- 4 hours ago
the covenant of betrayal SH
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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, his voice boomed, Jack, today is our vow
02:11ceremony,
02:12he stopped, five kingdoms are watching, your father, mine, do you really want to fight me here, over a friend,
02:19his mane flattened, he looked at me,
02:21then at the silent guests, his throat bobbed, but he didn't apologize, he turned and ran after Lily, left me
02:27standing at the altar in my moon silk gown, alone,
02:30one by one, the crystal lights went dark, guests rose and left, some gave me pitying looks, some smirked, I
02:36stood still,
02:37my mother came to me, said nothing, just draped a blanket over my shoulders, it smelled like her, cedar, frost,
02:43and a trace of old blood, war wounds, Rose, mother, I want to be alone, I stared at the altar,
02:50she left, the hall was empty,
02:52I looked up at the soul bond contract hanging above the altar, our names carved into a crystal,
02:57after the vow ceremony, the crystal would split in two, each of us would hold half, now it just hung
03:02there, a joke,
03:03I reached up and took it down, the crystal was cold against my palm, I remembered eight years ago,
03:08the lake, moonlight lake, Jack's first confession, he was a hybrid, I was the duke's daughter,
03:14our union could have healed old wounds between lions and wolves, I thought it was fate, now I knew
03:20better, it was just me, I got the news on the way home, Jack took Lily to moonlight lake after
03:26the
03:26reception, moonlight lake, our sacred ground, where the wolf moon goddess bathed, they said,
03:32where the waters healed all wounds, I was supposed to go there with Jack,
03:36for our mating moon, he went with another woman, griffin driven carriage clattering over golden
03:41city's stone streets, I set down my communication crystal, didn't reply, told the driver to turn,
03:47to the temple of life, head to the temple of life, the temple sat in the eastern quarter,
03:53run by deer druids, incense always burning, an old doe received me, her antlers grey, but her eyes clear,
04:01your certain child, yes, she sighed, took a purple vial from the shelf, a runestone,
04:09root severant runen, drink the potion, press the stone to your belly, three days, and the child's
04:15scent will fade, I took the vial, cold, my hand didn't shake, how long, the rune works fast,
04:21but recovery takes time, you'll need someone to tend you, the doe's voice was soft, I drank,
04:27bitter, then I opened my gown, and pressed the stone to my skin, cold spread from my belly through
04:33my whole body, like something being ripped out by the roots, three days later, the cub's scent was
04:38gone, Jack would notice, his kind didn't have lichen noses, but a father knows when his own blood goes
04:44missing, but what did it matter, he didn't care anymore, neither would I, pale moonlight bled through
04:52the fur curtains, frost wolf decorations from the ceremony still hung on the walls, they look like
04:57bad omens now, I dragged myself to the bed, collapsed onto the fur mattress, Lily's phantom
05:02image was the first thing I saw, lucky to have you, meant to be, the image showed Jack holding her
05:09close at moonlight lake, moonlight silver on the water, their lips about to meet, matching rings on
05:15their fingers, 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 phantom
05:28images showed me everything, kisses, selfies, market walks around moonlight lake, every image had a
05:33location marker, everyone had a sweet caption, I didn't react, I contacted a mage, started preparing
05:39to sever the soul bond, his name was grey claw, Avis, my classmate from the academy, his beast form was
05:44a
05:44grey feathered eagle, in human form, he still had those sharp raptor eyes, he asked when he flew to my
05:50house, you're sure, yes, he didn't argue, just pulled a roll of cured hide from his satchel, soul bond severation
06:05contract, he said, spreading it on the table, under the codex of beasts, severing a bond requires both parties to
06:11tear the contract before the council of elders, the guilty party pays cub feed, all costs from the pregnancy and
06:17recovery, what else, if a third party interfered in the marriage, the innocent party can reclaim
06:22all property the guilty party spent on the third during the marriage, grey claw's eagle eyes fixed
06:27on me, Jack bought Lily an emerald bracelet worth a million crystals, did you know, I blinked, then
06:34laughed, I do now write it in, two weeks later, I was reviewing grey claw's draft at home, when the
06:41front
06:41door opened, Jack walked in, Lily on his arm, he'd gotten tan, his mane had grown, golden hair bright
