Authors Note:
Welcome to Madam Muffins stories! Where the titles are made up and have pretty much zero relevancy to the actual story!
So we're continuing on our journey through the forest, to the camp ground... to... what beyond? I don't know. Kinda just making this up as we go!
Bernell let her hair down, grimacing. Between the wilderness, the stress, the packed conditions - she looked down at her lap where the debris she had shaken out landed. She bit on her lip as a little spider crawled across a belted thigh. She hastily swiped at it, running her fingers through the wavy locks with fervor. Gabriel walked up, sitting beside her on the damp, cool ground; his little hand rested gently at her knee.
"Everything okay?" She forced a grin, hastily knotting her hair back into a braid, fastening the end with the leather band.
He nodded, rubbing his eyes. "It's pretty here." He lay down. "Are we staying much longer?"
Bernell looked up, to the kids now dipping their toes into the water at the far side. The horses grazed peacefully; Cerberus nibbling the little mares back occasionally. The other adults were alternating between resting on the ground and keeping a watch out for Titans. It was a bizarre contrast to what her life had been up to that point, especially after their fleeing from the city to the outer walls. She looked out into the forest again. Now that they had settled into the area more wildlife was showing up. Foxes, deer, rabbits even. Joan still hadn't returned from her hunting excursion. Bernell looked back down to her tired son. It had been over an hour. Even if she had manged to catch something they wouldn't have time to skin, gut and cook let alone eat.
"Not much longer, sweet one." She crooned, pulling him into her lap and standing, holding him against her. She moved to the wagon, setting him down softly and calling to the other children.
The adults eyed her with suspicion, though Lisa grabbed a few bags and loaded them up.
"Mushrooms and berries and stuff." She shrugged, ducking her head. "I was a herbalist back in... back..." Her eyes began to water as she smiled. "Sorry." Her voice was a whisper.
Bernell rubbed her back gently. "It's alright. I think we're all owed a meltdown or two after all of this." She smiled, "I'm glad that we have your knowledge of these things." Her gaze slid to the wagon. "We weren't given much in the way of food. If we don't make it to camp tonight we can make something out of the oats and food you found. Unless Joan caught an animal or two."
As though summoned Joan smacked the side of the cart, making a mostly asleep Gabriel jump awake.
"Sorry." She grinned wide, holding up a large, dripping bag. "I couldn't catch a deer, but I found a lake. Fish!"
Bernell grabbed the bag carefully, surprised at it's weight. "This'll feed us well too." Her face lit up, "We're doing really well so far." She took Joan in more slowly, "You're shivering." She pointed out lamely.
Joan's face slipped into a frown. "It's cold. The river was partially frozen." Her eyes rolled, "Don't get comfortable." She turned to look around them, leaning against the wagon, "We still have a huge clearing to get through, camping out here with the Titans, and then meeting with the Survey Corps. It's not going to get easier. Not by along shot. Not until we're back within the walls." She sighed, kicking back to her feet. "Most likely we'll all be dead before that happens. We're all inexperienced, just getting out here was mass murder..." her pause was crushing. "All right slobs! Get your horses geared up, we're rolling out."
She let out a low whistle and the mare trotted over with a huff, Cerberus on her heels.
"Looks like someone's in love." She grabbed her saddle with a grunt, throwing it over the mare's back. "You shameless hussy."
Bernell grinned, patting the stallions coat in affection as she took his lead, removing the knot in it before lacing the ropes through the tugs. "Are you sweet on that little mare?" He snorted in response. "Well, you'd make cute babies."
She pat his flank before moving to gather Ezra, running around the pond to escape the adults with the other children. It dawned on Bernell, looking at the people running about, that Wall Rose had not bee populated as thoroughly as the rest of the Walls and districts. True some was farm land, there were areas designated for horse breeders and those who raised the flocks that produced goods like milk and fabrics. But large expanses in between were left largely uninhabited. A brick masons factory here perhaps, or a small wood fellers cabin there. But no civilians, no general populace. She'd never realized exactly how unused the land had been.
"Alright folks!" Joan shouted back, making the baby fuss some before Lisa could get her latched back on to nurse. "We're nearing the end of the forest. We probably won't be ambushed immediately, but keep yourself alert and aware."
The two men riding in back pulled their horses forward, flanking the wagon. The tight formation made Bernell nervous, her body began tensing again. The sunlight beamed down an orangish color as it fell closer to the horizon, staining the snow fantastically. She felt her breath catch. Never before had she the opportunity to watch a real sunset. There was always early darkness behind the walls, the vibrant splashes of color erupting overhead fading to night sky too early. The light was bright, blindingly so. Bernells eyes watered though she had diverted her gaze. She cast a glance behind them as they left the safety of the forest. Joan had been right; no titans milled about. She could see a portion of the wall around the forest. She hated the way the vision calmed her, soothed her.
