Chapter Text
EXT. STRANGE FOREST - DAY
A young woman with orange hair named SOLE runs through a forest of gray trees, from some unseen terror.
But strangely enough, Sole is not terrified in the slightest.
She makes calculated movements as she remains far ahead of whatever is chasing her.
All that can be heard is Sole's breathing and footsteps, as well as the unnatural guttural noises and clumsy heavy footfalls of her pursuer.
The trees thin out as Sole nears a cliff, and without any hesitation, she throws herself off of it.
full shot of the entire cliff and the ocean below it
All sound cuts out, save for the sound of rushing wind. Sole is nothing but a tiny orange dot in complete freefall.
Text appears on screen in the empty space next to the cliff face, reading: CURSES!
The text fades as Sole hits the water.
Dissolve to:
EXT. STRANGE BEACH - DAY
Sole swims up to the shore of an ocean with pearlescent teal water, looking tired but unfazed.
The rocks are the same washed out gray as the dirt and trees.
She stands up and shakes off the "water" like a dog, before holding a gloved hand in front of her face and squinting at the dark teal sky.
Sole
(To herself)
No sun? Hm.
She spaces out for a moment before remembering something and looking inside her messenger bag, the contents of which are completely dry.
The bag has some kind of glowing orange sigil on it.
She marches forward into the woods beyond the beach.
Sole
(cont.)
Ink. Ink and paper.
Ext. Old forest - day
The trees are much taller and more willowy here, still grayscale. A brook and birdsong can be heard, but it has an unsettling quality to it.
Sole is rhythmically tapping her fingers on her bag.
Coming upon the brook, Sole hears humming that makes her flinch. She lowers herself slightly.
Farther up the stream a teenage girl is clearly visible, hanging laundry to dry on a clothesline, LITTLE RABBIT.
She has short white hair, and is wearing a heavy looking blue dress. The tips of her nose and fingers are red, and her ears are long and pointed.
Seeing this, Sole pulls her mask up over her nose and presses her hair over her ears.
She clears her throat in an attempt to get her attention.
Sole
(Cautiously)
So... how about that weather, huh?
The girl startles, staring widely at Sole. She instinctively ducks behind the dress she's hanging up.
Her breathing is quick, and her nose twitches like a rabbit (which is fitting, considering the name).
Sole takes a few more casual steps forward, peeking behind the clothesline.
Sole
(cont.)
Erm... may our... harvest be blessed? God be with ye?
A beat.
Sole
(cont.)
Seriously? None of this doing it for you?
Little Rabbit's hair bristles.
Little Rabbit
(Panicked)
I-I... I'm-
From off screen, footsteps are heard.
Wolf
Little Rabbit? Has someone else come to help?
WOLF is a tall and strong looking young woman, with long gray hair and bright attentive eyes. She's carrying another basket of laundry.
One of her hands is completely gray.
Sole sighs deeply and leans against a tree with her elbow.
Sole
Right, so I'm gonna cut to the chase, I'm not from around here and a bit of exposition dumping would really help speed things along. So, like, where am I?
Wolf furrows her eyebrows, and drops her laundry basket. She silently walks over to Sole, and uncovers Sole's ears from under her hair.
Wolf gasps quietly and Sole flinches.
Sole
(flustered)
WOAH, okay, hands off, the hell is your prob-
Wolf
You're a fox, aren't you?
Sole is taken aback by Wolf's question.
Sole
(confused)
I- what? No? Well, I guess I could be, maybe?
Wolf
I mean, I... I assumed because of your hair, but it's just... your eyes, and...
Little Rabbit peeks out from behind a sheet.
Little Rabbit
Ears.
Wolf
Right! Your ears! It's... you're incredible. Or, erm, they're... incredible?
Sole touches her own ears now.
Sole
Alright... ear based caste system, good... good to know.
Wolf
I'm just astonished someone old as you doesn't even have their ears yet. Uh- n-not I'm calling you old or anything!
As Wolf is saying this, Sole glances down and sees Wolf's laundry has spilled.
She grabs a spiral notebook from her bag, but remembers she doesn't have anything to write with.
Sole
(cont.)
Hey, either of you got a pen-
Wolf is wringing her hands.
Wolf
(nervous)
The others will want to meet you!
Sole rolls her eyes and snaps a stick off of a tree.
