Sometimes sad stories have sad endings. It's the use of the time we have that matters.

I like the way the second panel shows us Zudrec, whom we look down on, just like Cobby. The perfect perspective game. And yes, I didn't say that last time, but I, like the dragons, confused the cougar with the bear. But still, Zudrec, you're just being cheeky! First you called your guide names, mocked him, called him a thief and a brat, and now all of a sudden you're calling him by his name....That's what I found in this cat, can someone tell me? As one of our songs from the late 80s and early 90s sang, besides hands that are confident in strength, a man should have a heart. It would probably be better if I hated this cougar...
Sorry, guys, I just feel like Cobby at moment.

C'mon, V need to show you the development of the characters, their strengths and weaknesses, similarities and differences (he's not even finished yet). If he wanted to make Zudrek act like a jerk, then that's the way it should be. It would be stupid if they joyfully jumped into each other's arms and said, "You're my friend now!" right after they met for the first time, right?

Yes, I know that this is a plot development, and Valiju is wrongly berating himself for Cobby's sad backstory. In the end, this is necessary for the development of the plot, so that Zudrec learns lessons that he is unlikely to have learned... Still, I resent him. Well, couldn't it have been possible at least this time to defend the wolf properly and say that he was a servant of the cougar (after all, this was not so far from the truth), and that was it - the dragons would just let them through. But it turned out what happened. And I understand that, but I still can't forgive this arrogant aristocrat for his words.

And somewhere in a parallel timeline, Cobby wasn't shot in the head, but was sexually abused in the castle catacombs along with Gervic (---Vlag arrives and saves them---the course of events is difficult to predict---), or was put into a vegetative state by Bob to break Garwick even further (---Zudrek destroys Ulrus out of revenge, hands his friend over to the best doctors in his state---the castle will be destroyed either according to or ahead of schedule---).

Sometimes, imagination is all you need.

And in the second parallel universe known to us, which was created by the author himself, Cobby comforts his husband, because he is a kind and well-mannered wolf, and his cougar is sad because he is forced to behave like a scumbag. And Zudrec hugs the wolf tightly to his strong gorgeous chest, gently kissing Cobby and purring his ear. Yes, in this version of events they are a married couple, like Herrin and Noody.