THE COUNCILS

By
Tayla J. Renaud

1785 Barton Dr
Fairfield, CA 94534
707-386-2271
taylarenaud@gmail.com

FADE IN:
OUTSKIRTS OF WILDLANDS
NEKARA, a Balthazan, or a winged Solarac, huntress, lives in
a secret village outside of the Wildlands where she is
hiding from the councils. She is cunning and short-tempered;
her wings are an unusual tattoo that are longer than most of
her kind and have special designs on them. They wrap around
her body down to her ankles and when open drag on the ground
behind her.
Nekara is sitting in a tree with her bow drawn and she is
hunting a wild Shanzii (like a bear-lion). She waits a
minute and is about to shoot when there is a deafening HORN
CALLING from inside the forest.
She looks up and quickly back to her prey who started to run
off.
Nekara becomes immediately alert and shoots at the animal
where she misses by mere centimeters.
NEKARA
(frustrated)
Gah!
She throws her bow over her head and onto her back. She
looks up at the sky defeated, she had been tracking that
animal for a whole day.
SIGHING, she hops down from the tree and makes her way back
to the village, taking care to stay on the edge of the
wildlands.
EXT. SECRET VILLAGE- SUNSET
The VILLAGE
between the
thieves and
underground

is a cluster of trees with wooden houses in

tangle of branches at the top. There are raggedy
elder outcasts roaming the streets (think
city).

NEKARA arrives at the gates into the village-MALE VOICE (V.O.)

Nekara!
ALARIC runs over to Nekara as she enters the village and

walks in step with her.

ALARIC, Nekaras best friend, who outcast himself with her.
He is a Malda, or a shape-shifter, and he doesnt yet know
what his animal form is. He is a sharp fighter and witty,
but is unconfident in himself.
ALARIC
(exasperated)
You didnt catch anything again?
NEKARA
(annoyed)
No. There was something in the woods that
scared the animals off. Again.
ALARIC
Well, maybe if you used your powers or
something you could catch an animal for
once.
EXT. NEKARAS AND ALARICS TREE HOME- NIGHT
The two arrive at a very large tree with a spiral staircase
carved into the core.
NEKARA
Well, maybe if you would actually learn to
use your powers and actually try to help
the village for once we wouldnt have to
rely on me for everything!
Alaric stops, upset.
Nekara takes a few more steps and then stops herself. She
SIGHS and hangs her head for a moment and turns to Alaric.
NEKARA
Alaric Im sorry. I didnt mean that im
just so stressed trying to find food for
everyone when all of the councils are out
for our blood. Theres hardly anywhere
safe anymore, theyre going to find us
Alaric.

Alaric stares at Nekara, worried. He then gives her his

familiar nervous smile.
ALARIC
I wouldnt worry Nekara. I mean, were
safe here.
He waves behind him-ALARIC (CONTD)
We have the forest to our backs and the
tribes have no clue how to spot the
village. I doubt they even know of it.
Nekara gives him a half-hearted nod and then starts up the
steps to the hut.
INT. TREE TRUNK- NIGHT- CONTINUOUS
The tree trunk is about six feet all around and has the
appears to have grown like thick vines twisting up around
each other. The steps are carved twisting around the inside
of the tree with intricate, glowing graffiti painted on each
one.
NEKARA
That doesnt mean anything; I could still
be followed back to the village. We
shouldnt stay here any longer, were
putting these people in danger. We should
leave within a fortnight.
Alaric slows his pace, considering her decision when
there was an enourmous BANG behind them.
Nekara, wide-eyed, turns to look at Alaric, both
alarmed. Its the councils.
Nekara finds an opening in the tree trunk to see
what was happening
Chaos. Everyone in the village was on full alert or
screaming through the streets, a brilliant fire
blazing in the middle of it all.
ALARIC
Welp. Time to go.

Alaric dashes up the remaining stairs and grabs the bags he

and Nekara packed in case of an attack and his STAFF.
Nekara is still staring at the chaos in horror as more
explosions go off.
He runs down and garbs her arm, pulling her down the stairs
with him and out into the open.
EXT. VILLAGE STREETS- NIGHT
A glowing blue ARROW with bright purple feathers flies over
their heads to the tree.
Nekara suddenly realizes what it is and pushes Alaric and
herself to the ground and covers her head.
A split second later the hut and tree EXPLODES and goes up
into flames.
Alaric stands up and stares at the remnants of their home,
throwing his arms up in exasperation.
ALARIC
Ohh, well thats just brilliant. Thats
just-Now its Nekaras turn to grab his hand and start to run-NEKARA
Come on!

FADE OUT
END SCENE (WORK IS ONGOING)