Chapter 11

**What Are Friends For**

## Characters

* Oscar
* Spider
* Sylvia
* Oscar's father
* Thunder Children
* Clifford
* White Faced Bear
* Darcy
* Eliza
* Lester/Coyote
* Carl

## Continuity

* Wildlife (GIANT TALKING SPIDER WHO EATS PEOPLE)
* Oscar's father
* Why Oscar left Chicago
* Oscar the Samaritan
* Nope
* Lost glasses
* He came in through the bathroom window
* Clifford vs Carl
* Turn into a wolf at it (running)
* Werewolves not swearwolves
* Turn into a wolf at it (biting)
* Call Eliza
* Spiders
* The rules of nature
* The White Faced Bear's debt
* Warp Factor Bear
* Don't tell
* Touching Cliff
* Shrouds
* Bargains
* Frogs
* Not friends
* Porch light (out)
* Oscar's Clothing and Haberdashery
* Magic (Eliza)
* Oscar's place in the order of things

## Locations

* Cave
* Sylvia & Oscar's home
* Woods
* Darcy & Eliza's home
* Lester/Coyote's home

## Mythology

Coyote

(not-) Hanyi's heart

## Art

Page 807 is possibly a reference to Vladimir Borovikovsky's *Our Lady of All Sorrows, Joy with a kneeling warrior and archbishop (George the Victorious and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker)* (details).

## Quotes

"There's a fable that you can boil a frog alive if you heat the water gradually. It's not true. The frog will jump out when the water gets too hot. The saying is really meant for people. It's a warning that if we get too comfortable with dangerous things -- we can find ourselves in some very hot water."

Oscar's journal (p710)

"There you go again. Shhh."

"NO!"

"Lie still. No need to wake."

"No..."

"Such a fighter! Even though your strength is almost gone. Be still. That's it. Sleep."

Sweet dreams (p711)

"So, that's it? That's really all you have to say to me? I don't know what I expected... Apologize? For *what?* Oh, suddenly now you're all about family. You wouldn't even know I left if River hadn't said something. I'm not going to do this with you. What do you want from me, Dad?"

(p713-p714)

"Why is he like that?!"

(p714)

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have urged you to answer his call. I thought he was just worried about you."

"You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault. I thought he might be better, too. *Absence gives the heart rose-colored glasses.*"

(p714)

"Do you want to talk about him?"

"No. I want to make some coffee. It's just-- the thing about him is he acts like his opinions are objective facts. That's now how facts *work!* And he never listens. So, good luck trying to reason with him about anything. Go ahead and argue with a wall. I don't want to talk about him."

"That's fine."

The doctor is in (p715)

"He just knows how to get under my skin. He did it on purpose. I'm sure he wants to get back at me. We had a... falling out before I left."

"Is that what made you leave?"

"No. Well, yes and no. It was all part of it. I don't want to talk about it."

"I understand."

Still not talking (p716)

"Maybe I said some things I shouldn't have. But he *did* some things he shouldn't have. *sigh* Anyway. He's the one who should apologize. Maybe I hope he never does so I have an excuse to never forgive him."

(p716-p717)

"I'm going for a quick walk. Help clear my head. When I get back, I'll go to the library to swap out your stuff. And then we'll spend the rest of the day together, okay?"

"Okay!"

Sylvia's kind of day (p717-p718)

"Here, are you hurt?"

"No."

"Can you sit up? How did you get like this?"

"I went for a walk on the trail and I got lost. I couldn't get up that hill by myself, and it got dark, and..."

(p722)

"Such a nice young man. I'm so lucky you came by! I could have starved!"

"Oh, well I--"

"You remind me of my husband. I miss him so much... since I ate him."

OH HELL NO (p723)

"Ha haha! What's the matter? Such a sour face! Don't you want to help me anymore?"

"I'd really rather not be eaten alive."

"Eaten *alive?* Oh, no no. You don't have to worry about that."

