Perhaps now is a chance to prove himself. If it’s birds going after kits, maybe that could be their compromise.

He can also fish. That's actually not the real problem. The problem is that before, a kill was on something not someone. He was able to keep that psychological boundary and now he can't and it's screwing with his head. Whatever else Rask may be, he's not a murderer.

The fish issue was brought up in a previous page, a concern when the water freezes over.

True, but in real life pine martens can and do eat fruits and vegetables, so if the colony has been there long enough to store for winter he could help with that, have food, and not have to eat anyone. He's just not mentally ready yet for a life that doesn't involve hunting to survive.

Can also knock holes in ice, or possibly preserve dead flesh (I don't know if the predators here know how to make jerky, but it seems like it'd be useful for them).

Seeing how the herbivores can make metal, it would be a simple enough process to help Rask smoke fish and other 'danger' game to get him through the winter. Can be the compromise they give him. You guard us, and anything that is a threat we kill you can have.

Come winter time when the fish go deep it will be harder

Yes, but pine martens aren't obligate carnivores. They can survive on fruits and vegetables. We also don't know how long Egg has been there. If she's been there a couple winters now they obviously found a way to keep her fed in winter.

I imagine she sleeps through a lot of it. Also you have to remember that Rask is currently living in a massive den of prey animals that would also be eating most if not all the berries and veggies to sustain themselves and judging by their patrols they don't exactly leave their borders if they don't strictly have to. I'd think they'd stick closest to the bear markings that have been proven to scare off less observent predators like the wolves.

This is also true, but if they are adding to the community over time then they must have some way of not only sustaining themselves but to be able to feed both kits born into the community and also strangers bringing along sparks. Most of this will likely resolve itself as we get to know the community and its situation more. Until it's outright stated that Rask's choice is eat fish or die, my presumption is that he'll be fine barring unforseen events.

That's true enough but I can't imagine the prey animals being too receptive come winter time when rationing begins but it will likely depend on the previous years for that

"I would be a lot less afraid of it, if I just knew what it was called"

Existential Dread.

I'm pretty sure existentialism hasn't been invented yet

That's not how it works.

But if the name hasn't been invented yet, how can we know what it's called?

He doesn't. I do.

No its more fear of change, the problem rask faces is that he isn't a predator anymore. What is he then? How can he be anything else, and its a fear of tribe too. His uncle is gone, his howl tribe of martens goen, and that in itself is scary. To be friends with food, your not a tribe with food but now he is? How can it be? He will die, and it will be pointless.

Which is just a long-winded way of describing existential dread, the feeling that everything one knows has changed by forces beyond both one's control and one's ken.

Are martens tribal (pack) animals? Are they even social? *checks* No, doesn't look like it. Maybe that's his problem. It's like suddenly thrusting a home-schooled kid into a large school

Oo.

FEAR: First Encounter Against Reality.

You catched perfectly the face of a person who is under a heavy emotional pressure. Sadly this feeling is familiar, as he is holding his head, griping his hair.
Make a realistic comic is not only mean the visual side, shades, lights and so on, it's mean the gestures, emotions too.

guess they dont sell a meat patch down at the store huh? got cravings? just slap one of those bad boys on your ass and you'll be off the stuff for good!

It's not the meat, in itself, that's the issue here. He's getting to know prey as people and he's not a murderer.

WELP! SO much for the nicorette reference

Sorry.

I almost want to see him take that literally just to see some very confused rabbits have to invent sexual assault laws

Hooray! We invented homosexuality in the Oren's Forge expanded cinematic universe xD!!!

Oh dear, smallest part of me wonders if a predator's place among prey would be, well, fending off more dangerous predators.
At least then they'd have food, as morally gray as it is when you think too deep into it. Tho, that's kinda the whole core of the society is 'what's really right or wrong anymore'

I suspect there will be an attack, they will go to help and the PTSD rabbit will seize the opportunity to try to kill Mr. Marten. For extra drama, she instead accidentally kills Egg.

well, "danger" could mean anything. Forest fire for instance

I laughed at the Lost in Space reference! Also Rask looks too adorable in panel 4! Love this page!

Now I want to know if Oren has a last name

He really has so much conflict. Not only just food but also whether he'll fit in with this society he's been seeking. I also like the fact he's been honest, that he is Scared. This comic is developing so well with theme, atmosphere, story, and pace. Well done👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love this marten, he is stuck not knowing what to do. I wonder if he can be redeemed in the eyes of prey and himself become a friend to those he once might call food. *claps*

I love this page in particular, teag, the expressions really show how Rask is feeling, these complicated emotions that he can’t describe himself.

Poor Rask. To begin to realize that the prey you’ve taken down as meat is... well he’s seeing it as cannibalism.

Oh talk about a journey into hell.

Marten has learned a new skill: Anxiety!

ohhh boy, wanna bet that Hemlock heard him?

That “thing” are the wasps trying to fight against change.

Rask is going to have to go out and take down what is preying on the rabbits.. to prove his innocence
An will still get no thanks..