3rd POV
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It was finally time. The day the 57th expedition had finally arrived. The scouts were preparing to head for Karaness district while each soldier stood with their respective squad. Once everything was settled and with heavy hearts, the scouts began the trip to the district with more carts than usual, though it was barely questioned as their Commander tended to be unpredictable. The journey to Karaness was as uneventful as it could be, although anxiety and fear were present, everyone managed to keep their wits enough to focus on the road. After crossing the interior of the district under the cheers of the locals which were still strangers to the scouts, they were now in front of the gates to the exterior as the bells echoed in the district, signifying their imminent departure.
Armin's hands tightened around the reins. He was a little nervous about the next moments. he tried to keep a cool head, though the slight trembling of his hands betrayed his attempts as his eyes darted around in hope of distracting him.
"Are you okay...?"
The blond jolts a little before slightly looking to his right, he was met with worried marron eyes.
"Huh...I suppose I am...thanks for asking, Marco." he responded before glancing back toward the giant gate that could seal the fates of some of the scouts around him.
The freckled boy nodded slowly, not really convinced by the answer, though he understood the blond's nervousness. It wasn't as though he wasn't scared either, they all were.
"Were you able to speak with Colith?" Armin inquired suddenly, recalling the main reason why Marco choose the scouts regiment. It has been trotting in his head for a while, and now was the best time to ask since he was done memorizing his role in the squad.
Marco paused for a few seconds before nodding in affirmation, shoulders slightly sagging as a small smile adorned his angelic features. He briefly summarized the events to the blond who hummed in response with a contemplative frown on his face.
Armin was aware that Colith tends to do unexpected things from time to time that sometimes had no logical reasons to be done. Sure, he knew that some of the things she's done in the past ended up being good things but grabbing Marco out of nowhere was one of the things he couldn't comprehend. Was there a specific reason behind that action? Why would she bother with it? Marco said that he was simply trying to get on a nearby roof where he thought to have seen Bertholdt and Reiner talking, though he wasn't able to hear anything since Colith grabbed him. Also, there were no titans around which would've been a good enough motive behind her action, however, there were none, yet she still grabbed him and ran as though she knew something would happen.
His eyes narrowed slightly before his gaze somehow found Reiner and Bertholdt's heads among the scouts. He wondered if it had something to do with these two before brushing that thought off. Perhaps Colith simply grabbed him out of the blue...perhaps. Yet, he had a lingering feeling that there was more to it than he thought...
Speaking of her, Armin's eyes shifted around in search of the woman. He never got to speak with her after the bone-crushing hug she gave him and the others so now he was curious about her whereabouts. His eyes found Eren's head first who seemed to look around in awe with a big smile plastered on his face before they fell on a hooded figure next to the teen. His gaze immediately softened before a look of concern flashed through his eyes.
He noticed how she seemed more tired than usual. Mikasa brought up one evening that she was worried about Colith because she would sometimes pause mid-sentence, eyes glazed over before snapping out of it and ask what they were talking about.
The blond chewed on his lip, no longer dreading the expedition for his worries were instead directed to the woman, but it was too late to do anything and she seemed well enough when she handed them the necklaces earlier. Now that he mentions it. Armin discreetly pulled the jewel to eye level. It was a simple gold chain with a black gemstone embedded in the middle as a pendant he's sure to have never seen before.
"it's a good luck charm, don't lose it!"
The boy pressed his lips in a thin line before safely tucking it under his shirt anyway. He may not know the reason why she just decided to give it him but it came from Colith, so he might as well keep it.
Before he could dive into more thoughts, Armin was startled into focus when someone shouted that the gate would open in 30 seconds which was enough to bring an immense feeling of unease and trepidation to the boy.
"This is it! The day has come for humanity to make another step forward! Now let's show those titans what we're made of!"
The declaration was quickly followed by a set of loud roars of resolutions.
"Open the gate!"
Again, it was instantly followed by the noise of the mechanism charged to rise the only shield separating them from the outside. Every second became more and more stressful given the rise of the gate until its complete opening.
Armin gulped.
