01x03 - The Caged Beast

[bunniefuu]

- [mysterious music playing]
- [fire crackling]

[intense music plays]

[man] It's the Wolf!
The Wolf has returned!

[crowd clamoring]

[Whitley grunts]

[intense music continues]

[guard] Carriage at the gates!

[Whitley panting]

[eerie music plays]

[crickets chirping]

[dramatic orchestral music playing]

[horse hooves pounding]

[horse whinnies]

[Whitley panting]

[wheels creaking]

[Whitley panting]

[Broghan grunts]

- [Whitley panting]
- Nice of you to join us.

[horns bellow]

[brass fanfare playing]

[herald] Baron Huth of Redmire
and his son, Lord Vincent,

and their ward,
the Rose of Hedgemoor, Lady--

[Gretchen clears throat]

[whispering indistinctly]

[herald] The Rose of Hedgemoor,
Evenstar of the Seven Realms.

The Light of Lyssia herself,
Lady Gretchen.

- [mud squelches]
- [Gretchen gasps]

Welcome to Brackenholme, Your Lordship.
It has been far too long.

Indeed, it has. And how you've grown.
You're as tall as the Great Oak itself.

[both chuckle]

- [Gretchen huffs]
- [Whitley laughs]

I'm looking forward to catching up
with my boy Hector while I'm here.

Thanks for escorting Lady Gretchen.

Not every day
our cousin gets betrothed to a prince.

- Well, I...
- Gretchen! It's so good to...

Where's Lucas?

...see you again.

[Whitley sighs]

I expected the prince
to be here to greet me.

Never mind the young Lion.
Where's the old Bear? [chuckles]

He's otherwise engaged...
[whispering] ...with a prisoner.

[mysterious music playing]

[Drew moans softly]

[moans] Hm?

[blade slicing through air]

[gasps] Wait. That's mine! [grunts]

[exhales in pain]

How's your jaw?
My daughter packs quite a punch.

So her embroidery teacher tells me.

So, you're the Bear of Brackenholme.

And you're the boy
with the Wolfshead blade.

My name's Drew Ferran,
and that sword belonged to my mother.

Ferran? [exhales sharply]

It's been some years
since I heard that name.

You knew my parents?

- [sword slices]
- [gasps]

I'm not what you think I am.

And what's that?

A threat.

You caused quite the scene last night.
Could have k*lled my daughter.

I would never have harmed Whitley.

Like you harmed your own mother?

I never k*lled my mum. Something else did.

It would've k*lled me too if I hadn't...

changed.

When that thing attacked us,
my mum told me to find you.

She said you could help me.
I need to learn how to control this thing.

[panting in distress, exhales]

[mysterious music intensifies]

I'm no monster.

[Duke Bergan] You're a Wolf, Drew,

which can only mean
you are the son of Wergar himself.

And that makes you a monster
in the eyes of many, especially the king.

Wergar was my father?

He was.

[inhales deeply]

And the last time I helped a Wolf,
it nearly cost me my head.

[handcuffs clank]

- [Drew grunts]
- I'm sorry, lad.

[sighs dejectedly]

[door closes]

I can't wait to get married.
I mean, don't get me wrong.

I love Baron Huth,

but Redmire is way too rustic
for my taste.

Highcliff, though...

I'll be in my element there
when I'm the princess.

You've met the prince. Dreamy, right?

First time I saw him,
he swept me off my feet-- Lucas!

- [Prince Lucas growls]
- Whoa!

- Watch where you're going.
- Hey!

[Gretchen moans]

I, uh...

I expect there's a lot on his mind.

- [Whitley grunts angrily]
- Oh...

Hey! Is that any way
to treat your future queen?

- [Whitley grunts]
- What? You dare lay a hand on me?

[grunts, wails]

[thuds]

- Hey, sis. Oh.
- [Prince Lucas moaning]

Sorry! [chuckles nervously]
Those are mine.

Just a few essentials.

- [grunts]
- Don't get up, Your Highness.

Wouldn't want you to break a sweat
by lending a hand.

[growls menacingly]

[Gretchen] Lucas?

[clears throat]

[groans] Give it here.

[chuckles]

- [Gretchen giggles]
- Come on. Let's eat.

[townspeople chattering indistinctly]

- [Prince Lucas grunts]
- There's a good prince.

[grunts]

Oranges, get your oranges here!

- [crashes]
- [vendor groans]

- [horses whinny in alarm]
- Whoa.

Firewood, get your firewood here!

[moody music playing]

[Baron Huth moans] Mm.

Mm. [eating noisily]

[belches loudly]

[Lord Vincent sniffs] Ugh.

Morning, Mother.

You took your time.

My apologies, darling. [kisses, exhales]

Sorry, old friend.

The morning has rather
gotten away from me.

So long as your prisoner hasn't, eh?
[laughs]

Rumor has it, the Bear has caught a Wolf.

[gulps]

[growls]

- [townspeople chattering]
- [suspenseful music playing]

[Vankaskan] The Lord of Haggard?

Baron Ewan, the Ram.

[Vankaskan] Calico?

Duke Brand, the Bull.

Windfell?

