I sprinted through the trees trying to ignore the searing pain in my paws. I must keep running. I will not let them kill my son. I clenched my jaws around my pup. My legs pump hitting the ground periodically. I heard wild howling behind me and ran faster. They’re catching up. My mind raced as I tried to find a way to lose them. I heard quiet rumbling in the distance and decided it's my best chance of escaping so I made a sharp turn and sprinted toward it. My paws slid on the mud underneath me and I slammed into a tree. Pain seared through my body but I kept running, I must run.

I made it to a waterfall and skied to a stop. Water droplets sprayed my face as I looked over the edge. I heard the sound of paws hitting the wet soil behind me, and turned around with my pup still in my mouth and snarled. They surrounded me and I started inching back until I made it to the edge of the cliff. I glanced behind me and took a deep breath. I can do this. I leap off the edge and hit the cold water. I went under and got up swept by the current my breath got stuck in my throat. I thrashed in the water trying to pull myself above unsuccessfully, until finally I managed to push my head above water. I gasped for air keeping my jaws frimley around my pup amd dragged myself onto the sore. I gasped for air and coughed up water. It's over now. I escaped. My baby is safe.

5 years later-

The sun practically pried my eyes open, I slowly came to consciousness, sat up and yawned. I looked around, but Mom wasn’t there. Maybe she had gone outside already, and now that I thought about it, I did hear voices from outside. Why did she have to get up so early? I made a lazy attempt to stand up, and ended up falling and rolling onto my back. Why did moving have to be so hard? Giving up on walking for now, I settle for straining my ears to listen to the growing commotion outside. 

However, now that I’m paying attention, what sounded like mere chatter before suddenly sounded much more.. distressed? 

I flipped myself over so that I was propping myself up on my hands. And that’s when I heard Mom’s unmistakable cry for help. Instantly I’m on my feet, running towards the entrance. Dizziness gripped my head, the consequence for standing up so fast, but I shook it off and sprinted into the sunlight. Rounding the corner was an image I knew I would never forget. A large man was pinning Mom to the ground by her neck. Her face was turning red as she kept shouting breathless cries for help. She continued to roll on the ground, covering the apron she kept so clean with layers of dirt. Her perfect curly hair was now being matted and destroyed by struggle. The momentary paralysis that had come over me was gone. And I ran towards that evil man faster than I had ever ran in my life.

I catapulted myself onto his back, and clawing at him with what little nails I had. I bite him, kicked him with all my strength. I was sure that I was doing damage, after all, Mom always told me how strong I was. But he just brushed me off, and turned to glare at me. Mom was no longer being held down as tight, so now they were both just staring at me, and as I ran to attack the man again, the light shone on his face for the first time and I could see who he was.

“Dad?” 

I was frozen. The kind man I knew had melted away into some sort of monster. Maybe he was possessed, or had an evil twin, there had to be some explanation. But no. The look in his eyes as he saw me showed that he was the same person he’d always been. 

I guess I never really knew him.

“Sammy, you need to run.” 

It was mom. She was crying. Dad seemed to be frozen too.

“Sammy, do you hear me? Run! Get as far away from here as you can.”

I struggled to find words.

“What, Mom, I can’t just leave you! I need you!”

I could feel myself crying now, too.

“Sammy I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry my love. But you need to go! There’s no more time.”

“I can’t be without you Mom! Who’s going to teach me what to do? How to survive? I can’t do that on my own!”

“I believe in you, Sam. You can make it. But now you need to run, or neither of us are making it out of here.”

“But Mom-”

“Just run!”

I took one last look at Mom. The words ‘I love you’ stuck in my throat, and before I knew it, I was running. The forest was dense, twigs and branches snapped in my face as I ran, but I couldn’t feel them. I ran until my legs gave way beneath me, until I was curled up under a tree, exhausted, heaving and sobbing, not knowing anything of what the future would hold. But one thought rose above the rest.

Who’s going to tell me that I’m strong now?

My eyes snapped open and I sobbed, when will I stop having that nightmare? Today was my fifthtenth birthday but I didnt feel like celebrating. I sat in my bed crying for a while before I sliding out. I threw on some washed out jeans and a tee-shirt and stumbled numbly down the stairs into the kitchen. I nodded hello to my adoptive parents, Jessica and Ross. Jessica smiled at me and placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of me. I grumbled a thanks before scarfing it down and walking to the door. As soon as I stepped outside I started sprinting towards the woods. 

when I got there, I sat down underneath a tree and stared at the sun through the canopy of leaves. I almost never go for runs in my wolf form but he was screaming to come out today. I reluctantly stripped off my clothes and changed. Once I was done I ran through the trees. I was running for awhile unitl my legs protested and I had to slow down. I listenned to the noises around me. Being outside was the best but I have to be careful, I know he's still out there. That man hasn't given up on finding me since he killed my mom. I've had to move out of 6 homes already with no explanation. The adoptive agency said this is the last house I can be adopted into. I'm terrified that he’ll find me again and I'll have to leave with nowhere to go. 

I made my way back home and by the time I got there it was dark. I sighed and stepped through the door. Jessica greeted me and I nodded a thanks. I can't get attached to them. I know I'll have to leave soon. I walked up the stairs and closed the door to my room. I threw myself onto my bed and cried into my pillow. 

When will this stop? When will he finally give up?