Sophie[/@ch_2] steps off the plane onto the tarmac in Sydney, Australia. The air is thick with heat, and the sky is a piercing blue, so different from the gentle gray of Canada. Suitcases rattle on the ground beside her as palm trees sway in the warm breeze.]
Sophie wipes sweat from her brow, her heart aching for the snow-dusted forests and cool lakes of home. Everything here feels foreign—the bright colors, the noisy birds, the endless summer. She glances at Mum, who is busy checking a map, trying to look excited but hiding her own nerves.
Sophie sits on her bed, staring at a faded photo of her old friends. She sighs and looks out the window, watching neighborhood kids play on the sidewalk, laughing in accents she doesn't yet understand. "I wish I could just go home," she whispers to herself, hugging her knees.
Sophie[/@ch_2] wanders through a sun-dappled park near her house. The grass is a vibrant green, and wildflowers bloom in bursts of purple and gold. A gentle breeze carries the scent of eucalyptus and the distant roar of the ocean.]
She spots a small, fluffy puppy tangled in a bush, its golden fur shining in the light. The puppy looks up with big brown eyes and lets out a tiny, unmistakable, "Help, please?" Sophie's jaw drops in amazement. "Did you just talk?" The puppy wags her tail furiously. "Yes! My name is Emily. Can you help me out of here?"
Sophie[/@ch_2] and Emily sit together under a sprawling gum tree, the puppy licking Sophie's hand gratefully.]
"I've never met a talking dog before," Sophie laughs, her earlier homesickness forgotten. "I've never had a friend like you!" Emily replies, her ears perked with excitement. The two make promises to explore every corner of their new world together.
Sophie[/@ch_2] sneaks Emily inside, tiptoeing past Mum.]
Suddenly, Mum spots the puppy and gasps. "Sophie! What is that dog doing here? And... did it just talk?" Sophie gulps as Emily gives a shy wave. "Good morning, ma'am. Please don't be scared," says Emily, tail wagging hopefully.
Mum[/@ch_1], still looking a little shocked but smiling now, sits with Sophie and Emily on the comfy couch. Family photos and half-unpacked boxes surround them.]
"You know, I never thought I'd get used to a talking puppy. But Emily is... really something special," Mum admits, stroking Emily's fur. Sophie grins, finally feeling the warmth of belonging in this new place. "Thank you for giving me a home," Emily whispers, and together they laugh, the unfamiliar now feeling like family.
