Same! When Belkar started asking about the snarl I had to stop reading and think back, surprised I didn't notice that before. Even more surprised that Belkar never asked what they were doing - might be his low wisdom score but he seems to be really happy taking orders!
Each comic leaves me wanting the next more and more, I miss the days when I first discovered the comic and could just read it one after the next.
*edit*
I'd assume the Draketooths/Girard himself designed the spell so it wouldn't affect the defenders in the tunnels, else how would they pick off victims of the microcosm?
The alternative is that V's 'happy world fantasy' is one in which he gets possessed by the IFCC(IFFC?).