Cast Page Additions: Avery, Tess, and Milo (Patreon)

Whew! Added all three of the above to the cast page.

 

Species: Badger
Gender: Female
Age: 34
Occupation: Baker and Business Owner
Family: Walter (husband), Belfry (child), Briar (child)

Tess is, above all, a strong personality. She never does anything in half-measures: she loves wholeheartedly and can hold a grudge like no one's business. She's aware of these faults in herself, but sometimes her emotions just carry her away. 

Once one of the proudest and best pit fighters the country of Silver Sage had to offer, she has since settled down into a domestic life of motherhood. ... Still, sometimes she wishes she could get away with just a little fighting again. But that would be foolish.

Tess's first appearance was on page 6.

---- 

The feverish little fluffball tossed and turned in their bed. Tess stared worriedly, claws clasped to one cheek.

"What are we going to do?"

"You saw the note. We take care of little detka." She felt Walter's arm around her shoulders, solid and warm. She leaned into him.

"How could they leave her?" she whispered. "How could Jeremy and Koss just leave their baby like that? With us?"

"You saw. Koss is sick."

"...Yeah..." Tess stared a moment longer, and finally gave Walter a little squeeze before untangling and sitting gently on the bed. "Belfry?" She stroked the little creature with her claws, as softly as could be. "Don't worry, Belfry. You're safe with us. We're..." She glanced back at Walter, who nodded gently.

"We're your parents now. And we'll never ever leave you."

 

Species: Domestic Cat (Nawanese Bobtail)
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Occupation: Tailor
Family: Jason (ex), Anthony (child), Piper (child)

Avery has spent most of her life wrangling hyperactive kids or demanding customers so she tends to have a pretty cool demeanor. She's pretty quick to let things go and spends a lot of time trying to keep one step ahead of her kids. It's not easy being a single mom!

Avery's first appearance was on Page 110.

----

Another night alone.

Avery nursed the small glass of wine she'd poured herself, gazing disconsolately at the flickering lantern on the table. It's not that she begrudged Jason his entertaining. It's not that he was a bad father, or that they fought all that often. No, she understood that his job called him away frequently. And more than that, he had a spirit for adventure.

And what did she have? A spirit for staying close to home. Gardening and sewing and digging into the mud with the kids. That's what she enjoyed.

As much as she hate to admit it, it was becoming clearer by the day: they were just fundamentally different creatures. Not just different... but incompatible.

What would they tell the kids?

 

Species: Hyacinth Macaw/Andalusian Horse
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Occupation: Research Assistant / Doctoral Candidate
Family: James (father; deceased), Edith (mother), Kaia (sister), Oakewood (godfather)

Milo is a very smart, very shy kid who has gone into the world to study evolutionary sociology. He spent time in Lumiens with his advisor before she moved them both to Tangled Branch. Now he spends time in Treehollow helping Oakewood identify the strange creature known as Tamberlane.

Milo is a Patreon cameo. Thanks to Darch for letting me use your character!

Milo's first appearance was on page 125.

----

Dear Father,

I hope death finds you well. ... I know that's kind of funny to say. But I do. I hope you're at rest.

I'm writing to tell you that I've made it to Treehollow, like I promised I would. I even ran into Uncle Claude. Can you believe it? He's still there after all that time! I guess Mum's right when she says he's stuck in his ways.

Right now I'm helping him identify this strange creature that's stumbled into their midst. You wouldn't believe it, Dad: almost completely furless, except on the head. A juvenile, clearly. Flat, ugly little muzzle, and no tail. I can't wait to find out more about her!

Anyway, I don't want to keep you waiting from ... whatever it is you do now. Are you dust? Energy? Is there a Heaven like the Christians believe? Well, either way, I'm sure you're doing great at whatever it is.

Thinking of you always.

Love,
Milo