Title: twokinds rewrite
Credit: written by
Author: Thomas Fischbach
Credit: adapted by
Author: Nathan Lindsay
Copyright: troublesome

EXT. FOREST CLEARING

**Birds chirping.** Sun shining. A MAN, 24, blue hair, blue triangle on his left cheek, lies in the grass. His eyes are closed. He wears a white shirt with blue stripes, traveling pants and boots. On the grass next to him lies a pack, a scabbard, and a shortsword. A VOICE emanates seemingly from within his mind.

EPHEMURAL
Awake.

His eyes open. He stares up at the blue sky. It's all he sees.

TRACE (V.O.)
Blue.

He stirs. He flops over to one side, disoriented. The forest and clearing is revealed to him.

TRACE (V.O.)
Green. Trees. Grass. Flowers. Yellow.

He struggles to sit up. He seems to instinctually know how to control himself, but not consciously. His expression is dazed and confused. He looks down at his hands, which he twitches.

TRACE (V.O.)
Hands. Fingers.

He gets up. He finds his balance easier this time. He looks around at the peaceful clearing, noticing his equipment and noting objects as they enter his view.

TRACE (V.O.)
Bushes. Green. Pack, sword. Mine.

He picks up the two of them. He's even more confused.

TRACE
Mine?

His voice startles him. He feels at his throat. He vocalizes again, slower.

TRACE
Mine, my... voice?

TRACE (V.O.)
Speech. Language. Communication.

He closes his eyes and feels his head.

TRACE
Who... am I?

FEMALE VOICE
HELP!

He's frightened by the screaming. He whirls around, looking for its source, instinctually, albeit haphazardly, waving his sword in the air. His pack swings from his hand.

FEMALE VOICE
HELP! HELP!

TRACE
Help? Help.

He slings his pack onto his back. He dashes in the direction of the mysterious communicator.

FEMALE VOICE
HELP! HELP!

TRACE ^
Help. Help.

CUT TO:

In the forest, A MAN wearing nondescript clothing and weilding a falchion, sadistically shoves a TIGER LADY to the ground. She's an anthropromorphic humanoid creature, long brown hair, orange fur, black stripes, wearing a blue shirt, brown pants. She cowers, terrified, tears in her eyes, as the falchion points at her face. The man looms above her.

MAN
Here kitty, kitty. Shouldn't you know better than to stray this far into human lands?

The tiger whimpers. The man laughs.

MAN
I think I'll sell your head first. Then your hide, I could charge a fortune!

TIGER
No!

Trace appears from behind the man, rustling through the bushes. He's covered in twigs and small scratches. He haphazardly runs toward the two of them.

TRACE
Hey! Leave her alone!

The man turns around. His face falls at the sight of the blue-haired fellow.

MAN
Grand Templar!

TRACE (V.O.)
Templar...

MAN
My apologies, Master Templar. I did see it first, but the Keidran's all yours. Bye Trace.

[[the man, who is Ephemural in disguise, wouldn't have much reason to explain to him more. But she does want to set Trace on a path of hurting Flora, so she does call her vicious to try to plant a seed. However, the staged "saving" has endeared Trace to Flora, and soon Flora will return the favor by helping him understand.]]

TRACE
Bye...

He doesn't seem to remember what it means. The man turns his back on the others.

MAN
Though you may want to dispatch her quickly. She seems a vicious one.

He laughs, quickly disappearing behind a tree. Trace just stands there, sword still raised. He looks down at her, pointing his sword.

TRACE
Vicious?

The tiger stares innocently at him, apprehensive at his sword, which he lowers.

TRACE
Sorry. You alright?

He seems suprised at his own words again. The tiger stares, not answering. She stands, takes one slow step, and tackles him.

TIGER
Nya!

Trace shouts in suprise. But it was just a hug. She purrs.

TRACE (V.O.)
Hug. Thanks? ... Purring.

TRACE
Cat? Tiger.

She takes a step back, tilting her head.

TRACE
Can you speak?

[[speak english, immediately!]]

She chuckles.

TIGER
Of course, don't you know anything?

TRACE
I... No. I don't suppose I do.

TIGER
Mrr?

TRACE
I woke... only a few minutes ago. I don't know anything, I don't know where I am or who I am or what I'm doing or how I'm even speaking right now or how to stop speaking or what to do next.

He takes a deep breath, stressed.

TIGER
You *don't* know anything?

Trace shakes his head.

TRACE
Nothing. Not even my own name. Though I think that guy called me the Grand Templar. Templar...

TIGER
*You're* the Grand Templar?

TRACE
Your guess is as good as mine!

TIGER
You seem nicer than I thought he'd be. I mean, you saved me.

TRACE
Thanks? I don't even know what a Templar is.

TIGER
That's a type of human. The worst type, really.

TRACE
Oh. I'm sorry. Why is that?

TIGER
They control everything. They kill and sell my kind into slavery. All because they have magic.

TRACE
Magic?

TIGER
Yes, magic. You know, making things float and blasting people and stuff.

TRACE
I can make things float? Like this?

He holds his sword up. She laughs.

TIGER
Mrehehe! No, silly. That's not magic.

TRACE
Oh.

He finally sheathes his sword, putting his hands up to his head.

TRACE
This is going to take a lot of time. It's like everything is still there, but I can't make myself remember anything.

TIGER
Well, maybe I can help you remember. Say, I could help you find your way to the next town or city. I'm pretty sure there's one nearby. Plus, I owe you one for saving me from that human.

TRACE
Thanks! ... Where do we start?

TIGER
Mrehe! Probably that trail there. Check your pack, you probably have a map in there. Even if you don't remember packing one.

Trace kneels to search his pack.

TRACE
Seems trivial to me. I could do without remembering why I'm here if I could just figure out *who* I am. Found it!

He holds it up.

TRACE
I know this is a map, but I don't know what a map is or what it does.

TIGER
It shows you where you are so you know the way.

TRACE
Ah.

He drops the map on the ground uncerimoniously and points at it.

TRACE
Show me the way, map!

She giggles her feline giggle again. Trace grins sheepishly.

TIGER
I'll help you.

CUT TO:

Wide of the Tiger and Trace kneeling to examine the unfolded map. The man who threatened her before comes into view, watching them from afar in a tree. He transforms, revealing a figure with long, gray hair, shrouded by a mask with glowing yellow eyes.

EPHEMURAL
Yes, good. Taking his memories was a stroke of genius. My greatest enemy has become my greatest asset. What better way to protect the girl than with the human himself? Now I just wait...

CUT TO:

Map of the local area. Large forest shows a trail going towards the town of **Pinewood**. The tiger's finger points at it.

TIGER
There! I think it's not too far, we just have to follow the trail that way.

TRACE
It looks like it's only a couple hours' walk. Though I guess we will have to make a stop before we hit it.

She grins at him.

TIGER
You don't seem to be having any trouble with the map now.

TRACE
That's the thing. I seem to instinctually *know*. Just not *remember*.

TIGER
Well, if you can remember how to walk, we'd better get going.

They stand, Trace folds the map.

TIGER
My name is-

TRACE
Flora.

FLORA
Wha- how did you know?

TRACE
I... I don't know.

Flora looks at him, troubled.

FLORA
I guess we'll find out. And we'll find out your name.

The two of them begin walking.
