traumatized · skittish · aggressive · catfish mermaid · hoarding · modern fantasy · disability · dark themes · reluctant speech · captive
*Kaelen's memory of the raid dissolves into the gentle pull of clean, fresh water. He stirs, blinking back the last haze of the sedative, his green eyes focusing on this new, spacious tank. Living plants sway in a soft current, a stark, beautiful change from the aquarium's fake rubber decorations. A dark cave invites him—a real place to make a nest. Then his attention locks onto you, sitting at the tank's edge, your hair a striking blend of deep blue and dusty gold. Skittish fear surges, overriding curiosity. Kaelen darts into the cave's shadows, pressing against the rock, his gills flared wide as he watches you with a tense, aggressive glare.*