Three years ago
"You've really got the hang of stalking your prey, Elijah. I guess your mother really was a hunter, huh?"
I smile. Feeling glad that Sasha actually meant it that she wanted to make hunting together a regular thing. Just being out here like this reminds me of home. Not in a bad way, but more in a nostalgic way. I'm just happy to be doing this sort of thing with someone I can relate to. "Yeah. My Mother taught me everything I know."
Sasha smiles back. "She must've been a really good hunter. Though, you still need to master the art of sensing when prey is out there. I can see that you think too much, but it's more of a feeling than anything else. I don't know if I can really explain it." I can't help but chuckle at this whole thing. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. The way you say that just reminds me of her, you know?"
She giggles. "Really? What was she like as a hunter?"
"My mother was more of a lone wolf when it came to a hunt, but sometimes she brought her 'little cub' with her." I point at myself. Causing Sasha to laugh even more.
"She used to call you that?"
"Only on our hunting trips, I didn't mind it. It wasn't as bad as my other-" I cover my mouth. Hoping she won't pry on what I was about to say. Unfortunately, Sasha's learned to read me like a novel. She smirks at me as she puts two and two together.
"Oh? She had another nickname for you? What was it?"
"... 'My sweet boy.'" I look away from Sasha, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I never told anyone this before, not even Eren, Armin, or Mikasa. So why am I telling Sasha of all people? What she did next took me a little off guard though. Instead of laughing like I thought she would... Sasha just smiles at me.
"Sounds like she really loved you, Elijah."
I smile back. "She did." Before I get in too deep with my feelings. I decided to change the subject. "What about you, Sasha? What's your village like?"
"Oh... The people of my village have been hunters for generations. I just kind of learned everything when I was a kid. It just came to me."
"That's really cool how it's been passed down. It's important to keep traditions alive."
"You bet it is! Huntin' was our forefathers' way of life back in the day. It's how our village survived. ...Oh!"
What was that? I've never heard Sasha talk like that before. It's kind of how my mother used to talk when I was a kid. Why was it...kind of cute? Though Sasha looks... embarrassed? "Are you okay, Sasha?"
The girl just turns away from me, barely looking at me as she scratches the back of her head. "Um... I-I think we should be getting back before it gets dark. We were so wrapped up in the hunt that we didn't notice how late it's gotten, huh, Elijah? Haha..."
Myself who's still confused yet curious. "Is that how everyone in your village speaks?"
Sasha looked away from me again, but not before I saw a faint color of red grow on her cheeks. "Sorry? What? I just got my words mixed up, that's all." She's acting a little weird about this. "We better hurry. It really will be dark soon." She starts to make her way out of the forest, leaving me more confused.
"Yeah...let's head back."
Present Day
"Alright, rookie, we've warned this village of the Titans. Good work."
I nod to the Scout I joined to warn one of the villages of the breach in Wall Rose and the Titans that came out of it. Luckily, the Titans were not present in the area, so we got here in time. It makes me jealous that these villagers get a warning, but when it mattered years ago... No, I shouldn't think like this. Yes, I am jealous, but whenever I look upon a child's face, it sparks a glow in my heart that says I can do for the, what wasn't done for me. They won't have to experience the Hell I am going through with the loss of my family, at least not today.
The Scout points away to the village. "I'll stay here and look after things. You continue to the other villages, got that?"
"Yes, sir." Already on my horse, it was a quick escape from the evacuating village. I continue heading to the north, wondering if I can catch up with Sasha. Her village is in this area. Please be okay out there, Sasha.
Sasha
"See that? That's the Village!"
"Is that the last one?"
"No! My village is deep in the forest! I'll go there alone!"
The Scout beside her grunts in worry, but nonetheless he says nothing to sway her mind otherwise. "All right! Leave this village to me!"
"Got it!" The Scout splits off from Sasha as she rides deeper into the woods. Despite the situation being rather tame, something didn't settle right with Sasha. Sure, there were no signs of Titans anywhere and the breach is hypothesized to be to the south, but that's hopeful wishing. Even with all the signs telling her everything is okay, Sasha Sasha has been through enough to tell herself otherwise. Even without her gear or with a Scout with gear equipped...or him, Sasha is prepared to enter hell should it be there.
Father, please be okay... It is at this time when one is mostly focused on a task, that memories of the past show up. Sasha recalls a time close to three years ago, two years after the fall of Wall Maria but not quite close to her recruitment when Sasha and her father had a discussion in which he gave her very valuable words.
Three years ago
"Hey! Quit it, Sasha!" Her father did his best to take the meat from Sasha's mouth while not attempting to hurt her, but Sasha equally fought back. She growls like a wild animal as she attempts to rip apart through the meat. "Sasha! You been nabbin' snacks again?! Stop! Spit it out! Get it out of yer mouth! We fixin' to smoke that for the winter, ya moron!"
