to this. “Wha-what do you mean?”

“They only wanted to be your friends to get popular, after that they’re just going to dump you in the nearest trash bin!”

Surprisingly to Balto, Saba started laughing.

“What is so funny?” Balto asked, serious.

Saba giggled a little more before answering. “Dad, after all they’ve done for me, I don’t think these guys are fake. Friends are supposed to help one another, and that’s what they do.”

“Okay. Tell me one thing they have done for you. One thing.”

Saba’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. She pondered this very carefully for a minute.

“See? Saba, I’m not going to force you to leave your friends, but I’m just here to warn you. They are NOT your friends.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Saba started to giggle again as she was leaving.

“Saba?” Balto called.

“Yes?” Saba’s voice was in a giggle.

“Are you going to believe me, your own father who raised you and taught you good, or your friends who never did one thing for you.”

“I just haven’t thought more about it! I know they did things for me! They helped me find Nao’s house, they scared off Aitu one time, and they were always cool with me, never hyperactive every time I walk towards them.”

“Saba…do you ever wonder that those things could just be…an act?”

“An act? Why would it be an act?”

“Look, I know what I heard, and I heard them saying ‘the only reason we’re hanging out with Saba is to get popular.’”

“Dad you’re getting old. It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just that maybe…you heard it wrong.”

“I was standing right there honey. And I’m only 6. I still have some years to go.”

“Dad, as much as I want to believe you…I can’t. Jess and Kila will always be my friends, no matter what you say. End of discussion.”

Saba ran now, back to her place.

What could dad be thinking? Saba thought. Jess and Kila are not those kind of dogs.

Saba went home, ate her dinner, which was more than usual because it was a homecoming gift. And off to bed she went.

And, of course, there was the dream again, which Saba was actually excited to have.

“Are you ready?” Tor asked Saba.

“Yes.”

Saba followed Tor inside the alley. They moved a bit faster than she did when she went in here. Soon Saba could see those big, ugly dogs again. She had to look, though.

“So…you were friends with these…”

Tor knew Saba wouldn’t finish. “Yes, I was. You have no idea what they’ve been through.”

“Well I would have an idea of you’d tell me.”

Tor took a deep breath.

“The biggest out of the 3 is named Akil.” She pointed to the biggest sleeping dog. “He was born in this very alley. He didn’t have any siblings. His mother left him as soon as he could eat anything but milk. But Akil tried to follow her, calling her name. He did that every day for a week, but finally gave up. He wandered the streets, looking for someplace to live. When he would beg for food from the humans, they would just shove him away, disgusted. When he would ask for food from dogs, they tried to play with him like some toy ball. Some dogs actually mistook him for a rat because he was so tiny, and tried to kill him! Usually, the cats would do that. When he was older, and learned how to steal food, Akil wondered about the outside world. He saw a sled team about to leave and hitched a ride. He ended up in a town called Koyuk. The people were even worse to him there! Instead of just shoving him away, they would try and put an axe on him! They would also shout names and torture the still young dog as much as possible until he leaves! Eventually he did, and walked out of town. Now with scars all over his skin, Akil wandered the frozen wasteland in search of life anywhere! He didn’t have any food or water for almost a week!

He trudged through the hardest snow you could imagine, the biggest of storms Until finally, he arrived in Nome again. He went food crazy and went into people’s houses to steal their food! That’s how Akil became ‘the world’s deadliest predator.’ Now every week, every animal living near his alley has to give him half of his or her food to keep him strong.”

“Wow. I never knew how much a dog could survive without being fed.” Saba said.

Tor sighed. “Yes, he was a lucky one. It’s terrible what he’s doing, though.”

“Well what about the other ones?” Saba pointed to the two other dogs sleeping beside Akil.

“Those are Akil’s ‘henchdogs’, as he likes to call them. The one with one ear is name Oki. He was born here two, but at first on the other side of town. He was abused by his parents until he finally put his foot down and left.”

