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Preacher wandered around, looking at everything and nothing. The crowds for today had moved to the booths; there wasn't even anyone for her to lift a purse off of. Instead, she continued to kick rocks of various sizes into the canal, enjoying the weird blooping splash they made. The morning light felt innocent and clean. She swivled her head around: there was a blue-haired girl, the woman from the curry stand... (Shakun-something?), and Axel all nearby. Axel she ignored on principle. She would not seek his company. Reflexively, she reached up to scrub at her cheek.

Suddenly, a dog barked nearby, and Preacher turned her head sharply. Too sharply. As pain shot down her neck she a red-haired boy with a little dog trailing behind him. He seemed vaguely familiar somehow.... The curry booth! A boy had paid for her food genorously and she had won off of his coin. Perhaps he was naturally lucky. Regardless, he might provide ease from her boredom.

"Oi, curry boy!" She cupped her hands over her mouth, rough accent booming out across the canal. As she pivoted to head in his direction, her net toga slipped and one sandaled foot caught in. the ropes. With a dawning look of horror, PReacher felt herself overbalance and begin to fall. Her arms spread wide - a futile attempt to right herself. A strangledstring of curses sounded as she fell. Unfortunately, she also knocked into both Shakunwhatever and the blue-haired girl, sending them all headlong into the not-so-sparkling-clean canal water.

SPLASH

Shakuntala was minding her own. Having the chance to recuperate from the excitement that last few days with a sit by the canal enjoying her fruit was the best she could've asked for. As she bent her wrist to take another bite of her apple, something or someone jerked her figure and sent the item flying with a plop into the canal. She was soon to follow, but the bronze-skinned girl managed to snag her fingers on the edge of the wall.

With eyes widened to the whites, she glanced between her watery fate below and the safety of the land above. Shakuntala had already taken one dip in the canal waters below already; she was not looking for another one. Attempting to pull herself up with her swinging arm came to no avail. She did not have the strength to do so. Reluctantly giving in to her circumstance, her fingers slipped from the ledge as smoothly as a hot knife through butter. Like the victims before her, she hit the water with an erupting crash. Breaking the surface for a breath, the girl sputtered water from her mouth and threaded the water.

Before she sought out a way to get back above, she cried out between pants, "I-Is everyone... all right?"

Turning her head, she spotted her apple and watched with hooded eyes as the food item floated right passed her. Shakuntala ignored the perturbed feeling in the back of her mind. So much for having a good time at the parade or even a rest with it.

A third splash caught Zin's attention, and she spotted Preacher struggling in the water. She made a face; that was the jerk that had hurt Lenore. But... It looked like he was struggling. And, indeed, an instant later, Zin heard him declare the obvious: he couldn't swim.

Although she didn't like him, Zin couldn't very well let Preacher drown. She quickly swam over to him, but he was flailing so much that she kept getting splashed in the face. "Calm down!" she shouted over the noise of the water. "You'll float if you relax!" She tried to get closer to grab hold of him to help keep his head above the water, but instead a flailing limb smacked her in the face.

Cyril went to join the other volunteers. He heard the voice say they've all become heroes. "Heh damn right I'm a hero." whispered to himself even though he did nothing. Regardless, he still joined the others. He was able to sneak into the group without anyone noticing he didn't do a thing.

He saw a bunch of tools were laid out for the task at hand. He snagged a net and went on his way. He dipped his net into the water and managed to find something.

Suddenly he looked up as he heard a splash and saw preacher had falling into the water struggling. "Hmmp can't swim?" He said in a humorous tone.

Axel hadn't wandered far from the canal, but he had gone into a bakery to get a roll. It was a pretty good roll, too. He was just heading back towards the canal when the commotion broke out. Axel sped up, more curious than worried. Either people were just messing around splashing each other, or someone had fallen into the canal while trying to fish out garbage. It couldn't be a big emergency, right?

Seeing at least three people flailing around in the water, Axel jogged up to the edge of the canal. He had helped drag a horse out the other day, but three people? If he jumped in himself, would he just get tangled up with them and make it worse.

At least one of them was not in immediate danger of sinking. He recognized Tala, who seemed to be the best swimmer of the three in the canal. The other two were flailing and splashing and yelling and completely soaked--impossible to tell who was who and which was which.

"Tala!" He called to the dark-haired girl. "Are you okay?!" She was closer, easier to help if he could.

Shakuntala snapped her attention onto Preacher. While it was hard to make out his face due to the sputter and flailing arms, the girl kicked herself forward to assist, but Zinnia beat her to the punch (literally) and seem to (somewhat) get the commotion under control. That didn't stop the seventeen year old from seeking a way out of the canal instead. The fastest she could get them out of there, the less chance any of them would be the victims of a watery grave. Before she could do so though, the girl dragged her eyes up to a familiar face. It was Axel.

"I... I'm fine!" she cried in response. "B-But t-there's some... They're having some t-trouble... over there!" She cocked her head to Zinnia and Preacher. "C-Can you g-get someone? Or... Or get something?"

Cyril turned his attention to Shun as he was spoken to.

"Its a simple skill... Even dogs can pick it like nothing."

he said to the man.

Zin gasped as she was dunked under the freezing cold water once again. Her teeth were beginning to chatter; if they didn't get out soon, they'd be in for even more serious trouble.

"J-just t-t-try to relax," she said. "If y-you l-loosen your muscles, the w-water will k-k-keep you up." She spread legs and free arm out to demonstrate, although she was shivering so much that it was hard to unlock her muscles. She started kicking again before they could float away.

"H-hey!" she shouted up to Axel. "D-do you h-have a rope or s-something? We c-can't get out!"