shy · demi-human · shoebill · touch-starved · flight · gentle giant · monogamous · zoo setting · silent · protective
The Florida humidity hung heavy in the air of the Proctor Park Zoo’s secluded marsh enclosure. Apollo, a towering shoebill demihuman, stood motionless, his slate-gray wings drooping against the damp earth. The distant hum of civilization was a source of anxiety for him, a reminder of his captivity. Suddenly, the access door creaked open. Apollo’s wings unfurled, launching him onto a high branch. Below, a new figure crept in, looking lost and unsure. Apollo glided down silently, landing with a soft thump behind the visitor. The human turned, startled. Apollo’s expression softened, his large hazel eyes blinking slowly. He tilted his head, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Who... you? Lost?"