Draserraney

*****WPC OCT 2024 Entry*****
When Carl Suis, a fresh zoology graduate, lands an internship with MECCP (Mythical and Endangered Creatures Care and Protection), he expects to work with exotic animals—not be magically whisked into Mythica, a realm brimming with dragons, mermaids, and other magical creatures.

What starts as a dream job quickly spirals into chaos. Feeding creatures is the least of Carl’s worries as he tackles ecosystem meltdowns, interspecies feuds, and cultural clashes straight out of a fantasy fever dream. Forget the myths—these creatures are nothing like the books said.

With Mythica’s fragile world teetering on collapse and MECCP’s future at stake, Carl must rely on his zoological skills, quick thinking, and unexpected allies to save the day. But in this unpredictable land, survival means embracing the wild—and the wildly hilarious—at every turn.

Can Carl protect this magical world, or will his internship be his last adventure?

A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

The drop-off point was tucked between two jagged cliffs, the kind that seemed eager to swallow you whole if you got too close. The air buzzed with a strange static that made my hair stand on end, and a faint greenish glow illuminated the dark path ahead.

For something so integral to Mythica's infrastructure, this place could use a serious makeover.

Maybe some signs. A snack cart. Anything to make it feel less like I was about to board a one-way trip to regret.

"Welcome to the Bridge of Souls Terminal," said a voice to my left, raspy and cheerful in a way that made my skin crawl. The speaker was a wraith, hovering a few feet above the ground with a clipboard in hand and a name tag pinned to what might've been a chest. It read: Hi, I'm Morty! Friendly.

"Uh, thanks?" I offered, unsure of the etiquette for interacting with wraith staff. "I'm here for the coach to Mictlan. Is this the right spot?"

A One-Way Ticket to the Bridge of Souls