I don't know how much time has passed by, but it felt like forever.

We were all just sitting or standing on the tree in silence, just waiting for something to happen.

"It's pointless to just stand here and do nothing." I heard Jean whisper.

"Quiet Jean. The squad leader will hear you." I whispered back to him.

His tree branch was right next to mine so we were able to converse without getting caught.

"Sorry Eri. I'm just getting restless from just standing here doing nothing." Jean said quietly.

I gave out a sigh and looked around.

Up on these trees, we have Ymir, Reiner, Bertolt, Krista, Sasha, Conny, Mikasa, Armin, Jean and I. We also have other soldiers and recruits along with different squad leaders.

They had made us spread out along different sections of the trees within visual distances.

I'm just glad that all my friends are here, safe and sound. I thought to myself.

"A 5-meter titan is approaching!" A soldier shouted.

Every one of us focused and examined the area ahead.

There, we see the variant titan type approaching the forest.

I looked at the squad leader for instructions but he wasn't saying anything.

What's wrong? Why aren't we given the order to kill it?

The Squad leader remained silent and just glared at the titan.

Soon, the titan came to a stop at the trees and looked up.

The titan then tried reaching up, as if it thinks it's going to grab us.

I put my blades away and took a seat on my spot.

I hugged my knees to my chest and started thinking about the Female Titan again.

That dream I had earlier.

I don't know why I even dreamed it.

The look of that Female's face, I can imagine a picture of Annie's face over it.

It's really crazy of me to even think that there's a connection between this titan and Annie.

But, according to Armin's theory, he mentioned that it's most likely a person inside the titan's body.

Since this titan is a female, it's a girl inside there.

Which most likely means that the mole Commander Erwin is targeting is definitely a female.

Is it Annie though?

If so, why would Annie go after Eren?

Is it because he has the titan abilities?

Is it for the secrets in his basement?

Or something else?

No.

I refuse to believe it's Annie.

There absolutely no way it could be her.

Annie would never do such a horrendous thing.

Kill all those soldiers who are our allies.

Why would she do that?

I know Annie can be cold to others but she was really kind to me.

She's my best friend for crying out loud!

But she did return my hair clip.

That hair clip is only something Annie knows since she was the one to give it to me in the first place.

I remember that Female titan looking at the hair clip. She had a look as if she knew what it was.

If Armin knows for sure that there's a person inside the Female titan, does that mean he has a suspicion of who is in that body?

I turned my head and looked at Armin.

"Eri, look down." Armin whispered.

"Hm?" I stared at Armin at first but then looked at the ground.

I gasped.

I didn't realize that we were already swarmed by titans below.

"W-When did they get here?" I asked in shock.

"I don't know but I don't think it's necessary to do anything." Armin said.

"Why's that?" I questioned.

"Look at them Eri." Jean said. "They're trying to reach for us. I assume this is our way of preventing titans from entering the forest."

I could feel sweat coming down my face.

There's too many titans around us.

I could feel my hands shaking again.

Why do I feel fear?

Am I getting scared of common titans?

I think my encounter with the Female Titan has caused some sort of trauma inside me.

I'm feeling scared now since then.

I held my hands together to stop the shaking.

Just then, I could head faint sounds of gun fire or explosions.

What is happening inside the forest?

Is Commander Erwin trying to capture the Female titan? I thought to myself.

"Eri! Move to another branch now!" Jean shouted.

My thoughts were interrupted with Jean shouting towards me.

I looked to my far right and noticed that a titan was climbing towards us.

With my device, I maneuvered away from the titan along with the rest of the group.

"Damn. They're getting better at climbing." Jean said.

"This means they're capable of learning." Armin added.

"Yeah. They are." I said quietly.

I looked at the titan as it struggled it's way through trees.

Soon, a tree branch broke beneath it and we watched the titan fall straight to the ground.

"How much longer are we going to be up here?" Jean said impatiently.

