She had seen this before, the howling and yelling and the blood...there was always a lot of blood. But she never thought he'd turn on them.
Her brother, Trevor, shook so much she thought he'd lose all his fur.
"I'm going to show them why they never should disobey me." He growled low, looking at them with a enraged look they had never seen before, like he was drunk...like their father was that night. That night when they ran out of choices.
"Stop! Please stop!" Her mother begged him, trying desperately to drag her broken, thin body to it's feet. Blood still leaked out of her shoulder and neck.
"You're just a bunch of useless rats I dragged off the streets! I do to you what I want! Maybe next time you won't disobey me." He shot out a swift paw and snatched Trevor, who squealed in horror. He was flung through the air to land with a yelp a wolflength away from where he started.
"Stop this!" Her mother pleaded with him. "I won't-"
"You've had this coming a long time!" He snapped at her angrily. "You do what I say, and you won't get punished!"
He flung around Trevor some more before turning to eye her. She backed up, her haunches brushing against the den's walls.
"Donovan, please! Stop!" Her mother stumbled in between the brown wolf and the shepup.
"Out of the way!" He roared, swatting at her face, leaving bloody slices on her cheek, but her paws were gripping the ground with determination, and she remained where she was.
"Get out." Ziara hissed to her, not taking her eyes off of Donovan. She nodded, fear flooding her as she yipped to Trevor, who staggered over to her. She winced as she saw his blood seep into his pale grey fur.
"Don't go anywhere, you rats! I'm not done with you yet!" Donovan roared.
Ziara struck at him, claws raking down his eye. He howled as blood dripped down his muzzle.
She took that chance to scramble out of the den, racing behind the screaming Donovan, followed by a whimpering Trevor. They dashed into the night, hearing Donovan roar.
"BY THE MOON! YOU'RE A BLOODY FOOL!"
She didn't stop running, not even when her mother's screams shattered the moon above.