Chapter 9
The expedition (part 2 ).

I fallowed the Female Titan at a safe distance while she kept running. There was nothing I could do then just keep fallowing her. She will go after Eren and the others. And I knew what hell was going to happen. Without warning, the Female Titan started to run faster and that could only mean one thing: she found Eren!

I cursed out loud and pushed my heels into the horse to make him go faster. I needed to help Levi and his group. Even if it just saying that they had to continued. Erwin was waiting, somewhere, in the woods to capture her. They just needed to get there as soon as possible!

I rode, past the Female Titan, and I tried not to get her attention. But she was all focused on the group that was riding in front of her. At least I found them

I slowly came closer to them and saw the big forest in front of me. Seems like they already knew what they needed to do.

"Hey Captain Levi!" I yelled when I was close to them. I rode past Eren and the others and stopped next to him.

Levi looked at me surprised. "What are you doing here?".

"Listen" I said ignoring him. I will get some punishment for it later. But it didn't matter now. "Just ride into the forest and don't go any slower! Just ride straight ahead and don't stop for anything".
"What are you talking about?"

"Just fucking do as I say" I yelled out and looked at him angry. This guy needed to know when he needed to listen to someone!

Levi, glared at me but then turned to his group. "You heard this idiot: just ride ahead and don't stop for anything".

"Roger" everyone yelled and we rode into the forest with the big trees.

I let myself fall back and drove next to Eren, who was looking at me with a surprised look.

"How could you talk to Captain Levi like that?" he whispered to me.

I shrugged. "Sometimes you just need to say what needs to be said" and sometimes you just need to shut up.

"But, Captain Levi already knew what he was doing, right?" he asked further and I looked to him surprised. "And all the others as well, right?"

I looked at Petra, who was driving on the other side of Eren, and saw the nervous look on her face. No, they had no idea what was going on, or what was going to happen.

I didn't answer Eren and when he saw my look, he looked at the others and then looked backed at me with a shocked look. Now he knows, that nobody knows what was going on.

A loud noise was heard behind us and we all looked back. God, she was fast!

"Everyone" Levi said and pulled his swords out ready to fight. "Swords ready. That Titan will be here in a moment!".

I pulled out my swords, just like the others, while I could feel that the Female Titan was getting closer. This was so nerve-racking. She was way harder to fight then just any other Titan! She will just protect herself with her ability. And nobody knew about it.

I looked back and saw her smiling. She was actually smiling! Her eyes were focused on Eren and I could see that he saw that as well.

"Fuck!" Gunther yelled out. "There is no way that we can avoid it now in the forest!".
I looked around and he was right. If we would change direction, we would smashed into one of the threes! We just needed to ride further. Just like I told Levi.

"It's fast!" Eld said and the panic was heard in his voice. "It's catching up!".

Damn! Where was he? Where was Erwin? Did he not already needed to be here? He was in the forest, right? Think, Leem! What was standing in the dairy? Where was Erwin. But how much I tried to remember, I couldn't remember it.

"Captain!" Petra yelled to Levi. "Let's use our maneuvering gear!"

Levi didn't answer. He just looked back and our eyes met. It was like I could hear him ask the question: 'Should we do it?'. And I answered by shaking my head.

Behind us where the sounds of gas and when I looked back, two members where trying to fight the Female Titan. For a second it looked like it was going in a good way. But then something horrible happened. One of the man, became stuck between a three and the Female Titan. When she saw this, she used her shoulder and smashed him against the three. Blood was going everywhere, and that was also the only thing, that we saw from the man. She then grabbed the other one and smashed him against another tree.

We looked in shock, as the man fell on the ground and the Female Titan just chased us, like nothing had happened. So this were the powers of a Titan Shifter. They could just do whatever they wanted in there Titan form. They were dangerous. Way to dangerous.

"Captain! Orders now!" Petra yelled in panic.

"Let's do it!" Oluo screamed and turned to Levi. "She's too dangerous! We must do it now!".
I looked to Levi, but he didn't answer. He just kept looking forward. Was he panicking? Didn't he really know what to do? Well he needed to come up with something, cause she was really coming closer!

"Captain Levi! Give us an order!".

Finally, I saw Levi starting to move. He grabbed something from under his cloak and if I saw it good it looked like a smoke signal gun. Really! At this moment he wants to shoot a signal! "Cover your ears".
I looked at him surprised, but did as he told us, just like the others did. Levi fired the gun and a high pitched sound was came out of it. I pressed my hands better on my ears an gritted my teeth. Damn that was an annoying sound!

