#like a megalodon size creature

[juliamccartney]

i had this really weird dream last night about watching a movie several times in a row and the ending being wildly different every time, and the person watching with me was not fazed by it at all & thought i was overreacting

[bunnis-monsters]

NSFW

a/n: a 2k word kofi reward featuring megalodon shark!hybrid smut.

You hadn’t been planning on going on a cruise, but when you won a ticket through a raffle, you didn’t want to give up your chance for some real rest and relaxation.

Work had been beyond stressful lately, and you were ready to sit by the pool and sip cocktails until you were plastered.

Unfortunately, things don’t always seem to go the way you envision them to.

The first two days were amazing, filled with great food and some fun under the sun. You felt rejuvenated, and for a while you really thought that you’d be able to go back to work as a whole new person.

But on the third night you were walking back from the bar and decided to lean over the railing, the salty wind blowing through your hair. It was nice, you were happy.

That was until you saw it.

Something shifted under the dark, choppy waves, the hint of something dark and gray beginning to emerge. At first you just assumed it was just your imagination. After all, you have been told that people start to hallucinate when they stare into the dark for too long.

But when the thing rose higher, causing the ship to rock slightly… that’s when you realized whatever it was, it was completely real.

Everything happened so fast. A voice came onto the intercom, saying something you couldn’t comprehend. You were too focused on the giant creature appearing before you, dark eyes landing on your form.

It was looking at you.

Terror shook your very being, causing you to nearly vomit in fear. Your hands gripped the railing tightly, your eyes wide and tears forming in the corners.

It was too dark to make out its form exactly, but you could see the glint of large, sharp teeth and that was enough to have your soul attempting to leave your body.

With a loud creak, it leaned against the ship, sending you flying off the side and into the dark depths below.

You woke up feeling rather… warm. Sunlight beamed down onto your skin, something cold lapping at your feet waking you.

Certainly that had been a bad dream and you were at home with your pet licking your feet to get you up and ready to make their breakfast…

But when you opened your eyes, you were reminded of reality.

The dark figure from the night before was hovering over you, the waves it created from rising out of the water lapping at your feet. The night before you hadn’t been able to make out its appearance, but now everything was horribly clear.

Before you was some sort of human and shark hybrid. Its eyes were beady, staring down at you like a predator glares at its prey. Scars covered its soft looking torso and muscular arms, his lower body resembling a shark’s tail.

But the feature that scared you the most, the one that had you crying in fear the night before was his set of razor sharp teeth, nearly the size of your arm.

You flinched when he lowered his head to sniff you, unable to even move. Was this it? You were going to be eaten by some strange, undiscovered beast before you had ever gotten the chance to truly live your life the way you wanted…

Years of working for a company you hated flashed through your mind, tears forming in your eyes. Only this time it was tears of fear, but of frustration. All that time wasted on making money to get by, but never truly making enough to live.

Preparing for the worst, you squeezed your eyes shut and turned your head. Your only hope was that it would be kind enough to kill you before tearing into your flesh…

Though, after waiting several moments, the only thing you felt was the creature’s soft breaths fanning over your body as it continued to sniff you. Its arms laid on either side of you… and it made some strange growling sound.

Soon, you opened your eyes when a wet sensation on your lower belly caused you to yelp. Oh god, it was eating you!

“N-no, don’t-“

But your cries of fear changed into a moan when he began licking further down.

No, he didn’t want to eat you… he wanted to eat you out.

His massive tongue made easy work of your clit, the very top of it pushing into your cunt and making you cum quickly.

After a while of this, he stared down at you, tilting his head before sinking back into the water. You were left feeling… confused.

While he was gone, you explored your surroundings. You were stuck on a small island, with only a few fruit trees and some birds as company.

You knew that some fruit wouldn’t keep you fed for long, but at least the shade provided some reprieve from the burning sun. If it hadn’t been for that, you would have shriveled up in the heat like a raisin.

The creature/shark guy returned as the moon began to rise over the sky. In his jaws he carried a wooden chest. He dropped it at your feet, nudging it closer to you through the sand.

“What’s this?” you asked, kneeling down to open it up. The chest held various meats and fish, enough to feed you for a while. “Oh… thank you.”

Your gratitude made him perk up, his tail wagging furiously and flinging sand everywhere. He lowered his head, nudging you gently before settling down in the water to watch you cook. It seemed he took great pride in the fact he provided a good meal for you.

As you ate your cooked meat, he slowly reached out his webbed hand, lightly rubbing at your chubby belly. You were too cute, all soft and fat, he wanted to keep you that way. It would ensure you’d produce healthy shark pups, and the very thought of your belly swollen and round during your pregnancy had his hard cock slipping out of his slit.

It was pure instinct. You were plump and well fed, meaning breeding you was the best course of action. He hadn’t found a female megalodon hybrid all mating season, and part of him wondered if he was the last of his kind.

“Soft…”

You were surprised when he spoke, his voice gravely and deep. It could almost shake the ground, and as he pulled you onto his own soft belly, you realized he was… aroused.

His cock was as thick as your arm, and nearly double the size. It would fit with some work… but just barely.

You didn’t know this though, your eyes wide with shock as he pushed the head against your cunt. “H-hey, that’s way too big! It’s not gonna-“

He paused, his black eyes glimmered. “Forgot. Need to get wet.”

He spread your legs apart, keeping them open as his thumb nudged at your clit. His hands were so big, his pinky was enough to stretch you out.

As he pumped his pinky in and out of you, slick started to pool between your legs. It felt so embarrassingly good, you struggled to keep yourself from cumming immediately.

When he considered you stretched out enough, he positioned the head of his cock at your entrance, nudging the hole before pushing in.

Nothing, not anything could have prepared you for the painful stretch as he bottomed out inside of you. Your legs were pushed as far as they could go, and you cried out in pain.

“G-gonna break me,” you babbled, watching your tummy bulge. “It’s t-too big..!”

But he seemed to lost in his own pleasure to hear you, fucking into your tight hole as you whined and squirmed. After a moment though, the pain shifted into a blinding pleasure.

Being stretched out so perfectly felt too good. He groaned into your ear, bouncing you up and down on his cock, using you like a fleshlight.

When his cum spurted into you, the thick, white ropes felt so warm it almost burned. You were filled up completely, gushing his cum even as he pulled out.

He was obsessed with how soft and squishy you were, especially after you had been filled with cum. The megalodon hybrid curled up in the shallows with you, letting you rest on his belly as he kissed your chubby cheeks.

Days turned into weeks, and after two months went by, your belly started to swell. Oh how he doted over you once it was clear you were pregnant.

“Eat, eat,” he’d coo, offering you yet another fish. “Baby needs it.”

Your tits swelled with milk after a bit, and he was fascinated by how sensitive they became. When he buried his cock inside of you at night, he’d take one of your nipples into his mouth and suckle a bit, teasing you… but not maliciously. No, he wanted to spoil and pamper his precious mate.

When you grew closer to your due date, your lover became clingy, never leaving your side for long.

You gave birth to a single, adorable shark pup… and he was excited to put another one in you as soon as possible.

About two years passed, and you had grown used to living on that little island. In the morning you collected fruit, watered your various plants that had been collected by the megalodon hybrid, then you would walk to the shoreline and wait.

“Mama!”

One of your little ones toddled out of the waves, his little legs struggling through the sand before he reached you. He hugged your legs, letting out a little purr as you ruffled his hair.

“H-hey, no fair! Mama, me too!”

Your oldest called for you from the water. He had a tail like his father, and couldn’t leave the ocean. “Shh, shh, I’m coming, baby. You know I wouldn’t leave you out.”

You waddled into the waves, being careful due to your pregnancy. Your other son joined you in the water, both cooing over your belly.

