And as far as Patreon goes, I realized I haven’t posted much for anyone who’s only donated $5 or less, which I’m going to try and ramify soon. Admittedly, other than drawing the comic, I haven’t done any normal art lately, so there’s been nothing to post for that level other than the zip files of the comic so far. But I appreciate the support! The majority of people at that level only signed up this month, so rewards for that level will be a focus for next month :). As well as a new chapter cover, dedicated to my $20 supporters while I’m gearing up to do their commissions. They are patient, and also great.
So, this page is sort of goofy, but these three are kind of goofy :). Well, together. Worth noting, Malaya loosens up a lot around Elias, and actually Elias loosens up a lot around Marisa. Marisa is the oldest, but also has the most…aggressive/playful personality of the group, which makes Mal and Elias both less high strung. Elias cracks a lot of jokes, but he’s also a pretty “nose to the grindstone”, “gets shit done” kind of guy. The way characters play off of each other is really important to writing a successful story, I think. Everyone has different sides that come out around different people, and ignoring that weakens your characterization. I think, too, it helps show that werewolves in a stable social situation are happier and more confident than werewolves in an unstable situation. (*cough hack cough* Everyone in that shady house *cough hack*.)
I kind of wish I inserted one more panel of them running at a distance just to emphasize it, but it physically doesn’t fit on the page, and it was that or the pause beat of them thinking. Works better this way! The larger point of this page is Elias’s mom. She’s obviously on his mind, and she’s going to play an important role in the future. Elias is obviously a little terrified of her, though I’m not sure how much of that speaks to his own need for her approval versus who she really is. I guess we’ll find out! Because hey, there are four pages left in this chapter! (Though don’t be surprised if I stretch it to five, because I like starting chapters on new weeks.) And because I need to actually start writing the next chapter rather than the piecemeal notes I’ve got so far. Haaaaa this happens every time though, and I kind of do it on purpose. Oops.
In life news, SHIT WILL NOT SLOW DOWN LATELY WHAT THE HELL??? I’ve been home from my Los Angeles vacation for 2 weeks, and in that time, I’ve apparently hit the ground running. And acquired a kitten? And also bowed out of my friend’s wedding this weekend in Florida. The kitten is awesome! He’s a super sweet little black boy cat…but he’s got FIV. Which is the equivalent of HIV for cats. It’s hard to transmit to other healthy cats, but that doesn’t mean it won’t. I’ve got three healthy (ish) cats already, and it wouldn’t be safe to risk it. I have a few potential options, but I’ll have to see what shakes out. He’s fixed and vaccinated in the meantime, so it’ll be easier to find him a home that way. My friend’s wedding in Florida is a real regret, because I’ve been planning to go for a few months now, but on top of my last vacation, it’s just a big expense. And it’s spring break. I think if I had planned ahead better, things would have been fine, but I was planning on flying out on my cousin’s stand by passes because she works for an airline, and that means booking hotel and car rental last minute too. Which checking those the other day, the price had more than doubled in just a few days, so that’s a no go. I have airline miles that I could use, but I’ve been saving those for a regular vacation. It took over a year to get enough for an actual flight, and I hate to waste them if I don’t have to. So, I’m sad, but I sent them some nice stuff off the registry, and hopefully I can visit them at a less crazy time of the year.
All the same, I hate to say that I’m grateful that I’ll have a few low-key, do nothing days coming up because I need them. I have a stack of laundry that just won’t quit, and I’m pretty sure I just did laundry last week >_<. Anyway, enjoy! I have to go eat breakfast and clean house because I'm an adult and apparently I'm stuck that way :P.
I’m thinking they’re in more trouble than they realize. Good job, guys, for breaking rule number 1: don’t expose yourself when gathering intel. 🙂
Well, someone is in trouble, but probably not who you would expect.
Gotta say, I love Marissa’s face in that next to last panel; it’s the embodiment of “WHEEEEEEE!!!” 😀 I’d be grinning like that too. Also? Thank you for giving Mal a chance to have fun with her abilities; she needs that, I think. Great page!
Right? It’d be like riding a rollercoaster except on the ground, and it’s a person carrying you, so not really like that at all.
And hey, you picked up on the other reason this page is significant! It’s the first time Malaya really enjoys her werewolf abilities :D.
One question…. Why is Elias’ face so hilariously competitive/ happy/ angry looking in the panel where they start running? Because that is what made
Me crack up when reading this page
I know, he always looks so happy! But this is his concentration face :D. He looks like a totally different character.
PARTY!!!!!!
♪(*^^)o∀*∀o(^^*)♪
With exercise!
Haha I had a tryout today and another one tomorrow. Too many excercise for this week (^~^”).
Look at these goofs. All gleeful happy competitive. LOOK AT THEM! <3
meanwhile,
connie watches it through the glass
don't know how much time has passed
but it feels like she's been there forever
cause no one ever told her that forever feel like home
trapped there all alone,
Inside Your HEAD!
sorry, there was just something evocative about that last panel and that song that struck an accord – a mutual awareness of empty, lonely wastes, locked inside yourself.
They’re happy for now! We’ll see what happens next chapter >:).
That song definitely matches Connie’s whole deal, but she’d never admit to having real emotions.
hmm, really? Interesting! because she sees them as a weakness? because they give others power over her, and she must be at the center, always? or because she feels like, as the center, she must be immutable, unchanging, unruffled and unconcerned?
Ah de mi, the lies they tell themselves, what fools these mortals be…
I voted. You’ll need to put up some vote bait though. Vote bait is an image of a character in a position they would not normally be in. An example would be Malaya playing fetch with a ball.
Oh yeah, I’ve seen people adding vote bait! It’s not a big priority for this week, but I’m going to try and concentrate on it next week. This is the soft launch lol.
you should add a vote link banner image, and not just the link in the comment
I’ll be doing that soon, but this week is too busy to worry about it :). Right now I’m just testing the waters!
Letting loose and running all out in one mad dash like that is such a thrill. I’m glad Mal has finally gotten to experience it. And can’t wait to meet Elias’ mama. She seems to always be there in his thoughts whenever he makes any decision to do with the unknown werewolves.
I like to think that was why Elias suggested a good run :). Malaya hasn’t had a reason to really embrace the werewolf thing yet, so we’re going to take baby steps towards it being a more positive than scary thing hopefully.
And Elias’s mom is the leader of his pack, the alpha insofar as that exists in this universe. So she has a lot of sway in what he can and cannot do as far as other packs go! Which, you know, is the situation he’s finding himself in lately.
Like a very fuzzy roller-coaster ride!