A fresh new start.

Her limbs felt unsure, tired and lethargic as she pushed herself in an upright position. Hazy, golden gaze locking onto the nearest window, confirming her suspicions. It was all still dark out, too early to properly rise and yet, the short woman couldn't find it in herself to lay dormant any longer.

She passed her sleeping comrade - Petra Ral - with silent ease, pushing forward into the dorm's lavatory and closing the door deftly. Her hands turned the tap, an unusual sight of clean water greeting her as she splashed the cool water onto her features, finding the liquid pleasant and grounding. Her gaze rose to the mirror, the features that greeted her in turn felt impossibly familiar, and yet not.

Yes- the same honey-gold eyes greeted her back, the long light blonde hair is still the same shade as always. But there was a distinct difference. Notably the scar that ran across the bridge of her nose which dipped slightly into her right cheek, the natural harshness her gaze seemed to adopt as default, and the hardset of her jaw, always tilted up with the air of defiance.

A soldier.

It was hard to believe she was ever just a gymnastics teacher in her mid-twenties, schooling a range of children in how to twist and turn their bodies to perform elite skills. That her only worries were about how late she'd be returning home, or that her battery on the phone was dying.

God she felt ridiculous at that moment. Staring at a stranger of herself, pondering over her past life, all she took for granted.

Now here she stood, a soldier, a survivor. Thrown back into the body of her sixteen year old self, and before she could comprehend anything, tossed into the underground with only her wits. She'd seen herself at twenty-three before. She did not look how she did then.

A sigh left her lips, her shoulders sagging as her grip tightened on the basin. Perhaps it was a mercy she couldn't recall absolutely everything, else she might've thought herself into insanity attempting to predict everything her actions could cause and more. But her mere presence, - aware or unaware - of the looming future would undoubtedly cause ripples in the so-called destiny of this world. She would adapt, just as she had been from the very beginning.

Shuffling called her attention, the door to the lavatory had opened a pinch, amber eyes glancing at her between the cracks.

"Can I enter?" Petra's soft voice asked tentatively. The two were paired in a room together only recently. Lily and her family had graduated the Cadet corps early on behest of Commander Erwin, skipping the trio right into the Survey corps and into intense team working exercises. Lily had been paired up with Petra on squad Daveen in hopes the ginger woman would assist in acclimating the blonde woman into the regiment.

Lily gave the other woman a sideway glance, nodding her head as she began brushing out the blonde strands with her new hair brush. The methodical movement was enough to soothe her anxious mind for the moment.

"Are you doing alright? It's a bit early to begin getting ready." Petra's concern was clear as day on the woman's face, her brows knitting together. Lily merely nodded her head, her face indifferent as she continued brushing along her hair. The ends now reached midway past her shoulders. "You don't talk very much."

Lily shrugged, finding herself unable to find any words of current. Despite the two years of hard training -the year now reaching 848- she had stayed relatively recluse. Among the shortened time in the cadet corps, Joshua had garnered a lot of praise. He was helping and kind to those around him. Timothy was quiet, but socialized with those that befriended Joshua. Lily however stayed a shadow in the background, her only true interactions were those between her found family. She was still quietly mourning her missing friend, and sister; Lyna.

"I suppose it could be worse," Petra said thoughtfully. Lily now turned her gaze to the other woman, Brow raised in question. "You could be like Oluo."

"Oh?" Lily hummed, she turned to face Petra, her hands idly tying her blonde hair into a loose ponytail behind her head. "What makes you say that?"

"He never stops bragging about himself," Petra groaned out, her hand sliding to her face as she let out an exasperated sigh. "And the constant imitation of the Captain… Just irritating at best."

Lily snorted softly. Her expression changes into a more softer look, the edges of indifference melting at Petra's attempts at a conversation. Perhaps making some new friends here wouldn't be so bad.

"From what I've seen, he's even got the Carvet." Lily hummed thoughtfully, moving past Petra in the doorway to retrieve her standard uniform, a smirk tossed over her shoulder at the ginger. "Do you think the Captain is aware?"

"By the Walls I hope not," She huffed. "I can only handle so much second-hand embarrassment."

Lily shook her head in amusement, fiddling with the final adjustments of her harness before she swiped her jacket from the nearby wall hooks and shrugged the article on.

"You know I think this is the longest conversation we've had in the past four weeks we've been partnered up." Petra gave Lily a weary smile. Her eyes alight with a flicker of hope.

"It probably is." Lily affirmed, her face settled into a tiny smile, golden eyes thankful.

Petra Reminded Lily of Lyra, and maybe that wasn't such a horrible thing.

"How's medical training? I saw you were taking lessons there the other day." Petra asked, moving to sit on the edge of her bed, Ginger hair ruffling as she ran an idle hand through it.

"Good. it's nice to actually know the process of stitching rather than just eyeballing it." Petra threw Lily a startled look before a wave of understanding washed over her.

"No one taught you?"

"There wasn't much to be taught underground."

Petra winced, her amber eyes moving downcast as she murmured an apology to the blonde woman. Lily shook her head, Golden eyes hard as she gazed out the dark window of their shared dorm.

"Don't be Petra, it's just the way things were; you live and learn or you die. Sure my medical knowledge was crude at best, but it saved us when we needed it most." Lily locked eyes with the other woman and gave her a small smile of reassurance. "I assure you I'm not made of porcelain, ask me whatever you like."

There was a thoughtful pause. "What… What was it like? Down there I mean."

Lily let out a long sigh, steeling herself as she once again turned to the window. "Harsh. Unforgivable. More than likely as terrible as you've heard. Between the warring Districts, the drug induced maniacs, and the unstable mines, there wasn't really a safe place down there. We all got by as best we could."

