This has been a long time coming, especially after I ended up making a cover for 'A Lamb Among Wolves', the sort of sequel to this story mostly for my own use. But with the pending feature of 'The Rehabilitation of Dawn Bellwether' on ZNN, I had to prepare a cover of my own to display alongside it. Now, to be fair, I had some pretty fantastic fan art drawn up by more than one fan regarding my first story. Art that could have easily been used as the cover alongside the story and I'm sure I would have easily gotten permission to use them. I'm talking of course about Yukinekocat's 'The Rehabilitation of Dawn Bellwether' movie style poster that is super awesome.

And one of the first pieces of fanart I ever received, 'More than a Bellwether' by oOJackAttackOo.

I've provided the links so you can check them both out. Anywho, the reason I ended up designing my own cover instead of using one of these awesome alternative covers was for a couple of reasons. One was that I want to establish a consistent look across all of my past and future story covers, and since I had already done one for LAW, it sort of forced my hand to make one for

. Another thing was that I wanted to do the cover sort of stripped down and minimalist, not featuring anyone other than Dawn.

is supposed to be her story, and despite the

Vernon and others play in it, I didn't want to take away from that. I also didn't want to scare prospective new readers off with Vernon's presence, because I know a number of people look at OC characters with a distaste due to the swath or poorly done OC in stories.

So, as for the cover itself, it's just Dawn sitting in her cell by herself. Crying softly as the tears drip down her muzzle and into her glasses below. I was trying to convey

themes with very little in this picture. Not that I'm very into the kind of art dissection and meanings that people stretch to pull out of art that doesn't have any. But I was deliberately trying to convey multiple themes here. The jail cell itself represents Dawn's actual jail cell as well as being isolated in the jail cell of her own mind. Early in the story, despite her release, it is essentially like she never left prison. Zootopian society at large makes it so that the highly recognizable and reviled Bellwether can barely function outside of her apartment. Essentially trading one prison for another. The Light pouring in through the door is supposed to represent hope and her freedom. And of course, the biggest and most blatant symbol is the feral sheep eyes reflected in the glass lenses she is crying into. Both a representation of her inner demons she struggles with throughout the story as well as foreshadowing the events to come.

If you have yet to read the story, feel free to check it out at the link below.

And if you want to check out the sequel, which is a little less movie dramaticism and more family troubles, check out this one.

And finally, I would be remiss to not thank ZNN for finally featuring my story. I'm super grateful.

-WT

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