Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan

Rated M for gore violence, language, and sexuality

Enjoy

Forest of Giant Trees, Wall Maria, 850...

Levi and Raisa drew their swords as they stared at the Female Titan. "Not quite yet. A little more insurance," Erwin said and raised his hand. "Second and third waves! Fire!"

The second and third rounds of cannons went off, firing more and more anchors into the Female Titan. The elite soldiers waited patiently for the opportunity to extract the enemy inside the titan. "All reserves!" Erwin ordered. "Fire!"

Vanessa watched in awe as she covered her ears from the loud booms. This is insane. How the hell did the Commander know to set this trap? Marlene tapped Vanessa on the shoulder and pointed up to Levi who was trying to get her attention. Vanessa fired her anchor and quickly flew up to their perch. She was surprised to see Erwin and Raisa. She sheathed her blades and saluted. "Sir!"

"Stay here," Levi ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Down below, Hange unleashed the final cannon. Erwin nodded to Levi and Raisa, and they flew down along with Mike. Levi and Mike struck at the Female Titan's hands, but their blades broke upon contact with her skin. As they flew back, Raisa noticed the hardened crystal skin fall off the titan's hands. She took the moment to attack. She thrusted her swords into the Female titan's flesh. The blades dug in almost all the way. As she prepared to cut the fingers off at the knuckles, the impenetrable crystal re-formed. Fuck! The swords were stuck. She couldn't move them and she couldn't pull them out. Raisa waited, expecting the crystal to fall off like before. After a moment, Raisa snorted as the crystal remained intact. "You sneaky bitch."

Raisa detached her handles from the trapped blades. She flew back and landed on Erwin's perch. "Not only can she harden her skin. She can control how she sheds it," Raisa reported. "This motherfucker is nothing like Eren."

Erwin thought over a solution as he glared down at the Female Titan, seeing Raisa's blades embedded in her hands. "We could try cutting through the front of the neck," Raisa suggested. "There's too much wire to cut her arms off properly."

"Cutting through the neck would take too long. We're short on time," Erwin said. "Prepare an artillery round. I want her hands blown off."

Raisa blinked as she thought over his orders. "Erwin...the shifter inside will get blown up if we use the cannons. Thought our objective was extraction not execution."

"Indeed," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Which is why you'll aim carefully and sever them at the wrists. On my signal, I want an all-out salvo."

"As you wish, sir."

His hand slipped off her shoulder as she flew down towards the cannons, meeting with Harold. As the Scouts began to prepare the cannons, Erwin turned his gaze to Vanessa. She was staring at the Female Titan, watching as Levi flew and landed atop the titan's head. "Vanessa," Erwin said, pulling her attention. "Do you remember our conversation from a month ago?"

"Yes, sir, I do," she answered and gestured to the Female Titan. "Was this the enemy you were expecting?"

"I wasn't expecting this particular enemy, but yes." Erwin glanced back at the Female Titan. "I suspected the attack on Shiganshina five years ago was orchestrated. This was the only titan not seen that day. It's quite possible she was chosen to hit us by surprise."

"Makes sense, sir." Vanessa thought over all the dead soldiers littered throughout the forest. How many had to die just so we could get here? Plus, why am I allowed to see all this? Obviously I'm not on the Commander's list of trusted soldiers. Her thoughts trailed off as she continued to stare at the Female Titan, especially her face. "Sir, did you ever...dress up for Samhain as a kid?"

Erwin pondered her question, and decided to indulge. "Yes. For a few years, I did. Why do you ask?"

"You know how you...see someone you know in a mask but all you can see is their eyes?" she asked, deepening her frown at the Female Titan. "Like you know you know them, but can't picture their face?"

Erwin studied her carefully. "Do you know who this is?"

"No, sir...but this titan's face...I can't shake the feeling that I should know who's inside," she confessed.

"Let me rephrase my question," he said. "Who do you think you know who this is? Whom does she remind you of?"

Vanessa opened her mouth to speak, but the Female Titan moving drew everyone's attention. Suddenly, she roared. A piercing, desperate scream that echoed over the entire forest. Erwin was so surprised that he didn't even cover his ears. Her scream lingered even after she was done, echoing all around them. Mike flew up to Erwin's perch, landing behind Vanessa. "They're coming. I can smell them."

"From what direction?" Erwin asked.

