PANEL 1

CORY

THEN AGAIN, MAYBE I’LL JUST STAY RIGHT HERE AND PASS OUT…

(cont)

GOD, THAT WATER’S FREEZING!

KARTHAK

<I’M SORRY, ANGEL! I SHOULD HAVE HELPED YOU DRINK!>

PANEL 2

CORY

THIS IS BAD. I’M LIKE THAT COMMERCIAL. I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP.

(cont)

EXCEPT, Y’KNOW, I’M IN HELL.

PANEL 3

CORY

WAIT. COULD I REALLY BE IN HELL?!

(cont)

CRAP. IT HAPPENED TO SPOOKY!

PANEL 4

KARTHAK

<HERE! I GOT YOU MORE! I’LL POUR IT INTO YOUR MOUTH!>

CORY

WOAH! DUDE, ENOUGH WITH THE DOGGIE BOWL! OR COW BOWL! WHATEVER IT IS!

(cont)

JUST BACK OFF, OK?!

PANEL 5

CORY

I JUST NEED TO REST A MINUTE. FIGURE OUT MY NEXT STEP.

(cont)

BEFORE YOU TRY TO TRADE ME FOR SOME MAGIC BEANS OR SOMETHING.

PANEL 6

KARTHAK

<I’M SORRY, ANGEL. YOU’RE SICK! AND I DON’T KNOW HOW TO HELP YOU!>

PANEL 1

CORY

THIS LOOKS LIKE HAY. IS THIS SOME KIND OF BARN?

PANEL 2

KARTHAK

<PLEASE FORGIVE MY PARENTS, ANGEL. PATI DOES BELIEVE IN THE OLD WAYS. A LITTLE.>

(cont)

<THINGS HAVE JUST BEEN HARD IN THE VILLAGE. FOR A LONG TIME.>

(cont)

<AND THEY WORRY ABOUT ME A LOT.>

PANEL 3

CORY

AND NOW YOU’RE BRINGING ME A BOWL OF WATER…

(cont)

I’M BEGINNING TO GET THE FEELING THAT YOU MIGHT THINK I’M A DOG. OR MAYBE A COW.

(cont)

DUDE, IF YOU’RE HOPING TO GET SOME MILK FROM ME, YOU’RE GOING TO BE VERY DISAPPOINTED.

PANEL 4

KARTHAK

<YOU LOOK SO WEAK. YOU REALLY HURT YOURSELF SAVING ME, DIDN’T YOU?>

(cont)

<PATI THINKS YOU NEED WATER.>

(cont)

<I’M SORRY I CAN’T GET A CUP FROM THE HOUSE, BUT I’M IN ENOUGH TROUBLE ALREADY.>

PANEL 5

CORY

Uhhh, OK… THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

(cont)

AND, YOU KNOW, THE HAY AND STUFF.

PANEL 6

CORY

BUT I CAN’T STAY HERE. I’VE GOT TO FIND A WAY BACK HOME-

PANEL 7

CORY

AHHH! OW! HEADACHE! BAD HEADACHE!

KARTHAK

<OH, NO!>

PANEL 1

MATI

<MAYBE WANTING A PET IS A GOOD SIGN. IT’S A LIVING CREATURE TO CARE ABOUT. SOMETHING REAL THAT COULD CONNECT HIM TO THE WORLD.>

PATI

<I THINK IT IS A GOOD SIGN.>

(cont)

<WE’LL FIND THE SHEEP IN THE MORNING. THEY CAN’T HAVE GONE FAR.>

PANEL 2

PATI

<AND WHO KNOWS? HE COULD BE RIGHT. MAYBE THAT THING REALLY IS AN ANGEL SENT TO SAVE US ALL.>

PANEL 3

MATI

<SURE. AND MAYBE OUR WINGS WILL LET US FLY IN THE AIR LIKE THE BIRDS, AND THEN WE WILL ALL FIND SAFETY IN THE HEAVEN OF GROWLING APES!>

PANEL 4

PATI

<HA HA HA! AND YOU SAY KARTHAK IS THE ONE WITH THE IMAGINATION…>

PANEL 5

KARTHAK

<I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY THINK! I KNOW WHAT I SAW.>

(cont)

<YOU’RE NOT SOME DUMB ANIMAL. YOU CAN’T

CORY

DUDE. WE’VE GOT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT YOU DRAGGING ME AROUND EVERYWHERE. IT’S NOT COOL.

PANEL 6

CORY

NOT THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND A WORD I SAID, OF COURSE.

