Trickey #11
You circle each other as you are not willing to show your back to the beast when his is a great deal more protected by the writhing snakes. Growling, you break the circle and lunge for the beast, knocking it over on to its back and crushing those snakes under its own weight; they hiss furiously, the sound muffled by the goat’s grey fur pressed over their gaping maws like a strangling gag. The chimera squirms and kicks out, landing a solid blow to your underbelly, which sends you sprawling, gasping for air that does not come easily.
Taking the opportunity presented, the chimera struggles back to its feet, more enraged than before, but you notice something different this time; the goat part of the creature is frantic with fear, kicking out wildly while the dumb animal head bleats, unable to convey its terror through speech. Pausing in its attack, the lion head turns to snarl ferociously at the goat, which only serves to drive it into a greater panic, kicking at its own underbelly like a thing possessed. The snakes dart in and bite the goat’s haunch, pouring precious doses of venom into its own body will the goat bleats plaintively, thrashing wildly under the continued assault. From a safe distance, you wonder warily if this is an attempt to incapacitate the goat to an extent that the lion and snake parts will be able to fight unaided but dragging the goat’s dead weight along with them.
The stinging, venomous bites, however, have the opposite effect entirely; the goat squeals and the lion roars as it is dragged away. The chimera backpedals swiftly, seemingly overcome with the urge to escape but in conflict with the desire to fight and protect what it owns. You shake your head in confusion, staying well away from this internal battle. Eventually, the lion gives a pained roar of loss and succumbs to the goat, streaking away from its precious mound with the snake still sinking its fangs into the hindquarters. Shocked that you have succeeded against such a vicious creature, you are quite still for several minutes, listening intently to ensure that you are not caught by surprise if it returns unexpectedly.
Written by Amethyst Mare on 11 July 2012