The triple encounter
"Most of the people behind the walls believe that Survey Corps will bring victory to humankind and I also do in spite of many obstacles and countless losses. Some people believe that Titans are the unacknowledged Gods who should protect the walls and stuff that I'm not buying. They hopelessly believe in miracles, my ass, and let themselves get eaten by those filthy monsters. The ones who crave to live and survive this madness are not willing to get eaten, but unfortunately, bad things happen.
A week ago we lost contact with one of the expedition group that set out to supplement few of the Survey Corps' hideouts with goods like food cans, corn and gas tanks. They didn't make it back and we're here to investigate the situation and count the losses, if lucky, to find any survivors."
The sun was about to set in two or three hours as Survey Corps went through the usual forest located behind the walls many long and exhausting miles away from the safety humanity craves. It was way safer to go through woods and forests because if they encounter Titans 3DMG could be used thanks to the trees. In fact they already have encountered two Titans, but everything went smooth: monsters weren't deviant-type and easy to kill. Besides, this expedition and rescue group has humanity's most powerful soldier among them. Lead by lance corporal Rivaille nothing could go wrong on his watch.
Rescue team was on its way to the distant hideout, because the first one had been full of supplies, which tells that the previous group had reached that point and went further.
– Corporal! – A woman called out to the man in the front row leading the group of nine people including him and a carriage.
– What is it? – replied Rivaille in a cold indifferent voice, looking back at her.
– We are approaching the village! – She noted, checking the map.
– How far? – asked the man. He'd prefer to stay for the night inside of the building or on big-ass trees as he calls the trees in giant forest.
– It should be... – woman stopped speaking, glancing with a terrified look at some point in distance.
– Speak it up! – yelled Rivaille.
– ... there! – was the sudden response and woman pointed somewhere to show her comrades the horrifying view of annihilated village that was supposed to be still active. But since all of the houses made of stone were destroyed, there couldn't be any survivors.
– Ch...! – Corporal gave out a displeased and angry sound.
They had to pass the village and search for another place where to reside the night.
Horses were rushing through the pale-green plain that used to be a field for cattle. Everything around was dying in the colors of the setting sun behind their backs. Through the carriage's rattling and horses' clatter of hooves a child's cry had been heard somewhere from the small river nearby.
– Oi! Are you hearing that too?! – asked one man out loud to confirm that he's not having any hallucinations because of the exhaustion. Everyone's faces looked as pale as they have seen a 15-meter-type Titan before them.
– Kina! Leo! Hay! – Three names had been called out by the corporal; – Prepare to move on the left on my command! – He yelled.
– Others go forward! Destination remains the same! We'll catch up! – ordered Rivaille and shouted 'now'.
– Yes, sir! – And the team was divided in two groups.
It didn't take long for the team to bump into 5-meter high obstacle.
– Heichou! TITAN! – shouted Kina her lungs out when saw titan figure on the horizon.
– Shit! – thought Rivaille, as they spotted the source of the cry.
A small child probably had been trying to leave the destroyed village and heading in the wrong direction and since it saw the titan, it started crying out loud that brought the second monster from the nearest forest.
The child-rescue mission didn't feel to end well because of the significant distance between the group and the titan also moving towards the child. They won't just make it in time.
– Heads up! Kill the titans at all costs even if we won't make it! – ordered Rivaille and having hit the horse on its sides moved out forward, still hoping to save the innocent child. He was always stubborn and coldblooded and was trying to remain that way even now.
– Heichou! – shouted somebody from the group that fell behind a little.
Rivaille did not believe in miracles, he believed in human strength and determination, that a newblood in Survey Corps or usual citizen won't be able to kill a single titan without any training. But something that very moment was about to change his mind.
– Rivaille Heichou! We won't make it! – repeated Hay over and over again, watching how their leader rushed ahead.
– Kill the titan then! – yelled Rivaille angrily in response, because child's life will be lost any minute now.