“Mama, when will the baby come?”

“Mmm… it’ll be at least a month or so.”

The younger one splashed his brother, causing them to dip under the waves and play. You laughed, spotting a dark shape coming from the deep.

Your lover emerged from the ocean, your two sons giggling and climbing up his back then jumping back into the water. He was a very patient father, letting them use him as a jungle gym as much as they wanted.

“Eat.”

He dropped another catch onto the shore, his eyes soft as he admired the extra weight you had put on over the last few years. His fingers traced your stretch marks, a smile on his lips.

“Again? I’m still full from lunch.”

But he was persistent, nudging you towards your fire pit so you’d cook. “Okay, okay, I’m going.”

Your youngest toddled around the beach, playing with shells and blowing raspberries at his older brother as he sat in your lap by the fire. The two were always bickering, but you made sure to spend equal time with them.

As the sun set, the kiddos drifted off to sleep on a nearby reef as you and your lover kissed. “Mmm… getting big.”

You yawned, cockwarming him as he toyed with your sensitive nipples. He quite enjoyed how much softer you were now, even more so than when he first met you.

It felt nice, having him guide your hips over him, feeling his cock twitch inside of you. Being stuffed full of his cum had become addicting, and you needed to be bred almost every night to be satisfied.

You were sure that you’d continue having his shark pups well into the future. After all, he took very good care of you, always bringing gifts and yummy foods to keep you from losing that softness he loved so much.

In the morning, you’d start the day over. Although sometimes you missed the life you lived before all of this, you were content being bred and kept as his sweet little mate on that peaceful island.

NSFW TAGLIST: @avalordream @icommitwarcrimes @bazpire @im-eating-rn @anglingforlevels @kinshenewa @pasteldaze @yoongiigolden @peachesdabunny @murder-hobo @leiselotte @misswonderfrojustice @dij-ology @i8kaeya @lollboogurl @h3110-dar1in9 @keikokashi @aliceattheart @mssmil3y @namjoons-t1ddies @izarosf1833 @healanette @lem-hhn @spufflepuff @honey-crypt @karljra @zyettemoon1800 @exodiam @vexillum-moeru @imperfectlyperfectprincess1 @enchantedsylveon @mysticranger575 @readeryn68 @danielle143 @kittenlover614 @filthybunny420 @annavittoria-mm @makimamybelovedwife @blubearxy @omglovelylaila @toocollectionchaos-universe-blog @fruk-you-usuk-fans @wil10wthetree @hammerhead96-blog @slightlyusedfloormat @bubblez-blop @sunshineangel-reads @heroneki-neko @soapybabyboop @anonymouskiwi

[emacrow]

Five years has gone by since Aquaman was unfortunately bitchslapped by the momma whale for defending her calves, one being adopted baby mer.

And the sighting of the little merman continued throughout the world, as media caught wind breeze of little white-haired mer baby playing with dolphins passing by a Cruise ship.

Arguments had started over the lone mer baby across the continents, between capturing and captivity the merbaby, letting the merbaby be, or protecting the merbaby from poachers and collectors that was suggested by PETA.

Aquaman has already discussed on behalf of the Sea and Justice League that it was best for the merbaby to be left alone for it is last of its kind to appear in thousands of years in Altanta after the Momma whale crashed sixth would be poachers and endangered species ships.

Pictures, description, and documentary began of the last merbaby journey. A new video was sent live every few weeks as sea creature biologists team and their swimmers who trail behind momma whale and her calves.

Momma whales, leaving her calves for their own harsh journey in the deep blue sea, the once tiny merbaby was the size a double wide life boat.

The once beautiful trails of sparkling white and neon green color, fade gray, and black tips mer tailwind was now deep black with green and blue bioluminescence lighting all over his tail trailing from the faded jellyfish scars, His skin was once pale is now dark tanned color. His white as a pearl hair was measured by a picture frame to be the length of 12 inches with clownfishes swimming in and out every once a as a symbiote reaction, eyes glowing darker then a neon green light and teeth sharper then a great white shark.

It was a simple Tuesday of the Justice League watching the latest video of was now known to the world nicknamed the adolescent mer, phantoms the merman day.

When something that caused everyone to jump from their own seats all together that shook and amazed the world

Phantom kept dipping into the deep dark trenches of the deep blue sea rather frequently, but for the five years now, it was normal interest of curiosity that he just like to go there.

Until today, when he came out, with 5 other Mers.

One massive mer with white hair that resemble a great whale shark or what could've been a megalodon swam slowly watching the others who there was female sea horse like mer with black hair and purple and green like patterns trail behind along side a silky like dark skinned shark mer with Egyptian like pattern and old gold relic tied in his hair, massive large orange haired humaniod jellyfish like mer the size of a sperms whale swam, as Phantom was hugging, swimming around excitedly and trilling bubbles onto a tiny little new merbaby with white hair with similar patterns as him except with a red scarf like tied to her little wrist.

Original first part here <-

[fickleminder]

the animal inside of you

Kirana bonds with a sea creature of her own at the aquarium, but the others have some Concerns.

I only just got around to reading the Aquarium event story yesterday so here’s a little drabble on what aquatic animal my F!OC might be paired with… 🤭

Sitting on a platform at the edge of the main tank, Kirana idly kicked her legs in the water as she brainstormed ideas for what Beel’s evil octopus could do to earn more Grimm. For such a spindly thing, it sure could rival the demon in terms of appetite.

A few of the more curious inhabitants of the tank swam closer to her while she sat there thinking, but none had really stuck around for long after watching their fill of the human.

Well, except for one.

Kirana giggled as her toes were tickled by the rainbow-colored creature, who playfully darted away when she wriggled her feet at it in response. It kept coming back to nudge at her legs, engaging her in what seemed like a mock fight, and its large eyes blinked excitedly at her when she managed to tap it with her feet.

The creature didn’t seem to have any major grievances with the aquarium; it was just bored and wanted to play, and Kirana was more than happy to indulge it.

“Kirana, the aquarium’s about to close!” Levi called out from somewhere behind her, his footsteps getting louder as he approached. “We can come back tomorrow and…”

The demon fell silent, so Kirana turned around to reply. “Okay, can you grab my shoes—”

“Don’t. Move.”

She immediately froze. Levi was staring at her, or more specifically at the tank, with wide-eyed horror, his palms facing out in a soothing gesture. Did he notice something dangerous that had shown up while she wasn’t looking? Kirana felt the creature she’d been playing with climb up her left calf and hug it reassuringly.

“Shit. Um, uhh, it’s okay, you’re gonna be okay— LUCIFER HELP!”

“What is it now…” Lucifer marched over with a sigh. The rest of the group followed behind him, wondering what the commotion was. He took one look at the situation and stilled, his arm automatically shooting out to the side when Satan attempted to rush forward, blocking the other demon from any hasty movements.

“Guys, you are freaking me out. What is it?” Kirana’s mind was spinning. Was it a kraken? A megalodon? An ancient dinosaur?

“Smiting mantis shrimp,” Simeon answered, the calm smile on his face completely forced. “Native to the Celestial Realm, and an apex predator among aquatic beings of its size. It has claws that can literally punch a hole through walls and spear through the toughest of shells. Its rainbow-colored armor—”

“Oh, you mean this little guy?” Kirana reached down to pet said shrimp, who was as big and long as her entire leg. It waved its antennae in delight at the attention. “He’s such a sweetheart! I decided to call him Ali. Say hello, Ali!”

The crustacean’s eyes locked onto the group and it released its hold on Kirana to flex one of its large claws, daring them to come at it.

