Flashback: A Dog Named Coco
Years before the bustling city of Taralyn became their home, the Kensen siblings lived a quieter, simpler life in a small village on its outskirts. Their home, a modest wooden house, sat at the edge of a sunflower field. Bebeto, then just six years old, spent most of his days playing in the sunlit fields, while ten-year-old Amara took on the role of caregiver.
Their parents were long gone—taken by illness that swept through the village when Amara was barely old enough to understand what death meant. But through the loss, one companion had stayed by their side: a large, loyal dog named Coco.
Coco had appeared one evening, just days after their parents' passing. His coat was a blend of golden and white, and his wise, knowing eyes seemed to hold secrets that no ordinary dog should.
At first, Amara hesitated. "Where did he come from?" she whispered, watching Coco settle at their doorstep as though he'd always belonged there.
"I don't care where!" Bebeto had cried, throwing his small arms around the dog's neck. "He's ours now!"
From that day on, Coco became their protector, their playmate, and their family. He would accompany Bebeto to the village market, wait patiently as Amara studied late into the night, and even guard the house when strangers approached.
But as the years passed, Coco began to wander farther and farther from home, disappearing for hours or even days at a time.
One day, just before Bebeto's twelfth birthday, Coco vanished completely. Despite their searching, calling, and waiting, the siblings never saw him again.
Amara consoled her younger brother, though her own heart ached. "Maybe Coco found something he needed to do, somewhere he needed to be," she said softly.
Still, the loss left a gap in their lives. Neither sibling ever forgot the dog who had given them comfort in their darkest times.
Present Day: Lives in the City
In the years since Coco's disappearance, the Kensen siblings had built a life of their own in Taralyn.
Bebeto Kensen, the Strategist:
Now fourteen, Bebeto had grown into a sharp, charismatic boy with a knack for strategy. Whether it was a game of chess, baduk, or even a casual bet with the local vendors, Bebeto's mind worked like clockwork, always a step ahead of his opponents.
But beneath his mischievous grin lay a deeper motivation. Bebeto loved puzzles not just for the thrill of winning but because they reminded him of solving life's problems with Amara—finding ways to survive, to protect each other, and to keep going.
"Life's a game," he often said, "and every game has a strategy."
Amara Kensen, the Deductive Mentor:
At seventeen, Amara was admired throughout the academy for her intellect and poise. Her ability to deduce complex situations and her natural talent for nursing had earned her the respect of both peers and instructors.
Amara had taken on the role of a mentor to younger students, guiding them with a steady hand and sharp insight. But her calm exterior masked a deep longing for answers—about their past, their parents, and even Coco. She often found herself wondering if their life in Taralyn was the end of their journey or just the beginning of something larger.
That evening, as Bebeto and Amara sat by the window overlooking the city's lantern-lit streets, Bebeto brought up an old memory.
"Do you ever think about Coco?" he asked, his voice unusually soft.
Amara set down the book she was reading and looked at him. "All the time. Why?"
"I don't know," Bebeto said, staring into the distance. "It's just... I had this weird feeling today, like he's still out there. Like he's watching us."
Amara smiled faintly, though her chest tightened. "Maybe he is. Coco was never just a regular dog."
That night, Meera had another dream. This time, the valley seemed even more alive, its golden light pulsing like a heartbeat. The dog-like creature, always watchful, stepped closer to her, its gaze unwavering.
"Coco?" she whispered, the name surfacing in her mind like a forgotten melody.
The creature tilted its head, as if acknowledging the name.
Then, the vision changed. Meera saw a younger Bebeto running through a field of sunflowers, his laughter ringing out as Coco chased after him. Amara stood nearby, her hands on her hips, calling after them to be careful.
The dream shifted again. Now it was Bebeto, older, leaning over a chessboard in Taralyn, while Amara guided a group of students in the academy. The connection was undeniable.
When Meera awoke, she sat up with a start. "Coco," she murmured. "He's the one from my dreams. And those two... I have to find them."
Deep within the forest, near the edge of Taralyn, a golden figure moved silently through the shadows. His eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight as he gazed toward the city.
It was Coco.
But he was no longer just a dog. His presence was larger, more commanding. The years spent away from the Kensen siblings had changed him in ways only he understood.
Still, as he stood there, his gaze was soft, almost longing. He turned back toward the forest, where Meera and her family lay unaware of how close their fates were to converging with the siblings he had once called his own.
✨ To Be Continued...