"Oh, come on, Chris. He won't do anything to you…unless I tell him to," Clarisse said, watching the small pup tug at his leash.
Chris laughed without humor. "Right. I bet you anytime now that thing'll bust out that snake tail of his and eat me whole."
"His name is Spike, not it."
Chris rolled his eyes. The pup paused and stared at Chris with its tongue lolling on the side of its jaw. Spike, like Clarisse so affectionately named him, was a gift from her father, the god of war, Ares. Chris knew it wasn't just a father giving his daughter a nice little pet. It was Ares sending him a message. If Chris were to ever hurt Clarisse a chimera would be the last thing he would have to worry about.
The thing barked causing Chris to jump. He could have sworn that thing was smirking at him.
"He's cute for a young chimera," Clarisse said observing the chimera-puppy-looking-thing.
"He's so going to eat me," Chris repeated, but took Clarisse's hand in his anyway.
If Ares was watching him right now, Chris was sending him a message. He wasn't going to let go of Clarisse because of mutant puppy, or anything else. He was sticking by her side as long as she wanted him to, and even if she didn't Chris Rodriguez wasn't going anywhere.