Paola sank deeper into the plush cushions of the couch, her legs stretched out lazily in front of her as she tried—really tried—to pay attention to Yasmin. The fire crackled gently in the hearth, casting flickering light that danced across the room’s stone walls, warming the space and adding to the cozy atmosphere. But despite the warmth of the room, the intricate stitching of Poca’s leg draped across her lap was proving to be more than a little distracting. Paola’s hand idly traced the ribbons of blue that crisscrossed along Poca’s pale thigh, her fingers brushing against the delicate, almost metallic threading with a casualness that masked her own inner amusement.
Poca lay sprawled out comfortably, her mismatched violet and green eyes half-lidded, a soft smile playing on her lips. Her stitched-together frame, a patchwork of pale blue skin and dark blue ribbons, looked utterly relaxed as she nestled into Paola’s lap. She was naked, as usual, her confidence in her form as casual as her affections. Her feet were propped on Paola’s thigh, one crossed over the other, and Poca was making no effort to keep still—her toes wiggling now and again, rubbing against Paola’s leg in slow, deliberate motions.
Despite her best efforts to focus on the conversation, Paola couldn’t help but chuckle internally at Poca’s antics. It was clear she wasn’t just being affectionate; the way her feet pressed and nudged against Paola’s lap felt like a deliberate distraction. Poca’s smile, soft as it was, had a knowing glint to it, as if she was fully aware of the effect she was having.
Paola shifted slightly, adjusting her posture as she tried to bring her attention back to Yasmin, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor near the hearth. Yasmin’s fiery red hair fell in messy waves over her shoulders, the remnants of the day’s work still evident in the wild tangle of curls. She was leaning forward, her amber eyes sharp and focused as she spoke, her voice carrying the weight of centuries of accumulated knowledge.
“So, the gods and titans—well, they aren’t originally from Udanara,” Yasmin was explaining, her hands moving animatedly as she spoke. “They came from beyond, drawn to the planet because of its abundant magic. That’s where everything really began—this long, drawn-out war between the gods and titans over who gets to control that magic and the life force of Udanara.”
Selene, sitting primly in the one other cushioned chair across from Paola, was curled up with feline grace, her delicate frame tucked into the chair as she listened intently. Her silvery hair, which always seemed to shimmer in the low light, cascaded over her shoulders as she rested her head on one hand. Her amethyst-marbled eyes were fixed on Yasmin with quiet attention. There was something different about her tonight—something softer in the way she carried herself, as though the conversation had pulled her into a contemplative mood. She seemed less like the fierce demon woman Paola had grown used to, and more... serene, almost as though she were absorbing the information with a deeper understanding.
Poca, meanwhile, seemed far less interested in the intellectual nature of the conversation. As Yasmin continued her explanation, Poca let out a soft hum, her legs shifting again as she rubbed her calves against Paola’s thigh. She glanced up at Paola, her mismatched eyes twinkling mischievously, clearly enjoying the fact that she was stealing Paola’s focus away from Yasmin’s lecture.
“Zat feels nice, non?” Poca purred, her voice laced with her signature accent, soft and sensual. Her toes flexed playfully, brushing against Paola’s lap as she let out a satisfied sigh. “You keep touching like zat, ma chère, and I’ll be even more relaxed.”
Paola smirked, her hand pausing its idle tracing of Poca’s ribbons as she glanced down at the woman lying across her. “You’re going to get me in trouble,” she murmured, her tone playful but affectionate.
Poca’s smile widened, her head tilting slightly as she looked up at Paola through her lashes. “Moi? Trouble? Nevaire,” she teased.
Yasmin, however, was not so easily distracted. She paused in her explanation, giving Paola a knowing look, one eyebrow raised. “You’re listening, right?”
“Of course,” Paola replied quickly, though the blush rising in her cheeks betrayed her. She shifted again, trying to ignore the warmth spreading in her chest from Poca’s playful affections.
Yasmin didn’t press the matter, but the smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth made it clear she wasn’t entirely convinced. She cleared her throat, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear before continuing her explanation. “Like I was saying, the gods came from different pantheons—Greek, Norse, you name it—and they all converged on Udanara, seeking to impose their will on the world. Zeus, Odin, Hera, Thor... they all played a part in trying to claim Udanara for themselves.”
