Quickly he glanced toward the huge oak.
Beowulf was gone!
Slowly he turned his eyes toward the tarn.
It was there!
Moving toward him with deliberate stride, dark except where the moonlight reflected from its eyes.
Quickly he notched his arrow, drew the bow.
Nearer it came, and nearer. It seemed nearly upon him when he loosed his arrow. It struck the creature full in the chest, dropped harmlessly to the ground.
"Athena, farewell!"
The creature's claws touched his arm, cutting effortlessly through cloth and through flesh.
"Face me, worm of death. I've traveled through space and time to challenge you, and you return to your lair only through me."