The story itself

[WyrmMaster]

This is not such a surprise if one remembers way back to strip 76, "Elara's Reward."

(Yes, I know that was more than two whole years ago. Yikes!)

[cairn destop]

That strip explains the mixture, but not the Town's reputation.  As I noted earlier, this place could be a lodestone to the malcontents of the morph races.  Such things might, or might not be known to Elara.  Since the white fox is an inhabitant and others, (the village of sheep), have suffered because of him, I'm thinking the High Priestess doesn't know.  Don't think she would send Rif or Rhea there without some warning if she had the information.

[AllieFiona]

She didn't exactly send Rhene.  Elara may not have expected Rhene to go.  If she knew, she should have mentioned to Rhene that the village had a shady reputation, if indeed it did.  (That is not clear yet.)  Of course, she should have warned Rhene about Prince, too.  But she didn't.  Maybe such things don't concern Elara.

[cairn destop]

I'm waiting for Rhea to mention the name "Sandy" and getting a blank look from the wolf mother.  Though their attire is similar, it doesn't follow these two are mother-son.  They might be distant relatives, though the author has hinted otherwise in earlier strips.

And let's not forget the pirates.  I'm still concerned about the white fox and whichever vessel he sails.  If this is the raider's home port, we can expect him paying a less than social call on the mother, along with a sizable portion of the crew.  Considering the lack of manners shown by the otter tracking Rhea and Momma Bear, this fox will be trouble.  Since the town is allied with the pirates, our two ladies might find out what a lynch mob can do.

[cairn destop]

Since it has been over a month, I do believe a double post is acceptable.


Did see the strip where Rhene mentions Sandy's name and the lady's reaction.  That was an expected response.  Nice bit of diversion having the crew beast knocking on the door and interrupting their conversation.

So the female wolf is a healer?  Interesting.  I'm surprised her shack didn't display the usual impliments of the trade, such as dried herbs, bottles of unknown substances, and whatever medical tools exist in this world.  Biggest shock was her residence not displaying some universal symbol of a healer.  Though I am pleased that the prejudice against females doesn't exist.  In the old days, the only medical fields open to women were nursing and midwifing.

(modified per next post.  My bad.)

Then again, if this is following the feudal period, many women following the healing arts were often seen as witches.  Those in the area would use them whenever needed, but otherwise feared their talents.

And as for the latest strip, it is nice seeing our two guys coming into the story.  Loved the reference to porcupines and badgers.  Made me laugh.  Based on what Angelic said in the dog castle, there are animals that are not morph of the morph species.  (Remembering the fox tail coat.)  Wonder if there will be morph versions sometime later in the strip.

Good idea not going into these side adventures as it leaves our imagination filling in the blanks.  Thought the expressions on our two guys comical.  Sandy's reaction was a typical kid.  Loved it and wanted to do it again even after he is reminded of the less than pleasant parts.

[WyrmMaster]

The Wolf healer mentions some "trouble at the wolf village." Does that have anything to do with her being a healer? We're not telling (yet).

Also, a reminder that the character's name is "Rhene" not Rhea. It just confuses us writers when we see that.  -_-

[cairn destop]

Am wondering which fox will catch the scent of the other.  No matter which way the wind blows, either Rif or Rhene will know.  If the two foxes cannot smell them, perhaps Sandy will detect Rhene.  As you can tell, I'm thinking the "evil writers" might be misdirectin us and the wolf healer may not even be related to Sandy.  (Now wouldn't that be a real twist?  The healer's son being another wolf cub yet to be discovered.  Maybe someone Sandy knows or is responsible for his predicament?)

As to the ship's name, I'm curious what language the ship displayed.  Cannot remember if there were any previous strips with writing, so the odd collection of emblems could be a common language.  It could also be nothing more than gibberish used by the writers as a reminder that this isn't the Earth we knew.

And thank goodness you gave us those classic pictures with the explanation.  Without having read them, the question would not have any importance, other than curiousity.

