the golden rule

The girl had been about to speak further to her brother when the door banged open. The light from outside illuminated the form of none other than their father. It hadn't taken him long to find them. Asla wished he hadn't found them at all. Instant terror filled the child's veins like ice and she was unable to move:unable to breathe.

When Azure placed himself before her, his big body bristling, Asla couldn't even speak. She wanted to tell him that this was a bad idea. She wanted to apologize for getting him in trouble. She wanted to say a lot of things, but she could only move her eyes to take in the scene. The rest of her body refused to respond.

Sirius was too close. This was the closest she'd been since the day that he'd thrown her on the ground. The girl had taken to sleeping as far away from her father as she could when they were in the den. Most nights she would fall asleep outside by herself. He was too close. Much too close. Azure's words barely registered. All she could do was stand still, stare and wait for their father to hurt them.