Without any further comment Saleh took the lead again. They went further inside the cave leaving their newest addition behind. It was only Rouh that looked back at her concerned. Sera couldn’t care less. While Saleh was sure she would stand up and follow. At least she better be.

Numb and dizzy Mntui just sat there on her heels. It was as if everything just stopped around her. There was nothing left for her just that hollowness spreading inside. It was only logical should it reach every part of her body she would just disappear. Or so she thought. But before it could be proven whether I will happen or not something came to her attention chasing the nothingness away. Scratching and screeching, it all sounded like a sweet melody to her. Lunging forward she left behind the others running into the inner caves.

“Saleh… aren’t you worried? She could get lost or something” Rouh asked as he realized they don’t even changing pace. Both the old one and Sera acted as if nothing happened.

“No, I’m not” Saleh answered plainly. He was confident that nothing will happen worthy of such thing as worry. And if it did for some unforeseen reason he would be able to find her.

Mntui rushed through the caverns following the sounds of crittering animals. The first lookout hiding in the zigzags of the caverns frowned as Mntui ran pass by him. Almost on all fours the woman acted more of an animal than something sentient. Her chase startled the bats hanging from the ceiling. They fluttered away from her reaching hands with a high pitched choir of complaints. Yet not all of the creatures were successful in fleeing.

When the guard decided to finally step into Mntui’s way she was munching on one of the winged poor things. It was clear she couldn’t understand what the stance of the person in plated black leather armour meant. Even if it should have been obvious from the way he held his spear threatening her. Mntui’s eyes looked foggy from the lack of apprehension.

“She is no threat to us” Saleh clarified in a calm manner. Both the guard and Mntui turned to the familiar voice.

“I suspected as much. Still I had to make sure” he gave a glance to all of them as he was noting who returned.

“Yes, she is mine” Saleh answered the unspoken question.

“Others have came to resupply recently, some of them with new ones too” the guard commented as he stepped out of the way.

“Good to know” Saleh walked forward and the others followed him. “Come on, Mntui” he looked back at her after she still didn’t moved from her spot.

It was as if she awakened from a bad dream. Everything got back its meaning and she could understand what was happening. Mntui dropped the twisted remains of the bats immediately. She slowly stood up, her back bent. She would rather the earth swallowed her in the spot so she would not have to live through the shame.

There was a big cavern hiding deep in the labyrinth of passages. As they entered it looked more like a really small village rather than an ordinary single roomed haven Mntui knew. Around the houses and other buildings at least twenty of Shadows moved about, if not more.

Suddenly Mntui got self conscious about her appearance as they got closer. She tried to wipe the blood off around her mouth which long dried to her skin. Noting the fact her hands were stained too she given up on this notion quickly. She tilt down her head, avoiding the unknown eyes only looking at her once.

As they got almost to the middle of the short alley between the buildings a robust person approached them. The muscular man towered over Saleh, and it seemed he doesn’t intend to just pass by them as the others. His tangled black hair stood as if it tried to reach the sky even from beneath tons of rock what was above them. His eyes where black as an abyss. He appeared to be shaved yet as for the rest of him was hairy as a bear. Many scars decorated his skin along with some tattoos. Despite it seemed full leather armour was common around the Shadows he wore one made of plate that left his massive arms uncovered. Heavy jewelry hang from his neck and arms. They were carved in the shapes of animal fangs yet they happened to made out of the same strange black material the clan used for armours.

“You came too, Saleh? Good. I heard the others regrouping” the man’s voice was deep and strong matching his looks. One that would shake your soul out if he happened to shout at you.

“Yes, we are heading north, to the omen. What about you Ramu?” the snakeman answered on chatty tone not really suiting him.

“I would love to go with you, but I have to keep my eyes on the den. I resupply you and the others so you can leave first thing tomorrow. Also someone has to foster the newborns left behind” he glanced at Mntui who turned her face even more away not daring to look in his eyes.

“I would be grateful” it almost felt strange to hear Saleh express gratitude, and it was almost believable that he meant it.

Ramu took the lead, the rest of them follow without a word. Mntui secretly tried to look around as they went. In response sometimes she got back sharp glares which meant to discourage or just to judge her. The houses around were made of grey stone most likely mined from the cave itself. There were differences in the buildings though. Some were just put together from shabby chunks while others had neatly cut bricks. In some other cases closer to the cavern walls, the cabins were just carved into them.

An other strange thing Mntui noticed that there were no light sources. It was the first time she really thought about this. She could see just as clearly in full darkness. So it was just logical that the rest of the Shadows could too.

No lights and almost no sound. Only hushed whispers could be heard. It was as if truly just the shadows of former people occupied this place.