - A measure of time for Shashelm, representing something like a day. It refers to the moon, or the main time when they are active as a nocturnal species. 
Mudwell - A muddy place in the ground where several families of Shashelm live. 
Restful dusk - The time before a young Shashelm is born from their egg.
Shashelm - The name the roach-like bug people of Mudwell give themselves. 
The Death - Something that all Shashelm fear. 
The King of All Shashelm - A deity-like figure who watches over all Shashelm. Whenever something special is found, an offering must be made to the King or else terrible things will follow you and lead to your death. In folklore, some say his wings are the milk light.
Vesperil - A race of bugs which the Shashelm consider a mortal threat. 

Gleaming - A day.

Fluts/Plantanes - Separate measures of distance related to flight.

Reincarnation of Dillion Manus Murphy, formerly human, the youngest daughter of a Mudwell Shashelm family. After her first instar/molt, she is left with a lighter, forked streak along her side, like a dim bolt of lightning.

A scout bee who encounters Grete after the events of Chapter 18. Nervous and uncertain about her role, Elpis grew up one of countless daughters of Queen Akos in her hive. Her kind are called Apislong by Formiga (ant-like) traders and Shashlem but they take their name from their Queen and lineage (Akos of the Mela line). She enjoys stories and seeks to be polite and uses fluts and plantanes for measurement. 

She later adopts the name Elbee Akos.

Matriarch of the Mudwell family. Mourning the loss of some of her youngest children to the restful dawn, dying in the egg sleep before they were born. Grete is the only survivor. She thinks her mother smells like milky, caramelized peach.

Father of Grete Mudwell and patriarch of the Mudwell family. Met his wife, Mirela, in a sudden rainstorm. His aroma makes Grete think of warmed nutmeg and his presence evokes Liam Neeson. Ventures out to scavenge for food with his eldest children, Silt and Sana. He is harden by a rough youth where in-fighting and cannibalism tore his familial bonds apart but is gentle with his daughters.

The eldest son who still lives with the Mudwell family,

The second-born and eldest daughter of the Mudwell family. She is easily the best fighter, climber, and craves leaving her siblings in awe of her talents. She competes with her brother, Silt, and often ventures outside with their father to find food. Grete thinks she smells like strawberry horseradish. 

One of the middle sisters. She loves attention and control over her siblings. Tula is joined at the hip to Flax and finishes her sentences. She and Tula tease Beryl and Flax mercilously and call Grete, "little larva lump dump". She dares Grete to get her a sweet leaf in return for a Bombomori gown Flax tricked her out of. Grete associates Flax's with bitter, prickly foods, like lemon. 

The youngest daughter of the Mudwell family after Grete. She acts on impulse and ego, trying to act like she's bigger than she is. Trying to be cool and knowledgeable, Citrine actually lacks confidence and lingers around Riva to make up for it. She cares deeply for Riva, despite her attitude. Grete thinks of sand castles and oppressive flowers when it comes to Citrine.

Twin to Flax, she does everything with her, especially teasing their younger siblings. Not as nefarious as Flax but follows her words and mood unquestioningly. Grete is reminded of spoiled toothpaste for her, instead of Flax's acrid aroma.

One of the younger Mudwells, a timid wannabe-know-it-all, Beryl sticks close to his twin brother, Ewan. He reminds Grete of the smell between chocolate and wafer crisp, "the fake but confident nutrition of a protein bar with sugar covering up uncertain flavors."

Twin brother of Beryl Mudwell. He's more naive than his brother but feeds the same nervous hysteria that urges them to cling to their mother. Grete thinks his aroma is like coconut candies and gritty, dusty creams. 

The fast-talking, never-catch-a-breath speed sister who loves to race her sibling Anise. Burnt rubber, cut grass, and spun mud are the sorts of aromas that dash through the air when Grete thinks of them.

The chill, cool-as-cumcumber, rhyme-playing speed sister who loves to race her sibling Lapis. Burnt rubber, cut grass, and spun mud are the sorts of aromas that dash through the air when Grete thinks of them.

Ostracized, black sheep firstborn son of the Mudwell family.