Jana Bites Wolfblood

Your father has been exiled.

You are the new Alpha, leader of the pack.

- No! - Bit much for a kid, isn't it?

Her father raised her for this. She will do what's right.

My dad ruled like those before him ruled.

The pack will expect me to do the same.

That's our history.

I sentence Rhydian to the cronach.

- So, what are you going to do? - Change history.

You won't let Jana down, will you?

I will be her rock, her foster mother.

# A promise that I keep

# I'll never share I'll never speak

# To my grave the secret goes

# The beating heart The beating heart

# Of the mystic creatures wandered far

# Through these veins the wolfblood flows

# Through these veins the wolfblood flows. #

CHILD LAUGHS

They've invaded our territory. There's no choice.

MEINIR SNARLS

JANA GROWLS

Go.

JANA: They are two humans! Two!

For that we risk everything we've built here?

More will come.

Humans are not our enemy.

We don't have to be ashamed of who we are.

We are Wolfblood. We will always be Wolfblood.

But now it's time to grow up. Let them be.

They will move on soon enough.

Pretty good, right?

Getting there.

Who are you?

THEY LAUGH

It's our offering.

Good. The leader will be pleased with this.

To make right my wrongs.

Where did you get this?

You stole from the humans? After all I said?

The girl gave it to us!

We did just like you said. We're not ashamed of who we are.

What did you tell her?

Everything.

The man! He's coming! He's got a gun!

You said there was nothing to fear.

- I'll talk to him. - He's armed. We must attack.

No. Someone has to lead him away.

Then I'll go.

GUNSHOT

- The water's gone bad. - There's nothing wrong with...

We must do as your father once did -

steal good water from the place under the mountains

where humans put it in bottles.

There's no need to steal.

Even the cubs can smell something is wrong.

It's a sign - what happens when you forget the old ways.

Stay in one place too long...

It's past time to find new territory. We all say so.

Every instinct is telling us to go. MURMURS OF ANGRY AGREEMENT

We don't do things just on instinct any more.

The water's good.

We stay.

The water did not make you ill?

It's so obvious what Meinir and Aran are trying to do.

Then don't let them!

And what if I'm wrong?

What if I make them stay and everyone gets sick?

I can't tell you what to do.

Then how am I supposed to know what to do?!

No-one knows! Ever!

That is what a leader is for.

Someone to choose when no-one else will.

You're a Wolfblood. If you can't be right, then be cunning.

Drink.

If it tastes wrong, if it makes you feel wrong, fine.

We'll leave.

A true leader would do it herself.

You'd have to be a human to not taste it.

ALL SHOUT AT ONCE

THEY FALL SILENT

Hmm. From the place underneath the mountain.

- Good water. - What of it?

That's what you just drank.

So I can't imagine what's leaving the bad taste.

LAUGHTER

I will not let this pack tear itself apart.

The only thing we have to fear is our own fear.

For challenging your leader

you'll go three days and nights with no meat.

OTHERS GASP

You can fill up on water.

QUIET LAUGHTER

Who took it?

The things I brought with me - gone.

Which one of you took them?

Like I'd want your human things!

I want it all back by nightfall.

That's it?

Your father would have ripped limbs off till someone gave him a name.

I'm not my father.

No. Alric would never stand for such defiance.

JANA SNIFFLES

It's all I've got left to remind me of my friends.

- The precious toilet roll? - Not just that!

The card. My clockwork radio. The jelly beans.

OK, I ate the jelly beans.

They took the sketchbook too.

They want to show that human things are a weakness.

Aran is right - your father would not have stood for it.

I won't rule by fear.

If you don't punish someone for this, you won't rule at all.

JANA SNIFFS

Come!

It wasn't me.

My brother took them.

Cadwr?

Not cos he hates you.

You took us in when we had no pack.

He loves the way you talk about the human world.

He wants to see human things for himself. That's the only reason.

Please go easy on him.

ARAN IN DISTANCE: Alric...

I hear talk of learning human writing.

What good is that to us? She is destroying our culture,

who we are!

JANA GROWLS

I know who the thief is.

He gives me no choice.

For what he's done, he goes to the cronach.

The thief is...

..Aran!

- Take him! - It's a lie!

I didn't! I am not a thief!

Aaargh!

Does anyone else wish to question their leader?

CERI HOWLS

CERI HOWLS

Ceri! Ceri, what's wrong?

Bryn's gone.

Away!

He wouldn't listen.

- I tried, but... - Why did he leave?

Because I told him and the other cubs to read.

Read human words! I told you some would see it as sacrilege!

Bryn didn't recognise his own pack any more.

He's not the only one, either.

JANA SNARLS

Careful, Meinir!

I'm only trying to help my leader, reporting the mood.

If there's any bad feeling, it's because you've been spreading it.

You are going nowhere!

I... I am your leader! Don't you forget that!

I never forget that!

I will talk to him, I will say whatever it takes,

even if that means dropping my ideas about the reading, then...

You will not concede anything!

- He's your son! - And you are my leader!

He's growing up. He doesn't need me or the pack now.

Isn't that the human way?

Let him go, but do not let him go for nothing.

Bryn did not approve of my ways.

He discussed this with some of you, but not with me.

So...

..any of you with grievances, criticisms,

I'm listening.

Nothing?

Well, good! All on the same page!

And since you don't know what that means, let me put it this way -

anyone who disrespects me or my leadership behind my back

will be exiled...

MURMURING AND SNARLING ..just like Bryn.

Exiled?!

It gave me no pleasure to send him away,

but I will not have cowards challenging me behind my back.

Reading classes continue tomorrow. That is all.

Better hope she lasts, cos you've got no-one else.

I have more than you ever will.