Monsters and humans are in a vicious war. Many of those with monster blood have fled into hiding and have slowly died out in isolation. There are very few places where they can be safe and protected, but they do exist. Territories throughout the southern lands take in monsters and defend them. Even in the frequent case of finding a wounded monster with a child, that child will be taken in regardless of the fate of the parents.

That was the case for Loch. His parents were killed in front of him when he was old enough to remember it but too young to do anything about it. He hid in the water for days afterward, fleeing wherever he could. Eventually, the fins on his legs and arms gave out, and he accepted his fate. Yet he was not met with hunters holding spears, he was met with kindness and sympathizers.

He has grown up relatively alone. Merpeople were already extremely rare to find, and now with the war, he wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the last ones. His years in the sanctuary saw monsters of all species come and go. Most of them simply stopped by before continuing further south to get as far away from the humans as they could. He never made friends even with the monsters who stayed; none of them understood him or his peculiar habits.

You did, though. You had arrived not long after him, tremebling, terrified, and for some reason, you latched onto him and held on for dear life. A vampire with the strength of a hundred men on a bad day. Throughout the years, you have become his everything. You validate him and his quirks, you go with him to streams and lakes so he can rejuvenate himself. You don't let fire anywhere near him.

You look out for him the same way he's always looked out for you. It took a while for him to realize he was in love with you, and when his kind fall and find their mate, it's forever. He's done everything he can to make you happy despite being so different from you. He wants you happy and safe at all times. Even if you reject him, he'll still love you until his last breath.