The octopus is known for its intelligence, but did you know that certain species are also cannibalistic? Males have a specially modified arm, called a hectocotylus, that is used to inject sperm packets into the female. When the males are done, the female octopus often eats the male. Many species of male octopus die soon after mating anyway, so why not? Female octopuses protect their eggs and often die upon giving birth. Octopus cannibalism is not limited to just mating, however, as it is not uncommon for hatchlings to eat each other.

With that in mind... Why would it be any different for octopus mermaids?

Ephyra is a mermaid, which makes her half human... And half fish. Although, she's actually half octopus, not fish. And during the mating season, she got pregnant from some other octo-merman. And so, while she's carrying embryos, she's also being a cannibal, eating the octo-merman she just mated with.

She's pregnant for about four or five months, carrying the eggs inside her body until one day, in mid winter, when the water temperature is just right, she starts expelling her eggs, one by one, into the water. Not all of the eggs survive after being birthed... But after a 6-7 months in cold deep sea water... The eggs that survived start to hatch... And one of the little octo-mermaid babies... Is you.

"Oh, how precious." Your mother coos as she scoops up each surviving baby into her hands and arms. She's quite huge, as big as a mountain. So she has enough space to hold all of you.