Worries
Pandora
Tonight was the night. Pandora would set off on her first quest.
Unlike other campers, she had never felt the desire to accomplish anything glorious. Pandora was content with her life because she had everything she needed.
She had a mum whom she didn't see often, but who she knew loved her. She had her twin brother Evan and numerous other half-siblings with whom she shared her cabin. She had fantastic friends at camp that she could always count on. And she had the opportunity to help the other camp members with her healing powers.
Life as a demigod wasn't easy, but Pandora loved it anyway. She was nervous about the quest, but she tried to look at it like a new opportunity. Maybe she would even make new friends.
There would be a campfire the night before they left. Pandora loved campfires because they were simply about being together. They sang and ate and told each other stories.
Minerva had arranged a meeting to explain the details of the quest. Not much was clear from the prophecy. Or maybe Minerva didn't want to reveal everything.
The Hunters of Artemis had left that morning, but Mary had made it clear that she would keep an eye on the quest. She didn't seem to trust them.
The rest of the day was spent on preparation. They were all allowed to choose a weapon that would accompany them on the quest. James and Sirius chose their own swords, which they had been fighting with for a long time. Lily packed her dagger while Evan readied his bow and arrows. Remus assured her that he didn't need a weapon. He had his tool belt and would know how to help himself. Regulus had reluctantly taken a sword.
He had told Pandora that he preferred to fight with twin swords, but there were none in the camp. Pandora had been very impressed by this, as she found it difficult to cope with a single sword.
And that was the problem. Pandora was a healer. She had no experience in fighting. Of course, she had also attended sword-fighting lessons in the arena, but she had never really got to grips with it. So now she sat helplessly on her bed without any idea what to do.
Pandora was about to give up and just get a sword when Evan sat down next to her. He looked at her thoughtfully.
‘I might have something for you.’
Curious, Pandora watched as her brother pulled something out from under his bed. It was a wooden box. Her eyes widened as she realised what it was. Slowly, she shook her head.
‘Evan, I can't take it. What if it breaks?’
But Evan didn't let himself be stopped and opened the box. He pulled out an old ukulele. It was the only thing the two of them had from their father. Their mum had given it to them when they went to Camp Half-Blood. Apparently it was a ‘battle ukulele’ that had once belonged to Apollo himself. Padora was still speechless when Evan placed the ukulele in her lap. He smiled at her.
‘Mum said it was a battle ukulele. You'll be able to use it.’
Pandora looked at him wide-eyed before wrapping her arms around him.
‘And you're quite sure you want me to take it?’
Evan nods slightly as he leans back. Pandora took the ukulele carefully in her hands. She began to play it slowly. Although it should have been out of tune long ago, the melody sounded beautiful. Evan leant back on the bed and closed his eyes. And so the two of them stayed until it was time to go to the campfire.
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The atmosphere was peaceful. Pandora was enjoying her last evening at camp. She sat next to Evan and roasted a marshmallow.
After a while, she realised that Evan hadn't moved. His marshmallow was completely charred. She poked him anxiously. Evan flinched and quickly pulled his marshmallow out of the fire. He met Pandora's gaze. She was still looking at him.
‘Is everything all right with you?’
Evan nodded slowly and smiled at her before turning his attention to his charred marshmallow.
Pandora was worried about him. Unlike herself, Evan had already been on a quest. It had been the first time they had been apart for longer than a few hours.
Evan had been one of three campers going on the quest. The other two demigods were a boy called Kingsley Shacklebolt and a girl called Cerci Greengrass. But something went very wrong. Evan was the only one who had returned.
It had been a big blow to Camp Half-Blood and Pandora had the feeling that Evan had blamed himself for a long time.
He was probably nervous about going on another quest. But Pandora will be there for him. The quest will be successful. Everyone will come back. Pandora will make sure of that.
As night slowly fell, many of the campers went back to their cabins. Evan had also gone back to get his bow. Only Pandora was still sitting by the campfire, watching the coals slowly go out. Or at least that's what she thought.
Because suddenly Lily Evans sat down next to her. They just sat there in silence for a while. Pandora enjoyed the company. Her arm touched Lily's and it felt nice where their skin touched. Suddenly, Lily turned to her.
‘Are you scared about the quest?’
Pandora thought about it. All day long, she was sure she was excited. It was a chance. A possibility. But now at the dying campfire, looking into Lily's eyes, she realised.
She was afraid. She was afraid that something would go wrong. She was afraid that they would fail. And most of all, she was afraid that they wouldn't all come back.
Lily seemed to sense her unease because she took Pandora's hand in hers and began to draw little circles on it with her thumb. Her voice was almost inaudible when she spoke.
‘I'm scared too. But I also have faith. I have hope. We will get through this. As long as we have each other, nothing bad can happen.’
And at that moment, Pandora was certain. She was in love with Lily. She was in love with the way her red hair fell in her face when she tilted her head. She was in love with the way Lily put her hand to her mouth, whenever she laughed at something stupid. And she was in love with the way Lily looked at her right know.
Lily looked at her, like she had hung the moon. She looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing she has ever seen. Lily looked at her, like she might be in love too. And that was all it took.
Pandora leaned forward and captured Lily's lips with her own. Lily immediately kissed her back and raised a hand to cup Pandora's face. Pandora put her hands on Lily's hips and pulled her closer. She had never known anything could feel as right as kissing Lily Evans.
After a while, they leaned back, foreheads still touching.
And in that moment, Pandora wasn't worried anymore. She smiled and Lily smiled back.
It was perfect.