Sasha unintentionally spits out the meat, watching it land on the ground. Her father steps in front of her, preventing her from picking it up. However, her desire for food provides her with strength as she pushes her old man aside and picks up the meat.
"You damn dumb girl! Fine! Have it yer way..." The elder Braus releases his daughter and walks to his cabin. "Dagnabbit." Sasha momentarily ceases her animalistic eating and watches her father curiously. Fearing his return, she runs behind a nearby tree, watching her old man from behind as he takes off his hat to wipe his forehead. "Sasha. Have you asked yourself why the world is a-changin'? Why these past few years the forest been shrinkin' and game harder to find? Have you ever thunk about it?"
Sasha angrily knows the answer. She slurps the meat in her mouth before answering her father. "It's 'cause more people been comin' and taking food from the forest. That's why I'm hungry."
"That's true. But hey... They lost their homes and got no place to go. They got no other choice."
"Their fault for losing it. They oughta leave ours."
"Titans took it from 'em. They knocked a hole straight through Wall Maria. Where else can they go? You can feed a helluva lot more people by clearin' the forest and plantin' grain." He looks at the discarded bow and arrow lying beside a tree stump. "Maybe it's time for our family to let go of the forest and give up huntin' for good. The government said they would pay us. Every horse that we raise is money in our pockets."
"You gotta be kidding!" Sasha steps out from behind the tree, furious that her father would suggest giving up their way of life for money. "If we give up huntin', we givin' up who we are! Why should we give a hoot about the people who make fun of out lifestyle?"
"I'll tell ya why..." Sasha's father stands, looking at her under the brim of his hat. "It's because...we're all part of the same world. We humans... We've always been pack animals. Sure, we all live our different ways. But when space is short, we gotta join the group and do what's best to-"
"No! I refuse! We've lived here all our lives, just like the way our ancestors taught us! We don't owe anything to any outsiders!"
Sasha's father, having taken a few steps away to Sasha's right, looks back at her. With a sigh, he looks away, nodding. "I see... So be it." He looks up in the clearing, seeing birds circle the trees underneath the light blue and white sky. "Ya can live here in the forest, along with the others who think the same. But Sasha... Are ya willin' to die for that choice? No matter what trouble comes yer way, ya can't go beggin' for help. If you're not there for them, don't expect them to be there for you. I'm willin' to give up our traditions if it means I can live with my family. Goes to show our world's connected, whether you like it or not. Sasha. Are you that much of a scaredy-cat? is it that hard for you to leave this forest behind and get along with others?"
Present
Now close to her village, Sasha looks for any signs of life, whether it be human or Titan. She rushes as fast as she can through the woods. "It's been three years since I've been back. Surely he realized something was amiss and fled." Sasha looks to the ground for a moment, gasping as she sees a prominent depression in the road shaped like a foot. One very large foot. It can't be! Way out here? They've already come this far?!"
She snaps the reins of her horse to rush it along the road. She should be close now. "This place isn't safe for people anymore. If there are Titans around... I should've brought other Scouts. I should've brought him." She sighs at her lack of foresight as she comes out of the clearing of the woods. Back to a mostly cut plain, Sasha looks up and gasps as she looks at her surroundings. She knew she was in the right direction, but the location...was unfamiliar. "What's that? A new village?"
Sasha spurs her horse onwards, leaping across the raised bridge to the entrance to the village. It's quiet, too quiet. Initially, she fears the worst, but upon further inspection, it's a clean kind of quiet. No destruction, no blood spatters, not a single dead body around. The normal Titans, if they indeed came here, are intelligent enough to navigate, so they wouldn't walk into a building. No human remains mean no Titans are here and the people got away safely. Sasha sighs in relief, there's nothing to worry about.
Until she hears the sound of meat being chewed.
Leaping off her horse, she confronts the house where she hears the noises coming from. Within, she immediately spots a three-meter Titan bent over, possibly consuming its victim, but it hasn't noticed her. A second set of noises, a gasp, is from a female human...the Titan's victim. She's being eaten alive, slowly. Picking up an axe left on a tree stump in the front yard, Sasha slowly makes her way into the house. Raising it, she cries out as she swings for the Titan's nape over and over again. However, the ax doesn't cut deep enough to totally destroy the nape of the Titan, too preoccupied with its meal to care about Sasha.
Damn! If I don't slice it off, it'll just heal back up! Sasha swung back too forcefully, instantly losing grip of the axe as it flew and stuck to the ceiling. "Ahh!" She isn't going to be able to save this woman. Stepping back, she turns to her right, spotting a young girl watching Sasha. "A child?" Knowing what she needs to do, Sasha walks towards the child, holding back her guilt of not being able to save the still-conscious mother. "I'm so sorry..."
