Chapter 11 the Walled City part 2

(Kate POV)

We were finally here, at the training grounds, a part of the 104th Cadet Corps. I'm not even sure how we got in, probably that they needed as many new recruits they needed and would take whatever they would get…or something else. Each in a row, now wearing the uniform, we were being inspected by our instructor Keith Shadis as a part of this ceremony of sorts. He seemed okay, other than the fact he breaks each one of us except for a few down. He already dealt with us with the salute for us, right fist over our heart to offer it, left fist and forearm behind our back.

"And you, what about you? Why are you here?" Keith asked, it was Rayna.

Rayna saluted and then said, "My name is Rayna Kagami, I am from a traveling family, I have no inkling of where I was born or where my hometown would have been. My family had traveled alongside my friend's inside Wall Maria, our last point was Shiganshinra. I came to train, and prove myself worthy to become a member of the Survey Corps."

"I see…first one to seem to have any true purpose," Keith said, "but what proof do you have? What about your family now?"

"Eaten by the Titans," Rayna said, "I was the only one in my family to have survived and make it out alive; the only connection I have left is my friend. I have made many connections to others; I am willing to break them if I need to."

"Understandable, but your eyes aren't telling me everything you just said," Keith said, leaving Rayna and now to me, "What about you Streak-hair? Why are you here?"

I saluted and said, "My name is Kate Blitz, I am also from a traveling family with no clue of my hometown or where I was born. I traveled alongside my friend's family inside Wall Maria; our last stop was Shiganshira when the Titans invaded the city. I came to train and prove myself worth to become a member of the Survey Corps."

"Oh similar story to Kagami's huh, so what about your family? Were they eaten too?" Keith asked.

"Yes, they were, if you must know something, I have been traveling alongside Rayna's family for a while," I said.

"Well then, if you are out to join the Survey Corps, for what? Just to stay alongside your only friend in this pathetic world? Get this, the Titans don't care about anyone," Keith said, elbowing my right arm hard, then moved onto Sapphire.

"I'm Saf Shard, I barely know of where I was born, I was raised by wandering travelers who had no place to call home inside the walls, barely speaking to anyone in the towns unless we needed to," Sapphire said, "the last place I was at was Shinganshina, I deserted the other curious of what was happening when they had opened the outer gates and they abandoned me."

"Then why are you here then?" Keith asked.

"Because I want to help in any way I can, even though I was raised to avoid people, I want to help them so we can all survive," Sapphire said.

"Well that is a little optimistic of you," Keith said moving on to the others.

That was basically the entire day…other than that girl who was eating a potato and ended up running laps until she fainted…it was…boring. Dinner was possibly just a meager meal just to give us enough energy and water. It was interesting at least. Sapphire had already left for bed seeing how as she was to pose as a boy on our visit here, she was stuck in the boys' dorm until we graduate.

"Hello there, my, you are cute," someone said, apparently talking to Rayna.

"And you are?" Rayna asked, not looking up from her dinner.

"Jean…Jean Kirstein," he said, "I still don't have your name."

"If you were listening, it's Rayna Kagami and right now, I'm not in much of a mood for a relationship," Rayna said, "I don't want to have my heart ripped out just because I lose someone important. I don't even believe you know what it's like to lose someone who may seem so little to you but ends up being someone important. If you'd guys excuse me, I'm going to bed."

"Is…your friend always like that?" Jean asked.

"Cold? No, I guess that ever since we lost our families, we only have each other left and she doesn't want to lose anyone else," I said, "beside's name's Kate. If you want, I could check on her, just to make sure she's okay."

"What? You haven't even finished your dinner, you'd lose your energy because of one petty problem," Jean said, "finish it first, and then you can go check on her."

"Fine then, but then, I haven't ever really have seen her have any mood swings, she was always…quiet when I knew her," I said, "I should go sleep as well."

I went into the building/dorms for the girls and found her asleep, her hair wasn't even in a ponytail like how she usually has it, and was it…wet?

"Hey Rayna…are you okay?" I asked.

"Huh, oh yeah, I'm fine…why?" Rayna said.

"Oh it's just, you acted very strangely to Jean, I was just wondering why," I said.

"You said so yourself we shouldn't get too attached to others," Rayna said, "I'm just trying to make sure it doesn't happen."

