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