Little Rabbit
Wolf, I'm not sure-
Wolf steps to the other side of the clothesline, behind a sheet, so they're both seen in silhouette.
She leans closer to Little Rabbit and speaks in hushed tones.
Wolf
She's an unmarred stranger with a glowing bag! Of course they'd want to see her!
In the foreground, Sole draws a circle around the laundry in the dirt with her stick.
She can clearly hear them talking about her, but she doesn't care.
Little Rabbit
But- Father Wolf will-
Wolf
They'll want to know how she pulled it off!
Sole taps the spell circle twice, and all of the laundry is neatly folded in the basket and clean.
Sole
You interrupt people a lot, don't you?
Wolf moves the sheet out of the way.
Wolf
I-
Wolf's face falls.
Wolf
(cont., concerned)
How did you do that?
Sole shrugs.
Wolf
(cont., embarrassed)
Oh dear, I- I'm sorry, I just get excited, we... we don't see new people often.
Sole
Well you two got to see me. Seems good enough. Smell ya later, wolf girl.
Sole starts walking away. Wolf is looking desperate.
Wolf
WAIT. I- please? It's just, if I- Father Wolf will be mad if he finds out I didn't... bring you.
Sole stares at Wolf for a moment, before sighing.
Sole
(mumbling)
This is so much more dramatic than I thought it would be.
She pinches the bridge of her nose.
Sole
(cont.)
Okay, you know what? Fine. Y'all clearly got something going on. I'll meet your... people.
Wolf perks up and grabs Sole's hands. Her hands are about twice as big as Sole's.
Wolf
Oh, thank you- thank you so much! Yes, they'll love you, I'm sure of it! Town's not far, this way, please!
Wolf starts practically dragging Sole to what looks like a main path.
Little Rabbit blinks several times in disbelief. She glances to the side and notices Wolf left her basket. She sighs and continues to hang up clothes.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TOWN SQUARE - DAY
The town is just as grayscale as everything else. All the houses form a perfect circle, with a much bigger house farthest from the only entrance.
It looks completely abandoned.
Wolf has stopped grabbing Sole's hand, and walks a few steps ahead of her.
Sole has taken off her mask and gloves.
Wolf
(quietly)
They're going to love you.
Sole
And who is "they?" There isn't exactly a welcoming committee... or anyone, actually.
Wolf pauses abruptly near the center of the square. There's a raised platform, a bit like a stage, with a bell on it.
Wolf
Oh. OH! Right, it's dinner, everyone's eating dinner. Let's just...
Wolf sits down on the platform.
Wolf
(cont.)
Not... bother them.
Sole decides to humor her and sits down as well. They sit in silence for a moment. Sole starts tapping her fingers on the platform.
Sole
I'm Sole, by the way.
Wolf looks incredibly surprised.
Wolf
(flustered)
I- NAMES?! No no no, we can't do names yet! I, I mean we just met!
Sole
Oh. That's uh... that's an interesting... local tradition.
Wolf looks genuinely concerned.
Wolf
Do you... share names? With... with everyone? I- you risk it falling into the wrong hands?
Sole
Wait, so like, fae rules?
Wolf
It's like- I mean- names are... powerful. Sharing part of yourself... it changes you.
Wolf clings tightly to her own forearm.
Wolf
(cont.)
Permanently.
Sole
Oh.
Sole looks a little worried, but brushes it off.
Sole
Well in that case, you better take good care of my name, yeah? Keep it safe.
Wolf mimes zipping her lips, locking them, and throwing away the key.
Sole snickers and Wolf smiles, showing off her sharp teeth. This is the first time Wolf has tried to make a joke, and it seems to be paying off.
Sole
(cont.)
So. What do you want me to call you? Since names seem pretty off the table.
Wolf visibly relaxes. She's been very stiff and tense this entire time.
Wolf
Wolf. Just Wolf is good. And that would make you... oh, you're much too young to be Aunt Fox... maybe Cousin Fox?
Sole
Aww shoot, am I stuck being a fox?
Wolf nods happily.
Sole
(cont.)
Alright, I'm gonna trust you on this one, because for the record I would never choose that name- or, I mean... title.
Wolf laughs, way too amused at the idea of choosing your own name.
Wolf
Well, what would you choose?
Sole
Hm... Solar Fox? Wait- no that's dumb, maybe Dusk Fox.
Wolf laughs again.