[WyrmMaster]

There are a lot of scents around the dock I would think, so picking out a particular one might be difficult.

Morph writing previously appeared in strip 12 and some later strips.

[cairn destop]

If Elrik is the First Mate, would that make the unnamed pug the Second Officer?  Since the pug acted as a subordinate, (he speaks when commanded by the white fox and he defends Elrik), we are yet to meet the Captain.  Call me highly suspicious, but I'm anticipating another twist to the story when he/she is introduced.

I also like Elrik.  He is forceful and domineering, two necessary qualities in any pirate.  Liked how he recognized Rhene's name and pleased the morphs follow the habit of naming children after a famous celebrity, such as a ruler.  As smart as the white fox is, I found his confusion comical.  If he knows of the queen, he should also spot the age difference.

Again, I am suspicious of our authors.  Just how much background do we have on Rhene?  Is it just possible she is related to the queen?  Daughter?  A missing/runaway heir to the throne?  Or is our lady fox telling the truth when she denies any relationship.  If I remember correctly, I believe Rhene is described as a member of a gypsy tribe of foxes.  Even if gypsies have a royal line of succession, I doubt their tribe has the wealth to attract the attention of Elrik.

Perhaps it is nothing more simple than a male too long away from female companionship.

[WyrmMaster]

I'm sure Elrik knows that Rhene is (a) too young to be the princess and (b) wouldn't be on-board the ship anyway. He's just good at small-talk.

[cairn destop]

So now we know the ship's captain is a sea otter.  Am pleased to see the white fox showing the proper deference to his superior. 

Am seeing another possible scenario as to how Sandy wound up on the beach if our prisoner is found missing.  Rufi broke out and stole the sextant as a bargaining chip, Sandy fought him for it, and both went overboard.  Of course, another scenario could have had Sandy and Rufi working together.

[AllieFiona]

Are you assuming "that damned lackey" is Rufi?  I do believe he is still out there pursuing Sandy.  It seems that the Captain is referring to an inept crew member connected with the disaster at sheepstown.

[cairn destop]

Well, I did say "if our prisoner is found missing."  I like to try guessing the twists and turns the authors might be planning.  At this point, we don't know the time line.  If the attack on sheeptown took place before the storm, it could be a possibility.  We are assuming it happened just before Momma Bear, the sheep merchant, and Rhene reached the destroyed villiage.  It may have happened some time back and the tracks found could be very old.

Another possibility is that the "damned lackey" is somehow related to Sandy.  That would be another wild twist to this strip as we go for number three hundred.

[cairn destop]

Seems my deductive reasoning needs work.  Based on the latest strips, this mixed morph village might not be the home port.  Of course, the town being within a reasonable distance over land, it is possible they fear an uprising from a town previously pacified.

Nice bit with the Captain.  He comes across as no nonsense and a good commander based on how he handled the incompetence of his subordinate.  Though the Captain has been lied to by the white fox.  Based on the strip, the Captain believes the boar was in charge of the landing party.  According to the strip, fox tracks were found and they were not Rif's.  Meaning the First Officer was in charge when the fire started.

Another interesting point is how they know about the otter following the wolf "welp" and about the missing sextant.  Don't think Rif's idea of sneaking it back and making an unseen exit will be sufficient.  This Captain is not going to just accept the idea the device was "misplaced" or that some "power" mysteriously granted his wish and returned the sextant.  If Rufi doesn't bring the item to the Captain, he will know the wolf cub did.  Again, I don't think the Captain is what one would call the forgiving kind.


Hope there is a Plan B for escaping.

[AllieFiona]

Who was in charge at the village may remain murky.  There may have been boar tracks too, but Rhene was more interested in finding Rif, so the fox tracks stood out.  It is possible that Elrik stood outside the village while Mokk was conducting business.  However, Elrik the White Fox is a devious one.  He may have been more involved than he reveals.