Phew, that's one less worry then (p726-p727)

"Help, I'm lost! *Help!* *I'm lost!*"

"Hello hello!"

"Hey! Eat that!"

"Oh!"

"No no!"

"No no!"

Fussy eaters (p728)

"Shh, shh, shhh. Sweet boy. I've enjoyed you so much already. You know, this is when most men start begging me for mercy. But you won't, will you? You're too proud."

Got him bang to rights there (p730)

"You just can't give up, can you? Even when there's no hope."

(p732)

"Oh, hey Sylvia. What's up? Why is it so quiet? Where's Oscar?"

"He went for a walk."

"*What?* That dirtbag. He knows I come over on Saturday. Why didn't he wait? Hey! Wanna bet I can catch up to him and scare him? How long ago did he leave?"

"Yesterday."

Uh-oh (p736)

"Are you dead? You're not dead. You don't smell dead. Still have a heartbeat..."

(p747)

"Well, what have we here? Hello my dear."

"What -- the -- fuck."

(p748)

"A little animal person. Such a delightful surprise! I've never had one of you before."

"What did you do to him?"

"Oh! Did you come to save him? You can't."

"I *am* taking him back with me."

"Morsel, he's dead."

"No he isn't!"

"Give or take a day!"

(p748-p749)

"You missed some eyes, little boy."

(p751)

"Oh, I wish I had found you first. You would have been nearly ready by now! The waiting is going to be just terrible."

(p752)

"I wonder how you'll taste."

(p754)

"Shit, dude... okay. Okay. Where's your phone? Eliza will know-- You don't have your phone? You don't have your phone! *Shit!*"

(p760)

"Okay, new plan. I'll carry you all the way back to your house and we'll call Eliza from there. All you have to do is not die. Okay? Good. Let's go."

(p762)

"*HEY!* Where are you going? I need help!"

"You seem well enough."

(p764)

"I need help *for him!* He's really sick! This big spider-thing poisoned him. I have to get him to Eliza! And I cut my hand, so I can't run there as a wolf, and-- stop walking away! I'm serious! Stop! What is your *problem?!*"

WFB as a walking talking HMO (p765)

"This is the fate he courted with his own actions. He was warned. I see no reason to intervene with the natural order of things. Forget about him."

"You-- FUCK *YOU!* *Fine!* But if you leave now, and he dies, then you had better forget about *me* too! Because whatever it is that you want from me -- I will *never* fucking give it to you."

Negotiations (p766)

"You should not bargain with something if you do not understand its value."

"I, uh--"

"Pick him up. Get on my back. I will take you to her."

"For real? Thank you!"

So what *is* the value of what the White Faced Bear wants from Cliff? (p768)

"Hey. Um. Do you know what swear words are?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Okay, sorry."

(p768)

"Where's Eliza?"

"Down with her roses--"

"Oscar's hurt."

"Oscar's *what?*"

"I need Eliza!"

(p771)

"Cliff! What's wrong? The spiders told me to come back."

It's a start, what with all the *other* things they never told her (p771)

"She's only supposed to come out of hibernation every hundred years... how did this happen?"

"This spider thing. I found him in a cave. He won't wake up! It's really bad!"

He's not wrong there (p772)

"Why are you taking so long? I told you it was bad! Come on! Fix him!"

"I can't."

(p772-773)

"That's not fair! You know he would try to help you!"

"I didn't say I won't. I said *I can't*. I don't have that kind of power."

But... you're *Eliza*... (p773)

"Yes you can! You just don't want to! Because I bet it breaks some stupid rule and that's all you care about!"

"Hey! Woah! Don't talk to her that way."

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do!"

Vulnerable Clifford is vulnerable (p774)

"I might know of someone who could help. But I don't know if he'll want to."

(p774)

"You never let Darcy come along if you think it could be dangerous."

"I don't think it will be."

"But, you aren't sure."

"This guy likes to be left alone. The fewer people we show up with, the better."

(p775)

"He has a relic. Or, at least he used to. He could have traded it away or used it up a long time ago. I don't really know him."

