Run, run, run-stop.
Artifex suddenly found herself stopped dead still in the middle of the trail back to the group. Why? Because the most extraordinary sight had come across her field of vision. The lake, it was... it was... spectacular.

The water shimmered in the light like glass, broken by the occasional wave. She found herself drawn to it, for the moment forgetting completely about her original task of returning to the group. Artifex had always been one for water, drawn to it's cool embrace. Slipping out of her sandals she dipped her bare toe in the water, watching the ripples cascade out across the surface.

"It's so beautiful" she whispered gently to herself.

~Stop...~

"Tranquility"

~You need to stop.~

"like it used to be"

~You're only going to make it worse~

Staring down at her feet, she was now standing ankle-deep in the edge of the lake as a great sorrow filled her chest. However, just as quickly as it came upon her, Artifex's eyes hardened, "Enough of that." she scolded herself, her tone changing drastically all at once.

~But... I just...~

"You came here to fix that problem. It's time to move on" she turned abruptly and shook off her feet as she stepped out of the water and slipped her shoes back on before marching down the trail again.

By the time Artifex finally returned it seemed as though she had missed quite more than intended and she found herself standing at the edge of things, looking a little lost. It took her a little while to locate Billy and she tentively made her way over, hoping to get filled in as promised.