The downward slope towards the lake was slick with dew. Ruk gathered speed and lost co-ordination, slipping onto her back and crashing through some low shrubs into the crowd. Her long gangly form took out two Humans and another Tekeri. Her red knapsack came free and skudded into the thick black water.

Ruk felt her back and looked around frantically, mumbling incoherently. She pushed a soaked, protesting Human back into the water in her quest to reunite with her beloved knapsack.

Senjen’s heavy squelching footsteps did raise some metaphorical eyebrows, but everyone was too inebriated to care for long. He was greeted like some exotic and exciting specimen, with people offering him pats on the back, several beverages and even one party virus upgrade.

The boat piloted by Light had drifted about forty metres out into the middle of the lake. It wobbled precariously and little splashes sounded as people fell or jumped off. The sound of laughter and conversation was getting progressively louder.

“My buhg.” Ruk droned, pulling her knapsack out of the water upside down. The zip had partially opened, and several baggies of soil plus a thermal flask fell out into the lake.

“Ok, boat time...”

She pointed to another boat that was just pushing off from the lakeside - it was already overladen with chattering party guests. 

If Senjen had looked back at Ruk, he'd have seen her throwing up green liquid into the pool around her waist.