Of course it wasn’t the best feeling for Mntui to walk to the edge of the chasm while everybody else were watching. But after these last days it was probably her smallest concern.

“You all probably know how to fight. To a degree at least” Ramu continued explaining things. “But as you’ve been changed your abilities changed too. But most likely you’ve figured that out by now.”

Mntui peeked down, trying to figure out how deep the pit goes and how much it would hurt to fall from here. As thought came rushing to her mind about the last occasion she blinked over a place like this she quickly regretted her decision. This unpleasant awareness of how easy to fade into nothingness made the deep depths more inviting. At least this cavern didn’t have knife like rocks wanting to slice up everyone who should fall.

“You cannot rely on the powers the spirits gave you anymore. But it doesn’t mean you are powerless. You have now chance to cultivate new abilities which come from within and not from an outer source. Most of you are used to sharper senses so maybe it’s not that new to all of you. Keen reflexes and physical prowess which are better than favored worshipers of the spirits are the most common. Being unseen by unwanted eyes is a useful trait too. But what most likely will keep you from dying is able to blink from one point to the other.”

Ramu went silent for a moment. He looked towards the center of the cavern. His figure became enveloped by unpierceable darkness until there was nothing but a silhouette. While even before the moment was over he reappeared on the second pillar. He waited for a few seconds to be sure every one of them understood what was happening, only then he teleported back where he previously stood.

“You should remember one thing though. Overusing such powers will make you hungrier. Which will make it harder to focus thus also making you vulnerable. Or in more extreme circumstances unable to use any of them until you feed.”

Through the explanation while everyone listened to every word, Mntui felt adrift. As if Ramu’s voice came from underwater. She heard the key points but couldn’t free herself from the pressure. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t even wanted to try. Not the slightest.

“All you will have a chance to walk the pillars. Or more like all of you have to. Each of them is a bit further than the previous one. And I understand that such thing won’t be successful on the first try. But when you do you get an opportunity to hunt individually.”

Mntui glimpsed back to the others. She only presumed what Ramu implied. There was a dark sensation boiling up inside her. It was a strangely familiar feeling of a predator waiting to get a glance on its prey. As she looked on the others she realized that probably every one of the newborn are thinking about the same thing. Or maybe even more so. It made her grasp how disturbing the situation was.

Still she stepped back to have enough momentum trying to mimic how a blink is done. The promise of fresh blood broke through her distress of dying almost too easily. Making her in the attempt almost jump into the pit. She stopped only at the very edge of the chasm losing balance almost completely.

Ramu grabbed her by her cloths. And she turned towards him just as frightened as she was minutes before.

“It’s not physical motion you want… But I thought Saleh showed you that” the sturdy man commented.

“He did make me travel all the way here by blinking. But I’m afraid I don’t really remember much about it.”

Ramu sighed.

‘It’s so like him’ he thought then started to talk to everybody again.

“For all of you it would be easier if your sires could have show you the basics of how to do things. If they are capable that is. But this is the awkwardness of our situation. You have to learn by yourselves how to reach into that power inside you that makes us tick. After that it becomes easy to make your will reality.”

“So now, Mntui” he turned back to her. “You can imagine yourself moving to your destination, maybe that will help, but you don’t need physical movement to blink. And don’t aim too far, starting with small steps is okay until you leave the den.” Ramu waited a few moments then stepped away making more space for Mntui.

Who nodded and as she looked towards the chasm she intended to do just that. Yet after minutes of silence nothing happened.

“Out of da way! I’ll show you how it’s done” she heard a harsh voice and felt a push on her shoulder. As Tisha passed by her she almost stepped into the pit below. Before the fateful moment though she blinked across to the first pillar successfully. Yet she didn’t stopped there even for a moment. She ran towards the far end of the second one attempting the second blink… only to come out of it in the middle of the air before reaching the point she aimed for. Her scream could be heard even after she disappeared below the chasm’s rim. And Neeas’ laughter could be heard even after that.