"That sounds terrible." Petra's face pulled into a look of sympathy, and Lily felt herself restraining a scowl at the woman, finding her pity misplaced. "It couldn't have been easy."

"Hardly ever was." Lily agreed, her hands reached her blue scarf, dutifully wrapped around her neck as always. "A friend gave me this. About a day before she was killed."

The gasp that escaped Petra caused Lily to look over at the woman finally, her gaze was indifferent despite the warring of emotions behind her facade. "You remind me of her; She was kind, but spirited. She dreamed of seeing the sky for the first time, the world above ground."

"That's a nice dream." Petra hummed, her voice soft as her gaze casted down towards the floor. Lily pondered a moment before she sighed.

"And what about you?" Lily returned the question. "What was life for you, before the scouts?"

"Oh," Petra startled, clearly caught off guard by Lily's question. She paused for a moment before her face pulled into a fond smile. "I come from a town not too far from Trost, within Wall Rose. Lived with my father for most of it. My mother had died at a young age from an illness -It's okay though I don't remember her that much. Father was always there for me. He supported me even when I had told him I wanted to join the scouts. The only thing he did say was why?

"I told him I wanted to see the world outside, that I wanted to see what layed beyond the walls and to help those who'd see us free from Titans."Petra's face was full of fondness as she recalled her father's words. Her hands had clasped each other and rested in her lap as her amber eyes stared a million miles away.

"He sounds like a good man." Lily's voice was soft, surprisingly soft even for herself. The blonde woman coughed sortly, catching the widening smile upon Petra's face out the corner of her golden eyes.

"You know… A lot of people think you're very cold, That you don't care about anyone except your family." Petra started, her tone calm as she regarded the blonde woman. "But I don't see it. What I see is someone who's too used to being alone… I want you to know that you're not alone anymore, you don't have to always be strong Lillian. You can lean on us"

A memory danced past her vision, Lyra's sweet voice echoing through her mind. "Lillian. You don't have to pretend to be strong all the time, we'll never see you differently. You can lean on us."

Lily drew a sharp intake of breath, her vision stinging with barely restrained tears as she fought for control. A moment passed before she could look Petra in the eye again, something firm filtered into her gaze as she nodded to the ginger woman.

"Right."


The days had begun to blur together, Training with her squad was arguably far more in depth than the Cadet Corps could ever hope to be. Drills were constant, each member of squad Daveen was pushed as far as they could go. Something Lily respected of Corporal Daveen was her heavy handed approach to their squad while running exercises. She was strong willed, often blunt but there was a spirit that lingered around her.

"Pick it up Timothy," Daveen's deeply feminine voice barked. Her short cut brown hair tossed with the wind, her green scout coat following the movement as she watched her squad training among the trees from below. "Need I remind you that outside these walls are some very hungry beasts just waiting for you to slip up?"

"No Ma'am!" Timothy had replied, looking awfully uninteresting in what she was saying. Joshua arrived next to him, nudging the lanky man with a strong elbow.

"C'mon Tim, she's got a point." Timothy rolled his eyes in response to Joshua, commanding his gear to realign with the formation.

"Jaw buster maneuver, Lillian you've got Point. Lucas you're the damsel this time." Lily's golden eyes darted to her commanding officer and with a shared nod she spun off the tree with flair as she positioned herself at the front of the now awaiting formation.

"Jaw buster. Petra right, Joshua left, Timothy on retrieval. Move out." Lily's tone was flat but loud enough to be heard. With her orders out, she thundered forth, her eyes on her flanks. Petra and Joshua sailed ahead, Timothy right below.

The pair swung by, blades carving into the fake flesh of the pretend-titan's jaw before slipping down its limbs. Timoth's blade spun through the air as he too cut into its fake wrist, grabbing Lucas from its hand and soaring into the air. Lily was seconds behind, her anchors latching onto the side of its neck, under the jaw. She propelled herself quickly as she spun her right hand's blade backwards in habit, spinning herself as close as she possibly could get before winding around the false titan's neck, blades singing through the air as they eased through the nape.

With her rear anchors engaged, she leaped backwards, her body pulled towards the higher trunk of a tree. Her eyes turned to her Squad-mates, checking their forms quietly.

"Quick as always Carter," her corporal praised, however the frown on her face suggested there was more. "You really gotta stop switching your right blade behind you, you've barely been in the survey corps for a month and you're already trying to pull off the Captain's tricks."

Lily glared back at the much taller and border woman. Her voice was blunt as she replied. "Merely a Habit, Ma'am."

She received a roll of the other woman's eyes, muttering something about the Captain's bad influence on cadets. Lily paid her no mind as she awaited further instructions.

"Alright kids, to the dining hall with you a lot. Dinners up and ready." She shook her head, watching as all five members of her squad landed on the grass before her. "Remember Timothy; this isn't the cadet corps, we don't slack off here. And Lilian, drop the attitude."

The Corporal only received an indignant scoff as Lily passed. Petra shot her new friend an exasperated look as the five of them trailed into the ever growing dining hall.

"One day you're going to bite off more than what you can chew Lil." Joshua warned, his expression somewhere between fond and exasperated. "That goes for you too Tim."

"Yea sure." Timothy waved his warning off with one hand, his eyes already eagerly eyeing the food. Petra's sigh pulled Lily's attention as she gave her new friend a stern stare.

"Joshua's right Lillian. One day Corporal Daveen is going to get tired of it."

"Mmm-M, I think you have more pressing matters than me right now." A slight smirk upon Lily's face, her gaze looking past her ginger friend. Petra turned and immediately cursed.

"Please tell me he didn't see me." Petra begged, her shoulders slumping as she took her tray between her hands, gaze looking over at Lily's as she followed with. "He's not heading this way is he?"