"FORWARD!"
The Commander roared, his white horse neighing as he was the first to move, the others following right after as the rumbling of hooves resounded throughout the district.
"IT'S OFFICIALLY BEGUN! THE 57TH RECON MISSION! SCOUTS, MOVE OUT!"
There was no turning back aye...?
As the scouts began their advances through the abandoned town situated in front of them, it was known that the perimeter tended to be filled with titans that might immediately try and target the convoy before they could deploy the long-distance enemy scouting formation. It was often at this very moment that the support team came into action.
"AHEAD TO THE LEFT! A 10-METER CLASS!" Hanji shouted after Mike's warning and true to her words, a giant round figure was approaching them. She exchanged a quick look with the Commander who remained silent before her eyes shone as they returned to the titan, "I am very interested in seeing what's inside its stomach, but I'll leave this to the support team!"
Two scouts shot off toward the titan, one serving as a distraction while the other headed straight for its nape. However, he missed, the cut too shallow to kill the giant whose eyes followed the flying man who attempted to kill it, an affronted expression morphing on its features before it tried to grab him.
Sasha let out a squeak of terror at the sight before her squad leader forcefully turned her head back to the road ahead.
"Stay strong! Let the support team deal with it and keep going!" he instructed, probably used to those kinds of situations as a veteran.
While the two soldiers were taking care of the titan who suddenly lost interest in them and walked away to some of the scouts' surprise, somewhere else in the formation...Eren seemed a bit worried. He was glancing around, stopping on some of his squad member's focused faces, before his ears caught up a humming sound which promptly caused him to glance to his left where Colith was riding her mare. It sounded vaguely like some type of...anthem. How she could sing in this situation was beyond him, though he called for her.
"say Colith..."
"what's up kid?" she perked up, interrupting her song to Petra's dismay who had been enjoying the tune so far.
The boy threw a little glance behind him before directing his attention to the hooded woman. "You think the others're ready? You think they'll manage and beat the titans?"
The question seemed to have caught the woman off guard who reacted as though she wasn't expecting him to ask her that. The others kept their ears open to listen, although their eyes remained on the road while Colith quickly regained her composure as a hum left her lips.
"What about you?"
Eren made a confused sound. "about me?"
"think you're ready?"
Eren's brows furrowed a little as he pondered. Was he...ready? "I think...?" he said.
Colith snorted at his response, her eyes returning forward. "Then you have your answer. It's not like we didn't train for an entire month for this. Also, don't forget that fighting titans isn't the top priority here, right Bootleg?"
Oluo jolted at being suddenly addressed before he fumed "STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
"I don't think I will."
He grumbled before directing a scowl toward Eren, his superior look adorning his face halfway. "Like the witch said, the most crucial part of an expedition is about avoiding engaging ti-" the poor fellow bit his tongue before he could finish his sentence which brought a chuckle out of Colith who passed a tissue to Eren so he could give it to Oluo since he was in the middle.
They quickly focused on their mission when they heard the Commander shout.
"GO INTO LONG-RANGE SCOUTING FORMATION!
The convoy swiftly spread throughout the area in a semi-circle while staying within visual range from each other to facilitate the relay of messages. This formation was set on avoiding contact with as many titans as possible to make sure that the casualties remained at the lowest. It is primarily the forward recon squad that will encounter titans, and as soon as one is in sight, they'll fire a red smoke round to warn the Commander who will by default fire a green smoke round to change the formation's trajectory and thus avoiding contact with the threat.
However, due to terrain or obstacles, it happens that a titan won't be detected until it's within the formation.
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Sasha nearly had a heart attack when she was suddenly targeted by a crawler that promptly began chasing her. She released a terrified squawk as she realized that the thing was hot on her trails.
"Red... Red...Red flare-AGH!" she dropped the flare. Her eyes watered immediately.
'FUCK'
Sasha hated her life.
WHY ON EARTH DID SHE CHOOSE THE SCOUTS AGAIN?!
...
Right, Colith's cooking.