“Is that why Oki has only one ear?” Saba asked.

Tor nodded. “The worst thing they did to him. He was about 6 months old when he left, still a pup. He was still sort of happy though. He had friends that lived across the street. Some of them were street dogs, but others lived in a house. Oki decided to stay with his best friend. He only stayed there for a few weeks because when Oki went out to get food and came back, his best friend was killed by a few mean sled dogs just looking for something to do. They killed almost every little street puppy, except Oki. Do you know why? He was in so much rage, he and the sled dogs got in a huge blood battle! Oki barely survived, but he won. The two street dogs were dead. For the rest of his life, all sled dogs stayed clear of Oki, not wanting to be killed like they were.”

“Aww. Poor Oki.” Saba said sadly.

“There is still one more.” Tor pointed to the youngest one and the smallest, but still two times bigger than Saba.

“This little guy is called by Pok. He was much younger, barely a full grown dog when I met him. All I know of his story is that he was abducted by the white ones in a silver room. Now I have no idea what this means. But it must have something to do with humans because he hates them so much. He once attacked a woman and now she has no arm!”

Saba shuddered.

“All of these dogs were treated horribly as pups, and even now. But they DO have good inside them. No one sees it though.”

“It’s so sad…But what does this have to do with anything?”

“Saba, my soul purpose is to guide you in the right direction. So the only reason I’m telling you this is because I know that you are struggling with making everyone happy, and unsure about your interests. I’m here to tell you that maybe…this will be your calling.”

Saba’s mouth opened wide.

“You mean I’m going to be a street dog?!”

Tor shook her head. “No, no. You misunderstood. I’m saying that if these dogs feel what it’s like to not be feared all the time, maybe they’ll turn around.”

“How do I do that?”

“Just show them how to be like you, kind and considerate. And most importantly: to be forgiving. If they learn these things, they won’t be feared as much, and they’ll get some real respect.”

“But they already know who I am. They almost killed me! What if they don’t trust me?”

“Just keep coming back. Every day until they trust you. I did that a lot when I met them.”

Saba nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Do you want to do this?” Tor asked.

Saba thought for a moment. There could actually be a chance that she could be killed doing this. But these dogs need her help and Tor can’t do it because she’s dead. Saba was now the only one who understood what they went through, and now the only one who could help them become good dogs and respectable dogs. If she didn’t take this chance, who would?

“I’ll do it.” Saba said proudly.

Tor’s smile grew until it reached her ears. “Thank you, Saba! Thank you! *Sigh* now I have to say goodbye.”

Saba’s smile faded. “Goodbye? You mean…forever?”

“I’ve done I’ll I could do. But don’t worry, I’ll still be around. I’m your spirit guardian remember? I never go away!”

Saba giggled and hugged a wolf for the first time. Soft. XD

“Thank you Tor. Thanks for showing me what to do.”

“Goodbye Saba. Saba…Saba…Saba

“Saba? Are you awake?”

Saba’s sleepy eyes slowly opened and looked up at yet another worried Carla.

“You’ve been acting strange, girl. Are you okay?”

Saba yawned and jumped off the bed. She went to her breakfast, ate, and went outside. Saba knew what she had to do today.

Carla put her hand on her hips. “Hm. Saba has never been so tired. Could it be...The strange dreams, the depression, the mood swings, the eating!” Saba has been eating a bit more to make up for those weeks she hasn’t been eating. “I wonder…”

Saba tried to figure out where she was headed. She knew she would have to walk far, but she didn’t mind. Meanwhile she bumped into Jess, but no Kila. Jess was with Luke.

“Hi guys” Saba said.

“Hey Saba!” Jess said back. “What are you doing here?”

Should Saba tell them what she was doing. Nah. Not right now.

“Just taking a stroll.”

“Good, Saba!” Luke said. “Getting some exercise before practice tomorrow!” Luke always gave the team the day off the day after a big mail run.

“Thanks Luke. So

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