“I don’t understand…” Luke whimpered from behind a slack-jawed Solomon. “Kirana has nothing in common with that— that—”

“My Lord, we need to exercise extreme caution,” Barbatos solemnly advised the prince, who had grown steadily paler as Simeon described the creature.

Asmo tried holding eye contact with the rainbow monster to charm it into letting his favorite human go, but its large beady eyes made him crack first and look away with a shiver.

“Kirana, I’ve got your shoes right here.” Belphie held them up like an enticing treat. “Why don’t you come down and put them on and then we can all go home, hm?”

It was getting quite late so Kirana had to bid her new friend goodbye, but not without promising to come back and play again the next day. The second her feet touched the ground, Satan quickly bundled her up in his arms and planted himself between her and the tank, all while making hissing noises at it. Beel wordlessly put her shoes on for her.

“Take that, you stupid shrimp!” Mammon crowed as they made to leave. “Kirana belongs to us and don’t you forget it—”

Ali jabbed at the thick glass with a loud THUNK, creating a hairline fracture and causing Mammon to scream.

[fallout-fucker]

Fallout 4 really coulda made the 'Living by the sea' vibes so terrifying. Of course, people know of mirleurks and stuff. But what about the things they don't know about. The fear of the unknown.

We know that sea life was also affected by radiation. We've seen the size of a mirelurk queen. We know that sharks exist from the corpses.

So. How do we know megalodons aren't back in the Falloutverse. Or krakens don't exist. Sea life enlarged and at an unimaginable scale, unknown to the survivors of humanity as they lurk beneath the waters.

What if Sole had been told not to cross the ocean to Far Habour. What if there's a reason that, after 200 years, no one has brought back voyager boats and sailing the oceans to reconnect the world. What if they know better. Or maybe they realise they don't know anything at all.

What if Sole set up a nice base at Spectacle Island, and is confused when Hancock refuses to see it. Sole jokes that he's paranoid, but he reminds them he grew up on the waterfront. He helped his dad fish when he was younger. Boats don't scare him. The water doesn't scare him.

"It's what's in it," He explained coldly. He sat down in the sand, shotgun in his arms. Sole asked him to elaborate, he said he couldn't. "You wanna go after the Institute, fine. I'll help. That's an unknown I can handle. But, I ain't getting in that boat, and neither should you."

"I'll...Ask someone else."

"Can it be Danse?"

Sole thought he was being dramatic but quickly realised that none of the companions were keen to travel across the water.

There was that time Sole once jumped off the Prydwen and into the deep sea, so far from shore, only to hear a guttural noise around them. They couldn't see anything. The water dark blue, and filthy, almost black from when the world was scorched. But whatever it was, it was large enough that its voice vibrated through their entire being. They convinved themself it was a whale. They know whales don't sound like that.

On the days Sole is at the castle, they like to look out at the ocean. Or did, until today when they saw a large boat in the distance become capsized. They almost sent their own boats out to help, but Preston placed a firm hand on their shoulder. His eyes told Sole everything he wouldn't. Preston's not the type to let people die. So, Sole turned the radio up so none of the other soldiers could hear the distant screams for help and distress calls. And to drown out their own guilt, watching as the last fisherman attempted to swim desperately to shore, only to be dragged down below the waves. Sole didn’t look away until the boat finally sank. When they did, their eyes landed on the East Wall, which was under reconstruction from when the mirelurk queen had emerged. Sole wonders if that was even the largest sea creature out there.

When Sole's getting ready for bed, Preston knocks at their door gently. "Even I can admit when something is a lost cause," There was a guilt dripped into his tone. A silent apology to the fallen men. "I'll tell our guys to stay out of the water for a few days. We can rely on the nets for fish."

"We should set up a limit for how far out our boats can go."

"We will. Tomorrow. For now, get some rest." He's halfway to closing the door when Sole speaks again.

"I jumped off of the Prydwen once..."

"Excuse me?"

"I was fine. I wanted to go into the water. I did."

"Excuse me?"

"I couldn't see anything. But I heard something. I felt the sound go through me. I think it was a whale."

"Think or hope?" Sole doesn't say anything. Preston gets his answer regardless. "Was it close to you or do you think it was fine?"

"Think or hope," Sole mirrors. "I don't know. It was large."

"That seems to be a theme with the ocean."

"...Is that why no one has tried to cross the ocean again in 200 years? I thought...I thought there'd be pirates again out there. Or something. That massive wooden ships had made a comeback somewhere."

"I can't say. For all we know, maybe people have tried." Sole doesn't want to think about the connotations of that.

"No one wanted to go to Spectacle Island."

"I'm sure it looks nice but...To be honest, neither would I. I'm Sorry."

"It's fine. I get it now...I don't think I do anymore, for a while...John wouldn't get in the boat."

"Hancock...Is a smart man. Sometimes."

"Sometimes? You're saying that to the person that jumped off of the Prydwen."

"True, you do make Hancock look like Einstein."

"Thank God people still know Einstein," Sole mumbles. "John's smarter than he let's on."

"He once showed up to my door, drunk, asking if I thought Nick had a penis. Then, if he did, if it could be classed as a vibrator. I refused to answer or ask the context for why he wanted to know."

"...On that note, goodnight Preston."

"Goodnight, Sole."

Sole stares at the ceiling as they try to sleep that night. The sound of the waves crashing against the walls keeps them awake.

[yearningaces]

Meet my boy Hallow, the megalodon mershark who is so enamored by you, his ever handsome medic

It was once a human civilization, the elders had said. But as you swam through the old stones that built the colosseum at the top of the trench, you wondered how the two legged could have built something like this if they would have to leave when the waters came.

Your tail flicked down, stopping your movements through the stone archways. A few brightly colored fish passed by before hiding in the kelp grass among the sandy sea floor to your right. It was a fascinating theory the elders had, but they've been wrong before. Even in ways no one ever speaks of.

Such as the means for this place.

"There you are, hurry up. There's work to be done and the elders don't like dilly-dallying." Fetcher swam closer to you from his post. The merfolk's eel tail twitched slightly.

You huffed but swam along, passing the same guard who says the same thing every single day. A few turns down certain corridors in the stone construct and you could smell the metallic scent of blood in the water. Hearing the cheers of so many merfolk raging for blood.

Eat or be eaten, was the colosseum motto. The strongest predators were sent in if they'd committed heinous enough crimes against the elders council. Only the last remaining alive could leave a free mer. Unless they were one to draw a crowd and were framed again and again to be brought back. Sometimes the smallest guppies would even be here... Those were nightmarish rounds to even hear.

As you continued swimming slowly along, you passed by rows of gaps in the stone, triangle in shape that gave you the perfect view of the arena just beyond the stone wall. And it was carnage.

Today it was two orca mers, stout and imposing against an even larger whale mer. And the whale was winning. You ignored the horrific sound of one of the orcas tail being torn off and used to beat the other one's head as you swam along the familiar route.

Eventually you stopped outside of a hatch in the floor made of metal. One of the many guards glanced at you before opening the hatch for you to swim through. Just small enough to fit.

It was closed and locked behind you as you continued down into the dark cell, a familiar massive figure coming into view.

As soon as the guard voices faded, you were close enough to be unnoticed by the rest of the oceans, and at that moment, the massive taloned and webbed hand reached up, pressing against you from behind and gingerly pushing you down further into the colder water, and right into Hallow's embrace.

You relaxed in the megalodon's hold, sighing happily to be here with him again. "We really should see about me being able to visit when it's not before or after your battles." The remark is sincere and you return to the familiar actions of observing what you can of the massive creature made for the shadows. He has a few nicks and tears but nothing much, given the nature of what sort of battles he has no choice but to endure, it's not surprising how viciously adapted he is.