Paola’s ears twitched slightly at the mention of the names. She blinked, sitting up a little straighter, her focus sharpening as she stared at Yasmin. “Wait... what did you say?”
Yasmin looked up, her expression momentarily confused. “What? About the gods?”
“No, no... the names,” Paola pressed, her heart picking up pace. “Zeus, Odin... those names. How do you know those names?”
Yasmin frowned, glancing at Selene, who had now leaned forward slightly, her own interest piqued. “They’re the names of the gods. Zeus is the Greek god of the sky, Odin’s the All-Father of the Norse gods. They’re well-known in the histories here.”
Paola’s mind raced, the familiar names sending a wave of confusion crashing over her. She sat forward, dislodging Poca’s legs from her lap as she tried to wrap her head around what Yasmin had just said. “Those gods... they’re from Earth. Greek mythology, Norse mythology... those are Earth myths.”
Poca, who had been contentedly lounging and rubbing her feet against Paola moments earlier, now sat up, her mismatched eyes widening in surprise. “Earth?” she asked, her voice curious. “Zey exist on your world too, ma chère?”
Paola nodded slowly, her hand resting absently on her knee as her thoughts spun. “Yeah... but they’re just myths. Stories. They don’t actually exist.”
Yasmin’s expression shifted, a mixture of intrigue and disbelief crossing her face. “Wait—these gods... they exist on your world, but only as stories?” She exchanged a glance with Selene, whose amethyst eyes glimmered with renewed interest.
“Exactly,” Paola confirmed, her voice quieter now as the realization settled in. “On Earth, we have myths about Zeus and Odin and all those gods you mentioned, but they’re just that—myths. Legends. No one actually believes they’re real.”
Yasmin leaned back, her fiery hair tumbling down her back as she processed the information. “That’s... bizarre,” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. “In Udanara, they’re very real. They’ve waged wars, shaped empires, influenced countless lives. But on Earth, they’re just... stories?”
Paola nodded, still trying to make sense of it all. “Yeah... just stories. But here, they’re... real?”
“Yes,” Selene chimed in, her voice soft but clear. “Very real. Their influence still lingers, even if they’re not as active as they once were.”
Paola leaned back against the couch, her head spinning. It was one thing to be summoned to a magical world like Udanara, but to find out that the gods of her own world’s myths were somehow real here? It was a lot to take in.
“How is that even possible?” Paola asked, glancing between Yasmin and Selene. “How can gods from Earth be real here?”
Selene’s gaze softened, her marbled eyes glinting with a strange understanding. “There are many worlds connected to Udanara,” she explained quietly. “It’s possible that the gods of your world traveled here long ago, just as some beings from Udanara have traveled to other worlds.”
Paola’s mind raced, memories of Earth flooding her thoughts. If the gods of her world’s mythology were real here, what else might be real? What other stories from Earth might have deeper connections to Udanara than she had ever imagined?
Poca, ever the curious one, leaned in closer, her hand resting on Paola’s thigh as she looked at her with wide eyes. “Ma chère, does zis mean zat you know stories of zese gods? You know zeir history?”
Paola nodded slowly, though her voice was still tinged with disbelief. “Yeah... I mean, sort of. We learn about them in school. Greek mythology, Norse mythology... they’re part of our history. But they’re just considered ancient stories, nothing more.”
Poca’s smile widened, her curiosity now fully engaged. “Tell us! Tell us zese stories you know!”
Yasmin’s expression had also shifted into one of intrigue, her fiery energy now focused entirely on Paola. “Yeah,” she added, leaning forward eagerly. “If these gods are part of your world’s history, then maybe there’s something we don’t know about them. Maybe you’ve got some insight we’ve missed.”
Paola hesitated, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on her. It was strange to think that the stories she’d grown up with—stories she had never really thought twice about—could hold any real significance in this world. But the eagerness in Poca’s gaze and the curiosity in Yasmin’s made it clear that they were genuinely interested.
“Well,” Paola began slowly, running a hand through her hair as she tried to organize her thoughts. “Zeus... he’s considered the king of the gods in Greek mythology. He’s the god of the sky and thunder, and he rules over Mount Olympus, where the Greek gods live.”