Lily said nothing, her expression becoming more amused as she watched Oluo approach the two. He slung an arm over Petra's shoulders, a horribly forced look of indifference on his face.

"Oi, Petra. What're you doing over here with these useless brats, come join us over at our table." Oluo sniffed once, his nose turning up as she looked down at Lily.

Petra shoved his arm off her shoulder with one free hand, her face pulled into a scowl as she rounded on the taller man.

"Piss off, Oluo."

"What's that for? I'm just trying to give you an out, we both know you'd rather be anywhere than with these Dweller rats."

A tension suddenly filled in the air as three sets of eyes flicked over onto Lily's form. The blonde woman had narrowed her eyes, jaw set firm as her golden eyes flashed with irritation.

"Lily, he's not worth it." Timothy tried, his hand reaching for the shorter womens shoulder in an attempt to placate her. Petra threw a venomous look at Oluo, attempting to pull Lily away from the taller man. Joshua had already found a table, gesturing to his side as the pair escorted the blonde woman away.

"Tch, at least she knows her place." Oluo scoffed, his nose turned up as he stared at Lily's form with a forced glare. Petra bristled as Timothy opened his mouth to say something.

Lily whipped around, her first colliding with Oluo's stomach, the man doubling over as he groaned from the force of her strike. With a stormy expression, she grasped the bottom of his jaw, angling his head to look directly at the short woman.

"Say it again." Her tone was icily cold. Her furious gaze locked onto Oluo's in a challenging manner. Distantly she could hear Joshua call her name.

"Captain!" Petra exclaimed from behind her. A man approached, - The Captain- with a flat expression on his face as he stared at the two. Lily forcefully let go of Oluo's jaw as he scrambled to regain his aloof posture, saluting the Captain in the meanwhile.

"The hell are you two Shitheads doing?" His tone was as blunt and flat as the stare he gave the two. Lily did not take her eyes off Oluo, nor did she salute the Captain.

"Settling our differences." Lily retorted calmly, her posture returning to a casual stance as she finally turned her head to look at the Captain.

"Tch, this thug can't learn to keep control of herself, she attacked me." Oluo scoffed as he stared down at her past his nose. Crossing her arms, Lily's fingers began to dig into her upper bicep.

"Sir, Oluo was antagonizing her-" Petra was cut off as Captain Levi raised his arm swiftly. His eyes trained on the two.

"Stable duty for the next two weeks. I want every horse brushed, every stall cleaned, and all the tack maintained." There was little room for argument and Lily could see no point complaining. She merely gave the barest amount of acknowledgement before attempting to return herself to her table. "I haven't Dismissed you yet." The Captain called.

Lily looked over her shoulder, Golden eyes clashing with silver in a silent battle. Lily did not move and merely waited. With a click of his tongue, he nodded his head in dismissal.

Rejoining Petra's side, the ginger woman stared wide eyed at Lily as the two joined Timothy, Joshua and Lucas at the table. The dining hall -which had fallen into deathly silence at the display- finally began its idle chatter once more.

"You're mad." Lucas stated, his expression one of pure shock. His chin length black hair swayed as he shook his head, shoveling some food in his mouth. Petra woke herself from her own stupor, tossing the blonde woman an incredulous stare.

"I don't know if that was incredibly stupid, terrifying or audacious." Petra paused for a moment, thinking. "Probably all three."

"You're a menace Lily." Joshua laughed, his palm colliding with his forehead. "Was it worth it?"

That caused Lily's furrowed stare to turn into a mischievous look, her eyes darting to her friends with a simple smile. "Of course,"


The 34th expedition beyond the walls was officially announced and the scouts headquarters was alive like an angry beehive. Messengers passed in and out, traveling to nearby districts with missaves. The squad leaders pushed their teams harder than usual, schooling them on the formations, smoke signals and the basics all over again. Lily found herself upon the ramparts of the old castle on one of her rare breaks. Dusk was finally arriving, the sky a vibrant amalgamation of oranges, reds, and pinks.

Footsteps behind her signaled to the arrival of another person. Based on how heavy the footfalls were, she assumed it was either Joshua or Squad leader Daveen. It proved to be the latter.

"Carter, there you are." The board woman greeted. She leaned against the ramparts, back facing the sinking sun. "Figures you're up here. Not one for lots of company are you?"

Lily shrugged, she knew well enough Daveen wasn't here for idle chatter. She straightened her posture, pushing off against the wall to assume a more casual stance.

"What do you need, Squad leader?" Lily forwardly asked, her eyes locking onto the forest green eyes of her superior.

"Hmph, straight to the point as always." Daveen smirked, her arms crossing her chest as she regarded the other woman for a moment. "The Commander has expressed that you'll be considered a VIP on this mission. While he asked me to refrain from informing you, I decided that I can trust you."

Lily quirked an eyebrow. Her head tilting and mouth parting with an awaiting question. Daveen held her hand up, causing Lily to close her mouth and toss the taller woman a narrow eyed look.

"I've not been informed on the details, but I've been able to put together why I've got you a lot of miscreants. I understand that all three of you are far more than meets the eyes, but I'm afraid that out there - titans are far worse than any nightmare you might've faced down underground.

"I'm not one for sugar-coating so I'll be blunt; you might very well lose your friends, or even yourself. I need you to understand that at the end of it all, no matter what happens you'll follow orders. Clear?"

Lily frowned. Her brows knitted together as she held her squad leaders' stare. "I acknowledge what you're saying. But I can't promise anything."

"Fine then, at least promise me one thing," With a raised eyebrow from Lily, Deveen continued. "Promise me you'll come back alive. That's the only thing the commander wants."

"That, I can agree too." Lily nodded her head, her gaze moving past Daveen to the horizon. The sun barely peaked past the landscape now, stars greeting the pair in the sky above. A sigh left Daveens lips as her usual hardened gaze softened.

"Oh another note, how are you holding up?" Somewhat surprised by her question, Lily turned her golden eyes back to her Squad leader, her brows furrowing in thought.

"Fine," She shrugged. "Sleep isn't always restful, some nights I can't get more than three or four hours but that's not new."

"Aye, I can't say that that'll get any better here in the scouts." Daveen gave Lily a sympathetic look, one which caused the shorter woman to scowl somewhat and look away. "What's your thoughts on the expedition, nervous?"

"No. Tim and Josh are far more apprehensive than I." Lily shifted her stance slightly. "I've been not thinking about it." Daveen hummed in agreement, her eyes casted down towards the stoney ramparts.

"We're 3rd in the left column. Right behind the left rear wing - the support squads. Mainly focusing on formation relay so the possibility of seeing a Titan is drastically less than anyone in the forward or rear wings. Though i wouldnt become complacent, everythings a gamble here."

"I don't believe there's a bone in my body that isn't pessimistic." Lily replied, her gaze had lost its harshness as she regarded her squad leader.

"Aye I'd imagine. You've gotta have some kind of resolve coming from where you came from." There was amusement in Daveens tone as she nodded her head in understanding. A sigh left her lips as she regarded the shorter woman once more. "Good luck tomorrow. We set out an hour before dawn breaks. Be ready and waiting at the stables in thirty minutes after waking up."

Lily merely nodded her head before leaving the Corporal upon the ramparts.


A tense, nervous energy sparked through the air, the survey corps troops were all mounted, their horses anxious to move as they huddled beneath Trost district's gate. Lily gave a pat to her Stallion - a honey-golden coat with a white mane - who'd she fondly named Zahavi, he snorted with apprehension as his hoof pawed the pavement below. The following nicker from the chest-nut brown horse next her own caused Lily to look over.

Joshua sat upon his own stallion, his face pulled into a grim expression as he silently stared at the gate. He anxiously toyed with his reins, checking, double checking and triple checking himself as a distraction.

To her left was Timothy, his white and brown patched mare tossed its hair, snorting. The blonde haired man was glaring at the gate beyond them, his fists grasping the reins in a white knuckled grip.

"Hey, Tim." His stormy glare shifted over to Lily, who could have sworn his expression only grew darker. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Timothy barked with laughter, hushing himself quickly when a few pairs of eyes looked in their direction. He leaned closer to Lily, voice lowering. "We're riding into our death, that's what."

"You don't know that." Lily retorted seriously.

"How can I not?" He scoffed, his brows furrowing in anger. "We might've not died by an execution but this is just as much the same as surrendering to the MP's."

"You can't be serious," Lily hissed back, her golden eyes glaring into Timothy's pale blue. "You two just need to survive five years. Then you can live the rest of your life above-ground."

"I didn't ask to be a titan's next meal." Timothy rebutted. "That was your idea, neither me or Josh had a choice, we're just farried along the ride."

Joshua leaned over this time, his gaze darkening also as he looked at Lily.

"Tim does have a point. Now that I'm here I'm beginning to think a hanging would be merciful."

"I can't believe you two." Lily grounded out, her face pulled into a scowl as she tossed her gaze between the two. "You're telling me you'd rather hang at the noose than fight for your own freedom? What happened to those long nights spent dreaming of the day we reached the surface, of finally seeing the sun and the stars?"

"That dream might as well have died with Lyra." Timothy spat bitterly. Lily's eyes widened as the words left his mouth, flinching she froze for a moment. Her gaze flickered to Joshua who avoided her stare.

Silence passed between the three, the snorts and clicking of hooves filling the air. Lily's face twisted into a scowl, her gaze hard as she looked at her two friends.

"You might've given up but I promised Lyra I'd live and I intend to do just that, even if I have to drag you two unwillingly along." Lily spurred her horse forward, allowing Zahavi to slide up alongside Petra's deep brown mare. Lily locked her thunderous golden eyes to the gate, hellbent on ignoring her found family for the moment.

"The 34th expedition outside the wall commences here! Open the gates!" Commander Erwin's voice rang out within Trost District, an immediate hush fell upon the people below the gate's entrance. With a resounding boom, the sounds of chains being moved reached Lily as she watched as the gate rose, allowing Lily her first glimpse into the expanse of wall maria. A moment of hushed apprehension passed before the commander's voice rang out again. "Advance!"

With a flurry of movement, they thundered forth, Squad leader Daveen glancing over her shoulder at her charges one more time before she led them through the gates maw and into the grassy plains that resided in wall maria.

Lily's eyes scanned the horizon, her face pulled into a grim focus as her grip on the reins tightened. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest upon the sounds of rumbling. Several pairs of eyes darted to the squads right flank, a thirteen meter class titan had hid behind a pair of buildings, its hand already outstretched for another soldier. Several more behind him had abandoned their steeds in favor of their gear, launching their anchors into the titan's flesh to begin their flurry of attacks.

"Eyes forward. The support teams have this. Our main priority it's making a bee-line out of the town and waiting for the commander's order to deploy the formation."

Lily pulled her gaze from the battling soldiers and back to the road ahead. Chancing a look to her friend Lily noted the grim look on Petra's face as her eyes scanned widely around.

"Deploy the long-range enemy-scouting formation!" The Commander's voice rose above the thundering sounds of hooves. Several squads began to peel apart from the heart of the group, spurring their steeds into their designated positions. Daveen began to lead their squad to the Left, following closely behind the left wing support squads. Another Titan was spotted further to their left, trails of red smoke rising into the sky with a foreboding warning. Lily gritted her teeth, her eyes locked onto the poor soul who had been snatched mid-air. His wailing screams could be heard despite the distance.

