Chapter Two
The group began entering the walls of Maria. The numbers had decreased drastically. Darrin's heart ached for all his lost comrades. So many people he had gone to school with, he had graduated with and worked with were gone in an instant. The people looked so excited to see the Survey group, but he couldn't even bare to look at them. They didn't know the hells beyond the wall. He looked at the girl who was curiously looking at all the people. She leaned forward and listened to everything they said. It was so new; she'd never been near this many people before. She looked at Darrin to see how sad he looked. The moods were so different; the joy of the people and the sorrow of the soldiers. Was this the world she had missed?
There was a commotion with one of the men to the side. He was yelling about something, the soldier on his knees in front of a woman with tears heavy in his eyes. The woman had an arm in her own arms, tears also dotted in her eyes. The girl felt her stomach turn. Death to her was natural, so she never thought much of it. Be the sight of those affected by death was what got to her. She never saw it happen before, though she had witnessed death many times but never the people who lost it.
The group returned to the base. The girl felt so awkward, not really belonging. Darrin looked at everyone before steering his horse to the barns. Darrin slid off and helped the girl down. He then walked his horse into his stall and prepared it for its stay. The girl looked at all the soldiers, many glancing at her. She leaned against a post ant waited for Darrin to be ready. She didn't know what to do, really, she was use to being on her own, no one around her at all.
Just then a man walked into the barn. He stood very proper, legs out shoulder length apart. He had his arms crossed behind his back. "Soldier Darrin Forester!" he boomed. Darrin felt worry in his throat. He stepped out of the stall.
"Y-yes Sir?" he asked, trying to sound confident. The man strolled over to him. He pointed to the girl.
"Who is that?!" he snapped. Darrin looked at her then back at the man.
"It's a civilian Sir, we found her outside the walls!" he replied, getting his composure back. The girl was slightly confused. This man must have had more authority than Darrin, but she didn't know how much more. The man strolled over to her. She eyes him, taking in the details. He was tall and sturdy, probably a middle aged man. His hair was a deep brown and his eyes a chocolate colour. He looked very bitter with a large scowl on his face. He eyes her quickly.
"What were you doing beyond the wall?!" he barked. The girl instantly seized up.
"I-I was living!" she replied. She realized she kind of sounded like Darrin, minus the "Sir" part. The man laughed.
"What a fool, no one lives outside the walls, they die," he said pointedly. The girl shook her head.
"Not true, I have been living here for five years. I've watched this group pass outside my house and fight the Titans many times before. My family and I lived out there for years, we never knew of a sanctuary beyond walls, we never even knew these walls existed," she explained. Everyone in the stables stopped working and looked at her. Even the man looked shocked. Darrin rubbed the back of his neck, worried. The ma cleared his throat.
"What's your name girl?" he asked. The girl pulled some hair in front of her and stroked it.
"Elesian," she replied, "Elesian Mothropas." The man smiled than looked at Darrin.
"What do you plan to do with her?" he asked. He was about to say something when Elesian piped up again.
"I believe since I have my own mind I can decide for myself," she interrupted. The man looked at her slightly surprised.
"Alright Mrs Mothropas, what do you with to do?" he questioned. She smiled and stood her legs shoulder length apart, crossing her arms behind her back and looking up at him.
"I wish to join your fight with the Titans!" she replied. The man laughed at her. He obviously thought low of this messy girl with a big mouth. She shifted her jaw irritated. The man looked at everyone who was wide eyed.
"What are all you so shocked about? You don't think she can do it either?" he asked. Thorin stepped forward.
"I believe they think the opposite. She actually fought the Titans with us without the use of a maneuver gear. I believe enrolling her into the military and getting her to join the Survey Corps would be very beneficial, if it's not to bold to say to," he replied. The man looked at the girl who still stood. He turned.
"Well, I'll speak to the commander about this matter," he stated before leaving. Darrin walked over to Elesian. She looked at him.
"So, who was that?" she asked. Darrin widened his eyes.
"You mean you spoke to him like that even though you didn't know his position?" he asked. Elesian nodded. He sighed and ran his hand through his dirty blond hair. "He's the leader of my squad. In the Survey Corps we have smaller groups lead by a leader who report to the Commander. He has authority over anyone in his squad."
"So that's why you're scared of him," Elesian muttered. Darrin looked at her.
"I'm not scared of him; I scared of worst than him. He's got a harsh bark but he didn't get to be out leader by that. He's smart, sometimes, at least when we are in battle he is. He knows what needs to be done and he does it," he explained. It made sense to Elesian, plus he appeared to have the guts to do anything. That was important in a soldier. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up." Elesian nodded and Darrin lead her out of the stable. She was excited to see what would happen if she was allowed to join the Military. She loved the thrill of fighting, of scaling the massive creatures and protecting people. Perhaps it wasn't the fight she loved, but the thought of protection. That's what she wanted, to protect the world from all its fears, all its deaths.
"Do you think I'll get to be a soldier?" she asked. Darrin smiled.
"Anyone can try to be a soldier, the trick is making it through," he replied. Elesian smiled. This world appeared so new, but she wanted to protect it, protect it unlike when she failed to protect her parents.
