Chapter Seven.

"Eat the food already," Ethan groaned in annoyance, as he did his best too keep his patience while he had been tasked with feeding the horses at the western stables on base. Ethan was never a huge fan of animals and struggled with the horse back riding portion of training, however his true dislike for animals came from birds. Some would tease him that he was just jealous of their ability to fly freely throughout the world, but in reality he was simply horrified by their beady eyes and weird claw like feet.

Sarah giggled softly as she watched Ethan struggle with feeding the horses. Her gentle and kind aura calming all the horses around her making her job of completing the task much easier, "Animals can sense your emotions. Try slowing you breathing and less movement."

Ethan exhaled loudly, he truly did hate being lectured by the girl who could barely even us the 3DMG properly. However, he had to admit she had a talent for dealing with animals and he couldn't deny the fact that she had already fed thirteen horses while he was still on number three. Doing his best not to make excessive eye contact with the horse, he slowly began to raise his hand up towards the horse's face. Keeping count of his breathing he took small breaths and did his best to stay calm.

Yet, in the end the horse shook its head violently and knocked Ethan back a couple steps, "I tried! I'm sorry Sarah, but this is one job you'll have to do alone!" Throwing his hands up in the air he retreated to a small wooden supply crate to sit down, much too Sarah's amusement as she followed up by simply feeding the horse that Ethan was just struggling with so much, "How do you do it?"

Sarah was caught off guard by his sudden comment, "I guess we all have our own talents. I may not excel out in the field like you guys, but I have always felt at home with animals and maybe that's why I was ranked so high in the horse back riding section of training."

"You're very kind," Ethan shrugged, "I'm sure animals just feel at home with you and not threatened at all."

Sarah moved onto the next horse as her eyes looked downwards slightly, "My father would always tell me to grit my teeth and act like a strong women, but I don't think it's in my nature."

Sarah's words caught Ethan's interest, "But you are strong."

"Nothing like you and the others," Sarah admitted, waving off his comment like it was nothing and simply said out of pity.

"Don't wave me off like that," Ethan growled in a slightly aggressive voice as he stood up from his supply crate, "The five of us have gone through some tough times together and I'm being honest when I say you're one of the strongest of us all. We may be able to fight, but you are extremely good at reading the situation and determining the best route of safety. Skills like that will ensure your survival, believe me!"

Sarah couldn't even answer, her eyes just glared down at Ethan's boots as she wasn't sure how to argue his statement. Ever since day one she had felt like she was holding them all back and yet here he was telling her that she was the strongest. Ethan quickly spoke up not giving her a moment to respond, "Trust me. When we go out there in a few days, I know you'll be one of the key players that helps us get home safely."

"That's quite the burden," Sarah muttered weakly as a few tears formed in the corner of her eye.

Ethan gulped lowly, as he realized the type of burden he may of just placed upon her. Opening his mouth he was about to attempt to fix his choice of words, but was cut off by a look of joy now displayed on Sarah's face. Tears streamed down her face and a joyful smile reached wide, "I'm glad I have strong people like you that can still rely on me."

Ethan forced a weak smile, "Lets give those Titans hell."

"First though," Sarah cut him off, "You're gonna at least learn how to properly feed the horse you're assigned with!"


"Three days left," Oliver groaned loudly, as he shoved the final supply crate onto the cart with every bit of his strength. Hanna nodded in acknowledgment of the upcoming expedition as the cart driver took off with the last amount of supplies and left the two young soldiers behind with their thoughts. Hanna had to admit that time was flying back, it was a month ago that they had joined the Survey Corps and only a few weeks ago that the Garrison's medical attachment was assigned too them. In three days, their baptism of blood awaited for them and she knew that there would be a few less faces showing up around the barracks the day of their return.

Hanna nervously twirled her hair, "It's crazy how fast everything has been moving for us."

Oliver nodded, "I agree."

Hanna glared at the ground as she continued to twirl her hair. Lately, she had been getting lost in her own thought and was constantly bringing up the old days back in training. The reality was that she was slowly becoming more and more fearful that those days would fade away and be replaced by memories of the nightmares they would face outside the safety of the wall. Oliver took note of her worried look on her face and patted her on the back roughly, "Maybe you'll finally get your moment and you can win Ethan over by saving his life!"

"Oliver shut up!" Hanna cried out, fearful that someone would hear him, "I don't need the whole Survey Corps hearing about that!"

Oliver released an echoing laugh at this sight, "It took you about a year, but you finally stop denying the fact that you like him!"

"It didn't help when Instructor Shadis found out about it," Hanna whimpered weakly with a shiver upon thinking about the training instructor's soulless eyes, "He would threaten me with revealing my secret whenever he didn't think my performance was good enough."

Oliver chuckled as the two began to make their way back to the supply shed at base, "If I was you I'd confess soon."

"Like I'd ever let Ethan get one over me," Hanna smirked, "He'd never let the fact go that I was the one who confessed and not him. I can't let him win everything!"

"You may not get another chance though," Oliver said coldly, his usual joyful eyes darkened by the reality of what could happen to them all in a few days. His usual erect posture was slightly slouched and a look of despair was displayed on his face. The usual boastful and loud soldier was now carrying himself in a manner that no one had ever seen him before.

