The last chapter was short for a reason, so I could continue it in this chapter! Hopefully, you enjoy this chapter too! I'm also trying hard to not make her a Mary-Sue!

I do not own Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin. All characters except my OCs rightfully belong to Hajime Isayama.

Latest Update: 6/17/17


Chapter III: Sanity and Humanity


Consciousness slowly came back to her as she struggled to open her eyes. Her mind was cloudy, she didn't know what to think. Memories of Carla Jaeger getting eaten by a titan came flooding back to her."Mrs. Jaeger!"

She jerked forward, only to run into her brother's chest. Fear was clouded in his eyes, the settling mood was conflicting, it was hard for her to breath. Grief overcame her as she sobbed quietly."Where are we, Ashton?" she asked, covering her eyes with her sleeve."Where are our parents? Where's Eren and Armin and Mikasa?"

He found it hard to answer, he was dreading the moment she woke up."I-I…" Ashton was at a loss for words. He was nervous, he was shaking all over."Mom and dad are M.I.A. They could be K.I.A. too, but I'm not really sure. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are alright. They're on the boat. Where we are, I'm definitely at a loss for words…

"We're evacuating to Wall Rose. Some of the people were left behind because there wasn't enough space on the boats for everyone to fit. They ended up getting eaten by the titans. The Armored Titan-"

"Armored Titan?" she said, hints of pure hatred in the question.

"Yeah," he replied, looking down to his feet."A muscular Titan with armor-like plates on its body. It broke through Wall Maria's gate."

She froze when he finished."I can't do this anymore…" she whispered, diving into her brother's chest, shaking with uncontrollable sobs."We don't know where mom and dad are, Mrs. Jaeger died, and we had to leave our lifetime home behind because of the fucking titans!

"I'm tired of this bullshit! All we've done is cower in fear because we're inferior to the titans. That's all we've made progress in. Nothing else." she said, squeezing her brother's sides angrily, making him wince."No one ever wants to step up to the plate and take the responsibility. The Garrison are lazy fucking drunkards who can't control their drinking problem. The Military Police are totally undertrained bitches who've never seen titans ever. It's really starting to piss me off! I know I'm only a 10 year old and I shouldn't be swearing, but I'm not in the best mood today.

"I'm done with this. I'm done with the Garrison, I'm done with the Military Police. I'm done with those stupid fucking titans. I'm done with everything, I have to fight for what's right, it's not right if I don't. It's the only way to save myself. Joining the Scouting Legion is the only way."

Her brother stared at her, shocked by her vulgar language."Savy, you do know that joining the Scouting Legion is like signing a death wish, right?" he asked, pulling her away from him."It's like certain death as soon as you step out of those walls."

"So what? Is there something wrong with that? Are you trying to say that my new primary goal is stupid?"

He flailed his hands defensively."Of course not! I'm just worried, you seem…different, now that this happened."

She growled under her breath."Of course, I am! Our parents are missing, for God's sake! Ugh, sometimes your such an idiot, Ashton."

His frown soon changed to a small smile."At least we have Grandma to stay with."

"No, we need to learn how to depend on ourselves if something were to ever happen again."

It was deathly quiet after that, neither sibling dared to speak."Brother," she finally said again, not removing herself from Ashton."Can we let them stay with us?"

"Your friends?" She nodded. Ashton smiled.

"Of course we can. I'll be running the house now, so it doesn't matter. Oh! I almost forgot to give you this," he said, unwrapping a scarf from around his neck. He tied it around Savannah's neck, knotting the purple fabric so it wouldn't move out of place."There. It's mom's scarf. I took it from the house and decided to give it to you. To remember mom. Protect it with your life."

"Sure." Though she's committed to most things, her one flaw is that she won't work as hard as she knows she can. She limits herself."I'll protect mom's scarf."

They frantically tried searching on the boat for their parents. Unfortunately, neither of them were accounted for."No luck, Ash."