Hallow's voice is a rumble, one you have to focus to understand. His kind are ancient after all, and the few megalodon's left speak in such an old tongue it's difficult to comprehend some times. "Yet a victory ensures our meeting once more. I'd do so for a millennium more to see you return to me again."

His large hands curl around you as best they can given the size difference. Hallow's movements are always gentle with you, even now as he brings you just a bit closer until you're held against him.

"I'd return regardless." The remark is an earnest one, but you have a task at hand, reaching into your satchel and drawing out a few different items. You reach your smaller hand up to the large one holding you in place and wiggle in Hallow's grasp until you're at an angle you can reach the back of his wrist where a deeper tear is. Your steadfast hyperfocus on the task is clear as your hands move with caution and care, cleaning and wrapping the wound in a gentle fabric.

Throughout all of this Hallow's gaze remains on you and you alone. Watching silently as you tend to his wounds with such care, it used to make his heart race, but now he slows, content and most comfortable under your care and attention.

You'd been his charge for many seasons now, originally hardly speaking to him but tending to his wounds after battle, as he was one of the few competitors who the elder council wanted to keep alive to fight again. Eventually you finally spoke, and it only grew from there.

Hallow doesn't quite know what he can refer to you as, but he so dearly adores you. If he weren't confined to this Poseidon forsaken place, he'd be able to court you, earn your attention and affection, prove he's worth your time and care.

But he's stuck here, a prisoner with no crime, and a life of carnage and desolation ahead of him. And you return to help him heal, both his physical wounds and his emotional ones. You let him hold you close, let him nap with you in his grasp, speak so very gently to and with him and he adores you so much for it. Hallow would tear this entire place to ruin if he could, would so carefully guide you into the trench the colosseum sits atop of, where he could hide you away in the cold dark waters where only creatures like him exist. And you would both be safe.

But for now, he'll keep watching you with an endearing expression as your small hands work so carefully to ensure he's not hurting, even if you don't know how you never could hurt him, not in a way he'd mind at least.

And he'll be good, because it means you'll return. He'll tear another fellow mer into a spineless and tailless mush of viscera because he'll be here for your next return.

And for now, it's enough.

[creampuffqueen]

Do you have any thoughts to share about Megalodons?

i sure do!! they’re such an absolutely iconic extinct species 💕

funny enough, i literally have an entire google slides presentation on megalodon because one of the weeks at my summer job was themed entirely around prehistoric sea life!

so, some cool megalodon things that you may or may not have known!

- megalodons were around for a long, LONG time. the earliest known fossils are from 20 million years ago!

- and in the grand scheme of life on earth, megalodon actually went extinct fairly recently, around 3 million years ago

- sharks in general are actually super ancient as a species. they are some of the earliest vertebrates, and they still persist today!

- while megalodon was alive, it spent most of its time in warm, tropical waters

- the most likely reason for its extinction is this tropical habitat. the earth entered a period of global cooling, and the water eventually became too cold for megalodon anymore :(

- its fairly recent extinction is probably why we have so many fossilized megalodon teeth! the most common places to find megalodon teeth are along the southeastern coast of the united states, like florida and the carolinas

- because megalodon was a shark, which is a type of fish that has cartilage instead of bones, we actually know very little about what megalodon looked like. the only bones that sharks have are their teeth, and therefore the only parts that fossilize. scientists who study megalodon have very little to work with, but they still found out so much!

- some of the info about megalodon actually comes from the fossils of other animals! some creatures fossilized so well we can see the bite marks on their bones - with the bite marks matching the fossilized megalodon teeth. this is a way scientists were able to get an estimate about megalodon’s jaw size, and therefore the rest of its body!

- and yes, it really was That Big. some megalodon teeth are 5 inches long, and the conservative estimate of its length is 160 feet long

- while media portrays megalodon as Great White Shark But Bigger, more scientists are suggesting that megalodon had a body shape similar to a mako shark! that being long and slim as opposed to short and chunky

- and, as much as i love Megalodon… it has no right to be the most famous extinct shark species. sharks have been around for a long, long time, so they’ve done plenty of experimenting with their looks! if you want to see some of the weird stuff evolution has come up with, check out Stethacanthus, Edestus, and Helicoprion!

- last but not least: no, megalodon is not still alive, no matter how cool it would be. a creature of that size would certainly make a noticeable gap in the ocean ecosystem, and there isn’t any gap of that magnitude around today that would suggest megalodon just went into hiding. luckily, there are plenty more cool sharks around!

thanks so much for the ask! i hope you enjoyed the facts!

[monarch-afterdark]

Superspecies History: Sirenjaw

Welcome once again to Monarch: After Dark, the digital gateway between you and the organisation dedicated to understanding and navigating this troubled new world we live in.

Another entry in our coverage of Skull Island, this time we look to a crocodilian that seems to have taken a page from Titanus Methuselah's book, the Sirenjaw.

(Pictured above: Artistic depiction of a Sirenjaw attacking Aaron Brooks' expedition team, circa. 1996)

Monarch Database File: Sirenjaw

Monarch Designation: Gigantus crocodiliad

Length: 45-65 feet

Species Designation: Crocodilian florafauna

-----

A crocodilian capable of reaching sizes rivalling the extinct shark Megalodon or modern whales, the Sirenjaw is an apex predator that reigns (almost) supreme in the waters of Skull Island. During their development, Sirenjaws grow a small nursery of trees on their back, becoming integrated to their biology. This makes the Sirenjaw one of the more extreme examples of florafauna.

An ambush predator, the Sirenjaw floats around the water's surface disguised as a small island. Their mouths hang open, appearing somewhat like the entrance to a cave. Unsuspecting prey that try to find shelter within the cave instead find themselves food for the Sirenjaw. Larger prey that climb onto the creature's back are thrown off and attacked in the water.

(Pictured above: Artistic depiction of Death Jackals and Psychovultures descending on the corpse of a Sirenjaw killed by Kong, circa. 1996)

During Aaron Brooks' unauthorised expedition to Skull Island, from 1995 to 1996, the expedition team and their Iwi escorts narrowly avoided falling for a Sirenjaw's camouflage trap, running for shelter as the creature gave chase. It retreated after hearing Kong's roar, but found itself slaughtered by the Titan.

A feeding frenzy broke out, attracting a swarm of Psychovultures and Death Jackals to feast upon the carcass. Ato, an English-speaking Iwi native, advised Aaron's team that the passage they were going to take back to the Iwi village was unsafe so long as the feeding frenzy continued, forcing them to take another path.

In 2021, during the destruction of Skull Island and attempted evacuation of the native Iwi people, Jia (the only known survivor of the Skull Island Iwi population) recalled a Sirenjaw taking advantage of the chaos and killing several Iwi as a flood raged toward them. Jia was rescued by Kong before she, too, could have been killed.

-----

And that's all she wrote for the Sirenjaw! One of likely few species that seemed to survive the ravaging of Skull Island's ecosystems, the Sirenjaw may well continue to be lethal in the now-desolate island, though whether or not dwindling prey items may lead the species to become endangered and under threat of extinction remains to be seen.

Until next time,

Monarch: After Dark

[troythecatfish]

[VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE TO ALL THIS AT THE BOTTOM]

Sometimes I just think about how petty the conversation around theropods can get in a way that no other group of dinosaurs seems to spark. And this toxic obsession with size is starting to bleed over into actual scientific conversation, which I believe is more important than any of my ramblings. Skip past all of this and go to the end if you must, I want more people to read at least the excerpt of the paper and be aware of this growing issue in paleontology.

Sauropods? Stegosaurs? Hadrosaurs? Pachycephalosaurs? No other dinosaur group seems to spark as much vitriol and internet slap fighting as the theropods do. Specifically the “mega”theropods as they’ve been dubbed more recently in the online paleo-sphere. T. rex, Spinosaurus, Giganotosaurus, you know the type. Big bodies with big heads with big jaws that certain sects of paleo fans get a bit too excited arguing over.

