Jessica really didn't know what she was getting herself into, did she?

Aww she really was a believer

She paid for an argument and Zach's just being uncontradictory.

This is not at all what she expected.

Jess, why you don´t want him to agree with you ? Maybe because you don´t wanna be right ... or not, im not psychiatrist

And here we see that even Jessica wants something to hold onto. Zach isn't the one to go to to grant miracles, but he does have access to medicines, I'm sure.

I'm starting to get a picture here. I think, once upon a time, Jessica believed in the Opener just as much as any other feral. Then, something happened to her, maybe a loved one died, and she now doubts that the Opener is worthy of praise.

Jess may not be angry at religion after all, she seems more jealous of it. There may have been some event in her past that tore her from being a believer, or may just not be made for that sort of thing. Either way, she seems frustrated by the apparent shortsightedness of those that have it, but envious of the hope it gives them, when she lacks it from any source, and wants something good she can believe in. Looks like Zach may have some things to be doing in future strips, including some religious idol duties. Humor note: After reading the 'Opener's Mass' bit, did anyone else get an image of an effigy of Zach that was, shall we say, disproportionate?

There's nothing worse than someone who won't argue when you're mad at them...

The argument reaches a passive will
that agrees with all she says.
This truth more anger beholds
as Jess wants to fight
'The Opener of ways'

Zach's so tolerant and so plain chill
he knows what she says is the truth.
None is his fault but his duty
as she tells the feral plight
and drills to his back tooth.

He feels his guilt, for good or ill,
does our friendly Rabbit
as the Possum lady
lays out his crimes tonight
and he agrees out of habit.

That actually seems like a really likely scenario to me. Even though Zach will probably continue to keep his distance from this whole "opener" thing, he still seems like he'd be a compassionate enough guy to help out in whatever way he can. I smell an Opener-mas miracle in the making

I do honestly wonder what she expected.

If she was right, and the opener was a fake, then the world appears to be a rather dismal place.
If she was wrong, and the opener was real, then he was ignoring the needs of the critters, and the world appears to be a rather dismal place.
If she didn't figure out whether she was right or wrong, then she's angry and frustrated and in a faith crisis, and the world appears to be a rather dismal place.

I see a theme, here.

Zachary Arbelt, I do NOT CARE about philosophy and/or psychology right now, you GIVE her the medicine NOW!

She's not actually asked yet...

Well,it look like jessica want that zach was some kine of prophet and she know that is not truth.

Zach should try to embrace the persona the ferals have given him, even though he knows it as false; I think it would be the best for both sides.

He might be lucky and the Arbelts will have some unexpired antibiotics he can slip them, but odds are kind of against it. He's just a pet, after all, and there's only so much one rabbit can do.

Maybe he could ask Pete for help?

Zach should hug Jessica to comfort her

or get her the medicine, whichever works :3

Why would Pete help? Zach's not part of the game. Only Cats and Dogs can be used.

I came here for an argument and all I got was exposition!

Been a lot of spotlighting in this comic this year. Rick is going to have to start paying for more spotlights.

Yeah, and...I really don't want to complain (please don't kill me)...but can I say that I don't really care for this?

I don't know, it's just, when we get to parts like this, Rick tries to convey all these really heavy emotions and stuff and while it's not really poorly done, it feels like a pretty jarring shift in tone from what the comic is usually about. It always comes back around to funny stuff in the end, which is good, but stuff like this and Maxwell's freak-out just feel a bit...too heavy for this comic's light premise in my opinion, you know? It's a comic about sapient animals that's mostly comedic, and having them express all these complex and deep emotions in such a dramatic way clashes with that for me.

*cough* Well, I really don't like being negative, so...on the positive side, the last panel and alt text got a good laugh out of me, as always!

giving room to this 'darker' aspect of the Housepets! world is just what makes this comic great. A 'smiley' place where the only thing that happens is comedy would not differentiate HP from the too many 'funny animal' comics going around the web.

I really don't think it's much darker than it ever was...it's just (in this instance) more...melodramatic. HP's world was never a completely "smiley" place, at least not since the whole Joel/King plot started. My problem isn't with the idea here necessarily, but with the way it's being shown with all the spotlights and the waterworks and the drama...it just feels like it's a little much. King's arc has some emotion and heart without getting dramatic like this; ideally, that's about as far as I'd like for the tone to go (though I'm not the one in charge here). Personally, I think that showing the darker side to HP's universe while still remaining tons of fun is one of the things that makes this comic stand out and...well, I don't want that to go away.

