All of us are chimeras, just some of us more. To most that means a few cells exchanged between mother and baby during pregnancy, or even absorbing the fetus was supposed to be its twin. However, there are creatures that can truly take pride in that title. The beautiful abominations consisting of different animal parts fused together. The Classical era biologists blamed existence of those "monsters" on the magic lingering after Discord's banishment. I can't disagree with them. I have no evidence to contradict that fact, more like to support it. The behaviour of these creatures is indeed quite peculiar.

Chimeras

Creatures with a body of tiger and goat, and a snake for tail. They roam mainly the eastern parts of Forest where it slowly starts to fade into the Badlands. Ponies know this place under the name of Flame Geyser Swamp.

The only reason why they live there is the fact that they'd be easily outnumbered and pushed to the sidelines by Timberwolf packs in the "normal" parts of Forest. However, you can't find Timberwolves near flame geysers for obvious reasons. Before I tell you more about Chimeras, basic information about survival in the Swamp would be due, in case you were in charge of emergency pie deliveries through it.

There are two main aspects you should be concerned with. First is the fire, second the bog. Just on a side note; if you want a hot mud bath, there are far better places to go. Mud can be avoided quite easily like in a normal marshland and the fire eruptions are predictable. When you feel hard ground under your hooves, you are safe. Though when it gets just a little muddy, you need to pay full attention to the bubbling and shaking underneath. When it intensifies, run. You are standing just above the hypocentre. And don't forget to watch out for the boggy areas when fleeing away.

The Chimeras have the advantage of being part snake and thus possessing the reptilian ability of sensing infrasound waves. When dragging the third head on the ground, they know exactly where all the geysers are. But there are other problems they have to face.

The griffons have a saying of similar meaning to our "No bees, no honey, no work, no money." Theirs says, "Roasted pigeons won't fly into your mouth," which in the case of Chimeras isn't exactly true. Or, better said, the literal opposite is real life for them. Food will come straight under their noses, sometimes even cooked. However, there isn't much of it. And here comes the problem I have mentioned before.

The Chimera doesn't need to eat everyday, but it can't starve for a month, too--theoretically, one scaly third of it can... Each of the heads eats nearly the same food as the original animal would. Tiger goes for meat, snake after smaller creatures and goat after plants and sometimes baked stuff. For each head, there is an appropriate digestive system, meaning that not all three have to eat everytime to get some energy for the whole body.

When the true hunger hits, the heads start to act more autonomously, returning to their respective ancestral behaviour and weaknesses. The winner is usually the goat, at least for some time. When it's grazing happily, its sisters or brothers are starving. That often ends with the tiger's mind snapping and attacking the goat part, while the snake is waiting for the right moment to strangle the other two. Here is a philosophical question. Does Chimera commit a murder or a suicide? Furthermore, this is the time when you might be able to escape a Chimera unscathed.

Also, due to the conditions I still wasn't able to observe their mating and not even come up with a plan how to stay in the swamp long enough. Chimeras are one of the most sentient creatures around, but even I don't feel like seeking out one to ask such intimate questions... All I know that the pair of Chimeras then functions as two individuals, not six.

Hydras

Another chimeroid creatures, these a mixture of some reptilian, amphibian and possibly cnidarian of the same name. That's it if I can guess from their abilities and behaviour. They have both lungs and outer gills--visible as the bright red hem on their head--and can switch between them. This makes them able to stay underwater for a long time, but also to survive on dry land.

Unlike Chimeras, Hydras are more "melted together" and their heads aren't as autonomous. However, each of them has control of the full body--in Chimera, the control is distributed between the heads--resulting in their lumbering gait and clumsy movements. Younger Hydras are more agile, simply because when they hatch, their body is adorned only by one head. Their eggs look like those of a frog, and so do the "tadpoles" consisting of long neck and tail. Legs grow later. Hydras lay millions of eggs, but if one of them makes it into adulthood, it's a huge success. As they age, new heads start to bud around the "original" neck. You can recognize the oldest head by being the slowest one.

Though in water, they are quick as a few others, as well as brilliantly oriented both underwater and above its surface. So whenever you are in the Froggy Bottom Bogg and surrounding open areas, be aware you are being watched from everywhere.

This makes them skilled, non-picky hunters. A duck, a small Cragadile or a frog, it simply doesn't matter, all is food. Which is what saved us from frog overpopulation suppressing the other marshland wildlife. Because somepony though that poor froggies needed more space and should be relocated there.

Despite their gaping maw, they'll attack you for territory intruding more than as a prey. Though, you should be able to escape them by mere galloping. Also, their large thick skin is a feast for many parasites. And I mean parasites like leeches or tick-like arthropods with long and sharp nippers, teeth and stingers lurking in the water, waiting for a host. Don't forget that pony skin isn't as thick as Hydra's scales and not all parasites are just hydra-specialized...

Manticores

And the last of the beautiful abominations; Manticores. A combination of a lion, a scorpion and a bat. Especially the last one is visible, but more or less useless. Just the younger ones are able to glide with their wings, older Manticores can just propel themselves while running and flare their wings to look bigger and more intimidating. They are one of the laziest creatures I've ever met. Manticores spent almost all days napping and when hunger finally calls, they search their surroundings for any remains after the feast of another predator. Their search usually ends upon the hunting ground of a younger Cragadile, rich in leftovers.

When they do actually hunt, they prefer to use their paws over the stinger. Luckily, the laws of nature survived the amendment they went through with this creature. You might have heard of rule "the bigger scorpion, the better" relating to the fact that the smallest of scorpions are the deadliest. Given their size, Manticore's poison is even weaker than that of a wasp. You should be more afraid of their saliva, it's as thick as glue and has nearly the same quality. If they use their stinger on some smaller creature, it's dead before the poison can take effect as the critter is usually pierced through. Also when eating, they quietly hum to themselves. Reason for this is not yet clear. Albeit, do you have any reason for singing in the shower?

They roam the more central parts of the Everfree, notably around the edge of the rocky areas as there are always some dead fallen chamois to be found. They are strictly territorial, especially in the places they use for sleeping. Not a good idea to wake them up, trust me.

To a fact a lot of ponies are asking; Yes, females miss the mane. But that's the end of the differences. Well, maybe they are a little more energetic. When mating, the male incapacitates the female with the poison to calm her--they have weakness for their own weapon. Up two cubs can be born and they stay with mother for a few years.

So, how to deal with them? Don't interrupt their dreams and you'll be fine. Otherwise, Tartarus help you, magic nor strength won't.