"Tom would have loved this." She whispered as Cerberus trotted silently along the path. The well-worn grooves in the ground nodded to her earlier theory that this land was saved mainly for trades men and goods.
The children were worn from their play; the older boys sitting quietly as Bernell's sons settled into a fitful sleep. Joan kept a wary eye out, her body taut, head swiveling as though it were on a gear. The orange sky gave way to pinks, chased beyond the horizon by purple and the navy sky, unfurling with it's twinkling lights. The moon was even more full than the night before, casting the world around them in a romantic pale blue wash. The land before them stretched endlessly it seemed; the grey sky melting into the white ground. Then Joan veered sharply to the right of the path, further from Wall Rosa and out towards Wall Maria. Bernell hadn't noticed the soft rises and falls of the land around them until minutes into the direction change she turned to look back and the forest they had come from was vanished behind the hills.
"Where are we going?" She asked quietly as Joan pulled her map out of a side pack.
"Here." she responded poking a finger at the parchment, her nail was short. Bernell looked to her as she glanced at the horizon, mumbling. "They did a terrible job at guiding us. Weren't given the right supplies. We should have flares to shoot up. I can't see any smoke either. Probably trying to keep the smell down 'cuz of titans."
Bernell pulled back, thinking. "I mean, if titans were attracted to smoke wouldn't they be drawn to every forest fire that ever has happened in creation?"
Joan pulled up, pinning Bernell with a gaze that made the younger woman blush and duck her head.
"That's a good point." Joan shifted in her saddle and sighed heavily, "It's been a long, looong time since I've been this active. My ass hurts like- Titan." She froze, halting her horse. Bernell followed her gaze off into the distance.
It was illuminated perfectly in the night; milling aimlessly around in circles around what looked like a small herd of deer. It stumbled, its masculine features giving away nothing that would have suggested humanity. A cry and screams rose from the group. Joan burst forward, her horse taking off like lightening beneath the moonlight. Bernell's heart was racing as the other two riders shot forward as well, ODM's now glinting at their waists. Bernell didn't have the presence of mind to wonder if they always had that gear with them, or if it was new. Anxiety spiked through her, the titan now charging towards Joan, ultimately towards herself and her precious cargo of children.
The tree line was still miles away.
"Do we go for it or-?" Lisa leaned over the back of the cart, her baby awkwardly cradled in the lap of one of the older boys.
Bernell shook her head, watching as the thin lines fro the ODM at Joan's hips shot out, locking themselves deep into the fleshy skin of the titans eyes. The creature roared and leaned back, hands flailing forward to snatch at her.
"It's an abnormal." Bernell felt her blood go cold as the monster roared again, grabbing the lines in its hands.
She slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle the scream as Joan flew straight into the ground, her body breaking on impact. Cries went out from the small group at the titans feet as they tried to run away. Bernell whistled high pitched before spurring the wagon into motion, snow flying from beneath the wagon wheels as it struggled for traction.
"Where are we going?" Lisa shouted over the creaking and banging.
Bernell kept an eye on the golden mare, her body flashing brilliantly as she ran to match pace with the black stallion. She didn't really know what she would do, or how she would find the group. But their best bet was under the cover of the trees.
"BERNELL!" Lisa's scream was cut short.
Bernell didn't stop to look behind, she could hear the faint pounding. A titan. Another titan. She grit her teeth, pushing the stallion harder. An hours ride and they would be at the forest. Would that be enough time? Could they out run a titan that long? One of the kids in the back was crying, Bernell could hear sounds of a fight. The pounding was getting closer, thumping echoing through its vibrations in the earth as much as through the actual sound. Her heart was in her throat and she closed her eyes. For the first time in a long time she felt herself praying to whatever being may exist above to save them, deliver them.
She grit her teeth and yanked on the reins, forcing the stallion to meet the path of the mare, changing direction suddenly. The mare spun on her back hoof and galloped alongside them, towards the abnormal titan who was now under attack by the two lesser soldiers. Bernell couldn't help it when her eyes trailed over the broken body of Joan; her ODM had splintered, half of it was in her open chest cavity, her organs sprayed out around her like they would have if you'd stepped on a juicy bug. Bernell's stomach churned as desperation turned to determination.
"Go!" She ground out to Cerberus, shocked when he sped up even faster than before.
