Akil.

“Never…do that again to my daughter.”

Akil stayed where he was, along with his buddies.

Jenna rushed Saba to the vet, and he gladly took her in. In a few hours, Carla showed up by Balto and Jenna pulling her. The vet found her and told her what happened.

Saba was okay.

Everyone relaxed. But the doctor told her that scratch is most likely going to turn into a scar. Thankfully, nothing else happened to her eye.

When Saba walked out of the vet’s office, everyone was glad to see her and that she was all right. She had a patch over her eye, but she was fine.

When most of the dogs left, Balto asked Saba.

“What were you doing with that gang of street dogs? They could’ve killed you if I wasn’t there.”

Saba didn’t answer for a few seconds, trying to decide what to do.

Well, they’re going to find out sooner or later. Might as well tell them now.

She started to speak. “I was trying to”-

“Saba, are you crazy?!” That was Nao. “You could’ve been killed! Why the heck would you want to get mixed up with a bunch of gigantic rats?!”

“Nao, please.” Balto said.  “Trying to do what?”

“I was…teaching them.”

Everyone looked confused.

“Teaching them?” Balto asked. “What?”

“How to be good.”

There were a few chuckles, including from Nao.

“Are you serious? Those idiots will never change!” Nao said to her. “They will always be the most stupid, selfish, annoying little”-

“Nao! Stop!” Saba shouted at him. “You don’t know what they’ve been through.”

“No, but I know what they’ve DONE to you, plus all the other innocent lives around here.”

“But I’ve done one thing that those innocent lives never did.”

“And what’s that?”

“I forgave them!”

There was a silence in the room for a minute.

“Saba…but your eye”-

“Yeah, my eye! Do you really think that’s going to stop me?” Saba started to leave the building. “I’m still going to help them, no matter what they do to me!”

She slammed the door behind her and headed for the alley again.

Balto sped after her and got in front of her.

“Saba, no. I don’t want you to do this any longer. You WILL get killed, I guarantee it.”

“Dad please”-

“Why do you want to risk your life for something you’re not going to change?”

Saba stared at her father, tears welling up in her eyes, ready to pour. “You...don’t have faith in me?” She squeaked.

“It’s not that, dear. It’s them. They have been cold-blooded beasts from the start, and that is how it will end. Please, Saba. Do it for me. I don’t want to lose you…”

“Dad you don’t have to finish it.” Saba said thinking for a minute. “I’ll go home if it will make you happy ok?.”

Balto smiled. “Thank you, Saba. Now go and get some rest. You have practice tomorrow.”

Saba looked up to the sky. It was going to get dark soon. She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, dad.” Saba started off for home, a bit sad that she didn’t get to go back to say she forgave Akil. She’ll do it tomorrow after practice.

When she got home, she immediately went to bed, hoping that she’d get help from Tor, her dream buddy. (ha ha)

The only thing she got was a whisper in her sleep.

You’ll figure it out, Saba. I know you will. Never stop doing what you think is right…