Chapter 6

Winter Troubles

It was winter now since Kara joined the Cadets and she was doing well in her classes. She became close with Sasha, Conny, Jean, and Marco as training continued. Jean and her got into banters a few times a day but not as physical as he gets with Eren. Marco and Kara were usually the ones breaking the two apart. Kara spent her days off visiting her father or with Jean, Sasha, and Conny.

It was a blizzard as they trudged through the snow. Kara had her hood up and face shield on. It was a surval mission to make it to the other side of the mountain. She was stuck with Jean and Marco. Marco was leading their little group. Kara shivered at the cold. She had packed layers on undernearth her coat to keep warm, but the cold had numbed her checks. She tripped and nearly fell when a hand grabbed hers and pulled her back.

"Hey. Take it easy." Jean said. Kara didn't like Jean at first, but now the two were good friends. Marco was ahead of them. He kept his hand in hers to keep her steady.

"Its cold." Kara said. Jean felt her shiver through her gloved hand.

"We're almost to the spot, pipsqueak. I think we're all cold." Jean said. Kara nodded.

"Come on you two. We can't be slowing down. We are almost there and we don't need to be iceicles." Marco called. Jeann squeezed her hand as they walked. He stayed close to her. Of the two boys she was still the smallest and both had been protective of her even though she had the highest of the three in the class. She seemed closer to Jean then Marco at times. They trudged through the snow. The wind bit their skin. Kara's hood came down and her long hair whipped in the wind. Kara let go of Jean's hand and pulled it back up.

"Damn it. We there yet?" Jean asked.

"We are nearing the bottom. So it shouldn't be farther." Marco said. They continued walking. Jean's hand had found Kara's and brought her close to his side as she continued to shiver. His body heat helped a bit from the cold.

It felt like hours as the snow made it hard to trudge through the snow. But they finally saw the cabins and others approaching them. Kara sighed in relief.

'We made it.' Kara thought.

"Come on! Your're almost there!" A female instructor called. There were othe people already there. Jean squeezed Kara's hand and let it go. "Keep it up!"

"Nine hours, twelve minutes. Not bad given the conditions you had to trudge through." Male insctructor said.

"That didn't feel like nine hours." Kara said. Jean chuckled as Kara fell onto her butt and leaned against the fence. They weren't allowed in the cabins till everyone was accounted for. Kara was worried some were still out there. Jean sat next to her. Sasha and Conny joined them. Eren and Mikasa were sitting near them.

"Thought we were dead out there." Conny said.

"Damnit. Nobody said training was gonna be this rough." Eren said.

"Father warned me it be rough, but I didn't expect him to be right." Kara said.

"Anyone else not feel their legs?" Jean asked.

"Me." Kara said.

"Same." Sasha said. Conny sighed.

"Why don't they let us inside already?" Conny asked. Kara pulled down her hood as she leaned her head against the fence and lifted her face to the sky. Snowflakes hit her face. Jean watched her.

"I bet they're busy laying out a massive banquet for us as we speak." Sasha said. Kara rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Reiner called. Kara saw Reiner heading towards them. "You guys seen Christa?"

"Huh?" Eren asked.

"Not for awhile. She was with Daz and he wasn't doing so good." Mikasa said.

"Yeah, well he's not here. Ymir isn't back yet either." Reiner said.

"Shit. Their still out there." Kara said.

"They're probably mixed in with the last squad." Marco said.

"That's just it. Thomas was leading the last squad. Says they never saw them." Reiner said. Everyone gasped.

"Whoa. Hold on. Do you think they're lost?" Armin asked.

"If they get stuck out there in this snowstorm, they're done for." Kara said. Eren grit his teeth and stood up.

"Son of a.." Mikasa grabbed Eren.

"Eren." Mikasa said.

"I have to go back out there and try to find them!" Eren said.

"I'm with you." Marco said. Kara stood up.

"So am I." Kara said.

"In the cabin. Now!" The female instructor said, heading their way.

"But Christa and.." Eren started.

"We know. A rescue team will be sent out at first light." The Female Instructor said.

"They'll have frozen to death by then." Kara said.

"Do you want more people to die?" The Female Instructor asked. Athena's eyes widen and she pulled her jacket close as the wind picked up. Jean put a hand on her shoulder.

"Its not worth the risk, pipsqueak. Both are strong, they will be fine." Jean said. Kara nodded.

"Damnit." Eren growled. Kara followed others into the cabins as the wind started to pick up. Warm coffee mugs were waiting for all of them as Kara pulled off her jackets. It was nice a cozy in the cabins. Eren was not fully there, worried for Christa. Kara worried for the girls and Daz as well. Jean was sitting by the fire as he warmed up as Kara grabbed two mugs for them. She walked towards Jean.

"Want one?" Kara asked. Jean grinned and took one as she sat down next to him. Marco joined them, sitting across from them.

"Looks like they are the only ones missing right now." Marco said. Kara looked out the window as she took a sip of her drink. Jean leaned his head back. Marco watched the two. The two were close. Yeah they bickered here and there, but if one needed help the other was there to help.

"I hope their okay." Kara said.

"Christa is with Ymir. She'll be fine. Ymir won't let anything happen to Christa." Jean said. Kara knew he was right. Ymir was the strongest of the two girls.

Few hours later. The storm had seemed to calm down. Kara was helping with some of the people that came in frozen. Eren, Reiner, Marco, Bertholdt, Conny, Sasha, Mikasa, and Armin disappear. Jean was leaning against the wall as she came over.

"Where did the others go?" Kara asked.

"Storm is letting up. They are gonna go find the others." Jean said.

"You should go to." Kara said. Jean shook his head.

"I'm good with staying out of that storm. I'm starting to feel my legs." Jean said. Kara rolled her eyes.

"I'm gonna go help." Kara went to the door but Reiner came in carrying Daz and Ymir right behind them. "Daz."

"He's frozen. Lets get him some blankets." Reiner said. Kara ran to grab some as Jean helped Reiner get Daz to sit. Ymir looked uncomfortable, but no sign of Christa.

'Where is she?' Kara though as she wrapped the blankets around Daz as Mikasa handed him a mug of coffee. Jean grabbed Eren by the collar.

"Jean!" Kara yelled.

"Where is Christa?! Why you bring back just Ymir and Daz." Jean shouted. Kara ran towards Jean and pulled him back with Marco's help.

"Because she was not with Ymir and Daz." Eren said. Ymir had disappeared. Kara worried about Christa. Christa like her was small.

"Shit." Jean swore.

"Jean." Kara said. Jean looked at her. She looked up at him as she still held his arm from attacking Eren. "I'm sure she'll show up. Stop worrying. Let's get Daz warm." Kara let go of his arm and went to Daz. Daz had finally stopped shivering and was drinking the coffee. Ymir came in with Christa and Kara sighed in relief. Jean stood with his arms crossed.

'Something doesn't feel right. Why would Ymir leave Christa and bring Daz. Something is fishy.' Jean thought. Kara had Ymir and Christa wrapped in blankets and mugs of coffee in their hands. Ymir seemed relax and Christa was just Christa. Kara felt eyes on them and looked up to see Jean staring at them with a look that he was thinking something wasn't right. Kara was just happy Christa, Ymir, and Daz were alright.

AN: I know short, but wanted to show some closeness with Jean and Kara. They will get close as the chapters go. Till next time.