06:47in the sun, Lily's three red tails wagging behind her, our eyes met, Jack dropped her hand, uncomfortable,
06:53his mane flared, then flattened, tiger stripes flickering, his nervous tell, dry-throated,
06:58Lily had never seen the snowfields, I took her to see them, I said nothing, you're carrying our cub,
07:04the mage said you should rest, his voice trailed off, I looked back down at my papers, nodded, good,
07:10you, he stopped, watched me not looking at him, his mane flared again, you, what's your problem,
07:21I told you, Lily just wanted to see the snow, we can take our mating moon anytime, why are you
07:26making a scene, and I've told you a hundred times, Lily and I are just, just siblings, I know, my
07:32face
07:32was blank, wolf eyes flat, his face went stiff, mane flattening, stripes fading, he opened his mouth,
07:38nothing came out, Lily stepped forward, grabbed Jack's wrist, her tails low, ears pinned back,
07:44Rose, please don't be angry, please don't fight with Jack because of me, Lily's voice soft as
07:51cotton, he didn't take you this time, but he brought you a present, Jack, give your wife her present,
07:59she smiled at Jack, Jack fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a small box, pushed it at me,
08:04I got 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,
08:44green as new leaves, worth a fortune, then I met Jack's eyes, what I said, you give her emeralds,
08:53Rose, you give me, Jack's mane frozen, his eyes flickered, Lily jumped in, voice breaking,
09:02Rose, don't be angry, Jack only gave me the bracelet because I loved it so much,
09:07if it bothers you, I can give it back, she said this, made no move to take off the bracelet,
09:13Jack pulled Lily close, glared at me,
09:17Lily, don't listen to her, the bracelet is yours, she's always been like this, small hearted, jealous,
09:25I looked at them, said nothing, turned back to my crystal, Greyclaw had sent a message,
09:31first draft ready, also, compiled list of Jack's gifts to Lily during the marriage,
09:36total, 3.72 million crystals, I replied, good,
09:42Jack saw me ignoring him, got angrier, he stormed out with Lily, slamming the door so hard he cracked two
09:49rooms, I knew what he was waiting for, he wanted me to run after him, apologize, like I always did,
10:01this time, I didn't even look up, on the eighth day, Greyclaw flew to Golden City himself,
10:09put the final soul bond severation contract in my hands, sign, he said, I'll handle the rest,
10:15I picked up the quill, dipped it in ink, I signed my name, Rose Frostclaw, daughter of the Lycan Duke,
10:2272nd generation of Snowfield Wolves, then pressed my paw print beside it, silver grey,
10:28the print glowed faintly on the hide, scent rising, cedar, frost, and something bitter, my mark,
10:33from this day, Jack had no part of me, but the day before my follow-up exam, Jack sat in
10:37my living room,
10:38nervous, his mane flaring and flattening, Jack tomorrow, you'll come with me?
10:44Of course, I smiled, then I sent Lily a message,
10:53maybe you're not as important to Jack as you think, he promised to take me to the temple tomorrow,
10:58he says everything between you was just pretend, Lily was quiet for a long time,
11:03finally, just wait, I set down the crystal, smiled, fox pride is more fragile than their tails,
11:14I knew she wouldn't let me down, the next morning, Jack was gone, his pillow was still warm when I
11:22woke,
11:22he'd left recently, the sheets smelled like scorch, his lying smell, my crystal lit up,
11:34Lily's phantom image, Jack and her kissing, the caption,
11:42True love doesn't check the calendar,
11:44I set down the crystal, picked up the soul bond severment contract, walked out,
11:49Greyclaw waited outside Covenant Hall, he came?
11:52No, but the council is inside,
11:55Then let's begin, be from each kingdom, their eyes followed me,
12:00my grandmother sat among the wolf elders, she nodded once, I nodded back,
12:04Rose Frostclaw, wolf, the high elder spoke,
12:08You petitioned to sever the soul bond with Jack Golden Mane, is this true?
12:12Yes, evidence,
12:14Greyclaw stepped forward, laid out the rolls, phantom images, crystal messages, gift records,
12:20the elders read,
12:21The defendant, defendant not present,
12:24Jack burst through the doors, Mane a mess, shirt untupped,
12:28he stopped in the center of the hall, breathing hard, amber eyes locked on me,
12:32Rose, you-
12:33His voice shook,
12:34You planned this?
12:35I said nothing.
12:36Yesterday, you asked me to come with you,
12:39You knew I'd go to Lily, you set me up!
12:41Defendant, do you admit to improper relations with Lily the fox?
12:47Jack opened his mouth, closed it,
12:51She's just a friend,
12:52He finally said, murmurs,
12:55A friend?
12:58The bear elder laughed,
13:00You kiss your friend?
13:02Jack's mane flattened,
13:03I made a mistake,
13:05Enough!
13:06The high elder struck his staff,
13:07This council finds in favor of the petitioner,
13:09The soul bond is severed,
13:10Jack Golden Mane shall pay cub feed and damages,
13:13Totaling 5.3 million crystals,
13:15Rose Frostclaw, do you accept?
13:17Yes.
13:18Jack Golden Mane, do you accept?
13:20Jack stood in the center of the hall, shaking,
13:22His eyes were red,
13:24Mane flat,
13:25Stripes gone,
13:26I-I-I don't accept,
13:28Louder now,
13:28Rose!
13:30You're carrying my cub!
13:32How could you-
13:33Gone!
13:33He froze.
13:36What?
13:37The cub.
13:38I looked at him,
13:39Calm.
13:41Two weeks ago,
13:42At the Temple of Life,
13:44I did the root severment.
13:46The whole gasp,
13:48Jack's face lost all color,
13:50Turning deathly pale like ash,
13:52His lips trembled.
13:53You-what?
13:55His voice came from somewhere hollow and deep.
13:58The cub is gone.
13:59The day you took Lily to Moonlight Lake.
14:03Jack's legs gave out.
14:05He fell to his knees.
14:08How could you?
14:11How could you?
14:13Mundeling now.
14:16Our cub.
14:17You knew it was our cub.
14:19I looked into his eyes,
14:21Spoke each word clearly.
14:25Then why did you take another woman to Moonlight Lake while I carried it?
14:29He had no answer.
14:31Just knelt there.
14:32Shaking.
14:33Completely broken and defeated.
14:35The elders exchanged looks.
14:37Judgment stands.
14:38The soul bond is severed.
14:40This counsel is dismissed.
14:42One by one, the elders rose.
14:45The wolf elders each touched my shoulder as they passed.
14:48My grandmother said nothing.
14:50Just pressed a warm crystal into my palm.
14:52The blessing of wolves.
14:54I closed my fingers around it.
14:57Walked out of the hall.
14:59Behind me, Jack still knelt on the floor.
15:01Not moving.
15:03I didn't look back.
15:05After the bond was severed,
15:06I went home to the snow fields.
15:09Wolf territory sits between frozen mountains.
15:12Winter all year.
15:13I liked the cold.
15:16Cold that went to the bone.
15:17Kept you awake.
15:19My mother made me recovery food every day.
15:21Bone broth.
15:23Fish stew.
15:24Wild greens.
15:26Different every time.
15:27My father didn't talk.
15:29Just left fresh kills at the door and walked away.
15:31It took me a long time to heal.
15:34Root severment is hard on the body.
15:36The deer druid said three months at least.
15:38I didn't follow Jack's news, but Greyclaw told me anyway.
15:41Jack's not well.
15:42He sat across from me in the longhouse, his sharp eyes watching intently.
15:48He's been in the taverns every night, drinking until he can't stand.
15:52A few times he shouted your name in public.
15:55The Lion Council warned him.
15:57Lily?
15:58She tries to see him.
16:00But Golden Mane, Jack's father, forbade it.
16:03Said if she comes near Jack again, he'll have her whole family run out of Golden City.
16:07She won't give up?
16:08No.
16:08Greyclaw shook his head.
16:09She's been talking to her new patron.
16:11One more thing.
16:12I nodded.
16:13Greyclaw pulled a scroll from his satchel.
16:14The Frostwolf Trading House.
16:16All of Jack's shares have been transferred to you.
16:18He signed.
16:19Didn't fight.
16:19Didn't fight?
16:20No.
16:21Greyclaw paused.
16:23He was drunk.
16:25After he signed, he cried.
16:27Said he wanted to see you.
16:29I was-
16:30Greyclaw put away the scroll.
16:32Stood.
16:32I'll be going then.
16:34Send word if you need me.
16:35He spread his gray wings.
16:37Shot out of the longhouse.
16:39Into the sky.
16:40I watched him disappear into the clouds.
16:42Then looked down at the roll in my hands.
16:45Frostwolf Trading House.
16:47Jack and I started it together after we left the academy.
16:50A market stall at first.
16:52Selling snowfield goods.
16:53Hyde.
16:54Became one of the biggest trading houses in the five kingdoms.
16:57Bards used to sing about us.
16:59The hybrid son and the duke's daughter.
17:02Against all odds.
17:03Building an empire together.
17:06Hmph.
17:07Pretty story.
17:08Go, baby.
17:09You.
17:09You.
17:09You.
17:09You.
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