[EXT. CHURCH COURTYARD – DAWN] Morning fog envelops the church courtyard. While everyone is still asleep, a little girl quietly steps toward the forest.
[POV NOAH]
From afar, behind the gap of the attic window, a pair of small eyes watches. Noah wakes earlier than usual. His gaze is sharp. He sees a small back disappearing into the mist. His eyes narrow, his body tenses.
[CUT TO -- INT. ORPHANAGE DINING ROOM – MORNING]
Morning sunlight pierces through the large glass windows. The long table begins to fill with plates and children. Small laughter and cheerful chatter fill the air, creating a cozy and peaceful atmosphere.
Behind the kitchen table, Sister smiles gently while carrying a tray of warm bread.
SISTER (smiling warmly)
"Children, breakfast is ready~!"
CHILDREN (loud, in unison)
"Yes, Sister!"
The children move quickly, chairs shift, plates are arranged, the laughter grows louder. But in the midst of it all, Sister's steps suddenly slow. She stands still, scanning the room. A small frown appears between her brows.
SISTER (softly, as if realizing something)
"…Lucien. Where's Noah?"
Lucien, who had just taken a piece of bread, turns. His gaze sweeps every corner of the room.
LUCIEN (confused, softly)
"Huh? I... haven't seen him at all."
Silence. Then from the end of the table, a small child—sitting while hugging a bowl of porridge—raises their hand.
SMALL CHILD (innocently blurting)
"Sister! Big Sis Sena is missing too!"
Haru emerges from the hallway, drying his wet hair with a small towel.
SISTER
"Haru, have you seen Noah and Sena?"
HARU (surprised tilting the head)
"No, I haven't seen them since morning."
That very moment, Sister's expression changes—her smile vanishes, replaced by confusion. Lucien spaces out briefly. But suddenly, his eyes widen. As if he knows where they are.
[EXT. FOREST BEHIND THE CHURCH – DIM MORNING]
Thin fog hangs low, covering tall trees like curtains hiding something. The cold air bites. In the distance, panicked footsteps are heard—fast, erratic—stepping over damp leaves.
SENA (panicked, barely audible)
"I... I'm lost... Sister... help me..."
She stumbles through bushes and tree roots, her hair messy, breath racing. Her eyes wildly search for a way back, but everything looks the same—dark, wet, full of shadows.
THUD!!
She slips on a tree root. Her small body crashes into the muddy ground. Mud sticks to her cheeks and clothes. She sits trembling.
RRRRRRHHH…!!
From behind the fog, three wolves appear. Red eyes, matted fur, heavy breathing—hungry. One wolf—the largest—steps forward. Its movements are slow, but intimidating. Its gaze locks on her, like a hunter finding its prey.
SENA (sobbing, trembling, nearly whispering)
"Sister…"
Suddenly—WHOOSH!
The wolf leaps! Claws and fangs bared, flying toward the frozen Sena.
CRASH!!
A large stick slams hard into the wolf's snout, sending it crashing into the ground.
NOAH stands between Sena and the wolves, gasping for air. He grips a large stick nearly longer than his own body.
NOAH (shouting, swinging his stick)
"GO AWAY!!"
The other wolves begin growling, surrounding them. But Noah doesn't back down. His hands tremble, his body shakes, but his eyes—his eyes burn with determination.
SENA cries softly behind him, but her eyes—for the first time—reflect a glimmer of hope in front of her. Her small hand clutches the back of Noah's shirt, her body trembling.
NOAH (in his heart)
"I'm scared… But if I run… Sena will… I can't run…"
He tightens his grip on the stick.
NOAH (whispering, glancing back slightly) "Stay behind me… I'll protect you."
The wolves spread out, forming a circle. Their breaths heavy and hungry. Noah moves slowly to follow their movements, keeping his body between Sena and the danger.
He reaches out and gently holds Sena's trembling hand.
NOAH (softly, calming)
"It's okay…"
TAP... TAP... TAP...
One of the wolves sneaks behind them, eyes narrowing, then leaps.
SWOOSH!
Noah quickly pulls Sena behind him and swings the stick with all his strength—
THUD!
The stick hits the wolf's snout hard, making it yelp and fall back. But its claws scratch Noah.
GROARRR!!
Another wolf charges. Noah fights. He hits, blocks, even uses his body to shield Sena. Blood flows. But he doesn't flinch. Doesn't fall. Doesn't flee.
NOAH (in pain, in his heart)
"It hurts… But… Sena is more important than this pain…"
His steps falter. But he stands his ground. He refuses to fall.
[CUT TO -- EXT. FOREST EDGE]
Footsteps pound the ground. Sister, Lucien, and Haru walk briskly, their eyes scanning left and right, pushing through the path as morning sunlight begins to pierce through.
The fog hasn't fully lifted. Tree shadows still obscure vision.
SISTER (looking around)
"Noah… Sena… Where are you…?"
Her eyes sweep the surroundings, hoping the two small faces would appear from behind the trees.
HARU (sighing, kicking a twig)
"That kid really—"
Lucien keeps walking, eyes scanning both sides.
—THEN. A faint but terrified scream pierces from afar. A child's scream.
"AAAKKHH!!!"
LUCIEN stops. His ears catch the sound—his body stiffens.
Haru and Sister stop, watching Lucien as if he just heard something.
SISTER (gently)
"What is it, Lucien?"
LUCIEN (eyes widening)
"That… was Sena!"
WITHOUT HESITATION, Lucien dives into the thick bushes beside the path. His body shoots forward like a falling star, propelled by glowing magic on his feet—a trail of starlight flashes briefly among the trees.
SISTER (shouting, breath quickening) "LUCIEN!! Don't go alone—!!"
