Description: The Young Skeletal Hydra is a smaller, less formidable version of its adult counterpart. It still exhibits the same horrifying trait of regenerative bone tissue, but its abilities are less developed.

Appearance:

• A smaller, multi-headed serpent-like creature with partially skeletal heads and spines.
  
  
• It's body shows a mix of decaying flesh and emerging bone structures.
  
  
• inside the young skeletal hydra's chest area is a small pulsating energy.

Evolution into Adult Form

Lifecycle: The Skeletal Hydra begins as a young creature, often created through necromantic rituals or cursed waters in desolate swamps and forgotten tombs. As it grows, its regenerative abilities become more pronounced, and its body transitions from decaying flesh to resilient bone. This process can take decades, during which the creature becomes increasingly powerful and more difficult to destroy.

Transformation:

• Young to Adult: As the Young Skeletal Hydra matures, it gains additional heads and its regenerative abilities strengthen. Over time, its body fully transitions to the skeletal form, becoming the Adult Skeletal Hydra.

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the Young Skeletal Hydra takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the Young Skeletal Hydra can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Bone Snare: Bones rise from the ground, attempting to entangle a target within 30 feet. The target must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be restrained until the start of the Hydra's next turn.
  
  
• Necrotic Pulse: The ground within 30 feet of the Young Skeletal Hydra pulses with necrotic energy. Each creature in that area must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.