- 17 hours ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00she stood at the covenant altar wearing the exact same gown moon silk silver white lily she's just
00:05a friend jack always said the vixen her three red tails swaying behind her each tip blushing pink
00:10the sign of a fox in heat or in triumph she stood beside jack greeting guests together my hand traced
00:15my moon silk gown traditional bridal robe of the lichen people for the man i had loved eight years
00:19ready nervous a scent drifted from the great hall something sweet clowing and wrong fox i knew that
00:28scent a female young her paramones too strong for a guest she shouldn't be here i'm going to look
00:33rose rose everyone is here the five kingdoms you can't i know i'm just looking i pushed through
00:41the curtain and saw her lily jack wore his half form too golden lion's mane shining under the crystal
00:46lights a hybrid always ashamed of it but today he looked like a prince they looked good together
00:51behind me my mother sucked in a breath the hall went quiet ears turned towards me tails stopped
00:56swaying all eyes on me i breathed in wolves don't show fear my father's first lesson i walk into the
01:02hall my moon silk gown dragging across the stone floor my ears straight jack saw me his face changed
01:09muscles tightening under his mane he opened his mouth lily got there first rose what a beautiful gown
01:17oh what a coincidence ours match she looped her arm through jack's leaned her head on his shoulder
01:23jack didn't push her away i looked at him he looked at me amber eyes guilty
01:30flustered but not surprised he knew she would come he knew she would wear this maybe he planned it
01:35i smiled you do look perfect together loud enough for every beast in the hall to hear a fine pair
01:44lily's smile froze her tail stopped three tips trembling the tell of a fox caught in a lie
01:50then her eyes welled up rose how could you jack and i are just just she ran gown tangling under
01:58her
01:58feet jack's face burned red his mane flared tiger stripes rising under his skin rose how could you say
02:05that lily came to wish us well his voice boomed jack today is our vow ceremony he stopped five kingdoms
02:14are watching your father mine do you really want to fight me here over a friend his mane flattened
02:20he looked at me then at the silent guests his throat bobbed but he didn't apologize he turned
02:25and ran after lily left me standing at the altar in my moon silk gown alone one by one the
02:31crystal
02:31lights went dark guests rose and left some gave me pitying looks some smirked i stood still my mother
02:37came to me said nothing just draped a blanket over my shoulders it smelled like her cedar frost and a
02:44trace of old blood war wounds rose mother i want to be alone i stared at the altar she left
02:51the hall
02:51was empty i looked up at the soul bond contract hanging above the altar our names carved into a
02:56crystal after the vow ceremony the crystal would split in two each of us would hold half now it just
03:02hung there a joke i reached up and took it down the crystal was cold against my palm i remembered
03:07eight years ago the lake moonlight lake jack's first confession he was a hybrid i was the duke's
03:14daughter our union could have healed old wounds between lions and wolves i thought it was fate now i
03:19knew better it was just me i got the news on the way home jack took lily to moonlight lake
03:25after the
03:26reception moonlight lake our sacred ground where the wolf moon goddess bathed they said where the
03:32waters healed all wounds i was supposed to go there with jack for our mating moon he went with
03:38another woman griffin driven carriage clattering over golden city's stone streets i set down my
03:43communication crystal didn't reply told the driver to turn to the temple of life head to the temple of
03:50life the temple sat in the eastern quarter run by deer druids incense always burning an old doe received
03:58me her antlers gray but her eyes clear your certain child yes she sighed took a purple vial from the
04:07shelf a runestone root severant runen drink the potion press the stone to your belly three days and the
04:15child's scent will fade i took the vial cold my hand didn't shake how long the rune works fast but
04:21recovery takes time you'll need someone to tend you the doe's voice was soft i drank bitter then i
04:28opened my gown and pressed the stone to my skin cold spread from my belly through my whole body like
04:34something being ripped out by the roots three days later the cub's scent was gone jack would notice his
04:40kind didn't have lichen noses but a father knows when his own blood goes missing but what did it
04:47matter he didn't care anymore neither would i pale moonlight bled through the fur curtains frost wolf
04:54decorations from the ceremony still hung on the walls they look like bad omens now i dragged myself
04:59to the bed collapsed onto the fur mattress lily's phantom image was the first thing i saw lucky to have
05:05you meant to be the image showed jack holding her close at moonlight lake moonlight silver on the
05:12water their lips about to meet matching rings on their fingers once i would have stormed over to
05:18demand answers now i just turned off the crystal and rolled over no tears just tired the next days
