They were playing in the muddy water, throwing the ball around and hitting it with the ease of boys but they didn't know they were being watched. The water churned around their ankles and the mud swirled in the water. Their watcher hid in the tall grass layed flat and hardly daring to breath.

It had been the same for the last two weeks. The boys thought they had discovered a new place that could be their secret but they were mistaken. This place already had an inhabitant and they didn't want to share.

"Marcus, go get the ball!" One of the boys shouted as the ball bounced off of finger tips and sailed away. The ball landed with a wet plop infront of the watcher.

If I don't move maybe he won't see me. It was a thought that wasn't likely to happen. The ball lay a mere fingerlength from the watcher's nose.

Marcus grumbled and groaned about having to fetch the ball, but it was a good natured grumble as anyone part of a group was wont to do. The watcher felt a stab of fear and their adrenaline spiked.

It was hard to breath laying in the muck but just before Marcus reached the spot where he was sure to notice he was not alone a shrill scream erupted. The boys began beating at themselves and each other while screaming in high pitched voices. Marcus ran back to them in alarm and soon joined in the dancing and slapping.

"Get it off!"

"Aargh!"

"The hell!"

The watcher smiled at their antics and was pleased at witnessing the less then manly antics going on. Until the watcher saw the leeches they were pulling off of themselves.

Marcus saw the movement first and froze in surprise as Alyssa jumped up from the grass screetching like a banshee pulling leeches off of her exposed skin. She ran at the boys and began begging them to get them off of her.

It was the beginning of a summer of adventures.