The crash echoes throughout the forest for several more seconds before everything suddenly becomes quiet again.
To think I’m still heading straight towards where this whole crash happened in the first place.
The birds that were chirping moments ago have disappeared entirely as well now.
So I slow my pace without even thinking about it.
Running in blindly towards this dragon will be suicide so it is better to take my time instead.
Ash wouldn’t want me to rush in blindly like this and would probably tell me to observe everything a bit more first.
But she also told me not to hesitate once I found a dragon. Those are two completely different things to tell me instead of just following one more closely.
I grip the handle of the silver sword resting against my waist.
Regardless of what approach I take... I need to be ready to fight a dragon. It won’t matter if I take it slow or fast, but I need to make sure to shove my fear aside.
Step. Step.
The path grows narrower the farther I travel into the forest.
Large roots stretch across the ground while thick branches block most of the sunlight above me.
It definitely feels a lot darker as I get deeper into the forest towards this crash site.
A strange smell suddenly reaches my nose.
Blood, Fresh blood.
I immediately stop walking as my heartbeat begins to quicken as I slowly glance around the trees surrounding me.
Nothing, No movement, no sound, only the smell continuing to grow stronger and stronger by the second.
Great. I know that’s not a good sign at all.
My first time in awhile dealing with a dragon is about to be a lot more intense than I imagined.
I quietly continue forward.
The smell eventually leads me into a small clearing. And the moment I step through the bushes my eyes widen.
"What the..." I say quietly without thinking.
A carriage sits completely overturned in the middle of the clearing.
One of the wheels has been ripped clean off while deep claw marks run across the wooden frame.
The horses that were pulling it lie dead on the ground next to it.
I slowly kneel beside one of them.
Whatever attacked them wasn’t trying to eat.
It simply killed them. This dragon definitely was just out for some fun or something.
My eyes travel across the ground.
Large footprints press deeply into the dirt before disappearing toward the opposite side of the clearing.
Each one is nearly twice the size of my own.
Dragon like footprints, followed by a destroyed carriage and dead horses. This dragon isn’t taking its time to kill anyone in the slightest.
It is also hunting.
I stand up again and wipe my hands against my clothes.
Part of me wants to follow the trail immediately while the other part keeps telling me to fall back for the time being until I am stronger.
If this dragon isn’t a weaker one... I’m going to be screwed. It already is going to be a challenge regardless for me but this might not be the smartest idea.
I might be walking towards my death if I am not careful with this situation.
I let out a slow breath.
I’m able to do this though. I can kill a damn dragon if I put my all into this blade and what I was shown so far.
I didn’t come all this way just to let it scare me back into hiding after everything they did to my family....
I carefully begin following the tracks again after that last thought.
They weave through the forest with surprising consistency, almost looks as though the creature knew exactly where it was going.
Every few dozen steps I find another broken tree.
Another gouge carved into stone.
It gives me a great reminder of why humans are actively at war with the dragons in the first place. I guess slayers really are needed to deal with this ongoing problem.
Crunch.
I immediately freeze.
The sound didn’t come from me which means someone is nearby.
I slowly crouch behind a large tree while placing one hand against the bark.
Voices echo in the distance. Two of them.
"I swear it came this way," A Young man says.
"Then keep looking," An older man instructs.
The voices grow louder until two armored men step into view.
Neither one notices me.
Their armor is scratched and covered in mud.
One carries a spear while the other drags a heavy axe across the ground.
Hunters? I doubt they’d be slayers but I feel like it would be dumb to go after dragons if you aren’t one.
The older of the two suddenly stops.
His eyes narrow toward the claw marks carved into a nearby tree.
"We’re close," He says with confidence.
The younger hunter swallows nervously.
"You really think it’s still around?" The young one asks.
"It never goes far," The older man answers.
They definitely seem to be quite experienced when it comes to hunting dragons but I don’t know what I should do here.
The older hunter slowly raises one hand.
"Stay quiet," He orders.
Both men begin checking around the forest as they move forward.
If trained hunters are acting this cautiously... Then charging in with a sword would’ve been the dumbest thing I could’ve done.
Glad I’m not dumb.
A low growl suddenly rumbles through the forest.
The sound alone catches me off guard since I didn’t really have much of an experience with dragons, other than the attack on the village.
The two hunters immediately turn toward the same direction.
The older man’s expression hardens.
"Run!" He shouts.
The younger hunter stares at him.
"What?" The Younger man questions.
"I said run!" The Older man shouts again.
CRACK!!
A massive tree explodes apart deeper within the forest and it causes birds to burst into the sky.
The ground trembles beneath my feet as I come to the realization that it is far larger than I imagined.
Without thinking, my hand slowly tightens around the hilt of my sword.
This really is... my first hunt.
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