The legion left the abandoned town shortly after; none were pleased by the detour, but thankfully no lives had been lost in looking for Imelda. She rode by Levi's side, her eyes still fresh from crying, her hands trembling and her face still pulled down in self-pity. She was in no state to fight, but sadly outside Wall Rose there wasn't an option. The group had stopped for their horses to rest up in an old settlement, three soldiers on the roofs keeping look out whilst the rest refilled their tanks and tended their horses. Imelda stayed by her horse as it drank from the pond, running her hads through its charcoal blue mane.

"Hey" he barked at her "stop feeling sorry for yourself, you're a walking meal in this state so knock it off." He felt his stomach twist at his words but there was no mercy here, she needed to see that. As he headed to Erwin to discuss where they were going next Mike came up to Imelda who looked like she was going to cry again.

"You know squirt" he said gently, "what Levi says is right, emotions have to wait for when we're back in the safety of the walls." A couple of sniffs and furious wiping of her nose Imelda nodded, "I know but-but its hard okay? I haven't been here for as long as you or the others."

Mike nodded and ruffled her hair, "I know squirt, but we'll protect you okay?"

Before she could reply though foot falls shook the ground as a look out called, "Around ten titans are heading this way sir!" Imelda felt her stomach jerk as she and Mike swung onto their horses follow Erwin who was leading the group in a vast land of humongous trees. They were taller than any titan she'd seen,

"Keep in the centre of the track, no stragglers!" Levi called back to the squad as they made their fast journey deeper into the trees. But before they got any further, three titans walked out of the trees in front of them, and their eyes snapped onto them.

"IN TO THE TREES" Erwin boomed and all flew up into the vast canopy above; the horses went on, ignored by the naked monsters who were all dully reaching up into the trees. This was, until one of the new subordinates, Conner, completely by accident disturbed a wasp nest. In his panic he fell backwards knocking three people off the tree branch below, one of which was Imelda. Falling from the tree she and the two others manged to right their gear, but the titans had them now and grabbed their wires, pulling them to the ground. Shouts and cries rang through the trees as other soldiers raced to help but none had noticed the six other titans come from the other side.

Imelda forced herself to sit up as the commotion went on above until a titan came into her blurry vision. She desperately tried to back away but to no hope; she was cornered again. Too terrified to scream she grabbed her sword and slashed her arm, but nothing happened. She tried again but still nothing, why wasn't she going crazy yet? Staggering to her feet she tried to run but her legs were useless.

"Oh no you don't" Levi snarled leaping from one titan to the other slashing it's nape clean off. "Get off the ground." He called as the titan smacked into the earth, leaves, steam and dust spraying Imelda's face. Fumbling with her swords she flew up blindly into the cloud of dust. Suddenly through the dust she saw a huge mass lunging toward her. The titan's jaws opened wide ready to snap down on its prey. What happened next came as something of blur to the 14 year old; there was a scream, sounds of jaws snapping, flashes of green, then deep, bright red, then she was being smacked against the ground again. Lights popped frantically in her sight as she looked forwards and saw…saw the frozen, terrified face of the subordinate, his lower half trapped in the titan's jaws. Imelda screamed.

Her voice rang through the trees like a horrible siren getting the attention of all the survivors as they stood on the now steaming titans. She could feel warm blood all over her face and body, it was in her mouth, in her hair, her eyes and she couldn't stop looking, couldn't stop looking into the glassy eyes of the boy that had shoved her out of the way. She tried to move but her legs were trapped by the titan's chin. The titan behind the boy was dead, Levi had killed it seconds after the titan and taken a bite. He appeared at her side and pulled her out, letting the corps fall stiffly to the earth; but that didn't help Imelda's state. She couldn't take it, she was going crazy with fear and horror, disgust and utter hopelessness. She fought against Levi's arms, even when he flew her up to the trees out of harm's way. She saw Levi's face, full of concern and stress his lips moving, but she couldn't hear any of it. It was after a few moments when she saw her papa's face turn angry, but regretful as he raised the handle of his sword, making her world go black.

It was several hours before Imelda fully regained consciousness. She was lying on her back, her head supported by something soft; the sky above was moving at a brisk, smooth pace. Her torso was covered with a cape, leaving her sore legs exposed to the afternoon sun. Where was she? Why did she hurt all over, why did her face feel stiff?

"Imelda…are you awake?" Turning her gaze to the side she saw Petra kneeling beside her; her kind eyes laced with tension and concern. Imelda tried to speak but all that came out was a deep, gravelly gurgle and a cough. So she nodded slightly, going back to looking at the sky, her mind slowly remembering what had happened.
They'd been in the trees, and she'd fallen and…well that's when it really had gone to shit hadn't it? She must have visibly tensed at the memories because Petra's small hand cupped her cheeking, her thumb rubbing off some of the dried blood.

"It's alright Imelda, you're safe, we all are, the wall is in sight; we'll be home soon."

But that boy won't be, she thought, he's dead as were probably so many others. Her eyes pricked with tears, she hadn't known them by name, but she'd seen their faces around the base, felt familiarity with them, now they would be gone, their beds empty, their family's heart broken. A vast shadow loomed over her as the wall rolled above them. The rumble of the gates came to her ears and the dark stone interior of the wall flashed passed her eyes. Relief visibly appeared in Petra's body as she smiled down sadly at her,

"See?" she said, "What did I tell you, we're safe."

Imelda only nodded, she eye lids drooping gently shut; they were safe.

The scout made their slow, painful journey to the base; stopping at the homes of those who'd lost their lives, Erwin, Hanji or Levi being the one at the door to give the news. They had finished their last stop before Levi went up to the cart and jumped in, leaving his horse to be pulled along behind it.

"How is she?" he asked Petra who gave Levi a rather cold look, "I think she's okay, she woke up just before we entered the wall and then went back to sleep."
Levi could tell she wanted to say something else, he knew what she wanted to say, "Say it Petra" he sighed, "say what you're thinking."

The petit soldier looked surprised at first, but took the opportunity none the less.

"Imelda should not have come on this expedition," she started, "she is only just 14, she's nothing more than a child and yet you and Erwin agreed that Imelda was ready for this?"
"No one is ready for what's out there Petra," Levi said sternly, "I've seen many a skilled fight die at the hands of a titan, we cannot recreate an environment like the one outside the wall; no amount of training can prepare you for it-"

"But she is on 14!" Petra interrupted, "And she hasn't had a childhood like we did, she was nothing short of an experiment for the youngest years of her life. You know she isn't as mentally stable as the rest of us and what happened on the mission would have only made it worse." She paused, calming her anger, her cheeks flushed, "I'm sorry Captain but I feel very strongly about this."

Levi completely understood; Imelda was different, no doubt about it, heck it was obvious she as different from other children her age. Looking down at his girl Levi just simply replied, "You have a right to your opinion Petra, don't apologise for that."