Once they got into the car, Otto's tense little face finally relaxed a bit. He placed a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Crystal Foster.
"What happened to your shoulder?" Crystal asked urgently, pulling at Otto's shirt to get a better look. "Let me see if you're hurt."
There was a red bite mark on Otto's shoulder, and seeing it made Crystal's heart ache, tears welling up in her eyes.
But Otto wiped her tears away with a smile, not bothered by the incident at all. "Mom, don't cry. It doesn't hurt. Plus, I'm happy that I can protect my friends now."
"Mommy's just worried about you," Crystal said, wiping her tears. "I'm proud you're brave enough to stand up for your friends, but I care more about your safety."
Even though Otto was young, he understood Crystal's emotions and realized that his actions might have been reckless. He lowered his head, looking a bit guilty.
