~The night before~

Mikasa stepped out of the old cabin after her brief conversation with Captain Levi. They were going on a mission tomorrow, just the two of them. She looked up at the sky. The sun had gone down and the moon was already in its position. She pulled her cloak around her more tightly as the wind rushed by her. Looking ahead, she noticed the building they were staying in was farther than she had previously remembered.

"Looks like it could take a while getting back..." she sighed. The wind grew stronger, the tall trees thrashing around behind her. "And it looks like it's about to rain… maybe there's a shortcut?"

Mikasa went around the side of the cabin towards the trees and looked around for a pathway that lead towards the buildings direction. She looked around cautiously being sure not to step on anything as the rain came pouring down, fast. She found a footpath just a few feet away from her however it was slowly becoming a river of cascading mud and leaves. Mikasa decided the quick and easy method would be to advance into the forest, North-West but stay closer to the edges to avoid getting lost. She couldn't see the building at all but she had a rough idea of where it would be once she came out the other side. One foot in front of the other, she ensued, shivering slightly from all the rain water and the gale-force winds around her.

Her ears were turning numb, as well as her fingers; her hair was drenched, and it was getting harder to see. She brought her scarf up to her nose and burrowed into it, putting her hood over her head, she crossed her arms as she walked, keeping her hands warm under her cloak, hugging herself.

SNAP

She stopped dead in her tracks, daring not to move. Forcing her teeth to stop chattering, her hands automatically went down towards her blades. Turning her head towards the direction the sound came from, she waited.

What was that? It sounded like a branch snapped. Could it really be a titan? But then I would have heard it make its way over here.

Shaking that thought from her head, she remained silent, debating whether she should go toward it or not. Making up her mind, she turned back towards the sound and vigilantly made her way, now going South-East. Then she heard it. She froze where she was stood, the rain more persistent than ever, she could make out a figure in front of her, watching it as it dropped down from above and glided down gracefully, approaching her. But her attention was divided. She looked behind her, feeling a hand upon her shoulder.

"Mikasa, what are you doing here?"

She didn't answer. She continued to look in the same direction.

"I thought I told you to go back."

Mikasa tuned her ears in as best she could to listen to what was happening in front her, but the rain was just so loud - so was he.

"MIKASA!" Levi snapped, spinning her round towards him. He looked irate.

What the hell is he so angry about? It's not like I asked him to be my personal look out.

Paying no mind to her captain, she turned her full attention back to where she was looking previously.

Not knowing if it was his imagination or not he stopped himself from shouting at her again and knelt down on the wet ground. He felt it again. The ground was trembling ever so slightly and his thoughts were confirmed when he saw Mikasa unsheathe her swords: titans.

"Can you hear it too?"

Levi stood up and took out his blades before answering.

"Yes."

They didn't say anything for a while, observing the soft thuds from up ahead. Judging their distance, the speed and their direction.

"They're heading towards the wall. We need to go, now" he instructed, jogging up ahead of her, uncovering his manoeuvring gear from under his cloak.

"But the others, we should warn them-"

"There's no time now, besides, they are not the ones in danger: Wall Rose and the people between here and there are."

"But Captain!"

"ACKERMAN!" Mikasa stopped talking, surprised by his sudden change in tone. Was it possible that he was even livider than he was a few minutes ago?

"Everyone back there are trained soldiers. They're the Survey Corps, it's what they signed up for and they can damn well take care of themselves. These people have no weapons, no skill, they need us. So forget about Eren and the rest and do your fucking job!"

And with that he took off.

Mikasa vacillated for a few seconds, then shot her hook into one of the trees and followed Levi.

He's right. As much as I hate to admit it, he's right.

The outermost wall, Wall Maria, wasn't as far as Mikasa first thought it to be. However, it still took them time to get there. Mikasa and Levi rarely spoke. The only one out of the two who did, was Levi, and that was only ever to tell her to stop and take rest here, or to say "we're changing direction." Levi would steal a glance at Mikasa ever so often. He couldn't help but notice how calm she looked, but her eyes…her dark eyes showed so much more emotion. She was angry, possibly by his own words or maybe something else was bothering her. However, he never did get to ask her.

After what seemed like hours, they arrived at the outer wall and landed on top. The rain had stopped and the sun was due to rise, which meant that titans would soon be swarming the area. They were both worn-out and cold; their hands and ears were numb. Mikasa sat down on the wall, taking off her soaking cloak and wringing it out. Levi watched her and did the same.

"Commander Erwin is expecting us, although we're a few hours early. I know a place we can dry off and get something to eat. I want you to wait for me whilst I talk to him and tell him about the approaching titans, understood?" he told her as he watched her shivering, wrapping her scarf back around her neck.

She gave him a nod and again followed him into the derelict area as they flew from roof top to roof top towards the confines of Wall Rose. Once they had met Commander Erwin and the two of them had their talk and Mikasa and Levi were once again warm and dry they headed back out towards the wall. Apparently since the titans were fast approaching, their plans had now changed, although, he told her very little about them.

They walked around Stohess District for a while, filling up on gas and restocking their blades. Mikasa could see the Garrison troops preparing themselves at the wall, inspecting the cannons. They walked down a desolate area of the district; everyone else was still asleep and it was eerily quiet. The only thing that could be heard were their own footsteps and the clanking of their 3-D Maneuver Gear (3DMG). Mikasa had no idea where they going or what they were doing. All she could think about was what Eren and Armin were doing right about now.

Have they even noticed that I've been gone so long? And do they know about the Titans? I really should stop worrying, Like Levi said, they can take care of themselves.

"Mikasa."

Levi stopped in the middle of a small alleyway. He held his arm out for her to stop, but she realized too late and walked into him.

"What are you-!"

"Look," he whispered.

She followed his finger to the wall on their right. There was a shadow on the wall above them, she looked at it closely trying to figure out what it was and made out a man, crouching.

Wait, what?

He motioned with his finger for her to follow him, but this time they were walking a little slower. She quickly realized what he was getting at when the shadow was also moving along with them.

Is someone tailing us from the rooftops?

Levi and Mikasa quickened their pace, but sure enough, two more shadows appeared behind them.

Levi grabbed Mikasa and shot his hook into one of the buildings up ahead.

"Follow me!" he ordered her as he aimed at another building.

Mikasa followed him closely, and then she noticed the shadows do the same.

Wait, they have manoeuvre gear too? Is it the Military Police? They're doing a good job keeping up with us, but why are we running?

She could sense someone right on top of her as the ground beneath her feet darkened. She instinctively grabbed hold of one of her blades and shot towards a taller building, Levi turned around, his eyes wide.

"MIKASA! Move!"

BANG!

Something shot at her hand. She felt it hit her maneuver gear, and, in that moment, her hook failed to catch onto the building. Then she dropped.