Hibi-Hibi (flashback): Yes. We need something tough and waterproof for Bakunawa's "collar".
Tammy: MERM--mmmf!
Cruz: Since we're in here, is there anything that we can use for what Hibi needs?
Tammy: Like... rope? Maybe? Seems like the obvious choice.
Keith: Oh! And maybe Haliya can lasso with it!
Haliya: It will be hard to lasso something that big, but I'll do it.
Blue Bunny Haliyan: Rope? Yep, we do have some spools here.
Hibi-Hibi: I can use these, but it could be thicker...
So… those two sweaty girls from the previous page are taking a bath (thanks Haliya). I wonder if I should draw that hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
These strips are small but since there’s a story now there’s a lot of thinking involved. I’m still bad and slow at writing, but there’s really only one way to get better!
Now, Page 199 mentions that her worshipers banned fireworks to not distract from “the glory that is the Moon”. Continuing from that idea, they’ll need people to do said prohibiting, so… forest rangers!
Are these Haliyan forest rangers real or fake? They’re real and working with, not for, the local municipal government. Both groups will benefit from protecting the forest from fire/works, illegal logging, etc., and helping hikers/campers. As for each group benefitting, the municipal won’t have to manage the forest or staff, while the Haliyans can keep people away from their village with some legal backing. The municipal don’t know where their village is though, and they’re wise enough to not piss-off them of a group that hunts monsters and have a warrior goddess leading them.
Being unmasked is tantamount to being naked, if not plain uncomfortable to Haliyans, so these forest rangers wear masks enchanted to look invisible to others. I’m not even sure when they’ll appear again after this Episode, but I imagine most Haliyans that leave their village will wear invisible masks like these. The tawlis also help them out in the forest rangers by spooking people with some scawy wind, or else just blowing them away with stronger gusts.
Sorry still for the delays and silence. Had been feeling extremely overwhelmed with all the things going on, especially that uh, legal thing with my mom. That’s actually still not over. And part of that was worrying about COVID infection since I had to go out a couple of times, but it’s been two weeks and I seem to be fine, thankfully.
Anyway, feeling a lot better now… and it’s time to get back to work again!
My computer finally has Wi-Fi now and got some cheap mesh Wi-Fi routers. Just saying cause the internet will now be more stable for art streaming. Maybe I’ll talk too since I’ve also gotten a nice pair of headphones (I can’t really work well without some tunes). No promises that I’ve got anything interesting to say though haha. Because of you patrons, I finally get to buy something nice and useful, thank you!
Also, give me some time to mentally prepare myself to come back to Discord. It’s always kinda awkward coming back after a while. 😅
Hoo boy, it took 22 pages to get at this point. I hope that part wasn’t too boring for you all! At least we had some fun stuff like uhh wolfgirl Tammy, kid Cruz, Tammy Stripping take 2, and voice acting.
Got a new tier in my Patreon, the $55 AristoCat Tier. It’s basically just a discounted $50 commission for $45 (10% off) + Patreon benefits, but doing it through Patreon contributes to the new $300 Goal… a NSFW goal ;). Thanks to the patrons who increased their pledges, the goal is already at $238 this month, but maaaaybe someone wants to nudge it a little closer to $300? Who knows, we might even reach it, it’s still just a week since June started after all!
I’ll announce it and other things properly in a separate post later, and make a separate mention for the AristoCats on the area below and the patrons/ko-fi enablers page.
Hibi-Hibi: It will take a LOT of work to create an agimat for Bakunawa but... we have a plan!
Tammy: OHH THANK YOUUU!!!
Haliya: Everyone...
Haliya: ...I did not think it was possible to end our centuries-long conflict without one of our deaths. Even if it's just a chance, I am deeply indebted to you all my friends.
Tammy: You two were the ones who helped me!
Hibi-Hibi: Don't thank me just yet, making the thing is the easiest part.
Keith: All I did was bring Myan-
Cruz: I'm just the bait, the master ba--
Keith: -and shut this guy up.
Myan: mew!~
Haliya: I'm glad it has eased her burden somewhat, but what can we do with just this?
Hibi-Hibi: It might seem like a failure, but perhaps we can make an agimat like Myan's for Bakunawa.
Hibi-Hibi: Similar to Tammy's case, we might not need to overpower Bakunawa's curse.
