2018/09/07 - Face Of The Enemy

[D-Rock]

[2018/09/07 - Face Of The Enemy]
Title Text: you have a little, on your...uh, nevermind

[javaman112]

this has gotten a lot more dark than i expected

[Obbl]

This is flashback again?

[Saturn381]

So wait, were Miles and Gale lovers at some point?

[fenrirblack]

Dang it! We finally start to learn more information but we end up with more questions! Why?!

Also I feel like the “joke” really sucked away the tension that was building there.

DRAMA!

[GrayHimakar]

I know Gale is looking away from Miles for dramatic effect, but it takes some gut to stitch yourself in the dark.

[Gbr23]

So, in the last strip when Gales says Hurts, doesn't it? she was talking about... Loneliness (?)

[Char89Charizard]

So wait, were Miles and Gale lovers at some point?

Despite being different species, yes. Yes they were.

[rickgriffin]

So wait, were Miles and Gale lovers at some point?

Despite being different species, yes. Yes they were.

That doesn't follow from what I wrote . . .

[fenrirblack]

Apparently Pueblo was a lot more important than we thought. Good to know.

I think we also found out why Miles really left the woods. DRAMA!

Oh that’s cute. Maw and Paw like animals but also like country dialect

[Char89Charizard]

So wait, were Miles and Gale lovers at some point?

Despite being different species, yes. Yes they were.

That doesn't follow from what I wrote . . .

Then what does follow from what you wrote, Rick?

[Bandit1990]

I know Gale is looking away from Miles for dramatic effect, but it takes some gut to stitch yourself in the dark.

She's stitching a wound on her face, without a mirror. I don't think the level of ambient light is really helping one way or another.

Also, car accident hinted. I think...

I'm pretty sure that's in reference to what happened to Natalie's Mother.

This is definitely indicative of longstanding, unresolved personal issues. Miles may have had reasons other than the one given previously to seek his fortunes elsewhere.

[Obbl]

Then what does follow from what you wrote, Rick?

That Miles asked Gale not to have any children because the area couldn't support any more predators, and then without consulting Gale again, got Lucretia pregnant because the predator count had decreased. She didn't take that well because she wants a family, but had been persuaded by Miles's argument.

[Gbr23]

I'm pretty sure that's in reference to what happened to Natalie's Mother.

Yeah you're totally right! I re-read that panel and I completely misunderstood it at first, until like the third read I got that "Maw and Paw" referred to Miles parent's and then all made sense

[D-Rock]

Then what does follow from what you wrote, Rick?

I'm not picking up the lovers idea either, man.
What I can tell, they were close friends who had an agreement on how much the forest could sustain them, and Gale views Miles and Lucretia having pups as a sort of betrayal, as they would also put a strain on the forest ultimately. She felt like she was stabbed in the back, as it seemed the wolves put their needs above hers.

[Welsh Halfwit]

Also, car accident hinted. I think...

I'm pretty sure that's in reference to what happened to Natalie's Mother.

This is definitely indicative of longstanding, unresolved personal issues. Miles may have had reasons other than the one given previously to seek his fortunes elsewhere.

That may well have been the final straw, so to speak.

You can only get hit by life so often before you decide to change your life.

Coming down to the last brass tacks,
talking in her cat cave.
Trying to talk the things out now,
the situation’s grave.
Telling of all the reasons held
behind the history.
Revealing the hated reason,
shedding the mystery.
Anger drawn in its final flush,
Reason down at his feet.
Can Miles argue his kind way through
Or will he face defeat?

[GrayHimakar]

Then what does follow from what you wrote, Rick?

That Miles asked Gale not to have any children because the area couldn't support any more predators, and then without consulting Gale again, got Lucretia pregnant because the predator count had decreased. She didn't take that well because she wants a family, but had been persuaded by Miles's argument.

Perhaps, while Gale had formed a bond with the wolves, when Miles decided to start a family against their promise, she was reminded of their species difference and felt like she could no longer trust the pack.

I know Gale is looking away from Miles for dramatic effect, but it takes some gut to stitch yourself in the dark.

She's stitching a wound on her face, without a mirror. I don't think the level of ambient light is really helping one way or another.

That makes sense.

[fenrirblack]

Here's what we learned:

Gale wanted a family but Miles persuaded her to not have one.
Miles got Lucretia pregnant after both his parents died and Natalie's mother died.

