I'm so grateful that I stuck to my guns as far as keeping Mal's hair just flat black, like a giant light-eating void. Otherwise, this comic would never get done. I'm also very proud of myself that the second panel actually looks like a braid, because normally I cheat when drawing braids because I don't like to think that hard. So, the most interesting thing about this page, besides hair, is that originally it was totally not going to be anything like this! At all. Except the dialog. I kept staring at the script trying to figure out how to make this conversation more interesting. While walking the dog, it occurred to me that I was looking for a place to introduce a flashback about her parents (and you'll learn that they have names in tomorrow's page, so that's cool!), and thematically, it actually works right here really well. The whole theme of this comic, besides werewolves, is facing your fears, growing up, and figuring out who you really are. I can't say I have much insight into what it must be like to move to another country, especially one that's so different, to live and work permanently, but it sounds freaking terrifying. Just judging from my experience moving for college, I assume there's a period where you really miss home and think you'll never adjust, and I thought her mom's own fears about moving to the U.S. from the Philippines was a nice contrast to Malaya's fear about her new werewolf form. That coffee mug is going to be a different size in every damn panel, trust. In slightly related news, I don't know if it's the change of season or the phase of the moon or what, but I cannot concentrate for shit lately, so I'm surprised these pages even got done. I'm in full manic territory the last few weeks and I would like that to stop now! Normally, I have my anxiety pretty well in hand, but it flares up a few times a year. I'm chalking it up to winter coming. I like winter okay, but it's a big change every year, and I already spend enough time indoors with just the pets, and winter is that times like, ten. At least I have new snow boots. I will just have to keep looking forward to wearing them to keep up my spirits.