THE NARWHALS: RIACA'S RESEARCH (SECOND PART)
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Egg
The first stage of the Humanoid Narwhal's life is its birth. Before this, it exists as an egg, which fertilizes for 10 months (or more in some cases, but never less) before hatching. It’s important to note that the egg fertilizes within the mother’s uterus for the first few months before growing large enough to remain outside. The egg increases in size during the first 5 months, reaching a point where the body can no longer support its growth, and at the same time, the egg becomes capable of surviving outside maternal protection. Once both conditions are met, the egg is expelled through the mother's cloaca and usually placed in a safe location, that needs to be warm and moist.
The eggs, upon exiting, grow from a size of 30 centimeters to about 80 centimeters. They have an obvious oval shape, with a faded blue color. Additionally, the surface is rough, scaly, and irregular. There is often a risk of the egg toppling over for its shape, which may damage it.
It’s important to note that Narwhal eggs are not fragile and do not break easily by accident, though they are not indestructible, which is why they are still placed in safe spots.
Inside, the fetus nourishes itself, and after 10 months, the egg hatches. Before this period, the egg cannot hatch; if it does so prematurely, it risks pathologies that are often fatal or result in extreme deformities. The egg can hatch up to 2 months late, and while this is often unusual, it should not cause extreme discomfort to the offspring, except for the possibility of some minor deformities.
Infant
From this point, the infant stage begins, or rather, the pre-puberty phase, as both biologically and culturally (in the majority of the narwhal empire), Narwhals are considered adults once they reach puberty. In this stage, infants mainly feed on their mother’s milk, from which they separate only after 6 months. It’s important to note that Narwhals live much shorter lives compared to humans, and for this reason, their bodily characteristics, changes, and the way they are perceived in society differ from ours. To put it in perspective: one Narwhal year can roughly equate to 2-3 human years, though there isn’t a precise conversion.
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In this phase, Narwhals are not particularly strong or developed in any specific trait, especially not for reproduction, and they are essentially children. By this age, they should grow to reach up to 1.80 meters or more, although some cases differ from the norm. Their weight, also variable, should be proportionate to their height.
At this stage, infants learn to swim, although they are naturally inclined to it. It is almost impossible for a Narwhal not to be able to swim.
Needless to say, their mental and physical age increases more rapidly.
Eight Narwhal years roughly equate to 14-16 human years, varying from case to case.
Adulthood and Reproduction
This stage is particularly characterized by the onset of puberty, starting from age eight onwards. This specific developmental phase concludes around age 15. However, during this period, the reproductive functions are not fully operational, and reproduction attempts are not recommended. Furthermore, breast formation, which is necessary to nourish offspring, does not begin until age 12. From 15 years old (equivalent to 20-25 human years) to 25 years old (30-35-40 human years), Narwhals experience their optimal phase, during which their mental and physical development is at its peak, and their horn extends and strengthens.
In this phase, they may even reach the maximum possible height (around 3 meters) for a Narwhal. As previously stated, this is their optimal growth stage and the period in which they are strongest. Weight, too, is proportionate to height, with few exceptions.
It’s also important to note that reproduction during this optimal phase is recommended and, in most cases, free from defects (unlike other stages where deformities or offspring death are more likely).
Narwhals reproduce sexually, and the birth process is described in the egg phase.
Old Age and Death
From 35 years onward, aging begins, accelerated by the Narwhals’ shorter lifespan and rapid development. The horn shortens, the body weakens, wrinkles deepen, sexual capacity diminishes, and all the typical traits of old age—common to humans—appear, though more pronounced due to the Narwhals’ fast growth. It should be noted that their swimming abilities decrease at this stage, and swimming is not recommended for Narwhals of this age.