– Guys! Look! Ahead! – was heard from Leo pointing at the left side of a titan.
– There's someone on the horse! Is that our man?! – Happy intonations were heard in Rivaille's comrade's voice as they saw a figure with a fluttering green cape. They had high expectations from the guy from another group all of a sudden, because despite not making out his face, he was moving very-very fast on a parallel with a titan itself. But corporal still remained skeptical and didn't slow down a bit, preparing his swords and 3DMG.
Kina's, Leo's and Hay's hopes had been crushed when a soldier passed the titan without trying to stop it by cutting its' legs. Few more seconds and he outraced the monster for 123 meters heading directly to the child.
– What the hell is he doing?! – raged Leo not wanting to believe his eyes that soldier abandoned the oath to kill each and every titan he encounters. Same went for others and even Rivaille, who grew to despise man's actions, but after someone shouted 'No... Look closely!' he forgave the soldier.
He was unarmed.
Riding a golden buckskin horse without a single sword on the hips in front of a titan wanting to eat him and later puke his corpse up, he seemed to be very brave and selfless.
Hundred meters remained till the crying child running away from the titan. But that wasn't an obstacle for a soldier as he clung with his right leg to a stirrup and made an infamous death drag. SNATCH! And weeping kid was in his arms, already sitting in a saddle, clinging to his savior.
– Unbelievable! – Rivaille's comrades expressed astonishment by the riding trick man made. It wasn't just a trick, but it was performed on a high speed on the non-galloping horse.
– Not bad, – noted corporal with the same calm look on his face. The way was clear and nothing stood between the soldiers and the target.
Corporal's eyes opened wide of the bewilderment when the soldier passed by him. Stranger man turned out to be a woman instead.
That millisecond of the moment felt like they got stuck in slow-motion. Rivaille caught a glimpse of auburn messy hair and ice-blue eyes filled with determination under the shadow of the green hood. Their eyes met for a second when their horses passed each other and then went in different directions. Corporal had not time to deal with a stranger, he and his team had a dirty job to do.
Stranger woman has been watching from afar how Survey Corps' soldiers were dealing with those two titans. Perfect co-operation and team-work... One of them, leader as it seemed to her, went solo. His movements were magnificent: accurate, strong and graceful at the same time.
– Amazing! – Little girl sitting on young woman's laps made her presence known by showing her liking for the soldiers.
– Yes, they are, – responded the redhead watching the second titan fall with a bump that could be felt on the ground as a trembling.
Even though they saved them from those monsters, she didn't know whether to trust them or not... that's why she just stood there, holding her horse back. But animal was exhausted from long distanced full speed run and rushed towards the river to drink some water.
Woman came down from the horse's back leaving girl on in the saddle when the group of rescuers came closer in gallop. She could read a lot of confusion on their faces – they took her for one of their soldiers, because she was wearing exactly the same jacket, cape and boots and the same emblem as them, only that her clothes were covered in stained blood. And the 3DMG was missing along with the blades.
– Hey, you, – the man whose skills she grew to admire from afar came down from the horse. He was a lot shorter than he looked while riding the horse; he turned out to be even more loud and sounded indifferently outraged. Redhead did not respond, being more concerned with her steed's well-being.
– Are you deaf or something? Heichou is talking to you! – said one of his female comrades out loud with an annoyed voice.
– He only called for me. He didn't say anything meaningful yet, – noted woman calmly.
– You are coming with us. I have questions, – he said, ignoring her wittiness in his address.
– Besides, other titans might get here soon! – Mumbled another woman.
– Not likely. Sun already fell and it takes about fifteen to thirty minutes for humanoids to fall asleep, – was the answer.
– I'm not saying that I'm not going with you, it was just a remark... – she added and got into the saddle.
– Kina, take the girl, – ordered Rivaille and redhead gave child away willingly to another woman and they made a move towards another team's location.