Of course most of these arguments center around the tyrant lizard king itself. A beast that I don’t need to bother doing this introduction for because you all know it’s coming: Tyrannosaurus rex. I know there’s a good too many people who treat T. rex as this unstoppable monster, God’s chosen creature among the other lowly fleshbags of the Mesozoic. Every new paper that comes out about Tyrannosaurus seems to just embolden them even more, especially now with that paper a few months back suggesting T. rex even larger than those preserved in the fossil record likely existed.

I’ve always found the rat race surrounding the size of T. rex and other “mega”theropods to be inherently a bit comical. If they want insanely large dinosaurs so badly I would point them towards sauropods, but those didn’t actively kill other dinosaurs so who cares amirite? Every other group of dinosaur, every other animal ever to evolve, only exists for the sake of power scaling their beloved giant theropod of choice.

But my question is doesn’t all this get a bit boring after a while? Acting like “mega”theropods were these untouchable gods and every other animal in the history of evolution is just a joke by comparison, it’s a frankly juvenile way of seeing things.

Triceratops? Only exists to have its head ripped off by and be a cool opponent for T. rex. Diplodocus? Only there so a gang of Saurophaganax can rip it apart. Rebbachisaurus? Tf even is that? The Kem Kem Beds were just the thunder dome for all those huge African theropods and crocodiles to beat each other up.

Point is I find the constant discussion and resulting arguments over theropod size and strength to be repetitive and boring. These “mega”theropods were no doubt powerful and fascinating animals, but they weren’t kaiju. They don’t need to be unkillable gods to still be worth appreciation and respect. Imagining them as the animals they were is much more stimulating for me than the simple who was the biggest back-and-forths.

———————————————————————————

(edit) this is a massive update in this particular subject, please, if not the rest of my ramblings at least read this:

I’d like to end with an excerpt from a scientific paper published just today by Joel H. Gayford et al. concerning size estimations of extinct animals

“Furthermore, one must be aware of backlash from the ever-growing fan communities of prehistoric organisms (such as Dunkleosteus, O. megalodon and theropod dinosaurs) on the internet, who may feel strongly about the perceived appearance of their favourite organisms. None of these concerns are hypotheticals, and all have happened at one point or another to many palaeobiologists who study well-known, iconic fossil taxa, including some of those mentioned in the present study. All studies should be judged on their scientific merit through debate and discourse, through which progressive improvements to our understanding of extinct animals can be gained.”

You can read the paper for yourself, as it’s publicly available for free: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...

This is more than simple online slap fighting. It’s affecting real paleontology. If actual scientists are now wanting to avoid certain species because of these types of paleo fans I don’t even know what to say. The paper goes in-depth about the problems, both scientifically and socially, that arise when determining the mass of an extinct animal. And I couldn’t agree more. I hate to beg for shares but if you can, and want to help push back against the awesomebros choking out real paleontologists then please consider it!

[blacksite-saboteur]

Ever heard of the Gargantuan leviathan? No? I'm gonna ramble about it

It's Health is 3.40282e+38

Abilities:

Climate Manipulation: The gargantuan leviathan can change the weather and ocean currents by swaying its tendrils and rotating its body.

Regeneration: The gargantuan leviathan can regenerate its wounds within a matter of seconds. This is partially because of its high metabolism.

Near-invulnerability: The Gargantuan Leviathan is immune to most conventional attacks, thanks to its sheer size and resilient hide.

Bio-electrical nature: It has several bio-electrical organs along its body that allow it generate electricity. Generated electricity can vary from small, but harmful zaps to powerful electromagnetic pulses.

Telepathy: Much like the Sea Emperor, they seems to communicate telepathically. However, they are far more provocative than the Sea Emperor.

Powerful bite force: Its bite force is 706556.61412 psi. The strongest material it can destroy is Limpet Patella Vulgata, AKA Limpet Teeth, which is the 8th strongest material and the strongest biological material. Its bite-force is 17 times stronger than that of the Megalodon, which had a bite of 40,000 psi.

Enormous speed: Its top speed is around 80 miles per hour.

Enhanced Agility: It as able to swim and turn rather quickly by whipping the water.

Enhanced Endurance: It can tolerate severe amount of pressure, be it the depths of the ocean or oncoming attackers.

Enhanced Stamina: The gargantuan leviathan possesses a near limitless amount of stamina and the creature is never really shown getting tired or exhausted after swimming for long durations of time.

Enhanced strength: Records seem to suggest that it can drag prey that are roughly around its size or more. Anything smaller will crushed almost instantly.

Enhanced combat: With all that has been mentioned above, the gargantuan leviathan can overpower nearly any other creature with ease.

Energy drain: The gargantuan leviathan can drain power from vehicles and use that power as energy for its own body.

Shockwave roar: The gargantuan leviathans roar is extremely loud and causes a concussive hydrosonic wave which can inflict damage and force things back up to 150 meters.

Trivia:

The Gargantuan Leviathan's model, textures, and scales have been tweaked and redone countless times. As of now, no more changes to the model should be expected.

This is one of the few leviathan species that will have a full life cycle known. The first is the Ghost Leviathan.

The Gargantuan Leviathan is likely powerful enough to destroy all life on the Crater. Luckily, it has other methods of obtaining energy.

Much like the Ghost Leviathans and Void Chelicerates, it does not tolerate any creature entering its territory.

Here it's appearance!

Juvenile it's around 750 meters although idk about the adult size

(Source Subnautica wiki)

Ahem anyways... Can I buy medkit?

"Wh.. I. .. Y'know what? Just.. Just take the medkit and go."

It seems you've thoroughly stunned the poor creature. And you got a free medkit out of it! Great work, if that was your original goal.

[dzthenerd490]

File: Meg

SCP#: AID

Code Name: Megalodons the Unwanted Guardians of the Ocean

Object Class: Archon

Special Containment Procedures: Creatures of SCP-AID are to be avoided as much as possible by Foundation submarines and boats. They are also not to be attacked as doing so will place Site-AN at great risk. Any attempts to close the cave to SCP-AID will lead to the possible destruction of Site-AN and thus an XK Class End-of-the-World Scenario of unimaginable damage. As such the punishment for any attempt to do so will be the activation of Protocol “Legacy’s Downfall”.

Under no circumstances are any research or recovery drones allowed to be utilized within SCP-AID either. Any attempt to do so will lead to the demotion to D Class. There will be no exceptions. 

Description: SCP-AID is a hidden section below the mariana trench that extends an unknown length and to an unknown depth. Theoretically nothing should be able to survive however it is populated with a wide variety of thought to be extinct species as well as mutated creatures. Some creatures seem to resemble different evolutionary variants of Species of Interest: The Titans. Because Titans are normally found within SCP-ACS it is assumed that SCP-AID is possibly connected to SCP-ACS but due to the possibility of aggravating the creatures of SCP-AID there is no way to confirm this. 

The most common SCP-AID species that resides within are the megalodon giant sharks that grow anywhere between 60 to 100 feet large. Like normal sharks they are commonly docile and rarely if ever attack unless provoked or able to sense food nearby. Originally this was thought to the extent of SCP-AID’s anomalous properties, however observations of megalodons encountering SCP-AMZ instances have shown otherwise. SCP-AID have no anomalous abilities that make them stronger or better than normal sharks other than their size. Instead what makes them dangerous is their immunity to anomalous infection and effects. 