Here's what we don't know:

Why Gale listened to Miles in the first place?
Why the predator count was so critical?
Who Natalie's mother was? Who her father is because I still don't think we ever got a solid answer?
What the car was about because after the cliff thing nothing is certain anymore?
What happened to Gale's face and did it have to do with the cliff or the car?
Why Gale is going so far for this revenge scheme against Miles so he will feel what she felt?
What Gale is going to do to Miles when he reaches her den?
Who is Pueblo's father since his birth is suddenly significant?
How Jack lost his arm?
How Poncho received his injury?
What is Gale's endgame because again this is awfully elaborate for something that is clearly going to blow up in her face?
How did Maw and Paw die? (old age would be my guess)
Why does Gale still hate the wolves after all this time? Seriously if she wanted a family then just have one and forget what Miles says. Just do it.
What was their relationship like before this?
Did this "rule" effect any other predators living in the forest? Are there other predators?

[Obbl]

Why Gale listened to Miles in the first place?
Why the predator count was so critical?

These two seem pretty easy to infer to me.

[Welsh Halfwit]

Did this "rule" effect any other predators living in the forest? Are there other predators?

I'd say she's defended her borders. Alpha Predators (except Foxes) are rare there, judging by the fact the forest critters took Zach there.

[fenrirblack]

Why Gale listened to Miles in the first place?
Why the predator count was so critical?

These two seem pretty easy to infer to me.

Desperate women do desperate things.

[Tiyos1017]

I really want to emphasize with Gale but I can never side against Miles. I love him too much.

[Obbl]

Why Gale listened to Miles in the first place?
Why the predator count was so critical?

These two seem pretty easy to infer to me.

Desperate women do desperate things.

Most people are willing to listen to reasonable arguments. There's no reason to say that just because she's a women that means she must be willing to do something unreasonable (like add another mouth to feed to an already overcrowded area) just because she wants to.

[D-Rock]

Why Gale listened to Miles in the first place?
Why the predator count was so critical?

These two seem pretty easy to infer to me.

Desperate women do desperate things.

Too many predators, not enough food. Simple as that.

[fenrirblack]

Too many predators, not enough food. Simple as that.

Well yeah that was obvious. But still considering what happened maybe we should have tried a little harder to find another solution.

[Bandit1990]

Too many predators, not enough food. Simple as that.

Yeah, Even before the cubs were born, the pack was fairly large. Add to that Gale and Bruno, and you have a lot of predators for a patch of forest that is very close to a developed urban area.

(I think, it isn't really clear how close/far BG is from the more built up locations [that city with the police station, the mall, etc.]. We know it's far enough that the pets had to be driven there. Anyway, we know this patch of woods is in easy walking distance of the neighborhood.)

[IceKitsune]

Well, this is a rather interesting turn of events here. I can't wait to see how Miles response to this. Should get a lot of nice backstories here.

[NHWestoN]

Territory, treachery, and needlepoint skill ... all the classic ingredients for dramatic conflict. Long time wait on that stitch fix, love.

[Champion Wallace]

Unless this flashback occurred just after she fell off a cliff, I could've been more accurate, but I did say Gale might've had to sew herself up. That takes quite the resolve.

Dang it! We finally start to learn more information but we end up with more questions! Why?!

Also I feel like the “joke” really sucked away the tension that was building there.

DRAMA!

Sure this introduces some questions, but I'd say it answered more than it begged. Gale and the wolf pack's territory used to be overlapping significantly, if not the same. Gale was angry Miles returned after ceding the territory because the land can't support the pack as well as herself and her cub, but on a deeper level, her revenge plot was designed to show Miles how bad it felt not to have a family, because she feels Miles cheated her out of having one. We already knew Miles parents were dead and hadn't just went to a better place because of the strip Dedications. Natalie's mom isn't one of the named characters, but her dad would've had time to get another mate before his first appearance (I would say remarry, but wolfs don't marry). It could be assumed that Natalie's mother was not Miles's sister, or else he would've referred to her differently, so she would be Miles's niece on her father's side (unless there is a family relation I'm forgetting about). We know predators in this world are smart enough to limit there population instead of going through the population-boom population-crash cycle (if only humans were that smart). Gale does not appear to have an actual mate at this point. Despite being a "solitary" predator, Gale hangs out with Miles and the pack, at least enough to establish ground rules and to see that Lucretia was pregnant. Lastly, if Gale is sewing the gash on her face, that means there isn't anyone else around that is able to do that for her, or there isn't anyone around that Gale trusts enough. Both say something about her character, they're just different things.This arc has had a wider range of emotional responses than just humor, but still manages to be funny (and that's a good thing). Personally, I don't feel the joke took to much away from the dramatic tension. Knowing Housepets! in general, I wouldn't be surprised if in the next comic or week more information is revealed that invalidates half of this list of "knowns" we can extrapolate from this strip.