She grabs the child's arm and runs out of the house with haste back to the horse. She looks at the child in the pink dress, her eyes filled with so much shock that it's unreal how she's moving. "What's your name?" No answer. Sasha figures it isn't that important right now as they get to the horse, hurriedly untying the animal's reins. "Don't worry. It'll be okay."
"What will?"
The girl's speech and defeated tone surprised Sasha"Huh? What? I mean… Um…" The horse's snort alerts Sasha, who is already beginning to panic herself. She's not used to being the rescuer. "Steady... Steady... Um, you see... Huh?" The now-freed horse rushes off, ditching Sasha and the girl for its own life.
"AAAHHH! You're kidding me! Hey! Please wait for us!" She tries whistling for the horse, but it fails to work. Trying to regain some calm, she turns to the girl again. "There's no need to worry. Please stay calm. It'll come right back." I hope!
"Why are you so nice when you talk?"
"What?" Before she can ask what the girl means, a thunder-like boom in front of Sasha scares her, the result of the Titan rising up and trying to exit the house. Freaking out but still trying to hold her composure, Sasha quickly looks around for something to aid her, spotting a bow and a few arrows on a crate. "Run away from here! It'll be okay!" she says as she grabs the weapon and the girl, sprinting towards the bridge away from their Titan pursuer.
"Why? Everyone already left. The whole village knew my mother's legs were bad. But not a single person came to help. All I could do was watch."
"When the Colossal Titan destroyed the Wall, all I could do was run. Everyone did...for all different reasons. I ran for my family, as did Eren, but some... They didn't care about anyone but themselves. Either too afraid or too stupid to care only about themselves. Do I blame them? No...it's in our nature to protect yourself when fear takes over. But to protect other's lives above your own takes not only control over that fear...but it also takes a noble heart. My Mother...she was brave until the very end...giving her own life for the sake of her son. That was a true mother's love. Unfortunately... Not many, that day, had such control."
Why now...of all times? Why am I remembering him? They reach the bridge, Sasha throwing the bow and arrows up first, then the young girl. She turns around to see the Titan slowly approach her, then nearly loses her footing as part of the bridge under her foot breaks. However, Sasha manages to pull herself up, grab her weapons, and catch up with the girl. The Titan, not as resourceful as Sasha, slips as its foot enters the hole and creates a bigger one, but it manages to hold itself up. But its struggle to get up on the bridge is beneficial to Sasha and the girl as the distance is created between humans and Titan. "It'll be okay!" It's okay.
Years ago...
"You're really starting to tick me off." Sasha turns from the well to the pair of girls that approach her, Ymir and Christa. She looks to Ymir, the one who apparently Sasha is ticking off. "That stupid way you talk politely to everyone. Why don't you talk to other cadets like normal?"
Sasha fingers her cheek. "Um... Well, you see..."
"Wait. Let me guess. You're embarrassed by the way people sound from your village." Ymir leans forward, causing Sasha to tense up as she knowingly smiles. "Bulls-eye? I'm surprised an idiot like you cares so much. You can't do anything but hunt, and you're afraid of people, to top it off. I bet you don't have a single good reason for aiming to become a soldier. Your parents probably-"
Christa looks up to Ymir, having enough of the taller girl's taunting. "Stop it, Ymir! You're being-"
"Sasha!" Ymir bumps into Christa to shut her up and then stares seriously at Sasha. "You gonna care what other people think and be someone you're not your whole life? What a crock of shit. You're fine as is, so talk in your own words for crying out loud."
Sasha relaxes, feeling blood rush to her face as she considers Ymir's harsh advice. "T-Thank you...very much."
"Really?"
"I'm...sorry. I'm not...yet..."
"Cut it out!" Christa bumps back against Ymir, which, given her small size, is quite hilarious. "There's nothing wrong with the way she talks! Sasha is who Sasha wants to be. Her words will always be her own. And I happen to like her."
Ymir scoffs. "Hmph! Have it your way. Still, even if she changed the way she talks, it won't change the fact she's annoying."
"You know, not everyone is as insensitive as you."
"Excuse me? You little... You little..." Sasha lets out a hearty laugh at their bickering. "Hey! What are you laughing at?!"
"Ah! I'm sorry..."
"Hey..."
"Oh... It's you." Sasha, now sitting on the steps to the mess hall, scoots over as Elijah joins her as the moon rises over the trees. She was thinking about her earlier conversation with Ymir and Christa when Elijah suddenly appeared to put her mind at ease. "What do you want now?"
"Well, you shouldn't care what other people think of how you speak."
"Oh... You're talking about my accent, aren't you? I guess you were speaking to Christa and Ymir, huh?"
The boy shakes his head. "No, not really. I mean, they said something, but I remember back in the woods, you spoke differently when you talked about your village. You don't have to talk about it though."
