…“You speak of humans so harshly… yet you were one, not so long ago”, Elise scoffed. “Don’t try that shit. Must’ve been a few months, at most. I know more than you, and I’m not even one of your kind.” A part of them inwardly cringed - this whole interaction was recorded, and CERCNA would surely make a comment about language.

The Chimera backed off, stepping back enough that Elise could see its full size once more. Must’ve hit a nerve. Its tail swayed, and Elise noted that the sharp object that had been poking them was a large stinger, around the size of their head. Elise filed this information for later - even more of a creature out of some mythical fantasy. Maybe the xenal lifeform the Chimera had come in contact simply looked like a big cat? Or perhaps the human was able to influence their own transformation by drawing from cultural touchstones…

Didn’t matter right now. Elise allowed themselves to release the breath they’d been unconsciously holding. “Thank you. I was starting to suspect you of being a poor host, if I may dare to imply that.”

The creature in front of her pulled back its lips, chuckling madly; although anyone could see its eyes flash with anger. Good. If they continued this pace, they’d finish this job relatively soon.

“Getting frustrated with the audacity of your former kin, Chimera?” Elise said, walking a few steps parallel to the beast - although being careful to never fully turn away from it. “I understand. Does being reminded of your humanity make you angry? Does it bring up unpleasant memories…? I imagine so.” They looked away for a second or two, a carefully calculated move; and when they looked back once more, the Chimera was once again close enough to free the organs from Elise’s body with only the move of a wicked claw.

With each exhale the great beast took, Elise could feel the hair on their head blow and move in the otherwise still air.

The beast’s eyes were almost beautiful. A kaleidoscope of yellow, with jewels of orange and red intermixed between. A lesser human could easily find itself petrified in the gaze. But Elise could resist the pull.

“I would say that I’d be sorry when I’ll end your life,” Elise murmured. “But I’d be lying, terrible beast. You sacrificed your humanity, for what? To be in pain? To be easily slayed by the same animals you look down upon?”

“Idiot,” the Chimera snarled. Blood-red spittle flew onto Elise’s face. “You are just a larva to me. A butterfly will not be swayed by the words of a catepillar,” it said, rearing up, pulling back its monstrous claws.

Elise snatched their dagger from their belt, and as the Chimera’s claws slammed into the ground, Elise slid into the space between their body and the tiled floor, and jammed the chimeric blade of metal into the creature’s hairless, taut belly - up until their own arm was drenched in the creature’s own bodily fluids in an effort to drive the dagger deep as they physically could. The blade tore into the tender flesh, and Elise let momentum do the rest of the work in separating the Chimera’s inner contents from the shell of its skin .

The Chimera howled in agony, clutching its chest as its own lifeblood poured onto the once-shiny store floor; with each millisecond the pool collecting by its hands grew ever larger.