Insight?

The newcomer observed the rituals, gripped with fascination and a sense of enlightenment. It occurred to her that this was the game everybody took to with such mixed reactions... to her though, it was all tainted with a sense of being outside herself.

Here she was participating and yet observing. She wasn't completely consumed by the somewhat ceremonial act, but she was aware of the ability to be so engrossed in the movements and rhythms in the future.

That was going to take a while to happen, though.

Like a new bird testing out its wings, she dipped a toe in the scalding water.

Retreated rapidly.

The gentle coaxing of the ripples drew her out once more and this time she found something she quite liked. A quick smile flitted over her features and she dove into the pool, feeling the water surround her. Her lungs felt too tight and her body moved with uneven, jerky motions but there was clearly something there.

All too soon her human need to breathe made itself known and she resurfaced, taking a deep breath that filled her blood with oxygen. Her pumping blood, which she could feel was a deep, thick red. It didn't occur to her how strange it was to be able to feel colours, but that was how her blood felt at the moment.

As if her entire being was on fire.

The current took her back to shore and there she lay on the rough sand, permeated with the occasional pebble. Her vision grew blurry as she squinted into the sun, but she stared straight into the blazing ball regardless of the tears that built up in her now stinging eyes.

The knowledge of the rules of the game had changed her.

Now she was prepared.

---

Don't ask. It wouldn't make sense to anybody but me...