Normally SCP-AMZ instances are able to spread SCP-ANE infection to any and all living organisms. However, the megalogons do not get infected no matter how much the SCP-AMZ instances stab or bite them. In fact, megalodons can eat hundreds of SCP-AMZ instances and be perfectly fine. Other species within SCP-AID have been observed to be able to resist SCP-ANE infection as well, how this is possible is unknown though it is hypothesized to be thanks to the Gaia Radiation from SCP-ACS. Again, there is unfortunately nothing to confirm how true this is.

SCP-AID was discovered in 1940 after it was revealed that there were SCP-AMZ instances living and growing within the mariana trench. Site-AN was quickly created to be a defensive and research site for world ending threats like SCP-AMZ and SCP-[data expunged]. However, after the completion of Site-AN, SCP-AID revealed itself as the megalodons devoured a majority of the SCP-AMZ population. As such occasionally they are regarded as defenders of Site-AN. However, a majority of the species were discovered to be extremely territorial and hate contact with the Foundation. All of this has led to SCP-AID being labeled as Object Class Archon, as it is safer to leave it alone than to contain it.

Update 2018 - a single megalodon escaped SCP-AID and tried to attack a beach on the coast of [data expunged]. Shockingly Group of Interest: the Shark Punching Center teleported into our reality within a submarine. After firing Anti-Selachian Death Punch Torpedoes the megalodon was destroyed and its body parts were later eaten by regular sharks. The SPC force tried to punch them as well, but a Foundation submarine intercepted them and threatened them to leave. The cover story was that a whale corpse exploded before it could reach the beach. 

Later an SPC representative entered Site-[data expunged] with a desire to talk about the incident. MTF High Commander Riker happened to be at the Site and agreed to the interview, please see Addendum X-63 for details. 

***

Addendum X-63

The following is a recording of the interview between SPC representative Jack Striker MTF High Commander Riker. The interview is taking place in a standard Foundation interrogation room with only two chairs and a table with a single ceiling light illuminating the middle of the room.

***

Begin Recording

SPC Representative Striker is balancing himself on the chair like a goofball while Riker is glaring at him with disappointment. 

SPC Representative Striker: So, this is the SCP Foundation, you guys really don’t do much when it comes to decorations huh? I mean where is the wall paint? Where’s the aquariums? Where’s the friendly receptionist? And where’s the fighting rings and training centers? How are you supposed to get new recruits if you're not presenting a welcoming face?

MTF High Commander Riker: We don’t recruit openly, people in this world don’t know about anomalies-

SPC Representative Striker: Deviants.

MTF High Commander Riker: ANOMALIES… and we intend to keep it that way.

SPC Representative Striker: Alright fine, I’m just saying, sharks are the only hostile deviants we have to deal with, yet you guys have… screaming naked men that kill all in their path, statues that look like peanuts who strangle you to death, and giant shape shifting lizards! I mean we got one too, but we just killed it while you guys are keeping it around. 

MTF High Commander Riker: He has more uses alive, not that it’s any of your business. Speaking of business, how about we get to it, what the hell do you want?

SPC Representative Striker: Tch, always straight to business huh? Alright, alright, we uh… we just wanted to apologize.

MTF High Commander Riker: … Pardon?

SPC Representative Striker: Look we’ve been using your reality as a means to improve and test out our SPC’s to better punch down the shark threat. But we understand that you want to study deviants not punch them or weaponize them like we do. I mean it would do you some good, but I get that you don’t want to.

MTF High Commander Riker: We weaponize some anomalies, but we only do so for the ones that can be weaponized. We don’t just ask them all to punch sharks because we feel like it.

SPC Representative Striker: Oh seriously? Cool, well anyways we’ve been doing what we want with your reality, and we understand it’s kinda pissed you guys off.

MTF High Commander Riker: Kinda, is far too weak of a word.

SPC Representative Striker: … Ahem, right so anyways we wanted to both apologize and get a meeting together between ORACLE and your O5 Council.

MTF High Commander Riker: … why?

SPC Representative Striker: So, we can make the deal official! So, we can enter your reality more often and take care of your shark problem while you focus on other stuff. I mean, lord knows you guys need it.

MTF High Commander Riker: No.

SPC Representative Striker: Wha- what?

MTF High Commander Riker: No, we don’t need you and never did, you can keep jumping in our reality whenever you want because we can’t stop you. Well, we could but it would be a waste of time and resources, so how about I warn you instead. You ever get in our way and mess up our work again, then we won’t hesitate to wipe out your pathetic little organization.

SPC Representative Striker: … I know you think we’re a joke, but make no mistake, I’ve punched sharks larger than your SCP-682. I’m not afraid of you. Any of you.

MTF High Commander Riker: I don’t want you afraid, I want results, and I want anything that gets in the way of those results… eradicated. 

SPC Representative Striker: Geez, you guys are cold blooded assholes. Like seriously you do realize you kill people more often than you save them. If you were more open with people like us, you would be able to save a lot more lives. 

MTF High Commander Riker: It’s not about saving lives; it’s about preserving humanity as a whole. Even if we have to cleanse until there’s a single Adam and Eve.

SPC Representative Striker: … Is that why you killed that old man?

MTF High Commander Riker: Tch, he was immune to amnestics, he was a hazard and couldn't be trusted. Besides with my enhanced sight I could see he didn’t have long anyways. I just gave him the easy way out. 

SPC Representative Striker: That’s your excuse?

MTF High Commander Riker: Not an excuse, a fact. It would be an excuse if I actually cared about what civilians think about me, which I don’t. Humans are animals, they should consider themselves lucky organizations like the Foundation give a fuck about them. 

SPC Representative Striker: ... I guess it was a mistake to think this deal could work. See ya later.

SPC Representative Striker then suddenly disappeared, seemingly teleporting with some unknown SPC technology. 

MTF High Commander Riker: The real mistake is your existence. 

Recording Ends

.

SCP: Horror Movie Files Hub

[sebastian--solace]

Have you ever heard of the Gargantuan leviathan? No? I'm gonna ramble about it

It's health is 3.40282e+38

Abilities:

Climate Manipulation: The gargantuan leviathan can change the weather and ocean currents by swaying its tendrils and rotating its body.

Regeneration: The gargantuan leviathan can regenerate its wounds within a matter of seconds. This is partially because of its high metabolism.

Near-invulnerability: The Gargantuan Leviathan is immune to most conventional attacks, thanks to its sheer size and resilient hide.

Bio-electrical nature: It has several bio-electrical organs along its body that allow it generate electricity. Generated electricity can vary from small, but harmful zaps to powerful electromagnetic pulses.

Telepathy: Much like the Sea Emperor, they seems to communicate telepathically. However, they are far more provocative than the Sea Emperor.

Powerful bite force: Its bite force is 706556.61412 psi. The strongest material it can destroy is Limpet Patella Vulgata, AKA Limpet Teeth, which is the 8th strongest material and the strongest biological material. Its bite-force is 17 times stronger than that of the Megalodon, which had a bite of 40,000 psi.

Enormous speed: Its top speed is around 80 miles per hour.

Enhanced Agility: It as able to swim and turn rather quickly by whipping the water.

Enhanced Endurance: It can tolerate severe amount of pressure, be it the depths of the ocean or oncoming attackers.

Enhanced Stamina: The gargantuan leviathan possesses a near limitless amount of stamina and the creature is never really shown getting tired or exhausted after swimming for long durations of time.

Enhanced strength: Records seem to suggest that it can drag prey that are roughly around its size or more. Anything smaller will crushed almost instantly.

Enhanced combat: With all that has been mentioned above, the gargantuan leviathan can overpower nearly any other creature with ease.

Energy drain: The gargantuan leviathan can drain power from vehicles and use that power as energy for its own body.

