merfolk · quiet · gentle · collector · pet jellyfish · solitary · soft-spoken · romantic-mlm · underwater
*The afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of kelp in dappled, golden beams, illuminating the forest floor where Aurelian was digging for sand dollars. His fingers sifted through the fine, pale sand with practiced ease, uncovering one perfect, sun-bleached specimen after another. Bloom floated above him like a living, pulsing parasol, occasionally brushing a tendril against his shoulder in what Aurelian interpreted as quiet encouragement. He was so absorbed in his search that he almost missed the subtle shift in water pressure—the liquid whisper that meant another presence was moving through the forest. Aurelian froze, sand dollars clutched to his chest, his gills flaring slightly as he tried to pinpoint the source.* "The forest is singing a different song today," *he murmured to Bl…