Caidoz

Chapter 25 - I fight a Chimera named Fluffy

A growl begun in my throat. Chimeras. The vile mutations of an animal. There couldn't be one here, but I have never known my nose to ever fail me.
   "Yes, and now, for the opposing challenger. From the deserted, deadly cliffs of the desert, we have a killer of a beast. A defiance to Mother Nature, and a thrill to our expectant hearts. Meet the ruler of the sands, a chimera!"

   The iron gate poles swing upward in a loud clash.
   I inhale the terrifying scent of the monster which I was to face. Suddenly, my daggers didn't seem like such a bad idea.
   A goat bleated loudly.
   I dug my claws into the ground.

   Breathe. Just breathe. How bad can it be? We are technically both animals, maybe it speaks dog?
   A giant roar explodes into the silence of the crowd.
   Perhaps it doesn't.
   Large blond paws with razor sharp claws carry themselves into the light of what the grey skies so lackingly provided us. A hideous face appeared into view.

   Lion ears flickering in hatred and his- wait. No. Her  eyes narrowed in loathing.
   My heart was beating quickly now, for I knew the female chimares were much more potential murderers than the already vicious and brutal males.
   The neck had shown itself into my vision and there was no mane resting upon her shoulders, proving my thoughts true.

   A blue forked tounge flickered from behind her back and a giant inraged python whipped its head into vision, baring white poisonous fangs. The neck was striped with black rippling patterns with silky, green scales.
   Finally, the last head shakes its curved, treacherous, brown horns at me, golden eyes staring into my soul as the goat bleated softly, both eyes in different directions.
   It's kinda cute.

   Then, the pupils dilated and focused their up most attention on my form with such fury that my claws curve more into the dirt in nervousness as it bleats a cry of death.
   A sparkle catches my vision as I see something bound around the lioness' neck. A strong, powerful red leather collar that seemed to had been made to survive an simehquake with large purple diamond jewels, twinkling in the few weak rays of light.

   A large, matching, purple bell lay at her throat and I faintly saw small words circling around the jingling object. Fluffy. Huh. Go figure. Ah well, if the fang fits... I didn't make a move as all six pairs of eyes stared into me.
   It came closer and the lioness bared her fangs.
   I stood still.

   Then, to my complete surprise, the fangs open wide and I tensed, ready for action. They then seemed to reach its point and the pink tounge curved in a giant yawn.
   I blinked and the crowd began to mumble.
   The chimera, aka Fluffy, moved around in a circle around herself and then plopped down and circled up in sleep, covering her snout with her deadly paw.
   Are all the females sleeping in today?!  I sighed in relief.

   At least now Bootes could say I went in and did thus event, but I could provide a rather good excuse that the monster wanted to take a nap.
   The crowd suddenly erupted in boos and hisses of anger. Apprerently they didn't want to come see the kitty/ goat/ killer python with fangs, slumber. They wanted action and blood.
   Bootes' voice came over the stadium again. "Come now Fluffy, rise and shine, you have a fight today. We all came to see you."

   The python only wrapped around the lion body sleepily.
   The goat hadn't taken its eyes off me and I was starting to wonder if it would ever blink. It was starting become slightly creepy.
   "Fine then, if you won't make the first move, the Grim will."
   I felt faint with horror. Me? Attack... that?! Why don't you tell me to swallow a flaming sword while you're at it! I shook out my fur in refusal.

   The crowd wasn't to stand for thus. They wanted blood and violence from the two monsters in the pit. They had come for a show, after all. They booed and hissed in fury. Things were going to get bad.
   Bootes' voice came loudly over the noise. "Don't worry folks, we had extra measures put in place in case something like thus occurred."

   Extra measures?  I didn't like the sound of that.
   Without warning, the purple jems on the chimera's red collar glowed with a white light and a smell of burn fur was in the air.
   Fluffy jumped to her claws with a screeching roar, the goat bleating in irritation and the python with poisonous fangs glared at me.

   What just happened?!  I then dog-laughed a little. That's what Cancer said a while ago. It seemed I was catching on to her attitude. But still, it wanted to sleep. Then Bootes insured the crowd a fight, and the beast got up in a hurry...
    Fluffy started to circle around me, her snarls loud for all to hear.

   My dog instincts overtook me. Blood lashed against the walls of its veins in an addled fury of fizzling. Her scent was in my nose and I wanted it gone forever, ridden from thus world. I needed her gone. I needed her dead. I WANTED her dead. Growling... I am growling?

   I found my throat making the movements as my paws lead me to circle the opposing beast.
   "Look on with eagerness for the battle, folks, thus battle is just to really begin. What will happen next, I wonder?" Bootes said excitedly.

   I noted her sharp claws and powerful muscles. Her powerful horns and chomping teeth. Her swiftness and her poisonous bite. I felt respect for her form and graceful manner. Thus chimera was a mighty opponent and I wanted to kill her and claim the reward for her pelt. I wanted to feel my fangs sink into her chest and my claws shredding her three throats. I continued to circle and then I saw something strange spark in a white flashing light as the chimera roared at me in distaste. Or was it distaste? The purple jems... Alexanderite. I realised it to be true.

   The purple stones had been discovered in the west and used to domesticate animals. They automatically could be used to send a bright, powerful jolt to the creature to which they were applied. That's why she got up... because the Alexanderite forced her to.
   I stopped for a second to ponder thus and that one split minute in time, the chimera saw my weak point.

   She screamed a horrible cry of loathing and flung herself at me.
   I felt my paws grow wings and I dodged her impeding blow as I tripped over myself, tumbling under her in a rolling ball of fur. I jumped to my paws again and saw the beast repeating to circle.
   We had continued to watch the other and I was now on the offense, waiting for her slips of her footing and mistakes in which to attack.