4 months later

"Team Rivaille, today you will go outside the walls – to risk your lives for mankind…" Team Rivaille has added some new members, Samantha beginning one of them – and acts as a co-leader alongside Rivaille. "…your main objective is to learn anything you can about the Ape Type Titan that has been spotted only recently and only briefly climbing over the wall. You are dismissed." Commander Irvin has decided not to use a big army of Scouts, as they plan not to kill the Ape Type Titan – but only observe it from a distance or as close as they can get without it spotting them.

They head out through the gate, the inhabitants of the district making a path way and follow behind them as they each one-by-one leave the walls that have kept humanity peaceful for 107 years – well, until 5 years ago.

"Samantha, do you have the lay out for formation?"

"Yes, Corporal." Rivaille and Samantha kept their relationship professional while in their line of duty, though everyone could see that they were together (or have heard them from nights before) – making some people feel awkward as they know about it, yet the two of them seem to want their relationship private, which isn't the case at all. "…and I'll be in the middle of the formation, in front of Eren who will be no more than a horses' length behind me." Samantha finishes giving everyone orders on where they will be placed in the formation, looking up at Eren, ensuring he understands. Though it's small, they will be spread out roughly 1 meter from the person next to them.

"Eren, even though the objective isn't to attack – but when needed, we are counting on you to turn into your Titan form as quickly as you can, okay?" Samantha says to Eren, as she had noticed Eren was rather confused on why she would need to be protecting him. "You are sort of like, a plan B – if something drastic happens, we want you to take action – plus, you are a huge threat to Titans, making you their main target." She then flashed him a smile, catching him off guard, as he is too comfortable with Rivaille's unapproachable attitude. I wonder what she sees in Rivaille… She's super nice and quite beautiful too. Eren ponders at this as they begin to jump on their horses and ride out further away from the wall.

"Titans up ahead, sir!" Not long after Samantha's chat with Eren, a group of 5 Titans were moving across Team Rivaille's trail. Rivaille stops, and wait for the Titans to walk across; desperately hoping they don't notice them – which was rather odd. Rivaille usually kind of enjoyed fighting Titans, but since Samantha was here… He didn't want anything to happen to her on his watch, though he was well-aware that she could fight well. Rivaille thought too soon. One of the Titan turned its head towards the wall, looking above them and then notices them. The titan begins to move towards Team Rivaille, leaving the other 4 Titans on their way, thankfully.

"Corporal!" yells Samantha, catching Rivaille's attention. "What are we waiting for?" Samantha continues. Rivaille doesn't answer, as the titan begins to gain speed, Samantha uses her 3D Maneuver Gear – nearly giving Rivaille a heart attack as she could've easily been eaten by the Titan. Samantha spins at an incredible speed, slicing the nape of the Titans neck. She stands on the titans shoulders, as it falls to the ground. Once its body hits the ground, she walks over its head and walks back into her position as if nothing happened. Rivaille turns his head and slightly scolds at Samantha, as he didn't give any orders. Samantha apologizes with a shrug and the look in her eyes.

Their venture continues for 6 more hours, with no sight of the Ape Titan. They notice the forest in the distance as the moon lights up the Earth, making it slightly easier to see. Team Rivaille decides to go inside and sleep there overnight. When they are about to head to the usual places the Scouting Legion places their supply carts to refill them/keep them somewhat safe, they see the Ape Titan looking and observing random objects that it picks up. They check for any other Titans and see that there are none, for now, and tie their horses to some bushes as they use their 3D Maneuver Gear to get to a branch they wish to sleep on.

"We will wake up at the crack of dawn, and observe the Titan from then on out. It seems to be weak and won't be able to move until the sun comes back up." Rivaille announces, he then swings over to Samantha and Eren.

"Samantha, you and Eren seem to be of an acquaintance." Rivaille pauses.

"Yes, Corporal." Samantha nods.

"Right, so you and Eren will stay right here, okay?" Rivaille assures they understand, mainly Samantha – as he knows how anxious she is to fight Titans, he doesn't want her going off when Titans notice them in the trees.

"Eren," Rivaille's voice changes. "Don't do anything you will regret." Rivaille scolds at Eren, as he gulps and nods his head. Samantha looks at him confusingly, she then stands up and gives him a hug and a slight goodnight-kiss on the cheek, which no one sees. He smiles down at her, and then swings back over to where he will be sleeping.

Samantha and Eren share an awkward glance at each other, Samantha flashing a smile and Eren expressing a rather scared look on his face as he can feel Rivaille staring at him. He blushes and then turns away, scooting away from Samantha.

"Eren, don't worry about Rivaille…" Eren looks at her and then shakes his head.

"You're a really pretty girl, and Rivaille knows it – I don't want to be another guy he has to watch when I am around you." Samantha could see that Eren was stressed out, he is just a kid, he is still growing up but in the wrong place and the wrong time.

"Just… don't fret too much about it, okay? I'm your friend, though we just met – I have been in your position before, I know how you feel." Samantha says as she looks off into the distance, up towards the moon. "Rivaille can be intimidating, but he says scary things like that from the goodness of his heart, you know?" She says smiling. Well, I guess she would be the one to know… Eren thinks, still unsure of himself. He feels out of place, he hasn't exactly made any friends with anyone of the Rivaille Team. But Samantha doesn't give up on cheering someone up when she can tell that they are feeling down.

Eren eventually warms up to Samantha, and they chit chat quietly as everyone sleeps. They begin to become tired and Samantha falls asleep in mid sentence, Eren smiles and goes to sleep himself. Samantha wakes up just a little bit before dawn, and decides to look down to check on the Ape Type Titan. It was gone. Samantha's heart drops as she frantically wakes up everyone will her yelling.

"Over there!" Eren yells, pointing at a large moving figure in the distance whilst standing behind Samantha. Team Rivaille drops down using their 3D Maneuver Gear, and sees that their horses are gone. A burst of steam surrounds them. Once it fades away, they turn around and see that they are surrounded, not by a forest of trees, but by a forest of Titans.