Disclaimer: I own none of the characters!

Eren walked through the town, the sun setting over the trees. People were drawing close to their homes, while he was moving in the opposite direction. He pulled the red cloak closer around his shoulders to keep out the cold breeze.

He approached a bridge that went over a little creek and paused. He chewed his bottom lip and looked around. No one was close by. He was fine to cross it. He had to if he was to get to the other side and make decent time.

Eren tapped the wooden bridge with the toe of his boot and took a deep breath. He scurried across the creaking boards and jumped on to the ground once he was close enough. He sighed, relieved no one saw, and started to walk again.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Eren spun around at the voice and saw Hannes not too far away. The man stared at him closely before waving from across the bridge.

"Where are you off to?"

Eren held up the basket. "I'm making a run to my grandma's house."

"Isn't that a little far off?" Hannes asked, walking closer. He leaned on the bridge's railing and tapped his fingers on the wood.

"It's not too far. I can get there and back without any trouble," Eren replied.

"That may be, kid, but be careful. You know it's not safe to be out in the woods at night."

"I'm not stupid!" Eren cried. "I know that. I can take care of myself!"

"That's not the word around town," Hannes teased. "You should have brought Mikasa."

Eren rolled his eyes. "Whatever! I'll be fine. Anything else?"

"Yeah, actually, stay on the road," Hannes said. "Seriously now, kid. Stay to the path. It's not safe in the wooded area. So don't stray away for any reason."

"I won't," Eren said and kept walking. "Thanks."

"Sure thing, kid."

Eren tugged at the hood again and continued to walk, keeping his eyes on the flattened trail. He knew it by heart, so it was really hard to get lost. But once the sun set, even being familiar with the road, it could be hard. The air was getting cooler as the sun set, too.

He moved a little faster, the leaves crunching under his feet.

He had heard stories of the forest late at night. Of travelers disappearing. People returning with missing limbs. Sometimes of vicious ghosts even following people home…

If these stories were valid, he didn't know. He hadn't seen people hurt; not too out of the ordinary. And ghosts weren't real. But the thought was still unsettling.

And then he saw it.

A large, black thing, hunched over by the side of the road. It was moving, definitely alive, and in broad daylight. Solid black fur covered its body. It had paws—massive paws easily the size of a grown man's head with claws the length of fingers. And a snout like a wolf's and ears to match with a long, fur-covered tail.

Eren felt his body freeze up. His stomach dropped and his heart started to race. With wide eyes, he watched the massive wolf-beast sniff and snort around. But when it raised its massive head, Eren could see chunks of meat clinging to its jaws. Raw, bloodied, sickening meat.

The monster dropped its head and went back to devouring whatever it had caught in its colossal claws.

Eren swallowed hard, thankful for not being spotted yet. He waited to gain control over his body once the shock wore off. The creature's head went up and down as it tore away meat to eat it. Eren couldn't stop watching it.

It wasn't even sundown and yet this monster was out. Just out. Monsters weren't meant to go out in broad daylight. They were monsters, they ruled the night. And they should stay within the night when people were home and safe and not vulnerable.

But no. Not this…thing.

It was breaking the unspoken rule and Eren couldn't explain why. It wasn't fair.

He felt his legs again and he slowly took a step back, his eyes still on the beast. He took another step back and another and—

Crack.

A dead branch broke under Eren's heel. He paused, completely immobilized. He stared at the creature as it stopped eating and raised its head again. It turned its snout to the air and Eren could tell it was smelling, searching.

The moment it turned its face away, Eren darted off the road and behind a tree. He sank down into the dirt and looked around the tree. From over the tops of the bushes, he could see the black monster moving. Walking. Still searching.

It was even bigger up close. Its head stood taller than any man Eren had ever seen. He gripped the tree he hid behind, digging his nails into its bark. Little chunks of bark fell and he left his own blood on the tree as his fingers were cut.

There was sudden barking and the creature looked up, bearing its teeth. It quickly ran off in the direction of the wolves' barking and disappeared into the trees in a matter of seconds. Eren waited and listened before looking around the tree again. Once he was sure the creature was gone, he stood up and grabbed the basket.

With shaking hands he started to run as the fear caught up with him. He had to reach his grandmother's before the sunset now. He was too far to turn back to go home so he had to keep going forward.

On the road or not, if he stayed where he was he was sure that thing would show up again.

And he'd rather take his chance with wolves or ghosts than run into that monster. Eren walked over bushes and ducked under tree limbs until he ran into the road again. It was covered by leaves and had nearly disappeared in that area. Eren took a deep breath and looked over his shoulder. The path faded more behind him; but ahead of him, it was barely any better.

Was he really lost…?

He shook his head and started to backtrack, using the faint road as a guide. Or at least what he could see of the road. However the sun's glow was dimming. Thick shadows were cast all over the ground, but those shadows were melding into a single, solid darkness. And with it came an overbearing coldness.

The trees started to all look alike. The bushes were all the same. Eren looked up and could barely see any stars through the dead tree limbs. He soon realized, to his reluctance, that he was very lost. He gripped the handle of his basket, looking around. Trying to catch his breath.

The sounds of the forest filled his ears. The owls in trees, the crickets in the bushes and the occasional wolf howl in the distance. The crunching of leaves under his boots became even louder. His breath became little hot clouds around his mouth as he panted. Cold air pricked the skin on his face and arms.

He heard a growl and looked around. He didn't know where it came from and he didn't know from what. It was too dark to tell so he did all that he could.

Eren started to run as fast as he could.

He kept his hands in front of his face, feeling for trees or even dropped tree limbs. He ran right through bushes, some cutting into his trousers with sharp branches or thorns. Behind him he heard another howl and his heart dropped, still racing in the pit of his stomach. The sound of his running blood filled his ears and tears started to swell in his eyes.

He ran passed another, thick tree and came into a clearing. He recognized the cleared land as the road. The actual road. The road he needed to be on. And in the sky he could see the warm skeins of smoke against the stars. He sighed, and started to run up the path. He knew the village his grandmother lived in was close by. It may be small, smaller than Shinganshima, but there were still people.

And that was often enough to keep away wolves.

Eren ran to the village. As fast as his tired body would allow him to. But even that wasn't enough.

A wolf broke free from the bushes and jumped in front of him. It bared its teeth and snarled, a deep growl coming from its throat. Eren backed away from it and felt like the village flew a mile away. From the torches and moonlight, he could see the wolf clearly. Blood was smeared over its grey snout and even its paws.

It took a step closer and Eren started to dig through the basket with a blind hand. He kept his eyes locked on to the wolf, making sure it stayed where it was. Did they have any meat? Did his mother possibly pack some meat? Something, anything to distract the wolf.

"Move!"

The voice came from behind and before Eren could respond to it, he was pushed aside. He fell to the dirt as a man ran ahead of him, brandishing a silver sword. The wolf growled again and lunged a few time as the man slashed at it. Silver hair and silver metal mixed in the moon's light, crimson blood splattering on the dirt road.

With a wailing whimper, the wolf ducked its head and ran off.

Eren got to his feet. The wolf was gone, the path was cleared even though the man had dropped to his knees. Eren ran right passed him, ready to be within the safe confines of the small town. He stopped, however, staring at the warm buildings.

That was too selfish, even for him…

He turned around to face his rescuer. The man was clutching his side, blood trickling over his pale fingers. Black hair fell over his face, but Eren knew he had to be in pain. He had dropped his sword by his side, keeping himself up with his other shaking hand.

Eren walked over to him, pulling off his cloak. He threw it over the man's shoulders and tied it around his neck. The man looked up at Eren with grey eyes and fell forward. Eren caught him in his arms and held him tight.

"Thanks…brat…"