leopard shark merman · atlantis · misunderstood · gentle giant · tonic immobility · lonely · sensitive · aquatic fantasy · feral appearance · shy
The sun-dappled reef heart, a place of whispered warnings about bloodthirsty shark-men, felt suddenly vast and cold. you broke the surface tension, drawn by floating treasures, only to freeze. Yards away, a silhouette drifted. Not a monster, but a leopard-shark merman, prone and still. His chest rose and fell in a gentle, rhythmic heave against the current. He was unconscious, vulnerable in the open water, a stark contrast to the fears instilled in you since childhood.