The leech slipped between rocks using them as cover as he dashed madly downstream. He couldn't stop. If he did the bird might get him. He never realized just how dangerous the world is until now.
He could die for nothing.
He could die just because something wanted him to.
Ahead, the leech sensed vibrations of a creature. No time to lose, he swam straight for it and bit hard. He latched onto the creature as his teeth drilled through it's flesh. He flicked his tail, sending him further and further into the creature.
The fish flipped in agony. It smacked against a rock trying to scratch the leech off it. It was too late. Only a half inch hole remains as the leech burrowed further inside.
The leech was attracted toward the brain of the fish. It bit and ripped it's way through on it's way. The fish no longer struggled. It's body sank to the bottom of the stream thanks to it's now ruptured air bladder.
He broke through the skull and entered. Pushing aside the brain matter as it curled into a ball and started to release a black liquid. It pulsed along with the leech's heartbeat. Expanding as it attached to the dull gray brain matter.
The fish, now long dead, had it's brain hijacked by the leech. The black liquid stretched and covered the entire brain within minutes.
The fish opened it's eyes. It was the fish's eyes, but it was the leech looking through them. The hole he used to enter the fish already healed.
This is the leech's ability. It can control the body functions of it's host, and adapt it at will.
The humans had set up a camp around the portal. Squads of soldiers patrolled the perimeter, eyes open for potential demon ambushes. Shaelin and Philip walked near the portal.
"This is good. Close to the portal means it's the safest spot." Philip adjusted his glasses as he took the tent materials out of his ring and threw it onto the floor. Then he pulled out a handful of marbles and threw..
They floated in front of him as black dirt rose from the ground and wrapped around the marbles. Five humanoids made of dirt were created. "Set up the tent for me."
The golems gathered the materials and started to work. One of them grabbed a chair and sat it down behind Philip. It then picked up a paper fan and started to fan him.
"Ahem." Shaelin waited for the golem to bring her a chair too.
"Hmm? What is it, do you need a drink?"
"No! Where's my chair! Hurry up and bring it out!" She crossed her arms and stared at him.
"Oh! That's odd, I can't seem to find it." He said with a shrug.
She was just about to lose it when one of her birds saw something.
"Philip we need to go find master, quick!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him along as she tried to run.
He let himself be dragged as he noticed the change in her expression. "What happened?"
"There's-" She looked back and saw a flaming rock flying toward her. She had no way to defend against such an attack. She looked toward Philip, who shot a paper talisman out of his storage ring.
The talisman burned up, creating a spherical light shield around them. The golems dropped the tent supplies and ran after them hoping to fulfill their duty and shield their master, but their legs were too slow.
The rock hit next to them, sending a large shockwave throughout the camp. Dirt and fire shot out like projectiles. The shield protecting them shattered quickly and sent them flying. Shaelin's body flew at a weird angle. Her body smacked onto the ground hard, knocking her out and breaking her arm.
Philip was more experienced in combat and used a bubble shield on himself, allowing him to land safely. He looked over to Shaelin and saw blood soaking through her clothes. She wasn't moving. He ordered a golem to pick her up as he looked in the direction the rock came from.
Creatures of all different sizes dotted the sky. Above them were more flying rocks, and below them were countless demons emerging from the tree line. All were in a mad dash toward the camp.
Having suffered only cuts from the shrapnel, he could still move. With the golems in tow, he moved through the flood of scrambling knights to find his master.