Yasmin nodded, her expression thoughtful. “That lines up with what we know here. Zeus commands the skies and controls the lightning. His power is one of the strongest among the gods.”
Paola continued, her mind still trying to reconcile the myths she had learned as a child with the reality of this world. “And Odin... he’s the All-Father of the Norse gods. He’s the god of wisdom, war, and death. In the myths, he sacrificed his eye for knowledge and hung himself from Yggdrasil, the World Tree, to gain the secrets of the runes.”
Selene’s eyes gleamed with interest at the mention of the World Tree. “The World Tree... that’s not unlike Udanara’s Tree of Life. A central force that binds everything together.”
Paola nodded, her own curiosity growing as she realized just how deeply connected these two worlds might be. “Yeah... it’s similar, I guess. But on Earth, it’s all just myth. None of it’s real. But here...”
“It’s very real,” Yasmin finished for her, her voice quiet but firm. “These gods... they’re not just stories here. They’ve shaped the history of Udanara, for better or worse.”
Poca, who had been listening intently but was clearly more interested in other things, gave Paola’s thigh a playful squeeze. “Zat's fascinating, ma chère,” she purred, her voice low and teasing, “but I zink zere’s something else very real... right here.” With a mischievous grin, she let herself fall back into the couch, her legs swinging gracefully before they landed back in Paola’s lap, her feet settling with a soft thud.
Paola shook her head, trying to suppress a smile as Poca’s antics sent a ripple of warmth through her. "Poca, you're impossible," she muttered, but her hand instinctively moved to rest on Poca's calf, fingers tracing the up to the blue ribbons woven into her pale skin. The rhythmic motion was soothing, even if Poca was making it clear she had no interest in letting Paola focus fully on the conversation.
Poca stretched languidly, her arms arching above her head as she looked up at Paola with a lazy smile. “Impossible, maybe,” she said, her voice a smooth purr, “but you love it, no?”
Yasmin groaned dramatically from her spot by the hearth, rolling her eyes. “Can we get back to the fact that Paola just casually dropped a bombshell? Earth and Udanara might share the same gods—how is that not the most important thing right now?”
Selene, who had been quiet for a moment, now sat up a little straighter, her marbled amethyst eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Yasmin’s right. If the gods here are the same as the ones in Paola’s myths, there’s more to this connection than we ever realized.” She shifted slightly, her silver hair catching the light. “This could explain a lot about the worlds beyond Udanara.”
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Poca, clearly uninterested in anything beyond her playful teasing, nudged Paola’s thigh with her foot. “Zey can discuss zat,” she murmured, her voice lilting with amusement. “I’m content right here.”
Paola smiled, though her thoughts were still racing. “Poca, as much as I appreciate the affection, this is important.” She gently moved Poca’s foot to the side, though not without giving it a light squeeze.
Poca pouted playfully but didn’t protest, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Fine, fine. Discuss your gods, ma chère. But I’m staying right here.”
Paola shook her head again, trying to refocus. "So, you’re saying the gods here—Zeus, Odin, and all the others—they really existed? Fought wars? And they came from beyond Udanara?"
Yasmin nodded eagerly, leaning forward with renewed energy. "Exactly! That’s the thing. We’ve always known they weren’t originally from Udanara, but we didn’t know where they came from. If Earth shares these myths, then it’s possible that Earth is one of the places they came from—or at least influenced heavily."
Selene tilted her head slightly, her voice soft but thoughtful. “It’s not just possible. It seems likely. If the gods fled their wars with the titans and crossed into different worlds, they could have shaped many realities, leaving traces of themselves in each one.”
Paola felt her breath catch for a moment. The idea that her world, Earth, could be tied to Udanara in such a direct way was... overwhelming. "But... on Earth, they’re just myths," she murmured. "No one ever thought they were real. Just stories passed down through generations. Heroes and gods, all part of our ancient history."
“That’s exactly what makes it so interesting,” Yasmin said, her eyes wide with excitement. “Think about it—what if those myths were based on truth? Maybe Earth’s connection to Udanara goes deeper than anyone thought. The gods could have left their mark on Earth long ago, and over time, their real histories became legends.”
