Labor One - Kill The Nemean Lion

Hercules had heard of this Nemean Lion that's hide was so tough that no weapon could pierce it, and he was scared. He was told by the gods that he could find the lion deep in the woods where no man had ever gone before.

As Hercules wandered in the dark and gloomy forest he wondered if this was even worth it. He decided to take a rest and think about it on a rock. Just as he was getting comfortable, this hideous beast jumped out in front of him. Hercules reacted quickly and threw the huge boulder that he was resting on at the Nemean Lion. The animal dodged the boulder and came charging at Hercules. Hercules jumped up just in time and landed on the beast's back. He then tried to ride and tame the wild beast but he failed because just as fast as Hercules had landed on the beast, the lion threw him off and he landed hard against a tree.

Now Hercules was mad. He simply picked up a stump, right out of the ground, and hurled it into the lion. The lion jerked and squiggled around until finally he laid dead. Then, Hercules skinned the lion of it's hide and wore it for the rest of his eleven labors. Now, he was ready for labor number two.
 

Written by Meghan McDonough and Illustration by Samantha Card