Regarding Solar Stag having spies in other tribes:
I was (and still am) so sure that years ago, when the wiki had nearly all characters listed, that Ateus was listed as a spy in Southspear.
At some point, I started to doubt myself if I maybe misremember that, but I still would swear on it.
For the longest I meant to ask, if anyone else here might remember, but I figured at this point you guys would have mentioned that already.
So dunno, if I just misremember it or Kique changed Ateus backstory or maybe he still is a spy, who knows.
Weather or not, his involvement doesnt make sense (but well, nothing new for this comic).
If he is still a spy, when why is he pushing so much this rebellion and if he isnt a spy, why was he even in Southspear while still having a partner in Shiverfall?
My best guess rn would be, that Ateus is still a spy but not for the Matriach but for Faekas, who wants to use the Rebellion to kill the Matriach, while also having a trap prepared to get rid of the Rebellion right after and then seize power himself.
But maybe I simply misremember Ateus wiki from back then, anyone here who can shed some light?
The thing about the spy scenario, if Kique really is going down that road, Solar Stag should be very informed about what is going on in each tribe. That means being in the know about who their potential enemy tribes are, and their movements. This includes Rananch, who should be Solar Stag's number one priority because he is destabilizing their rule. This is just how governments act, take care of the source of the problem. Killing Ranach would cause the other tribes to faulter. It's clear that Solar Stag understands this given how they kidnapped and killed the previous Southspear Matriarch. Why they would waste their time trying to recruit Kargo or attacking Asmundr makes no damn sense. Lahmina literally registered Asmundr so clearly there was no bad blood between them for Christ's sake.
For Arteus, I doubt that this was the plan given what he said on this page: https://home-comic.thecomicseries.com/comics/848/#content-start
His function seems to be getting the lions on board with this rebellion sub plot. I am under the impression that Arteus and Bhema(sp) were a thing given how they acted at the rebellion meeting. If all of these lions honestly felt this strongly about being mistreated, they would have cut ties ages ago like Flamegard did.
The only thing I do remember about the earlier concepts of Southspear was that this was actually supposed to be an all female tribe to counterbalance MT. Also there was supposed to be a reason why Southspear didn't have puppies considering the amount of sex these tribe engages in. I don't remember spying being a thing for this character unless someone else wants to confirm/chime in. I don't want to say you are wrong because Kique can't even keep his own story straight chapter to chapter, hell page to page in some instances.
Most of the plots happening in the later chapters are not planned by Kique. They are being made as he draws the pages, which is why he has so many plot holes. This issue with the dogs sense of smell is a great example. Somehow Rogio can remember the scent of his brother he hasn't seen in literal years, yet Ranach and Iberion couldn't pick up Rogio's scent at his hut? Are you fucking kidding me?
You also have to remember that the Forngyrms are here inorganically. Kique put them in the comic for his DARPG. I can say that confidently given how all of the Taiga Lions are suddenly hostile towards Solar Stag in chapter 13. They never gave off this vibe in the earlier chapters.