"So your plan is that we're going to barge in on a complete stranger who likes to be left alone and ask if we can use a thing he might not even have? Why would he do that?"

"For you. Because of what you are."

(p776)

"*No!* I don't want to tell anyone!"

"You won't have to. He'll know."

(p777)

"Listen, Cliff. I want you to be prepared that this might not work. Even if he decides to help us."

(p778)

"Oh. Sorry. I forgot you don't like that."

"It's... fine. I trust you."

(p779)

"Hey! Who is it? A witch! No, thank you."

NO CALLERS (p780)

"We need to talk to you! Right now!"

"Cliff."

"Open u--"

"Cool it. Don't make him angry."

(p781)

"Hold on! Who are you talking to?!"

"*Me!* You just about beaned me with your stupid door!"

"Oh! *Good night!* Where did you-- Give me a heart attack. Is that... a shroud?"

(p781)

"Who put a shroud on him?"

"White Faced Bear."

"*Why?*"

"Don't know. He keeps that to himself."

(p782)

"That's not important right now! My friend got poisoned and he needs help! We don't know what else to do so we brought him here!"

"Okay, fine. You got me. I'm curious."

HUMPERDINCK HUMPERDINCK HUMPERDINCK (p782)

"Boy, y'all weren't kidding. He is *really' poisoned. Kind of lucky, in a way. The being who did this only comes out of hibernation-- pff, what? Every hundred years or so? Think of the odds!"*
Still only mostly dead though, right? (p783)

"But can you fix him?"

"Oh. I don't know. I don't think anyone has ever even tried. Usually we just let her eat them."

Just how old *is* this guy? (p784)

"Eliza said you might have something that could do it."

"Eliza, huh? Were you thinking that old heart?"

"Yes. And this is Clifford. I wasn't sure you would even still have it."

"You must be the summer witch around here if you know about that. You hide yourself pretty well! I took you for an average witch at first!"

"I think you might be the expert on that."

"Oh, ho, ho! I like you afterall."

(p784-785)

"What name are you going by here?"

"Lester. Call me Les."

(p785)

"So, wait. Are you really just going to help us? I thought we'd have to beg or give you something, or..."

"Give me something? Well, then, what did you bring me?"

"It... nothing. You just seemed like you didn't even want to talk to us, and now..."

"Ha! Do you think I'm trying to *trick* you? I thought you were going to ask me to be in some *scheme.* For this, I don't even have to leave the house!"

(p786)

"Ah, you're looking pretty good for your age."

(p786)

"Wait... What is that?"

"The heart of a god. I *stole* it! A long time ago. From a very hateful woman. I was afraid she would use it to make her hate big enough to swallow up the world. Want to touch it?"

"No?"

"Okay."

(p787-788)

"Imagine how mad she would be if she found out I used it all on a completely normal human. And not even to make him powerful! Just to maybe keep him alive! To live out an average human lifespan! I can't think of anything funnier. I hope I live long enough to see the look on her face."

(p788)

"So, that's the *real* reason you want to help."

"Oh, psh! We don't have to be *noble* about everything. *Wolves*, huh?"

"I'm not noble."

(p788-p789)

"Cliff. Wait... let us handle this, okay? Stay out here."

"But, I-- why?"

"Just... just in case. Okay?"

Ulp (p789)

"Here we go, lad. Bottoms up."

Here's mud in your eye (p790)

"Oh, man. Can I...?"

"Huh? No, it's bad for you."

"Oh, it's not bad for *you?*"

"I'm older than death, kid. What's it going to do? Kill me?"

(p792)

"So, are you like Eliza and you grow magic plants, or whatever?"

"These are potatoes."

(p793)

"I wanted to talk to you about the White Faced Bear."

"Oh. I don't know why he does anything for me. He doesn't tell me anything or even talk to me, really. I never even knew about him until a few months ago."

"Interesting. Sounds like he's protecting you from even you."