Selene nodded, her gaze fixed on Paola now. “It’s possible Earth once had more direct contact with Udanara, but over the centuries, that link was lost. All that remained were the stories, distorted through time.”
Paola was quiet for a moment, her mind swirling with the implications. Could the gods she’d learned about in school, the ones she thought were just part of ancient human culture, really have shaped worlds beyond her own? And what did that mean for her being here in Udanara now?
She looked at Yasmin, who was practically bouncing with excitement. "So... what does that mean for me? Why would I have been summoned here if my world is connected to these gods?"
Yasmin bit her lip, her excitement tempered by thoughtfulness. "Well... if the gods have influenced Earth, it could explain why you were chosen. Maybe there’s something in your bloodline, or your connection to those myths, that made you a candidate for being summoned here. You could be part of something much bigger—part of a legacy the gods started long ago."
Poca, clearly growing impatient with the serious turn of the conversation, let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Zis sounds exhausting,” she muttered, her fingers drumming against Paola’s knee. “Why can’t it just be zat Paola is special because she is special?”
Yasmin glanced at her and shook her head, but her smile didn’t fade. "Well, she is special, Poca. That’s not the point. The point is, there’s a bigger picture here, and we might finally be starting to understand it."
Selene’s voice was softer now, her marbled eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “The gods aren’t gone, not entirely. Their influence still lingers, and some of their power remains in the world. It’s possible that their connection to Earth has never fully faded.”
Paola leaned back into the cushions, trying to process everything. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, and the warmth of Poca’s body against hers was a comforting contrast to the weight of the revelations they were discussing. Earth, Udanara, the gods—how did it all fit together?
“What about the titans?” Paola asked after a moment, her voice steady but curious. “If the gods left their mark on Earth... could the titans have done the same?”
Yasmin’s eyes brightened at the question, clearly pleased that Paola was fully engaged now. “It’s possible. The titans represented chaos and nature, so they would have left their influence in places where the natural world was strongest. But they weren’t like the gods—they didn’t crave worship or control. They wanted to preserve the wild, untamable aspects of the world.”
Paola nodded, her hand still absently tracing the stitching on Poca’s thigh as she thought. “That could explain why certain parts of Earth’s history are filled with stories of massive, unstoppable forces. Volcanoes, floods, earthquakes... maybe they weren’t just natural disasters.”
Selene’s gaze sharpened slightly, her voice low and speculative. “You’re suggesting that some of Earth’s greatest natural events could have been caused by the titans?”
“It’s not impossible,” Yasmin chimed in, her expression serious now. “The titans are tied to the elemental forces—earth, fire, water, air. If they touched Earth at any point, their influence could have caused those events.”
Poca shifted beside Paola, her head resting on Paola’s shoulder as she let out a contented sigh. “I zink zey are overthinking it, ma chère,” she whispered teasingly. “Maybe all of zis is just coincidence, non?”
Paola chuckled softly, turning her head to plant a quick kiss on Poca’s forehead. “Maybe. But if there’s even a chance this is all connected, we need to figure it out.”
Yasmin, clearly undeterred by Poca’s casual dismissal, pressed on. “This changes everything, Paola. If Earth and Udanara share this connection, it could mean that the gods—and maybe the titans—are still watching, still influencing both worlds. And if they are, we need to be prepared.”
Paola’s eyes met Yasmin’s, the weight of her words settling in. “Prepared for what?”
“For whatever’s coming next,” Yasmin replied, her voice deadly serious. “The gods may not be done with Udanara—or Earth. And if the titans wake again, the balance of power could shift. You, Paola... you might be part of the key to stopping that.”
Paola’s heart thudded in her chest as the full magnitude of what Yasmin was saying hit her. She had come to Udanara thinking she was just another Fallen Star, plucked from her world and dropped into a new one with little explanation. But now, it seemed that her role might be far more important than she had ever imagined.