"I don't know. But from the sounds of those cannons deep in the forest, I think they're in the works of capturing that titan." Armin said.

"Probably capturing whoever is inside that body." I added.

I looked at the ground to see that the titan was squirming on the ground after it has fallen.

These titans are capable of learning new things.

Just what are they to be exact?

All of a sudden, a loud cry was made throughout the forest.

It was extremely loud that I had to cover my ears to prevent myself from going deaf.

"W-What the hell!?" Jean shouted.

"What's that noise!?" Armin shouted, covering his ears.

I remained silent and continued to shut my ears.

It sounded like a titan was crying.

"I-I think it's the Female Titan! I think she's crying!" I shouted.

Just then, all the titans that were swarming around us, started running deep into the forest.

Jean, Armin and I were surprised to see this sudden change.

"What the hell!? They're all heading into the forest!" Jean shouted.

The swarm of titans completely ignored us and continue to head deep into the forest.

"Why are they ignoring us?" I questioned.

"Something must've happened in that forest." Armin said quietly.

"We should stop them..." I said as I took out my blades.

My hands were still shaking.

My mind and body must still be scared after what happened earlier...

"No Eri. We can't stop them. There's just too many of them heading deep into the forest." Jean said.

I looked down to still see titans running in.

"What the hell was that cry for..." I whispered to myself.

After a few minutes of silence, there were blue smokes coming from the forest.

"Blue smoke?" Armin questioned.

"They're telling us to retreat now?" I asked

"What? Is it over already?" Jean questioned.

The three of us stood there and stared at the colored smoke.

Just what happened in there?

Did Commander Erwin succeed in capturing the Female Titan?

What about Eren? Is Eren okay?

"Get back on your horses! We're retreating back to Karanes District!" One of the squad leaders shouted

We did as we were told and immediately jumped on our horses.

I patted Cloud's nose and hopped on.

We all regrouped and rode along the side of the forest to head back to the flat land.

"If we're retreating, does that mean the operation to capture that titan was a success?" Jean asked.

"I'm not sure. If they did, then we would know whose inside that titan's body." Armin said.

If so, it could be Annie. I thought sadly.

All of a sudden, I noticed green smoke coming deep within the forest.

After that, a response came from a short distance.

I was shocked to see the green smoke.

Why is there green smoke?

There's no way it's coming from Commander Erwin.

Something is wrong.

I can feel it.

I looked around at my friends and noticed that someone was missing.

"Guys, where's Mikasa?" I asked around.

"S-She went deep into the forest by herself." Sasha said.

"What!?" I shouted as I looked at Sasha.

I turned my head to look back at the forest.

Mikasa's in there!

Something must've happened to Eren.

As soon as we reached to flat land, we all came to a halt.

We were told to wait for Commander Erwin and other soldiers to regroup with us as well as identifying our fallen comrades.

So that's what we did for the next hour or so.

Corpses were piling up as people were wrapping cloths around them so we could bring them back through the walls for a proper funeral.

I saw Squad Leader Ness's body among the count and watched his body being wrapped up.

"Eri, let's bring his body to the wagon." Jean said.

"Okay." I said quietly.

Jean and I picked up Ness's body and carried him to the wagon.

We placed his body on top of the others.

"This is something I'll never get used to." Jean said.

"I don't think any of us ever will." I said sadly.

I breaks my heart to see that countless soldiers died from this expedition.

"I wonder if this was even worth it. Our expedition was a fail." Jean said.

I couldn't say anything.

Jean was right.

I heard from other soldiers that we failed to capture the mole within the Female Titan. Along with that, we're unable to even move forward to Shinganshina District.

Too many people died.

Was it all worth it?

I could tell I was starting to doubt.

This is what my parents faced every time they go outside the walls.

How horrible.

"Eri." Jean said my name.

"Yes Jean?" I asked, looking at him.

"Will we be able to live a peaceful life?" He asked.

I didn't say anything. All I did was just stare at him.