"Just, don't try to become cold to others okay?" I asked.

"Sure, as long as we can find the keyhole," Rayna said, going back to sleep.

"Oh, I've seen you two already choose where you're sleeping," someone said, it was Ymir…right? She came in carrying…who I am assuming was the girl who was running for the entire day.

"What…what do you mean?" I asked, obviously shocked.

"Well obviously these beds were made for more than one person, and seeing how few beds there were, some of us will have to share beds," Ymir said, "so honestly, if anyone wants to share a bed with someone, they would most preferably would share it with someone they know or trust."

"Oh I see," I said, "fine then, but then again, Rayna already is fast asleep."

"Then surprise her," Ymir said, "Honestly if you two have traveled together for a long time as you two said earlier, then you two should already be use to sleeping close by one another."

"I suppose so," I said, "fine then, good night."

(Rayna POV)

When I woke up, I was obviously shocked.

"Kate! What are you doing?" I asked.

"Sleeping, at least until you woke me up," Kate said, "What's wrong?"

"Um…us sharing the same bed, but then again if others are, then can you please stay on your side and keep your clothes on okay?" I asked, tying my hair into a ponytail, "other than that, I'll be fine."

We began today's training, learning to balance midair in order to test it out so we could start using this 3D-Maneuver Gear, whatever it is. The three of us eventually got the hang of it eventually. Other than that, it was basically a normal day for the next two days. After passing the test, we began even harder training. It was okay…I guess; we were surviving to say the least. But… I could say I was enjoying myself, using the 3D-Maneuver Gear was… stunning, it felt like I was actually flying. Even with the hardships Kate and I will have to face, I could never mind it… I got to feel the freedom the birds did, just enough for me to remember it in my heart.

Then one day during training, we were running in the rain carrying a backpack filled with who knows what seeing how we couldn't look through them. It was okay for a while, but soon I was falling behind with Armin.

"You two are falling behind, this isn't a challenge for you two…is it?" Keith asked, easy for him to say, he's riding a horse, "Do you two want to be the only ones to put down your equipment? If this was a real mission, the Titans would have already eaten you two."

Just then Armin and I got help from Reiner and Kate, Reiner was carrying Armin's equipment while Kate was carrying mine.

"Kate what are you doing? You'll get caught, we'll both be in trouble they're testing us," I said.

"So what? You can't drop out from training now, not yet of course," Kate said, "after all, who am I supposed to have help from if you're not around?"

"Why are you even doing this for me?" I asked.

"Because you are the only connection I have to our home remember? No one else from our homeland survived, we are all we have left to remember," Kate said.

She was right, that's why she never tried to leave me. That's why she encouraged me to continue on when we were training in Olympus, why she came with me to Christmas Town when she seemed to have preferred Halloween Town more. Was the reason I was all she had left of home…the reason why she seemed to worry about me? No, I can't live on depending on her; I have to worry for myself when I already have been, except when I was on the 3D-Maneuver Gear; that was the only time I ever felt at ease.

"I can't let you do this Kate," I said grabbing my equipment back, running harder this time no matter how much my lungs and legs were telling me to stop, "I will not become a burden to anyone anymore!"

Our next training mission was to understand how to strike at the Titans and eliminate them, at the nape of their necks was the weakness. We were using the 3D-Gear which was a plus but we were using the blades that came with it not our keyblades, we were at least trying to show some restraint from using them. Once we found two that haven't been used yet, we advanced on them, I was able to cut deep enough to supposedly kill it, while Kate was halfway as Sapphire was somewhere in between. Keith was observing us, taking notes on how we performed, and Kate, Sapphire and I had to do our best.

(Keith POV)

Rayna Kagami, somewhat lacks diligence in her studies, her focus during training increased to prove her worth. Although cold at times to others, when she begins to understand them more, she warms and opens up to them. It will be somewhat challenging for her to go in teams with others she isn't familiar with at the slightest.

Kate Blitz, rebellious at times but thorough in her studies. She seems to forge deep connection with others and although it is never truly possible to determine where she goes, it is impossible to say when her bond with others will break.

Saf Shard, a determined one, seems to enjoy studies while training needs some improvement at the least and oddly timid for some reason. Learning to break out of that shell would help him immensely if he plans to continue on.