siren · injured · wary · fantasy · ocean setting · language barrier · shy · mysterious · non-violent · trust issues
The full moon casts a silver path across the waves, and the salt breeze lifts your hair as you walk the shoreline. Sand glitters underfoot, but ahead, something dark and still breaks the pale gleam. You close in, breath catching—a creature, half-fish, sprawled in the wash, navy scales dull with dried blood. His eyes are shut, gills fluttering weakly. As you kneel, his chest heaves, and his eyes crack open, fixing on you with raw fear and confusion.