Trudging through the thick snow was a pure white she-wolf, her ice blue eyes glowing in the darkness. Many things clouded her mind at the time, but the cool sensations surrounding her soothe her for the time being. The snow is her sanctuary, her home, her sense of belonging.
Annie Leonhardt was a lone wolf, preferably by her own choice and because she strongly believes she inherits the loneliness from her father. But she still had one thought repeating through her mind, constantly eating at her.
"Will I ever find a mate? Or will I be alone for the rest of my life?"
Annie was never one to enjoy the cheesy and mushy moments of love, but every now and then, she grew slightly envious for the couples that cherish one another, longing to experience those sensations too.
Due to her unpredictable personality and moods, many werewolves kept at a safe distance, not wanting to risk earning a spot on her bad side. She enjoys the loneliness, being free to do whatever she pleases without judgement on her actions. But sometimes it becomes too quiet for even her, making her long for company, specifically from her other half, her mate.
These thoughts depress her, so she builds up walls to protect herself and hide her emotions, her facial expression hard and uneasy to read or determine. It is rare to see Annie crack a genuine smile and it's especially rare to see her cry. Annie Leonhardt does not cry. She does not wish to share her weaknesses among others.
Her only method of coping with her unwanted thoughts is to run free, be the wolf she truly is. It pushes away everything she thinks about once she runs through the wilderness. She relishes in all the smells, touches, tastes, noises and what she sees. She feels powerful.
As she reaches her home, her bounding pace gradually slows to an unhurried walk. The fire was out long ago by the snow and sprinkle of rain, the scent of residual smoke and ash filling her sensitive nose, causing it to scrunch up in displeasure. She strides forward into her den, an eroded rock form that containd a small space inside. She curls up into a ball of fluffy white, gazing at the stars for a short period, before drifting off into a peaceful sleep, the same thought plaguing her mind.
When morning arises, Annie is awoken by the sound of the native birds chirping in various tones, her drowsy light blue eyes opening up slowly. She groans softly as the sun's bright rays hit her sensitive eyes and she sits upright cautiously to not hit her head on the ceiling. After stretching her body, Annie reaches for her hoodie and jeans, her cheeks pink from embarrassment. Clothes don't stay on if one were to transform and Annie was stark naked. It was something she'll never get used to.
The sweet, delicious smell of cooked meat wafted through her cave, causing her mouth to water and her stomach to rumble impatiently, demanding to be satisfied with a decent meal. She clambers out of her shelter once she was dressed and makes her way towards the fire, crouching down beside Reiner, murmuring a soft greeting to him whilst basking in the heat of the flames.
"Good morning sleeping beauty." Ymir coos mischievously with her signature smirk from the opposite of Annie, her protective arms wrapped around her most prized possession, Christa. Annie disliked the tall brunette personally. In her opinion she was too much of a smart ass who had a loud mouth and was also unpredictable like herself. Annie merely ignored Ymir and walked off, meeting eye to eye with Bertholdt who held out Annie's breakfast.
"Good morning." The gentle giant whispers as he passes Annie some medium rare cooked meat, Annie's favourite. Annie nods softly to Bertholdt in acknowledgement as she takes her meal. "Morning, thanks for leaving me some." She says, being very grateful. Winter times were harsh and food was scarce. A young buck had stumbled into the woods earlier, possibly from straying away too far from his herd. It had been their meal for the past few days, the meat being rationed throughout the small group.
Annie sits in her own space whilst eating the rationed meat, holding back the urges to moan in delight as the sweet juices and chewed meat slides down her throat. The repeating thought suddenly enters her head once again and Annie's eyes cloud over, her face forlorn. She nearly growls in frustration from her doubts and she tosses away the bone in an irritated manner, her appetite lost.
She sighs, rubbing her right hand over her temple, her facial expression changed to a more melancholy state. Why can't I get over this!? It's pointless having damn hope for myself.
Unbeknownst to her surroundings, she felt a petite, soft hand gently squeeze her shoulder, before another gentle hand rests on the other, massaging the tense muscles.
"You still doubting yourself Annie?" Christa asks quietly as her hands slide up to the sides of Annie's neck, rubbing the scent glands, making Annie's jaw go slack and her head roll back. Fuck... That's the spot. Annie's mind became a consistency of jelly, making her instantly forget about her troubles. Christa to everyone in the group was a gift from the heavens. She is what keeps the group together, who keeps Ymir sane. Annie could only slowly nod with a groan.
Christa knew Annie better than anyone, knew how to determine her constantly changing moods and behaviours. Annie had grown to enjoy the angelic girl's company and considered Christa a close friend. Christa knew how to soothe the doubtful blonde, knew how to talk to her. She wasn't afraid like everyone else.
"Don't give up on yourself Annie. Even if you don't believe it, we are here for you. One day you'll find the one, and I promise you, you will find true happiness in your other half. I think you will find your mate, you just need to believe and be patient."
Those words were repeated to the blonde on a regular basis, giving her small amounts of faith. But her doubts held her back, bringing her down slowly. She was grateful to Christa, never taking her words for granted but rather taking them to heart.
Once Annie snapped out of her relaxed, drowsy trance, she turns to face the blonde beauty. "Thank you Christa. I must be a pain in the ass to you because you always tell me this, but I'm grateful for it." She murmurs in a deep tone, having the courage to speak up for a moment.
Christa squeezes Annie's shoulders gently, providing her warm comfort. "You aren't a burden Annie. Remember that okay?" The angelic blonde flashes a smile, the same smile everyone falls in love with. "You just need a guide to help you on this journey, I'm more than happy to help you when you need my advice. I'm always available whenever you need somebody to talk to." She murmurs in a gentle tone before she stands up, perching herself back on Ymir's lap.
Annie gazes up at the cloudy sky with her ice blue eyes, seeing the dark clouds begin to open up to reveal a clear sky, the vibrant bright rays shining down on her. The blonde's light pink lips curls up just vaguely from the corner, basking in the heat of the sun.
Perhaps she would find what she was looking for. It would just take time.
Author's Note: This is my first fanfic hehe so it's probably crappy. I plan the fanfic to be a slow build and Mikasa will be introduced in the next chapter.
Mikasa Ackerbutt