Wolf
You have such funny ideas!
Sole
Yeah...?
Sole looks a little confused, because no one should think that's that funny.
From one of the houses, a child sneakily peeking through their curtains can be seen. Sole glances at them.
BUST SHOT of the child from inside the house, Sole and Wolf visible through the window.
Sole waves at the child and they quickly close the curtains, looking nervous.
Sole is looking more uncomfortable by the second. She's tapping her fingers much quicker now.
Sole
Look, I- I can't stay here too long, I've got stuff to do, so... you think we can get this going soon-ish?
Wolf
Well we... we can't just interrupt dinner. It's important.
Sole
Ooookay, then why were you and that other girl doing laundry? Instead of eating?
Wolf doesn't answer, instead opting to stare at her hands in her lap.
Sole
(cont.)
Oh... um... yeah, I think I get it. Sorry. I'd offer you something if I... had anything...
Sole trails off. Her eyes dart around her. She's being watched.
LONG SHOT of the entire square. Several more people are peeking through their curtains.
Sole nervously puts her mask back on. Something about the mortifying ordeal of being known.
Sole's leg is bouncing rapidly.
Sole
Wolf, I'm not sure if I-
Out of the largest house emerges an ominous figure the town has been waiting for with bated breath: FATHER WOLF.
All the curtains quickly close.
He's almost 7ft tall, covered head to toe in a plague doctor adjacent outfit, minus the mask and goggles.
The only part of his body left uncovered is his eyes, which are bright yellow.
Wolf bristles at the sight of him, her ears going flat against her head. She grabs Sole's hand and yanks them both off the platform.
Wolf can't bring herself to make eye contact with him.
Sole, however, can't bring herself to stop making eye contact with him. She's about two degrees away from a full on glare.
He makes his way to the platform. Even the way he walks could be considered a bad omen in it's own right.
Wolf flinches.
Father Wolf
Why have you brought a stranger here?
Wolf
I-
Father Wolf
And let her sit in my square?
Wolf
Well-
Father Wolf
And let her hold your hand?
Wolf realizes they never stopped holding hands after she grabbed Sole. She recoils back, so quickly she almost knocks Sole over.
Wolf
It- it's not- I'm not- I just wanted to-
Wolf's hands are shaking with anxiety.
Her eyes dart around frantically, as she sees the townsfolk have started staring through the gaps in their curtains again.
She grabs Sole's hair, much harder than she anticipated, revealing her ears. Sole yelps and stumbles back.
Sole
Dude, what the hell!?
Father Wolf's eyes widen slightly, but other than that his expression is unreadable.
A few townsfolk have dared to exit their houses, still staring with wide eyes.
Wolf
(harsh whisper)
She's a witch, sir.
Sole
(hurt)
Oh great, so your dad or whatever shows up, and I'm suddenly just SOME WITCH!?
Father Wolf's pupils dilate.
Father Wolf
You're certain?
Wolf nods like her life depends on it.
Father Wolf contemplates some things.
He waves his hand dismissivly.
Father Wolf
Throw her with the Foxes, they could teach her some manners. Then maybe we'll come to an agreement.
Instinctively, Wolf grabs Sole and drags her towards a house with five people huddled around the entrance.
They each have the same orange hair as Sole.
Sole, understandably, puts up a fight, but Wolf is much stronger than her.
Wolf looks incredibly worried as she pulls Sole closer and whispers in her ear.
Wolf
You'll thank me later.
She then pushes Sole into the group, who start chattering as they usher her inside.
Mother fox
(overlapping)
Oh, how lovely you are!
Little Brother Fox
(overlapping)
Are you from far away? Past the ocean?
Uncle fox
(overlapping)
Welcome to the family!
Sister Fox
(overlapping)
Am I a little sister now?
Big brother fox
(overlapping)
Your hair smells sour.
INT. Fox House
Once they get Sole into the door, MOTHER FOX quickly locks the door.
They begin chattering again, amongst themselves this time.
Sole pays no attention to them, instead stomping to the window next to the door and throwing open the curtains.
Sole
(yelling)
Thanks for helping them kidnap me, Wolf.
Sole says Wolf's name like it's poison on her tongue.
BIG BROTHER FOX reaches over her.
Big brother fox
We're just bringing you home, cousin.
He forcefully shuts the curtains, bathing the entire room in darkness.
FADE OUT