The little golden mare kept pace; her tail high in the wind, her riderless saddle looked foreign, obscene. She felt a hand on her shoulder, but ignored it. The pressure returned, shaking a little. She snapped, spinning around just in time to see the titan fall, a figure riding on his back. Hesitantly she looked for the abnormal. It was already dispatched, a pile of mostly bones o the ground, the snow melting quickly in an ever-widening circle. She pulled the horses to a stop, the mare flicked her head, stamping in a pretty little circle before coming to rest beside Cerberus.
Bernell watched warily until she could make the figures out. The two men on horse back rejoined her, sitting with one of the was-
"Mark!" Bernell felt her body go jelly soft with relief.
He smiled tightly, holding his arm. "It's not bad, just pulled a muscle." He responded before anyone could ask, "Some sleep and I'll be better in the morning. Now , let's get you to the camp site."
The campsite had been in the other direction. Joan had been leading them off course. Not on purpose. Bernell didn't know what to think about the little campground. There were few people, far less than in the beginning. Just a few hundred now, three or four tops. She pulled the wagon to a stop, Cerberus stomped. Bernell imagined even he could feel the danger of being in such a large group. Mark fell in beside her, the golden filly chomping at her bit, dancing nervously. The mare had been upset ever since Mark had thrown himself into her saddle. He pat her neck, his knees tightening.
"She's not used to me." His voice was low, "Joan was a good one. She didn't deserve that." He turned his gaze to Bernell, then the children and finally Lisa. "None of them did though. None of you do."
He dismounted sloppily. "There's a handful of empty tents over at the far side. We have a ton of unused cots too. They're by the horse pen so..." He shrugged, reaching over and snagging the bag of fish from beside Lisa. "We'll be cooking these later, come by and grab some food once you're settled."
Wearily Bernell agreed, too tired to protest over him helping himself to their food. Too tired to really think it was that bad of a thing anyway. They still had the mushrooms and berries and gruel if the fish was gone when they came back. Cerberus trudged along the camp, dodging groups of people. The little mare followed closely, her head low, nose nearly to the ground as she nipped at grass here and there along the way. The men on horseback had taken off ahead of them, confined to the soldiers section of camp. The snow wasn't everywhere, just as the other forest. What was left had been trod into muddy, watery piles that splashed uncomfortably up your leg.
"Here we are." the old woman chirped happily.
"About damn time too." Her partner groaned as he climbed out the back. "My bones are stiff from all the rattling." He glared at Bernell, "Not so much as a warning."
The woman smacked his shoulder lightly, "We're alive because of her."
"Be better if we were dead!"
"HAROLD!"
Bernell suppressed a smile as their bickering followed them into the night. Horses to the right of her snorted and grazed. At least thirty of them still left. Cerberus nickered, shaking his head impatiently. Bernell eased herself off the wagon seat.
"I'll get to you, but first I need to get these boys put away."
She went to the pile of cots and grabbed three, awkwardly carrying them to the tent furthest from everyone else, closest to the horses.
"Fuck." she hissed as one slipped, smashing her big toe. "Ffffuck fuck fuck!"
"You okay?"
The sudden voice made her yelp, dropping the rest of the cots and spinning to face the intruder.
"Mark!" She pressed a hand to her chest, breathing slowly. "Y-you scared me."
He bent down and started picked up the cots, placing them in a row along the back of the little lean-to tent. "Why did you pick this one?"
She moved back out to the wagon. His presence was too large for such a small space, it was almost suffocating.
She shrugged, "It's quieter. I get along with the horses better."
Lisa sent her a little wink as she ushered the older boys into their own tent and then migrated into the one across the way, baby in tow. Ezra and Gabriel sleepily roused, their eyes dancing in the faint light of the moon above. Bernell smiled as Mark picked Ezra up, helping her relocate them to their beds.
"Now to see to Cerberus." She sighed, pushing back up into a standing position.
Mark smiled, following her and moving to the opposite side of the horse. She was surprised to see that the mare had already been cleaned and put in with the other horses. She was nipping and kicking at them. Bernell smiled and shook her head.
"He's an amazing beast, isn't he?"
Bernell nodded, soothing out his coat where the straps and sweat had left cowlicks and indentations on his skin. "I don't know what it is, but I trust him with my life."
"As you should." Mark stated, "All our horses are bred to be the most trustworthy animals possible." He winked, "Plus he's saved you a few times from what the boys told me."
Bernell smiled back. Sensing her need for silence Mark didn't speak until they had pushed the wagon back off the trail and put Cerberus in with the herd. He immediately move the the little mare; they nickered at one another quietly.
"I saved you some food. Lisa has it right now. I'm taking first watch, so I'll be by to check on you all later." She jumped at his hand, resting gently on her shoulder, "You were amazing today Bernell."
She ducked her head at the compliment, "Thank you." the memory of him falling the titan flashed and she met his eyes, "Thank you."