Gets to the lake without trouble

Ruby trudged her way through the dark forest guided only by the light of the shattered moon. “You’ll need a flashlight,” she mocked, “by the time you get there it’ll probably be pitch black out… And yet he gives me a flashlight with dead batteries, c’mon, Ren.” She groaned. She had long since stopped paying attention to where she was stepping. “How much farther is it? I feel like I’ve been walking forever…”

The day had been long and hot, and now she wanted nothing more than to lay down and get some sleep. She was sore, tired, and, quite frankly, jealous of her other two teammates who were more than likely already asleep. The only reprieve she had was the cool tint to the air. It sure beat getting even more sweaty and nasty than she already was. She knew she and her team didn’t smell the freshest. The last chance she had to bathe was over a week ago, and it hadn’t been a long one. Ren only gave them each five minutes, and she didn’t even have time to wash her clothes, which she was almost amazed didn’t have stink lines coming from them, that day. He insisted that they would be able to take their time bathing and washing their clothes at the next village, yeah right. “Who would’ve thought such a quiet man would be so assertive about his schedules.” She closed her eyes, opting to give them a rest as she pushed her way through the forest brush. “I should almost be there, right? I didn’t go the wrong way, did I-” And with a mighty splash she fell straight into the deep end of the lake, being completely engulfed by its cool, refreshing waters.

Her head popped above the water, gasping for air. Quickly, she grabbed the canteens and Crescent Rose and swam, heading to the shallow end and to shore. When she managed to pull herself out of the water, she threw them all to the ground, where she soon met them when she gave into her sore legs and dropped to the ground on her back, breathing heavily. “Well, at least I know I went the right direction,” her hands drifted to rest on her stomach and she could feel the insides of her shoes squishing, “but I probably should’ve watched where I was walking.”

With her breath regained, she finally took the opportunity to look around. It was beautiful. The place was a little oasis within the forest. It was hidden on all sides by foliage, and the surrounding plants and grass were a vibrant green. The water itself was a brilliant, crystalline reflection of the night sky with the shattered moon’s reflection sitting dead center. Sporadically surrounding the pool were a few medium-sized rocks. “It’s a good thing I didn’t hit my head on one of those. Would’ve been pretty embarrassing to go out like that… Well, now that I’m here,” she said, sitting up and clasping her hands together. “I guess I should…”