Story Title: Elf~Fin: Hyfus & Tilaweed #1
Story: Julie Ditrich and Jozef Szekeres
Script: Julie Ditrich
Pencils: Jozef Szekeres
Colours: Jozef Szekeres
Letters: Jozef Szekeres
Cover: Jozef Szekeres
Genre: Fantasy
Series Overview: Elf~Fin: Hyfus & Tilaweed is an epic underwater fantasy set in the mysterious world of Elf~Threaal. As Hyfus, the gifted seer~sea of the Waverin pod, struggles to prevent a devastating prophecy from coming to pass, the woman he loves, Tilaweed, finds herself drawn into the influence of Rippart, the Exultant Light and charismatic leader of the secretive Faithful. A story of love, faith, betrayal and sacrifice, the series unfolds against the Shuddering—a cataclysm that will reshape Elf~Threaal forever.
Synopsis #1: During the Claiming Ceremony of his young fin~friends Jayshu and Razbi, Hyfus—a seer~sea of the Waverin pod—foresees an impending catastrophe on the troubled planet of Elf~Threaal. Chastised by the Council of Elders for speaking an unwelcome truth, Hyfus is given an unexpected opportunity to prove himself when he takes his turn as Hunt Master during the sea hunt. But will his actions change the Council’s opinion or confirm their doubts? Set within the underwater world of Elf~Fin, this is a tale of prophecy, courage and the burden of seeing what others refuse to believe.

The Story Behind the Story: When readers discovered Hyfus and Tilaweed in the original WaveDancers series, they quickly gravitated towards the pair’s unfinished romance. Their brief connection seemed to resonate with readers, prompting Jozef Szekeres and me to wonder what might happen if their story became the heart of an entirely new series.

Together, we created a completely new universe—Elf~Fin—set on the ocean world of Elf~Threaal, complete with its own history, mythology and cultures. From the outset, we wanted to challenge one of the conventions of mermaid fiction. Many underwater stories spend much of their time above the surface, following the familiar “fish out of water” narrative. Our ambition was different: to tell an epic fantasy that unfolded almost entirely beneath the sea, allowing the ocean itself to become a character in its own right.

Before a single script could be written, we built the foundations of that world. We explored everything from how the Elf~Fin breathed and communicated beneath the waves to the structure of their communities, the politics between different pods, and the origins of their civilisation. Nature documentaries became an unexpected source of inspiration, as we studied the behaviour of fish and marine life, weaving those observations into the culture and action of the story.

One of my favourite challenges was reimagining psychic perception for an underwater setting. I’ve always been fascinated by characters gifted with second sight, but traditional methods of divination didn’t belong in this world. The solution came in an unexpected form: Hyfus would read the swirling patterns of fish scales and entrails, interpreting their movement beneath the currents as a means of receiving psychic impressions. It became one of the most distinctive elements of his character and one of my favourite pieces of world-building.

Jozef and I worked closely to map out the major turning points of the series before I expanded them into a detailed story structure of almost 20,000 words, covering six 48-page issues. I completed the scripts for the first two issues, with the story designed to alternate between Hyfus’s world and Tilaweed’s before bringing them together to face impossible choices, personal sacrifice, and ultimately the cataclysmic event known as the Shuddering, which would forever reshape Elf~Threaal.

Because we believed in the project, we chose to publish it ourselves. A limited preview edition sold out quickly among existing readers, encouraging us to produce a second special edition for the inaugural MerCon convention in Las Vegas, where the story found an enthusiastic new audience. In 2013, we published the treasury edition of the first issue, which also sold out and led to a second printing. The response from readers confirmed that the world and its characters had found a place in people’s hearts.

Although changing circumstances meant the complete six-issue story was never realised, Hyfus, Tilaweed and the world of Elf~Threaal have remained close to my heart. Looking back, I still see Elf~Fin not simply as an unfinished series, but as a world that continues to live in my imagination—a reminder that some stories leave a lasting mark, whether or not they reach their intended destination.