"Ah... ah... AH—" She tried to reach behind herself, her fingers scrabbling uselessly. She couldn't reach it! "No no no NO—"
"Xin Yi?" Qing Lin's voice was suddenly alert. "What's wrong?"
"SOMETHING IS ON MY BACK!" She was hopping now, splashing frantically. "I CAN'T REACH IT! IT'S CRAWLING! IT HAS LEGS! SO MANY LEGS!"
She heard the splash before she saw him.
Qing Lin appeared beside her in the water, and his hand was already on her shoulder, turning her around.
"Hold still," he commanded, his eyes already looking for what was attacking his precious female.
"STILL?! There's a—a—LEG DEMON on my—EEP!"
His cool fingers traced down her spine, and she felt the moment he found the creature.
"It's just a water beetle," he said calmly. "They're harmless."
"GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF—"
