"Stay close to me, do you understand?" Levi instructed, fidgeting with the ODM machines at his hips.

Elsie nodded bravely, her teeth clenched, and hands wrapped tightly around Suni's reigns. The horse seemed to sense her anxiety and dug into the ground, moving back and forth, and making Levi take a step away from her. Elsie twisted the rope between her fingers, eyes on the looming wall.

She had never been so close to the towering structure and now she stood beneath it, the entire Survey Corp behind her and prepared to walk through it. The team muttered amongst each other, green cloaks vibrant above the locals. The towns people had gathered to watch them leave, baited breath at the idea of the gate being open even just for a minute.

Petra pulled her horse beside Elsie, the rest of the squad surrounding her. She was extremely aware of the fact that she was barely trained, barely ready for any of this shit, yet she was still doing it. Levi's constant noting of her dying by titan was suddenly reverberating through her head.

Erwin's blonde head appeared at the head of the troop and Levi mounted his horse. The crowd shushed and Erwin raised his shiny sword, his thunderous voice echoing in the streets.

"Fifty-sixth expedition outside the walls!"

The Scouts screamed back, their horses charging forward. Elsie doesn't remember kicking Suni to move, she doesn't remember leaving the wall, but all the sudden she was blinded by the sun and lush grass. She blinked away tears from how fast they were moving and took in the skinny trees that were sparse around the outside of the wall. The horse's hooves were the only sound as they moved quick towards a small town near by. Levi had gone over the plans, and at one point Elsie could say the name of the town and the exact location of every soldier, but it had left her mind.

All she could do was focus on the back of Levi's head, watching as his cloak was moved by the wind.

Bang.

Elsie turned around, watching in horror as a thing of over sixty feet ran towards the back of the group. It's small arms, pink and tender, flung uselessly at it's side. It's mouth was wide open, eyes wide with no life behind it. It had a head of hair, obviously a form of a man, and it's skinny legs raced to keep up with them. She couldn't tear her eyes off as two Scouts bounced off their horses, their wires firing through the air to latch on it's arms. They flew towards it, swords glistening in the sunlight, and quickly it was finished off.

She knew it wasn't as easy as it looked.

The floor shook as it's steaming body fell. Elsie turned back to Levi and met his grey eyes. He had been watching her expression over his shoulder and when their eyes met he gave her a slight nod and turned back around.

They rode for what felt like hours until a shoddy village appeared. The roofs were busted through, the walls kicked in, and foot prints in the dirt. They slowed once they entered the area and before Elsie could blink, the Survey Corp separated into their squads and went their own ways. Elsie and Levi Squad continued straight through the town.

"Keep your eyes peeled, Elsie." Levi said.

Elsie nodded mutely, her entire body tense and on high alert. Every sound made her jump and look over her shoulder. Oluo, for once, was stern faced and met her gaze with seriousness. It made her relax knowing he was at her side.

"Captain, a ten meter, to our left." Petra said.

Elsie turned, watching as the thirty foot titan used a house to hoist itself towards them. Levi caught her attention, standing on Noir's back.

"Elsie, with me."

He took off towards the titan, his grapple hook on a house. She inhaled, exhaled, and took off after him. The wind rushed past her, the titan growing larger as she flew closer. She kept close behind Levi, taking every turn he did, and when they were only ten feet from the monster, he turned to look at her.

"It's yours."

This was it. Her first titan kill. Her palms were sweaty, her eyes flashing to find the right way to get towards it's neck. It loomed over her, casting a shadow, and she felt so small and the task so impossible. But she moved.

She swung to the left side of the titan, dodging it's hand as it tried to grab her. She flipped in her wires, letting them return to her, before shooting them towards it's exposed back. Her legs bent backwards, her back bending at how fast she was going, and she raised her swords. The neck came closer, closer, and she used all her strength to dig the blades as deep and long as they would go. She released her hooks, fell onto the building to her right, and turned in time to see the titan fall to the floor. Steam rose from it's neck and she was fascinated by the blood disappearing off her blades.

Levi landed beside her, "Good job."

Elsie bent over and puked.

"Tsk." Levi turned away.

Elsie stood and wiped her mouth, the nerves slowly dissipating, "Okay, I'm done. Sorry."

"Don't apologize. The first time is always difficult."

She shook her hands and nodded. Levi stared at her, intense, before returning the nod and jumping off the building to land next to the waiting squad. She followed his lead and was greeted by cheers.

"Way to go, Elsie!" Gunther clapped his hands.

Eld clapped her on the back when she passed, "Knew you could do it, kid."

"You smell of puke, but nice technique." Oluo said, grinning teasingly at her.

Petra giggled and squeezed Elsie's arm, "He puked his first time too."

Oluo frowned but the others laughed. She grinned and returned to Suni. The squad followed Levi through the town, her shoulders feeling lighter than before. She could see the heads of titans over the roof tops and see Scouts flying through the air. There weren't a lot of titans around, but she knew the longer the Corp stayed in the area, the more would come.

As if reading her thoughts, there was a red flare sent to her right. The ground shook. Levi stood once more, "Take to the air."

Instantaneously they leaped up and flew to the rooftops. Elsie stayed on Levi's trail as he jumped roof top to roof top, heading straight towards a titan with it's back turned. The others had disappeared, no doubt to help others, and as Levi flew towards the titan, Elsie saw another appear at the corner of her eye.

She was scared beyond thought. She sent her grapple hook flying to the left and veered towards the titan, a good fifteen feet high. It already had it's dead eyes trained on her, a hand weaving towards her. She released her hook and fell, dodging his hand. Her feet skidded on the floor, her hair flying as she went between it's legs. She held her swords out and spun, slicing through the back of it's ankles. It faltered and fell, giving a easy shot towards it's neck.

Elsie flew down, aimed and precise, when out of nowhere a titan came crawling towards them.

She flew back, barely dodging it's snapping teeth. She gasped and hit the wall of a house, her grapple hooks loosing grip. She slid down, her fingers frozen as the titan turned to leap at her. Her left hook found grip and she swung to the left, out of harm's way. The titan ran face first into the house, crumbling it. She once again flew up, trying to find a way to get this one. The fact that it was crawling and moving so fast made it more difficult.

Elsie didn't have to worry about it though. Levi flew past her, his wire sounding close to her ear, and he sliced it's neck. He pushed off the wall and flipped towards the one on the ground, disposing of it. She landed on a roof, breathing fast, and waited for him to land next to her.

"Keep moving." Was all he said.

She never stopped running or flying. Levi was quick, almost too fast for her, but she stayed as close as she could. More titans appeared and Levi took control. She barely lifted her swords.

Then a moment she had seen forever ago happened. She looked to her right, saw a titan's head rise, and a man in it's mouth. Levi was gone in a flash, slicing through it's neck, and when she reached his side, Petra, Eld, and Gunther had appeared on the roof top. A titan stood behind them and two other's stood across. She already knew the course of events and felt dread in her stomach - at this moment the Colossal Titan had appeared.

"Petra, deal with our comrade below, Elsie with her. Eld and Gunther, get the one to our right. I'll handle those two idiots." And with that Levi was gone.

Elsie stared dauntingly after him. Now she only had weeks left with Levi Squad.