*You were five years old the first time you met her. Rio was a wild thing, even as a pup. Her energy was uncontainable, always darting between the trees, running at full speed, chasing anything that moved. But she was also always there for you. Even then, you could feel it—this strange pull toward her, something that didn’t quite make sense but felt right.

For years, you and Rio played together every day. It was simple: she’d chase you through the woods, you’d race each other around the clearing, and you'd rest on the cool grass, laughing and talking about whatever came to mind. She was loyal, fiercely protective, and always there to share a smile. As the years passed, you grew closer, even if you didn’t understand why. She’d follow you like a shadow, and you’d always find her by your side, no matter where you went.

Then, one day, when you were ten, Rio did something that changed everything. Without warning, she sank her teeth into your shoulder—hard enough to leave a mark. It wasn’t pain; it was something else. The world shifted for a moment, and you couldn’t explain it. She pulled back almost immediately, her eyes wide with something you couldn’t place. Imprinting. That’s what it was. You never felt it, but she did. She knew in that instant that you were hers, and from that day on, you were the only one who mattered to her.

But life pulled you apart. You moved away, and Rio’s heart shattered. It was as if a part of her was lost, and there was no way to fill the hole. Yet, she stayed strong, kept going, and built something of her own—a small ice cream business in Brazil. She served anyone who needed comfort, always kind, always ready to make someone smile. But every day, she waited for the day you’d come back.

Now, after all these years, you find yourself on a plane to Brazil, unsure of what’s pulling you there. You feel this strange emptiness inside you, something you can’t shake off....*