She was ten minutes behind the deployed soldiers.
A dead Titan sprawled on the ground and a tidal wave of hoof prints confirmed that she was heading the right direction. It would take patience and a steady grip on the reins, but she was determined to close the distance between her and the troops—to fight alongside them like the hero she knew herself to be.
And, of course, to see the look on Captain Levi's face.
Just why did he feel the need to keep her on standby? Did he really think she was too weak to fight or defend herself? Could he not bear the thought of losing her? She hoped this was the case, but more likely, he kept her away because he was sick of her shenanigans.
And yet, her shenanigans had found him.
Her steed plowed forward, catching up to the fifty-or-so soldiers in matching green cloaks, billowing like parachutes. She blended into the arrow-shaped throng, but secured her hood for added coverage.
"Titans up ahead. Proceed to offensive formation!"
The soldiers dispersed across the grassy terrain to cover more distance. The middle was the safest spot so Karma steered clear of it, hugging the outside of the formation.
A cluster of three Titans rambled forward, lopsided bodies sloshing like jelly, footsteps rumbling the earth like a landslide. The first line of Scouts responded, unsheathing their blades and shooting gas-powered cables to propel themselves forward.
After a series of acrobatic twists and slashes too fast for Karma to follow, the Titans fell with a booming thud.
The regiment continued forward, weaving past the Titan corpses like water flowing around rocks. Karma pushed her steed forward to reach the front lines and unsheathed her weapons, ready for the next attack. A few soldiers down, she spotted Captain Levi, similarly poised on his horse, ready to strike.
As they crested a grassy hill, the earth began to tremble like a shifting fault line. Up ahead, eleven Titans emerged from trees, some as tall as the clouds. At the ravenous look in their eyes and the drool dribbling down their bellies, the memories of the previous night flooded back. The feeling of being swept up in those giant hands. The heat and stench of the monster's breath.
Karma shook her head, forcing herself to stay focused. She couldn't afford to feel fear now.
A long-necked Titan the height of two trees reached the front lines. An eager soldier propelled forward, aiming for the fatal spot behind the neck, but the Titan swatted the Scout in mid-air like a pesky mosquito, spraying the advancing soldiers with blood and innards.
Karma felt a spattering slosh on her cloak. The smell made her feel like retching again, but she buried the instinct down, focusing on the hot flush of adrenaline that urged her to avenge her comrade.
With a warrior-like cry, she launched off her horse and towards the Titan, aiming her cable's hooks just below its disfigured ears. The hooks snagged and she switched gears, reeling herself like a snapped elastic.
With a slice of her blade and a spray of blood, the beast fell. Some of the advancing soldiers had to wrangle their steeds away to avoid getting squashed. Karma stood atop the fallen Titan's shoulder blade, breathing hard. Her adrenaline was fading fast.
Then someone landed behind her.
"You beat me to the kill. Nice work, soldier," Captain Levi said.
Now faced with it, the thought of Levi catching her lost all of its appeal. This wasn't a game. If the Titans didn't kill her, he would just for spite—and rightfully so.
She kept her face hidden as she surveyed the progressing battle.
Like spiders on webs, soldiers slung towards beasts and slashed their swords. The metal winked in the sunlight. After weeks of standby, Karma expected the sight of battle to excite her.
But as her adrenaline depleted, so did the thrill. Her gut was heavy with fear.
The memories of near-death and the fresh-death sloshed on her cloak proved that even the best and bravest could fall. She was beginning to realize just how vulnerable she was.
How vulnerable they all were.
As though to prove her point, an anguished cry pierced the raging battle. Blood splattered like dark syrup in the hands of a Titan. Another ear-splitting scream and a soldier was bitten in half, much like Karma nearly was. These were soldiers with names and families. Her lip quivered. She understood that fear. That was almost her scream.
But Levi had saved her. And as much as she liked to get under his skin, he was not her enemy. It was pointless to hide. The realization made her brave enough to speak.
"Captain." She pulled down her hood and looked at him.
"Karma, what the hell are you doing here?!" Levi's face was torn between rage and disbelief.
Another handful of comrades fell, their lives ending in a desperate scream. Blood rained on her cloak again, splattering her cheeks. She tasted warm, salty metal.
"I just wanted to redeem myself, but I won't blame you for hating me. I'm sorry—"
Carriage wheel sized eyes locked with Karma's. A Titan that could touch clouds on tiptoes was lumbering toward her. Its thudding footsteps hardened her muscles to cement.
She couldn't run. She couldn't breathe. This would be the end.
Captain Levi gripped her shoulders. "Karma, snap out of it." He shook her. The cement hairlined. "Look, I'm pissed that you're here, but I don't hate you."
Her lashes fluttered. "You don't?"
"I know I'll regret saying this, but no—I like you. Now pull yourself together and fight with me." His fingers bore deeper into her shoulders. The cement finally crumbled.
"Whenever I'm not fighting you, I'll fight beside you," she said.
This perked the edge of his mouth.
The Titan was steadily approaching and soon they'd be within its reach. Captain Levi decided to take his chance. He turned back to Karma and crushed his mouth on top of hers, hands digging impossibly deeper into her shoulders.
He inhaled her. He tasted her. He melded his lips to the shape of hers. Memorized the feel of her for all it was worth.
The kiss was far briefer than either of them would have liked.
"Survive. That's an order."
"Yes, Captain." Her lips were tingling from the pressure of his mouth.
They surveyed the ongoing battle. The Scouts had managed to take out half of the Titans, but at the cost of at least a dozen soldiers.
Karma gripped her swords and glanced at Levi. He gave her a nod. They launched their cables on either side of the advancing beast, hooking to the skin of its shoulders. As though they'd rehearsed the move to perfection, Karma and Levi used the momentum of the launch to cross behind the Titan's neck, slashing their swords deep into the nape.
The monster's fall rippled the trees. They landed on its back, turning their attention to the remaining Titans. Together, they executed a whirlwind of precise cable projections and tactical slashes, resulting in a heap of Titan corpses.
Once, Karma even saved Levi, tackling him out of the way of a deadly blow. His eyes widened at the realization, and he would've kissed her again right then and there if the situation permitted it.
When the battle was over, Karma reeled in her gear, panting and collapsing into dewy grass. Levi landed beside her. They lost a good half of their regiment, but they'd won.
"Soldiers, the most immediate Titan threats have been cleared. Return to base immediately," Captain Levi ordered. He didn't appear even slightly out of breath.
Around them, surviving soldiers covered and gathered up the broken, bloody fallen (or what remained of them) and returned to their horses, racing back to the safety of the distant walls.
The battlefield was steaming and reeking with decomposing Titans and gore. Karma, raising to her hands and knees, felt the urge to retch and gagged on her empty stomach. Captain Levi crouched beside her and rested a hand on her back.
"Am I that bad of a kisser?"
"You definitely could use some practice," Karma said, trying to crack a smile.
"Oh I'll get plenty. But that's assuming you still plan to follow orders?" Levi smirked, helping her stand. Despite the horrid scene and lingering fear like ice chips in her gut, Karma managed to grin.
"Of course not."