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Rico’s life began like any other pup’s life. His bright blue eyes, destined to never change from the childish color they were, blinked up at his parents in that inquisitive newborn way. Their noses nuzzled the tuft of hair on his head with such love and affection. They cared for him, caressing him with their warm tongues, and he knew they’d care for him forever. They admired him as he stumbled around on chubby legs, and helped him up when he fell. This was his life for the first few months, and he adored it.
As he got older and more inquisitive, his parents would take him on tours of the jungle. They would show him how to use vines for fun and how to use them to his advantage, they taught him what was poisonous and what was venomous, they observed him as he grew into an excellent little climber. They were so proud of him, and he was proud to be their son.
When Rico’s teenage years hit, tragedy struck. His father had been out hunting and had been bitten by a venomous snake. He didn’t make it to a place where he could receive help and died a lonely death. Rico knew how attached his parents were, and he knew how much both of them depended on the love of the other to survive. His mother’s stability wavered violently, and he was worried about the outcome of his life.
One night, Rico awoke to the sound of distant paw steps. They were his mother’s. She had desperately fled from Rico, for she could not deal with him any longer. Rico resembled his father so much it was heartbreaking for her to see him every day. He cried out and chased her, but she was too far gone for him to catch. He stopped running eventually; his foggy vision and hiccups, accompanied by the sound of running water nearby had made him lose the sound of her running. He padded to the river, only to come face to face with a young kia his age. He looked at her sadly and as she patted the ground beside her, he fell to the ground, his tiny body shaking with sobs. She had told him her name, Sublime, and was just waiting, observing him. When he finally calmed down, he told her why he was here. She had sighed sympathetically and offered to take him to her pack, clan… whatever she had called it. He followed her sadly, knowing he’d never see his family again.
His teen years were spent with Sublime’s family pack. Everyone accepted him with open arms, and he slowly let the past and his true family fade to the corners of his memory. He let himself love and be loved by everyone in the pack. Slowly but surely the teenage hormones got to him and he fell in love with Sublime; it turns out she loved him back. To commemorate his love for her, he got the tattoo of a soaring bird on his back, between his shoulder blades. It was a symbol of their love- a permanent statement.
One day, Sublime decided to take Rico and venture into a human village. None of the other kiamaras in her tribe had been brave… or stupid enough to try something. Both were rather spirited teens, so they decided it was worth any risk to have a little fun. Together they wandered the deserted morning streets, laughing and nipping each other’s ears playfully. He licked her nose and trotted over to a stand to grab a lime. “It looks like you, mi amor,” he giggled, and she giggled back. Their playful bickering intensified in volume, not that they noticed. They were ignorant teenagers in love. Not a care in the world. All of a sudden, Sublime was being dragged away by grimy human hands. Rico growled and launched at the human, freeing Sublime. She whined and ran away into the jungle. Rico growled at the human, smirking. Unfortunately more humans approached him, holding him down just long enough to slide a collar around his neck. He snapped and growled at the humans, but a metal chain got thrown around his neck as well and whenever he growled at anyone he got a sharp reprimand with the metal. His neck ached and he whined, giving up. At least Sublime was safe was the only thing running through his mind. At the end of the day the men tossed him in a wooden box and loaded him into a rickety monster humans often drove. He whined and collapsed on the crate floor. The men drove him for hours and hours before shifting his crate into a louder metal beast that was faster and left the ground. It scared him so much he almost wet himself.
It was much later when he felt his crate being shifted. He was let out and put in the back of a human monster- this time without the crate. He relished in the semi-freedom and lay down, defeated. About an hour later, a human opened the back of the car and reached for Rico’s chain; she wasn’t fast enough. He darted out. She screamed for him, but he kept running until he couldn’t hear her. He stopped to paw the chain off his head. The collar needed to be worn down before he could rip it off- the leather was too tough. He wandered around in the unfamiliar world.
-By magic he arrives in kia-land since I have no clue where that might be-
Rico stumbled around. He saw figures that looked shockingly familiar. He wandered over to a particularly friendly one and collapsed on her. She looked thoroughly surprised, but gently took the collar off him and took him under her wing. He quickly learned her name was Reina. He quickly became her adopted son, and was joined by his two adopted brothers. He was taught how to love for the third time, he hoped his heart would hold up and everything would remain in one piece for once. Thankfully, it did. He made wonderful friends, and grew into a playful adult. He had pushed love aside in his memory so as not to hurt himself. That’s why when he met the Arabelle, he didn’t recognize her romantic advances. He also didn’t notice his own type of flirting.
He would spend time with Ara, and sometimes his best friend Cali too. Whenever there was another girl near him, Ara acted differently. At the time he didn’t recognize it as jealousy. He liked Ara… as a friend. They’d spend days picking flowers and playing together in the meadow. He’d tackle her and they’d tumble down the hills, their noses almost touching. She’d smile and he’d get an awkward sensation of butterflies, but he didn’t recognize any of this. She’d brush against his pelt and he’d suddenly feel on fire… all of these feelings confused him. Sublime had always been direct with her love- there was no question, so no need for uncertain flirting.
Everything came clear to Rico that one day at the cove. He had taken Ara and Cali to the cove. Together he and Ara had dived into the water. Cali had chosen to stay out. After playing around a little with Ara, she had taunted him and out of impulse had leaned over and kissed her. Unfortunately Cali had apparently had a little crush on him as well, and had run off. Shocked he had broken away from Ara and she thought he had been confused when kissing her and ran off as well.
After that he went off away from the girls to mull things over. He tried to remember the last time he had been in love but the memory was clouded with time. Eventually he made up to Cali and went to tell Ara about his feelings. She reciprocated them and he fell deeper in love as the days passed. They shared passionate and quick kisses as the weeks passed, and eventually he decided she should be his mate. When he asked, she quickly agreed, to his joy.
You know the rest of the story from here, don’t you? They had two sons, and they’re living happily together. The story is still completing itself… stick around for the journey.
(Ahh it gets sappy at the end and I need to fix it aaaa)
Extra notes;;
Rico's father was in a cartel; Rico in his early 20's found himself picking up the pieces of his dead father's empire.
Rico is now probably respected by that cartel, a bit of shady business is going on there.
Rico and Ara have 7 kids and a lot of money
Rico plays/played for Brazil's soccer team.
Wᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ
