- 2 days ago
Short Films 2026
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Short filmTranscript
00:00My aunt sold me to the most vicious lone wolf hunter in pack for five silver coins.
00:05On the night of our mating ceremony, I sat on the edge of a broken bed, biting my lip.
00:10I'm a wolfless omega orphan.
00:12And Cain, the pack says he's a curse.
00:14His parents abandoned him as a pup and never came back.
00:18They say he walked into the shadow woods alone at six.
00:21Shift for the first time at twelve and tore apart a full-grown shadow bear.
00:26The scar running from his brow to his jaw, that bear gave it to him.
00:30Everyone in the pack fears him.
00:32I did too.
00:33I crossed the street when I saw him.
00:35Never spoke a word to him.
00:36It's that I wondered to him.
00:38Never even looked him in the eye.
00:39I never thought my aunt would sell me to him.
00:42No gifts.
00:43No feast.
00:44I wore an old white dress and took shaky steps into his cabin.
00:48It smelled of blood and old fur.
00:51I didn't think I'd survive tonight.
00:53All I could hear was my aunt counting her silver.
00:55Don't blame me, Ella.
00:58You're lucky anyone would take you.
01:00I stood there like a fool, not knowing what to do.
01:03Until the door banged open.
01:04I gasped.
01:05His leather coat was slashed open across the ribs.
01:08The smell of copper hit me before I could breathe.
01:11He didn't say a word.
01:13Black bread, roasted venison haunch, a bowl of broth still warm.
01:17Eat.
01:18I was starving.
01:19And I couldn't remember the last time I'd had meat.
01:22I ate like an animal.
01:23That meal was the first time I'd been full for Tuneran's use since my parents died.
01:28When he pointed to the bedroom, my blood ran cold.
01:31I crept inside and sat on his ragged bed, trembling like a leaf in winter.
01:37Kane sat by the hearth and sharpened his knife, a hunting blade, as long as my arm.
01:42The went stone sang with every stroke, scrape, scrape, scrape, each one scraping across my heart.
01:49I pressed myself into the corner.
01:51Come here.
01:52His voice was gravel and broken glass.
01:54He frowned.
01:55Then, he stood.
01:57His shadow swallowed me whole.
01:59I shut my eyes and braced for the blow.
02:01I was his.
02:02He could beat me, kill me.
02:04No one would care.
02:05But the blow never came.
02:06Instead, he took my cold hand and pressed something warm into my palm.
02:11I opened my eyes.
02:13A thin necklace.
02:14A pendant of pale white stone that glowed softly in the firelight.
02:19His hand, calloused, cracked, still smelling of blood and steel, held mine.
02:24A necklace?
02:25For you, Moonstone, the moon goddess's blessing.
02:29I know this life is hard.
02:30You deserve better.
02:31He pulled his hand back, wiped it on his leather coat, then muttered and murmured.
02:36I stared at the Moonstone in my palm.
02:38Tears fell without warning.
02:40What?
02:41You don't like it?
02:42After a long silence, he forced out.
02:44No!
02:45I'd just forgotten what it felt like to be wanted.
02:47After my parents died, I stopped being anyone's treasure.
02:50I was just extra weight in my aunt's tent.
02:52Every meal was charity.
02:53My aunt sold me to the most vicious lone wolf hunter in the pack for five silver.
02:58That night, Cain didn't touch me.
02:59He made a bet on the floor.
03:01His breathing slowed.
03:02Deep and rough.
03:04My heart stopped racing.
03:06Sleep came for me.
03:07My aunt screamed in my dreams.
03:09My cousins shoved me around, and a shadow bear lunged for my throat.
03:13I jolted awake, gasping.
03:15Strange ceiling.
03:17Strange smells.
03:18Right.
03:19My aunt sold me.
03:20I belong to Cain now.
03:21I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
03:23Pulled myself together, and went outside.
03:26Quiet.
03:27The air smelled of blood and animal hides.
03:30Cain?
03:31No answer.
03:32I found the kitchen.
03:33Filthy.
03:33The stone pots were rusted.
03:35Mice scattered when I moved things.
03:37I couldn't run.
03:38Couldn't hide.
03:39So I rolled up my sleeves and started scrubbing.
03:41Ella!
03:42I was halfway through when a voice came from outside.
03:45I'm here!
03:45I stepped out of the kitchen.
03:47He was holding another basket.
03:49Breakfast.
03:49Martha made it.
03:50Black bread.
03:51Smoked meat.
03:52Broth.
03:53Cain tore into the bread and pushed the rest toward me.
03:56Eat up.
03:56I can feed you.
03:57I nodded and didn't hold back.
03:59You can cook, right?
04:00I almost choked.
04:01I pounded my chest and nodded hard.
04:03I'll bring the meat.
04:04Cain said.
04:05He waited for me to nod again, then finished the rest of the bread and meat, and headed
04:09for the door.
04:10Where are you going?
04:11I called out.
04:12He turned.
04:12I was thinking I'd clean the kitchen properly so we don't get sick from dirty dishes.
04:17Cain's brow furrowed.
04:18The cabin is yours.
04:19Do what you want.
04:20By the time I'd scrubbed every surface, Cain was back with a leather sack.
04:24He looked at the clean kitchen and blinked.
04:26Flour.
04:26I'll trade for the rest at the market.
04:28When he left again, I opened the sack.
04:30Ground flour.
04:31Enough to last weeks.
04:33I went back to cleaning.
04:34I dragged Cain's dirty clothes into the yard.
04:37A mouse ran out of the pile.
04:39I chased it like a madwoman.
04:41Cain came back with two baskets on a pole across his shoulders.
04:45Ella.
04:45I looked up.
04:46I bought meat pies.
04:48Come eat.
04:49I hadn't had a meat pie since my parents died.
04:51Cain handed me one.
04:52Soft, golden, steaming.
04:54Juice ran down my chin.
04:56I ate two and stopped.
04:57Everything for the kitchen is in the baskets.
04:59Get it sorted.
05:00I'm getting firewood.
05:01I nodded and watched him walk away.
05:03Then I checked the baskets.
05:05Clay jars of salt.
05:06A leather flask of oil.
05:08A slab of cured meat.
05:09Raw sugar.
05:11And a jar of honeyed fruit.
05:12For me, I blinked hard and looked up at the sky.
05:16I organized the kitchen.
05:17Cain came back with firewood.
05:19And a basket of wild greens.
05:21And eggs.
05:22Cook it all.
05:22I eat a lot.
05:23I nodded.
05:24I could do that.
05:25I hung the stone pot over the fire.
05:27Chopped cured meat and wild greens into the broth.
05:30Then I cracked eggs onto a hot, flat stone, slicked with pork fat.
05:35They sizzled and turned gold at the edges.
05:38Cain looked at the stew, the black bread, the fried eggs.
05:41His eyes brightened.
05:42Sit.
05:42Eat.
05:43I waited for him to pick up his knife and fork.
05:45Then I picked up mine.
05:46Eat.
05:47I looked at him.
05:48He dug in.
05:49I ate slowly, keeping my eyes down.
05:51Ella, tomorrow, you're coming into the woods with me.
05:55I froze.
05:56Me?
05:57Yeah.
05:57I can't bring enough meat on my own.
05:59Winter's coming.
06:00Hunting was men's work.
06:02Pack females sometimes came along to carry and dress the kill.
06:05But I'd never done any of it.
06:07I don't know how.
06:08I'll teach you.
06:08I looked up at his scarred face.
06:10The firelight made it worse.
06:12But his eyes were steady.
06:13No disgust.
06:14No impatience.
06:16Okay.
06:17Before dawn, Cain shook me awake.
06:19Wear this.
06:20A deer hide coat.
06:22Thick.
06:22Warm.
06:23I hadn't seen it before.
06:24I put it on and followed him into the mist.
06:27The shadow woods were dark.
06:29Trees blocked the sky.
06:30Cain walked ahead.
06:31I stepped where he stepped.
06:33After a meal's time, he stopped and crouched.
06:36What do you smell?
06:37He looked at me.
06:38I breathed deep.
06:38Earth.
06:39Rotting leaves.
06:40Water far off.
06:41And something else.
06:42Faint.
06:42Musky.
06:43I smell something.
06:44The corner of Cain's mouth twirped.
06:46Deer, your nose is better than you think.
06:47Don't be scared.
06:48Stay behind me.
06:49We followed the trail.
06:50Cain stopped every few steps to listen.
06:52Then we saw it.
06:53He exploded forward.
06:54The shadow deer tried to run.
06:56Cain was already on it.
06:57His blade sliced its throat.
06:58I stood frozen.
07:00Legs like water.
07:01Cain turned.
07:02Face wet with blood.
07:03And waved me over.
07:04Come.
07:05I walked to the dying animal.
07:07You need to learn this.
07:08In case I'm not around, you need to eat.
07:10I crouched and watched his hands.
07:12Skin comes off first.
07:13Keep it clean.
07:14Gut it fast or the meat sours.
07:15We carried the meat down the mountain together.
07:17One half each.
07:19My shoulder screamed.
07:20I didn't complain.
07:21Cain looked back at me.
07:22Good job.
07:23It was the first time anyone had praised me since my parents died.
07:26Ella.
07:27I turned.
07:27Cain pulled a leather pouch from his chest and shoved it into my hands.
07:32From now on, you hold the silver.
07:35But I...
07:36Male hunts.
07:37Female keeps the house.
07:38That's how it works.
07:39I weighed the pouch in my hand.
07:42Heavy.
07:43Nice.
07:44Ella.
07:44Yeah?
07:45Let me mark you.
07:46I went quiet.
07:47I was scared.
07:48I didn't know what it would feel like.
07:50But Cain had been good to me.
07:51Where would I go if I left him?
07:53I had nowhere.
07:54No one.
07:54Being marked.
07:56Carrying his pup.
07:57That was my fate.
07:59I nodded.
08:00I thought marking was just a bite.
08:02But Cain brought new furs and honey mead.
08:05We stood in the yard under the moon.
08:07Swore ourselves to each other.
08:09And drank from the same cup.
08:11Then he led me inside.
08:12The fire was low.
08:13He pulled the strap of my dress down.
08:15The fabric fell to my feet.
08:17I crossed my arms over my chest.
08:19He took my wrists and gently pulled my hands away.
08:22You're shaking.
08:23I'm cold.
08:24No, you're not.
08:25His hands slid around my waist.
08:27Rough palms against bare skin.
08:30He pulled me into him and kissed me.
08:32Hungry.
08:33Desperate.
08:33Like a man who'd never been allowed to want something.
08:36He tore his shirt off.
08:38I touched the scars on his chest.
08:40Then my hands went to his trousers.
08:42Fubbled with the ties.
08:43When I got them undone, he pulled me against him.
08:45Skin to skin.
08:46I gasped.
08:47He laid me down on the fresh furs and came over me.
08:50Last chance.
08:51He said.
08:52Voice wrecked.
08:53Tell me no.
08:54I touched his scarred face.
08:56Don't stop.
08:59He didn't.
09:00When he bit down on the back of my neck, I cried out.
09:02He held me steady.
09:04Whispered it would be over soon.
09:05Afterward, I lay shaking.
09:07I asked for water.
09:08He brought it to my lips.
09:10I stared at him like he'd grown wings.
09:12When I lay back down, the mark on my neck was still warm.
09:16Every wolf would know.
09:17I belonged to Cain.
09:18Cain belonged to me.
09:20I smiled to the dark.
09:21Cain didn't talk much.
09:22He hunted.
09:24He brought me silver.
09:25He did the heavy work.
09:27When I said something, he answered.
09:30We talked about building another room.
09:32About digging a cellar for meat and grain.
09:35I liked that.
09:36I looked at my clothes.
09:37They were getting tight.
09:38Maybe I should eat less.
09:40Ella!
09:40Ella!
09:41Is Cain home?
09:41It was Martha.
09:42Good woman.
09:43He's hunting.
09:44Oh no!
09:44His parents are back!
09:45What?
09:46His mother.
09:48She's vicious.
09:49And they've got a young man with them.
09:50Must be Cain's brother.
09:52My mind went blank.
09:53They'd been gone for over a decade.
09:55Ma!
09:55Pa!
09:56This is the place?
09:57It's so run down.
09:59I walked outside.
10:00Three figures.
10:01Two old.
10:02One young.
10:03The old ones had greedy eyes.
10:05The young one looked disgusted.
10:06You're Cain's mate?
10:07Ella?
10:08I'm his mother.
10:09Get us water.
10:10And cook something.
10:11The best room, it's for Alan.
10:13He needs a place to bed his bride.
10:14Margaret, Cain's mother, let her eyes roam over the cabin.
10:17Over me.
10:18She didn't bother hiding her disgust.
10:19Where's that ungrateful son of mine?
10:21Just then, Cain came around the corner with firewood.
10:23Pack members trailed behind him, hoping for a show.
10:25Cain stared at the three strangers.
10:27Who are you?
10:28Your mother!
10:28The old man bared his teeth.
10:31Ungrateful wilt.
10:32The pack gossip stirred.
10:34That's really Noah.
10:35The alpha came.
10:36The elders came.
10:38They confirmed it.
10:39Take us in.
10:40Be a good son.
10:42And give us silver to find Alan a mate.
10:45You don't want your brother dying alone, do you?
10:47I tugged Cain's sleeve.
10:49He squeezed my hand back.
10:50You're not giving it to his brother for a bride.
10:52Silver he nearly died for.
10:54I stepped forward.
10:55Not your place, sister-in-law.
10:57Alan curled his lip.
10:58Parents are still alive.
10:59You don't get a say.
11:01Margaret lunged at me.
11:02Cain caught her wrist.
11:03Cain!
11:03You'd raise a hand to your own mother?
11:06He let go.
11:08I'm gonna die!
11:09My son has a mate now and I'm dead to him!
11:13Cain looked at her.
11:15Then at me.
11:16You've been gone for years.
11:17Why are you back?
11:18Margaret stood up, dry-eyed.
11:19We came home to be with you.
11:21And this cabin?
11:21We built it.
11:22We're staying.
11:23The cabin is yours, but we split the belongings.
11:25What I bought with my own hands comes with me.
11:27Margaret's eyes clean, she orderly.
11:29You can't take the furniture.
11:30What will we use?
11:31Not my problem.
11:31Have mercy.
11:32I gave him life and now he wants to leave us with nothing.
11:35Keep the furniture, but my hunting kit comes with me.
11:37My clothes, my furs, and I'm severing the bond.
11:39Margaret screamed.
11:40The bond?
11:41Alan screamed.
11:42Good.
11:43Good.
11:43I wanted to cry.
11:45My home.
11:45The one I'd scrubbed and mended with my own hands.
11:48Gone.
11:48But Cain's silver was still in my pocket.
11:50We signed the papers, pressed our thumbs to the ink.
11:52At dusk, I carried our clothes.
11:54He carried the baskets.
11:56The higher we climbed, the heavier my feet became.
11:58I stopped and looked down at the cabin.
12:00I looked at Cain and burst into tears.
12:03Cain wiped my face.
12:04Don't cry.
12:04We still have silver.
12:05The cabin was theirs anyway.
12:06We only borrowed it, and Alan is poison.
12:07Letting go of those scraps saves us from worse.
12:09The detkaluptors can't touch us now.
12:11He looked down at the valley.
12:12We go deeper into the shadow woods.
12:15Find another pack.
12:16We've got hands.
12:17We've got feet.
12:18We'll make a life.
12:19I wanted to believe him.
12:20We'll find someone to take us in, Cain said.
12:22No one wanted to take us in.
12:24Everyone was afraid of being connected to the debt.
12:26We ended up at the elder's old cottage.
12:28Two hundred copper a month.
12:30I cleaned it until it shone.
12:31One bed.
12:32Bare walls.
12:32We'll use your kitchen.
12:34Buy our own grain.
12:35Eat with us.
12:36Fine.
12:37We ate simple.
12:38Black bread.
12:38Smoked meat.
12:39Broth.
12:40Cain didn't complain.
12:41I'll hunt tomorrow.
12:42Trade for grain.
12:43You can roast something when I get back.
12:44We'll save silver.
12:45Build our own place.
12:46We still have silver.
12:47Your parents will never leave us alone.
12:48Your parents are greedy parasites.
12:50They'll never let you go.
12:51Eat your bread.
12:52I snuggled into him that night.
12:53His hands wandered to my hip.
12:55I pushed them away.
12:56What are you doing?
12:57We're guests.
12:58Scenting a den that isn't yours was an insult.
13:01Cain sighed and let his hands rest on my hip.
13:04Sleep.
13:05I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh.
13:07The next morning, Cain went into the woods.
13:10The other pack women helped me with the kitchen fire.
13:12You're easy to talk to, but Cain scares the piss out of us.
13:15He's not so bad, but they didn't call him cruel.
13:18Good thing he severed the bond.
13:19Alan would have bled him dry.
13:21I'd resented Cain for giving up the house.
13:23Now I understood.
13:24We were young.
13:26We had hands.
13:27We'd build again.
13:28The debt collectors found Alan within a week.
13:31They stripped the cabin, sold the hunting grounds and the reindeer.
13:35Left him 50 gold short, due by winter solstice.
13:38The women told me the story in whispers.
13:41Yameo Sihal Menrian.
13:42I kept my face straight.
13:44Cain warrowed silver from every house in the pack.
13:46They gave it to him.
13:48One wild boar from Cain brought the whole pack running to help build.
13:52Two log cabins.
13:54Twelve men.
13:55Two days.
13:56Cain laughed when I asked what he wanted for lunch.
13:59Cain and I made it through the cold.
14:00Full belly.
14:01Full belly.
14:02Warm bed.
14:03He wanted a pup.
14:05I wanted a pup.
14:06Maybe next year.
14:07The winter was mild.
14:09When the snow melted, the pack started north.
14:11I stayed close to camp.
14:13I gathered wild greens and berries.
14:16Dried some.
14:17Salted others.
14:19Come winter again, they'd go into the stew pot.
14:21Cain hunted every day.
14:24He brought home silver.
14:26He gave it all to me.
14:28The coin jar grew heavy.
14:31One day, Cain came back from the mountains with a graver expression than usual.
14:37What's wrong?
14:38Something big came from the south.
14:40He put down his hunting knife and sat at the table.
14:42The tracks are a full circle larger than a shadow bear's.
14:44It's not like an ordinary beast.
14:46My heart tightened.
14:47Then don't go.
14:48Can't not go.
14:49If that thing keeps moving north, it'll cross the pack's migration route.
14:53More than just our family will suffer.
14:55He was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me.
14:58Ella.
14:59Tomorrow, you're coming with me.
15:01Me?
15:02You don't have to fight it head on, but I need a helper.
15:06Someone to watch my back, to keep it from lunging at my flank.
15:09You trust me?
15:11Cain looked at me.
15:12Didn't say a word.
15:14The next morning, before dawn, we went into the shadow woods.
15:18Cain suddenly stopped and crouched down to look at tracks on the ground,
15:22bigger than two fists put together.
15:24Mountain lion, he said under his breath.
15:27He turned to me.
15:28Scared?
15:28I gripped my knife handle.
15:30Yes.
15:31Good.
15:32You should be.
15:32We followed the tracks for some time.
15:34Cain raised his hand for me to stop.
15:36He started taking off his clothes.
15:38Leather coat dropped them piece by piece on the ground.
15:42Then, he changed.
15:44His body lunged forward, hands hitting the ground and turning into claws.
15:48Dark gray fur pushed out through his skin.
15:51A massive wolf stood before me, twice as big as an ordinary gray wolf.
15:55Fangs gleaming white.
15:56A roar came from the bushes.
15:58The mountain lion burst out, lunging straight at Cain.
16:02The two beasts crashed together.
16:04Cain didn't let go, but the lion's jaws were heading straight for his throat.
16:08I didn't think.
16:09I ran out.
16:10Short blade raised.
16:12I stabbed at the mountain lion's side.
16:14The blade sank into fleck.
16:16I was thrown through the air, my back slamming into a tree trunk.
16:19Stars burst in my vision, but I didn't let go of the knife.
16:23It was still in my hand.
16:24Cain bit through its throat.
16:26The lion twished a few times, then went still.
16:29Cain let go.
16:30He was soaked in blood.
16:32The wildness of the wolf was still glowing in his amber eyes.
16:35He walked over, lowered his head, and touched my palm with me.
16:41Are you hurt?
16:42His voice was harsky as he shifted back to human form.
16:45I shook my head.
16:47Tears wouldn't stop falling.
16:48He pulled me into his arms and held me tight.
16:51You helped a lot.
16:53His voice was muffled above my head.
16:55Without you, I might not have made it.
16:57The morning light fell across Cain's bare back.
16:59The wounds were still seeping blood, but they were already beginning to close.
17:03That day, we carried the mountain lion's hide and meat home.
17:06Cain kept the best piece.
17:08Said he'd make me a cloak.
17:09Why?
17:10Because it's your first kill.
17:11He shrugged.
17:12Wolf rule.
17:13The pelt belongs to the hunter.
17:14But you killed it.
17:16Cain shook his head.
17:17Not without your blade.
17:19He paused.
17:19You're braver than I thought.
17:21I looked down.
17:22My ears burned.
17:23That night, I sat beside him, helping scrape and cut.
17:26Firelight moved across his face.
17:28The long scar looked less scary in the flicker.
17:30Cain.
17:31Yeah?
17:31From now on, let's hunt together more often.
17:34Okay.
17:34End of March.
17:35I started feeling off.
17:37Tired.
17:38No strength.
17:39Cain came home.
17:41I told him.
17:41He got excited on the spot.
17:44Stay here.
17:45I'm getting the healer.
17:46The healer came.
17:47Sure enough, pup.
17:48Two months along.
17:49Good for you, Ella.
17:50Pop out a male pup and you're set.
17:52Cain's silver will be yours.
17:54You'll run the house?
17:55I smiled and nodded.
17:56Didn't tell them Cain already handed me his silver.
17:58That I already ran everything.
18:00Cain got nervous after I got pregnant.
18:02Came home early.
18:03Did all the heavy grunt work.
18:05I stayed careful.
18:06But I wasn't gonna sit around doing nothing.
18:08Women aren't that fragile.
18:09That day, I took a basket to pick wild berries near camp.
18:12Was craving honeyed fruit.
18:13Someone pushed me down a grassy slope.
18:16I screamed.
18:19I saw who it was.
18:20Cain's mother.
18:21Margaret.
18:22Eyes mean as a snake.
18:23Why should Alan suffer while you live easy?
18:27You think you deserve a pup?
18:29Cain twisted through me.
18:31I couldn't even scream.
18:32Someone help.
18:33Cain reached out for her to stay.
18:34A pack kid saw me.
18:36Ran back to camp.
18:37They carried me home.
18:38Someone else went for the healer.
18:40I watched the healer sip shake his head and sigh.
18:43Cain walked in, dark as a storm.
18:45Ella.
18:46Cain walked in dark as a storm.
18:46His hands had blood on them.
18:48My tears away.
18:49Gentle.
18:49Ella.
18:50I know.
18:51Don't think too much.
18:52Take your medicine.
18:53Sleep.
18:54Our pup's justice.
18:55The father goes and gets it.
18:56Cain didn't leave.
18:57Sat by the bed until I cried myself out.
19:00Took his hunting knife and went to his parents' place.
19:03Everyone heard the place.
19:05When they couldn't scream anymore, Cain came out.
19:08Cain, those are your parents.
19:10He didn't answer.
19:11Just picked up an axe and started swinging.
19:13When the house was a pile of rubble, he left.
19:17His parents were alive, but not really.
19:19I woke up again.
19:21Candlelight.
19:21Ella.
19:22Does it hurt?
19:23I tried to tell him about the pup.
19:25Tried to say how much it hurt.
19:26Everywhere hurt.
19:27But I opened my mouth and nothing came out.
19:29Food's ready.
19:30Eat some.
19:31Sleep some more.
19:31I'm going to find him a place.
19:33Somewhere peaceful.
19:34When Cain turned to go, I grabbed him.
19:37I want to come.
19:38Then come.
19:38He found a good place.
19:40By the river.
19:40Tiny little grave.
19:42My poor little pup.
19:43His dad and I wanted him so bad.
19:45Word spread about Margaret pushing me.
19:47The elder was furious, stripped Noah and Margaret from the pack rolls.
19:51That's when they finally got scared, cried, and begged.
19:55One morning after the rain stopped, Cain helped me into the cart.
19:59Where are we going?
20:00Somewhere no one knows us.
20:01Somewhere we can eat whatever we want, wear whatever we want.
20:04Somewhere everyone learns I'm not someone to mess with.
20:06I'm scared.
20:07Don't be.
20:08I'll protect you.
20:09Anyone hurts you, I kill them.
20:11We headed south.
20:12I'd never traveled before.
20:13Everything was strange and new.
20:15But then I thought about the pup I lost and couldn't help sighing.
20:19Cain held my hand, quiet, letting me know he was there.
20:22I tried to smile at him, just ended up leaning into him, crying.
20:26I knew time would fix it.
20:27But right then, I was still broken.
20:29Cain, I'll get better.
20:31Just give me time.
20:33Okay.
20:33Whatever I wanted to eat, Cain bought it.
20:35We didn't rush.
20:36Whenever we found a pretty view, Cain stopped so we could look at it together.
20:40My eyes went hot.
20:42I just screamed.
20:44Half the weight in my chest broke apart with those screams.
20:48We stopped at a town called Redford, flat everywhere.
20:51Rented a little courtyard place.
20:53Cleaned it up.
20:54Brought our things in.
20:56Started feeling like home.
20:58That night, we roasted venison.
21:00The neighbor's kids smelled it and started crying for meat.
21:03Cain and I looked at each other and laughed.
21:06He cut meat for me.
21:07I cut meat for him.
21:09Cain had the horse and he was strong.
21:10Easy to find work.
21:11Paid pretty well.
21:12Life was comfortable.
21:13Molly from next door.
21:15Her son, Tommy, with her.
21:16I rubbed Tommy's head.
21:17Went and got him a piece of honey candy.
21:19Thanks.
21:20I'm going to spoil him.
21:21Lord Foster on the west side is throwing a party.
21:23Needs scrubbers.
21:2550 copper a day.
21:26Let me check with my husband.
21:27But if I went, who'd cook for Cain?
21:31Let him stay a while.
21:32Tommy was good.
21:33Quiet.
21:33I wiped his hands.
21:35Did my sewing.
21:36He sat next to me playing with little wooden blocks Cain had made.
21:39Look, Ella.
21:40Good job.
21:41If my pup had lived in two or find a blay wary two or three years, he'd be this sweet,
21:46this good.
21:47You're good too.
21:48What am I good at?
21:49Sewing.
21:50I rubbed his head.
21:51Then came footsteps outside.
21:54Cain's home!
21:55Tommy smiled.
21:56Everyone was scared of Cain.
21:58Even the kids.
21:59But not Tommy.
22:00He liked him.
22:01Cain came into the yard.
22:02You're hurt?
22:04No.
22:05Boar blood.
22:06Go get your dad.
22:07We're roasting boar tonight.
22:09Dad!
22:10Cain says come help!
22:13When no one was looking, he pinched my cheek too.
22:17Roast plenty tonight.
22:19You're getting too thin.
22:20Tommy's dad came.
22:22Neighbors came by, asking if we were selling the meat.
22:26I looked at Cain.
22:28Boar's not that big.
22:29Keep it.
22:30My mate's been sick.
22:32Needs the nutrition.
22:34Next time I go out, maybe I'll bag a bigger one.
22:38That's huge!
22:39Anyone who helped.
22:41Cain gave them about half a pound.
22:43Tommy stayed for dinner.
22:46After dinner, we walked Tommy home.
22:49Later, I asked Cain what about making him our godjun.
22:52Cain thought about it for a long time.
22:54Let's wait and see.
22:56Then I told him about Lord Foster's party.
22:5850 copper a day.
22:59You wanna do it?
23:01Then do it.
23:02If it's too hard, quit.
23:04I can support you.
23:05I looked at Cain and smiled.
23:07Molly and I started working parties regular.
23:09Cain didn't bring home much at first.
23:12Then 3 silver.
23:14Then...
23:15Then 10.
23:16One month he brought home 50.
23:19The place we were renting went up for sale.
23:2127 silver.
23:22We talked it over and bought it.
23:24Our own place.
23:25Fixed up the roof.
23:27One day, I made a pot of stew.
23:30The whole street smelled it.
23:31Everyone came asking.
23:33I gave out the bowls.
23:34Seeing them praise it gave me an idea.
23:37You wanna sell stew on the street?
23:38I nodded.
23:39I'm not afraid of work.
23:41But keeping busy helps.
23:43Keeps me from thinking too much.
23:45That pain never went away.
23:47Not talking about it didn't mean forgetting.
23:49Then do it.
23:50But don't do it alone.
23:52Ask Molly.
23:54I told Molly.
23:55She said yes on the spot.
23:58Only thing is, I don't have a single copper.
24:01Every coin goes straight to the mother-in-law.
24:04Molly, I know.
24:05I'll pay you wages.
24:06A few days of free work won't kill me.
24:08Knock on wood.
24:09Your stew business is going to make it.
24:11I can feel it.
24:12Cain had a wooden pushcart built.
24:14Bought firewood.
24:17Me and him sat up nights doing the math.
24:20How much to sell.
24:22And Molly's wages.
24:25Cain looked up in the candlelight.
24:29Ella.
24:30Let's learn to read.
24:33I was shocked.
24:35Read?
24:37You go ahead.
24:38You're the one.
24:40Win out in the world.
24:42Cain shook his head.
24:43Both of us.
24:45I'll teach you.
24:46Reading.
24:47Arthur Mithman.
24:48Cain said.
24:49Then doing business won't be such a struggle.
24:51Won't take all night just to add things up.
24:53He was right.
24:55And he wanted me to learn too.
24:58My heart could have burst.
25:00How many men would do that?
25:01My stew stand opened.
25:03Business was good.
25:04Then someone opened another stand across the street.
25:07Taking our customer.
25:08Molly cursed them out.
25:09Don't be mad, Molly.
25:11Now it's just right.
25:12We made money.
25:13Not too tired.
25:14Ella, you're too sensible.
25:16Not sensible.
25:17Cain made good money anyway.
25:19The stew stand was mine.
25:20Whatever it made was extra.
25:22Kept me busy.
25:24Kept me from remembering.
25:26My stew business went from a cart to a storefront in a year.
25:29When we moved to a bigger place.
25:32Tommy cried his eyes out.
25:34You can visit.
25:35You'll see me.
25:37Tommy shook his head.
25:39It's not the same.
25:41It wasn't.
25:41But he adjusted.
25:42Not long after we moved.
25:44I started feeling off again.
25:46I knew the signs.
25:47Told Cain.
25:48He called a doctor.
25:49Sure enough.
25:50Pregnant.
25:50Cain laid his hand on my belly.
25:53Gentle.
25:53After a long moment, he said.
25:55Let's buy two servants.
25:57An older woman for cleaning.
25:59A young maid for you.
26:00Cain bought things we didn't need.
26:03Rattles.
26:04Wooden horses.
26:05Little bows and arrows.
26:07I could tell he wanted a boy.
26:10What if it's a girl?
26:12I asked.
26:14Girls are fine.
26:16Blossoms before fruit.
26:18A few girls first.
26:20Then I'll be a father-in-law with endless roasted pig feet.
26:24I sat in my comfortable chair.
26:26Sewing soft baby clothes.
26:29The room was quiet.
26:31Warm.
26:32Safe.
26:33The master's home.
26:36Cain hurried in.
26:37His eyes went soft when he saw me.
26:39Did the pup give you trouble today?
26:41I put down my sewing.
26:44Showed him my belly.
26:45Not today.
26:47He was good.
26:50Cain crouched down.
26:51Put his palm flat on my belly.
26:53The pup moved.
26:57He kicked.
26:59I looked at him.
27:00My eyes full of joy.
27:03Cain smiled too.
27:04He leaned down and pressed his ear to my belly.
27:11The heartbeat came through.
27:13The sound of new life.
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