The Book Of Dragons

Chapter 1 part 2: Meet the hunters

The car pulled to a stop in a rather small carpark surrounded by thick forestry. Trees loomed, especially from one side, where there was a steep hill. The first thing I noticed about the hill was that there was a thin path leading up it, overgrown with weeds and grass. I looked carefully around the rest of the carpark and saw seven more paths, leading off in different directions, like a compass. My dad opened his door of the car and turned to face me.
"OK, Aoife, I'll be back in a sec, I just want to check some things with the guys first."
"Alright." I sighed and flopped backwards into my seat.
He got out of the car and closed the door and began jogging towards a group of men and women. I saw the group and got the worst shock of my life.

Thomas was here.

Thomas had been in the year ahead of me in school. He left last year, and he was a good friend of mine.
A very good friend.
Oh, alright, he was my boyfriend! Happy now?
We began going out about three years ago, when Thomas asked me to go to a school dance with him.
When he was leaving school last year, he told me that we couldn't really be together and then we just fell apart.
And now he's a dragonhunter.

Of course.

I saw my dad greet the group, and they talked for a little while, but all too soon, he was coming back to the car and opening my door.

"OK, let's get some supplies for you, Aoife."

My dad brought me around to the back of the car and opened the boot.
"Something simple first, considering you won't be doing much actual hunting today. How about this?"
My dad showed me a short knife. It was sharp alright, but I didn't think it would cut through dragon scales.
"Ok, and you need a medical pack as well."
Dad slung the small brown bag over my shoulder.
"Alright, that should be everything. Let's go and introduce you to the group."

We walked over and joined in the circle of people.
"Alright guys, this is my daughter Aoife!"
Everyone in the group was giving me looks like I was something foreign and strange. Except Thomas. He was staring at me with an odd expression on his face. I gave a tiny smile, as if I was enjoying the awkward attention, and muttered a sarcastic "hey..." Everyone looked away except Thomas. He continued staring at me, perhaps in confusion, or maybe in awe.
A young woman with too many piercings and an odd accent spoke up.
"Is she gonna take your spot, Joseph?"
Dad replied quickly and smartly.
"Well, maybe, Rosa, but not yet anyway. Let's get going with today's plan. We'll start in the north wing and work from there. Obviously, we'll skip the south wing, but we're due a visit north anyway. As usual, safety checks first, you guys know the drill, get going!"

The hunters turned and jogged off, northwards I guess. Dad turned and faced me.
"Why do you skip the south wing?" I asked before he could even begin talking.
"See that path there?" He pointed to the path that lead up the steep hill.
"That's the south path. We found a greater fang up there once, and haven't been since. Could be a whole nest, we don't know."
A greater fang? Ok, I do not want to go up that path. Greater fangs are the most dangerous species of dragon out there. They're huge beasts, with massive fangs and incredible fire powers...

And there it was again! That undescribable knowledge of dragons!

"Hey, Aoife, listen. The safety check is the hardest part of dragonhunting, and I don't want you doing it just yet. Just stay here in the carpark, and you'll be fine. I don't want a repeat of..."
"Yea, ok, I know."
"We'll be back by twelve, alright?"
"Twelve, got it. Stay safe, dad."
"You too."