"From every direction," Mike answered. "Fast! Dozens!"

A rumble began to shake the ground. Down below, Raisa glanced in the eastern direction despite the rumbling combing from all around. "Faster!" Raisa ordered. "We're running out of time!"

The soldiers hurried at her orders. Suddenly, three titans came running into the clearing. Two 15-meter and a small 5-meter, running at full speed. "Wagon defense squad!" Raisa shouted. "Intercept now!"

Abel led his squad towards the titans, raising the blades and preparing to strike. However, the titans ran past them. Levi flew off the female titan, and swiftly killed both of the 15-meter titans. The 5-meter latched onto the Female Titan's leg and took a large chunk out of her shin. Erwin widened his eyes in shock upon seeing the 5-meter feast. More titans appeared, bearing down from all directions. A 7-meter titan grabbed ahold of the Female Titan's other legs, and chomped down on her thigh. "All hands, commence combat!" Erwin ordered, panicked. "Defend the Female Titan at all costs!"

As the titans surrounded the Female Titan, the Scouts swarmed them. Vanessa flew off of Erwin's perch, joining in on the attack. The titans were savage, showing no mercy to the Female Titan as the Scouts fought ferociously. Raisa attacked the titans tearing about the Female Titan's back, trying desperately to get to the nape. The steam was overwhelming, and the blood from the titans rained down from everywhere. The titans suddenly pulled the Female Titan's head clean off, fighting and tearing her head apart as they continued eating. Erwin sighed in disappointment. "All hands, withdraw! Redeploy the formation! Return to Calaneth District!"

The Scouts flew back from the feeding frenzy. The remaining titans continued with their meal. Raisa, Levi, and Mike flew back near Erwin. He glanced over at Raisa expectantly, but she shook her head. "She's gone."

Erwin harrumphed. "We've been bested."

"Oh, don't give me that crap," Levi growled, rubbing some titan blood off his cheek.

"Think about it. The enemy was prepared to make sacrifices. Enormous ones," Erwin said. Despite the dark look on his face, he was smiling. "So committed to maintaining her secret, she would rather let herself be cannibalized than exposed."

Levi deepened his frown at the Female Titan's corpse. "That whole song and dance in the courtroom and this what we've got to show for it."

"It's not an entirely lost cause," Mike noted.

"Perhaps. But there's no way Zachary is going to let us keep Eren," Raisa countered. "Not after this. He'll be back in chains...or worse."

"We'll jump off that bridge when we come to it," Erwin said as he studied the rising titan steam. "Right now our only concern is getting back without sustaining further casualties. However we can."

"Vanessa!" Levi called.

Vanessa glanced up, seeing Levi hanging off the tree beside Erwin and the other Section Commanders. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and flew up to him. "Sir?"

"We're heading back-"

"Not yet, Levi," Erwin interjected. "First, replenish your blades and your fuel."

"I can deal with what I've got," Levi argued. "We're running against the clock as it is. Why?"

"Because I said. That's an order."

Levi's frown softened to his usual look of indifference. "Yes, sir. Vanessa, regroup with the Special Ops Squad. I'll catch up."

"Sir!"

Vanessa fired her anchor, and took off towards the south. Levi gave Erwin one last silent look of disapproval before taking off towards the supply wagons. Raisa sheathed her blades as she stood up. "Erwin, what's the point of having him replenish? There's no time. You said so yourself."

"Raisa, your eyesight is superb. No one doubts otherwise," Erwin stated, ignoring her suspicious glare. "Did you actually see the shifter inside the Female Titan get devoured as well?"

"No, I didn't. There was too much steam and too much chaos to see anything." She glanced back down at the titans. Only the lower half of the Female Titan was left. "Guess my theory isn't just a theory after all."

"Yes," he agreed. "Mike, get Hange. I want all three of you with me."

Mike nodded and took off towards where Hange was rallying the soldiers for the trip home. Raisa studied Erwin, trying to guess his thoughts. "The target is Eren. Shouldn't we all be headed towards the Special Ops Squad?"

"No. The Levi Squad can handle it," he said.

Several soldiers fired off purple flares, signaling the order of withdrawal. The command squad's horses were brought, and Erwin took the lead as the regiment headed northeast towards the exit of the forest. Hange rode in silent frustration. "Man," she growled. "I really wanted to get my hands on whoever was inside the Female Titan."

