Thank you.

It was just a character-driven episode. I wanted to show Aria's life outside of her job, and ... how her inter-species marriage was at odds (both her marriage and her faith) with snow rabbit habits. It's sort of a foreshadowing of how the younger generations of snow rabbits, having fought in all these wars, are turning to faith and love to give them meaning, purpose, fulfillment. The old way just isn't enough anymore. Logic and instinct are opposites. The only way to bridge them is ... through true leaps of faith alone. The whole mind-set of love as fated ... rather than love as random. When you view love as fate, as blessing ... you're more prone to devotion, I think. Because there's more meaning in devotion. And it's meaning that the snow rabbits need to get out of their stagnation.

I love the snow rabbit species and culture, though. They're always very intriguing. Both as a whole and individually. I think they've really changed since we first met them (back in Luminous, in episode 1.7, I believe, 'The Ivory Ice') ... Aria, from her first episode in Solstice's premiere, to the last episode of Arctic, changes by bunches. And it's very heartening to see my characters grow like that, as if they have lives of their own.

And I don't think Aria would've grown or changed without Ross. He was the catalyst. She was able to have faith ... because of him. She was able to love ... because of him. They were both outsiders, outcasts. And they just seemed to fit. They're a great pair, for me. Obviously, they're the second 'main' pair in my lead pairs. Field/Adelaide and Ross/Aria ... my two 'lead' pairs. So, I like them very much.

One of the things I like most about these sci-fi serials are just, like ... the expansiveness. Six series, now, and Redwing and Tensegrity are still open for more seasons, so the story's not done, but ... the politics, the romance, the intrigue, all that. I like how it's become an expanisve universe ... I'm very fond of it, very proud of it. The whole thing collectively, together.

Luminous was a learning curve. Solstice was more confident, but maybe a bit crude (in construction as well as tone). Arctic, I felt, was when I finally found a 'groove,' I guess, and it settled into the proper tone. A tone that influenced Yellowknife a lot, and ... cause Arctic and Yellowknife are probably closer in tone than any of the other series. Because those were both set on snow rabbit ships. The others weren't. And the further tone of Yellowknife led to the 'current template' ... which is the Tensegrity/Redwing style of ... I think this whole 'franchise' can be broken into thirds. Luminous/Solstice, Arctic/Yellowknife, Redwing/Tensegrity ... each 'third' has a distinct tone and writing style.

Each 'third' is a step of progression. And I hope that, with each step forward, each series further ... the writing gets more dynamic and rich and engaging. And the dialogue gets better, too. They're not perfect. None of my stuff is. But ... I want it to be distinct from most other furry stories. And I hope that it is. I hope that it's good to read and memorable, too.