[breathing shakily]

Count Carsten, the Hawk-- [cries out]

That traitorous bird
has been banished for years.

There's only one Hawk
who remained loyal to the throne,

and his name is?

[winces] Skeer! Baron Skeer!

[Prince Lucas grunts angrily]

Can you believe Bergan?
Hiding this prisoner away from me.

His prince, his ruler!

The Bearlords were never truly loyal,
far too fond of old King Wergar.

And he now protects this mongrel.
I should take both their heads back to--

[clears throat]

[gasps]

Oh, hello, Piglet.

Look at you lurking under all your books.
How are your studies going?

Fairly well, my--

I suggest you do more reading
and less listening. Yes, piggy?

Yes, my lord.

Walk with me.

[ominous music playing]

[grunts]

How can a Wolf still live?

Wergar was the last, and my father
put a silver sword through him.

If a Wolf does live, it could threaten
King Leopold's hold on the throne.

I need to speak to this prisoner
without Bergan.

This Wolf has his secrets.
We just need to squeeze them from him.

Then allow me to do the squeezing.

[gasps]

[guard] Your Highness.

- Your Highness?
- [guard] By order of Duke Bergan,

- you are forbid-- [screams]
- [body thuds]

[door slams]

Prince Lucas, right?

I don't know what you've heard
or who you think I might be,

but I'm just a kid from the Cold Coast.
That's the only place I wanna go.

Back to the life I had,
where I was-- [yells]

[grunts, growls]

[laughs] There he is, the Wolf.

So quick to throw off
his sheep's clothing.

[Drew growls]

[thunder crashes]

[Drew gasps shakily] It's you.

[foreboding music playing]

This is always my favorite bit.

[Drew panting in panic]

- [Hector panting]
- [intriguing music playing]

[indistinct chatter and laughter]

[breathing shakily]

There you are, my boy!

Whoa! [laughs sheepishly]

Sorry, Father. Be right with you.

Anyone'd think he's avoiding me.

My brother never cared
for affairs of state, unlike me.

If I didn't know any better,

I'd think you were after something,
Vincent.

- [intriguing music continues]
- [Hector panting]

It's this way.

Hurry up. Drew won't have long.

Listen, boys. When we get in there,
let me do the talking, okay?

- This is no time for your big mouth.
- Better my big mouth than your big fists.

Says the girl who started
two street fights yesterday.

Excuse me? Both of those fights
were a diplomatic necessity.

- [Drew screaming in distance]
- [Whitley] Drew!

Hector, come on!

[Hector panting nervously]

[Drew cries out]

- [ominous music playing]
- [Drew grunting]

[Drew cries out]

[groans]

[moans in pain]

Please, please, stop.

Not until you tell us
why you're here, Wolf.

[foreboding music continues]

[grunts, wails]

[yells, grunts]

[groaning]

[grunting]

[moans] I only came here
to find Duke Bergan.

What do you want from the Bear?

For him to teach me how to control it...
[grunts] ...this... this animal in me. Ah!

The old Bear in cahoots with this Wolf?

Smells like treason,
wouldn't you say, Vankaskan?

[Drew grunts]

- [Prince Lucas hisses]
- [Whitley grunts]

[Whitley] Drew!

Let the boy go!

Gladly.

[Drew wails]

[screams]

- [yells in terror]
- Drew!

[suspenseful music playing]

This way. Follow me.

[Baron Huth panting]

[groans, panting]

Father. Stay out of this business.

Your own brother is mixed up in it.
That makes it our business.

You want to take sides against the Lions.
They'll burn Redmire to the ground.

Let the Bears get what's coming to them.

[suspenseful music continues]

[Drew straining]

Release the prince.

You heard him.
Take your filthy paws off me.

[Drew strains]

And you'll let Drew go?

You have my word.

[Drew screams]

- No!
- Drew!

[Drew screaming]

[Drew and Whitley grunting]

- Whitley!
- [all grunting]

[both laugh menacingly]

What is going on here?

[Broghan grunts]

[all straining]

[Drew moans]

Explain yourself.

You're about to experience
the wrath of the Lions.

[Duke Bergan growling menacingly]

Go. Now.
And leave me alone with my prisoner.

My prisoner, Your Highness.
My city, my rules.

Until we leave for Highcliff.

And then this pup will join us
as King Leopold's guest.

They can't do that, can they, Father?

We're not wasting
any more time in this dump.

I'm bringing the betrothal ceremony
forward to today.

Tell Lady Gretchen it's time.
[snaps fingers]

We'll keep this Wolf
in my chambers for now.

[Duke Bergan exhales heavily]

[growls]

We can't just let them take him.
You're the book guy.

What's that thing you always say?
"Knowledge is power"?

True. But I must have skipped the class
on saving Wolves from Lions.

I'd like to teach that Lucas
a lesson right where it hurts.

Get in line.

Honestly, I don't see
how we can help Drew with only two of us.

Well, there may be more. Leave it with me.

- [elevator rattling]
- [sighs]

[coughs weakly]

He's not the man he was.

Maybe I should pack in my studies
and take care of him.

Don't be silly.
He wants you to become a magister.

