Divided

Sirens

A/N: Hey! I didn't post last week due to a last minute trip... but as soon as I got back, I prepared more chapters:)

Caterina's POV

"No. Not like that—" Ajia corrects me, her voice gentle but firm. I watch as she gestures with her hands.

"Lan' ama proye." She enunciates carefully, and I prepare to echo her words. "Lan...ama...proye." I repeat, my voice a little shaky.

"Yes!" Ajia claps her hands together, her smile lighting up her face as she glances over at Alistair. He stands nearby, a look of pride shining in his eyes.

"This is something we say to each other," he explains, his tone warm and inviting. "You can use it to greet someone or when you're parting." I nod, feeling a small spark of happiness with them both.

"It means you wish the person protection from Mother Moon." His words hang in the air, rich with meaning. "Who is she?" I ask, curiosity building up inside me.

"Mother Moon is our protector," he replies, his gaze drifting towards the expansive forest that surrounds us. "She created this world and guides it." His reverence for her is visible. "She is the deity of our world," he adds, a hint of awe in his voice.

Alistair has brought me deeper into the forest, where life thrives in vibrant colors. Rabbits dart between bushes, coyotes roam gracefully, and the air buzzes with the sounds of creatures both familiar and extraordinary. These animals, though similar to those on Earth, are cloaked in deeper hues, their presence more majestic and otherworldly.

"If you ever want something to come true, you ask Mother Moon for help," Alistair continues, his expression serious. I ponder this, letting the weight of his words settle over me.

"I can ask her anything?" I ask, my heart quickening at the thought.

"Mmm... can I go home?" I venture, my voice tentative.

"No, no. The sun is out right now," Ajia interjects, a playful grin spreading across her face. "You have to wait until the moon is up." My cheeks flush with embarrassment, and Alistair chuckles, the sound light and reassuring.

"As I mentioned, there are different believers," he explains, his expression thoughtful. "There's the goddess of the moon and the goddess of the sun." I nod, recalling our earlier discussions, the lore intertwining in my mind.

"Also, try not to be so tense, Cat. You'll make it even more obvious that you're an outsider," Ajia advises, her playful tone a gentle nudge. I take a moment to loosen my shoulders, attempting to shed some of the tightness that clings to me.

"I'm sorry. I'm just not used to being so... relaxed," I admit, glancing into her bright, monolid eyes.

"Do you mind explaining why?" Alistair asks, his curiosity genuine. My right-hand rubs nervously against my left arm as I contemplate my response.

"I'm tense because I'm not from here... and it's my first time having friends," I confess, my gaze dropping to the forest floor, embarrassment creeping in. "I don't want to mess up."

Ajia touches my shoulder, her smile warm and reassuring. "Well, you will be okay, and you have many friends here. And don't be afraid of messing up. We all do." Her words wrap around me like a comforting blanket, easing the tension in my chest.

Alistair watches us, a soft smile on his face, the bond between us slowly solidifying in this moment of shared vulnerability. The forest feels alive around us, and for the first time, I sense a flicker of belonging in this enchanting world.