"No luck here either." They both sighed. It was going to be hard living without their parents. Ashton was nervous over all things. Being the adult in the house means that he'll have more responsibilities to take care of.

"I know what your thinking, Ash. It'll be hard to take the leadership role of the household."

His eyes widened, then they closed."Yeah. I'm scared about it. What if something else bad happens. I won't be able to protect you all," he said, saying exacting what he was thinking."How'd you know what I was thinking?"

She smiled, and it warmed his heart."Sibling power. We have a strong connection as siblings."

He swallowed the lump in his throat."Let's just hope that mom and dad are alright. This day has been a long one."

She looked up to the sky and sighed."You can say that again."

Once they got into Wall Rose, she noticed many people get angry over having to house people from Shiganshina and Wall Maria.

"We barely have enough food for the people as it is. They should've just let them die," one of the people said, glaring at some of the civilians from Wall Maria and Shiganshina.

And this angered her.

She walked up to the man and tapped his shoulder. He turned and glared."What the hell do you want, kid?"

He must've noticed she was an inhabitant from the outside walls because he looked at her with pure disdain. She narrowed her eyes and grabbed his arm. She threw her head back and bit down. Hard.

The man yelled in pain as he pushed Savannah off of him. She stumbled back, landing into the arms of her angry brother.

"Damn kid!" He yelled at her, grabbing a crescent moon shape on his arm. He looked at Ashton behind her and scowled."Is this your sister?!" Ashton instantly put on his tough guy armor and frowned."Yeah. What of it?"

"This little bitch bit my fucking arm! I'm gonna beat her ass!"

Ashton walked up to him, towering over him like a tree."Listen here: my little sister isn't a bitch, second of all, with you and what army?" Savannah was amazed, though she knew Ashton would have a stern talk with her later about randomly biting people.

"I'll be back for you!" he said, running in the opposite direction.

"Phew, that guy was starting to piss me off."

Ashton threw a glare her direction."You know better, Savannah. That was rude of you to do that. You shouldn't have done that." It was a first for her, Ashton didn't get mad often he was never truly upset.

"Fine," she said, crossing her arms and pouting."I'm sorry about what happened."

"You should be. We're trying not to have your name going throughout the town." He said, sighing in defeat."Though I already know it's probably going to happen anyway."

"Hey. Shut up, and let's go find my friends." She said, running off without Ashton."Eren! Mikasa! Armin! Are you guys here?" she shouted through the loud crowd."We're here!" she heard faintly through the crowd.

"Keep saying "here" until I get to you!" They did as told, shouting "here" while Savannah followed their voices. She met up with them and hugged each of them. She was glad that they were alive.

"Guys," she said, trying to sound hopeful."Since the thing with Mrs. Jaeger happened…" she finished, trying not to depress the two siblings. She felt bad about mentioning this. Eren had just lost his mother, it was probably hard for him to listen too."Ashton agreed to let you stay with us. He'll take care of us. All of us."

"Armin needs it. His grandfather was chosen to fight."

Savannah glanced at Armin. A hat was covering his face, but she could tell he was crying. He was shaking with sobs and occasional hiccups. She walked up to him and grabbed his hand.

He was quite shocked by this, he never really expected it."It's okay, Armin. My brother will take great care of you if you come with us. My parent's lives are unknown as of today. We don't know where they went, and I don't think we'll find out," she said, closing her eyes."But Ashton has to stay strong for me so I know that everything will be alright. So I'll be strong for you. To show you that everything will be alright. You have us here. All is one, and one is all."

He looked at all of their faces. The others were nodding in agreement. They now had to depend on each other to live.

He nodded, rubbing the tears from his eyes. Savannah smiled slightly."Let's go find us a nice place to live."

They found a beautiful grassy field with bright colored wildflowers all around. There was a large oak tree towering over the grassy land. Ashton made sure that there were efficient possible ways to get to the town without getting lost in the fields. In the middle was an average house, one story with the outside in good condition. Savannah pointed out that she and Ashton will need a place to spar when the house is all finished. Though Ashton wasn't listening.

