Bellerophon and the Winged Horse

Bellerophon had been sent on an impossible task: he must kill the Chimera — a creature with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and a tail that ended in a living serpent, who breathed fire and had already burned three kingdoms to ash.

The king who sent him there expected him to die.

But first, a wise man told Bellerophon: "You cannot face the Chimera on foot. Its flames are too wide, too hot. Go to the spring of Pirene and wait. If you are worthy, Pegasus will come."

So Bellerophon went to the spring in the hills and sat down. Days passed. He ate berries and drank from the fountain. He was very patient, and very quiet, because he sensed that some things can only come to you when you stop chasing them.

On the fourth morning, he heard a rush of wind and a sound like great sails filling with air. A white horse descended from the clouds — enormous, winged, brilliant in the early light. Pegasus bent his head to the water.

Bellerophon stood slowly and held out his palm. The horse raised his head and looked at him for a long time. Then, as gently as a dog coming to a trusted friend, Pegasus walked over and touched his nose to Bellerophon's hand.

He slipped onto Pegasus's back, and the wings beat once, twice, and they were flying.

They found the Chimera in a scorched valley, its lion-head roaring fire at the sky. But from above, Pegasus carried Bellerophon out of reach of the flames while he drove the creature back with his spear.

When it was over, they flew home together through the sunset, the fire fading below them, the stars beginning to appear above.

That night, curled in the warmth of the stable, Bellerophon told Pegasus everything. He thought the horse understood. Pegasus's dark eyes were patient and kind, and they held the whole sky inside them.