Corrupted Blood

I never back down from a challenge. Those are words I lived by for years, yet one day, they were tested. It was a cloudy day, the sky seemed one, big cloud. I stood there, knee high in mud and blood. My leather armor grew harder to move as it grew heavy from the falling rain. My sword felt like a thousand pounds alone as my wounded arm desperately held it up. I heaved in breath, my wound seeping more of my own blood from my side.1

The dark beast stood in front of me. It walked around, circling me. It was a chimera; head of a lion, body of a bear, and the tail of a scorpion. It lowered it's massive head and glared at me, licking it's whiskers clean. By it's crimson, reptilian-like eyes I knew it liked my taste of mortality. It moved easily in the thick mud, slapping it about with it's claws. It's tail up and ready for a second attack.2

I stood my ground, waiting for the beast to strike. Finally it lunged at me, baring anxious fangs. I was quick enough to move to the right and slashed my sword at the venomous tail. I was able to cut it off, sending it into the air, but it took my sword for the scales were thick. The chimera suddenly roared and bounded back at me, now offended by my existence. It took me down into the mud, covering me from head to toe. I was able to grab hold of it's mane so able to keep my head above. I yelled out as I felt it's claws both dig in and crush my arm. It brought up one claw to send it's final blow, but I used this split second to my advantage. I reached down for my dagger and plunged it into the bear torso.3

As expected, it reared back, screaming in pain. I got to my feet quickly and went for my sword. it was only inches away before the beast rammed into my wounded side, throwing me into a tree. I yelled again, landing on my broken arm. Quickly I regained my balance. I was able to dodge the beast once more. I saw there, in the branches, the lost chimera limb. I took hold of the tail and swiftly landed it into the beasts eye.4

Then I slid to my sword and stood again. The lion glared at me and roared. It was now ten tons of fury and rage. There was no greater form of hate. It charged at me, baring it's fangs and aiming it's claws for me in a single jump. I then shot my weapon up and sliced the air. Behind me the massive body slid in the mud and in front of me landed it's ugly head. I shook my sword free of it's corrupted blood and sheathed it. As I said, I never back away from a fight.