Hey guys!
I'm rewriting this story to try and regain my muse for this fanficiton, I've fallen behind on the anime series. I rewrote The Forgotten Wife and I've been playing the Attack On Titan games on the PS4, my writing muse is coming back slowly over time. I would like to get back into the AOT, it's coming to an end soon which is sad.
-I once was TheHeartlessNukia account
-Thank you for the Reviews, favorites, Alerts and to the unknown people who read my story too.
-I'm going to be changing the writing style of my fanfiction, it may take some time though since I have many chapters to change.
-My laptop's charged decided to die, so it will be slow updates until I can replace it - I'm sorry if there's any mistakes in my fanfictions!
-Please don't demand chapter updates!
Stay safe guys and enjoy!
Chapter 33!
A Few Days Later.
The day had finally come for the long-range scouting expedition into unknown territory, many wagons had been packed with supplies and the scouts were ready to venture forward beyond the safety of the Walls. Being lead forward by Erwin Smith they departed the safety of the Colonist District and began their 57th exterior expedition, the ruins of a fallen districts greeted them as they rode forward.
Empty streets and broken doorways the district was falling apart, the stony streets wearing thin beneath the horse's hooves. It felt like a lifetime ago since people use to live here, no life except for the odd animals and the Titans wandering the district's streets. Riding not far from Erwin and Mike Zacharias Lorna kept her attention on the street ahead of her, but it wasn't long until the first Titans were spotted roaming the district.
" We've got a ten foot Titan closing in from the left!" Hange yelled.
Lorna watched as the support squad leaped into action and moved away from the scouts, they had their targets in their sights. Maneuvering through the streets they were armed with their trusty ultra-hard steel blades, they would defend the scouts until they made it safely through of the district.
Passing another street Lorna got glimpses of two support squad members in combat with a ten foot Titan, one of them cut the nape of the Titan. It's blood squirted from it's cut nape, it didn't look deep enough though. They quickly maneuvered back on themselves to finish the job, they disappeared from her view in seconds.
A building crumbled to the left of Lorna due to a Titan smashing it apart with it's hands, she kept on riding forward. Finally making it through the gateway into nothing but greenery and the odd derelict house they kept riding on the pathway which lead them further away from the Walls, but the orders were soon set by their Commander.
" Long-range formation, let's go!" Erwin yelled.
The scouting group began to split apart, the groups riding into different directions. The plan Erwin had devised was set into motion. Each scout set apart at intervals they would be able to see in all directions and widening the detection range, this was a safer format. Lorna was riding with a group of scouts and a wagon, they were in row three one: Transport.
Every scout was issued with a red smoke signal they would fire when a Titan was spotted, then the next scout in line would see the signal and fire their smoke signal which would carry on until it reached the attention of Erwin. He would then fire a green smoke signal to indicate that the course had changed, but if an abnormal Titan was spotted a black smoke signal would be fired.
The group Lorna was part of kept riding forward, they kept their eyes pealed for smoke signals. There pathway was safer than the right and left formations, they were more prone to Titan sightings or attacks. Time passed and it wasn't long until they saw red smoke signal in the sky, this meant Titans had been spotted.
" This is bad!" One of the male scout's said with panic in his voice. " Titans spotted so soon into the expedition, this will not bode well!"
" We knew the chances before we left the Colonist District, let's just stick to the Commender's plan!" Said another scout. " Maybe we should asked the correspondent for the scouts, she may know more than we do!"
" I know no more than you!" Lorna said. " I only know the plan that was devised by Erwin, if there were any changes then it was not discussed with me!"
" Are you sure?!" Asked the scout nearest to Lorna. " You're always hanging around with the Commander, also you're at each meeting being held in his office with the higher ranking officers! People talk you know!"
" I'm just a correspondent, I know nothing until orders are given to all of the scouts!" Lorna replied. " I write notes down for him, that is my given position in the ranks!"
" So you may know more than us, you seem all pally with Levi's squad!" Said the scout nearest to Lorna. " Didn't you train with them?!"
" No!" Lorna paused for a moment before she answered. " Well maybe just for a few months, just training and nothing else!"
" She's holding out on us, I bet she knows more than she's letting on!" Said the scout nearest to Lorna. " Spill the beans!"
" I know nothing!" Lorna yelled.
" You know Eren, right?!" Asked the scout nearest to Lorna. " Is it true what they say? He can change at will into a Titan?!"
" That is common knowledge!" Lorna replied. " I myself haven't witnessed it yet!"