"You might get another chance," Erwin informed. "This isn't over."

"Huh?"

"Hange, the walls outside Trost had distinct patterns of anchor cracks in the stone," Raisa explained. "The pattern went on several hundred yards around the outside and led back into the city. The shifter inside the Colossal Titan definitely used ODM gear to escape detection. It's possible the same thing happened here."

"You think the person inside used their ODM gear to escape while their titan form was being devoured?" Hange furred her brows as she thought. "That's highly unlikely. Based on Eren's condition when he emerged from titan form, his equipment was broken and parts of his uniform were missing. Plus, he was so spent that he couldn't even stand on his own feet."

"The Female Titan summoned reinforcements. That's something we couldn't anticipate because we're basing everything on Eren's own experiences," Raisa pointed out. "My guess is that this shifter has had time to master their ability. Plus, no one saw her get eaten."

"You think she used ODM gear?" Hange asked. "Surely somebody would've seen it."

"Not if they're disguised in one of our uniforms," she countered. "No one would suspect seeing another Scout flying around in the frenzy. We have to consider that if the enemy was still able-bodied when they escaped, then it's entirely possible they can make the titan reappear as well."

"Shit," Hange breathed. "If that's all true, then what you're saying is..."

"Yes," Erwin interjected, meeting Hange's gaze. "We've been infiltrated. The enemy is one of us."

Far East of the Forest...

Vanessa flew through in silence. She wondered if she should've replenished her blades and fuel as well. She only had a pair left, and her tanks felt about half-empty. She noticed a flare signal several hundred yards to her left. "Huh?"

She stopped upon a branch. Another green smoke signal came into few, father away and more north. That's gotta be the squad. So what's the other one in the west? Her eyes shifted back and forth between the two green smoke pillars as they began to dissipate. The more she stared the more confused she grew. How did Captain Levi get so far off course? For some reason, a memory of Eren emerging from his titan form and then Female Titan's face flashed through her mind. She gasped and took off at top speed towards the second smoke signal. As she feared, a flash of light broke through the darkness and a rumble of thunder followed. She remembered Section Commander Raisa's words. This motherfucker is nothing like Eren. Vanessa broke through a thicket of branches and froze. A dozen yards ahead, Gunther dangled off his wire. His nape was cut open and his eyes were wide in a permanent state of realized horror. "...no."

Another flash of light and rumble of thunder drew her attention north. A familiar roar of fury ripped through the quietness of the forest. Vanessa turned away from Gunther's body. Eren! She continued on, flying towards the sound. She couldn't help but remember when Gunther told her about his father's carpentry business. His father made unique furniture that people loved. My father has a gift, he told her. Vanessa swooped down and passed the severed, upper body of Eld. He was lying on the grass, staring up at the sky. The doctor says it might be a boy with the way she's carrying. Vanessa slowed down, preparing to stop, but the sight of Oruo's mangled body caught her attention. His body was bent at an unnatural angle. Ugh. You brats remind me of my stupid siblings. And I've got five of 'em! Vanessa landed softly on the ground and turned, seeing Petra smashed against a tree. Don't feel bad, Vanessa. We're all getting to know each other. Vanessa heard another roar. Eren wasn't too far away, but she couldn't move. She had no thoughts. No feelings. She couldn't accept the sight in front of her. They weren't dead. Petra wasn't gone. She would just get up, and smile like she always does. "Vanessa."

She slowly raised her head. Levi was hanging above her. "What're you doing? We need to go. Eren's most likely lost control again."

His tone enraged her. He sounded so indifferent. Vanessa shook as she held down her anger. Then she met his gaze. His eyes held a mixture of controlled fury and sadness despite the expression of acceptance on his face. Eren's roar rolled through the forest again. "Mourn later," Levi ordered. "We have a job to do."

Vanessa stopped shaking. She gripped her swords firmly. "Yes, sir."

Levi lowered his gaze to Petra's body then flew off towards Eren. Vanessa followed suit. The sound of something crashing echoed, like a tree falling. "Eren! No!"

Vanessa gasped. "Was that...Mikasa?"

"Who?" Levi asked.

"Mikasa Ackerman, sir," she answered. "Eren's adopted sister. But...she should be with the left flank, not here."

