Chapter One:

Vast, empty dunes stretched in front of her as far as she could see until Adeline's eyes barely made out a faint green line of trees, surely miles in the distance. The sun was beating down on her neck, suffocating her beneath her thick curls; the hot cement she was being forced to kneel on dug into her knees. Was this truly the price she would pay for seeking freedom for her friends? She didn't dwell on the question for too long, but she couldn't help, but to steal apprehensive glances between her and her three other similarly positioned companions.

Adeline knew they were all nervous to proceed with the plan, but if they didn't soon enough her comrades would be Titans and she would be their dinner. As the four of them kneeled there, the portly Marleyan Officer holding the serum injection moved to tauntingly stand between Adeline and one of her partners, Bliesner, before saying something to the effect of, "Any last words Eldian scum?"

Finally, at the end of the line, she bit her lip and threw her head back shouting, "Now!"

As deftly as her bindings allowed her, she pulled the sheathed dagger from her captors side and struck his belly open clean across before she could cut off her restraints. She picked up the encased injection and ran across freeing her friends as quickly as she could. Once they were all free they rolled down the sandy wall themselves and made a break for it. The other guard (Krueger was it?) stood aside the whole time in a medley of shock and…relief?

Adeline shook her head. There was no time to analyze the motives behind the Marleyan bastard. There was no going back. They had to reach the walls of Paradis, if for nothing else, to warn the Eldian people of their true enemies.

The tumble took its toll on each of her men. Bliesner was the first one to his feet after her and she made quick work of the ropes around his wrist. Next was Dettlof and Kalbfleisch. After dusting themselves off they made their way away from the coast and began their days journey to the forest.

One of their comrades back in Marley had been told the general landscape by The Owl. Unfortunately the description wasn't entirely fruitful. Other than the outline of the walls they just knew that if they found themselves in the desert to just keep going straight.

By the time their feet reached soil, they were all exhausted and starving. Just a couple more days however and they would finally be within Eldian walls; safe.

The sun rose on their second day in the forest where they awoke by a river. Gathering the scant items they could scavenge for to make camp, the four made their way back into the trees, beginning again to their destination.

"You alright Adeline?" Bliesner worriedly inquired.

Adeline touched her hand to her forward. In truth she was feeling a bit faint, but knew they had no choice, but to push forward.

"I'm fine." She threw him a small smile. "What about you boys?"

Dettlof and Kalbfleisch could only grunt in response.

The next couple of hours passed by in horror.

The first time any of them had seen a Titan was a moment that somehow none of them had prepared for. It was a tragic pattern. One came out.

Dettlof fell.

Another would appear. Kalbfleisch fell.

Until it was just Bliesner and Adeline sprinting through the trees, banking in on the untimely and unfortunate sacrifices of their friends, and running for their lives.

It wasn't soon enough when they finally broke free with their last assailant behind the two.

Against their better judgment they stopped for a few minutes to catch their breath. Bliesner was doubled over with his hands on his knees and Adeline just fell to the ground. While they were in the momentary peace they shared the one water skin Kalbfleisch was able to smuggle off the ship. After they sufficiently caught their breaths her hickory eyes caught his grey ones. They couldn't be much further could they?

They walked and walked through the open territory until the soles on their shoes had all, but run out as the midday steadily slipped away.

"We just have to keep going," Bliesner mindlessly reassured to break the silence. "Just a little more." Then he collapsed from exhaustion.

Adeline ran back to him repeating the word, "No, no, no, no," frantically. They were out in the open and the longer they were the worse chances they'd have. She refused to go on without him. Quickly, she rustled the water skin out of the sack he was carrying and put it to his lips.

"Bliesner we don't have time for this," she whispered, caressing his face. "You're right, you know. We're almost there." Still no response. "Johann?"

Sitting still too long was absolutely a detriment to their current situation. Not long had he settled into her arms before she could make out a faint rumbling in the distance.

The dark haired girl looked down at his unconscious form with eyes wide as saucers. Desperately she shook him. She wasn't sure whether it was her renewed urgency or sensing their doom himself, but his eyes fluttered open.

"We have to move. Now!" Adeline stressed.

With no time to think he made it to his feet as best he could. They were back to running forward, but with their exhaustion and hunger the threat seemed to advance much more quickly then before. Suddenly there was more rumbling now coming from the direction they were headed.

They were surrounded.

Except horses came into view as they realized the source of the new commotion. Not a moment too soon there was a storm of green cloaks before them with two titans right on the pairs heels.

"Bliesner, come on!" She shouted behind her as she ran full speed with the last of her energy towards the brigade.

But it was too late. One of the monsters had already claimed her comrade.

Before she could process anything she felt her arm being yanked up, mid-run and she was on the back of a horse herself. She didn't know what was happening. Only that he was gone. They were all gone now.

Adeline held on tightly to the stranger who had saved her and spared a look back before she shut her eyes tightly. Whoever these soldiers were, one of them had dispatched both of the titans before returning to the formation which seemed to be headed back to the wall.

It was still too late.

As for the man commandeering the horse, once he set eyes upon the woman too many questions swarmed his head to keep up. Concurrently when they rode back, Erwin exchanged a glance with Levi which to an outside view would have gone unnoticed. Only Erwin could pick up the mild concern in Levi's features just as only Levi could read the burning curiosity in Erwin's cerulean eyes.

By the time she looked up the walls were coming well into view and she caught the curious side glance of the man she clutched on to. The sun was setting and the group's pace had come to a more steady one, with Adeline in the back. Even though she didn't bother to look around and confirm, she could feel so many eyes on her. No doubt she looked much different than the population of Paradis. And she had to remember that none of them even knew there was a whole world of people out there. She had to be careful of what she said and how she said it.

Almost to break her reverie, the man's baritone voice rang out. "I don't know who you are, but a lot of people are going to have questions for you. As soon as we get passed the gates, I'm taking you to my superiors." There was no question or falter in the blonde man's voice, just fact. She loosened her grip on him feeling considerably less welcome.