He was thinking about how nice he could make this place look."…we could clear the grass for our sparring grounds, you guys will probably be fine running through grass, right? Let's check out the inside."

He opened the door and gaped at the features inside. There were four bedrooms, one each for Mikasa, Eren, and Armin, then one that Savannah and Ashton would share together. There was a nice and clean kitchen, even though the house is surrounded by bugs and dirt. Ashton thought he could probably dig underground outside to see if there are pipes hooked up already.

"So, we have one goal accomplished; finding a prim and proper house. We just need beds, a table, food, clothes, and kitchenware." Ashton said, scratching his head."I bet you're all hungry, am I right?"

The four kids nodded in agreement. There were no arguments, hunger overpowers the brain when you can't think about anything else important.

The five of them together walked back to the town. The people were giving out food to all of the survivors from Wall Maria and the Shiganshina District. Ashton was only able to get four pieces of bread. They refused to give him extra.

"I'm sorry guys, they could only give me four. I won't be eating."

Savannah then just thought something ironic. Eren wasn't talking as much. Ashton handed him his bread, which Eren proceeded to just stare at. His hair was hiding his face, it was hard to tell what he was feeling. His teeth then clenched, and he rose his arm in the air, getting ready to throw the bread on the ground. Mikasa snatched it from his hands and threw it to Armin, and Savannah threw a punch.

Eren fell backward, landing on his butt. She glared at him, wondering what the hell his problem was."Eren! What the heck is wrong with you?! Ashton just busted his ass getting food, then he had to give his away, thinking about us before himself. He's downright fucking generous for that! Why were you about to throw it on the ground?!"

"I don't need your pity!" He shouted at her, clenching his fists."I don't need your sympathy either!"

That didn't come out of his mouth right.

Savannah suddenly became angry at him. She kicked him in his sides and stomach, making him double over. She was about to punch him when her brother held her back."What the hell is your problem?! Hannes busted his ass trying to save us, we get here, and you refuse to eat? Ashton could've fucking starved us to death, and I bet you still would've acted like a fucking asshole!"

"I'm tired of all those fucking titans!" He shouted back, jumping to his feet.

"I am too, but you don't see me throwing my fucking bread to the ground as if Ashton didn't sacrifice his hunger! Be glad he even wanted to feed your ungrateful ass," she said, grabbing the bread and stuffing it into his mouth."Now eat the fucking bread."

"But—!"

"Eat it!" she shouted, interrupting him. She stuffed the bread further into his mouth. His eyes began filling up with tears. He took a bite of the bread and swallowed, not letting the tears flow out.

He finished the bread, not bothering to say a word after.

"You should appreciate any morsel of food we give to you. We could end up with no food at all if they run out. So appreciate it while you have it." She turning away from him. Savannah was pissed off. How dare he do that when Ashton sacrificed something he knew he couldn't control?

"Ashton, I'm going to get you some bread. Gimme the sword just in case."

"Why—"

"Just give it to me!" He handed it over, sighing in defeat. She stared at the weapon in her hand, admiring it. She snapped out of her thoughts and nodded to him."I'll be off. Stay right here and wait for me."

He nodded back."Sure. Be careful with that sword, Savy. I don't want you to cut yourself."

She already began walking off."Whatever!" She shouted back to him. She walked silently, wondering what they did without her.

She neared the stand where they were giving bread rations and asked for one."It's for my brother." She said, grabbing the bread from the old woman."Thank you."

"No problem. Have a nice day." Her eyebrow twitched. How was that suppose to happen when her home was taken over by titans? She ignored the urge to suddenly grab the woman and scream at her.

She walked back the way she came from, not noticing the man sneaking up behind her. He grabbed her, covering her mouth with his hand and wrapping the other around her stomach. He then proceeded to pull her to an abandoned house where his boss was waiting.