Levi said nothing. They flew through a clearing, and Eren's titan body came into view. It was headless and slumped over against a broken tree. The first thing they noticed was that the nape was torn open. Almost a hundred yards away, they could see Mikasa flying around the Female Titan who had her nape covered. Mikasa dodged the Female Titan's attacks and attempted to pursue. "Get back here!"

Levi pushed forward at top speed. He tackled Mikasa before she could attack the titan again. "Stay back for now."

He let her go just as Vanessa flew up beside them. "Maintain current distance," Levi ordered. "She's slowed down a bit."

They continued after the Female Titan, staying about fifty meters behind her. "Mikasa," Vanessa began, "what're you doing here? Why'd you leave your post?"

"What kind of stupid question is that?" Mikasa snapped. "She took Eren! I'm getting him back!"

"It's unlikely Eren survived," Levi said, surprising the girls. "It looked like the entire nape was bitten off."

"He's alive," Mikasa insisted.

"That's awful optimistic," he noted.

"All due respect, sir, this isn't a typical titan," Vanessa argued. "Her mission is to capture him not kill him. You saw how far she was willing to go to escape us. She wants him for something. Mikasa's right. He's still alive."

"That's a hell of an assumption," he countered. "No, it's more likely he was swallowed. He's dead."

Mikasa growled. "If you had just done your damn job and protected him like you were supposed to, we wouldn't be having this conversation!"

"Mikasa, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Vanessa scolded. "You can't talk to a superior officer like that!"

"The hell I can't!" she snapped. "All of you are useless! It's your fault Eren's-"

"Don't you dare! This titan is nothing like-!"

"-I don't care what she-!"

"-you insane?! You can't-!"

"-oh, yes, I can! Where were you-!"

"Hey," Levi said.

"-you think you can save Eren by yourself-!"

"-yes, god damn it-!"

"-already tried and it didn't-!"

"-I would've if he hadn't-!"

"Hey!"

"-you can't even take down this bitch-!"

"-watch me! I'm better than-!"

"-the hell you are! You're not-!"

"-fuck you! You're just-!"

"SHUT UP!" Both girls turned to look at Levi. He exhaled to resume his composure. "Fine. We'll act on the assumption Eren is alive, and focus only on freeing him before she exits the forest."

"But, sir, we can't," Vanessa argued. "She's killed too many of our people."

"Forget it," he ordered. "She's got defenses that none of us have been training to deal with. Mikasa, right? You find a way to distract her. Once I got her down, Vanessa, you extract Eren. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

Mikasa surged forward, flying around low. She zipped in front of the Female Titan, catching her attention while avoiding getting stomped on. Levi followed behind, waiting. Vanessa stayed off to the side, flying in similar speed to Levi as she watched. The Female Titan suddenly turned and swung her fist at Levi. He easily dodged it and attacked. He was a blur of blades and blood as he cut through her arm. Chunks of her flesh went flying off. He sailed towards her face and jammed his swords right into her eyes. Mikasa flew up onto Vanessa's perch as they stared in awe. Levi flew up, out of the titan's reach as he equipped himself with fresh blades and attacked again. He was fast. Slicing everywhere from head to toe. The Female Titan fell back against a tree, trying to keep her nape covered. "So this is what he's like," Vanessa muttered. "When he doesn't hold back..."

Mikasa hummed, but said nothing else. Levi tore at the Female Titan's arm, rendering it useless. She slumped forward, exposing her nape. Mikasa gasped and flew down, firing an anchor onto the titan's neck. "Mikasa!" Vanessa shouted. "Wait! Don't!"

As Mikasa grew close, the Female Titan raised her hand, aiming to swat Mikasa. Levi swooped in, shoving Mikasa out of the way. He winced as his foot slipped and his ankle twisted painfully. He used the momentum and spun away, slashing at the titan's jaw. As soon as her jaw opened, Vanessa swung down, yanking Eren right off her tongue. Mikasa gasped in relief. "Eren!"

Vanessa stopped on a high branch. Eren almost slipped out of her arms due to being soaked in saliva. She immediately began checking his vitals. His pulse was faint and he wasn't breathing. Levi landed behind them on the branch. "Is he alright?"

Vanessa opened Eren's mouth and shoved her fingers into his throat. Eren gagged as his eyes flew open, and Vanessa withdrew hand in time as he vomited up titan saliva. He took a shaky breath and passed out again. "He's breathing now, sir," Vanessa reported. "He might have a concussion, though."

