What, if any, significance does a raccoon rearing up signify here, other than to check for predators or maybe Mark’s approach? It looks a bit defeated, but that is just anthropomorphizing. Perhaps it is a taxidermist’s display?

As is justly fitting, Honest Ernest has been relegated to support staff status. Time has clearly passed if Ernest has received all of his shots. They take two weeks to complete. Regular readers know that time is a fluid marker in the Trailverse and its passing is often ambiguous. It’s remarkable that Violet Cheshire would wait that long to get her Grand Hall cleared of bats. She doesn’t seem the patient type.