Manithan Vaanam

Having escaped the desecration of Keya, the group now sit upon a cliffside overlooking the razed city and discuss the next steps of their newly founded journey. They decide to make camp right here; the group splits up, with Bhavannan and Nila off to find food, Aadhi and Shwari resting their weary bodies whilst taking care of the infant twins, and Kittu napping. Bhavannan tries to stir up conversation with Nila, but Nila resists, concentrating more on the task at hand. Bhavannan however does not seem bothered in the slightest, and continues the light conversation. Eventually they score an apple and three bushes worth of blueberries and head back to the cliffside, satisfied with their findings.

Aadhi and Shwari engage in a telepathic conversation about Aadhi's former servant, Madhi, and how she had given Aadhi a warning about the assassination. Shwari takes this information in surprise and discloses to Aadhi the distrust that Raagi, Shwari's former servant, had for Aadhi's magic. The two twins are occupied with this telepathic conversation as Bhavannan and Nila return to the group. Bhavannan and Nila show off their procured food, with Bhavannan gifting the apple to Aadhi. The blueberries that Nila carried are placed into Shwari's satchel and shared with the group. The infants, hungry and tired, scream for any sustenance. Kittu first tries to sing to them, but that ends up angering them more. After that failed attempt, he smashes blueberries and feeds them, which calms them down considerably. While they eat, Kittu teaches the other manithan how to care for a newborn. The others, in varying levels of comfort, listen to Kittu's words and actions, tending to the infants as he says.

Eventually, the night fully takes control, and the manithan fall asleep, with Kittu taking first watch of the infants and Shwari taking the second watch. Whilst the night continues, the group experiences harrowing dreams, and wake up to the screams of the infants. Aadhi wakes up soaking wet, and Nila wakes up with soot covering her saree. To appease the infants, Aadhi and Shwari attempt to feed them, but Aadhi surprisingly feeds the two of them easily. When she tries to hand them off, they grasp onto her tightly, not letting go. Bhavannan declares that the longer route to Kaverinaadu must be taken, since the shorter route may be unsafe. After deciding that the infants shall stay with Aadhi for an indeterminate time, the group mounts its yaans and starts its journey to Kaverinaadu. In the very first few minutes of the journey, Aadhi confides in Shwari and explains her dream, which involved a blue lady with four eyes, and the lady's desire to keep the infant twins safe. Shwari listens, but responds flippantly. The conversation ends, and the rest of the group continue their trek, an ashen night of char and dreams living in their minds.