Chapter 2: Survival Games

"Congratulations soldiers, you've made the top 10 rookies of the 104th training corps. Don't think this makes you tough shit now, you all still look like titan chow. So, before you go and choose your branch. You'll be sent on a severe survival exercise that only the best can tackle. You'll be matched with a partner of opposite sex to keep it all fair in war so feel free to devise a contest amongst yourselves, a race if you wish to call it that. Your target destination is an old lookout post in the harsh hilly areas of the region south to our current location. In summer, it's not too bad in warmer seasons but in Winter, you're looking at a completely different story. Blizzards, avalanches, and wolves are the biggest threats to your survival and if you're really unlucky then you'll find yourself face to face with a bear that's royally pissed off. Each pair gets two packs that contains basic equipment such as a hunting knife, camp equipment and rations to last you a couple of days. Food from there is all up to you. Meet me at the southern side of the training fields in exactly 3 hours, good luck soldiers, Hell knows you'll need it."

The top ten cadets had lined up at the starting point of the journey they would soon undertake. "The pairs will be as follows:
- Connie and Sasha
- Reiner and Krista
- Jean and Marco (The only team of boys due to there being one extra boy and one less girl)
- Eren and Annie
- Bertholdt and Mikasa

"These pairs were chosen at random with definitely no bias included whatsoever. Another thing, this may seem like the point at which you'll all start but each pair will each be deposited at a different point entering the challenge," he gestured to four groups of three horses behind them. "Reiner and Krista will start here. The rest of you will go with one of my personal staff each to your designated entrance points. Do me a favour and don't die, you're the top 10 so I expect you to smash this out of the park with maximum efficiency. Once again, good luck soldiers."

"So, partners huh?" Eren and Annie had been trudging through snow for the past two hours, moving forward against the fresh cold wind that bit their faces and grew stronger with each minute. Naturally, Annie just wanted to get this over with, so they silently moved forward towards their destination. "Y'know, it's totally different during Winter. It was so much easier to navigate when we were here in the warmer months. Would be a pain in the ass to get lost out here… Annie?" She feigned ignorance.

"Sorry, did you say something?" He stared blankly at her.

"You very well heard me," he crossed his arms.

"Oh, I don't know about that. This wind is howling oh so loud."

"You talk this much with anyone else?" He growled. She put her thumb under her chin as if she was thinking about it.

"You're the only one with the balls to make proper conversation with me and as annoying as it is, you're an exception."

"I'm pretty sure you sent my balls straight to my lungs a long time ago. That and you've thoroughly annihilated the balls of any guy who fucks with you too much."

"They just needed to learn their place."

"What about Reiner and Bert? Reiner pushes your buttons plenty, but you don't kick his ass as much as others that have done less, what's special with them?"

"They're from my home village. You're pretty observant for a moron, anyone ever tell you that?"

"Nah, you're the first. Everyone else just says I'm a moron."

"I couldn't guess why," he chuffed.

"Whatever, Annie," a faint grin danced across her lips, but her hood concealed her face from Eren's sight.

"We'll have to find decent shelter soon. The wind's picking up again and we'll be stuck in a blizzard before we know it," Annie suggested.

"I remember there being some cave-like overhangs in those hills over there," Eren pointed to a series of hills visible in the distance. "If we can make it there, we can set up camp and wait till morning where we can either go around the forest or shortcut straight through it."

"Worry about the forest later, let's just pick up the pace and find a good spot to sleep," she chided.

"Right," he nodded. "Do you remember if we get our own tents or do we have to share one?"

"Fortunately, we each have our own. I don't need you drooling on me while I sleep thank you."

"Yeah yeah, blah blah. You're hilarious."

"I wasn't joking, Reiner told me you genuinely drool in your sleep."

"Wait, he told you that? What an ass!" he huffed. Annie chose not to respond and kept silent. "You could at least agree with me," he still got no response. "So, I've exhausted your conversation capacity for the day have I? Rightio, to the hills we go," and they continued their voyage through the snowy terrain.

"Whew, we made it." Eren slumped belly first to the ground in the small cave they had found. It wasn't much and still extremely cold, but it would shield them from the blizzard that had entered their area."

"Wouldn't want to be stuck out there," Annie commented as she observed a curtain of white descend over the entrance as the snowstorm passed over them. She strolled over to Eren and toed his side to flip him over. "Quit being childish; I'm your temporary comrade, not your babysitter."

"I'll always consider you a comrade Annie," she raised a brow.

"Really? You barely know me? I could secretly be an enemy for all you know," he furrowed his brow.