I looked back and saw the Female Titan had slowed down. It must have annoyed her more then it annoyed us. It was not a very good plan, but it did work. For now.

"A sound grenade?" Eren asked while he lowered his hands.

"That took me by surprise" I mumbled, but couldn't help the chuckle.

"Everyone" Levi started and looked back at us. "What was your mission again?". He really didn't sound that happy. But, when was Levi ever happy? "Was it to lose yourselves to your raging emotions?".

Wow, that is really a good motivation. I looked to the others, and the look told me that they knew he was right.

"That were not your orders" Levi went further and our eyes met. Was he talking about me? Because I left my spot? "The duty of this squad was assigned to is to do anything to make sure that this damn brat. Won't get a single scratch on him". His eyes left mine and he looked at every single one of his squad. "Even if it costs us our lives".

I felt a wave of panic flowing through me, when I hear those words. If he only knew what would happen to them, he would have choose his words better.

"We are going to keep advancing on horses" he turned back. "Is that clear?".

"Roger that, sir!" Petra said it as loudest, while the others kept silence.

I looked at Eren and saw the shock on his face. I felt guilty for him. He didn't knew anything. He just needed to do what was ordered. Nothing more. This should be getting hard.

"On horses?" Eren finally spook surprised. "Just how long are we staying like this? Not to mention that she will catch up to us very soon!".

I let out a deep sigh to calm down. This was getting to much for me. I was happy that I survived a Titan on my own. I could easily just go away. But, I would never forgive myself. Erwin trusted me. So I needed to stay where I was.

"There are more people!"

I looked behind me and saw another group trying to distract the Female Titan. Eren saw it too.
"If we help them, together we may stand a chance!"

"Eren! Look straight ahead" Gunther said and then looked at me. "You too".

I sighed but did as he told me. He was right. We needed to concentrate to get out of here. This was no time to feel pity for other teammates. We needed to get out of here.

"But-" Eren started, but was interrupt by someone else.

"Stop screwing up the pace!" Erd yelled at Eren. "Maintain your fastest running speed!".
He didn't needed to tell me that a second time. I wanted to let my horse speed up, but Eren got my attention when he started to yell.

"WHY!" He yelled out angry. "Who is going to stop her if it's not Levi's squad?".

"Probably nobody" I mumbled and heard a scream when the Female Titan got another soldier.
"We could have saved him!" Eren yelled, but everyone ignored him.

I grit my teeth and my grip on my swords grew stronger. We could have safe them. We just needed to turn around and help them. But we didn't! We just let our teammates die for us.

"Eren" Petra started and she had tears in her eyes. "Look only straight ahead and keep moving!".

"You are telling me that I just need to let my comrades to die!".

"Yes!" Orlou yelled out. "If the captain says we are moving forward. Then we do that! So shut up and do what you need to do!".

I frowned. I could help him. I don't need to listen to whatever Levi says to me. I'm not part of his squad. I could safe that man. I could distract her and let Eren and all run away. But it could be my death. Shit, what was I supposed to do?

I looked to my left and saw Eren lifting his hand to his mouth. Was he going to turn into a Titan to help them? No way. He would not!

"Eren!" Petra yelled and it scared me because I didn't saw that coming. "You can only do that when your life is in danger! You promised us!".

He did yes. But I did not! I made my decision: I was going to help them.

"Captain!" I yelled out and he turned back to me. "Just go straight ahead. Eventually, you will see the commander! If I won't return" I swallowed before standing up in my seat. "I'll probably be death".

"What the fuck are you-" Levi started but I didn't hear anything more when I let my hook grab a tree and I was flying in the air.

"Leem!" I heard Eren behind me, but I didn't look back.

I flew into the air and let my hook grab another tree. I let out more gas so I was going faster. Maybe it was a stupid idea. But I needed to do something.

The Female Titan looked me right into my eyes and I lifted my swords ready to attack. If I was going to die now. So be it! But I would not let this happened, without trying to stop it!

I yelled out, ready to attack but then the pain came right through my head. I never felt so much pain. It was worse than ever before. The cable, of my hook, pulled tight and I was pulled back to the tree. I felt myself smashing against the tree. Before everything went black.

To be continued….