Just like he wants me
to succeed him as Baron of Redmire.

No, he agreed when I'm a magister,
I'll come home and assume my title.

Redmire needs a ruler,
not some lickspittle magician.

- Stick to your books, little brother.
- But I'm the eldest.

By a few minutes.

And if I refuse?

[gasps nervously]

[wailing]

When Father dies,
I will become the Baron of Redmire.

One way or the other.

[Hector squeaks in fear, pants]

[ethereal music playing]

Where is she?

I don't want to stay in this backwater
a minute longer than I have to.

It's a lady's prerogative
to be fashionably late.

- I'm sure Gretchen will be here soon.
- My apprentice is also missing.

And Bergan's two brats.

I believe they've paid
your prisoner a visit, Your Highness.

[growls]

[unsettling music playing]

[roars]

Find them!

Hurry up.
This place is crawling with Lion Troopers.

He can barely walk.

[Whitley panting]

Can't you go any faster?

I'm trying.
I think Vankaskan rearranged my ribs.

It's okay. Hector can fix you.

- You know how to do healing charms?
- Do Bearlords live in the woods?

Is that a yes?

I know a bit.

Then you're handy to have around.

- Try telling my master that.
- [Drew moans]

[gasps, pants]

- [guard] This way.
- [Hector gasps]

Quick. In here.

- [Whitley grunts]
- [guard] Let's try this way.

"My lady, the reports of your beauty
do you no justice."

"You truly are the Rose of Hedgemoor,
Evenstar of the Seven Realms,

the Light of Lyssia itself."

[laughs bashfully]
Oh, why, thank you, Your Highness.

Is she okay?

- [gasps] What--
- Can I trust you not to scream?

[muffled words]

[yelps]

- Move.
- No, not so fast.

Who do you think you're talking to?

- The Rose of... Wedgemoor?
- Ooh.

Hedgemoor.

This is Gretchen,
Whitley's cousin and the future queen.

That's right.

So you might want
to take that into account.

Well, whoever you are,
the deal is you behave.

Wait. So, this is the great Wolf
everyone's talking about, is it?

Okay. I can't believe a scruffy turnip
like you has rattled the prince.

- What can I say? It's a gift.
- The only gift you need is a bath.

- You smell like a wild animal.
- [scoffs] You don't know the half of it.

Servant's passage. We're in luck.
After you, Gretchen.

I'm not going in there. It's for servants.

We can't trust you not to blab,
so you're coming with us.

No, no, no, I'm staying here.

So you can have more kissy time
with your mirror? We're not 12!

Says the girl who's still climbing trees
and playing with farm boys.

- At least I'm not marrying a Catlord.
- At least someone wants to marry me.

Can we do this after we get out of here?

They've been like this
since we were little.

I've learned to just wait it out.
Here, take a seat.

We don't have time for this.

The sooner I get to where I'm going,
the sooner you'll be done with me,

and you and your prince
can live happily ever after.

Well, what are we waiting for?

Oh.

Finally.

But if anyone ruins my big day,
I'll execute them myself.

[gulps]

[suspenseful music playing]

[Broghan] Finally.
Come on. Let's go, let's go!

- Thank you, Broghan, for everything.
- Just get yourself gone.

We've started something today.
King Leopold is not gonna not like it.

- Uh, are you sure this old thing is safe?
- Father thinks so.

[dark music playing]

[whimpering]

I hope you find
what you're looking for, Drew.

Far away from the Lions.

[Drew exhales]

Thank you.

I never k*lled my mum.
I'm not the monster people think I am.

For what it's worth, I believe you.

I'm just sorry
I can't do more to help you.

On your way.

- [sighs]
- [Prince Lucas] Stay where you are!

[ominous music playing]

[laughs evilly]

[grunts]

[Whitley breathes heavily]

[roars]

Drew. Go. Now!

[straining]

- I'll have you whipped for this.
- [Whitley grunting]

[Broghan grunting]

- Traitor! Siding with a Wolf.
- [Hector grunts]

[exclaims angrily]

A blow against one Boarlord
is a strike against us all.

As you wish.

[groans]

Father! No!

[Baron Huth coughs weakly]

[gasps]

No!

[gasps shakily]

[Whitley grunts]

[Hector whimpers] Father!

[Baron Huth breathes weakly]

- No.
- [Baron Huth wheezing]

I'm sorry, old friend.

[growls]

Silver. That metal is outlawed.

[laughs mockingly]
There's plenty of silver to go around.

[suspenseful music playing]

Lucas!

[Lion Trooper] Hey!

[Drew straining]

[laughs evilly]

[Gretchen gasps]

Just let me go, and I'll release her.
Nobody else needs to get hurt.

[roars]

[snarls]

[growls]

[Gretchen gasps]

[growls]

[cries out]

[snarls]

[Drew growling]

I have them trapped.

- Look out!
- [Gretchen screams]

Lucas, call them off!

Use your sword, boy!

[Drew grunts]

You two, hold on tight.

- Don't you dare!
- Drew?

- No!
- Drew!

[Gretchen and Hector scream]

[closing theme music playing]

[music fades out]