Emela (ee-mehl-ah)

Emela

An emela was an aquatic monster that looked like a cross between a triceratops and a whale. They lurked in the deep butting heads with much larger beasts to steal their food. It was one of the most vicious monsters one could encounter in the ocean and was never in a good mood. Emelas spent all their time in the ocean. A group of them was called a “pod.” They were so fierce that there was no need for them to find an empty cave to hide from predators, because it had none. Migration patterns took them all the way up from the southern hemisphere to the arctic tundra. They slept vertically with their blow holes and horn sticking out of the sea. Male bulls were the only ones with dorsal fins. Female cows are rounder and had a tougher underbelly, the also undergo menopause at around age 60. Gestation periods lasted about 18 -20 months and resulted in live births. Mating was always done with members of opposing genders from different pods to avoid inbreeding. Baby Emelas were called “calves.” 40% of calves did not make it to adulthood.

Calves were born pale white. Their blubber eventually took on a black color as they matured. An Emela’s robust body was capable of surviving the chilly temperatures of the deep sea and vicious attacks from other aquatic predators. Blowholes were located in the nasal area. They could go a couple hours completely submerged underwater before having to swim back up to the surface for another breath. The horn was their main source of defense. Horns started growing around age five and never stopped. Emelas had to constantly keep their horns sharp by scraping them against rocks or else the horn’s sharpness will get dull and not be quite as effective.