Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Monster Hunter, only how the story goes. The characters and world of Monster Hunter belongs to Capcom. The only thing that I do own are the OC's of the story. I do apologize for any errors in grammar and/or if I was not accurate in reference to something.

A/N: Title pretty much says it all. Don't know how long its going to be, but I do have something pretty nice in mind.

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Chapter Twelve: Watching the Hatchlings

The sun started disappearing over the west horizon when Jacob, the sled with the trio of Rath hatchlings and the Rathian flying over them made it back to familiar territory. The sight of the growing spire made Jacob sigh in relief that the trip was almost over. Every now and then he would glance back to see if the hatchlings were still the makeshift sled. He would hear them screech or squawk and figured that they were just curious to the world around them. He looked up to see the mother keeping an eye out for dangers while looking down to also keep track of her children. Jacob pulled the makeshift sled over the rise that would take them over the dunes that sat above the Diablos' caves before going to the Rathian's nest.

Making sure to keep an eye out for any passing Diablos, Barroths or Kulus, Jacob kept on walking. He felt the vines shake a little and looked back to see the two Rathians screeching at their brother. The little Rathalos gave a growl back at them and Jacob quickly quelled them by saying, "Hey, hey, now! No roughhousing.

"We're almost there." He added when he pointed to the rock structure not too far past the Grand Spire. But it did nothing to stop them from roaring at each other and one of the girls nipped at her brother. He responded by getting ready to swat at her with his tail, but Jacob was quick to stop it by firmly saying, "Stop it."

This time it seemed to quiet them down when they looked up to him. With a small grin, Jacob kept on pulling the sled through the sand.

…

The sky started changing colors overhead when Jacob had finally made it with the sled to the cave opening. The Rathian dropped down on the dune behind them and gave a small growl to the trio. With a squawk from the little Rathalos, all three hopped off the piece of wood and followed after her down into the cave. Jacob slowly followed them down and remained a few feet away as the mother ushered them into the nest. All three moved into the nest and looked up to their mother and started squealing. Jacob guessed that they were hungry and she also thought the same. The Rathian moved over to the side of the cave and to a group of wasps. The insectoids saw her coming and tried to fly away but with a leap she was on them. The mother chomped at a couple of them and squished the bugs in her jaws. Walking back over to the babies she dropped the remains into the nest. Jacob grimaced at the sight of the mashed bugs. The baby Raths ate up the remains of the giant bugs. The Rathian looked to him and took a step forward. Jacob, thinking that she was offering to feed him too, held up a hand and politely said, "Uh, no thank you. I do feel like I need to be going."

But the sound of a growling stomach made him look to the Rathian with a worried look. It sounded like the Rathian hadn't eaten for a while. Probably because she spent all day looking for her eggs and teaming up with a group of Diablos for a rescue mission. The Rathian looked up to the entrance of the cave before looking down at her little ones in the nest. Jacob looked too and saw that they were starting to settle down after having their first meal. Seeing that she was wanting someone to watch over them while she was gone, Jacob sighed and said, "Go and find yourself something to eat.

"Won't do yourself much good if you starve yourself while trying to be a good mother." He added while crossing his arms. She looked to him and the teen said, "I'll watch over them until you get back."

The Rathian didn't look too sure, but another growl from her stomach pushed her into agreeing. Taking a step away from the human and the nest with her hatchlings, the Rathian took off into the air before flying out of the cave. Jacob watched her go and was startled when all three babies started crying out for her as she left. The little Rathalos was about to jump out after her when Jacob moved around the nest, "Woah, woah, woah! Hold up there, little guy. It's okay, she'll be right back.

"She's just got to go feed herself." He told them. Jacob wondered what to do when one of the girls, the green one, tried to exit the nest from the other side. He stopped her, "Not so fast, young lady. I can't let you just go walking around on your own. You're only a few hours old and I don't want anything to happen to you guys. Went through a lot of dodos and a jerk to get you guys back."

He jumped back when the pink Rathian hatchling tried to jump and take a bite out of him. She growled at him and Jacob chuckled from the display of fierceness. Jacob knew he had to be careful around the hatchlings as they were still dangerous, but he couldn't help but admire their spirit. Kneeling down he said, "You've got some spunk to you girl.