05:26brought no word from jack but lily's phantom images showed me everything kisses selfies market walks around
05:31moonlight lake every image had a location marker everyone had a sweet caption i didn't react i
05:37contacted a mage started preparing to sever the soul bond his name was gray claw avis my classmate from
05:43the academy his beast form was a gray feathered eagle in human form he still had those sharp raptor
05:48eyes he asked when he flew to my house
05:53you're sure yes he didn't argue just pulled a roll of cured hide from his satchel
06:03soul bond severation contract he said spreading it on the table under the codex of beasts severing a
06:10bond requires both parties to tear the contract before the council of elders the guilty party pays cub feed
06:15all costs from the pregnancy and recovery what else if a third party interfered in the marriage
06:20the innocent party can reclaim all property the guilty party spent on the third during the marriage
06:25gray claw's eagle eyes fixed on me jack bought lily an emerald bracelet worth a million crystals
06:31did you know i blinked then laughed i do now write it in two weeks later i was reviewing gray
06:39claw's
06:39draft at home when the front door opened jack walked in lily on his arm he'd gotten tan
06:44his mane had grown golden hair bright in the sun lily's three red tails wagging behind her
06:49our eyes met jack dropped her hand uncomfortable his mane flared then flattened tiger stripes flickering
06:56his nervous tell dry-throated lily had never seen the snowfields i took her to see them i said nothing
07:02you're carrying our cub the mage said you should rest his voice trailed off i looked back down at my
07:08papers nodded good you he stopped watched me not looking at him his mane flared again you
07:19what's your problem i told you lily just wanted to see the snow we can take our mating moon anytime
07:25why are you making a scene and i've told you a hundred times lily and i are just siblings i
07:31know
07:32my face was blank wolf eyes flat his face went stiff mane flattening stripes fading he opened his
07:38mouth nothing came out lily stepped forward grabbed jack's wrist her tails low ears pinned back rose
07:45please don't be angry please don't fight with jack because of me lily's voice soft as cotton he didn't
07:52take you this time but he brought you a present jack give your wife her present she smiled at jack
08:00jack
08:00fumbled in his pocket pulled out a small box pushed it at me i got this just for you open
08:06it i glanced
08:08inside simple earrings flower shaped tiny crystals around the edges pretty enough but compared to the
08:17emerald bracelet on lily's wrist worth a million crystals it looked like market stall trash i pushed
08:25the box back no need i don't accept scraps the air turned cold jack's face went dark mane exploding
08:34stripes rising rose what does that mean i looked at the bracelet on lily's wrist moonlight lake yade
08:44green as new leaves worth a fortune then i met jack's eyes what i said you give her emeralds
08:53you give me scraps you think that's all i'm worth jack's mane frozen his eyes flickered lily jumped in
09:04voice breaking rose don't be angry jack only gave me the bracelet because i loved it so much
09:09if it bothers you i can give it back she said this made no move to take off the bracelet
09:15jack pulled lily close glared at me lily don't listen to her the bracelet is yours she's always
09:25been like this small-hearted jealous i looked at them said nothing turned back to my crystal
09:32gray claw had sent a message first draft ready also compiled list of jack's gifts to lily during the
09:38marriage total 3.72 million crystals i replied good jack saw me ignoring him got angrier he stormed out
09:49with lily slamming the door so hard he cracked two rooms i knew what he was waiting for he wanted
09:59me to
10:00run after him apologize like i always did this time i didn't even look up
10:08on the eighth day gray claw flew to golden city himself put the final soul bond severation contract
10:15in my hands sign he said i'll handle the rest i picked up the quill dipped it in ink i
10:22signed my name
10:22rose frostclaw daughter of the lichen duke 72nd generation of snowfield wolves then pressed my paw print
10:29beside it silver gray the print glowed faintly on the hide scent rising cedar frost and something
10:35bitter my mark from this day jack had no part of me but the day before my follow-up exam
10:39jack sat in
10:40my living room nervous his mane flaring and flattening jack tomorrow you'll come with me of course
10:49i smiled then i sent lily a message
10:56maybe you're not as important to jack as you think he promised to take me to the temple tomorrow
11:01he says everything between you was just pretend lily was quiet for a long time finally just wait
11:09i set down the crystal
11:12smiled fox pride is more fragile than their tails
11:17i knew she wouldn't let me down the next morning jack was gone his pillow was still warm when i
11:25woke
11:25he'd left recently
11:29the sheets smelled like scorch his lying smell
11:34my crystal lit up lily's phantom image jack and her kissing
11:41the caption
11:45true love doesn't check the calendar
11:47i set down the crystal picked up the soul bond severment contract
11:51walked out gray claw waited outside covenant hall
11:54he came