(p793)

"Could mean that whatever he's trying to prevent is a situation where you would likely make the wrong decision."

"But then, why not just tell me what not to do so I won't do it?"

"Oh! This boy who smokes follows all the rules now, does he?"

(p794)

"Now, let me take a look at that hand..."

"It's fine. It's just a cut. I got it when I fell, but-- uh!"

"Sheesh, kid, you flinch like a kicked dog."

"I just... don't like being touched, is all."

(p795)

"Can... can you see it? Do you know what it says?"

"I can see it, but I can't read it. Those things are usually names, though. So, who'd write their name on your hand?"

(p795-p796)

"Sorry. Everytime I needed help, you came and got me. And I didn't even know you were in trouble."

"Don't. Mom. Please."

(p797-p798)

"I saved you from that big spider thing."

"You what?"

"She poisoned you. Eliza and I brought you here to get help."

"I feel like I was in a car wreck. Everything hurts."

"Dude, you look sick. Are you about to throw-up?"

"I what? No? *Yes.*"

(p799)

"He's alive! And he's *barfing!*"

(p799)

"We're not friends now, 'cause of this."

"Pff! If you're gonna sit there and make fun of me, then I think I'll put you back in that cave."

"Ah ha ha!"

Friendship (p802)

"Hey, wait. We didn't figure out what we're going to do about the spider thing."

"Why would we do anything?"

"Uh, she tried to eat Oscar! And me!"

"She was hungry. I'm sure it wasn't personal."

"Eliza!"

"I'm sorry, Cliff. As long as she continues to behave naturally and doesn't attempt to go into town, I can't act."

"She'll probably eat a couple deer and go back to sleep."

(p803)

"That's bullshit! We have to--"

"Hey... let's not have words with the man who used an irreplaceable relic to save my life."

(p804)

"Thank you, Lester. I don't know how to repay you."

"If I think of something, I'll let you know."

But only if it's really funny, right? (p804)

"He he he he he"

Can always trust an old coyote to get the joke (p804)

"I still don't understand why we can't go after the spider."

"You know how there's rules to keep you from turning into a monster? There's rules like that for witches, too. I can't start using my power for selfish reasons."

(p805)

"Cliff, wait. Your curfew. I'll drive you home."

"It's not a big deal. Don't worry about it. I'm just gonna make sure Oscar gets in okay. Then I'll go home."

Maybe we should worry about it, Cliff (p805)

"When I was walking, I found an old woman who seemed lost. But, when I tried to help her, she changed into a creature and bit me."

"I found him in a cave and took him to get help. It was awhile before he woke up. That's what took us so long."

... the Cliff Notes version (thank you ysabet https://www.wildelifecomic.com/comic/807/#comment-4966379881) (p807)

"Clifford, when you didn't come back I felt so guilty that I didn't stop you! I was afraid whatever happened to Oscar had happened to you, too. I thought I'd lost you both."

(p807)

"Can I borrow a shirt? I don't want to explain why this one has blood and what-not on it."

"Yeah, take whatever you want. I'll wash that one for you."

Just make sure it goes with your jacket, Cliff (p808)

"Will you go the way of Elijah? I had thought better of you."

"I had thought better of me, too."

(p814)

"I have never seen a weakness in you such as this. That man is a poison. He has infected you. He has infected Clifford. You would both risk madness to please him."

"You're being brash! He needed help this time, but he's saved Cliffo--"

"*I will no longer tolerate his presence in these woods.* He must be gone from here. I tell you this as a courtesy, Eliza. Do what you will with this information."

(p815-p816)

"I'm home! Sorry I'm late! I have a good reason! Hello...? Mom?"

"She's not here. She texted you. But you probably didn't look at your phone so you could keep doing what you wanted, huh? Mrs. Talltree down the street broke her ankle a couple days ago. Your mom took her a casserole and is helping her with housework."

"Kev!"

"He's at Jeremy's sleepover. It's just you and me, pal. And *you* -- really, *really*, missed curfew."

(p817-p818)