Previously

there was a beast with a massive lion head in the front with a goat head protruding from the side, the size of a 18 wheeler. To make matters worse instead of a tale, the beast had a snake at the end of his body that was at least 15 feet long.

"There it is." Said Zoe. The chimera.

Chapter nine

"Duh." I said. "It was the only word I could form as I watched the creature." Zoe gave me an annoyed look, but right now she wasn't the biggest problem. "So what is your plan." She asked. I looked at her, surprised. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"You planned on hunting the beast alone before we crossed path, did you not. How did you plan on taking the beast down." She stated. I was kinda dumbfounded seeing as how my original plan was just to follow the hunters. "Well um maybe we should lead the chimera into the woods, away from the mortals. Then you and I will face the beast head on while the rest of the hunters support with arrows." I said, making a plan up on the spot.

"Hmm," Zoe thought for a moment. "Your plan is sensible, but you said you would face the beast with a spear. Yet earlier you wielded a sword?"

"Oh well, my weapon kind of changes forms." I said taking my ring off and summoning my spear from the death mist.

"Hmm, very well. But now rises the question of how to attract the beast." She said while still looking curiously at my spear.

I opened my mouth to answer but was interrupted by a loud roar. I looked over to the chimera to see that it had noticed us. It turned towards us and made its way over. "Seems that we won't have to get its attention." I noted.

"Hunters, fall back to the trees, support fire." Zoe yelled. Instantly the hunters dropped back into woods, I assumed they were going to find a place to get a clear shot.

"I hope you are ready." Said Zoe to me. "As ready as I'll ever be." I replied.

With that we ran towards the already charging chimera. We met the massive beast at the tree line, me with my spear and Zoe with her two hunting knifes, both the size of her forearm.

The second we were in range of the monster, it blew its fiery breath onto us. Lemme just tell you that stuff was hot. I plunged my spear into the middle of the flames, splitting them in half and blinding myself in the process.

From the flames protruded the lions mouth, wide open and ready to bite my head off. I immediately jumped back, narrowly avoiding the beast razor sharp teeth.

The beast let up on it's attacked, all three animal heads focused on me. That was its first mistake seeing as how I wasn't it's biggest an opening Zoe charged the beast and unleashed a fury of swipes from her blades upon the chimera lion neck. The beast screamed out in pain, leaking dust from its neck and wildly swiping its paws in a attempt to hit Zoe. But it was useless as she had jumped back and was already by my side.

"Do that a couple more times and this will be a piece of cake." I sad to her. "Not like," she said without taking her eyes off the beast. "it will now be weary of the both of us. It has three heads, and we have two. They have the advantage." I guess she was right but I I didn't see the worry. Even with three different heads the chimera didn't see her attack.

"Split up." She said. "Try and blind sight it." I nodded. I slowly circled to the right of the beast. Both the goat and the lion were focused on Zoe. Seeing this as an opening I charged the beast. "Wait!" I heard Zoe yell, but it was too late, I was already in full charge. It was at the last second when I remembered something important. The snake. In an instant a massive snake head appeared in front of me. It spit acidic venom towards me from its giant mouth. I jumped to the side last second, barely avoid the attack.

But the snake wasn't done. It t followed up with another attack. It's head moved at unimaginable speed taking a bite at me I was just able to avoid by rolling and getting up. I felt a sharp pain near my shoulder and looked to see some of the snakes venom on me. It was tearing away at my shirt and burning my skin.

I tried to lift my spear up to defend myself, but the pain hindered me. I fell back to Zoe what's still waiting for an opening.

"I told you to circle it, not attack." She said angrily. "I know, I only attacked because I forgot about the snake." I said defensively. "Foolish boy." She said as she pulled out her bow. She started firing arrows at unimaginable speeds. Every arrow met their mark on the lion and goat heads.

"Tie up that cut or else the venom will make its way to your bloodstream. If that happens you will not be able to fight. Do it quick, I can not cover for you forever." She said without taking her eyes off the chimera.

I ripped a part of my shirt off and bandaged my wound. I experimentally lifted my arm to see if it hurt. It still stung a bit but it was manageable. I re-summoned my spear and stood up.

"I'm ready I said to her." I said.

