The dining hall fell silent as the trio entered, all attention centring on the child whose appearance had caused rumour, speculation and gossip to run wild through the ranks. Like a deer seeing a hunter the girl froze, eyes flickering rapidly around the assembled scouts, cataloguing dangers and escape routes apparently on automatic. Sensing her distress, the dog began to growl deep and low, hackles rising as the pair edged even closer together.

Abruptly the tension was shattered as a chatter of approaching voices and the sudden entrance of the cadets in their typical noisy fashion startled all and sundry from their focus. Sasha was at the head of the group, apparently refusing to be cooped up when a meal was underway, for which she was being scolded by the other trainees as they all came clattering in.

It was with a squeal of delight that she spotted the youngster, dashing over with the others trailing in her wake.
"Hello hello hello! Wow you certainly look more civilised now. Want some food? I'm starving!"
And without further ado, she took the girl's hand and dragged her towards the serving line. The rest of the teens were chattering and laughing, making an effort to be relaxed and normal- or at least what passed for their version of normality. Taking their que, gradually the rest of the dining hall returned to their own conversations and debates, the lively hum filling the air and making everything seem homely and comfortable.

The cadets led the girl over to their usual table, plonking their trays down and digging in without further ceremony. For a moment the girl hesitated, watching the people around her tease each other, wide eyed as Sasha expertly pinched food from every plate within reach despite best efforts of defence.

"Better eat yours quick before the Famine Face nicks it." It was a boy who had spoken to her, teal eyes almost as big as her own showing nothing but kindness.
"You should listen to Eren- Sasha can be pretty ruthless." The voice came from her left, another boy, this one with longer blonde hair and an encouraging smile.

For a second she stared at the plate in front of her, and suddenly was hit by the smell of the freshly cooked stew and warm bread. Without warning, she rapidly began shovelling the food into her mouth, gulping down huge amounts and tearing off chunks of bread with her teeth. It was a display which actually had overtones of savagery, and everyone saw Captain Levi becoming ever tenser from the table where his squad were eating, Petra having joined them for her own meal.

And yet she was surprisingly neat, efficient, not spilling a single drop or wasting a crumb. Every time she came across a larger chunk of vegetable or scant piece of meat, it was expertly flicked to the dog which had worked its way under the table to rest its head on her knee. Apparently oblivious to the shocked looks of those around her, she was soon nearing the bottom of her bowl, running a finger around the edges in the hopes of gleaning every last drop.

Without a word, someone prodded a second portion in her direction. The girl snatched at it hungrily, eyes darting up and staring directly at her benefactor- a girl with straight black hair and cat-like eyes who seemed to understand exactly the silent message of thanks from the younger. Yet again the portion was devoured with the single mindedness usually only seen in starving animals, the entire attention of the girl apparently narrowing to the bowl in her hands.

The second helping had almost been finished, when the girl suddenly paused, as if struck by a thought. Silently, she gazed at the last roll which was clutched in her left hand, before lifting her head fully for the first time since she had entered the room and looking directly at Sasha, who half choked when she realised that she was the centre of attention.

With a solemnness which seemed somehow mature beyond her years, the girl deliberately reached out and placed the bread on the very edge of Sasha's tray. Their gazes locked for a couple of seconds, and the girl gave a slight jerk of her head, the briefest of nods, before blushing almost crimson and ducking her head again.

The others held their breath for a second, and then Sasha reached out and took a bite out of the roll, swallowing and grinning in thanks. For some reason this seemed to please the young girl who smiled very faintly, before once again focussing solely on the hound who was now stretched out across her feet.