As the weight of Yasmin's words settled over Paola, her chest tightened, her breaths becoming shallow. She hadn’t realized how deeply the revelation was affecting her until she noticed her tail flicking nervously against the couch. Her heart raced in her chest, and a strange, creeping anxiety began to rise, tightening her throat. It wasn’t just the implications of what Yasmin had said—it was the growing realization that her existence in Udanara might not be an accident. She wasn’t just a random Fallen Star, thrown into this world without meaning. No, there was something more, something larger looming over her, and the idea of being part of that... terrified her.
Paola had always been comfortable with the notion of chaos, of being an anomaly. She had convinced herself that her arrival in Udanara was just one of those inexplicable, uncontrollable things. But now, as Yasmin laid out the possibility of a deeper connection between her world and Udanara, of ancient gods and titans influencing her fate, Paola felt her grip on that chaos slipping.
Her breathing quickened, and the noise around her—Yasmin’s voice, Selene’s quiet observations, even the gentle crackling of the fire—faded into a distant hum. Her tail lashed anxiously, a reflection of the panic bubbling in her chest.
She didn’t want this. She didn’t want to be special in the way Yasmin was describing. She had hoped—prayed even—that she was just a fluke. A cosmic mistake. But it seemed that wasn’t the case. The gods, the myths of her world, her very presence in Udanara—it was all connected, and the threads of that connection were tightening around her like a noose.
Just as Paola felt the beginnings of real panic taking hold, Poca’s legs shifted off her lap. The playful teasing that had been in Poca’s eyes moments ago faded as she sat up, sensing the change in Paola’s demeanor. Poca’s hand, stitched and delicate, reached for Paola’s face, her touch gentle but firm as her palms pressed against Paola’s cheeks.
“Ma chère,” Poca murmured softly, her voice a calming melody. She tilted Paola’s face toward her, forcing their eyes to meet. “Breathe, ma chère. Breathe.”
Paola hadn’t even realized she was taking deep, uneven breaths until that moment. The tightness in her chest refused to loosen, her pulse racing under her skin. She blinked, trying to focus on Poca’s face, but her mind was spinning, threatening to spiral out of control.
Poca’s thumb stroked her cheek gently, her expression softening with concern. “You are special, yes,” Poca continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “But not because of what zey say, not because you are a Fallen Star.”
Paola’s wide, golden-flecked eyes locked onto Poca’s. The stitches that ran from Poca’s lips to her ears stretched ever so slightly as she smiled, adding a delicate, doll-like beauty to her face. Her mismatched eyes—one vivid and determined, the other carrying that playful glint—held a rare seriousness now.
“You are special to me,” Poca whispered, leaning closer until their foreheads touched. The warmth of her skin was grounding, and Paola could feel the steady rhythm of Poca’s breath, urging her to calm down. “Not because of zis Fallen Star nonsense. You are special because of who you are. Because you are Paola.”
Paola’s breath hitched as the panic clawing at her chest began to ease, Poca’s words soothing the storm swirling in her mind. The weight of everything—the gods, the titans, the implications of her connection to Earth—it all felt too much. But here, with Poca holding her, her forehead resting against Poca’s, the world outside that storm felt distant, quiet.
“I don’t want this,” Paola whispered, her voice trembling. She closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of Poca’s hands on her face, on the warmth of her breath against her skin. “I... I didn’t want to be part of anything bigger. I just wanted to be here. To be... me.”
“And you are,” Poca replied, her voice soft, patient. She held Paola’s face gently, her fingers brushing away the dampness that had gathered in the corners of Paola’s eyes. “You are you, ma chère, no matter what zey say. No one can take zat away.”
Paola hadn’t realized she was shaking until she felt Poca’s hands steadying her, the tension slowly melting away as Poca’s soothing presence wrapped around her like a blanket. She focused on her breathing, matching the rise and fall of Poca’s chest, letting herself fall into the rhythm. Slowly, her pulse began to steady, and the suffocating tightness in her chest loosened.
After what felt like minutes, but could have been longer, Paola’s breathing evened out. She felt the panic recede, replaced by a quiet calm, fragile but present. Poca’s fingers brushed against her cheek once more, and Paola opened her eyes to find Poca smiling gently at her.