(cont)

MAN, IT’S COLD. AND I’M SO TIRED…

PANEL 1

PATI

<AND GET HIM A BOWL OF WATER! HE LOOKS SICK.>

(cont)

<REMEMBER, HE’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. AT LEAST UNTIL TOMORROW.>

PANEL 2

KARTHAK

<I WILL! I LOVE YOU!>

PANEL 3

MATI

<UNBELIEVABLE.>

(cont)

<YOU KNOW HE’S ONLY LIKE THIS BECAUSE YOU SPOIL HIM SO MUCH.>

(cont)

<ALL HIS FRIENDS HAVE MATES, SOME EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDREN, AND THIS BOY CAN’T BE TRUSTED TO HERD TWO SHEEP FOR FIVE HOURS!>

PANEL 4

PATI

<KARTHAK DOESN’T HAVE FRIENDS ANYMORE.>

(cont)

<AND EVERYONE ELSE HIS AGE FOUND MATES BECAUSE THEY DON’T THINK THEY’LL BE ALIVE THREE WINTERS FROM NOW.>

PANEL 5

PATI

<WE MADE THE CHOICE TO BRING HIM INTO THIS WORLD, EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW THE URK-GAGOR WERE GETTING CLOSER EVERY YEAR. AND THAT’S THE FIRST SMILE WE’VE SEEN ON HIS FACE SINCE YOU KNOW WHEN.>

(cont)

<IF HE WANTS TO PRETEND HE HAS A PET FOR A COUPLE DAYS, ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO BEGRUDGE HIM THAT SMALL JOY?>

MATI

<NO.>

PANEL 1

PATI

<STARS ABOVE, I SWEAR THIS BOY WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME.>

MATI

<POSON, YOU CAN’T SERIOUSLY BE THINKING OF GIVING IN TO THIS NONSENSE.>

(cont)

<I’M OUT ALL NIGHT AND MOST DAYS HUNTING. I’M THE ONE WHO PUTS FOOD ON OUR TABLE. I WON’T ALLOW IT!>

PANEL 2

PATI

<YES, TOOLA, YOU BRING IN THE FOOD.>

(cont)

<AND THEN I’M THE ONE WHO COOKS IT. AND TENDS TO THE FIRES. AND NURTURES THE GARDEN. AND I’M THE ONE WHO KEEPS OUR HOME CLEAN.>

(cont)

<HOUSE DECISIONS ARE MY DECISIONS.>

PANEL 3

PATI

<I WON’T LET YOU BRING THAT CREATURE INTO OUR HOME, BUT… IF YOU PROMISE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT, IT CAN SLEEP IN THE BARN. FOR TONIGHT.>

PANEL 4

CORY

UFF!

KARTHAK

<OH, THANK YOU, PATI! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!>

PANEL 5

PATI

<AND THEN TOMORROW MORNING, AFTER YOU GIVE THAT ANIMAL A BATH, WE WILL LOOK FOR THE SHEEP TOGETHER. AND FOR THAT POOR CREATURE’S OWNER. AND YOU WILL GIVE ME NO ARGUMENTS AND NO WHINING.>

(cont)

<UNDERSTOOD?>

KARTHAK

<I UNDERSTAND, PATI! I WON’T ARGUE! I PROMISE!>

PANEL 6

KARTHAK

<BUT ONCE YOU SEE WHAT HE CAN DO, YOU’LL WANT TO KEEP HIM TOO! BOTH OF YOU WILL! YOU’LL SEE!>

PANEL 1

KARTHAK

<BUT MATI! HE WAS SENT TO SAVE US! ALL OF US! I’M SURE OF IT!>

PANEL 2

PATI

<SON, BE REASONABLE.>

(cont)

<I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU FOUND THIS WRETCHED THING, BUT THEY TOOK THE TROUBLE TO PUT CLOTHES ON IT. THAT MEANS IT BELONGS TO SOMEONE.>

(cont)

<MAYBE ANOTHER BOY A LOT LIKE YOU, WHO MISSES HIM VERY MUCH RIGHT NOW.>

PANEL 3

KARTHAK

<I’M TELLING YOU HE FELL FROM THE SKY! IN A FLASH OF BLUE LIGHT! HE’S MEANT TO BE WITH US. YOU’LL SEE!>

(cont)

<AND MATI, EVEN IF YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT HIM BEING AN APE, I KNOW HE’LL BE GOOD! AND IF HE MAKES A MESS, I’LL CLEAN IT UP! I PROMISE!>

MATI

<OH, WELL, MORE PROMISES…>

PANEL 4

KARTHAK

<PLEASE LET ME KEEP HIM!>

(cont)

<PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!>

PANEL 1

PATI

<SWEETHEART, I’M PRETTY SURE ANGELS WOULDN’T HAVE THAT… SMELL.>

PANEL 2

KARTHAK

<I DON’T KNOW WHAT HE DID, BUT HE USED SOME KIND OF MAGIC AND THREW THE KOKOMOGOS OFF A CLIFF.>

(cont)

<I THINK HE WAS SENT BY THE SOURCE OF ALL GOOD THINGS! I THINK MAYBE HE’S HERE TO HELP US FIGHT THE URK-GAGOR!>

PANEL 3

PATI

<THE URK-GAGOR?>

(cont)

