Chase:
I woke with a start feeling the salty droplets soak through my shirt and drip off the leather straps which surrounded my body. It was serenity feeling the mid-summer storm fall upon my skin, clearing the filth off my arms and face. It had been 7 years since I had managed to regain my place on surface, 5 since I had managed to escape the walls. The nightmare made me shiver with guilt, my thoughts went to Levi, Isabel and Farlan who I presumed were dead. Leaves from the tree I had been sleeping in fell around the tree's gigantic frame, settling on the ground like a green carpet, reminding me of the harsh reality of the world. Titan infested, barely survivable. The metal of my 3DMG hung heavily on my hips, cutting into my porcelain skin with bearable pain. I decided to move quickly from my position, the forest was a regular scouting area for the trainees of the three regiments and being caught by any of them was bad news. Shuffling my straps around to a more comfortable position, I jumped down from the large branch, grappling to larger trees to prevent a rough journey and complications with my equipment. My instincts told me to head west, further away from the forest but that's when I saw it. A shimmer of metal hidden amongst the trees, I ignored it thinking that it was just my imagination and carried on with my journey.
The tranquil rain and the 'zipping' sound of my 3DMG grapples were the only sounds which reverberated across the forest. I elegantly forced myself to stop on the mud dominated ground, soaking my boots in the sticky substance. Something skittered across my skin, but no bug was present. I felt like I was being watched, looking up at the tree canopies I saw my worst nightmare.
Around 15 soldiers surrounded me, all perched on branches like owls, the same logo on each of their jackets and cloaks. The Scouts. I had waltzed straight into one of their training exercises. I growled my grip on the handles of my equipment tightening as I turned looking at each of the opponents individually.
"If you're planning on leaving, I advise against it."
That voice, the harshness. My head jolted behind me, my brunette hair bunches tickling my shoulders slightly.
"How lovely to see you again."
His face hadn't aged a single day, still the person I hated most.
"Erwin Smith."
Sat upon his horse, the commander of the Scouts, the person who took everything away from me. My eyes shimmered with red hazy vision, my hatred for the man blinding me partially.
"You move and all my scouts will be on you like a titan."
A growl erupted from my throat as I stood up straighter, my mouth turning into an evil smirk.
"You think these, can stop me Smith? Not even the Military Police could catch me. It would be excellent practice though."
Gasps echoed across the clearing as my challenge against this brigade was registered. Smith lifted his hand up into the air, setting them on me.
"Fine, be like that."
Hooking a spare blade from my scabbard, I flicked round launching it directly into one of the soldiers 3DMG, hitting the gas canister directly. The same trick I had used 7 years ago to escape the same regiment in the Underground District. Gas spilled out into the clearing, giving me the perfect opportunity to escape. As four more soldiers jumped down, I zoomed past them back the way I came, replacing my blades skilfully while manoeuvring around shrubbery. From the left, I saw two grapples wedge themselves into the bark of a large oak tree. Using my grapples, I launched myself forward like a catapult only to be pulled back by the grapples, confusing the two soldiers who had chased me so closely. I zoomed back past them, spinning violently and cutting their cords. Retracting my grapples back, I rolled onto the muddy floor athletically using my hand as a brake.
"Two down, thirteen more to go..."
Hearing the sprinting behind me, I grappled straight up towards the leaf covered trees, releasing the two blades sending them straight down at the soldiers. Looking down, I smirked as I saw two green cloaked girls dart away from the quickly approaching blades.
"Eleven left, stay calm Shinshi."
Jumping upwards with my fist in the air, I regained my location and pressed on North changing my tactics. The wind zoomed past my ears, the rain soothing my sweating forehead. Lifting my arms in front of me, I saw seven more soldiers behind me.
"Do you guys ever give up?" I called out, flipping my body around to taunt them. All of their faces frowned back at me, their body frames all limp from the chase, all except for one single soldier. One girl caught my eye in particular, those silver eyes and that shade of black hair. Her neck was wrapped with a scarlet coloured scarf and her body remained straight and poised, I recognised that glare. I flipped round, I had to get away, my mind locking on one single tactic that could wipe all seven soldiers out at once. My facial expression turned dark as I catapulted myself into a elegant spin, my blades cutting through tree branches launching them everywhere. I felt adrenaline pounding inside me as I came out of the move, looking at the scattering soldiers, some who were falling to the ground as their 3DMG malfunctioned from the branch debris. With only four left I could escape. Pushing my gear to its full potential, I zoomed through the forest, leaving the scouts behind, letting them rethink about challenging me again.
My legs hung off the tree branch as my chest rose erratically; escaping from the scouts had been a great practice run but had caused the gas to run low in my own equipment. I had enough to last me about 30 more minutes which meant I would have to organise another heist into the walls to gather more supplies. My boots dripped mud from the storm that had passed during the last couple of minutes of the chase. I was filthy.
"Gross..."
Just then, a rippling pain soared across my left thigh as I was pulled from the branch. My eyes shot open as I landed upon the forest floor, the wetness soaking into my clothes, hair and the mud layering my skin. I screamed out, feeling like I was being devoured by a titan from the legs down. Shaking, I lifted my head up to see that a metal grapple from a 3DMG had lodged itself around my ankle, the grapple tips cutting into my skin deeply. The grapple cord led into the darkness, I shakily grabbed a blade from my scabbard trying to find a way to slice the cord. Just as I was about to bring the blade down, I heard the shot of another grapple being fired as the blade was launched from my grasp. I panted looking around for my attacker.
"Come out of the shadows, you c-coward!" My stutter portrayed the fear that I was unaware to.
Erwin trotted out of the darkness on his horse, with a pair of handcuffs hanging from his tight grasp.
"Why would you launch the grapple into me you-?"
I paused; Erwin's 3DMG was still, no cables. Nothing.
"Who-?"
Turning my head to the left, I saw him.
That glare, the determination.
"I thought I taught you better."
My voice went hoarse.
"L-Levi?"