Timothy and Joshua looked pale, Petra, Lucas and Daveen had grim focused expressions as they spurred their horses forward. Catching Petra's eye, the ginger woman gave what she assumed was a reassuring smile, which turned more into a grimace. Lily's face pulled into a scowl, willing her quivering hands to still as she focused her breathing.

Now's not the time for cold feet.

With the formation in full deployment, the titan sightings had been minimal. The occasional red smoke would tail into the horizon from their left, then relayed by one of their squad. They would wait for an answering green smoke in a set direction, which they relayed back. This continued on for what felt like hours. Lily's body had relaxed somewhat, but the apprehension still lingered, the air tense and deathly silent.

A supply mission, that's what the goal of this Expedition was. They were trailing supplies and setting a designated route out between different buildings, a line from Trost to Shiganshina. The sacrifices of a few for the many, as it were.

Lily felt her gut twist uncomfortably. She noted the left side had barely any activity on their flank, not a single smoke in the last forty-five minutes. It seems she wasn't the only one feeling the tell-tale prickle of ice in their veins.

"Squad leader!" Lucas shouted. "The left flank has been awfully quiet for some time now, do you think something went wrong?"

Daveen was quiet for a long moment, her jaw set as beads of sweat trailed lightly down her forehead. "They've more than likely not encountered any Titans." she reasoned.

"With all due respect Squad Leader, my instincts say otherwise." Lily announced, her expression morbid but calm. She held her superiors' gaze for a long moment more.

"Your Instincts?" Lucas questioned, his brown eyes shooting her a strange look from across his shoulder.

"I have to agree with Lillian, Ma'am." Petra followed up. Her face was even more grim than Lily remembered. She shared a look with the amber eyed woman before she turned her gaze back towards Daveen.

"We should have someone scout the Left wing. If our flank is exposed, it could leave us completely vulnerable to a catastrophic titan attack." Lily reasoned, her gaze transfixed on her flank, eyes watching the horizon for any sign of life.

"Are you trying to get us killed?" Timothy shouted from behind. "You'd be handing whoever you send on a silver platter for the titans!"

Lily threw a glare at Timothy behind her, mouth parted to retort when their squad leader interjected first.

"Carter is right. If our flanks are exposed it could mean more death than what could have occurred. We need eyes over there now rather than later." Daveen leveled Lily a scrutinizing stare. "I'm not comfortable with sending someone alone into Titan territory. Lily, Petra, you up for this?"

The two women glanced at each other, a shared look crossed their features before they both nodded to Daveen. The squad leader sighed before she nodded her head towards the flank.

"Go check on the left flank, Send up a black and purple flare together if there's mass casualties. We'll relay the message before coming over to back you up. If the flanks are fine, return back here. Got it?"

"Got it." The two women echoed together. Lily spurred Zahavi towards their left wing, Petra hot on her heels. The pounding of hooves mirrored that of her wild heart. Lily's face locked into concentration as her palms began to sweat. She glanced at her ginger friend, noting a similar expression on her face. Petra's horse flanked her own.

"If there are Titans, and they see us just run. Our horses should be able to outrun them." Petra attempted to assure. However Lily frowned further in response.

"And if they're faster?"

"We Fight."

A shared look of determination crossed the two before they faced forward.

A few minutes had passed before the stench of death hit the two women, Lily hissed out a string of curses before spurring Zahavi to crest the hill. There laid in the field below were countless bodies. Each in varying degrees of mutilation, crimson pools littering the ground.

Lily had seen death before - she had taken the life of a soldier with no hesitation, watched her friend bleed out, seen strangers on the street have their life beaten out of them by deranged addicts, but nothing - nothing compared to the devastation in the fields below. Several titan's were still feasting on the bodies of their fallen comrades, most have yet to become aware of the pair's presence.

Lily shot off a purple smoke, followed swiftly by a black. A choked sob sounded besiders her, Lily's eyes widening as she looked at Petra's face, stricken white with shock and fear. A trail of tears slipped down her cheek as amber eyes locked onto the field below.

"Petra…" Lily's voice was soft, an attempt to console her friend about to leave her mouth when the sight of movement just past her ginger friend had caught her attention.

"Petra!" Lily shouted, already leaping off her horse, anchors whizzing past her startled friends face as Lily shot by, fast as lightning, blades singing as they met the flesh of a titans hand, severing its palm from its wrist.

The six meter titan stumbled from the attack, its bored face not even flinching as it reached with the other. Petra - finally startled out of her reverie - came in for the assist, her blade mirroring Lily's earlier movement, the hand falling onto the floor with a thump.

With a rage filled hiss, Lily propelled herself towards the nape, deftly missing its snapping jaw as she spun past its nape, her blade switching backwards in her right hand as she sunk the blades into flesh. With a jerk, she directed herself to land on its head, letting its body hit the ground before she planted her own feet on the floor.

Lily's eye found Petra, who breathed raggedly, her chest moving fervently with each inhale. Her wide amber eyes found Lily's golden ones.

"You okay?" Petra asked, hesitant concern laced her tone. Lily nodded, shaking her blades free of titan blood, her gaze falling onto the steaming corpse. "That was close… thank you Lillian."

"Lily." the blonde woman corrected, her gaze holding Petra's amber ones. "You can call me Lily."

Rewarded with a shy smile, Lily whistled for her horse. With their steeds returned, they mounted before heading off in the direction of their squad mates. The pair met the rest of the squad mid-way, noting their concerned gazes.

"Six meter class snuck up on us. We're not hurt, maybe a bit messy." The tail end of the sentence had Lily scowling as she did her best to rid herself of the steaming titan blood. "Apparently Lily's not a fan of it."