Hibi-Hibi: But maybe we can transform her just enough into a more... manageable form. It will be easier to persuade her to ask for forgiveness from the god that cursed her, or fulfill the curse's conditions. Even if we never win her over at least she'll be safely contained... to do what you have to do.
I hope we all make it through this pandemic, so take care of yourselves everyone! I’m just gonna keep doing what I’m doing: make stuff at a snail-like pace.
Haliya: It is done. And now its energy can also be restored by shining moonlight upon it. It might soon develop special properties too since tonight's moon is special.
Hibi-Hibi: Try it out Tammy, let's see if it works! (I hope we don't regret giving them a now powerful agimat, but they seem trustwo-)
Actually finished Feb 2, but eh, I’ll count this as a January comic page…
Myan’s cat-sized collar grows/shrinks when she transforms, so it’s too small for normal humans (and wifwolves) to use. I guess you can try attempting to wear it that tight, if you’re kinky enough.
Also included in the WIP page is an alternate thumbnail for the 4th panel, with Haliya doing something to Tammy power up the collar.
Keith: How does it feel to be young again?
Cruz: Short and bored.
Hibi-Hibi: Wear this Tammy, it will make things a lot easier.
Tammy: O-ok... {ggk!} Uhh this doesn't fit my neck, so-
Tammy: -there. What's next?
Hibi-Hibi: Hold out your arm...
Hibi-Hibi: Bap! And done! Now you can use it, but Haliya still has to power it up.
Tammy: That's quick! So, what's she going to do?
Haliya: With the moon's luminescence, we bless our agimats*. Usually, it will take at least a few nights to imbue them... if I'm not involved.
*amulet/talisman
Haliya: So shield your eyes everyone, this will be bright.
Woah, it’s been super long since Myan returned to her original form! And by later, she meant cleaning each other.
Yes, Myan ara ara’d her big sister can use the collar’s powers as long as she’s touching it. And I didn’t think about it back then, but it also makes sense to me that her poofing isn’t instantaneous. Perhaps a safety feature added by Hibi?
Oh, and heyyy, Happy Lunar New Year. Haliya and the Haliyans (this sounds like a band haha) celebrate those too of course. Anyway, this of course means I get to stuff my face with tikoy again.
Aw man, this should’ve been done like, a decade ago, sorry! Oh, and a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and Decade! I promised some Christmas artwork in Discord, so expect that soon. Thank IndiSkye for that since I was inspired when they made some Cat Nine Christmas fanart! Check out their pixiv and kenzato(nsfw) here!
In the comic, there originally was supposed to be some comment by Hibi that only Myan can use her collar since it would be foolish to let just anyone use magical items. To me, that’s just asking for it to be stolen and abused!
I don’t have the exact numbers for their power levels, but:
Hibi is magically powerful, but not as much as a goddess.
Haliya and Bakunawa are about equal. When they fought, both of them has a 50% chance of winning or not.
Kan-laon, the god mentioned in page 208, is a lot powerful than both Haliya and Bakunawa combined.
And I hope you guys understand Myan’s reluctance:
It’s a symbol that she has family now.
Her dad gave it to her, it has her name in it, so it’s hers.
It’s literally the only thing she owns.
They told her at some point (especially Hibi I imagine) to not remove her collar, since it’s a magical item.
Myan might’ve that people, even some close friends, don’t return the stuff they borrowed.
Tammy: Do we really need it?
Hibi-Hibi: Not at all. It's just convenient since it already has everything we'll need.
Hibi-Hibi: If I alter Myan's collar, Tammy can use it and turn back into a human. But the magic I've poured in it isn't strong enough... yet.
Tammy: I'm back baby!
Hibi-Hibi: Our power combined should be enough change your form, but not break the curse.
Haliya: Bakunawa and I are equal in power!
Hibi-Hibi: I can make a new agimat for you, but only after this situation with the Bakunawa is over because it will take time.
Cruz: So if we can remove the curse, then there's no need for a magical trinket in the first place?
Hibi-Hibi: Indeed.
Keith: Want me to talk to her?
Tammy: Nah!
Tammy: It's important to her. I don't want to force her to lend it to me.
Tammy: Buuut if she does lend it, I promise to take good care of it and I'll be super grateful!
Tammy: So grateful that I'll give her favorite treat. Meow Chow was it?
