Elemental life is typically formed by the gathering of basic elements that lack consciousness. While they appear to be the same as other living creatures, there's actually a big difference. Low-level elementals don't have any feelings or consciousness, however, top-level elementals are the same as other living beings, as not only do they have emotions and wisdom, they even have humanoid forms and the ability to reproduce.
But due to the differing structures of their bodies, their deaths will simply scatter their basic element. These elementals are typically able to return to the elemental plane and reform themselves, which was why it was so difficult to truly kill them outside of the elemental plane. Still, losing their elemental power that they could use at will also made them unable to use their true strength.
