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: Here is the start of the Greatest Jagras Liberation story arc. I can't promise that this arc will be much longer than the last, but I do hope that its more than three chapters.
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Chapter Twenty-Three: A Familiar Face
After the first expedition to the Celestial Pursuit and the babysitting job, Jacob would go back just to look around and see if there was anything useful. He did believe that the vessel could make an excellent place to hunker down in case the S.S. Blizzard would no longer be safe. It was during the return from the third expedition that he found himself within the forest. The human carried his pack and the Dual Blades with him just like the last few times. He was halfway between the Celestial Pursuit and gate of wood and bone when he heard a sound nearby. It sounded like screeches and bellows and they sounded greatly agitated. Carefully making his way through the trees, Jacob came across a clearing with short grass, a ditch on the far side and saw what could be seen as a small to medium turf war. On one side was about fourteen Kestodon with six males and eight females. The other side was a pack of Jagras, up to three Great Jagras, a good number of regulars and one massive one. The large one made Jacob's eyes widen a great deal as he had never seen one so big before.
(Cue Ancient Forest: Small Monsters Abound from Monster Hunter World)
Jacob stayed out of sight behind some trees as he watched the battle unfold. Two of the females flanked one of the males as a Jagras leapt at them. The herbivores were able to knock the small Fanged Wyvern back before turning their attention on the rest of the battle. One of the Great Jagras butted heads with one of the bigger males and the two fought to keep their footing. A couple of Jagras tried to attack the male from the side, but a female was able to save him by knocking into them with her head. Both went down and tumbled along the ground. But they didn't stay down long as they screeched at the female Kestodon.
Jacob didn't take his eyes off of the turf war as he started to climb up a little higher into the tree he was hiding behind. When he was at a spot that he felt safe and could still see what was going on, the teen couldn't take his eyes off as a male shook off a Jagras off its back. The small Fanged Wyvern dashed out of the way when the Kestodon came charging for them. Jacob wondered why the really big one wasn't trying to help the pack, but didn't dwell on it as it looked back to the rest of the battle. Two of the females seemed to blindside one of the Greats by coming in from both sides and colliding their hard heads against their skull. The large lizard staggered backwards while the two females bellowed at it.
One of the male Kestodon managed to get through the majority of the pack and looked to attack the really large Great Jagras. Jacob thought it either really bold or really stupid of a decision. One of the Jagras came around and jumped in the Kestodon's path. The herbivore was able to knock it away with a swing of its head and send the lizard flying. It flew right at the really large Great Jagras and the large Fanged Wyvern reared up and swatted the smaller creature away. The Jagras crashed against the ground pretty harshly and it gave a pained screech as it laid there. Jacob couldn't believe that he had witnessed that. And he noticed that he wasn't the only one to see it as another Jagras stood not too far away.
The turf war continued on as the male Kestodon that had tried to go after the really big Great Jagras found himself surrounded by four other Jagras. Jacob watched as it swatted one away with its head while two came from behind and pounced. The two Jagras were joined by the third when the Kestodon turned to keep them back. As the lone Kestodon started to become overwhelmed by the three carnivores, so did another male and a trio of females. Sensing that the battle was lost, the rest of the herd turned and left the doomed group to their fate. Jacob couldn't help but feel sorry for the four, but knew that there was nothing that he could do. Two of the Great Jagras started to tug at one of the dead male Kestodon while the large one helped itself to the male that tried to attack it.
(End of track)
Jacob didn't really feel like watching the pack eat, so he started to climb down to get out of there. Making sure to carefully move to avoid being spotted, Jacob lowered himself. But before he made it down to the next branch, a series of screeches made him look down to the pack again. The Jagras that had witnessed the giant Great Jagras' cruelty screeched up at it as the Jagras that it had swatted away came limping towards the group. The rest of the pack looked to see what would unfold just as the giant Great Jagras looked to the injured pack mate. Jacob hardly believed it when the giant lizard turned and swatted the injured Jagras harshly with its tail. The Jagras didn't even screech from the sudden lashing as it sailed for the tree line and crashed against the trunk of Jacob's tree. He cringed when he heard something snap from the beast. While the teen felt very sorry for the creature as it didn't get back up, he was hoping that the pack wouldn't look up and discover him hiding.
The Jagras looked from its dead pack mate to the giant Great Jagras and screeched in anger. The larger lizard looked down to it and gave a growl of annoyance while starting to turn its head away. When the smaller one took a step closer and gave a menacing hiss at its much larger packmate, the large one didn't seem to like it. It raised its right hand and swatted the Jagras away. The smaller Fanged Wyvern tumbled along the ground before going over the side into the ditch.
From his spot in the tree, Jacob couldn't tell if it was okay or not. Deciding to wait for the best moment, the human stayed as still as he could. While the larger Great Jagras and the three other Greats continued to feast, the rest of the smaller Jagras' seemed to be a little lost at the moment. Their hesitance costed them their meal as one of the Great Jagras came and swallowed the female whole. The largest Fanged Wyvern walked up and picked up the last of their meal in its jaws before making its way out of the clearing. The three Great Jagras followed after while the rest of the pack remained behind for a moment. They looked between their dead packmate before looking over to the ditch where their other had fallen. But a growl from the really big Great Jagras got them following after the other four.
Seeing that his opportunity had come, Jacob quickly climbed down the tree. When he touched down on the ground, he made his way over to the dead Jagras. The eye facing him was wide open, and he guessed that it had been in shock when it's really large packmate struck it. Carefully placing a hand on its head, Jacob closed the creature's eye and respectfully said, "I'm sorry that you were treated so horribly. May you find peace in the next life."