[John-056]

The good news, we get answers.

The bad news, Gale isn't being any better in my eyes.

To get 'Revenge', she ignores the fact that the wolves more than likely left, because they wanted to give her a chance for family.

It makes more sense compared to Lucretia just saying 'Miles, our life Sucks'. Miles looked both surprised and about to ask his mate 'Why', which Lucretia would have explained.

Gale more than likely would have been bought up in the explaination, with Lucretia explaining that their pack had denied her a chance for a family, due to their numbers. I can understand Why it never elaborated at the time, since Gale not only didn’t exist, but the Comic hadn't Gone into serious territory yet.

Now, it certainly needs it.

However, Gale being blinded by revenge meant she was fully intent on harming three innocent by-standers and their mother, who Actually threatened to kill her to make her back off. It's Why I can't side with her. She may not have intended physical Harm on Them, but her intent was more than likely to cause Harm anyway.

Add to the fact that her mate more than likely ran out on her, doesn't help her case. And that is if Rick uses Typical feline behavior for Gale's species.

[Ruska]

Here's what we don't know:

Why Gale listened to Miles in the first place?
Why the predator count was so critical?
Who Natalie's mother was? Who her father is because I still don't think we ever got a solid answer?
What the car was about because after the cliff thing nothing is certain anymore?
What happened to Gale's face and did it have to do with the cliff or the car?
Why Gale is going so far for this revenge scheme against Miles so he will feel what she felt?
What Gale is going to do to Miles when he reaches her den?
Who is Pueblo's father since his birth is suddenly significant?
How Jack lost his arm?
How Poncho received his injury?
What is Gale's endgame because again this is awfully elaborate for something that is clearly going to blow up in her face?
How did Maw and Paw die? (old age would be my guess)
Why does Gale still hate the wolves after all this time? Seriously if she wanted a family then just have one and forget what Miles says. Just do it.
What was their relationship like before this?
Did this "rule" effect any other predators living in the forest? Are there other predators?

Also, What happened to Gale's ear? It appears intact in the flashback.

[Ryusuta]

Wait... was this sepia tone thing a flashback, or the morning? I admit that this chapter has me a bit lost.

[Welsh Halfwit]

Wait... was this sepia tone thing a flashback, or the morning? I admit that this chapter has me a bit lost.

Took me a while to analyse too. I believe Gale's stitching her face for the first time and it's not something Bailey did to her.

[Argent]

TOTALLY NOT CREEPY AT ALL

[GameCobra]

I wonder... Gale is sounding more like a doctor the more you hear her talk. She might've been something like a family doctor of the wolves when they were in the wild. But Miles pulled an assumption card because of his lack of knowledge on something she knew more about.

Also, he didn't have glasses back then?

[HundKatzeMaus]

You know I read this comic and have to think back to this and that funny line from Lucretia has a new meaning now

Also, he didn't have glasses back then?

For a long time he just had reading glasses.

[NHWestoN]

How long has she had that scar - origin still unknown - that she's just now getting around to sewing it up? Shoulda healed by now? ...and there are those eyes...ulp!

As I recollect, too, a lot of the early "wolf humor" in their first appearances revolved around deer hunting, overhunting being another factor in the frictions with Gale.

[Argent]

How long has she had that scar - origin still unknown - that she's just now getting around to sewing it up?

That's a flashback.

[Render]

What Gale is going to do to Miles when he reaches her den?

He's there already as it looks. So... at the moment it's talking. ^^

I know Gale is looking away from Miles for dramatic effect, but it takes some gut to stitch yourself in the dark.

She's stitching a wound on her face, without a mirror. I don't think the level of ambient light is really helping one way or another.

I actually wonder why she's doing it at all. It looks like she has a scar, not an open wound. So no need for stitching.

[Argent]

I actually wonder why she's doing it at all. It looks like she has a scar, not an open wound. So no need for stitching.

Flashback.