But Lucien has vanished into the forest, chasing the voice as if his siblings' lives depended on him.
Haru hears something too. He quickly runs after him.
Sister pauses for a moment, then forces her legs to move faster. Her cloak flutters in the morning wind, her steps limping but full of resolve.
[EXT. DEEP IN THE FOREST – MOMENTS LATER]
Lucien passes trees, his hands brushing leaves aside. The source of the scream grows closer, light beginning to flicker through the bushes ahead.
He jumps through the foliage quickly. His steps slow down—then stop. His pupils shrink. The world seems to freeze. Time halts. He can't believe what he sees.
"Noah…?!"
he whispers, barely audible. His eyes widen. His heart skips a beat.
LUCIEN (shouting)
"NOAH–!"
The small body is covered in wounds—scratches, bites. Blood drips from his temple. Sena sobs while hugging Noah, her body shaking violently.
Haru runs past Lucien.
HARU (urgently)
"Noah!!–"
Sister arrives behind them, gasping, covering her mouth in shock, and runs toward Noah.
SENA (clutching Noah's shirt tightly, her small face soaked in tears)
"Noah… hang in there… Sister and the others are here. I'm sorry!"
Sena continues to hug Noah's weakening body. But from the corner of her eye—she sees a figure emerge from between the trees.
SENA (screaming to Lucien and Sister) "Sister!! Please… save Noah! Hurry!!"
[INT. CHURCH – NOAH'S ROOM – NOON] Noon light filters through the window, casting softly over Noah's frail body lying in a small bed.
His tiny body is wrapped in bandages—scratch and bite marks cover his chest and arms. His breath is slow, unstable.
Sister stands beside the bed, her hand glowing with healing magic. But she trembles—not because the magic is weak, but because of the panic she tries hard to suppress.
Haru stands beside the bed, his body stiff, fists clenched. His face tense, breath held.
Lucien stands behind them, silent. He stares at Noah for a long time—then walks to the other side and sits next to the bed.
Sena sits in a small chair beside the bed. Her hand tightly grips Noah's.
[FLASHBACK – EXT. FOREST – BLOODY MORNING]
[POV – SENA]
Blurry, trembling vision. The mist begins to clear, but the world is in chaos. Noah stands in front, his small body covered in wounds—scratches and bites.
The large stick still clutched tightly in his hands. His breath is heavy, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Sena's small hand still grips Noah's torn shirt from behind. But all she can do is cry. Her body weak. Her legs trembling. She can't do anything.
SENA (crying softly)
"I'm… sorry…"
Tears fall, soaking Noah's back.
RRRRRRHHHH…
The three wolves stop their wild movements. They step back, then start circling. Now more cautious, more strategic. A deadly formation.
Noah looks around. His heart beats faster. He knows—they'll attack all at once.
WITH NO CHOICE, Noah pulls Sena and runs toward one wolf—better to face one than three at once.
But—Sena's hand slips.
NOAH (quickly glancing back, panicked, but refocuses)
"Sena..."
The wolf leaps—and Noah charges it first. "AHHRRGHH!!"
His stick slams hard into the beast's head—
THUD!!
The wolf tumbles, groaning.
But from another direction—Sena's scream breaks.
SENA
"NOAAHH!!"
Noah turns—too late. One wolf already lunges at him. He tries to run—but—CRUNCH!!
The wolf's fangs sink into his arm.
NOAH (screaming in pain)
"AARRGH—!!"
His body is dragged back. But he fights back. With his other hand, he hits the wolf's head—once! Twice! Three times!
The wolf growls in pain, letting go.
Sena dodges the wolf's attack, tries to run but trips. The wolf prepares to pounce again—
It jumps. She freezes in fear.
But from behind her, Noah runs in and strikes the wolf.
THUMP!!
The wolf tumbles, Noah jumps on it, forces its mouth open, jams it with the large stick, and pushes with all his might.
NOAH (screaming, using all his strength) "haaarrgg!!"
Claws rake across his chest and stomach. But Noah doesn't give up. He keeps holding, pushing, pressing… until—
The wolf's eyes fade. Its breath heavy. Movements slow… and finally—
...silent.
The wolf collapses.
The other two wolves see this—and slowly retreat in fear.
Silence.
Sena wipes her tears, then looks at Noah.
NOAH (softly, a faint smile on his face)
"I… won…"
His body weakens. He slowly falls to his knees.
Sena, still teary-eyed, runs and catches Noah as he collapses.
The fog thins. Morning birdsong faintly returns. But in that forest, only the sound of panicked breaths fills the air.
[FLASHBACK END – BACK TO PRESENT]
Sena hugs Noah's hand, sobbing in silence. Her voice hoarse, nearly cracking. Tears stream down her cheeks. All eyes are on her.
SENA (softly, half-whispering)
"This is all my fault for wandering into the forest."
SENA
"Noah got hurt… because of me…"
The healing magic slowly fades. Sister takes a deep breath.
Sena bows her head again. Then she hugs Noah's arm with her entire small body.
Silence envelops the room.
Noah's breath slow… but suddenly… he moves slightly. His fingers gently squeeze Sena's hand—weak, but real.
Sena's eyes widen. She gasps in joy—and cries even harder.
Lucien watches the scene, trying to suppress a small smile. His shoulders drop slightly, as if relieved for the first time.
Noah groans softly on the bed. His eyelids slowly open. His eyes immediately find Sena.
NOAH (voice faint but warm)
"Are you… okay?"
Sena nods quickly with a smile, tears still falling. Her hand continues to hold Noah's.
SISTER (gently but firmly, worried) "Noah! Focus on your condition. Rest, don't talk."
LUCIEN ( in his heart)
"Noah… always thinking of others before himself… he's always been like that."
TO BE CONTINUED