The Ocean's Prize

The Ocean’s Prize

         “Well, aren’t you lovely!”
         Pandora stroked the seahorse’s muzzle gently. Its tail performed an eel-like motion that sent its shimmering scales flurrying into shades of blue and green. She tried to copy the movement with her own tail, but the scales remained a persistent indigo.
         “What shall I call you?” she said, staring into the seahorse’s pale gold eyes. She had it. Goldfish. Now that would make a fine name for a seahorse.
         “Come on, Goldfish!” Pandora told Goldfish the seahorse. She gave one quick flip of her tail, and of she and Goldfish went, the creature happily following her.
         When they reached the path through the coral reef, Pandora crossed to one side, averting her eyes from the swirling waters beyond the end of the reef on the other side. She knew only children were still afraid of the abyss, but it gave her the chills to be near it.
         Suddenly, she felt the water behind her shift, and turned to see Goldfish galloping away—towards the abyss.
         “Goldie, where are you—Goldie, no!”
         Without thinking, Pandora darted after the creature, her whole body surging forward as she swam frantically towards the abyss.
         When she got there, Goldfish was gone.
         “Goldie!”
         Her voice echoed down the dark pit. The waters above it were swirling madly, agitated by an invisible current. Pandora knew what was down there: terrifying creatures without eyes, pale white and blinded by darkness; and gigantic monsters who could swallow a small whale with one bite.
         This must be Goldie’s home.
         She backed away slowly, eyes wide, cautious.
         Then she saw a glint in the water.
         It was caught up in the angry water, but it was sinking still, even as it was thrashed about in the current. As she watched, it descended lower and lower, until it disappeared over the edge of the abyss
         Pandora couldn’t let it out of her sight; it drew her in, closer, closer.
         She looked down into the depths below. They said it cut to the center of the earth. They said it was guarded with the most fearsome magic.
         The glint grew fainter.
         It was a split-second decision, a flash of reason, and not her muscles, that made her flick her tail and dive. Her arm was stretched out, her fingers were taut, and she swam deeper into the pit.
         Pandora’s fingers clasped the treasure.
         With a powerful beat, she was soaring out of the dark and into the current, which shot her back the coral path. She curled her tail up under herself and peered at the thing in her hand.
         It was a tiny band, a circlet of silver that could fit around her finger. The silver was shaped in an intricate pattern, weaving in and out of itself. It was beautiful.
         Pandora clasped it tightly in her hand, this small, lovely treasure. She would take it home and keep it forever. Nothing would harm it as long as she and her heirs lived. This treasure would be forever safe with her.