Day-Lynx (EDITING)

After Death offered him another chance in life, a young artist struggles to live between two worlds: the human one where he fulfils his banal duties as an unknown artist and the supernatural world where he lives as a notorious beast whose head is hunted by countless masses.

***

The Day-Lynx, a malformed lynx-like beast in Borealm Woods, has never done the Mountkirk locals harm. But the beast has become infamous among the citizens of the realm, leading both the villagers and outsiders to hunt it down and end its reign, even if they have to get their hands dirty.

For years, it haunts the daydreams and nightmares of not only children, but even the toughest adults as well. When a bad incident strikes one of the villagers and involves the beast, the hunt for it ravages more than ever.

However, some people are against the plan, including Rozell, an indie paintgrapher who's eager to portray nature in a more positive light. But only time can decide if his defiance can last long enough.

And in the end, only the villagers can determine whether Rozell is only trying to avoid unnecessary trouble, or if he has chosen to save the beast instead of himself.

• ONC 2021's Longlist Ambassadors' Pick and Shortlist Qualifier
• 3rd Place in Fantasy - The Lucent Awards
• 926/81.4k in Paranormal (October 2nd, 2021)
• Featured in Gems Under 1k (July 2021) by Wacky Writers
• Featured in More Than the Eye Can See (March 2022) by Speculative Fiction

The surreal cover's credit goes to @Laentheon and her graphic shop, A Matter of Time.