You probably noticed that this comic didn't have any math (but it did have a shrubbery). We tried something a little different for our last comic of the year—but don't worry, we'll be back with lots more math in 2018!

We based our story on an old Russian legend about the enmity between cats and dogs. The legend was sourced from the English translation of Champfleury's The Cat, Past and Present which was published in 1885 by George Bell and Sons. Here it is in its entirety:

"When the dog was created, he had neither fur nor hair. He lost patience, and instead of waiting to be supplied with the necessary covering, he ran after the first passer-by who called him. Now this passer-by was the devil, and he made the animal his emissary, and, indeed, sometimes assumes its appearance. The fur which was destined to the dog was given to the cat. This probably explains the antipathy which exists between the two animals; the one believes that the other has stolen its property."

Thanks to you, our readers, for sticking with us as we get this project off the ground. A special thanks to those of you who submitted suggestions—we are working on those comics and will release them next year!