Their conversation was interrupted by more signals being fired into the sky, they were black smoke signals this time. This meant an abnormal had broken through the line, the route they were now on may change if green smoke signals were fired. They kept on riding forward and stayed on their given route until word reached them from a messenger, the right wing span had been annihilated by Titans.
Erwin wanted the message to keep moving left, the scout who delivered the message moved away from them and continued to spread the message to the other scouts. New smoke signals shot across the sky, they were green which meant the course was changing. Being told to fire a smoke signal Lorna did what she had been asked, she fired her smoke signal into the sky.
The wagon group Lorna was part of changed course, they were heading towards the forest. The landscape around them began to change, vast green fields soon became tall and strong looking trees. Old derelict houses on each side of the entrance of the forest had greeted them, the deeper they ventured into the forest the more she felt isolated from the rest of her group.
" Stay close, I don't want anyone getting separated from the group!" Said one of the scouts leading at the front. " Keep your eyes peeled, we don't know if any Titans are lurking in these parts!"
They stayed close and moved forward, their given route would lead them to where they had to be in due course. It wasn't long until they came to a clearing in the forest. Erwin and Hange were already there with a group of scouts, Lorna's group halted when they reached the clearing. Other wagons began to turn up at the center of the forest, she dismounted her horse and began to help with the unloading of the barrels from the wagons.
The trap was soon set, the special target restraining weapon developed by the Survey Corps was now ready. It was designed to catch specific Titans, each barrel contacted seven steel tubes and each one of them had coiled wires with arrowheads at both ends. The arrowheads could pierce the toughest hide and hold the Titan in place, Lorna was interested to see how this weapon worked.
Taking their places they waited, Lorna was hiding with Erwin in the treetops. It wasn't long until they heard galloping horses and low rumblings of giant footsteps, the scouts below them began to prepare themselves for the approaching Titan. Six scouts on horseback galloped passed the clearing and it wasn't long until they saw the Titan, it stopped dead in front of the weapon.
" Fire!" Erwin yelled.
The barrels where fired and the arrowheads flew at it's target, the Titan was pierced with many arrowheads all over it's Titan form. Like a fly trapped in a spider's web it was forced to remain in one place, it was trapped by the many coiled wires with arrowheads. It wasn't going anywhere for now. The smoke soon cleared and they got better look at the Titan, it turned out to be a Female Titan.
" It's female, I thought Titans were neither male or female..." Lorna said with curiosity in her voice. " Abnormal, her height must be near enough fourteen meters. I'm taking it she's of importance if she has been lured into a trap."
" You're correct, I guess the time you spent with Hange as paid off." Erwin said with a slight smile. " But for now keep up your guard and take notes, this could go either way."
" Yes sir!" Lorna said.
Taking her journal from her shoulder bag Lorna crouched on the tree branch, she rested her book against her knee while she opened it up and took a pencil from another pocket of her bag. She began to write notes in her journal, she even sketched the Female Titan's form with the many coiled wires with arrowheads piercing her body. She wanted to put as much detail into her notes as possible.
Lorna attention was drawn away from her journal for a few moments, Levi had joined them. His facial expression emotionless as always, he gave her a side glance before he began to speak with their Commander.
" She not putting up much of a fight." Levi said.
" There's no reason to let our guard down." Erwin said. " Good job leading them here, I'm more than a little impressed."
Lorna continued to take notes whilst they spoke together, they spoke about the fallen rear contingent and the Female Titan. Levi was showing compassion which surprised her, but when she heard his reasons why it lightened her heart slightly. The rear contingent had given their lives, they wouldn't have made it through if it wasn't for their sacrifice.
" Second and third waves, fire!" Erwin yelled.
Again the barrels fired, more coiled wires with arrowheads pierced the Titan's form. Surely the Female Titan should be secure by now with the amount of arrowheads keeping in her one place. But the nape of her neck remained shielded by her hands, she seemed to be intelligent. The smoke soon cleared and Levi maneuvered himself somewhere above them in the treetops. Lorna looked at Erwin and asked him some questions.
" Sir, is this Titan like Eren?" Lorna asked.
" Yes, I guess you're now familiar with Titan Shifters?" Erwin asked.
" I know little about them, but do you know who this Female Titan is?" Lorna asked.
" Not just yet, but when we do this person will be taken into custody and questioned." Erwin replied.
" You mean like you did with Eren?" Lorna asked.
" More or less, but for now keep your questions to yourself." Erwin replied.
