DISCLAIMER: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin. The characters, plot, etc belong to Hajime Isayama. I do own Inari, Shepp, and Kitty, as well as other creations/adaptions in this story. I hope you enjoy my story! Read. Review. Favorite. Enjoy!
Chapter 4
When I first laid my eyes on the sky, my breath caught in my throat. It was more than I had dreamed of. It went on as far as I could see, melting into the land in the far distance. I stopped in my tracks to take it all in, memorizing every detail. Shepp had stopped with me, a smile on his face as well. Together we looked at its vast blue and puffy clouds. I close my eyes, taking in the warm sunshine as it graced my cheeks. The sun was bright and warm, casting a glowing haze over the land.
Isabel, we are now under the same sky, I thought to myself.
We traveled by wagon to the military camp where we will spend the next two years, training to become the best soldiers. It had taken us about a week to get here, and I was looking forward to starting my journey back to Isabel's side. During that week, I experienced various weather and terrain, each of them I committed to memory. Rain was cold, but beautiful. It smelled crisp and clear. It brought all the colors out of nature, re-birthing them with vigor and life. Wind had danced in my long red locks for the first time. I have yet to experience snow, though. The camp was stationed in a great canyon desert; cacti and brambles scattered the dusty, barren ground.
A great wall of vertical tree logs fenced the camp and two large wooden doors opened outward to us as we approached nearer. Inside were various cabins and buildings, along with military equipment. Soldiers bustled around us, keeping busy. Rows of new recruits performed push-ups before their commander. Over in the left field, cadets sparred in hand-to-hand combat.
My mind was buzzing with new information and questions, but Shepp pulled me away from my thoughts. He had motioned me to join him and the rest in a line. The line progressed forward, each new cadet receiving their uniforms. Shepp stepped up and took his, and I followed suit. We split ways, him heading towards the men's cabin, and I to the ladies'. I opened the door and was greeted by the sight of various groups of girls chattering together. Most seemed to be 16 like me, yet there were a few that looked a few years older. None took notice to me, so I made my way towards the closest vacant bed. Other girls were changing around me, not bothered by the others.
I stripped off my ratty tunic, planning to burn it later. I do not want any of my past self with me. I am a soldier now. I am Cadet Inari Magnolia of the 100th Trainee Squad.
I am stripping off my leggings when I feel someone grab my chest from behind.
"Eek!" I squeal.
"Wow! You've got a chest! No fair," says the girl holding my boobs. She releases and I turn to yell at her, but am cut off when she thrusts out her hand and says, "The name's Kitty, Kitty Barnes. And this here is Petra Ral, my cousin," she gestures to the girl next to her.
Kitty stands about 5'3", the same as me, with wavy brown hair cut to her shoulders, tied back in a ponytail. She has brown eyes, freckles across her nose, and sun-tanned skin. Petra seems like the opposite, though. She has short, honey blonde hair that comes to her chin. She is maybe an inch shorter than us, and has fair skin and greenish, gold eyes.
I shake Kitty's hand and respond, "Inari. I'm Inari Magnolia," then I shake Petra's delicate hand.
"Cool tattoo! I wish I had one," Kitty says, gesturing to the bird wings I had on my back.
"Thanks, it means a lot to me," I say.
"How so?" asks Petra.
"I want to be free to spread my own wings someday, hopefully outside of the walls," I say, smiling.
"That is lovely. I hope you achieve that. I hope we all do," Petra responds kindly.
Kitty speaks up again, "You've got a lot of piercings. What are all they?"
"Oh, uh, these are called snake bites, " I say pointing to the two below my bottom lip, "Then these are just regular ear piercings, but this is called an industrial bar, " I say, pointing to my two ear lobes and then to the bar running through the cartilage of my right ear.
"They'd look garish on most girls, but you really rock them," Kitty says, slapping me on the back, a wide grin on her face. "So where are you from?" Kitty says, bumping my shoulder with elbow.
"Uh… um," I stutter, but I am cut off, but by Petra this time.
"Oh, Kitty, let's let her dress first, before we bombard her with more questions," she says kindly, dragging Kitty away with a forgiving smile.
I put on a clean bra and panties and the uniform. It took me a couple tries to strap on the 3D belts, but I managed somehow. Just as I'm putting my long auburn red hair in a side fishtail braid, the bell is rung from the guard tower, signaling all the newbies to line up for initiation.
I stand in the third row, while Shepp stands in the second row. Kitty is in the first and Petra is behind my row. Shepp has tied his hair back in his usual ponytail and I must admit, he looks good in a uniform. Wait, what? I shake my head, then hear a whistle. We are called to attention. A commander steps out from the nearest cabin and makes his way to us. His head is bald and he wears a stern, angry face. He approaches soldiers one by one, terrorizing, insulting, and reprimanding them. Then, he approaches Shepp.
"Who are you?" the commander shouts, inches from Shepp's face.
"Shepherd Harland, sir!" Shepp shouts back, giving the commander an equally stern face. The commander then disregards him and moves on. It's not long until he reaches me. His eyes seem shrouded with darkness and his strong brow is furrowed.
"Who are you?" he shouts.
"I am Inari Magnolia, sir!" I shout back, giving him a proper salute with my right fist over my heart.
"And where are you from, you maggot?" he yells, inching closer to my face.
"I am a recruit from the Underground, sir!" I say, furrowing my brows menacingly. A bitter taste settles in my mouth when I hear a few others start to murmur. Being from the Underground makes someone fouler than criminals, lower than dirt. But I won't let them get to me. I see Kitty staring at me in my peripheral vision.
"The Underground, huh? You are lower than a maggot! You better start packing up." He insults me. I notice Shepp stiffen with rage. He can't go on guard just because I got insulted. He needs to calm down.
"No, sir! I will graduate and join my sister in the Scouting Regiment, sir!" I shout defiantly.
He is caught off guard, but hides it well. "The Scouting Regiment, huh? You might as well be six feet under, because that's probably where she is now, either that or in the belly of a Titan!" He shouts.
Damn him.
Without thinking, the rage within me snaps and I punch him square in the eye, knocking him back on his ass. I clench my fists and glare daggers at him.
"Sir! My sister is outside the walls, protecting your ass, while you cower behind them, insulting cadets for a cheap initiation tactic!" I scream, letting all of the anger flood out of my lungs, spitting my venomous words.
I can practically feel the anger boil off of him, but that doesn't faze me. What surprises me, though, is the fact that he simply stands back up and moves onto the next row, without reprimanding me.
Damn me.
