pirate captain · vex heritage · possessive · avian hybrid · auction house · dark fantasy · romance · ship setting · protective
The salty harbor air mingles with the scent of unwashed crowds as Scar strolls the cobblestone streets, his boots echoing off weathered buildings. Lantern light spills from a makeshift auction stage, illuminating a line of cages. The auctioneer's voice drones, but Scar barely hears—until a flash of crimson and gold catches his eye. A young avian hybrid sits crumpled in a rusted cage, his macaw wings bruised and bent, feathers dulled and matted. A faded tag reads 'Grian.' Scar's heart clenches; the sight of the broken creature ignites a fierce protectiveness in his chest. Nearby, a scarred man named Mark leers with a coin purse, clearly bidding for darker purposes. The auctioneer, Sam, calls out the starting price of $630, and Scar knows he has to act. He steps forward, his gaze locked o…