Lily shot Petra an irritated look, rolling her eyes before she returned her gaze to her Squad leader. "The Front and rear wings are utterly decimated, I have a feeling it was abnormal, although we found no sighting of it."

"What makes you think that?" The question was genuine, as Daveen held the shorter woman's stare with her own forest green eyes.

"We counted a total of three titans in the Field, although there's one less now."

"There could have been more that moved on. Or maybe some of the titan corpses have decomposed already." Lucas interjected, his tone weavering as he glanced around.

"Something tells me that's not it. There were alot of bodies in that field." Lily threw the younger man a stern stare.

"I'm inclined to agree with Lily here." Petra threw in her support. A strong look on her features as her brows pulled together in thought. "Even if the titan's moved on, they'd more likely push for the center of the formation. We would've encountered them on our way over."

Daveen had a heavy look on her face, brows furrowed as her lips formed a thin line. "We haven't gotten any messengers from command, which means we'll be stepping up as Wing support in the meantime. It's likely the commander has some squads from the right rear wing coming over to assist."

A tense silence filtered over the squad as Timothy and Joshua shared an anxious stare. Even Lucas seemed apprehensive of their new position within the formation. Daveen didn't give them time to dwell as she spurred her horse forward.

"We can't wait around, the formation likely hasn't stopped and if we don't get a move on we risk being left behind."

"Aye, Ma'am." The resounding agreement from her squad gave the board woman a gust of confidence. They continued forth, the sounds of hooves accompanying them as multiple pairs of eyes watched their left flank intensely.

It seemed lady luck had arrived and the next forty minutes were spent in relative silence. One titan far out on their flank was spotted, to which Lily let off a red smoke, waiting and watching her Right flank for the responding green smoke and following it's direction when needed.

A short time after a yellow smoke trailed into the horizon to their right. Daveen seemed to relax somewhat as her eyes found it. "A rally point. We must have reached our objective. Good job kids, let's move on and rejoin command."

The tense air seemed to dissipate somewhat as the squad followed Daveen's lead towards the heart of their formation. Their arrival was met with the rushing of scout personnel, many unloading supplies to place within the new stronghold in preparation for their eventual push towards Shiganshina. Daveen turned to her squad with a stern stare.

"Take to the trees and form a perimeter, keep a lookout for any titans. Shoot off a red smoke if you land eyes on one. I'm going to report to the command. Petra you're in charge, Lily with me."

Lily suppressed her startled look, turning her gaze towards her superior she merely nodded. With a wave to her friends she trailed after Daveen quietly. Their voices reached her before she could see them.

"The left flank has yet to report in, we're just about finished with these supplies too. Damn idiots." The Captain's deep voice was heard first, followed quickly by the Commander's much more smoother tone.

"The black and purple smokes more likely indicated they were wiped out."

"You'd be the right Commander." Daveen entered the room. She saluted the two before continuing. "The left flank is all but decimated, both rear and forward wings are gone."

Lily slipped into the room, two pairs of eyes greeted her entrance. One pair curious, the other indifferent. Lily schooled her features into a more neutral expression as she waited silently behind her Squad leader.

"I sent both Petra Ral and Lillian Carter to scout out the left wing." Daveen turned to Lily. "Report to them what you reported to me."

Lily paused a moment, her eyes flickering between three other sets before she inhaled deeply.

"Petra and I investigated the left wing as Squad leader Daveen said. Roughly three-four squads were wiped out. Two titans -excluding a six meter class Petra and I eliminated- were sighted at the scene." Lily paused for a breath, the scene still so viciously fresh in her memory. Her strong gaze locked onto the commander's blue ones as she said her next peace. "I strongly believe an abnormal wiped them out, there were no decomposing titan corpses, and both Petra and I did not encounter any titans on our way towards the left wing."

Commander Erwin leveled with her gaze. A moment of silence filtered into the room. It was broken by the Commander. "It is possible. Did you or your squad see any smoke singles from the Left flank prior to discovering their condition?"

"No sir." Daveen replied, her tone stern as she stared ahead.

"Shall I gather my squad and hunt it down?" The Captain interjected, his expression serious as he regarded the commander.

"No, we've lost enough numbers as it is. Move your squad into the Left wing, assist Squad Daveen in covering the flank." Daveen blanched somewhat, she stepped forward beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Sir with all due respect, my squad is composed of mostly Cadets." Daveens voice wavered slightly, the board woman's fist tight at her sides as she silently pleaded with her commander. "Surely we can be switched out for a squad more equipped to handle the situation."

Lily scoffed before she could stop herself. The attention of her superiors pulled towards her as the shorter woman withheld her scowl.

"Cocky brat" The Captain scoffed, his eyes locking onto Lily's as he turned towards her. "Think because you've killed one titan you can handle them all?"

Lily was silent, considering her next words carefully as she lifted her chin slightly.

"No," she stated truthfully, however her gaze shifted over to her Squad leader, golden eyes fixed on her forest ones. "But I trust my squad. We've been training regularly nearly everyday for the past few months. While I doubt I have the capability to single-handedly take on every titan I face, I Trust the skills of my squad-mates. I will not shy away from what needs to be done."

Another silence filled the air, as each individual reguareded Lily with varying degrees of impressment, and indifference. Daveen laughed, not a chuckle but a full on laugh.

"Are you sure you're not the squad leader here Carter?" The words were not cutting, but light. There were no hidden edges or hurt within her tone, just startled amusement.

"No, that's definitely on you squad leader." Lily's tone reflected the playful twing that her superior was using, a mutual understanding of trust had started to form between the pair. An understanding and a respect for each other.

