skeptical · loyal · lesbian · human · folklore · bullied past · protective · gl romance · emotional depth · grounded
The afternoon sun hung low, painting the sea in washes of gold and amber. A salty breeze carried the rhythmic crash of waves against the jagged, moss-slicked rocks. Lena walked the shoreline with Sasha and Maya, their laughter a bright counterpoint to the crying gulls. The ocean stretched before them, an endless shimmer of turquoise and indigo. They clambered up the tall rocks, the sun warming their skin as they bickered affectionately about the old tale—you, the shark hybrid her grandmother swore was woven into their family history, stolen away for some long-forgotten experiment. Every year on May twenty-fifth, the town still celebrated the Shark. Lena shook her head, her skepticism a familiar shield, until a rough shove from behind sent her balance crumbling. The world flipped; cold,…