<KARTHAK, DON’T TELL ME YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THE HOLY PATH AGAIN! IS THAT HOW YOU LOST THE SHEEP?>

KARTHAK

<WELL… MAYBE I WAS. JUST A LITTLE.>

(cont)

PANEL 4

KARTHAK

<BUT THAT MUST BE WHY THE SOURCE SENT THE ANGEL TO ME. BECAUSE I BELIEVE!>

MATI

<MAY THE GREAT WINDS PROTECT US! THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR INDULGING YOUR SON’S IMAGINATION ALL THESE YEARS. A HOPELESS DAYDREAMER WHO CAN’T KEEP TRACK OF TWO, SICKLY SHEEP!>

PATI

<HE’S YOUR SON, TOO. AND OUR PEOPLE COULD USE A LITTLE IMAGINATION RIGHT NOW.>

PANEL 5

KARTHAK

<YOU HAVE TO LET ME KEEP HIM! HE’S TIRED FROM FIGHTING THE KOKOMOGOS, BUT IN THE MORNING, I’M SURE HE’LL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THAT HE REALLY IS AN ANGEL! >

PANEL 6

MATI

<THAT IS NOT AN ANGEL. IT IS A FOREST APE. AND THERE IS NO WAY I AM LETTING YOU BRING THAT STINKY CREATURE INSIDE OUR HOME.>

(cont)

<KARTHAK, YOU NEED TO SET IT FREE. RIGHT NOW.>

(cont)

<THEN YOUR FATHER AND I WILL TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PUNISHMENT COULD POSSIBLY BE STRONG ENOUGH FOR A CHILD WHO DAYDREAMS AWAY HIS FAMILY’S ONLY LIVESTOCK.>

PANEL 1

MATI

<THERE WERE JUST TWO SHEEP! AND THEY WERE OLD! HOW COULD YOU HAVE LET THEM GET AWAY FROM YOU?>

KARTHAK

<MATI, I DIDN’T LOSE THEM. THEY WERE EATEN BY KOKOMOGOS!>

PANEL 2

MATI

<KOKOMOGOS DON’T COME UP THIS HIGH. AND IF THEY HAD, THERE CERTAINLY WOULDN’T BE ANYTHING OF YOU LEFT TO SPOUT OFF THIS RIDICULOUS STORY.>

KARTHAK

<BUT THAT’S WHAT I’M TRYING TO TELL YOU!>

PANEL 3

KARTHAK

<BEFORE THEY COULD ATTACK, I WAS SAVED! BY HIM!>

PANEL 4

CORY

HELLO.

(cont)

PLEASE DON’T EAT ME.

PANEL 5

MATI

<THAT ANIMAL SAVED YOU? THE ONE THAT’S GROWLING AT US RIGHT NOW?>

PANEL 6

KARTHAK

<THAT’S JUST IT! I DON’T THINK HE IS AN ANIMAL.>

(cont)

<RIGHT WHEN THE KOKOMOGOS WERE GOING TO GET ME, HE FELL FROM THE SKY AND FOUGHT THEM.>

(cont)

<I THINK HE’S AN ANGEL!>

 

PANEL 1

KARTHAK

<THEY’RE, UM… WELL, THEY’RE GONE.>

(cont)

<BUT ONCE YOU HEAR WHAT I TELL YOU, IT WON’T MATTER! I PROMISE!>

PANEL 2

PATI

<YOU LOST OUR SHEEP? BOTH OF THEM?>

(cont)

<THEY WERE ALL WE HAD LEFT.>

(cont)

<YOU’RE NOT A CHILD ANYMORE! HOW COULD YOU BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE?!>

PANEL 3

KARTHAK

<BUT IT’S NOT MY FAULT! I WAS ATTACKED BY TWO KOKOMOGOS. THEY ATE THE SHEEP!>

PANEL 4

PATI

<PLEASE DON’T START WITH ONE OF YOUR STORIES. IT ONLY MAKES IT WORSE.>

KARTHAK

<BUT IT’S TRUE!>

PANEL 5

MATI

<WHAT’S ALL THIS RACKET, YOU TWO? I’M TRYING TO BLESS MY BOW FOR THE HUNT TOMORROW NIGHT.>

PATI

<KARTHAK LOST THE SHEEP. AND HIS CROOK.>

PANEL 6

MATI

<OH, HELL NO!>

PANEL 3

PATI

<OH, HELL NO.>

PANEL 4

PATI

<YOU ARE NOT BRINGING THAT FILTHY ANIMAL INTO MY HOUSE!>

KARTHAK

<BUT PATI, IT’S NOT AN ANIMAL!>

(cont)

<I HAVE TO TELL YOU! SOMETHING AMAZING JUST HAPPENED!>

PANEL 5

PATI

<AMAZING, HUH?>

(cont)

<KARTHAK, WHERE ARE YOUR SHEEP?>