Zara was born and raised in a loving environment, surrounded by family, and doted upon by two experienced parents. She learned quickly and was bestowed with a name honoring her late grandmother.

However, at three months of age, she witnessed a graphic fight between her father and uncle which left the latter severely wounded. She was stolen into the wilds by him that night and watched as infection stole his senses and, inevitably, claimed his life. She stayed in the cavern with the body, surviving on snow-melt and small critters until her brother found her a week later.

As she aged, she became more reclusive and unpredictable around her father, which led him to eventually ostracize her from the pack for fear of the new litter's safety.