The Challenger by Lex Chamberlin
“Ah, at last!” the warrior proclaimed. With a flourish of armored triumph, he launched himself from the forest brush into the dewy glade. He bowed low, the unfastened straps of his horned helmet lightly brushing the hallowed ground. When he again spoke, his voice shook with reverence: “Ethereal creature of legend, how I’ve searched for thee! The mighty Deathray—it will be an honor!” He drew his broadsword and brought it to a ready position beside his shield, heaving exhilarated breaths as he awaited the god’s response—but the doe standing opposite him merely blinked before returning to her feast of foliage.
The warrior lowered his weapon slightly, a frown tugging at his cracked lips. The markings were there, the diamonds on her forehead, and this place—if any meadow could be described as otherworldly, it was this one: pink and purple blooms of thick succulent rosettes bursting through a blanket of turquoise grass, a halo of fireflies bobbling tirelessly around the clearing’s circumference, and through the center, between twin banks of radiant moss, a stream clear as air flowing over a prism of glassy stones. An intoxicating aroma of delicate citrus swam through the gentle breeze. And yet… “Huh. Wrong deer?”
With a flash of her eyes, he was reduced to atoms, and a new dusting of flavor settled over her salad.
Lex Chamberlin (they/she) is a nonbinary and autistic writer of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. They hold a master’s degree in book publishing and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and they reside in the Pacific Northwest with their husband and quadrupedal heirs. Find them online at lexchamberlin.com.