"You kind of remind me of this movie character I know. She hardly took any garbage from anyone." He said and mentally slapped himself when he remembered that not only were they from a different world, they were just newborns of flying apex predators. Shaking his head he said, "You remind me a lot of her in a way."

The Pink Rathian tilted her head to the name. Jacob shrugged, "I would give you each names, but I'm not sure how your mom would feel."

He regretted his choice of words, because at the mere mention of their mother, they started screeching out for her again. Jacob tried to calm them down, "Hey, hey! It's going to be okay."

But it didn't seem to work as they just kept screeching their heads off. Jacob worried that something might hear them and he was worried that it would too much for him alone. Jacob then thought of a way to calm them down. He felt it a little cheesy, but he didn't have any better ideas. Moving a little closer to the nest, Jacob sat down and took a deep breath. When he opened his mouth, he started singing them a lullaby, "Come stop your crying, it'll be alright.

"Just take my hand, hold it tight." He watched as they started to quiet down. The Pink Rathian lowered her head to the hand and took a tentative sniff. He remembered earlier how the Rathian was being protective of her hatchling when the little Rathalos had fallen onto his back. He was about to move it back when she beat him to it by lightly rubbing her chin against his palm. He was thankful that the spike on her chin hadn't fully grown yet. He was still worried about if the mother found out, and she probably would, and what she might do. But he didn't worry about it right now as he continued singing, "I will protect you from all around you.

"I will be here don't you cry." The other two hatchlings started coming up to him. The little Rathalos lowered his head and tried to headbutt him with it. Jacob kept him back with a gentle hand and a grin, "For one so small, you seem so strong.

"My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm." The green Rathian scooted between her siblings and squawked at him. Gesturing between him and then he sang, "This bond between us, can't be broken.

"I will be here don't you cry." He smiled as it seems that the lullaby was starting to work. One of the little Raths yawned followed by two more. They started to lay down in the nest with their heads against the sides as he kept going, "'Cause you'll be in my heart.

"Yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever more." He shook his head, feeling like he's really getting to know them. The three little Raths started piling together to sleep. Jacob thought it really adorable as the Rathalos placed himself over his sisters as if he were protecting them. Jacob kept going with the song, "You'll be in my heart…

"No matter what they say." He shook his head. He watched as all three of them slowly closed their eyes as he finished, "You'll be in my heart. Always."

The three were blissfully snoring away and Jacob quietly backed away from the nest. He made sure to keep his eyes not only on the trio, but on the two openings to make sure nothing would sneak in. The three little ones slept soundly while Jacob just kept watch.

…

After watching over the hatchlings for what felt like an hour or so, he was starting to feel a little tired as his eyes drooped. He tried to stay awake by pulling out the journal to see if it might give him some answers about the one Rath's pink coloring. The journal said that though while it is rare for the subspecies to be born to the normal variants, it is still a possibility that the genes of a subspecies may skip the next generation but show up again later down the line. Jacob thought it a little interesting, but still found himself dozing off. But he was thankful when he heard the sound of flapping wings made him snap to attention. Glancing back, Jacob saw the Rathian gliding down the tunnel. Getting up, Jacob backed up while ducking down to avoid being knocked into. Raising his head, he watched as she dropped down on the other side of her nest. Her landing caused the three little Raths to stir from their sleep. They raised their heads and started squawking at their mother who just looked over them. The Rathian looked pleased that none of her children looked harmed. Jacob smiled at how happy they were looking, but it dropped a little as he was wondering how his own mother was feeling with him being gone for so long. The Rathian glanced up from the hatchlings and noticed the look on his face. She got his attention with a growl and he looked up into her eyes. Shaking his head he put it off, "I'm fine. I'm just glad that we got them and the Diablos' babies back home safely.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to go back to my home too." He added with hope in his voice. His words seemed to make her tilt her head as she looked at him. Thinking that it was time to go, Jacob awkwardly rubbed his hands and said, "Whelp, I better be going. Got to get back to where I belong before it gets too late."