"We'll deal with it later," he said. "Mikasa! Time to go!"

Vanessa noticed Levi was standing mostly on his right foot, barely putting any weight on his left. "Sir, you're wounded. Let me examine your leg."

"It can wait," he insisted. "We've got Eren. We need to return to the regiment."

Mikasa hopped up onto the branch, her eyes focused on Eren. "Eren. Is he...?"

"He's alive," Vanessa answered.

"What'd I tell you about trying to take her down?" Levi scolded, surprising Mikasa. "You could've gotten yourself killed."

"I was just-"

"Our work here is done. Don't screw this up by making it personal, you understand?" He fired an anchor. "We all get that you love him, but try not to act crazy."

With that, he flew off northbound. Vanessa positioned Eren so that he was hanging off her piggy-back style. Before she flew off after Levi, she paused. The Female Titan had tears streaming down her cheeks. What the...? She dismissed her confusion and continued on. "Come on, Mikasa!"

"Right!"

Outside the Forest of Giant Trees, two hours later...

Levi sat on a boulder as Raisa was kneeling down in front of him. She slowly removed his boot. His leg instinctively twitched from the pain. She removed the ODM straps and rolled up his pant leg. His ankle was dark red and swollen. She examined him carefully, and her touch was gentle. "It's not broken," she informed. "But this is a bad sprain. The ODM gear is just gonna make it worse. I'll tell Hange to write up a temporary medical suspension for you."

"How long?" he asked.

She gently set his foot down on her thigh, and opened her medical kit. "A week. Maybe two. You need to let this heal completely."

"I know."

Raisa began applying a pale green cream to his ankle. Levi remained silent as he watched her. She wrapped his ankle firmly but carefully. Once she was done, she rolled his pant leg back down and put his boot back on. She detached the ODM leg straps, effectively keeping from being able to use his gear. Levi glanced over a the pile of dead Scouts. He opened his mouth to speak, but changed his mind as Raisa stood up. "You should be okay to walk and ride," she said. "Try to walk mostly on the ball of your foot."

"Section Commander!"

Raisa glanced back, seeing Harold waving over by the wagons. She nodded in acknowledgement and turned back to Levi. "Any other injuries?"

"No."

Raisa sighed and nodded. She reached over and gently squeezed his shoulder before walking off. Everything that needed to be said was exchanged in that one gesture. She knew what he was feeling, and he knew was she was feeling. They didn't need words. Raisa stopped as she walked by Erwin, seeing the look on his face. "How is he?"

"He'll live," she said. "Two weeks medical leave is my guess."

Erwin hummed in response. "Have you completed the headcount of the recruits?"

Raisa remembered Harold who was still waiting by the wagons. "Let me check on that, sir."

She finally made it over to Harold. He held a clipboard and greeted Raisa respectfully. "Ma'am. I have the headcount you requested. All recruits are accounted for, and the squad leaders reported no unusual activity."

Raisa took the clipboard, reading the brief reports. "Did they ever lose sight of the recruits?"

"Just one." He pointed over to a wagon further up.

Raisa handed the clipboard back to Harold. "Figures."

In the wagon, Eren laid unconscious with his Scout cowl covering him like a blanket. Vanessa sat beside him, exhausted. Mikasa stood outside the wagon, but stared at Eren like a worried den mother. Vanessa grew more and more bothered. "Mikasa, they're going to order a reformation. You need to get into position."

"I'm not going anywhere," she said, not taking her eyes off Eren. "He needs me."

Vanessa rolled her eyes as she leaned her head back against the side of the wagon. She happened to raise her head, and suddenly snapped to attention, saluting. Mikasa noticed this and turned around just as Raisa and Harold were approaching. She saluted as well. "This isn't the left flank," Raisa noted. "Why aren't you in position?"

"Ma'am, I'm looking after Eren," Mikasa explained. "He's been hurt and he's unconscious."

"I can see that. But it appears his actual squad-mate has that covered." She gestured to the nervous Vanessa. "I was informed you broke file and pursed the Female Titan on your own."

Mikasa pursed her lips. "Y-Yes, I-"

"You also disrespected a superior officer, disobeyed his orders causing him to get injured in the process, and now, you're...disobeying orders again," she pointed out with a sweet, but furious tone. "You disappoint me, sweetheart. I thought you were better than that."

