'What's going on?' she wondered, 'Where am I?'

'Shannon?' Saba wondered, 'What's wrong?'

'I'm blind?' she thought, 'So... I'll never see again? Ever?'

She shook her head before realising there was something around her neck. She tried to shake it off but it wouldn't work.

She closed her eyes, not that it made much difference, and thought back to what had happened. Her eyes snapped open again in shock and she leapt to her feet, only to yelp at a searing pain in her front leg and sat down again.

'So, it's the fire that did this!' she hissed, 'And it's my own stupid fault! I should have never gone into that house!

'Maybe we should leave her now.' Shannon's dad said.

Although Saba couldn't see it, Shannon nodded. She hugged her dog before leaving the room. Saba sighed, realising she was on her own. She was now blind, injured and mentally wounded.

'I should never have been so carefree about that fire.' she sighed, 'I'm so stupid! I should've listened to Summer and Dingo and Kodi! Where are they? Are they safe?'

She asked herself hundreds of questions repetatively before tiring herself and falling to sleep.

Saba was let out of the hospital a week later.

'I wish you could see, Jess.' Shannon sighed, 'It must be really hard for you now.'

Saba didn't reply. She had been given a few small lessons during the two weeks that she'd had to spend in the hospital. Blindness was really annoying for her but at least she'd started to get used to it.

'I'll need to use my nose and ears from now on. If sight won't work then smelling and hearing should!' she said to herself.

'We're home!' Shannon said, opening the door.

As soon as Saba's leash was unclipped, she sat down on the porch.

'We're supposed to be in the house!' Shannon said.

Saba stepped backwards and sat herself down firmly on the porch. Shannon sighed.

'I'll leave the door open for you.' she said, disappearing inside.

Saba listened until she was gone before falling onto her side. She was tired and all she wanted was to see her family.

'Saba!' three voices cried.

The red husky looked up to be bombarded by familiar dogs. She sniffed, trying to get used to having to scent people. It was Kodi, Dakota and Summer.

'Are you OK?' Summer asked, 'You poor thing! We told you, though!'

'I know, I know.' Saba sighed, shaking her head.

'Mum said you were... blind.' Kodi said, ears flattened.

'That's right.' Saba replied, 'I can't see you but that doesn't mean I can't smell you. I can still get you if I wanted!'

'I'd like to see you try.' Kodi replied, happiness in his voice.

'It's great to see you awake.' Dakota said, her tone of voice changing everyone's moods, 'But after you came out of that house, something's happened to Dingo.'

'Like what? What's wrong with her?' Saba demanded.

'Seeing you in such a state and finding out you'd been blinded made her go into shock. She was starving herself. She started going delirious. She kept blaming herself for you getting hurt.' Kodi explained.

'Is she OK now?' Saba asked, worried.

'She's better now.' Dakota rpelied, 'But she refuses to speak. She's gone mute on us.'

Saba sighed, ears falling back a little. She was angry at herself for not listening to Dingo and cross that she was blaming herself.

'I want to see- I mean, visit her.' she said, 'Take me to her.'

'OK.' Dakota said.

'Stay close to me.' Summer said.

Saba nodded and started following her siblings and friend.

'Dingo!' Saba heard Kodi's voice, muffled as he went through the dog door.

He returned a moment later, Dingo following him. The small dog's sweet smell filled Saba's nostrils and she smiled.

'Dingo!' she said, 'It's great to see... um, whatever. Thank you for trying to protect me before. I just... I thought I was brave.'

Dingo didn't reply and Saba felt worse.

'I'm sorry for making you blame yourelf.' she said, noticing that her voice was getting quieter, 'Please, stop doing it. It was my fault. I didn't want to hurt you!'

She heard a small sob and felt Dingo's head leaning against her shoulder. Saba licked her sister's ear and Dingo returned the lick.

'That's the most emotion we've gotten out of her since she's been like this.' Saba heard Kodi mutter.

'Red!' a voice called, making Dingo turn around.

'I suppose you'd better go inside now.' Dakota said, 'We'll come round again tomorrow.'

Saba felt Dingo nod on her shoulder before moving away. After a few moments Summer was leading her away.

'Well see you later, Saba.' Dakota said, 'We'll visit tomorrow.'

'Yes.' Saba said, 'See you.'

She followed Summer back to her house. She'd asked Summer to go slowly so she could take in the town's smells.

'I miss not being able to see.' she admitted, 'But this will just add even more fun to my life.'

'Just don't think of running off into dangerous houses again!' Summer said, firmly.

'I can swear not to do that again.' Saba replied, 'I think I'm gonna start giving up all the adventurous stuff and hang out with you some more. It must get lonely wandering around on your own.'

'Since Dingo went into shock, yes.' Summer replied, 'She used to be the one I'd talk to if you weren't around.'

Saba nodded.

'Well, then,' she said, 'I will be around now to tend to your every need.'

'I think it'll be me tending to your every need.' Summer replied, smirking as Saba tripped over her own paws.

She helped her friend up and Saba butted her.

'Sure.' she said, grinning.

They walked back to Saba's house, happy to be friends again. Saba made her way up the steps and paused before going through the door.

'Thanks for being there, Summer.' she said, 'I'm glad to have you as a friend.'

'And thank you for staying with me.' Summer replied, softly, 'I only wish you didn't end up as bad.'

Saba smiled and slipped into the house, greeted by a hug from Shannon.