The human teen started to turn and walk away, but a growl made him look back to the Rathian. The Queen of the Skies looked at him with an understanding look before ushering her children forward. All three little Raths screeched as they jumped out of the nest and all swarmed around him. Jacob didn't really know what was going on until the Rathian walked up to him. She repeated her actions from the last time Jacob had been in the desert and rubbed her head against him while the hatchlings all crowded around his legs. He laughed a little when they playfully nipped at his pants while doing his best to keep from being pushed down. When she backed off, Jacob kneeled down to the three's level and said, "You be good for your mama, okay.

"I'll try to visit you when I can." He promised before standing up again. The Rathian growled at him again and Jacob was kind of confused by the look she was giving him. It wasn't an angry look, but more of a look like she was wanting something. It only increased when she glanced down at her three babies and Jacob tried to help by saying, "If you need a better place to keep your hatchlings safe, then maybe you might want to think about relocating.

"Is there a higher spot that you could take them?" He asked. She gave a small growl as if she was taking his advice, but from the looks on her face she didn't appear to be done with him. It was then that he noticed that she was staring not directly at him, but something on him. Looking down, the stone was the first thing his eyes came to. Looking back at the Rathian he said, "But they don't need this."

It earned an annoyed grunt from her and she lightly tapped the stone with a spike from her wing. Jacob got a bit of an idea of what she was wanting and asked, "What? Do you want me to give them a name or something?"

This earned a slight nod of her head and a happier look. With a shrug he said with a grin, "If that's what you want, Mama."

She didn't seem offended by the name as she just raised her head. Kneeling back down to their level, Jacob looked over each. He started with the eldest chick, the little Rathalos. With a smile he said, "I have a feeling that you're going to grow up to be a big, strong and good Rathalos. I know that it doesn't mean much now, but you're gonna have to help look after your little sisters.

"Cause that's what a good big brother does." He said while rubbing the top of the infant's head. Pondering what to call the little one, Jacob came up with, "I think Samson kind of sounds like a nice name for someone like you.

"Now for you." He said when he looked to the little Green Rath. Glancing up to Mama Rath he playfully said, "Something tells me that you might just be the adventurous sort of this little group. The name Verda seems like a fit for you."

This earned a slight screech from the hatchling. The Pink Rath, the last to hatch, showed her ferocity again when she jumped at him and tried to nip his nose. Jacob moved back to avoid losing it. With a knowing grin, he nodded, "Yeah, I think the name Diana kind of suits you just fine."

All three gave happy sounding screeches and started squawking at each other, almost testing out their new names in their own way. Turning away, Jacob glanced back and said, "I'll see you guys later."

But he hadn't taken but a step when he felt something grab the hood of his cloak. He tried to keep his feet underneath him as he was pulled back. Mama Rath released him and Jacob looked between her and the young trio. With a good-natured grin he asked, "Is this how it's going to go with you guys. Keeping me overnight and not letting me go until morning?

"First it was Boltia and now its you." Jacob said, confusing Mama Rath when she tilted her head. Jacob explained by saying, "Oh, she's a Tobi-Kadachi that I met, helped and bonded with over in the Ancient Forest. Not sure how well you might get along."

But it didn't seem to matter to Mama Rath as she gently ushered him, Samson, Verda and Nala all towards the nest. Seeing no choice at the moment. Jacob moved to where he could get comfortable on the collection of sticks. His plans for simply leaving in the morning were made a little complicated when all three hatchlings crowded around him. Even more so when Mama Rath came around and coiled her body around her nest. He was grateful that the little ones had their backs and heads pressed up against him as he didn't find their poisoned talons or tails all that delightful. Jacob just laid there between the four Raths and looked up to the sky with the stars shining between the openings in the ceiling of the cave. His eyes slowly closed and he drifted off to sleep.

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Author's Note: Who would have thought that an expedition to the desert could turn into a quest. And I do know that Jacob spending a night with a mother and her newly hatched chicks would be very unlikely, but it could be Mama Rath's way of saying thank you for helping to save them. Jacob could one day meeting the Diablos parents and their hatchlings, but we'll probably just have to wait and see. This is my smallest chapter of the whole story, but I still liked writing it. I look forward to reading your reviews. Be sure to leave a comment either about if I've done something wrong or if you want something specifically to happen. See you next time.