3بخش

Hey, what did you do with the spuds?

The spuds, Ned?

Hey, the bread’s gone too.

No spuds and no bread?

My hat.

Give me my hat.

My bread.

Give me that.

Oh!

There’s someone in there!

What the.

My milk!

Something took my milk!

Go!

Go!

Go!

They nearly caught us.

Nobody can catch me, townie.

How can you stand living in there?

All the smells.

Ugh!

It is pretty smelly.

I don’t like being stuck in there.

I miss England.

What’s an “England”?

I used to live there.

I could go wherever I wanted, play with my friends.

It was really nice.

Sounds like the forest.

Merlyn and I even used to help Father hunt for food.

Now he wants me to stay in town all the time.

Stay here in the forest.

It’s great.

Loads of running.

Playing.

Eating, messing, climbing.

Free.

I can’t.

I can’t leave my father.

He has to work for the Lord Protector and–

Mebh, you can’t stay in the forest either.

They’re cutting it all down.

No way!

I’ll scare them off.

The Lord Protector wants the wolves gone.

Dead!

You have to leave.

We were leaving.

Me, Mammy, with the pack.

What stopped you?

Mammy went off.

As a wolf?

Yeah, to find us a new place to live.

I’m sure it’s some huge den with no stinkers around and loads of food.

It’s going to be amazing!

So then, where is she?

Do you think she got caught?

No.

She’s fine.

Nobody can catch my mammy.

And anyway, if she was caught by those stinkers, I’d get my wolves to eat them!

So, you’re waiting for her to come back?

Yep.

It’s just her and me in the whole world.

Like me and Father.

But what if they find the den?

No, they won’t.

Nobody has.

Well, I did.

Yeah.

Only ‘cause I let you.

I have to tell my father about you.

He didn’t know…

We didn’t know that Wolfwalkers are real.

That you were people.

I better get back.

Aw.

Look, I’m gonna help you.

Wait for me at the big tree tomorrow.

I’ll bring you some bread…

I mean, some “town tasties.

All right so.

Smell you later, townie.

Not if I smell you first.

Oh.

‘Tis yourself.

Mm.

So, they didn’t eat you?

That’s great.

You were right.

That girl healed Merlyn.

Didn’t she, now?

I told you.

I better get back.

So, you’ll know where to find me anyways if you’re looking for me.

Father?

Father?

I’ve got to convince him.

Hmm.

We need to tidy this place up before he gets back.

“My, Robyn, this place is sparkling.”

Thank you, Father.

Take a seat.

Put up your feet.

“Don’t mind if I do, lass.”

Hard day hunting?

“Aye.. Not a sniff of wolf out there.”

Well, what if I told you I can get all the wolves to leave and we don’t even have to kill them?

“I’d say you’re telling tall tales again.”

Oh, but I’m not.

Now, promise me you won’t get angry.

“I promise.”

You see, I met a girl in the forest who has magic healing powers.

She healed Merlyn.

And she’s a Wolfwalker.

“A Wolfwalker?”

It’s true.

When she sleeps, she turns into a wolf.

She can talk to the wolves.

Her and her mother were going to take the wolves away, but her mother went missing.

“Missing? Poor thing.”

I know, but if we can help her find her mother, then they can all leave the forest together, and you will have done your duty to the Lord Protector.

Oh, brilliant, lass.

Absolutely brilliant.

Thank you.

Our problems are solved.

We can go back to how things used to be.

My girl, come here to me.

Are you all right?

How are you after that wolf attack?

A bit shaken?

No, I’m fine.

Take a seat.

Put up your feet.

That’s nice.

And how was your scullery work?

You must be tired, love.

Well, about that.

What if I told you I could…

And Merlyn is back.

My, you’ve had quite the day, lass.

Yes, I have.

But what if I told you…

My day has been awful.

Every trap I set this week has either been broken or sprung.

Never seen the like of these wolves.

