FIRESTORM by Rebecca C. Brister

Levi seemed to be lost in a world all his own as he curried his horse after a long day's riding, humming an ancient tune from a time long before the walls. The large harness she wore in lieu of a saddle hung over the rail of the stall and she was contentedly munching on grain as Levi brushed out her shining black coat. She was a very unusual horse for the Survey Corps. She was much larger than any other horse in the Corps, long feathers around her massive hooves. According to Levi, she was an ancient breed of war horse, bred for increased power and agility, but without sacrificing speed. Everyone in the Corps knew that Firestorm was no military issue horse. Levi had shown up to training with her. She was his horse.

He never used a saddle or bridle with her. She still wore a halter, but place of the saddle, she wore a harness that had a large green stone at the breast and four steel bars across the shoulders for hanging gear and for grabbing and mounting. They had worked together for years, acting as one in the war against the titans. She responded to a combination of verbal commands, subtle changes in Levi's body language, and a very unique system of whistles that sounded like nightingales or warblers. This suited Levi perfectly since it freed his hands for combat. They way they worked together so seamlessly on the battlefield was a source of amazement to everyone in the Corps. She was the perfect fighting partner, fearless and intuitive. Levi's senses were already sharper than any other human's, but Firestorm's senses were sharper still. Together, they made a terrifying force to be reckoned with.

Levi often carried on full conversations with the animal, which seemed stranger still when one noticed that the horse clearly conversed back, and sometimes even starting the conversation. They understood each other, even if no one else did. Even Commander Erwin would occasionally ask what the horse had said.

Eren was in the next stall over, currying his horse, Lucy. Never one to refrain from asking any question that popped into his head, he asked, "Hey, Levi, what made you name her 'Firestorm'?"

"Hm?" Levi was still lost in thought.

"How did you come to name your horse Firestorm? How long have you had her? How did you even get a horse like her?"

"Tch! You're sure full of questions tonight, brat!" Levi replied. "What brought this on?"

"Just curious," Eren said, looking a little crestfallen.

Levi rolled his eyes and sighed. He had finished currying Firestorm, so he left the stall and sat down on a bale of straw. He never closed the gate to her stall, leaving her free to wander about and follow him as she pleased. She even came into castle with him at times. "Firestorm's been at my side for almost as long as I can remember," he began.

Eren's face lit up again and he promptly sat down on the supply trunk across from Levi, his green eyes wide and looking for all the world like a little kid waiting to hear and epic story told by his big brother.

Dammit, Levi thought. Why does he have to be so damn enthusiastic all the time? Levi had never been able to resist when the children he had under his care begged for a story. He was irritated by the fact that he had equally little resistance to such a request from Eren.

"The first memory I have of her," Levi continued. "I couldn't have been more than four or five years old. I don't remember exactly where I was or why I was there. I just remember flames everywhere around me. I couldn't see anything except the flames, and the smoke made it painful to breathe. "

Levi got a distant and haunted look in his eyes. Eren leaned forward, listening intently to the story. It was so rare for Levi to reveal anything at all about his past. "I can remember screaming for help," Levi continued. "But no one came. I remember the searing pain on my back as the flames touched me. I screamed in pain and fear. I was certain that I was about to die. That was when I saw her. She walked calmly through the flames as if they couldn't touch her. She walked right up to me and nuzzled me. She got down on the ground so I could climb onto her back, then got up and carried me through the flames to safety. "

Levi paused a moment, debating if he should continue or not. Eren sat patiently (which was unusual for him) waiting for Levi to continue. Finally, Levi sighed and carried on with his story. "I remember my parents taking me in their arms and telling my how thankful they were that I was alive. I'll grant you that as a small child; my memory of the incident may be a little off, since how a child sees the world is so different from how it really is. This much is fact: That horse saved my life."

Firestorm had left her stall, tussled Eren's hair with her soft lips, and then came over to Levi and nuzzled his neck. Levi reached up and patted her soft nose as he finished the story. "Nobody could ever tell me where she came from or who she belonged to. She wasn't any horse that my parents owned. No one ever came to claim ownership of her and since she was always with me, I claimed her as my own. She's been my best friend, guardian, combat partner, and, when I was little, even a nurse maid."

When it became clear that Levi had ended his story, Eren scowled slightly and asked again, "So why did you name her Firestorm?"

"Hm? Oh, well, I thought that was obvious. Shoulda known I'd have to spell it out for you, brat." Levi retorted. "The way she walked through the flames without them touching her. It was as if she could control them. It seemed like we were in a raging storm of flames – thus the name Firestorm. We've been together, side by side ever since that day." Levi got up, stretched and started walking out of the stable. "Now finish cleaning up in here, brat!"

Eren didn't mind finishing up the cleaning in the stable. He was too excited, because he knew that he was now one of the privileged few (very few) that Levi had revealed a piece of his past to.