He looked weak and afraid.

"We knew what we were signing up for," Hanna exhaled loudly as she did her best to hide the shakiness in his voice, "If we make it back from this expedition alive I'll confess my feelings."

Oliver chuckled weakly as he did his best to fix his sudden change of attitude, "That's some dangerous talk for a soldier."

Hanna smirked proudly at him as she knew one of them had to put on a fake act, "I was ranked number nine in our class! I'll use ever bit of skill and talent I have to ensure the safety of my squad!"

Oliver nodded in agreement, but deep down inside he couldn't shake off the feeling that himself and his fellow naive soldiers were about to find out the true meaning of sacrifice. They all took the oath and declared they'd give their lives for humanity, but in reality how many were truly ready for that responsibility. He knew the nature of human beings could change in a second and he knew the reality of what they were about to face. He just hoped when the time came... That it would be quick and painless.


"Keep up you two!" Mia roared loudly, the Garrison squad leader flying through the tree tops at lightening quick speed while she had her two newly appointed assistants trailing behind her. Ryland and Riley had been informed by Ian of their new positions within the attachment after their first week of arriving and ever since then they had been training with Mia for several hours on 3DMG and how to properly move through the Survey Corps' formation while on the move. Mia didn't want any mistakes and had been testing the two on every position of every squad, the names of each squad leader and the purpose of their position within the formation.

"It's kinda hard when you work us day and night!" Ryland yelled back, as he had been spending most of his time training and had only seen his brother a handful times while passing around base. He knew that Ethan didn't want him here, but that didn't change the fact that Ryland still wanted to see his brother before the expedition. Riley however, had started looking paler and paler each night after training. Ryland took note at the fact that she looked fine during the day time, but for some odd reason at night after eating she always looked sickly.

Mia laughed loudly, "The Titans take no time off!"

"I wish you did though!" Riley whined, as Mia smirked at the two and quickly decreased her height before landing safely on the ground. Ryland and Riley followed her lead and roughly dropped to the ground, stumbling to a forced halt as the two of them were exhausted.

Mia roughly smacked them on the backs, doing more damage than she had expected due to their fatigued state, "You two have improved drastically this past week! I think some rest time has been earned!"

Ryland and Riley's eyes lit up brightly upon hearing this. Mia began to walk away with a laugh that could challenge Oliver's, "Ten minutes! I'll be back so don't go running off... I will find you."

Ryland gulped lowly at the last part as she sighed heavily, the two of them dropping to the ground in exhaustion. Ryland turned his head to face Riley who was spread out like a starfish on the ground, her 3DMG clumsily getting in the way but the need for rest overcoming the discomfort of it, "You been doing fine lately?"

Riley didn't even bother to open her eyes, "Do I look fine? Squad Leader is gonna kill us!"

Ryland snickered lowly at her reaction, "It's for the best as much as we hate to admit it."

"I guess," Riley groaned, as she weakly clenched her stomach in the realization she hadn't ate anything in a few hours.

Ryland took note of this and moved closer to her, "I've noticed your recent disappearances after chow time."

Riley's whole body went stiff upon hearing these words, her eyes became wide and her gut twisted in ways that made her nearly sit up in pain. Riley was constantly doing her best to be strong and not be a burden to Ryland and Ian. Yet, every night she was corrupted by the fear of what this upcoming expedition could hold for her. Forcing herself to speak she sat up, "You mean my walks?"

"I don't know what goes on during those walks," Ryland stated in a stern voice, "but whatever is going on you need to talk to someone about it."

Riley looked down in guilt as she shuffled in place nervously, "R-Ryland I'm just s-so scared." Admitting her fear nearly killed her on the inside, the reality that she wasn't as strong as she liked to admit was something she hated. She was unsure if she'd make it home on this expedition and the thought of her parents getting the notice of her death killed her with guilt.

"Riley," Ryland muttered weakly as he was unsure what to say, "You'll be with myself and the squad leader when we're out there. I'll protect you."

Riley looked up at him as her eyes were weak, "I wanna trust you, Ryland." Tears slowly forming up in them, "How do I know you won't just leave me for dead at any moment, if it means saving your brother instead."

Those words hit hard.

The reality that he couldn't standby his words cut deeply. He wanted to make sure that all his friends made it back safely, but he held his brother over all. He knew that if faced with that choice of saving a friend or his brother, he knew the path he must take if he were to ever live with himself. Ryland was quickly swallowed up by the tearful eyes of Riley as even she realized what was going on in his head. Tears began to stream down her face as the stress of all this suddenly became too much for her, the reality that someone who she wanted to trust may not be there for her when she needed him cut her badly. Ryland's voice was shaky now, "Riley... I won't lea-"

Riley shook her head as several tears dropped from her chin, "Please... Don't make an promises you can't keep."

...

"He's my brother," Ryland's voice was weak upon saying this.

"He's lucky to have someone like you watching over him," Riley admitted, as she was ashamed by the display of emotion the two of them were expressing. Both soldiers of humanity and yet here they were unsure if they could give their lives up for humanity if it meant the deaths of people they were close with.

"I'm sorry Riley," Ryland weakly muttered, the reality of his inability to save others at the risk of his brother's life now sinking in.

"I'm sorry also," Riley whimpered weakly.