The Lion
She eats the men lured to her lair and sends the bones to Hades. In the dark I pounce back and wrap my hands about her throat, white knuckled grasp until the last gasp of life leaves her like a candle blown out. I skin her with her own claw. Her fur now mine.
The Hydra
Golden sword, face wrapped with cloth. A beast raised just for my demise. One immortal head among many, like a house of mirrors. Chop one head and two return. Seemed impossible until my blade covered in poisonous blood scorches the stumps of decapitation. Two new constellations branded in the sky as proof of my deeds.
The Hind
Faster than an arrow in flight, the sacred animal was just out of reach. I pursued on foot for over a year, through four different kingdoms. I trapped it while it slept allowing me to capture it without desecration. The King demanded to keep it. Slow kingly hands enabled it's freedom, once again bounding away.
The Boar
Commanded to catch the beast alive I sought advice from Centaurs. They told me how then got very drunk and attacked me. They can't handle their wine. I shot them with arrows covered in poison from the Hydra. The boar was easier. Drove him into thick snow and delivered him to the cowering King Eurystheus.
The Stables
King Augeas wanted to humiliate me and so tasked me with cleaning out his stables. Immortal animals make an enormous quantity of dung by the way. They had not been cleaned for 30 years and housed 1,000 cattle so I re-routed the rivers Alpheus and Peneus to wash out the filth. They cried party foul.
The Birds
Ares, the God of war had sacred man eating birds with beaks of bronze and metallic feathers that they could launch like darts at their victims. Did I forget to mention highly toxic dung? A simple rattle scared them to flight and I easily dispatched them with more arrows. Didn't even break a sweat.
The Bull
I was Beseeched by King Minos to sail to Crete and catch a bull of ill repute that has been causing havoc in the orchards. I snuk up behind the beast and throttled it with my hands, stopping before it was killed and then shipped it back to Tiryns to be sacrificed later to Athena.
The Mares
I have been sent to steal the mares Podargos, Lampon, Xanthos, and Deinos, who are raised on a very unnatural diet of human flesh, fed to them by their owner. They are madness itself. He pursued me, we fought, I won. After getting the mares corralled I fed them their owner which permanently calmed them.
The Belt
Admete wants the Queen of the Amazons belt. I have been ordered to retrieve it. Hera however had other plans, disguising herself and walking among the Amazons she began sowing seeds of distrust. One giant misunderstanding later left the Queen slain by my hand. Should never have happened, but I did get the belt. sigh
The Cattle
A golden chariot carried me to the cattle who were guarded by Geryon. He charged me carrying three shields, three spears, and wearing three helmets. My arrow pierced his forehead and bent his neck over to one side, like a poppy that spoils its delicate shapes, shedding its petals all at once. Cattle successfully retrieved.
The Apples
Caught shape shifting sea God to find the Garden. Agreed to hold the Heavens for Atlas while he got me the apples. He wouldn't take the heavens back so I asked him to temporarily relieve me to adjust my cloak. Atlas agreed and resumed holding up the heavens. I reneged, walked away with the apples.
Cerberus
Struck deal with Hades. I could take Cerberus to the surface if I didn't use any weapons. Used my hands. Eurystheus was terrified of him, begged me to take him back to the underworld offering to release me from any further labours. I am now free from the king. Think I'll ride with the Argonauts.
55 word chapters. Micro storytelling