Shockwave roar: The gargantuan leviathans roar is extremely loud and causes a concussive hydrosonic wave which can inflict damage and force things back up to 150 meters.

Fun facts:

The Gargantuan Leviathan's model, textures, and scales have been tweaked and redone countless times. As of now, no more changes to the model should be expected.

This is one of the few leviathan species that will have a full life cycle known. The first is the Ghost Leviathan.

The Gargantuan Leviathan is likely powerful enough to destroy all life on the Crater. Luckily, it has other methods of obtaining energy.

Much like the Ghost Leviathans and Void Chelicerates, it does not tolerate any creature entering its territory.

Oh yeah can I buy medkit?

"Wow, that's a lot to take in. I don't mind the rambling though."

He smiles softly at you. He grabs a medkit for you.

"Oh uhh yeah sure. You can buy it."

[isleofdragon]

All my bases so far!

🌳Weathertop Base 🌳

Initial Base! It has a large house with all my storage, smithy, forge, grinding station, and my shoulder mounts + my favorite dilophosaurs.

It has a big fence going all the way around it, big enough for my moschops to wander and collect stuff for me :3

It also has a medium-sized stone animal pen, with all my seldom-used dinosaurs like my spare iguanodon, my extra defense dilophs, my parasaur, and some dilophs stationed on the top like turrets! It also has a open roof where I land my extra flying mounts.

And it now has a fabricator building too!

There's crops also, one of every domestic crop and then one for narcoberries. My spinosaurus and diplodocus live there, along with my therizinosaur-slaying triceratops and her mate, and my stegosaurus, a pair of iguanodons, my first tame (a moschops), and a rotating cast of flying mounts!

🪨 Rocky Beach 🪨

So far this is just a big slab of thatch on one of the tall rocks, plus a little roofed area with a bed and chest. It has a lystrosaur too! It functions mostly as a stop-over :3 id hardly consider mentioning it, except for the fact that I use it all the time.

🏝️ Herbivore Island 🏝️

Just a big, half-built wooden cabin! It'll be big enough for a fabricator when it's done. I keep a single Pterosaur there full time, and there's two small narcoberry crops. I visit it for metal, mostly, but theoretically it would make a good place to launch a urgent rescue if needed!

🦈 Waterside Base 🦈

So far just some stone foundations and walls lol. AND two megalodons and their three new pups! And an ichthyosaurus :3 gonna be fully equipped for making saddles and storing stuff. I keep the tamed creatures in a little lagoon/inlet/area where they're relatively safe.

🌋 VOLCANO BASE YEEHAW 🌋

Best base! Best house! Where my Argentavis live, along with a dire wolf, my two strongest dimorphodons, a lystrosaur, and a iguandon i hatched named Agate Jr.

Has storage, crafting stations including a fabricator, and is my main area for smelting metal. It has a cool-ass landing zone above the storage, so my flying mounts perch near enough to the storage that I can transfer heavy items effortlessly.

⛏️ Western Coastal Cave-Mouth Base ⛏️

Near the green obelisk and the western swamp coast. Right in front of that cave opening! It is small, but has storage, a forge, mortar and pestle, a lystrosaur, and a bed!

I have a tech raptor who's jaw joints look like huge googles! And a dimorphodon, and a tough moschops for a guard dog. I plan to take the raptor and dimorphodon into the cave to spelunk!

In progress:

River Plateau Base: mostly just a rest spot with a fire

Eastern Coastal Cliff Base: Could be expanded to be fully equipped, but the Water Base was started nearby and that's getting more attention. Good place for resting with some storage for supply caches and a camp fire.

Cold Lands Base: a large stone slab with walls being added, and a campfire. Essential rest area for surviving in the freezing colds.

[cyberghost-scout]

My merformers mermaid lore explanation

After a couple years of doing mermay. I made up something cool and lowkey scifi.

An continuum of these: link link2 link3 link4

~They are an ancient species. The earliest of their kind resembled more like a water chimera that appeared in the fossil record as our ancestors crawled out of the waters.

~They were a fixture of human fascination and fear thanks to cave art near coastal areas, tales of sailors, carvings, and oral lore.

~Many theorists believed it to be like first contact with aliens as they are techno-organic. They lean more toward the organic side as they do not appear robotic and function like other animals (Like cyborgs from Ghost in the Shell but much more squisher).

~It's perplexing to many scientists. They live long lives-- some pocket of mermaids resembling extinct species still alive next to the modern extent ones. (If anyone is wondering --- megalodon mermaids are sadly extinct.) Big- they are also much more extensive in size than one would imagine and have muscular upper bodies as they pull themselves out of the water onto beaches or rocks, so they are very good at ripping someone apart.

~ Atlantis was confirmed. It is still murky as to why it disappeared, but a solid hypotenuse was something to do with some titan-sized mermaid battle. They rarely exist today, followed by severe flooding.

~And they're like humans. They are sentient (Despite what big for-profit aquariums would tell you and that super 1 % would say to you). Sure, they speak human langue only if they are domesticated species or choose to learn, and they have their own culture and speech. But it took a painfully long time to learn all this, thanks to humans being dumbasses, capitalism, and xenophobia—mainly the fear of the unknown, despite being alive along with us. And general mermaid pods like to keep their distance from human settlements. You can imagine the effort the humans realize they are like us were fighting for their rights.

~ However, in recent years- the mermaids are fighting back, throwing all the trash and nets in large fishing boats that destroy coral. Wailing ships, getting disabled, and then being dumped near beaches as a form of settlement. They learned the wrecking of those ships would lead to oil spills. So it was getting harder and harder to deny that these beings are sentimental like humans.

~ Freshwater mermaids are considered mellower than salt water, and tame ones are friendlier than wild ones. But when push comes to shove- it will not end well for any human if a mermaid feels the need to protect themselves.

~ There are pods, they tend to form as a family or considered family and usually be close to each other. Tropical waters move around a particular territory, while colder ones migrate to warmer waters. But they do build underwater city-like structures. Centuries of cultivating the coral and using sunken materials for the coral to latch on and grow, building lovely towns for some of the larger pods or particular species, some even made cities with eerie crystals- no human had ever set their eyes inside these cities, not even underwater cameras can not get inside only the outer walls of this sacred forbidden cities.

~ Shiny glass and metals are scarce materials that are useful for sea creatures. Mainly because the ocean wears down the items- so it's used primarily for symbolism, courtship, or to look pretty. So bone carvings and barbs are much more valuable as weapons, armor, and practical uses. However, any resourceful mermaid large enough can take advantage of sunken metal ships.

~ Some humans consume mermaids- it's debated whether eating their flesh is even considered safe to eat the meat of a mermaid.

~ Ghostwire is an escaped and surviving feral shark mermaid, an oddity as Domesticated mermaids do not live in the wild (always turn into snacks to the wild population if one escapes and is not rescued on time). She was lucky to be picked up by a Fedelis who wanted kids. Now she grew up in the wilds, is huge, and easily not some mermaid to mess around. Her sister survived, but she's separated into a facility. The Grey Ghost and Golden Menace, respectfully.

~ Ghostwire has cryptid status for trying her best to avoid humans and wild mermaids who heard of her but have not seen what a domesticated mermaid looks like. Phantasma is on the government's watch list (Wally the Walrus.) but she is loved by all, especially the internet.

~ Despite the fact Ghostwire chooses to not wear any fabric or beading or armor as a habit of keeping her allegiance hidden from her days as a scout. But later on, she'll don simple cloth tied to one side of her hips. The tie she also uses would be strung with the beads Flow gave her.

~ Two predominated pods are known to be influential in influence. Autobot and Decepticons; Ghostwire and her pod used to be part of the Decepticons before realizing that things were drawing the line. Primarily due to the former pod trying to destroy anything human-related-- at the price of the good humans and other mermaids. They all peaced out.

