"Persephone?" my mother, Demeter called. "Persephone, some nymphs are looking for you. Something about picking flowers in the meadow?" she questioned as she walked into my room. Uh oh. I thought, knowing what was coming.

"Yeah, Mom. We're leaving as soon as fix my hair." I answered like a good girl, combating the temptation to be sassy and talk back.

As I was braiding my hair, (because Mom always said it was too messy when I left it alone) she gave me her warning; "Persephone, remember. Don't- There it is!

"Don't wander too far away." I finished for her. "I know, I know. You don't have to tell me over and over." Talk about an annoying mom.

"That's my girl." she beamed, kissing me on the forehead. She walked me to the front door. "Now go have some fun and stay safe! No wandering off! Not like last time!" she exclaimed and promptly shooed me out the door. Yes like last time.

"Don't worry Mom, I won't." I called back, trying not to roll my eyes.

I was just within earshot to hear her mutter rather darkly,

"It's not you I'm worried about, it's Hades." I couldn't resist it. I rolled my eyes.

~

"Hi, Persephone." one of my nymph friends greeted me.

"Hey." I replied to a certain blue-skinned, blonde haired nymph.

"What's got you down in the dumps?" Lark asked me.

"Ooh! Is it one of your many suitors?" Paeonia gushed. Not again!

"Kind of." I answered.

"I knew it!" Helian joined in.

"Let's guess who it is!" Paeonia sang. No! No! Helian immediately agreed, and they both looked at me for permission. I rolled my eyes, but nodded an "okay." What else was I supposed to do?

"Hmm. Heracles?" Helian asked hopefully. Ew.

"Er, no."

"Hermes?" Ew.

"No way!"

"Dionysus?" Ew! Ew! Double ew!

"Ew! Gross! No! Never! Ack!"

"Erm...Okay then. Aeolus?" Ew.

"No, I haven't had a glimpse of him in like two years."

"Oh yeah. Aeneas?" Ew.

"Nope."

"I give up!" Paeonia shouted, exasperated.

"Me too!" Helian agreed. Lark only looked thoughtful. Of course. Lark the Thinker.

"Could it be true?" she asked. We all looked at her inquiringly. Well, Paeonia and Helian did. "Rumor has it that Hades is now courting Persephone." Bingo! Sort of.

Helian and Paeonia gasped. "Well," Lark began, "Is it true?"

"Kind of. Mom said she was worried about Hades." Lark snorted, then leaned towards my ear.

"Just between you and me though," she murmured softly, "I think your mom is always worrying." I laughed out loud. Mom is always worrying.

Helian looked at me. "Lark said something about Mom always worrying. Nothing to fret about." I said as I waved her stares away.

Helian mumbled something that suspiciously sounded like, "I don't think so," but it was hard to hear.

Paeonia broke the sudden silence with her cheerfulness, as always.

"So... Are we going to go pick flowers or what?" Yes, you doofus.

"Yeah, let's go," I said. "And you know what Mom said."

"Don't wander too far away!" they all chorused. Mom had given me "the warning" so many times we all knew it. Of course, we all knew it. Mom must have said it a thousand times already.

"Come on!" Lark laughed and began to lead us to the meadow.

Mom's always worrying. Day and night. 

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