Standing up again, Jacob froze when he heard the sound of a screech. He turned towards the ditch and thought that the Jagras had climbed back up. But there was no sign of the Fanged Wyvern. A growl came from the hole in the ground and he began to think that the Jagras may be stuck. There were a few sounds of claws scrapping against dirt, but after a minute they stopped. Slowly making his way over to the hole, the growls sounded quite sad to him. When he came to the edge, Jacob peered down to see the Jagras laying down with its head facing away from him. The hole was steep all around and there didn't look to be any holds for it to pull itself back up. Perhaps it sensed him standing there, the Jagras glanced back up to the human. Deciding not to leave the little guy all alone, Jacob started thinking of ways to get 'em out. An idea did come to him and the teen quickly made his way back to the tree line. Removing the carving knife, he started cut a tree limb that seemed to be long enough to reach down into the ditch. The limb came off with a snap after he had finished cutting through it.
Holding onto the branch with both hands, Jacob started pulling it towards the ditch. Down in the hole, the Jagras looked up just as Jacob stood at the edge again. With a turn of his body, the human moved the tree to where it started to go down into the hole. He thought he had a good grasp on the limb as he tried to slowly lower it down more and more. But the limb slipped from his grip and made it fall the rest of the way down. The Jagras jumped back from the falling limb before looking up to the human again. Taking a deep breath, Jacob waited to see if it would start climbing up and noticed that there was still some space between the limb. But it would seem that the Jagras was going to try to climb out any way. The Fanged Wyvern dashed up the limb and tried to jump when it reached the end. It managed to snag the side of the ditch with its claws but almost fell back into the ditch. Acting fast, Jacob shot forward and grabbed the Jagras by its forelimbs. The lizard's back feet scrapped against the side of the ditch while Jacob strained to pull it out of the pit.
With a big heave from himself and a push from the Jagras' back claws, they were able to pull them out of the hole. Jacob ended up falling onto his back and the Jagras landed beside him on its side. Both man and beast breathed heavily from getting the Jagras out of the hole and Jacob turned his head to the large lizard. The Jagras glanced to the human and Jacob slowly started to get up while backing away. The small Fanged Wyvern slowly got up as well, but Jacob saw that it wasn't looking so threatening to him. The large lizard slowly approached him on his right side. Jacob nearly reached for the Dual Blades on his back when a small yet calm growl coming from the Jagras made him stop. The Fanged Wyvern looked from his eyes before looking to a particular spot on his arm. The teen was greatly surprised when it leaned forward and gave what appeared to be an apologetic lick and a small nuzzle of its head A memory flashed back what seemed like a lifetime ago.
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(Flashback)
Jacob found himself before a trio of Jagras. They screeched at him while he held the axe at the ready. He swung it a couple of times and ended up losing it. When he had retrieved the weapon, one of the Jagras leapt at him. It managed to land a slash of its claws on him even when he tried to move out of the way. The lizard tried to come at him again, but a blow to the head with the broadside of the axe sent it tumbling back. It shook its head when it got back up again.
(End of flashback)
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Jacob could hardly believe that this was the very same Jagras from that day. He tilted his head when he looked at the spot where he had struck. It seemed to have healed quite nicely. He started to raise his hand and it made the Jagras tense up. He tried to reassure it by saying, "Hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you.
"Again. I promise." He added with a small smile. The Jagras didn't run or hiss at him as he lightly touched the spot. He was happy that the Jagras didn't attack him then and there. The Jagras turned its head to the human over to its dead packmate. The reptile scurried over to the still body and gave a mournful whine when it slowly approached. Jacob got up and walked over to the deceased Jagras.
The Fanged Wyvern next to him sat down and bowed its head to its packmate. Jacob wondered if this was a way that the species respected their fallen. The Jagras looked up to him and had a conflicted look in its eyes. Guessing that it didn't want to leave its packmate for scavengers or anything, Jacob lowered himself to pick up the body while closing the other eye. The unmoving Jagras' head was resting against his shoulder while Jacob held it with both arms. When he felt that he had the Jagras securely in his arms, the human looked down to the large reptile next to him, "Lead the way."
The Jagras then turned and scurried off into the forest. Not wanting to be left behind, Jacob rushed after it. The two passed by many a tree, rock and small body of water. They came to a small grove where large leaves grew in bunches. The Jagras stopped and turned to see the human with his special package catching up. As he came closer, Jacob thought that the place smelled a little funky to him. He watched as the Jagras bit on one of the large leaves and pulled it back to reveal several bones. He saw a Jagras skull here and there and figured that it could be some kind of burial ground. And the plants surrounding the spot may help keep scavenging animals away from the corpses.
Getting an idea of what to do, Jacob kneeled down to set the body down. When he was sure that it was in the middle of the plants, the teen took a step back and the Jagras let go of the leaf. The foliage covered up the little graveyard, and that left Jacob alone with the Jagras. As he stared at the plant, Jacob felt really upset about how these two were treated by that really big one. Even if it was the alpha of the group, that giant Great Jagras had no right to treat members of the pack in such a way. The Jagras next to him seemed to feel the same when it stared up at him and had an angry look on his face. Jacob was greatly surprised when it grabbed him by the slinger arm and started pulling him in a certain direction. The reptile let him go and moved away a few feet. It stopped between some trees and looked back at him. Feeling that it was wanting him to follow, Jacob had a feeling that it was for something important. Taking a deep breath, Jacob started to follow and the Jagras continued to lead the way.
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Author's Note: And so the arc has officially begun. Yes, the big bad of this story arc is the Greatest Jagras. How will the futures play out? Well, we'll just have to wait and see. I do like the regular Jagras more than the Greats or the Greatest Jagras, I don't know why exactly. I think it might be the mane or the large appetite. Sorry, just a little humor on my part. It's not that I don't like Great Jagras, same reason that I don't really hate a certain other monster. 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 all of you next time.