𝓟𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒂
𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯.
In a group, Pandora can come across as unassuming. She's quiet, agreeable and modest, seldom speaking out of turn. What many lions don't realise at first is that she is a wealth of wisdom on navigating the Acropolis. Although she wasn't born here, she was part of the first generation of cubs to grow up here. She has an intricate knowledge of the kingdom, from the location of the best prey and the pattern of the tides. Level-headed Pandora can scale the steepest rock face, outswim the most powerful current, and never loses her footing in the rockpools.
She came to the Acropolis after her mother,
Agatha, was cast out from a band of travellers. Gentle Agatha fought her way through ferocious storms to find a place to stay, and when she collapsed on the kingdom's border, a group of lionesses brought her in. Pandora's earliest memories are of raindrops filtering through the Sanctuary ceiling, and Agatha coughing quietly when she thought her daughter wasn't listening.
When Pandora was an adolescent, a young lioness around her age was welcomed into the Citadel. Cleisthenes, cast out from an overcrowded pride, was brash and overly competitive. Many lions were surprised, then, when she took a liking to Pandora. Pandora's calm, nonconfrontational demeanour makes her seem peaceful and nonthreatening. For that reason, she's also great at diffusing conflicts.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘥𝘰.
When Achaeus ceded his throne to Banquo, the new queen spent some time in the Metropolis getting to know her subjects. After a month's observation, she invited several to join her in the Citadel as Guardians. When Pandora was selected as one of these chosen few, she was astonished.
"Why?" laughed
Hermia. "You're the best lion for the job. You always know where to find prey, and I've never seen a problem you can't solve."
Strange lioness. She was twisting a spire of kindling between her paws while she said it. But her words stuck with Pandora, and graciously, she accepted. So far, Banquo's judgement has proven itself impeccable; Pandora's measured contributions and ability to mediate conflicts have been invaluable. She still visits the Metropolis frequently to hunt, socialise and relax.
Agatha is so unbelievably proud of her.
𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈:𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐠𝐨: For most of her young adult life, Pandora quietly dedicated herself to keeping the Acropolis running. Secretly, she nursed a dream of having a litter of cubs one day. She accidentally mentioned it to Hermia once over a fresh buffalo carcass, and the lioness' eyes widened. "Pandora, that's great! You'd be an incredible mum."
"Really?" Pandora glanced down at her feet. "I didn't think it was a good idea. I... I don't think I should have cubs."
"Are you insane? Of course you can have cubs! Why would you think that's not okay?"
"I..." Pandora was lost for words. "I don't know. If I had cubs, I'd have to spend time looking after them... I couldn't hunt or help out at the Sanctuary."
She and Hermia had a long conversation about this, until eventually, she came to realise it was okay for her to have cubs. With Lady Banquo's encouragement, she sought out a young king from a neighbouring pride and gave birth to a little cub. She named her Ginkgo, after the trees that swayed over the Sanctuary. Little Ginkgo was the light of her life, and she is exceptionally proud of her today.
As you two greet each other, Pandora moves away when you get too close. You try to approach her again, and she begrudgingly accepts the friendly nuzzle you offer her. She looks a bit bothered about it, though.
When you approach to say hello today, Auxiliary Pandora steps back and snarls, but she continues to be nice afterwards.
