Eren sat by the window, looking out at the powder white snow that blanketed the ground outside. White flakes drifted by the windowpane, and his breath steamed up the cold glass.
"Don't lie on the window like that. Your face will freeze. If you're not careful you'll catch pneumonia"
Eren turned around, scowling.
"Stop babying me. I can do what I want, I'm not gonna catch bloody pneumonia from lying on a window. Leave me alone, Mikasa."
Mikasa looked disapproving, and opened her mouth to reply to Eren.
"S-so what I was saying was that, maybe if we go out and get wood from the forest a-and me and some of the other soldiers build it, then would it be possible, captain?" Armin's voice became louder as he entered the mess hall, tagging behind a tired-looking Captain Levi.
"I don't get it. Why on earth would you brats want to go to all the effort to do that? I really cannot fathom how you think that building a tower of sticks and setting it on fire is going to help the survey corps in any way…"
"B-but it will boost our spirits, captain! I-I mean after the last expedition everyone has been feeling down, you know, as there were quite a large number of casualties… please, sir?"
"Whatever. As long as you shitty brats don't set anything on fire. I have work to do, you are dismissed, Arlert."
"T-thank you, captain!" Armin said, delighted, and hurried over to Eren and Mikasa, who had been watching the conversation. He sat down on the bench next to Eren, and smiled happily.
"So… what was that about then?" Eren asked, sitting up now that there was something more interesting going on.
"Well," Armin said excitedly, "I was thinking, the mood's ben really low lately, and everyone fights better when theyre happy, so why don't we make a bonfire!"
"What for?" Mikasa asked, seeming marginally interested.
"Fun! Back in the cadets we used to muck about, but now that we're in the survey corps, everyone kind of just… well… everyone's thinking about whether or not theyre going to survive the next mission. It's just really… depressing."
Eren had perked up, looking excited now that he had something to do.
"Armin, that's a great idea! Lets do it, right now. We can go into the forest; there'll be loads of wood we can use out there! Come on, Mikasa." Eren exclaimed, pushing back the bench, standing up and walking towards the door.
"Eren, wait up! You'll get lost if you go by yourself!" Armin shouted, running after Eren.
Levi sat in his office, sorting through a thick pile of documents that sat on his desk. He sighed, and thumped the papers down on his desk. Getting out of his chair, he walked over to the window, and stood there looking out over the snow-topped trees. It was at that moment that he noticed something that looked out of place.
A thin column of smoke was rising over the treetops, billowing in the wind. Levi pressed his palm against the window, as shock crossed briefly over his normally emotionless face.
"Titan smoke…" he breathed. A picture of the Armin, Eren and Mikasa out in the woods alone flashed through his mind. Turning round, he dashed out of the room, grabbing his cloak just as he left, and with a flash of green, he disappeared down the corridor.
"Armin, d'you think this ones good enough?" asked Eren, picking up a small stick that had been lying on the leafy floor.
"It's a bit damp. We'll need dry wood if we're going to make a fire." said Armin, examining Eren's stick.
"I got one." Mikasa announced, coming out from behind a tree, carrying an enormous oak branch on her shoulders.
Eren dropped his stick.
"Mikasa, that's great! Where did you find it?!"
Before Mikasa could answer, a deafening boom shook the forest. A flock of birds rose into the air, cawing in alarm.
"What… what the hell was that?" said Eren, looking in the direction of the noise, and seeing smoke drifting out of the trees.
"It's titan steam," whispered Armin, looking terrified. "B-but that's impossible, there shouldn't be any titans inside the wall… unless…"
"Unless it's a titan shifter. Someone else like Eren and Annie." said Mikasa, finishing Armin's sentence.
Eren was already moving away through the trees, shouting back to Mikasa and Armin.
"Come on. Its not that far, we need to check it out."
"But Eren…!" Armin squeaked.
" It'll be ok, Armin. I can protect you, remember? I'm allowed to use my titan if it's an emergency."
"Come on, Armin. We have to go and check it out." Mikasa said quietly but firmly, striding forwards into the bushes where Eren had disappeared. Armin followed, looking wary but reassured by his friends.
The three broke into a sprint, running as fast as they could through the forest. Branches whipped Eren's face as he ran, as if warning him not to go any further, and he heard ominous noises coming from the direction of the steam.
A loud, clear crack came from up ahead, and the snapping and twisting of branches rang through the now silent forest. Eren began to rethink his actions, wondering just what it was they were getting themselves into.
Levi rode through the forest, Hanji at his side.
"So what you're saying is there is titan steam coming from the forest, which may or may not be coming from a beautiful new specimen of titan shifter, and as always, Eren, Mikasa and Armin are heading straight for it?" Hanji spoke rapidly, her eyes agleam with the prospect of a new titan shifter.
"Exactly. Now it would be helpful if you get your shitty glasses focused on the road and not on your gruesome titan fantasies." Levi snapped back, spurring his horse faster as the sound of snapping trees echoed through the woods.
Stupid, idiotic kids. Always have to go poking their noses in where they don't belong… Levi thought to himself as he rode through the trees, Hanji practically jumping up and down in her saddle with excitement.
Just what are we going to meet when we reach that steam? Wondered the captain as he headed closer and closer to the one of the worst days he had ever had.