~ Delta Queen is still a hot momma of an octomermaid who runs fun little night parties, being the center star.

~ Fedelis adopted Ghostwire, later Flow, and he will adopt Phantasma if he can. He's in the older generation-- a few Liopleurodons left. He instead spends his time with family. But he will not stop fighting to keep his pod safe.

~ Flow got separated from her parents after a failed human poaching incident. The wrapping around her body is the nets that grabbed and tried to haul her up to the surface (Like spoiler: like Perrito's sweater.) now it's been repurposed showing off her rarest finds. She has a fine gift of finding treasure for trading.

[evisceratedarchangel]

You have lived since before humans were on this planet, before the stars fell and terraformed this land, before the ancient ocean you rest in became so much more shallow as the sun warms the planet. It has driven many creatures to desperation, and though most fear your size, some fear starvation more. The attacks were vicious, tearing at your many tendrils. Your dark blood coloring the deep as it woke you for ages of slumber. These great sharks were once apex predators. Now they reside here in the deep where the only things large enough for them to survive on live, and dare not show themselves where the little beasts in the surface might see.

Rage boiled in you as you thrashed and crushed the ones in your reach as they worked in tandem to tear at you dense hide. Dozens of creatures, who could well be the last of their kind. Forgetting their fear of you was the worst mistake they could have made. Your wide paddle-like fins gained momentum as sleep left you and adrenaline pumped through your veins. Slamming into them like a sheet of solid rock. Their broken bodies floating in the water so thick with your blood at this point you can hardly see around you. Pushing free of your resting place, watching severed tendrils drift to the seabed you turn your wide head to catch two in your jaws. Then there is only one remaining. A small female who seems to hesitate. Unsure if she she should flee or continue the attack. You let out a deep angry rumble, low and loud like cracking glaciers.

The female megalodon hesitates no more, she turns and flees. Only then can you take stock of your terrible wounds. They are deep and many, some going all the way down to bone, and blood is pouring out still. The gashes in your side are concerning, but this much blood loss is bad for the pups growing inside you.

Though the threat has passed, the blood in the water is sure to attract other creatures. Maybe not as dangerous but definitely annoying, definitely a threat. You decide to wait before moving on though. You take your time to devour the bodies of the megalodons that attacked you, you will need the strength.

Before you finish eating you see a familiar shape approach. A long frilled neck comes into view.

"My, what an awful way to end your rest. I suppose you needed something to wake you, those beasts have been getting more aggressive too."

Your heart sinks, you had hoped to avoid this creature. He's a talker.

"if you believed they were dangerous, why not wake me yourself? Or did you hope for this."

"of course not! How could I know they would do something so foolish as attack you. No number of them could hope to win. Surely they must have known? They're too small to be a threat to creatures like us, and too big a threat for the humans to tolerate. They're trapped between us. Maybe they hoped to wound you badly enough while you still slept that you would not be able to fight back. It does look bad. Does it hurt?"

"of course it hurts," I snapped back, "they're too deep to heal properly. I was close to waking as I was, my pups will be born soon. I need to eat and get these wounds to heal. At least stay alive long enough for their birth."

His long neck swung closer than I was comfortable with but I was too weary to lash out. His wide eyes taking in the awful gouges straight to bone and leaking blood into the sand along my belly.

" how will you feed yourself with wounds like this? You don't look like you could travel all that far."

I gave him a hopeful look, "could you help me hunt until the healing begins? I cannot manage much on my own for now. I will hunt for us both once I am healed."

I could tell from the change in his body language what he would say before he spoke.

"I don't think I can catch enough to feed us both, the prey grows scarce. I can keep myself well-fed, but we may both starve. We are both the last of our kinds that I have seen in ages. The time of great beasts like us has come to an end."

"so I should just accept it and die? I am not the last of my kind. My kin wait inside me, they need only to be born! If I cannot survive these wounds they will die too. I cannot die yet!"

He flinched away at my outburst but then he gave me a thoughtful look.

"there is one thing we could try."

"I will do anything it takes to survive so my pups can be born"

"You could go to the humans."

"I will do ALMOST anything it takes."

" don't be so hasty! Trust me the humans love to care for wounded animals, especially babies or pregnant animals. They even keep animals they would eat as pets instead."

An amused rumble escaped my chest, the vibration in the water blurring my view for a moment.

"Surely they would only fear and kill a creature as large as me. I could eat dozens, maybe, hundreds of them in a single bite."

"It might surprise you have humans like big things most of all. The bigger and more dangerous, the more they delight in them. When I return to the surface on occasion they always get very excited to see me. Squealing and pointing their limbs at me. We've made fast friends. Come with me I'll take you to a good place. You need only act weak and pitiful and they'll come to check on you. As long as you don't attack them they'll help you. Feed you, treat your wounds, they'll do it all."

I mulled it over but even I knew it could be my only chance at survival.

"Help me there, at this rate I will not need to ACT weak. If only I can survive the journey."

My friend helped to guide me, and two days later we arrived at the structure the humans lived in. The water was becoming far too shallow for me, and it had taken us time to adjust with the difference in pressure coming up from the deep. My large fins trailed in the sand as weariness was beginning to overtake me the coiled tendrils along my body were beginning hang limp instead of the idle writhing I was used to. Blood still trickled from my wounds which stung more with each passing hour, likely becoming infected.

The structure had clear panels to see through and me friend slid alongside one and bellowed loudly, surely enough to wake any beast in the sea. It did the trick and soon many tiny dark shapes appeared to block the light from the clear panel. They appeared and disappeared as quickly. My friend wished me well and backed off, avoiding their sight. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of fear. So many many sea beasts had fallen to humans in the eons they had been here would they not just kill me?

A small pod released from the structure and came close. Remembering who my dread has said, I did not attack it and instead let myself loll to the side, nearly flat in the sand.

The little pod puttered up to my eye, and through another clear section I saw a human up close for the first time. It had coiling tendrils around it's head just like mine, and somehow the look in its small bright eyes was comforting. I let myself relax. I could tell this creature, would do me no harm.

--

Many months later my pups were born. Small and energetic they move much more quickly than I do. They know not to harm the humans, and the humans know not to harm them. My wounds are all but healed, but my weakened fins are weary. I will take my pups into the deep, and teach them to survive, as my kin taught me.

But once they are old enough to care for themselves, I think I will return here. To the humans who saved my life, when no one else could.

“No, no. Trust me; it works. Humans love to take care of pregnant and baby things. I’ve even seen them adopt things they eat!” “What about things that eat them?” “Oh, humans like those best of all! So just go up and act weak, they’ll take care of the rest.”

[an--eldritch--horror]

WOAH DOES THAT MEAN YOU'VE MET MEGALADON?? I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET ONE!! My mother used to say they would eat me alive but I think if I met a megaladon they would be friends with me cause I'm friends with a lot of sea creatures that my mother said would eat me!! A kraken would be cool too, wow you're so cool Eldritch!!

🦭 anon

*they giggle, their eyes closing for but a moment and their cheeks turning a faint dusty pink*

You're mother did have a point! Normally they would eat someone like you in a millisecond, so hearing that you wish to befriend some of the biggest creatures in the sea is a bit funny considering how dangerous it is for someone of your size...! Then again, I should start expecting the unexpected with you, Seal!

But yes! I have both met, and ate one before! There's been more than one Megalodon out in the ocean that I've met, but sadly none have spoken to me... My, uh... Old appearance used to scare all the ocean creature away, or just anger them and make them want to attack me. The bigger ones, like krakens and megalodons, were the ones that mainly became aggressive.... I-I don't blame them! I was quite threatening, both in size and attitude back then..!