Father, what if I told you I can get all the wolves to leave and you don’t even have to kill them?

Now, promise you won’t get angry with me.

Go on.

You didn’t promise.

I know.

Go on.

Tell me.

You see, I went back to find Merlyn…

You were out in the woods?

Father, listen.

She’s one of them.

A Wolfwalker, like the woodcutter said.

They’re real!

You went back?

But, Father…

You left the scullery?

Well, I didn’t actually get to the scullery.

What?

The Lord Protector ordered If we can just find her mother and…

Listen!

You have to follow the Lord Protector’s rules.

He gave you a direct order and you disobeyed him.

Have you no fear of the stocks?

We need to work together to stay in this town, lass.

I’ll bring you to the scullery tomorrow myself.

But please, I thought you would understand.

I-I can help you.

If we just…

Help me by doing your work and staying in town, away from danger.

Now, promise me.

I promise, Father.

All right.

Now, go to your bed.

Mother would have listened to me.

She would have wanted you safe, Robyn.

Sleep well.

We’ll find a way to help her, Merlyn.

Robyn?

Father?

You all right?

It’s nothing.

Just a bad dream.

Well, should make an early start of it, both of us.

Let’s go.

Oh, nice to have a new girl joining us.

Keep an eye on her.

Aye.

She’s to work the full day.

Aye, aye.

Work is prayer, Robyn.

‘Tis all right, child.

Sure wasn’t I only half your age when I started here.

Just do what you’re told now, and you’ll be grand.

It’s for your own good, lass.

Work is prayer, girl.

Better if you don’t stop.

Oh, no.

Girl.

Girl.

Girl.

Girl.

Girl.

Girl!

Jesus, Mary, Joseph.

Get yourself out of this room, girl.

The Lord Protector has forbidden anyone from entering.

You’re lucky ‘tis me that found you, child, not His Lordship.

Put you in the stocks, he would.

The Lord Protector expects his rules to be followed.

Remember that tomorrow.

Now, off home with you.

Oh, now.

There you are.

Did you see your new friend again?

Robyn!

Come in.

You’ll catch your death out there.

Are you a hunter or a housemaid?

Work is prayer, Robyn.

Then I prayed the whole Bible.

Good lass.

This is still new for you, but it’s a righteous life for a young lady.

Well, it’s no life for me.

I can get the Wolfwalkers to leave.

You just need to listen to me…

Robyn Goodfellowe, enough of your stories.

I can go look for her…

You must do as you’re told.

No more fairy tales.

But the…

No buts.

The Wolfwalkers…

Wolfwalkers are not real.

They are real.

Right, Merlyn?

Huh?

Merlyn, can you smell that?

Merlyn, what’s happened to you?

I can see your scent.

What?

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

Oh, no, no, no.

What?

What do I do?

How did this happen?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

Wolf!

Wolf!

Robyn, wake up!

Father, help!

No, no, no, Father.

It’s me!

Father!

What was that?

Did you see that?

Mebh!

Mebh!

Robyn!

Something’s happened to me.

Yeah, I can see that.

I thought I’d fixed the bite.

I thought you’d be fine.

Oh, Mammy’s gonna kill me.

Well, my father will kill me.

Huh?

Hey!

Calm down and give her room!

Anyway, sin é.

That’s it.

Now, I see you like this.

It’s flipping great!

I thought we were the last ones.

It’s great?

I’m a Wolfwalker!

I know!

Mammy said this would be bad, like, never to bite anyone, but I love it!

Is maith sin!

It is bad.

I’ll get killed like this.

What about my body?

It’s asleep.

Nice and cozy.

Look, you’re a wolf when you sleep, a girl when you’re awake.

No big deal!

But the soldiers, and– and my father.

Don’t worry about that.

Learn how to be a wolf first.

Come on.

Why do you want to be a human?

Being a wolf is way better.

I’ll show you.