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 rumbling started faint, like distant thunder, but within moments, it crescendoed into a roar that made the ground beneath me shudder violently. Dust and pebbles scattered across the underworld floor, and I clutched the baby manticore closer to my chest as my pulse quickened.

"Oh no, no, no. Don't tell me—" I muttered, but my words were cut off by the sight of something massive barreling toward us.

Not just any manticore, though. This one was at least three times the size of the baby I was holding. Its golden fur shimmered under the flickering casino's neon light, and its bat-like wings stretched wide as it galloped with terrifying speed. Its scorpion tail arched high over its back, the stinger glowing faintly with venom that could probably take down a dragon.

And it was headed straight for me.

Meeting The Judge