Two weeks ago Mark went into the field with Tess Tigress to meet her fellow hog hunters, who took turns revealing their hog-hunting origin stories. That week ended with the sighting of a wild hog as the gals prepared to go into action. The actual kill shot took place off-camera, a decision that Rivera repeated this past week and remarked on by one of our newest blog followers. Not showing the actual kill shot could have been an editorial decision by Rivera’s syndicate or Rivera, herself.

This past week saw the hunting party at another location, ready to unlimber their guns in the pursuit of more wild hogs. A good part of the week was something of a jumble with regard to time, sequence, and action, but I’ll try to at least present a general idea. Or you could just read the prior six days of strips (my commentary, optional) and skip this.

When a trio of wild hogs was spotted, Mark got out in front of the hunters to take pictures, but thought better of it and retreated to safety. Then Shania got out in front of the group to get a shot, though Reba warned her to be careful. Apparently she wasn’t and one hog bore down on her.

 At this point, time, space, and sequence get confusing. 1) Shania panicked and ran as hog ran at her. She didn’t shoot hog, but tripped. 2) Reba yelled advice but didn’t shoot. 3) Hog’s movements seemed to slow down for no reason. 4) Mark stood in background, beside Tess. 5) Mark reacted by somehow managing to run and jump in a tree on far side of Shania just in time. 6) Hog’s location unclear. 7) Mark yelled for Shania to grab his hand. She did. 8) Hog seemed to be staring. 8) Tess took a shot, but hit tree Mark and Shania are in. 9) Tess shot again and killed hog (not shown in the strip). 10) Mark and Tess end up on the ground, complaining of Tess’s wild shot. 11) Tess brushes off complaint. 12) No word on the action or whereabouts of the other two hogs seen with this hog.

From Tess’s actions and expressions, I’m thinking that her supposed lack of memory of Mark or her former fake tiger petting zoo may be an act. And she is really setting Mark up for revenge.

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