Ech...sorry about all this complaining. I hope I don't sound like I'm trying to say that "everything is going to be terrible from now on all is lost D'8". I really don't think that at all; this is just sort of bugging me.

So that's what the inside of a possums mouth looks like. I am learning so much! THE MORE YOU KNOW!!!!

"puts a roasted chicken leg in Jessica's great opened mouth"

Ferals are just victims of their own belief , Jessica ; Zach isn't guilty

Actually I can understand Jessica, the woodlandcritters seem to be too eager to worship "the opener" then to work for their own survival on their own and that makes her angry. She doesn't really dislike Zach, just his forced role as the opener.
Or maybe that's just my interpretation.

*reels back in shock* (This isn't even the scary bit)

That's incredibly deep.
Sadly, I can also apply this to certain systems in our world (Okay this is the scary bit).

I love the last panel though. Its great that Rick knows how to weave humor into tough and sad situations such as this.
The use of single phrase in panel 5 was really effective too...
Also, I love how Rick repeatedly forgets to tag his double strips. XD

Am I the only one that when saw Jessica and Zack together instantly tought how cute they would be if they were a couple?

C'mon Zack just hug her or comfort her in some way!!!

I feel the same way.

They're coming later.

Because it's Christmas?

Pete's not the 'giving' sort though and he's not interested in winning Zach over.

I'm hoping so, cuz I haven't seen alot of epicness out of Zach where i know there can be some.

Zach's family comes back home. Tiger tries to get rid of Jessica. Zach FACE!s Tiger, and then gives antibiotic to Jesse.

I originally thought Jess came looking for Zach to prove her friends wrong, but now I'm seeing she came for two reasons.

She's seeking answers to why these bad things happen to such nice people, and why not alot of people do something about it. (Which in a way shows why she doesn't believe)

Also after looking backat the last strip in a way I think she was desperate to save that cubs life, even if it meant hoping she was wrong about Zach being this great being. It was like taking a leap of faith.

That's where the Chistmas Miracle comes in

To paraphrase a NextGen episode.

Pete makes the kid well/ provides the medicine.
Zach: Maybe a bit of mortal kindness has effected Pete after all...
Pete suddenly appears.
Pete: Don't bet on it, Bunny!

Pete obviously considers him to have some value, remember the dungeon crawl? And the rules say only cats and dogs can be avatars, Zach is not an avatar... he's a prophet.

Possums have really scary teeth. Remember, they're kin to the Tasmanian Devil. Google for them yourself.

Living a lie never works for very long. Also it doesn't seem to fit Zack's character traits.


Which is probably why my best guess is that Zack's Dad has a permanent rule for the house: No free gifts to ferals. It's bad enough that the chanting never ceases; they don't need wild animals ringing the doorbell at every hour and asking for medicine, food, wisdom, etc.


Mwahaha! (You'll see...)





From Monday:


I wasn't expecting that to happen, but I can wish, right? Anyway, I said "to be continued," so here's the continuation:

Pete: Okay you, what did you call me for?

Zack: Haven't you been listening to what I've been saying? how typical I'm sick of all this nonsense and I want it all to just go away! You're the one who's been messing with my dreams, so I know there's gotta be something you can do.

Pete closes his eyes halfway and uses his "deep in thought" expression.

Pete: There is one thing I can do, but it will require you to play a part that you won't like.

Zack: At this point, I'm willing to do almost anything to put this nonsense behind me.

Pete: I see. Would you be willing to become a cat for 24 hours?

Zack's face becomes totally blank for a minute. He wants to put the nonsense behind him, not dive deeper into it!

Zack: WHAT!?

Pete: (holding a hand aside his face and casually inspecting it) I'm only allowed to work with cats and dogs for what's going on. If you want to get this over with you'll either have to become one, or give your power reserves to someone who is one.

Zack:(hands on hips and one eyebrow raised) Well, I'd rather not become nonsense, if you don't mind! And what do you mean by "power reserves"? I don't have any special powers! If I did, do you think I would let this happen?
Zack points at the sleeping Jessica

Pete: Don't be obtuse. You know very well that your life changed after you visited my temple. You know how your dreams changed, and you were even able to cast a spell when in my temple again. Or did you think that ability came from that silly hat? At any rate, your powers come from me, and like I said, I'm only able to work with cats and dogs. So what's it going to be?


(To the mods: I don't believe this is too much fanfic for this thread, since this is Friday's extension of what I was hoping to see in today's comic. And I mean that with all respect.)