Mikasa lowered her gaze in shame. She remembered the specialized training she faced not long ago. You can do better than that! Again!

Training Forest, Scout Regiment Headquarters, three weeks ago...

Mikasa flew through the course again. She cut another chunk out of the titan dummy lurking between two trees. She swerved around another tree and landed on a branch. She caught herself before she fell back onto her rear. She was exhausted, and she was frustrated by it. Mikasa had run the course almost tthirty times. Each time, Section Commander Raisa pushed her to fight hard. "Done already?" Raisa called as she flew towards Mikasa. "Don't tell me that's all you got!"

Mikasa groaned as she wiped her forehead. Raisa swung up and landed beside Mikasa. "What's wrong, recruit? Need a nap?"

"No, ma'am."

Raisa tilted her head, smirking. "Is that sass I hear?"

Mikasa inhaled sharply. "No, ma'am."

"Relax, sweetheart. I'm just giving you a hard time." Raisa nudged Mikasa who almost fell over. "You're so serious."

Mikasa looked away, glaring at the dummy titan below. Of all the numerous things that bothered her at the moment, something bothered her more above everything else. "Section Commander, why am I the only one undergoing this training? Shouldn't all the recruits be doing this?"

"This training is reserved for those that have exceptional potential when it comes to titan combat." Raisa leaned back against the tree trunk. "Not everyone can handle the physical strain my methods put on the body. You should feel honored. Not many recruits catch my eye right out the gate."

"During the Trost incident, I was the only cadet chosen to assist the elite rear guard of the Garrison. Not mention I was chosen again to escort Eren to-"

"Okay, let me stop you right there," Raisa said, holding up a hand to silence Mikasa. "I already know you were the the top of your class. So was I. You're good, but you could be better."

Mikasa frowned ever so slightly. "You're not the first talented soldier I've trained," Raisa continued. "But I know you don't care about being the best. You care about protecting Eren."

Mikasa's frown deepened. "With all due respect, Section Commander, that doesn't explain why you're training me yourself."

"Wow. You're not just a pretty face," Raisa said with a snort. "You're right. My lieutenants take care of the training. I hardly ever get involved nowadays."

"So, why the personal interest?"

Raisa exhaled slowly as she folded her arms under her chest. "For one...your skills. It's not the only thing we have in common."

"You're talking about my family name, right?" Mikasa studied Raisa from head to toe. "Do you know anything about the Ackerman family? Your features...they're nothing like my father's."

"Not surprising since Ackerman is my married name," Raisa said. "However, my husband isn't aware of any relatives beyond his mother."

"And your husband is...?"

"Captain Levi," she replied matter-of-factually. Raisa almost laughed at the look Mikasa gave her. "It can't be a coincidence you both possess the Ackerman name. Not to mention, you're both very skilled."

"It could be a coincidence," Mikasa said. "My father was blond-haired with gold eyes. I have his nose, though. Everything else I inherited from my mother. She was...the last of her kind."

"Believe it or not, I know how you feel." Mikasa raised an eyebrow, and Raisa shrugged. "Look at me."

Mikasa nodded, agreeing to Raisa's implication. "I've never seen anyone else like you."

Raisa sat down on the branch and gestured for Mikasa to sit as well. "My mother's people came from some ancient kingdom in the far southwest. Most of them died out, and my mother raised me and my sisters in the mountains of Wall Rose. Perfectly content to live out her life in seclusion. That didn't exactly sit well with me. Or my sister, Katya."

"What about your father?"

"Don't know. He died before I was born." Raisa unfolded her arms as she sighed. "Listen, sweetheart, I get it. The desire to protect someone you love. I've known that feeling for a long time. Whether it's family, someone you admire, or something more. Their well-being, their happiness is all that concerns you."

Mikasa buried her face in her scar, hiding her blush. "Eren saved my life. I owe him everything. And...I promised his mother I would protect him."

"Then you need to understand why I'm training you." Raisa placed her hand on Mikasa's arm. "You can't just be strong. You have to be a leader, a follower, a warrior...everything the Survey Corps needs you to be. I read the reports. Eren tried to kill you."

"He wasn't! It was just a-"

Raisa raised her hand again to silence Mikasa. "Don't make excuses. I don't doubt he regretted it. The point I'm trying to make is that you'll always find yourself struggling to protect him. Unless you trust him."

