[283] Story Discussion - Such lame excuses

I remember some asian folklore where the longer someones neck, the bigger the scheme or lie they are planning.

So it turns out that the possessed Robot's errand was not to assassinate Reynardine (as I'd assumed), but to bring him back to the forest.

I agree that Coyote's renewed interest in Annie is getting creepy. (Though the good news is that the conference has been detoured from the trouble between the Court and the Wood that her actions have unintentionally brought about, at least for the moment. I had wondered - and even worried - about the possibility that everyone would find out that Annie's sending Robot across the bridge had led to these problems, with the result that she'd have both the forest-folk and the faculty angry with her - even leading to her either getting turned over to Ysengrin and Coyote to avert a war, expelled, or at the least, placed under such intense supervision that she'd have no more opportunity for further adventures, any of which would make it difficult to continue the story. But now Coyote, at the least, is paying more attention to Reynardine than to the forest's grievances; I wonder if Reynardine deliberately planned his entrance for the purpose of distracting the Wood's emissaries from Annie. Particularly since he showed up immediately after her involvement with the "dead" Tic-Toc Bird was revealed.)

I'm not sure. If he broke the laws of the court, he'd probably don't care at all. Even though he murdered people all the times (each time when switching his body).
So it's either a very lame excuse or he actually broke some laws of the forest.

Their conversation is code for "I don't have enough information to return yet!"

Coyote is a creeeeper. I don't think he's trying to hurt Annie quite yet, though, just trying to convince Reynardine to spill the beans.

EDIT: Rey says he broke their laws, and he couldn't LEAVE if he wanted to (as opposed to return). That makes it far more likely he's talking about the Court.

Anyone else think we're in for another laughing fit once Coyote learns that Annie owns Renard now?

I don't think that's true... while in all speculation Reynardine COULD be a spy, his personality seems more or less not obligated to anyone but himself. Even in his childish banter that has nothing to do with the forest it always seems directed towards his own personal satisfaction.

I don't think he's a spy... he just doesn't seem the spying type.

Coyote also seems to be either easily distracted or else uninterested in the diplomatic tensions between the Court and the Wood that the meeting is (officially) about. Almost all of his comments have been directed towards other topics: his creation of the shadow-folk, Annie's parentage, Reynardine, etc.

Ysengrin has been far more focused (even showing impatience over Coyote's digressions) about the purpose of their visit to the Court (though he then weakened his case by jumping to the conclusion that Annie's discarded sweater belonged to Anthony, making himself look ridiculous in the eyes of the Headmaster, at least).

*He throws a shadow here: www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=278 Maybe Tom just didn't notice this mistake - if it is one.

Suppose Coyote isn't even really there, but only his spirit or something. His appearance isn't normal after all. He has some kind of glow around him (green in the first page of the chapter, red after that), he doesn't seem to have a shadow* and, for a wolf living in the forest, he looks incredibly clean. There's no trace of dust or dirt on his feet or his black "skin".
He also doesn't seem to be of some known solid material - stretching his neck this long didn't even make a sound.

Maybe ordinary people aren't able to see him, unless he wants it?
That'd explain why noone ever talks directly to Coyote except Annie. Noone seems to react to his actions either (except the 3 mediums.. media?)

Hey you're right it does kind of look like he's the light source by the way their shadows are cast.