Lorna gave him a nod and turned her attention back to her journal, she wrote down more notes while she listened to what was going on around her. Hange was somewhere below them observing the Female Titan, she could hear Hange's voice from where she was located. She defiantly heard her use the word extraction before Levi and Mike leaped into action, they were going to try to obtain the person who had shifted into the Female Titan.
Watching them both maneuver from the thick branches from above them they attacked the Female Titan with their blades, her hands hardening without any warning their blades shattered the minute they made contact with her wrists.
Lorna's eyes grew wide, how would they be able to maintain the Female Titan now with the strength she processed? Her thoughts were interrupted by Mike landing not so far from Erwin, his facial expression he gave to their Commander said it all. This wouldn't be an easy task to complete, the Female Titan's abilities were very different from the other Titans they had encountered in the past.
" An impressive ability, so she can harden her skin to protect portions of her body." Erwin said. " Similar to the Armored Titan that breached Wall Maria, the question is how many blade strikes will it take to chip her armor?"
Lorna looked up at Erwin from her journal, she watched him raise his hand. A male scout from somewhere above them joined them on the branch, she heard Erwin telling the scout to prepare for an artillery round. He wanted the Female Titan's hands to be blown off. Lorna was unsure if it would work, if it did work then the person inside the Titan may get blown up or get hurt in the process.
" With all due respect Commander there is a risk if we use the cannons, her hands will get blown off!" Said the male scout. " But whatever's beneath them will too, Sir!"
" A fine point soldier, that's why you will aim carefully and sever them at the wrists." Erwin said.
Lorna listened to Erwin speaking with the scout, he was beginning to give more orders. Erwin would signal when the cannons would need to be fired at the Female Titan's wrists. The scout maneuvered himself to the cannon's location below them to give out their Commander's new orders.
" Do you think it will work?" Lorna asked.
" All we can do is hope, like I said once before it could go either way." Erwin replied.
Lorna's gaze wandered now and again to observe the Female Titan's form, she noticed that Levi was standing on the Female Titan's head. She had no idea what he was doing, but what happened next startled everyone. The Female Titan screamed, the sound she was making was terrifying and extremely loud. Lorna tried her best to shelter her ears from the Female Titan's screams, she sounded like a dying animal.
The Female Titan's screams soon eased, the scouts were left stunned and bewildered. Putting her journal away Lorna got to her feet and turned her gaze towards Mike while he spoke to Erwin, the only word she caught was Titans. It wasn't long until rumbles could be heard, the trees shook and birds flew from the treetops as Titans drew closer to their location.
" Erwin, the first wave will come from the East!" Mike said. " They are almost here!"
" Wagon escort team, interact!" Erwin yelled.
Scouts maneuvered from below them, they headed straight towards the Titans. But to the surprise of everyone the Titans ignored the scouts and continued their route, they were heading towards the Female Titan. Levi was still on the Female Titan's head, he had noticed the approaching Titans. He maneuvered himself towards the rampaging Titans and readied himself for battle.
Lorna drew her blades as she watched the abnormal Titans pouring from every part of the forest, their target was the Female Titan. They were powerless to stop them, the Titans pounced at the Female Titan. Screams and blood spatters filled the air as everyone watched the horrible scene unfolding in front of them. The Titans were eating the Female Titan alive, Lorna had never seen anything like this before.
" All men, engage!" Erwin yelled. " Defend the Female Titan, even if it cost you your lives!"
Scouts from the treetops above Lorna leaped into action, their blades in their hands they did as they were ordered. Roars filled the air and blood spattered across the ground, scouts cutting the napes on every Titan they could to protect the Female Titan. Lorna moved forward to join her fellow scouts, but her way was blocked by Erwin's arm.
" Not this time, Lorna!" Erwin said. " Fall back!"
" But sir, I'm more than a correspondent!" Lorna said with a frown. " Please let me do my part, don't block my way!"
" Fall back, that's an order!" Erwin said, his speaking tone was serious. " Now!"
" But Sir..." Lorna yelled.
" Stand down!" Erwin yelled while he used his hand to lower her blades. "That's an order!"
Lorna obeyed ordered this time, she could only watch as her fellow scouts continued to try and protect the Female Titan. There was too many Titans devouring each part of the Female Titan's body, they ripped her body apart and it seemed like the person shielded beneath it's nape may have been devoured in the Titan feeding frenzy.
" Retreat!" Erwin yelled.
The scouts returned to the safety of the treetops, all they could do now was watch as the Female Titan got devoured. Levi joined Lorna and Erwin again, he rested against the tree while he wiped Titan blood away from his cheek with his hand.