Zoe looked back at me for a split second, giving the chimera an opening. The beast came at us with paws up, ready to cut us to bits. Zoe turned around wide eyed at the last second, barely having time to react. We both rolled away in different directions, making the chimera choose who to target. The chimera stood in between me and Zoe, looking back and forth.

Ultimately the creature decided to go for me, seeing as how I was injured. Zoe, seeing my predicament, attempted to draw the beasts attention. But all she got was acidic spit from the snake as the monster continued to advance on me. I lifted my spear up in a attempt to protect myself but there was no way I could block an attack head on. And dodging would be impossibly with such little space between us.

The chimera continued to approach until there was only a couple feet between us. Zoe continued her attempts to help me but the snake stopped all her advances. The lion opened its mouth allowing me to see the back of its throat turning red. It was preparing to burn me to a crisp. I realized that my spear wouldn't help me with the flames from this close. I crossed my hand over me in an feeble attempt to protect myself.

I sat there on a knee, prepared to be burnt to a crisp from the scorching hot flames. But they never came. Instead all I heard was the roar of the chimera. I looked up to see it being pelted by dozens of arrows. Behind me on top of a high slope, we're the hunters foreign arrow after arrow! With a moment to breathe I quickly got up and backed away from the chimera. Zoe, however, advanced upon the beast, unhindered seeing as how the snake was trying to avoid arrows.

Once in range Zoe lunged forward and severed the snake had from the rest of the body. The chimera roared in a rage and blew its scalding hot flames upon the hunters. The hunters were forced to fall back, in fear of being burnt alive. Zoe too was forced to dropped back to avoid being melted as well.

"Good work." I told her. "But now it's my turn." With that I approached the chimera wearily who was still focused on the hunters. "I want you to stay back in case I need help." I said to Zoe without looking back. She nodded in response. "Just stay careful."

I continued to close the distance between me and the monster. I didn't want to get too close, or else the beast would obliterate me.

"Hey furball," I called out to the chimera. "Don't forget about me." The beast reacted immediately, swinging its huge paws towards me. I was barely able to react, jumping back at the last second. The chimera followed with another attack, trying to bite me with its blade like teeth. Seeing this as an opening I ducked under the attack and moved in close to deliver the final blow. I then stabbed my spear straight through the lion hide underneath his neck.

I stepped back from the beast with my spear still embedded in it, expecting it to crumble to dust. But instead I was met with the monsters paw swatting me away like a fly 10 feet away. Zoe rushed towards me in an attempt to help. She bent down to asses my wounds. "You have done well, let me finish the job." She aid. Before I could say anything a large shadow looked overhead. "Zoe...Watch Out!" I Said, but it was too late. The chimera hit Zoe with all of its force, nocking her into a nearby tree. She sat there at the trunk, borderline unconscious.

The chimera, seeing this, made its way over to her, preparing to finish her off. I looked over to see my weapon on the ground ten feet away. It was to far for me to reach before the chimera tore Zoe to bits. But that's when I remembered something Athena had said. "Your weapon is made out of the death mist, that is why it has the ability to change forms." Maybe I could manipulate it to help Zoe in time. I concentrated all my focus and energy into reverting the spear back into the death mist. Meanwhile Zoe was sitting against the tree, powerless as she stared the chimera dead in the eyes. The beast opened its mouth, preparing to finally get its meal. Zoe closed her eyes, already accepting her fate. "At least I am to die to a worthy monster." She though to herself. She wondered how lady Artemis would react to her death. With all these thoughts going through her head, Zoe forgot something. She was still alive. She opened her eyes to see the chimera with a long black spear protruding from its mouth.

A second later the creature dissolved until all that was left was a pelt made of snake skin, lion hide, and goat fur and the black spear. She looked over at the owner of the spear to see him laying an the floor, nowhere near his weapon.

He gave her a toothy grin and a thumbs up before passing out in front of her.

Hey guys, Noun here! I just anna say that I'm starting to notice that in some parts of the hunter bit of the story, I'm writing in third person. I get that it's kind of strange to switch pov's without letting read know. But it would only be for a couple paragraphs so I don't see the point. Though later on when there will be more main characters I will explore into different povs and we may even follow someone else at some point, who knows! Well that's all I wanted to say, hope you enjoyed the chapter :)