The girl nearly choked when she felt its heavy breathing right behind her and proceeded to release a squeak of despair. She began chanting to her horse to freaking go faster, promising to shower it with carrots if they somehow got out of this. Strangely, the horse's sped up after hearing 'carrots'.
"Sasha!"
"Braus! Over here!"
Thankfully, Mina had been ordered to fire the red flare in her stead.
The titan's beady brown eyes followed the signal as it went up before it changed its course. The two veterans and recruits alike's mouths fell agape, baffled as they watched the titan crawl away from the formation as though it was no longer interested in the cadet.
Now they weren't expecting that.
Sasha's squad members exchanged bewildered looks, honestly at a loss of words.
"What the hell just happened?"
The older-looking one blinked out of his stupor and glanced at his comrade with a puzzled look. "huh...deviant?".
He couldn't agree more with him. Both then glanced toward the remaining recruit, Mina who was as equally lost as them before their gazes returned to the trembling food enthusiast who looked like she was about to melt into a puddle of fear at any second. Then again they couldn't exactly fault her.
The elder of the bunch shook his head and yelled "... Be more careful, Braus! Let's get back to the formation!"
Sasha's wide eyes quickly left the deviant's disappearing figure in the distance. "Y-YES! O-OF COURSE SIR...!" She hastily urged her horse toward them as they resumed their gallop. Making sure to remain as close as possible to her superiors and friend. Hell no she wasn't reliving this again! She'd rather die!...Wait no-
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Armin was panicking. No, panic was an understatement for what he felt at the moment, he was utterly terrified! He just witnessed two squad members getting annihilated by a deviant he was strongly encouraged to believe to be sentient. Scratch that, that thing was definitely like Colith and Eren! He was certain!
'An enemy shifter! Who could it be?!' he inwardly cried before stealing a glance toward the thing in hope of finding a clue on their identity, but the shadows cast on the titan's face and the utter fear he was feeling for his life made it difficult for him to discern its features.
"WHAT DO WE DO, ARMIN?!" Marco cried out next to him in distress, shaken by what he just witnessed seconds ago as he held tightly onto his horse reins. Their superiors had ordered them to continue with the formation while they took care of the female-looking deviant currently running toward them. And it was fast! "S-SHOULD WE-"
"NO! THAT'S NO ORDINARY TITAN! DIDN'T YOU SEE HOW SHE EASILY KILLED THEM?! SHE ISN'T AIMING TO EAT!"
And that was enough for it to click in the freckled boy's head. A horrified expression immediately morphed onto his features at the realization. "a...a shifter...?"
The blond wanted to cry.
Despite being the only shifters the boy knew to this day, Colith and Eren held a bit of resemblance to their titan form so maybe...maybe he might recognize the person controlling this one? Also, Colith pointed out that shifters were easily recognizable due to strange features only seen on them which sets them apart from the normal titans. Either it had been because they didn't know much about the titans at the time but her reasoning, until proven otherwise made a lot of sense actually.
'Like the armored titan and colossal titan...!'
Unfortunately, the teen never had the chance to see their faces more closely, perhaps that would have given him an idea on their identity...?
Armin nearly shrieked in horror when he noticed how close the titan was to them. Not knowing what to do and really scared for his and Marco's lives, he released the spare horse he was leading and urged Marco to do the same to maybe gain more speed and outrun it. The poor things nearly got crushed by the titan's feet, though they managed to wander elsewhere in different directions to both boys' relief. Unfortunately, the relief was for short notice because they saw their entire lives flash before their eyes when they registered a bit too late the giant appendages currently heading their way.
There was no way in hell they would survive that...!
'I'LL GET KI-'/ 'HOLY-'
Armin instinctively closed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the inevitable bone-crushing impact only to release a shocked yelp when he was swept up from his horse. While poor Marco nearly got crushed by the titan's foot. The impact caused the boy to fall from his horse, dismantling his equipment as he rolled on a few meters in the process. Both their horses ran off in fear, leaving the two boys at the titans' mercy and unable to flee.
