Vol 2 New Pages Update #1

As I mentioned in the last post, I’m adding a couple pages to Volume Two for the print version. In re-reading while I did the print layout, I felt there were a couple things I could make more clear or embellish upon. (I will eventually slot all the new pages into the appropriate posts here on Patreon and we’ll all have to live with some funky page numbering in a couple sections.)

This first change was actually because on the original page of 301, when Seral says ‘Maybe Swift was right about this forest,’ it echoes what Hemlock says a few pages later about Sprig being right about the trees/hunters never look up. I know one reader had left a comment appreciating the symmetry of it— but it was unintentional on my part (the scenes were written at separate times). As I read through the whole scene in one go, I felt the two lines came together awkwardly. I kept Hemlock’s dialogue unchanged because hers added some insight into her planning, a grudging respect for Sprig, so on.

But then I was met with ‘okay, what does Seral say.’ It made me revisit his motivations: that he didn’t believe Swift had any idea of what to do to ensure the packs survival. His line has been changed to…

I realized, ‘wait, did anyone ever tell Seral that Swift said she saw prey in the woods?’ Maybe it could in theory happen off screen, but with the weight on the line now, I needed to show it and put Seral’s state of mind into focus for readers. He thinks he’s doing the right thing because he knows Swift is stubborn and in some ways, soft.

(Also, I never thought I'd be drawing Keen again-- one more for the road!)

Here’s how these new pages fit in:

I'm honestly glad I had an excuse to retouch on the reason Seral and Scree are so convinced the forest is bear-ridden/throw back to the first volume. I also thought Singer might want a little follow up to just "those are bad woods." If someone told me "We don't go to THAT Denny's" I'd probably ask why.

(There are deer skulls all over that forest for a reason, btw. One day we'll get there!)

I have two more pages I'm adding to earlier spots in the book and I'll post those in early August!