11:55no but the council is inside
11:58then let's begin
12:00the 15 elders sat in their places three from each kingdom
12:03their eyes followed me
12:05my grandmother sat among the wolf elders
12:07she nodded once i nodded back
12:10rose frost claw
12:11wolf
12:12the high elder spoke
12:13you petitioned to sever the soul bond with jack golden mane
12:16is this true
12:18yes
12:19evidence
12:19gray claw stepped forward
12:21laid out the rolls
12:22phantom images
12:23crystal messages
12:24gift records
12:25the elders read
12:27the defendant
12:27defendant not present
12:29wait
12:29jack burst through the doors
12:31mane a mess
12:32shirt untupped
12:33he stopped in the center of the hall
12:35breathing hard
12:36amber eyes locked on me
12:38rose
12:38you
12:39his voice shook
12:40you planned this
12:41i said nothing
12:42yesterday
12:43you asked me to come with you
12:44you knew i'd go to lily
12:46you set me up
12:47defendant
12:48do you admit
12:49to improper relations
12:51with lily the fox
12:53jack opened his mouth
12:55closed it
12:56she's just a friend
12:57he finally said
13:00murmurs
13:01a friend
13:04the bear elder laughed
13:05you kiss your friend
13:08jack's mane flattened
13:09i made a mistake
13:11enough
13:11the high elder struck his staff
13:13this council finds in favor of the petitioner
13:15the soul bond is severed
13:16jack golden mane shall pay cub feed and damages
13:18totaling 5.3 million crystals
13:20rose frost claw
13:22do you accept
13:22yes
13:23jack golden mane
13:24do you accept
13:25jack stood in the center of the hall
13:27shaking
13:28his eyes were red
13:29mane flat
13:31stripes gone
13:32i i don't accept
13:33louder now
13:34rose
13:36you're carrying my cub
13:38how could you
13:39gone
13:39he froze
13:42what
13:42the cub
13:43i looked at him
13:45calm
13:46two weeks ago
13:48at the temple of life
13:49i did the root severment
13:52the whole gasp
13:54jack's face lost all color
13:56turning deathly pale like ash
13:58his lips trembled
13:59you what
14:00his voice came from somewhere hollow and deep
14:03the cub is gone
14:04the day you took lily to moonlight lake
14:09jack's legs gave out
14:10he fell to his knees
14:14how could you
14:17how could you
14:19mundling now
14:22our cub
14:22you knew it was our cub
14:25i looked into his eyes
14:27spoke each word clearly
14:31then why did you take another woman to moonlight lake while i carried it
14:35he had no answer
14:36just knelt there
14:38shaking
14:38completely broken and defeated
14:41the elders exchanged looks
14:43judgment stands
14:44the soul bond is severed
14:46this council is dismissed
14:48one by one the elders rose
14:50the wolf elders each touched my shoulder as they passed
14:54my grandmother said nothing
14:55just pressed a warm crystal into my palm
14:58the blessing of wolves
15:00i closed my fingers around it
15:03walked out of the hall
15:04behind me
15:05jack still knelt on the floor
15:07not moving
15:08i didn't look back
15:11after the bond was severed
15:12i went home to the snow fields
15:14wolf territory sits between frozen mountains
15:17winter all year
15:19i like the cold
15:22cold that went to the bone
15:23kept you awake
15:24my mother made me recovery food every day
15:27bone broth
15:28fish stew
15:29wild greens
15:31different every time
15:33my father didn't talk
15:34just left fresh kills at the door
15:36and walked away
15:37it took me a long time to heal
15:39root severment is hard on the body
15:41the deer druid said three months at least
15:43i didn't follow jack's news
15:45but gray claw told me anyway
15:46jack's not well
15:48he sat across from me in the longhouse
15:50his sharp eyes watching intently
15:54he's been in the taverns every night
15:56drinking until he can't stand
15:57a few times he shouted your name in public
16:00the lion council warned him
16:03lily
16:03she tries to see him
16:05but golden mane
16:07jack's father forbade it
16:08said if she comes near jack again
16:10he'll have her whole family run out of golden city
16:12she won't give up
16:14no
16:14gray claw shook his head
16:15she's been talking to me
16:16you're a new patron
16:17one more thing
16:17i nodded
16:18gray claw pulled a scroll from his satchel
16:20the frost wolf trading house
16:22all of jack's shares have been transferred to you
16:24he signed
16:25didn't fight
16:25didn't fight
16:26no
16:26gray claw paused
16:29he was drunk
16:31after he signed
16:31he cried
16:32said he wanted to see you
16:35i was quiet for a moment
16:36no
16:37i said
16:38gray claw put away the scroll
16:40stood
16:41i'll be going then
16:42send word if you need me
16:44he spread his gray wings
16:45shot out of the longhouse
16:47into the sky
16:48i watched him disappear into the clouds
16:51then looked down at the roll in my hands
16:54frost wolf trading house
16:55jack and i started it together after we left the academy
16:59a market stall at first
17:00selling snowfield goods
17:02hides
17:03herbs
17:03crystals
17:04then it grew
17:05became one of the biggest trading houses in the five kingdoms
17:08bods used to sing about us
17:11the hybrid son and the duke's daughter
17:13against all odds
17:14building an empire together
17:18pretty story
17:20and the duke's daughter
17:20and the duke's daughter
17:20and the duke's daughter
17:20and the duke's daughter
17:20and the duke's daughter
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