Over the past few weeks, Nora's dreams had evolved from fleeting impressions into vivid, strikingly realistic adventures. She was no stranger to remembering her nightly adventures, but these experiences were different—intensely graphic and fantastical.

Initially, she thought stress and her lack of recent romantic interaction were the cause. The grueling workload at a software development company left little room for socializing. The distance from her family and university friends didn't help either. Making her subconscious the only stage for any adventures.

Still, what was even stranger was that these dreams weren't just vivid—they were continuous and profoundly bizarre. The story could continue night after night as if some hidden showrunner was creating a fantasy series with only one viewer: Nora.

The main character found herself in a world teeming with extraordinary beings. Nora's companions included hybrids of beasts and humans, as well as some utterly alien creatures. It was as if she had stepped into a surreal narrative where every night resulted in a new, exotic encounter.

Troubled and intrigued, Nora discussed the dreams with her therapist. However, the sessions offered little clarity. Her shrink only supported Nora's suspicions about being overworked and overwhelmed by life. The best she could offer was to invite her to find parallels with some of Nora's favorite fantasy books and sci-fi movies.

All of that felt not enough. It was as if Nora was looking in the wrong direction.

Even while these nightly experiences were a bit disturbing, at the same time, they brought Nora a sense of pleasure, unlike anything she had experienced for quite some time. They filled the void left by her lack of real-world romantic encounters, providing an exhilarating and profoundly intimate escape. In her dream world, she experienced myriad interactions with unusual companions. And some of them… oh, they were quite sensual.

One recurring figure, a foxkin, particularly captured Nora's attention, adding a layer of mystery and allure to her nocturnal journeys. The mere existence of this character contradicted everything Nora's therapist had to offer. She never even read about people who looked like humanoid foxes. Nor had she ever seen any series or movies showing such creatures.

Nora even had to do a brief research on the web to find the name for this fantasy race: foxkin. Sometimes, alternatively, they were also called kitsune.

This search led Nora to a bunch of websites she wasn't sure she wanted to visit again. But then, having a name didn't help to figure out how the image of this person ended up in her subconsciousness.

Where did these dreams originate?

Obviously, therapy changed nothing, and dreams continued to animate Nora's sleep on a daily, or maybe it should be said on a nightly basis. And while Nora immensely enjoyed these pleasurable moments, she still wanted to figure out the source of these unusual experiences.

Driven by her analytical mind, she approached the phenomenon with methodical curiosity. She started keeping a detailed dream journal.

"So, if I'm going crazy," Nora said out loud, laughing while writing the first memories in this diary. "At least I'll do that in a proper way, and leave thorough documentation for my shrinks."

Nora meticulously recorded the times she went to sleep, the encounters she experienced, the variety of characters she met, and the intensity of each interaction. Her entries soon revealed a pattern: maintaining a healthy routine led to the most pleasurable dreams, while deviations resulted in less positive, though equally vivid, experiences.

Finally, Nora found at least some sense of control. And not only over her dreams but also over her life in general. And that stability was lacking since even before one of the first unusual dreams came to her a couple of weeks earlier.

But then, what was she trying to do? To control her dreams? Influence these mysterious visitations in some way? All of that sounded even more insane.

Still, if for a moment Nora considered this dream manipulation the new norm, it had a lot of limitations. And it wasn't like she planned to go to bed at three in the morning, ruining her healthy habits and daily routines only to test a hunch.

Or should she try that?

"It seems that I can influence the setting but I'm unable to steer the narrative of my dreams in any significant way," mused Nora while reading some of the earlier records in her diary. "But that shouldn't be surprising, right? It's not like ordinary people can write a scenario for their next sleep's dream?! It's only in fantasy stories one can open a portal to another world, or whatever. That's not me, right?"

Frustrated but determined to gather additional experimental data, she sought even more unusual ways to prepare her mind and body before sleep, hoping to gain more control over her visions.

Obviously, relaxation was key. So, Nora decided to indulge in a spa day. Soothing baths and a deeply invigorating full-body massage put her in the right mood. Especially the head massage, which she relished so much. It left her feeling utterly serene.

As she put her head on the pillow that night, she was primed for an immersive experience.

Instantly, Nora found herself in a radiant green forest, the canopy filtering sunlight, creating a serene, dreamlike atmosphere. This time, something felt different. It wasn't a radical change. More like a soft fine-tuning of the setting. Slight change of the mood.

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She wasn't merely an observer anymore but had a sense of agency. Nora chose a direction, walking confidently through the woods until she emerged into a sun-dappled glade. She was able to touch the grass and feel the dew on the green blades. She even sensed the warm smell of the morning glade warmed by the sun that had only recently appeared over the horizon.

And there, under the shade of a great tree, sat her favorite foxkin. A familiar yet enigmatic presence.

With a playful glint in her eye, the… woman… gestured for Nora to sit near her.

"Aren't you sneaky?" she said, a smile playing on her foxy face. "Weren't the ordinary dreams enough for you?"

Nora was taken aback. Not once in the past few weeks had any figure from her dreams initiated a dialogue with her or addressed her directly. They never even acknowledged her presence. This change was all the proof she needed that her efforts were beginning to pay off.

Feeling a strange mixture of annoyance and curiosity, Nora shot back: "I can leave if I'm not expected here. But something tells me that you were waiting for me. And if so, why are you even surprised that I was looking for something more?"