"If this is what we signed up for, how will we be able to live life knowing that our comrades most likely died in vain. I mean, is what we're doing even worth it?" Jean questioned.

I could sense that he had doubt as well.

"Jean..." I said his name quietly. "No matter what happens. We must continue to live and fight because one day, humanity will win. We'll all be able to live peacefully. I hope."

I walked up to him and held his hand.

"What if..." He started speaking but then paused. "What if we die next time? Or if one of us actually does die?"

I knew Jean was thinking about what happened earlier.

It must've been agonizing for him to see me on that grass, hurt and unconscious.

"I promise you Jean, I will not die. Same thing for you. You will not die. We're both strong soldiers." I said, squeezing his hand. "Remember, we're fighting for Marco's sake as well. We cannot let his death be in vain."

"You're right." Jean said as he took a deep breath and sighed. "Marco..."

I looked around and found Captain Levi up ahead.

"I'll be back Jean. I need to speak to Captain Levi." I told him and stepped off the wagon.

I walked towards Levi and saluted towards him.

"Hello Captain Levi." I said.

He didn't say anything. Only nodded back.

"What happened in the forest?" I asked.

"We failed to capture her." Levi said in a cold tone.

"Oh. Are you and your squad okay?" I asked.

He looked at me and then shifted his gaze towards four wrapped up bodies at a nearby wagon.

"There they are." He said, pointing with his eyes.

I gasped at the realization.

"I'm sorry Captain Levi." I said sadly.

Levi lost his Elite squad.

He must be devastated.

"Don't apologize. There's no reason to. They helped protect Eren." He said coldly.

"Where is Eren Captain?" I asked him.

"He's over there." Levi said, pointing at a different wagon.

I see Mikasa sitting in there. Eren might be resting in that wagon.

"Okay. Thank you Captain." I said as I saluted him and headed towards them.

"Mikasa." I said her name.

"Hi Eri." Mikasa greeted me as she looked down at the unconscious Eren.

"What happened to Eren?" I asked, concerned about my friend.

"It was that Female titan. Eren tried to fight her but lost." Mikasa said.

"He fought her as a titan?" I asked.

She nodded her head.

"I witnessed it. Eren lost to her and got eaten through the nape of the neck." She said.

I looked at Eren with my eyes wide.

Eren fought her. Yet, he still lost.

"Captain Levi and I managed to get Eren back. So we don't know where she is or who she is." Mikasa added.

"I see."

I stepped onto the wagon and touched Eren's forehead. It was really hot.

He's got a fever. I thought.

Is that an outcome after transforming into a titan?

I looked up to see Commander Erwin making an announcement.

"Everyone. We reclaimed all the bodies we could. There are no titans in sight. We need to head back to Karanes District immediately." He said.

With that, everybody saddled up their horses and started the to move.

Jean, Armin and I were placed in the rear of the retreat back to the wall.

Also in the rear were the wagons of dead bodies and injured soldiers as well as a wagon that was holding Eren. Mikasa's horse was next to Eren's wagon as well.

During our ride back, one of the soldiers noticed something from behind us.

"Crap! Titans!" He shouted.

Without any hesitation, he immediately fired a red flare.

I turned around to see two variant type titans running after us.

"They're getting pretty close to those wagons." Jean said.

"Using our devices are no good in this type of environment." Armin said.

Just when the titans were getting close, one of them caught a soldier and slowly brought him to it's mouth.

Another soldier stopped his horse and tried to save his comrade.

"I'll save you!" Shouted the soldier.

We just kept riding along since the second titan was gaining on us.

This variant titan was running in an unusual way. It's arms were crossed and it's legs were spaced out when running.

I looked at Mikasa and she immediately pulled back her horse.

She was going after the titan that grabbed the soldier.

"Mikasa!" I called out to her.

"Someone needs to save them!" She yelled as she rode her way back as fast as possible.

I looked back at the titan and it swallowed the guy it grabbed.

The other soldier tried to kill the titan but was grabbed in the process.

