A short story about the Bat-Cat-O-Pus on this art print shirt-
Copyright Dianne Keast
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In the heart of a sleepy fog-shrouded town, nestled between towering oaks and crumbling gravestones, lay an ancient mansion with ivy creeping up its walls like green shadows. This foreboding structure was long abandoned by sorcerous humans who had once kept many magical creatures, and within its darkened halls resided a lonely creature of the night known as Bat-Cat-O-Pus.
By day, the Bat-Cat-O-Pus remained hidden, snuggled into the deep recesses of the luxurious, dusty velvet purple curtains that adorned the grand windows. With the face and personality of a playful cat, Bat-Cat-O-Pus had large, luminous eyes that sparkled like jewels. Her ears, soft and pointed, twitched with every whispered breeze that swept through the manor, while her silky blue-grey fur glimmered in the rare beams of moonlight that filtered through the gloom. At night she made her way outside, pausing in the overgrown gardens to listen to the twilight. (GET THE SHIRT https://www.bonfire.com/bat-cat-o-pus )
As dusk settled and the shadows danced along the cold cobblestones, Bat-Cat-O-Pus unfurled her exquisite bat wings, each membranous surface blending with the night sky. Beneath her feline frame, her eight octopus legs undulated, providing her the flexibility to scamper, slither, and even leap across the terrain in one fluid motion. No more was she a mere companion of the eerie manor; she was the mischievous specter of the night.
Tonight, her little heart raced with excitement. Bat-Cat-O-Pus planned to venture into the forgotten cemetery behind the estate. Other nocturnal creatures had whispered of strange happenings there. Ghostly fireflies flitted slowly with a wandering rhythm, and the old willow tree swayed as if engaged in conversation with the moonlight.
As she slipped out through a hidden window, Bat-Cat-O-Pus took flight, her wings fluttering softly in the air. With an ecstatic thrill, she soared over the gravestones, her bat-like silhouette casting playful shadows. She landed gracefully on a moss-covered tombstone, where the cool night air brushed against her fur like a gentle caress.
“Meowww..rrrrr” she called playfully, in a voice that was both soft like a kitten's meow and haunting like the rustle of leaves.
The fireflies flickered excitedly in response, swirling around her in a cacophony of luminescent delight. They seemed to understand her playful spirit, twirling and dancing along with her as she leaped from tombstone to tombstone. She batted at them good-naturedly with paw & tentacle. Each bound added a layer of mischief to her mood, as she tilted her head to the left and the right, mimicking the whispers of the woods; it was almost as if the spirits of the ancient graves welcomed her.
Suddenly, she spotted an old, cracked urn nestled among the roots of the willow tree. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she approached, her octopi legs nimbly crawling around the gnarled trunk. Bap! she knocked over the urn with a soft tap of one paw, it clattered to the ground, releasing a cloud of dust and a cascade of vibrant autumn leaves.
“I spill it!” she giggled, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night.
Just then, an ethereal figure emerged from behind the willow tree. It was the ghost of Evelina, a former Lady of Manor house, long since passed but eternal in her beauty. Draped in gossamer robes that shimmered under the moonlight, she looked down at Bat-Cat-O-Pus with a mixture of amusement and concern.
“Naughty little one, what mischief are you up to now?” the spirit asked, her voice like the whisper of a gentle breeze.
“Fun!” Bat-Cat-O-Pus chimed, tilting her head playfully. “You Play?” she asked.
With a laugh that echoed through the graveyard, Lady Evelina extended her hand. “If you promise to keep your antics harmless, I would love to play.”
And so, the Bat-Cat-O-Pus and the benevolent spirit began their nocturnal revelry beneath the half-lit moon. They danced among the tombstones, creating circles of magic with fluttering lights and echoes of delight that mingled with the rustling leaves. Lady Evelina summoned the night creatures to come out & play—owls, foxes, mice, hedgehogs and even the shyest of the fairy night wisps gathered to partake in the merriment.
But as the first lights of dawn began to peek over the horizon, Bat-Cat-O-Pus knew time was running short, ghosts always faded away into nothing but mist the light of day. Lady Evelina asked “See you tonight after dark, dear friend?” Bat-Cat-O-Pus took a moment to bid farewell, curling up against Lady Evelina’s ethereal form, she purred, “Yes”, her eyes twinkling with excitement for the adventures to come.
Soon Bat-Cat-O-Pus had settled back into her curtain cocoon and closed her eyes, dreaming of the next night’s escapades, where mischief, moonlight, and the spirit of friendship awaited her once more.
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