“You are okay,” Poca murmured, leaning in to press a soft, tender kiss to Paola’s lips. It was light, barely more than a breath, but it grounded Paola, bringing her fully back to the present. When they pulled away, Poca’s mismatched eyes were filled with warmth, her smile calming and real. “You are safe with me.”
Paola blinked, her heart still fluttering in her chest, but the panic had passed. She let out a shaky breath, feeling a little more like herself again. “I didn’t realize... how much that scared me,” she admitted softly, her tail wrapping around her leg as if to steady herself.
Poca nodded, her smile never fading. “It’s normal, ma chère. Zis is a lot. But you are strong. You will face it, just like you face everything.”
Paola gave her a small smile in return, a wave of gratitude flooding through her as she leaned into Poca’s touch for a moment longer. She hadn’t realized just how much she needed that, how much she needed Poca’s steadying presence.
Across the room, Yasmin had been sitting quietly, watching the exchange with a mix of concern and quiet respect. As the tension between Paola and Poca eased, Yasmin cleared her throat gently, trying to shift the atmosphere.
“So, uh,” Yasmin began, her voice hesitant, “maybe we can change the subject? You know, just to lighten things up a bit.”
But Paola shook her head, her ears flicking back slightly as she sat up straighter, her fingers still intertwined with Poca’s. “No,” Paola said quietly but firmly. “I think we need to keep talking about this. I’m... I’m probably in way over my head here, but I need to know more. If this connection between Earth and Udanara is real, I can’t just ignore it.”
Her ears flattened against her head, a sign of both anxiety and resolve. She glanced at Yasmin, her eyes determined but vulnerable. “How do we learn more? Where do we start?”
Yasmin, her fiery hair still wild from the day’s work, sat up a little straighter, her own expression becoming more serious. “We’ll need to dig into old texts, probably. There are temples, libraries, places where records of the gods and titans are kept. But most of the real information is... difficult to find. It’s scattered, guarded even.”
Paola’s brow furrowed slightly, her mind racing. “I need to talk to Ayla about this. She might know something—or at least have resources we can use.”
Poca squeezed her hand gently, nodding in agreement. “Ayla is smart. She will help you figure zis out.”
Yasmin’s eyes lit up slightly, her natural curiosity flaring to life. “You know, my sister—Yucca—she’d love this. She’s way more into ancient history and divine connections than even I am. She’ll be beyond thrilled to learn about this. I think we should bring her in.”
Paola nodded, feeling a small sense of relief that she wasn’t alone in this. If Yasmin’s sister was as knowledgeable as Yasmin claimed, maybe they had a chance at unraveling the mystery. “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll talk to Ayla, and we can all meet up to figure out our next steps.”
Yasmin couldn’t hide her excitement now. “She’ll be all over this. Trust me, this is her kind of thing. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Paola smiled, a little more assured now. The initial shock had faded, and though the path ahead was uncertain, she felt a quiet determination settle in her chest. There was more to her story than she had ever imagined, and as much as it scared her, she knew she had to face it.
She glanced at Poca, who was still watching her with a soft, affectionate smile. “Thank you,” Paola whispered, her voice sincere. “For... grounding me.”
Poca leaned in and kissed her cheek lightly, her lips brushing Paola’s skin with a warmth that made Paola’s heart flutter. “Always, ma chère. Always.”
Paola closed her eyes, trying to let the warmth of Poca's touch sink in, but it didn’t reach the place inside her where the fear still lurked. The panic had faded, but in its place, a hollow feeling had settled. Even surrounded by those who cared for her, who wanted to help, she couldn’t shake the weight of the revelations Yasmin had uncovered.
She was a part of something bigger, something ancient, and the truth of it gnawed at her insides. She had always found comfort in being an outsider, a free spirit unbound by the heavy expectations of others. But now, with this connection to gods and worlds beyond, she felt trapped by something she didn’t understand, something far too big for her to control.
Even with Poca's gentle kiss lingering on her cheek, the unease remained, quiet but present. The world around her had shifted, and Paola was left standing at the edge, staring into the unknown.
She opened her eyes, her gaze distant, and nodded silently. The others spoke softly around her, making plans, offering reassurances, but Paola felt like a ghost in the conversation, her mind too far away to follow.
She wasn’t sure if she would ever feel grounded again.