Just as he was about to be eaten, Mikasa maneuvered her way and killed the titan.

"It's gaining on us!" A soldier on the wagon shouted.

The weird running titan was running really fast, almost catching up to the wagon of injured soldiers.

"They're going to die!" Jean yelled.

I looked at the wagon and then the titan.

We must kill it. I thought.

"Jean. I'm going to kill i t." I said.

"What!? That's suicide Eri!" He yelled.

"Trust me! I know what I'm doing!" I shouted.

With that, I whipped lightly at Cloud and made my way towards the titan.

"Alright boy, keep following those wagons and come back to me once I'm done." I told Cloud as I patted his head.

I took out my blades.

Once again, my hands were shaking again.

This is no time to fear titans.

I need to get over that trauma.

I must save those wounded soldiers!

With that, I jumped out of Cloud and pushed the button.

The hook grabbed onto the titans ankles and I reeled myself in towards the tendons.

I swung back my blades and slashed those tendons.

The weird running titan fell to the ground as I ran along it's back.

I jumped in the air, swung my blades back and spun into the nape.

I slashed off it's neck as the titan died.

I quickly jumped off and started running forward, awaiting for Cloud to return.

"Cloud!" I called out to him.

As Cloud ran back towards me, I put my blades away and hopped back on.

"Nice job Eri!" Mikasa commented as she rode along side me.

"Thanks. Same to you Mikasa." I said.

We both sped up to catch up with the others. Mikasa made her way back towards Eren's side and I with Jean.

"That was impressive Eri." Armin said.

"It was nothing. This is what I do when I want to save people." I said.

I looked at Jean.

I thought he was going to be mad at me. But he wasn't.

"You did a good job Eri. As stubborn as you may be, you're a tough soldier." Jean said.

I just continued to look at Jean and gave him a warm smile.

We finally reached back to Wall Rose and entered Karanes District with disappointing looks.

A swarm of civilians within the district crowded around and they didn't look happy one bit.

We all walked through slowly as I see people giving us looks of disgust as well.

I can even faintly hear some whispers among the crowds.

"There's fewer of them than this morning." One voice said.

"A lot of them must've died in vain." Snorted another voice.

"I heard this mission failed badly." Said another voice.

I gritted my teeth and held Cloud's leash tightly.

They don't know how it feels to be outside those walls...

"Ignore them Eri." Jean said coldly. "It's not like they're any better. Just ignore them."

I looked at Jean. He had an angry look on his face.

"ANSWER ME ERWIN! WERE ALL THOSE DEATHS FOR NOTHING FROM THIS EXPEDITION!?" One of the civilians shouted.

The crowds soon turned angry and shouted words towards us and Commander Erwin.

They kept screaming if Erwin had an empathy.

I also heard shouts of people claiming to lose support in us.

I tried my best to not get angry.

It really annoys me that people are acting this way.

We all fought our best. We all did as much as we could to bring success.

I looked towards Mikasa and the wagon.

Eren was awake.

He had his arm over his face and I could see tears streaming down from them.

Eren...

He must feel a heavy burden in his chest right now.

I looked at the crowd and noticed two children by their window.

They both had smiles all over their faces.

I could even hear what they were saying.

"How cool! The Survey Corps are back!" One kid shouted.

"Yeah! Even though they are hurt, they still did their best! I can't wait to be like them when I grow up!" Shouted another kid.

Different types of emotions started swarming through my mind.

That was how I was when I was young.

I acted like that whenever I saw my parents return from their expeditions.

Is this how my parents felt whenever they came back from a failed operation?

Have they always lived through this suffering feeling?

If so, I can't handle it.

I looked at my hands and they started shaking again.

I can't get this feeling out.

This feeling of fear with that Female Titan.

All of a sudden, I felt tears streaming down my face.

I tried wiping them away but they just kept falling.

I failed.

I failed to stop that Female Titan.

I failed myself.

I failed my parents.

I failed to even call myself a soldier.