"Alright then, I can't say no to that." Daveen nodded, a new-found confidence filling her posture. "You're still a menace Lily." At that, the shorter woman rolled her eyes, letting a scoff leave her lips before she crossed her arms, mouth tilted up in a slight smile.

An amused look crossed the Commander's face as he witnessed the interaction. The Captain was indifferent but seemed to settle from his previous scathing glares he had sent the blonde woman earlier. "Then I assume we're settled?"

"Aye Commander, Squad Daveen will assist Squad Levi as best they can. We might be a little new to things but we've trained hard." a noticeably pleased look crossed the commander's face before he nodded at the pair.

"Glad to hear. The other squad should be finished with their assigned tasks by now, and you need to update your squad on your new position."

Both women nodded their heads, dismissing themselves from their superiors as they made their way back to where their squad were providing security.

"You're a blunt bitch you know that Carter?" Daveen smirked, her tone playful as she regarded the shorter woman. "And yet you have a way to inspire even me into something stupid."

"You call it stupid yet you're the one to agree with me." Lily quipped back, her tone more blunt, but the amusement on her face told the taller woman she was merely poking some fun.

"Aye, that I did" The squad leader let out a sigh, amusement still lingering on her face. "Absolutely insufferable, you are."

"Oi, Squad leaders back!" Petra cried, the first to greet the pair on the ground with a swift salute. "Orders?"

"We're taking up positions in the left wing. We'll be trailing right behind Squad Levi, they'll be assisting us as we'll be them."

"The left flank? Are you mad!" Timothy blanched, Joshua's hand was quick to raise to his shoulder, giving the lanky man his unspoken support, worried brown eyes locking onto his squad leader. "I thought Cadets on their first expedition didn't run in the wings?"

Daveen leveled a hard stare at the two. "Do you question my judgment?"

Both boy's opened and closed their mouths, sharing a concerned look as apprehension twisted their features.

"You've all trained for months for this. You weren't pulled out of the Cadet core early just on a whim, but because we knew you could handle it." Daveen leveled her stare with all of her squad, her posture radiating confidence in her subordinates. "We're not alone, we have each other. We work as a team and we deal with threats as they come. The commander and rest of the formation are depending on us to support them, and we'll do just that.

"I have faith in you, I've trained you and now you'll put that training to use. Understood?"

Lily stepped forth, and for the first time she gave Daveen a heartfelt salute. "Understood!"

Several looks of shock crossed their faces. Timothy and Joshua's uncertain stares had morphed into open-mouth-shock. Petra was beaming at her friend, quick to rush to her side and follow with a matching Salute, echoing Lily's earlier statement. Lucas joined second, his face held a new resolve as he stared at his squad leader with determination.

Joshua steeled himself, joining Lily on her other flank, copying her salute. "Aye."

There was a pause, Lily glanced at Timothy and held his gaze. "We will live through this. We'll live for Lyra."

Timothy surged forward, Saluting Daveen with resolve. "For Lyra."

Daveen swelled with pride, her forest green eyes alight with a fiery passion as she nodded firmly. "Gather your horses, we ride out in five!"

The squad moved swiftly, untying their horses and mounting deftly, rendezvousing with their Squad leader before doing a last check of their equipment.

"All resupplied and ready?" Daveen called, her gaze checking each individual thoroughly before nodding.

"We return for Wall Rose! Re-deploy the long-range enemy-scouting formation. Advance!" The commander's voice echoed across the plains, causing the regiment soldiers to spur into action. Daveen led the squad forward, moving into the flank position with a cool, focused expression settling across her features.

Surging past Lily's Squad was Squad Levi, the members chatting amongst themselves as the Captain led them past Daveen's squad with ease. The black horse reflects that of its owner's dark black hair. Her eyes darted over towards the members of the squad.

Petra's groan caused Lily to look over her shoulder, her gaze turned to follow the ginger's line of sight. A frown crossed her features as she spotted Oluo. Much to the two women's cringe, it seemed Oluo had also spotted the pair.

"Tch, Don't get ahead of yourselves just because you'll be having squad Levi to assi-" the strangled gasp that left Oluo's mouth upon biting his own tongue had Petra letting out a peel of laughter, even Lily had let out a low chuckle at the highly amusing sight.

Oluo's Captain seemed deeply unimpressed as he threw a glare over his shoulder. "What have I told you about talking while you're riding, you got shit in your ears?"

The responding whimper was enough to cause even Timothy and Joshua to let out their own laughs. Squad Daveen began to trail back behind Squad Levi, allowing them to take the lead and gain a few leagues of distance before they settled at a decent pace following the formation.

Despite their last minute change of positioning, the tense atmosphere from their earlier riding seemed to have dissipated. A calm lingered in the air as the six rode forth.

"Oluo won't hear the end of that one for a while," Petra blurted, another set of giggles left her.

"Lady karma is certainly a bitch." Lily nodded her head in agreement.

"I wouldn't let Oluo's posturing get the better of you," Daveen sounded from the head of their squad. "He's mostly all talk, but he is on Squad Levi for a reason; he's damn good at slaying titans."

"Surprising, considering he bites his tongue." Timothy added, his expression full of amusement. "You'd think someone as skilled as he would be far less clumsy."

"You don't know the half of it." Petra groaned. Several pairs of curious eyes darted towards her.

"Well? Don't keep us waiting." Joshua shouted above the sounds of hooves, his tone jovial.

Their arrival back at Wall Rose quickly turned the squad's more cheerful mood into a somber one. The full realization of just how devastated the left flank was certainly discouraging. Despite this, the team had fared very well for their first time amongst the forward wing. Six sightings total, and only two encounters which were swiftly dealt with, all as a team effort.

