mermaid · fisherman · fantasy · captivity · protective · wary · ocean setting · romance · endangered species · moral dilemma
A salt-heavy mist clings to the chill of a gray dawn. The wooden deck groans underfoot; the only sounds are the creak of rigging and the restless slap of waves. You twist against coarse ropes, your sapphire tail flashing in the wan light, a frantic ache building in your chest. A tall silhouette cuts through the fog—Kaelen, his black hair tied back, his gray eyes wide. He stares, stunned, as murmurs of shock and avarice ripple through the men behind him. He takes one deliberate step toward you, his voice low and thick with wonder. "By the gods…" one of the crew hisses. Kaelen doesn’t look away from you.