The blond froze in terror, blinking quickly as his overwhelmed brain registered himself being lifted by the titan before the creature brought him at eye level and proceeded to just...stare at him. He could vaguely hear Marco's panicked yells in the background as he hastened to put his ODM gear in a desperate attempt to aid his friend.
Armin's eyes were blown wide in fright, heart rate and breathing quickening at an alarming speed from the impending danger he was currently facing as they stared at each other in silence. He doesn't know how long the staring contest lasted between them but his instincts were screaming at him to NOT utter a single word, otherwise, the thing might just decide to crush him and continue on its way to who knows where.
A giant pair of icy blue eyes peered intently into fearful baby blue for what seemed like hours before the titan resumed its jog. With Armin now in its hand.
What.
"ARMIN...!" Marco shrieked out in despair, his arm outstretched in a desperate attempt to reach the blond as tears welled up in his eyes.
This was truly a disaster.
It is under a bright sun that the special operations squad continues their advance throughout verdant plains. Until then, nothing had hindered their progress, no complication, no encounter with titans, their pace remained unperturbed, and they even got to chat in the past hours like Eld, Gunther and Petra asking if Colith was familiar with these parts of the area before gaping like fishes when the woman answered that her house was actually situated somewhere outside Wall Maria, and mentioned that the place might need some cleaning, which of course caught the corporal's interest. All in all, that's how calm things were. Then again, they were in the most secure part of the formation, unless a random event occurred-
"Green flares." the corporal noted. "Oluo, you fire it."
"Yes, sir!" he replied with enthusiasm and quickly did as ordered.
"Simp."
"Like you're one to talk."
"Shut up Eren."
Somehow, Oluo's ears choose not to acknowledge her comment, though Gunther was curious about the foreign term and asked about it to which Colith said she'd explain later, having noticed the distressed horseman heading their way.
"Reporting! Message to pass along!" they all glanced at the newcomer in expectation. Eren's grip on the reins tightened a bit. A wave of uneasiness washed over him. Surely, nothing bad happened right...? "The right flank recon has been destroyed!"
Eren's heart stopped for a millisecond.
"Our recon system is partially inoperative. Please pass this on to the left!" with that, the man returned to his squad, leaving flabbergasted soldiers to briefly ponder on the news before the corporal, as stoic as always ordered Petra to relay the message.
'The right flank...Wasn't that...where Armin is...?'
No...no surely he heard wrong right? Maybe...just maybe Armin was safe, there's no way something happened to him. He tentatively glanced toward Colith to see her reaction, expecting worry or anguish or even panic since he knew how much the woman was protective of them only to freeze in shock.
S-She was spacing out?!
How could she- 'did she even hear what the guy said?!' Could it be that she was having one of her episodes? Right now?!
Before he could address it though, he caught sight of something from the corner of his eye and hastily glanced toward it. Of course, he knew what those meant, otherwise his heart wouldn't be currently flipping in his chest.
"Black flares?! deviants?!" he cried out in shock.
"Eren, you fire it!" Levi ordered the boy.
"Huh? R-right!" He did so very quickly. The situation was beginning to go south and Eren didn't like it one bit. Also, Colith's lack of reaction was honestly beginning to freak him out! His eyes immediately found the woman once again before jolting in surprise at her voice.
"Ah don't worry he'll be fine."
"Huh?" Eren blinked and threw a glance toward Colith. Golden eyes had lost their glazed-out appearance, now more attentive than earlier.
"Armin I mean." so she heard... "Kid's resourceful as hell." she shook her head before grinning widely at him, her hood still covering her head ever since their departure. "I'm sure he's okay, so stop worrying would ya? And don't forget what you're wearing on your neck." with that, her eyes returned to the road ahead, done with talking for now.
Ah yes...The necklace. He almost forgot about it, though he still had no idea why she handed him one or what it did. It goes without saying that Eren was truly lost. Could it be that they were meant for something? Huh...
He glanced back at the fading black smokes.
He just hoped everyone was alright.
"A deviant?!" a random soldier gasped after witnessing a female-looking titan slap into one of his comrades, effectively sending him flying from the impact, only leaving his horse intact.