The foxkin's eyes sparkled with a knowing look, and Nora felt a shiver of excitement. She realized that the boundaries between waking life and the world of dreams were beginning to blur, opening a doorway to possibilities she had never imagined. The world as she knew it was about to change forever. The scenery around her was no longer a passive backdrop. And she finally might have a say in what unfolded next, be the showrunner of her own story.

"Oh, I am waiting for you, alright," said the foxkin woman. "But I wasn't sure that you'd be able to get through. Let alone get here so soon!"

She stopped, her gaze softening as she looked at Nora appraisingly and leaned closer to Nora's ear. "I should say that this is an unusual situation for me as well," she whispered as if sharing a secret. "I've seen you before in my dreams, and there was this feeling of connection. Did you sense it as well? We have something in common. But I'm not yet sure what it is."

The foxkin drew back a bit and started playing with her gorgeous black and white tail.

"Name is Sumi, by the way," she said. "And you?"

"I'm Nora. Nice to meet you!"

"This morning," Sumi continued, "I felt I needed to be here. This powerful urge like if I didn't drop everything and walk to this glade, something terrible would happen. And it's bizarre. I never had any premonitions like that before. And I don't think anyone in my family ever had a similar experience. Moreover, as I said, before it was only dreams. But a meeting in the real world?"

Nora's vision suddenly started to spin. She took a deep breath, savoring the crisp, earthy scent of the forest. Grounding herself.

It was true, the sensation was so real that she could almost forget she was dreaming. "Real world, you say," Nora mentioned as if she wasn't talking about some fantasy. "But I'm sure I'm still dreaming. How is it even possible?".

The foxkin woman smiled, her ears twitching playfully. "I know that you come from a different world," she said. "That much is obvious. Who else could have entered my dreams so intensely? But yes, this is a real world. For me and for many other people."

Nora frowned, trying to make sense of the foxkin's cryptic words. "What do you mean?"

Sumi's smile faded slightly, her tone becoming more serious. "This place isn't just a dream," she said. "Well, it was for you. But for me, it's just my world where I was born and where I've lived my whole life. Generations of my ancestors were born here, made babies, and then I appeared. Somehow, you've been able to create a connection and now you're here…"

A mix of excitement and disbelief washed over Nora. The idea of all the people she met in her dreams of the past weeks being more than mere figments of imagination was overwhelming. "How is that possible?" she asked. "I'm just an ordinary person."

Sumi smiled and shook her head. "Do I look like a fountain of knowledge to you?" she exclaimed. "I felt as ordinary as you did until we started meeting. It seems that you have a gift, Nora. And I hope you'll allow me to explore it with you."

Nora glanced around, taking in the vibrant colors, the surreal beauty of the forest, and the palpable sense of possibility. The allure of this place was undeniable, but so were the questions it raised.

"But how?..."

"Just the previous night, I wasn't able to control most of the things about my dreams," Nora continued as if trying to prove something to Sumi. "Today, I have this conversation with you. It looks like some kind of progress but how can you be sure that I'm staying here?"

Sumi's gaze held a mixture of warmth and caution. "I don't know. And I don't know who can answer all of these questions for you," she said. "But I probably can help you with getting at least some answers."

Nora's heart pounded as she weighed her options. It was thrilling to explore this fantastical realm, uncover its mysteries, and perhaps even shape its destiny. But the unknown consequences loomed large. If she stayed here, would she even be able to see her home again? To return to her world? That is, even if staying here was an option.

Back on Earth, she had lots of unfinished tasks and obligations. Her work. Her parents! What about being a responsible person?

Before Nora could voice her thoughts, Sumi's hand grazed hers, the touch sending a jolt of energy. A thrilling current surged through Nora's body as if Sumi's touch had awakened a primal energy deep within her. Suddenly, she could sense the forest's rhythm, a pulsing life force that resonated through the very ground beneath her feet.

"Whoa!" Nora gasped. "What was that?"

Sumi was as surprised as Nora by that surge of energy between them. Her gaze held Nora captive, her voice a soft, enticing murmur. "Take your time," she said, her fingers lingering against Nora's. "The choice is yours, and it's a significant one. But I can sense that you feel it: this realm has already begun to stir something deep within you. It's part of you now."

As Sumi's words wrapped around her, Nora felt a sensual heat rise between them. The forest's vibrant energy seemed to flow from Sumi's touch, mingling with the growing desire that fluttered in Nora's chest. She was drawn to Sumi, captivated by her presence and a promise of something more.

Standing on the brink of a new reality, Nora's heart pounded with a mix of excitement and desire. She had always yearned for something beyond the ordinary. Everybody who knew how nerdy she was, wouldn't be surprised either. And now it seemed she had stumbled over something exciting in the most unbelievable of places. It was a whole magical journey that was only beginning. And the choices she made here would not only shape her dreams but the very fabric of both of their worlds.

As Sumi's hand lingered on hers, their fingers entwined for a brief, intimate moment. Nora felt a flush of warmth and excitement. There was a promise in Sumi's touch, an unspoken invitation to explore not just the mysteries of this realm but the tantalizing connection growing between them.

Before Nora could fully immerse herself in the moment, the dream world began to waver. The vibrant colors of the clearing dulled, the ethereal glade blurred, and a strange pulling sensation tugged at Nora's consciousness.

"No—wait…!" Nora reached out instinctively, her fingers slipping through the thinning air as the forest and its inhabitants faded from her view.