Professor!
I'm so happy that I got this chance to explore Taggelisk. When I read your message about the illustration, I was truly delighted! You see, Professor, I just happened upon the most remarkable creature during my adventures here, and I've spent almost all of my trip just trying to find out more about it.
It was the sixth day in Taggelisk when I entered the swamp , my sketchbook ready to capture the likeness of anything that crossed my path. I was thinking I'd see some pretty beetle or maybe a bird, but it was a few hours walk into the marsh when I got spooked.
The whole situation was just so unexpected- a pair of bright eyes appeared suddenly, low in the mud before me, between cattails and grass, and I just saw a vaguely catlike form vanish among the shadows and into the rushes.
It was all over in but a few moments, yet I couldn't get it out of my head- I caught only a glimpse, but that was enough to enchant me. The perfect camouflage, the silent beauty- it worked a spell on me, ma'am, and that one, noiseless, graceful motion with which it disappeared from my sight. I spent half an hour in foolish hope, trying to see it again. And when I returned to the camp, I immediately sat down to try a rough sketch of what was left in my mind.
From that moment, my one passion was to find the "bog cat" again, as I started to call it. Days I spent, wandering deeper than student should've, but I kept my hellhound close for safety, I promise, ma'am. And Ellie was good at staying out of sight.
Over the course of the month, I managed to catch three or four "glimpses" of the "bog cat"- its shape in the rushes, once a quiet "mreaw" before it flashed over my feet, and even three pawprints, on a rock.
This creature seems very flat, low on the ground; I think it mostly stays in the muddy terrain that offers it cover. That's why finding its pawprints is near an impossible feat. The ones I found were on a flat rock that it must've climbed upon- perhaps to reach higher ground? But they confirmed my first impression- the "bog cat" had quite the wide pair of footsies!
So I spent my time. Until, finally, on the 29th day of my trip, it happened- nothing short of a miracle. I saw the "bog cat." It was sitting calm and regal, right in sunlight before me. It knew I was there, I'm certain, it even turned its head to observe me. Why it did not flee, I still don't know. But it won my greatest gratitude for that stillness, thanks to which I had my first chance to carefully study its face and profile.
From what I've gathered, the "bog cat" seems to prey on small critters and birds of the marshland, but usually the birds. When endangered, it does hiss much like a housecat, but its ruff fluffs up and it never arches its back, flattening itself even more instead. It's a muddy brown color that lets it blend in, but it's eyes glow. The tail is wide and flat as well, with long, stiff fur- looks almost like a beaver tail, actually. It has whiskers, two kinds- long, near invisible ones, and shorter, thicker one that bush out on the sides of its face, muzzle and ears.
The bog cat is most active at dusk, and skillfully avoids traps and bait. It also seems to like will o'wasps and fireflies.
Thus, I attach these two drawings; the first was the result of my previous weeks' work, and thus a tad fantastical, perhaps, but the second was created after that one good look I got, and thus far more accurate.
This animal is truly marvelous! Though I did not attempt to locate a nest with young ones- I get the feeling that these "cats" might be very violent when it comes to protecting their young. No dimorphism noted, however.
Best regards,
Psixi
