An artist asks Wraithvine and Birbid if they can paint their portraits. They also want to do a special one of the fluffy Lilbit, the immortal cat. After all, they brought the cat that killed the rats that were causing such havoc in the fields. -- Anon Guest
It's not that often that cats become heroes. Even then, it's usually the associated person who gets the acclaim.
In this case, Lilbit came over with a rare version of zoomies and almost eliminated a plague of mice in the fields of Ylseium. Which may or may not have been related to the local trickster putting speed potion in her cream. The aptly-named Mischief refused to own up about that.
Since the crisis was at least ended, the hero was due a reward. Besides some unadulterated cream and some fish fresh from the river. The artist Malusarim set up her easels and canvas and begged permission. "May I immortalise the hero of the day? I'll throw in portraits of each of you. Something to treasure, perhaps?"
Wraithvine, who treasured wax pencil drawings made by children, said, "All three of us are already immortal, but if you wish to create from love, I will not prevent you."
Wraithvine and Bibrid were content to pose, though Bibrid insisted on knitting. A detail that ended up in the finished art.
Lilbit's portrait showed her relaxed and serene, with a dead mouse under one paw. It was that portrait that took Malusarim the longest. Because getting a cat to sit still was almost as much trouble as getting a cat to do anything but eat.
Nevertheless, the portrait of Lilbit hung proudly in Ylseium's public gallery for years. Accompanied on both sides by the ones of Wraithvine and Bibrid.
Any time they came back to Ylseium, there was always someone who noted that they looked just like the portraits.
Sometimes, Wraithvine or Bibrid might have fun with it.
"What ever happened to those people?" the new person would ask.
"This," they would answer.
[Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash]
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