" We've been bested..." Erwin said.
" Don't give me that crap!" Levi said. " Not now, not yet!"
Lorna listened to them talking, angry words were exchanged between them. Levi was ordered by Erwin to refuel before he rejoined his Squad, the plan had failed. Eren may end up back in chains once again, they now had to get back to the safety of the Walls without sustaining more casualties.
Black retreat smoke signals were fired into the sky, the expedition was over. Erwin ordered everyone to get back into the formation, they would be leaving the forest immediately. Eren left with Levi's Squads, it wasn't long until the wagons were pack and the remaining scouts were riding through the forest.
The atmosphere had changed, something wasn't right. The forest felt darker and there were doubts forming amongst the scouts, it didn't help much that they were retreating from their expedition. Lorna's gaze fell upon Hange and Erwin, they were speaking as they rode side by side. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but she knew it probably wasn't good.
A Few Hours Later
They kept on riding until they were outside of the forest, the sun was shining and the day was still pleasant. The wagons stopped not far from the forest, they had time to regroup themselves and wait for any of the other scouts who were still catching up with them. But it wasn't long until the part that Lorna truly hated began to happen, the bodies of the fallen were being brought from the forest by their comrades.
The fallen were laid out side by side on the grass, they were being wrapped in sheets to give them some dignity before they were transferred onto the wagons. Lorna recognized some faces of the fallen scouts, it hurt her deeply when she found out that Levi's Squad had been killed in action. Eren had been injured, he had been placed on one of the wagons with a bandaged head.
Lorna noticed Levi standing along side his fallen squad, but she didn't approach him in his time of grief due to her being needed else where. She joined Erwin and walked with him, they spoke about the fallen scouts. She had written down as many names as she could, she had spoken to other scouts and noted down the missing scouts from everyone else's knowledge.
" There could be over hundred or even more dead, I'm afraid to say I'll not be able to find out all of there names since some are still missing." Lorna said with a sigh. " We don't even have some of their bodies to return back to their families. It will be hard to know until we return to Colonist District, not everyone will be buried."
" That isn't for you to worry about, Lorna." Erwin said, his speaking tone was gentle. " Concentrate on getting back home alive for now."
" Yes Sir." Lorna said.
Erwin walked ahead of Lorna and ordered her to find her horse, it seemed like Erwin had duties of his own to complete. She watched him join a group of scouts, from what she could gather it was important. Lorna went to find her horse, her horse was in good hands and being fed before the ride back to the Walls. She put her journal away and took over from the scout feeding her horse, she patting it's neck while she spoke to the horse.
" Good, huh? I'm hungry too, it's been a long day. But for now maybe it's time I gave you a name." Lorna said before she quickly glanced beneath the horse to find out it's sex. " Well it seems like you are male, so I'll call you Jacks. Do you like that name?"
Jacks grunted whilst he ate his feed, Lorna was going to take that grunt as a yes. Letting her horse finish his food she was informed that they were leaving soon, she helped one of the scouts by putting the horses feeding bags back onto one of the wagons. She locked the wagon's back, they were now ready to leave.
Lorna mounted her horse and followed everyone else's lead, they rode on through the vest land ahead of them. Lorna found herself near the rear of the formation this time, she could see Armin and Jean from where she was located. They continued to ride on through the beautiful countryside ahead of them, but it wasn't long until a red smoke signal was fired into the sky.
Lorna looked over her shoulder and she saw two Titans chasing after two scouts on their horses, she was unsure what was going on or why the two scouts were out of formation. Voices were raised and panic soon was heard, one of the scouts was knocked from their horse whilst another scout was grabbed by a Titan from their horse. Her attention was soon drawn to more Titans appearing to the right of them, this was not boding well.
" No..." Lorna muttered.
Lorna caught a glimpse of Mikasa, she had gone to aid the scouts and easily cut one of the Titans down. But it didn't stop the other Titan, it continued to chase the wagons where the fallen scouts were being transported back to the Walls. Lorna had noticed Levi falling back, he was making his way to the wagons. She didn't know what was said but the back of the wagon's door were soon opened and bodies were thrown from the back of the wagon, it was an awful sight to behold as each body was thrown into the pathway of the Titans.
Lorna looked straight ahead and held back her tears, she knew what was going on. Her heart sank at the thoughts going through her head, no one would be getting their loved ones back this day. Body after body was being thrown from the back of the wagons, it may stop the Titans from following them but it wouldn't give peace to the families waiting for their loved ones to return back to the safety of the Walls.