Willow felt sick, though she had nothing left to throw up as she had been throwing up all morning. Her stomach was so unsettled and a bundle of nerves, no food wanted to stay down nor her water. Her hands just wouldn't stop shaking, her legs just wanted to give out beneath her as she stumbled towards the stable to saddle up her horse, her mobility gear strapped firmly around her. For once she wished it was for training but it wasn't.

Today was the day.

Their 2 months was up.

The scout mission was today.

They were going over the wall.

The only thought running through Willow's head was today she was going to die. She was utterly terrified. Phoebe suddenly barged passed her falling to the ground beside a tree throwing up whatever she had in her stomach. Gulping back her own urge to puke Willow faced forward trying to link her hands together to stop them shaking. It really didn't work.
"We'll be okay" Melody nodded, a smile terrified smile on her lips as she tried to remain positive, but her eyes gave her away. "We'll be back before we know it"
"But in how many pieces" Zima added causing another cadet to race away to puke.
"In one piece" Melody nodded glancing up at Keith as they stopped at the stables. "Right sir?"
Keith eyed them all silently, his eyes pretty much giving them the answer that his mouth could not.

They were all going to die.

"Saddle up your horses and I'll take you to the wall" Keith commanded though his usual edge of authority was gone, he almost sounded…apologetic. Bruce and Daz had gone, both left the day before to continue their own duties as Keith had let them rest yesterday in preparation for today.
The lump in Willow's throat just wouldn't leave as she walked towards her horse, the dread of what to come was hanging over them. She didn't know what titans looked like or what to expect but she knew it was going to be bad. Daz had told them about his experience over the wall, and how horrifying it was, that he would rather die by the sword then go back over. His words had distilled more fear in the cadets, how he had described the titans and his experience, it was something none of them wanted to face. Yet here they were, silently saddling there horses, a choking silence around them. No one had words to say, no one even knew what to say, trying to be positive now the day had come was just to hard. They hadn't perfected the gear. Willow still couldn't even move properly with It. None of them stood a chance and they all knew it. Even those who had managed to learn to move with the gear knew they stood no chance.

They were marching to their death.

"Come on let's go" Keith called as the last cadet saddled their horse, in silence they climbed up, no one laughing or joking at those who struggled, no one was in the mood. In a deafening silence the followed behind Keith out of the training area and out in to the streets, that were crowded with people, some trying to lift their spirits and wishing them luck, others uttering how doomed they were.

"Jenko Jenko! My baby" A woman screamed, Willow glanced towards the cries, seeing a crying woman being held back by an equally sad man.
"Mum dad" Jenko whispered as he stared at his parents, his mother desperate to reach him. A Garrison guard was close by to them, his hands loosely on his weapon encase he needed it. It was cruel, the further they walked, the more families they passed each crying and begging, and Garrison guards were keeping them at bay making sure no one was allowed to say goodbye. It really was cruel.

"COME BACK TO ME MY BABY!" Matt's mother screamed from somewhere in the crowd, Willow wasn't sure where but she recognised the voice. Matt startled from his saddened daze and rapidly looked for his mother when he couldn't find her he settled for yelling back, not caring about the guards that glared up at him.
"I WILL MOTHER I PROMISE!"
"I LOVE YOU BABY!"
"I LOVE YOU TOO!"

"YOU'LL BE ALRIGHT GUNNER, THINK LESS FOCUS MORE!"
"I WILL DAD!"
"I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU MELIA!"
"I KNOW GRANDPA!"
"DON'T TAKE ANY RISKS COME BACK TO ME ALIVE KASSANDRA!"
"I WILL DAD"
"I LOVE YOU ZIMA AND MELODY"
"WE LOVE YOU TOO MUM!"
"MY GIRLS YOU ARE STRONG YOU ARE BRAVE AND YOU WILL BE OKAY!" Forin yelled standing out to both Willow and Fiona as he, Ryder and Maxwell stood on top of someone's home.
"I LOVE YOU DADDY!" Fiona screamed back fresh tears spilling from her eyes. Willow couldn't hold back her own tears as she stared back at the saddened face of the man who raised her, who they hadn't seen in two months. She had never seen him so defeated, so sad. So broken.
"I LOVE YOU TOO, I LOVE YOU BOTH, COME BACK TO US!"
"WE WILL!"

"I LOVE YOU HANNAH!"
"COME BACK TO ME I'LL BE WAITING PHOEBE!"
"I BELIEVE IN YOU PETE!"
"STAY STRONG SAMUEL"
"WE'LL BE WAITING ISHA!"
"WE LOVE YOU FRAYA!"
"STAY STRONG MY PRECIOUS SON!"
"RETURN TO US MY BABY!"
"WE MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU BIG SISTA!"
"EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY, YOU'LL BE OKAY MY SWEET SWEET BABY!"

Matt's mother's screams had kick started other people to yell their goodbyes as well. It really tugged at Keith's heart strings, listening to the crying and begging of the families watching their children and loved ones march towards the wall, most likely never to be seen again, it was why he left the scouts he couldn't do it back then and he really couldn't do it now, he clenched tightly at his horses reins his eyes focusing solely on the wall to try avoid the glares and tear-filled faces around him.

It didn't work.

He could still see them and he had no doubt they too would haunt his dreams.