When they arrived, he threw her harshly to the floor inside, making her hiss in pain. She knew her legs was probably bruised from the way he threw her. He and his boss grinned."Good, you got the little bitch who bit me."

She slowly sat up, glaring icily at the two men. Then her eyes widened. He had her sword. The sword her dad made for her.

Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she lunged toward the kidnappers."Give it back! My dad made that for me!" He held her back my holding her head as she flailed her arms. He tripped and kicked her across the room, making her fly into the back wall.

"A little girl like you shouldn't be handling a weapon like this. It's mine now."

"My late dad made that for me! How dare you take one of my prized possessions!" The rogue man laughed maliciously, pointing the blade at her face.

"I just said it's mine now!"

"I don't think so," she said, grabbing the blade of the sword and pulling it toward her. She forcibly jabbed the man in the stomach with the hilt, making him double over in pain. She quickly flipped the sword around, now having the hilt in her hands with the blade pointing at her attackers.

She was shaking, she never felt so nervous, scared, and angry in her life. Her hands were having trouble holding onto the sword, but she controlled herself and gripped it tighter, making her knuckles go white.

She never had the malicious intent of killing anyone, except titans. They were not human. She could never, it's not in her calm nature. Killing someone was unacceptable, unthinkable, unimaginable! It's impossible, it's—it's out of character! It's preposterous to even think of doing something so—so insane! She would never do such a thing, not while she was still sane and still had humanity.

Yet she was fixed on giving them a hardened glare, one with so much hate that it probably would've bored holes into them. Her vision was blurring with tears, threatening to spill over.

"You have to fight to live, and live to fight."

Her tears spilled over at that thought. Her father had said that, he as thinking about his dream of joining the Scouting Legion. He never got to fulfill it."I'd never…"

They jumped to their feet, staring at her."I'd never kill anyone. It's spiteful and tinted black with malice. I'd never do such a thing! But you—you two are not human! You don't have any humanity! Rouge men, that's what you are, with such malicious intents. Your both so stupid, so insane for even dreaming up that you can kill a person with a strong will to live. My strong will is like a wildfire, it'll never be put out by two impetuous idiots." They rushed at her, fists ready for a fight.

They were certain they could defeat her, she was only a little girl—or at least that's what they thought. One came at her to the side, hoping that she'd freeze with fear. But she didn't.

She'd pierced him through his chest, rupturing one of his arteries. Blood poured out from the wound, tainting her hands with dark, sticky blood. The other one pushed her to the ground, pinning her down and throwing the sword to the side. He slapped her hard in the face, making her vision spot with black. She saw no way out. She was trapped, she was going to die.

I got it! She thought, readying her knee for the attack. She jammed her knee into the man's member, making him wince and topple over. She jumped up and raced to the sword, grabbing and clutching it tightly. The man regained his composure, and he was charging at her like an enraged bull. She didn't want too, but she pierced his heart, making him slump onto her shoulder, spewing blood onto her sweater.

She sobbed as she pushed the man off of her, collecting the sheath from the desk not too far away.

That day was a reminder for her to see why her fear and rage overpowered any emotion she had left.

"Fight to live, and live to fight."

She took off her mint colored sweater and tied it around her waist, using the hood to hide the splotch of blood that stained it. She went to the kitchen in the house and washed the blood off of her hands and sword. She knew she was probably gone for an hour and a half. Ashton must've been worried sick about her. She had scratches on her face, legs, and arms. How would she explain it to Ashton? Heh, there'd be no way to get past him in this state.

She finished washing up and sheathed her sword, thinking about her attackers' faces as they were killed."I'll no longer cry. I'll keep my heart as hard as stone. My expression will be stiff like steel. I'll no longer keep my weaker emotions, but I'll keep my humanity."

With that she headed out, not bothering to cover up the two bodies.


Kind of sad, intense, heartbreaking, and gore. Her humanity is something she'll never abandon. Constructive criticism is appreciated! ^^

Thank you for reading!

Vertan Yamamoto