Hallo Fellow Members of Bellatrix! Welcome to the First 2016 Edition of the Chimera
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Hallo fellow members of Bellatrix! Welcome to the first 2016 edition of the Chimera. This is your new Mother of Monsters writing. My legal name is Charisse James, which you will need to use if you ever wish to email me. I answer to Sky and use the “she/her/them/they” pronouns. As the Mother of Monsters, it is my duty to oversee the editing and publishing of each edition of the Chimera. For 2016, the Chimera will be a monthly edition, printed in the last week of every month. The Chimera is a collection of artwork, story serials, fan fictions, book reviews, poems, jokes, blog posts, and anything really that revolves around Manga, Anime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Manhwa, and Comics. The Chimera depends on student contribution. If you are a current MHC student, a member of Bellatrix and/or Renegades, feel free to email me at [email protected], with your submissions. Here are the guidelines: 1) It must be your own work plagiarism is not tolerated. If you wish to submit something and claim that it is yours, it is best that that be so. If you are submitting work on behalf of someone else, make sure that you have their permission. 2) All work will be reviewed and must be approved by an editor before submissions. 3) Only current Mount Holyoke Students may submit to the Chimera. That is, classes of 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. All other students can send their submissions in to the Bellorophan on Tumblr. 4) It is preferable that all written work be five pages or less. If your story is longer, find a good place to cut it and place a “too be continued” there. You can then send in the continuation for the next month. 5) Everything that can be considered Not-Safe-For-Work will summarily be denied. So, submit at your own risk and knowledge. 6) Editors cannot review their own work. If they wish to submit something, they must get it reviewed by another editor. Con-Bust 2016! Spring Break! Upcoming events 1) Spring Break! 2) Bellatrix will be attending the Smith Con-Bust from April 1 to third. We will be selling artwork and figurines in the Artist Alley feel free to come and visit us. The hours are: Friday April 1st: 7 PM to 9:30 PM. Saturday April 2nd: 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Sunday April 3rd: 9 O'clock AM to 4 O'clock PM. For tickets and other such information, check out the Con-bust website. 3) Bellatrix will be hosting Unofficial instead of the usual line up on Friday March 11th at 8 O'clock PM, in Cleveland L3. Unofficial is when we all get together and watch anime we that isn't in our usual line up. It also occurs sometimes on Friday evenings after official hours. Prompts for the March edition of the Chimera Prompt 1, has been gifted to by a lovely Bella Sophomore, who wished to remain anonymous. 1) It had been a long day at the lab. Dr. Lynd was ready to go home, take a shower, kick off her shoes, and climb into her large, soft bed. Preferably with a glass of wine and her favorite book. She felt discouraged because she had been in the lab for nigh on five years now, every day from sunrise to sunset, trying to find a cure for cancer. Of course, she did not expect to find it she was not that naive. The research project had been going on for years and there was still no sign of a cure. Sometimes though, in the early hours of the morning, curled at the bottom of her bed she dreamed that she had found it. If only, to avoid wasting money and time on future useless attempts. Her partner, Dr. Hailey had been working at the lab for thirty years. A stern woman, valedictorian of her High school class, she inspired humans wherever she went. “I'm off then. Have a good evening, Doctor Lynd,” Doctor Hailey said. Doctor Lynd hummed a reply as she checked the microscope for the thousandth time, and froze there was something there. Something that just might be there answers to their prayers. "Wait! Come back!" Lynd shouted, “I think I see something.” Dr. Hailey came rushing back across the sterile laboratory, looked into the microscope, and screamed. Prompt two and three are from yours truly. 2) Character A has been diagnosed with sudden hearing loss, but they are determined to accomplish their dreams. They are going to be the best military commander the world has ever seen. Character B, is a cocky little genius who dreams of world peace and of being revered. The two are destined to be superb allies, if only they are not assassinated before they meet. 3) “So you're the Mer-creature?” It's Character B's first day back on campus, and they have already managed to tick off their new roommate. Character A is not a Mer-Anything thank-you- very-much. Just because they like to swim, and dislike walking does not mean that they are not normal, and they are willing to punch anyone who says otherwise. Example of a short story “Moratorium: Conquer with Caution” Security Detail, 53.6667° N, 6.6417° W “Can you walk?” “Yeah...” “C-Commander?” “We're fine, Ita. Hang on a second.” Andreas closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again. The fuzzy borders didn't disappear but he could see a bit better. All around him sharp darts of sunlight reflected off the snow, except where it had been dyed red with blood. There weren't any Asters in sight. “We've got a break. Let's move,” he said rising to his feet, and hoisting Amon up with him. “Same formation,” Andreas said taking the lead, eyes narrowed for maximum visibility. Murtagh and Ita walked directly behind him, shoulders drooping with exhaustion. Liam and Page brought up the rear. In such fashion, they crossed the field and came upon a copse of trees. He eyed them warily, the air felt colder under the treetops, but that could be attributed to the shade. Still he was uneasy as he advanced. There was no warning. The Asdoch launched itself out from the cover of the bush, its large paws slamming into him. Amon was knocked aside as Andreas fell backwards, the snow not deep enough to protect his back from the sting. Andreas clenched his teeth, struggling to raise his legs to kick the beast away, his right hand searching for a knife, while his left kept the looming jaws back. Sharp claws dug into his left arm as the beast readjusted, aiming for his throat. Andreas grasped the knife, ramming it into the Asdoch's jugular. The beast collapsed, the amber glow of its eyes fading within seconds. He freed the knife and rolled to his feet, eyes scanning for his charges. Liam was backed against a tree and was defending against a two-headed Asdoch. Page and Amon were each dealing with their own Asteroides. The green belts were nowhere to be seen, but an arrow came shooting down from a tree catching Liam's Asdoch in the flank. Andreas switched out his knife for a sword and went to help Amon. He ducked behind the Aster, slicing at the tendons in its knees before completing his roll and coming up next to his lieutenant. The Aster stumbled forwards, icicles spewing everywhere as it swung at them. Andreas ducked under the swing, and stabbed upwards kicking the Aster back. The beast snarled as it slammed into the ground but Liam was already there to slit its throat. Andres freed his sword and confiscated the Asteroide's patch before looking around. The 4 Asters had been taken care of. “Good work,” Andreas said, sheathing his sword awkwardly. “Who’s got the spark?” “I'm on it!” Ita said, scrambling down from her tree perch. The green belt pulled out the flint from her messenger satchel and set about lighting a fire on one of the Asdoch. Andreas relieved the other Asteroide of its patch as he helped Liam pile them up. Once all four bodies had been set aflame, Andreas motioned for Page to get out the first aid kit. “Keep your eyes peeled, that was only half of a patrol,” Andreas said, and peered up at the treetops trying to figure out the sun number. “We're nearly to the village.” “Sir?” Andreas redirected his gaze to Page, who held up a roll of bandages. Andreas frowned at her. “Your arm. It's bleeding,” The blue belt said. “Oh,” he said, as he inspected his left arm wriggling his fingers experimentally. They were stiff. “I'm fine. It doesn't hurt,” he said looking back at her. Page's round face lit up with alarm, before her eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. “Did you take care of everyone else?” Andreas said, as he shook out his arm. It hurt, a heathen lot but he wasn't about to tell her that. It would be an issue for sure, if she ran out of bandages. “Amon!” Page said, spinning around. “The Commander's gonna bleed to death!” “I'm fine,” Andreas said, glowering down at the back of her head. “I've got extra bandages in my bag, Sir.” Amon shoved himself away from the tree he'd been leaning against. “Or is the plan to leave a blood trail for LT.