"I think you're confusing 'comrade' with 'friend' Annie. I'd struggle to fight a friend but if a comrade turned out to be an enemy? I wouldn't hesitate to bring you down." Well that was a pleasant surprise. He isn't a complete idiot at times.

"Hmm, good response," she sat cross legged on the ground and looked at him. "You're getting better at harnessing your emotions, I noticed," he nodded his head to show he acknowledged her statement before reverting the topic of conversation.

"Hey, what was all that about secretly being an enemy by the way? It's a hypothetical scenario, I'd hope," she blinked.

"Of course, Eren. I'm not your friend but I'd prefer to not be your enemy." But just because I'd prefer not to be doesn't mean I'm not an enemy.

"That's good to hear. You'd probably kick my ass anyway."

"Take what I'm teaching you and master it. Then you might stand a good chance."

"The student defeats the master?"

"Fighting is an art. You always keep a trick up your sleeve, keep changing your strategy if what you're doing isn't working. Do you want to be aggressive or a counter fighter? Probe with a few jabs to get them confident in their defence, then switch it up and use a feint to get a surprise hit in. Read what type of fighter your opponent is to get an idea of how to form different strategies to counter them with." She looked at him to see him hanging off her every word. He was truly serious about learning from her.

"I know you've got plenty of tricks up your sleeve but from what you've used on me so far… I'd say you're a counter fighter that uses low sweeps for countering and roundhouse kicks for a slightly more aggressive approach and you like to throw in the odd clinch or hold," She nodded in approval.

"Good observation but never assume you have your opponent completely figured out. As you said, I have plenty of tricks to use. Be prepared for anything, Eren."

"Got a key tip for the day? I've learnt to not underestimate my opponent and keep composed in a fight, but do you want to add anything else?"

"Learn patience."

"Huh?"

"You're impatient, you always engage and telegraph your movements blatantly. If you want an aggressive style like that then you need to be much quicker. "

"So, you mean to sit back and not do anything? Someone has to initiate the fight."

"I'm not talking about initiating. I'm talking about taking the time to observe your opponent and determine what their comfort zone is so you can counter it, watch me." She stood up and got in her stance. "What do you see?" Her hair waved in the light breeze as her crystal blue eyes sparkled against the white background. 'I see an angel of the ice' was the first thought that entered his head.
"When you're done staring, Yeager. Class is in session." Eren snapped to reality as he tried to grasp the hidden message in Annie's words. Step back, analyse the opponent. He examined her with more precision. Namely, her feet which remained static.

"If I was fighting you for the first time, I'd know that you prefer to counter fight right off the bat. You don't move or bounce around on your feet but remain still instead which limits your mobility. It's a solid defensive style that provokes your opponent to make the first move, so you have time to react to it. That's your strength, reaction time."

"That's correct, everything you said is true. That's only a fraction of what you should think about before engaging in a fight. What my feet are doing, as you said. Also, my posture and how my legs are positioned. My fighting style is a bit taller than a brawler that keeps low to the ground. You want to look at where their arms are. If a good fighter has their arms down by their sides then it's an obvious trap to bait you in. Like what Mikasa did when we were about to fight."

"I see, so I'm too predictable and too impatient, like you said. But, I could use that to my advantage. Make it look like I'm going for a predictable hit then switch my tactic at the last second."

"Now you're beginning to think like a fighter. I'm impressed, Eren." She said it genuinely. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled.

"I've just got an awesome teacher that teaches by example."

"You flatter me," she sarcastically commented and while her face remained expressionless, a smile threatened the corners of her mouth.

"Who knows, I might be able to teach you something someday."

"Really? I'd be interested to see that."

"I'll take it as a challenge."

"Knock yourself out." He laughed before grabbing his pack.

"Let's eat then get some rest, yeah? We've got another exciting day of walking ahead of us tomorrow." She nodded in agreement and sat down next to him.

After having eaten and finished with setting up their small tents and bedrolls; Annie and Eren were about to sleep for the night. "Hey," Eren leant out of his tent, waiting for Annie to respond. She poked her head out, leaning on her arms.

"Yes?"

"If you ever get a little cold and need a little body heat then feel free to come over," he smirked, and she mimicked throwing up her mouth.

"Only if the colds about to kill me, Eren," he chuckled at her response before looking at her.

"Goodnight Annie," he receded into the slightly warmer confines of his tent and after a few seconds…

"Goodnight Eren," she did the same and rubbed her temples, she hated her current situation. She was slowly warming up to Eren Yeager… And her heart wasn't complaining with it.