Friends of Hilde

The city of Garnesmy’s most famous resident is Hilde the foxcat, a Greater Erwan foxcat that has taken up residence in the park district and once helped to save the city from a plague.

Despite seeming disinterested in the city’s residents, Hilde’s presence has made some citizens understandably nervous. Her deformed paw is believed to impair her hunting and it was feared that, once the plague had been quelled, she may find that the citizens - especially yutaaq and birdfolk - provided easier prey.

The city council's initial plan to have her trapped and removed or euthanised, if necessary, was resisted by a campaign group called Friends of Hilde, who were able to secure not just a stay of execution but, eventually, the freedom of the city for their unexpected saviour.

From the group’s inception, the Friends have been controversial, accused of reckless negligence, endangering lives, and trying to domesticate or anthropomorphise a wild animal. The Friends refute these claims, pointing out Hilde’s service to the city, her docility, and the many benefits of having a resident foxcat. Opposition has faded as people have become used to Hilde’s presence but a strong core remains, maintaining that Hilde is a wild animal and it is only a matter of time until she turns on the citizenry.

Since securing Hilde’s safety, her Friends’ activities have centred around securing her safety and promoting her image for the city. They provide Hilde with regular checkups and veterinary care, encourage responsible Hilde tourism, and coordinates volunteers to patrol the park district, stopping tourists from feeding or bothering her.

The Friends are easily identified by their masks - foxcats are able to recognise individual ialy via their aposematic markings, so the friends have adopted a single likeness that enables Hilde to recognise them. The masks are effective even if the wearer is not an ialy.

The Friends are an all-volunteer group and veterinary services are funded by donations.