"This far in?!" another one shouted. There was no way anyone could survive that...! He inwardly shuddered before gritting his teeth in anger. "We must stop it!"
"D-Don't let it get any farther!" they hastily headed for the 14-meter class who just stood in the distance, staring at them dispassionately as blond strand of hair cast shadows onto the giant woman's face.
'...Almost.'
Armin was confused. Okay, he was very very confused. Now hear him out-
First of all, why was he still alive? After being carried like one of Mikasa's old dolls Eren accidentally decapitated for who knows how long, the motion sickness he had experienced during that time almost caused him to barf, though he held it in since it would've been impolite to empty his stomach on the titan's fingers. Don't ask him why that's the first thought he had, Colith raised him well- anyway, he was now certain that the person controlling that titan knew him, otherwise, it wouldn't have grabbed him out of anywhere, run for a while before placing him on some tree before resuming its sprint after petting his head. Now why it did all this was a mystery to the teen but he didn't care. He was alive. Hooray. He was quickly found by Reiner, Jean, and a worried sick Marco who immediately assaulted him with questions, having somehow witnessed the strange interaction from afar. Reiner had seemed the most unsettled over the matter for some reason.
Regardless, they still engaged the female titan, set on eliminating her- by Maria, he couldn't have been gladder for Colith's impromptu training sessions than at this moment- though they still lost, the titan being faster, smaller and far more resourceful which was enough to throw them off, only used to Colith's titan.
Also, it was just the four of them against a shifter which in itself was already a lost cause, plus Marco's equipment malfunctioned halfway through the one-sided battle which alone could've signified the freckled boy's demise. Yet, the fact that it wasn't as ruthless with them as it was with his superiors was a huge proof that whoever was in this titan knew them because it merely swatted Jean like a fly, barely kicked Marco to oblivion, and almost crushed Reiner to death. Okay, that one was a little bit excessive, he won't lie but they all survived! Point is, they definitely knew each other. Now he just needed his brain to remember who it was exactly, also why did it suddenly change its course-
"Alright. Listen up, recruits! We will now make preparations to launch a counterattack! Now draw your blades and wait above in the threes! If any titans tires to enter this forest, stop them at all cost!"
"U-um, sir what-" Jean attempted to say but the veteran had none of it.
"Just shut up and follow orders!" he snapped, flying up to a three without sparing them another glance.
"Seriously what the hell is going on...?" Jean complained as a frown marred his face while the others simply exchanged concerned looks before doing as they were ordered. He jolted in surprise when Marco patted his shoulder in comfort as he shot off to a tree. Of course, he followed suit. He wasn't crazy enough to just stand down here like a suicidal moron.
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Meanwhile, Mikasa and Connie were discussing the sudden change in the formation, though the girl's focus wasn't entirely on the discussion. She was worried sick for her family and was really tempted to go find them. But Colith's words echoed in her head and she couldn't help the little scowl from surfacing on her face.
"Just follow orders Mika! Don't worry, everything's gonna be okay! I promise!"
One hand came clutching the necklace underneath her cloak, an action Connie noticed and mimicked with a confused noise.
He pulled the thing out to look at it before glancing at the girl. "Say Mikasa, what's this for anyway? Not that I don't like it but I'm not my mom." he attempted to lighten up the mood a little. "How much d'you think it's worth tho?"
The girl ignored the joke as she shook her head, "I don't know. Just make sure not to lose it, Colith must've put a lot of effort just to make these for everyone."
Connie sweat dropped at the placid answer. Then again, Mikasa wasn't known to like chatting for a long period unless it concerned Eren, Armin, and Colith though he still listened and tucked the jewel safely under his shirt. " uh...then I guess I'll keep it..." he mutters.
Mikasa smiled a little. She had complete faith in the woman. There must be a reason why she gave these strange necklaces to everyone even though some weren't tempted to wear them but did it anyway because their favorite cook was the one who personally gave it to them.
She let out a sigh as a warm sensation enveloped her as though she was receiving an embrace before the feeling vanished as soon as it came.
With newfound determination, the girl's gaze focused on the road.
'I trust you Colith...'