"Huh?"

"I'm guessing you've always had to step in and save him, right? He doesn't strike me as the type to make friends easily." Mikasa nodded. "This training is meant to make you better not to continue fighting to protect him...but to fight alongside him. He's being trained by Captain Levi, and I trained him. With his titan ability, Eren's going to become an unstoppable force. You need to trust that he can protect himself."

"You really think that?"

"I do." Raisa leaned in slightly. "And you can start by becoming a proper Survey Corps soldier. Meaning: learn to follow orders. You've rested enough. Let's run the course again."

Inside Wall Maria, present day...

"I'm sorry, Section Commander," Mikasa said. "I'll...return to the left flank."

Raisa watched her walk off. Mikasa snuck one last worried glance at Eren before leaving. Dirk came riding up with Raisa's horse. "Section Commander, Commander Erwin's given the order to mobilize."

She huffed, and mounted onto her horse. "Harold, spearhead the center rank with Dirk. I'll be in command with Commander Erwin."

"Yes, ma'am." Harold blinked as he remembered something. "Oh, one more thing, Commander. We have the final death count with a rough idea of the MIA soldiers."

"Were we at least able to recover our confirmed dead?" she asked.

"Not all of them. We lost so many," Harold informed with a sigh. "Even the Special Ops Squad. Only Levi and the two recruits...survived...Section Commander? Are you okay?"

Raisa said nothing and shook the reigns. Her horse trotted forward. Harold furred his brows as she walked on by, not even meeting his confused gaze. Dirk placed his hand on Harold's shoulders. "Did you say the Special Ops Squad got wiped out?"

"Yeah."

Dirk sighed sadly. "Don't take the Section Commander's cold shoulder personally. She's probably just upset. Oruo Bozad is...was one of her protégés. She approved Captain Levi's request for Oruo's transfer last year. He was one of her best. And...she knows the Bozad family well."

Harold slumped his shoulders as he turned his gaze to Raisa's back. "I had no idea."

Once the Scouts were back into formation, Erwin gave the order to move out. Vanessa remained in the wagon carrying Eren. The sky was turning orange and red as the sun began to set. Eren groaned in his sleep, and Vanessa watched him. His eyes darted back and forth under his eyelids and eyebrows furred. He started mumbling something. Vanessa shook his arm. "Eren."

Eren gasped awake. He tried to sit up, but Vanessa stopped him. "Take it easy. You have a concussion."

"Where's the Female Titan? Did we get her?" Vanessa shook her head. "What happened? How'd I get here?"

"You don't remember fighting her?"

"Not really," he confessed. He touched the bandage wrapped around his head. "It's all a fuzzy. I can't really remember."

"I'm not sure how your fight with her went down, but she bit you out of your titan body," she informed. "Captain Levi and I pursued. Mikasa was there, too. All three of us got you back."

"Mikasa?" Eren's glare darkened as he realized something. "How many...how many died?"

Vanessa pushed Eren to lay back down, and he didn't fight her. "There's no use worrying about that. Look, we're almost to Calaneth."

Eren noticed the ruined buildings of Calaneth come into view. The formation slowed down as it approached the outer gate of Wall Rose. The Garrison had cleared a path for the Scouts to enter. The citizens stared at the solemn faces of the Scouts. A few officers had dismounted, choosing to give their horses a break. The citizens gossiped, noting the fewer numbers and numerous injuries. One man complained about the Scouts' defeated looks and pointless objective. "Our taxes hard at work, ladies and gentlemen. Bravo!"

Eren growled and pushed himself up on his elbows. Vanessa grabbed his shoulder. "Just ignore it."

He weakly pulled at her grip, and scanned the crowd for the man. He gasped as his eyes fell on two kids who watched the Scouts with burning admiration. "Awesome!" the kid told the girl. "Beat, but they're still ready to go! You gotta be made of nails to ride with these guys! They're unstoppable!"

Eren laid back down, and stared up at the sky silently. The crowd's gossip turned angry. Several of them throwing demands and insults at Commander Erwin. Eren covered his face with his arm as he began to shake. Vanessa noticed tears running down the side of his face and into his hair. She opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't find any words. She placed her hand in his, and Eren squeezed firmly, holding onto her.

End of Chapter 11