No injuries were accounted for, the squad pushed back through the gate's maw and back into Trost district. Daveen quickly diverted Lily towards the medical carts, acknowledging Lily's training in the medical field and understanding the woman could help.

Zahavi trotted through the waves of scout horses, pushing his way towards a medical cart. Passing the reins to an able bodied scout, Lily rolled her sleeves up and jogged to the nearest medical officer.

"Lillian Carter reporting. I Want to assist where I can." a tall lanky man turned, his gray eyes lighting up in recognition. "Good to see you're still alive Ian."

"Could say the same to you Lillian." He adjusted his goggles for a moment before gesturing to a set of nearby patients in the next cart over. "Start there, they need minor stitches and general disinfection."

With a nod she sped off towards the cart. Vaulting over the side she landed deftly. She gave the three men a once over before she snatched the bag of supplies to her. She started with the brunette first, a large gash trailed up his arm.

"This'll sting." Lily warned, already undoing the top of a waterskin and pouring the fresh water into the wound. He hissed, face twisting at the pain. "What happened?"

"Was grabbed by a titan. My squad-mate cut me loose but their blade swung too close, got my arm in the process." Lily nodded, her hands already working with a needle and thread. He winced when the needle entered his skin, dark eyes trained on her work.

"I'd look away if I were you. You'll feel it less if you focus on something else." He frowned but did as she said. Locking his eyes on the horizon as the scouts trudged their way through the heart of Trost.

"You do this alot?" He asked, his teeth gritting with every pull of the needle.

"Yes, too much if you ask me." Lily hummed. Her attention darted from her work to his pinched face. "Though it means you're in experienced hands. Some of the shitheads in the cadet corps could barely thread the needle, let alone stitch."

At the clear disdain in her voice, the man chuckled. "I guess I'm one of those shitheads then. Couldn't stitch for the life of me,"

Lily scoffed, nearing the end of his wound she shook her head. "Lucky I'm the one putting you back together then."

With a final check, she moved to the other. It seemed he was quite scrapped up. Scratches and grazes littered his face and arms, as he nursed his ankle. "Sprained or broken?"

"Sprained." He replied tersely, his jaw tense. Lily nodded, pulling out a bandage and slipping his boot off, moving the harness away from his heel before she began wrapping it.

"Do I want to know how this happened?" She quirked a thin blonde brow, her face indifferent despite the softer tone. The man sighed irritably, his face pinched not in pain but annoyance.

"Tommas couldn't shake himself out of his frozen stupor. Had to dive in and push the cadet out of the way. idiot rookie."

"We all start somewhere. At least he's alive to return the favor now, no?" She glanced up at him, finishing with binding his leg. She moved to grab a clean cloth and some fresh water to clean out his wounds. The man shrugged, seeming slightly less irritated.

Lily worked deftly, cleaning the scrapes as best she could before she turned to the last soldier. He was holding his side, bandages already turning crimson with his blood. He seemed far away, and scarily pale.

With a soft hand, she reached out and squeezed his knee, her brows knitting together in concern as she called out to the man.

"Huh? What?" He startled, his eyes widening before he realized where he was. "O-oh… sorry."

"You're fine, mind telling me how long they've been on you?" Lily gestured to the reddening bandages. He hissed, letting out a string of curses.

"Titan had me in the mouth. Barsted started gnawing on me instead of just ending me there. The bandages have been there since the start of the expedition." Lily nodded.

"You'll need to be changed. Sit up for me so I can check your stitches also." the man complied, raising his arms as Lily swiftly unwound the stained cloth with ease. Her hands held the man steady as she checked his stitches.

None were broken, it seemed the wounds had been slightly aggravated recently but otherwise were fine. Nodding to herself she began winding a fresh bandage along his midsection. Making sure to be firm but not painfully so.

"Was this your first expedition?" The first man from earlier asked, his head resting on his palm, elbow on his knee. There was a curious light in his dark eyes as he regarded the short woman. Lily nodded. "See any titans?"

"Yes. I'm from Squad Daveen. We had to take over for the Left wing." The man's eyes widened upon hearing this. He drew a breath.

"You're remarkably calm for your first bout with Titans," he noted. Lily was silent for a few moments before she replied.

"I have to be." Was all she said, her tone held no infliction of any emotion, it was a statement. Feeling three pairs of eyes on her she tensed. With her work on the third man finished, she began repacking the supply bag with whatever was left unused. She paused, regarding their downtrodden looks. "It has meaning."

"What does?" the first man asked.

"Their deaths." Lily replied, her gaze rising to theirs. "It's a sacrifice of the few for the many; Their lives allowed us to push forward. We should respect that and continue forward. Else their deaths would really be meaningless."

The three others were silent, and Lily took that as her leave. She held her hand out, taking the reins of Kahavi from the nearby scout, leaping slightly onto her horse's saddle, sparing a few moments to adjust herself.

"Thank you." the third man states, his soft blue eyes boring into her golden ones. Lily merely nodded, her head raising high as she spurred the stallion forward, rejoining Ian on his own gray mare.

"They're all fixed up." She announced. Ian turned to her and nodded thankfully.

"At this rate you'll be a qualified medic. Your medical probation period is almost over with."

Lily hummed in affirmation. "Anything else I can do?"

"Right now you best return to your squad. We'll touch bases in the future but we're nearing the gate to Wall Rose now." With a nod, Kahavi trotted over towards Squad Daveen. Rejoining with its fellow horses.

"Welcome back," Petra greeted. "The others okay?"

"As well as they can be I'm afraid." Lily replied. A few sympathetic gazes were tossed her way before the squad returned their stares forward.

"They'll be okay given time."

"Aye"

With the last of Trusts somber gazes and heated words drifting on the wind, they returned to their new home.

Their home.