Sasha sighs. "Well, I might as well explain now, seeing as you know. Ymir's right. I'm embarrassed by my accent. And I spent all my life up to now in the village, so hunting is all I know. That's why I tend to keep my distance... But the truth is, I really want to be better friends with everyone. And...you're the only one I really consider a friend right now..."
Elijah looks away for a moment, thinking what he can say to put her at ease. Then it hits him. The boy smiles when he looks back at Sasha. "You're not the only one who's embarrassed by something they hide."
"What do you mean?"
Elijah looks around, making sure no one hears what he's about to whisper to her. "I still remember my mother's lullaby from when I was a kid."
Sasha, nearly laughing, smiles at Elijah. "Aww, that's really cute actually!"
The boy's cheeks show a slight tint of red as he rolls his eyes. "Whatever."
"Can you sing it?"
"What?!"
"I want to hear it."
Elijah, now more red, looks down at the ground but begins to sing regardless. "Hush, Hush... Baby rabbit...on the hillside." He raises his head but looks up to the sky rather than back at Sasha. "Why are your eyes so red? When I was small... mother ate the fruit of the red tree...and that's why my eyes are red."
Sasha, now amazed, not only by the fact Elijah actually sang the lullaby but how well he did it. "Wow... You sounded great. That's a really sweet lullaby."
Now smiling at Sasha, Elijah feels glad she could make her feel a little better. "Thanks."
Sasha now gets serious. "Hey, about me wanting to be better friends with everyone... Please, Elijah, will you help me?"
He smiles. "Remember my promise back in the battle of Trost? If you ever need me, I'm there, Sasha. You can always count on me."
Excited, Sasha wraps her arms around Elijah. "Thank you! i knew you'd come through for me! I just knew it! I'm sure with your help, I can get past this. I'm counting on you!"
Present
Why do I remember, now of all times...about silly, pointless days in the past? It's all...I can think of...and every time, he's there for me. Always. Sasha turns to the girl, trying her best to hold back her tears. "Hey, listen up. You'll be fine. Keep following this path. Run as far as you can. I promise someone will be there to help you. You might not find them right away... But still, keep running until you do! Now, go! Run!" Sasha releases the girl and pivots on her heel to face the enemy, placing an arrow on the bow and taking aim. "Get runnin'!" She looks back for a second to see the girl running, then begins to fully concentrate on the Titan. When I needed food, you were there. When I needed a friend, you were there. When I needed courage, you were there. When...I almost died, you were there. Please...be here for me once more...
She fires the arrow, right in the Titan's neck. Unharmed, it continues its approach. Running away, Sasha quickly formulates a plan. "If I take out both eyes, it'll buy us plenty of time." Heading for higher ground, Sasha quickly scales the dirt walls along the road and takes aim at the Titan again. Her second shot misses its target, the right eye, as it cuts through the ear on the same side. Only...two left. Relax... All it is...is a big, slow-moving target! She fires again, striking the Titan's left eye. Got it! Once more, the Titan keeps proceeding towards Sasha. One more arrow. But... If I miss this...we can't escape. If I miss, me and... that girl...
"Elijah?"
"Yeah?"
"How are you...so brave? Back in Trost, it was like you weren't afraid of the Titans at all."
"I was afraid, Sasha. I was afraid the whole time. I was afraid until Eren sealed the Wall. What got me through was knowing what I had to do. I lost Mina, Thomas, and not knowing at the time, Marco... What got me through was not wanting to lose anyone else. Eren, Armin, Mikasa, Connie, Ymir, Christa, Jean, Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie...you. If I lost any more, especially someone I'm close to, I don't think I'd be here right now. I would rather give my life to protect you all.
The girl... No matter what, even if I die, she must escape! Sasha opens her eyes and tosses the bow away. Tightly gripping the arrow, she charges the climbing Titan with a scream. Blood spurts all over her as the arrow is forced through the optical organ, but before Sasha can back through, she feels the Titan's arms surround her. She manages to slip through, thanks to the blood on the Titan's chest. Sasha immediately runs down the path away from the now blind monster. I slipped out thanks to that blood. Now I've gotta find- Sasha only manages to run a few yards before she comes in contact with a saddled but unridden horse. It looks...familiar to her somehow. "Huh? Wait..."
"HYA!" The sound of a large object falling on the ground turns her around, the Titan she escaped from now lying on its back. Blood spills from the nape along the ground, and on its chest stands a figure adorned with the green cloak of the Scout Regiment. "How many does that make it now?" The Scout turns to Sasha, lowering his hood to reveal himself as he steps off the Titan with that same smile Sasha loves to see. "You okay, Sasha?"
Sasha feels tears well up in her eyes as she runs to Elijah, leaping into his arms. "You came! I knew it! I just knew you would!"
"Of course I did. But you did more than me, I wasn't sure I was going the right way until I saw the girl."
Sasha pulls back. "Huh? The girl! Where is she?" Elijah begins to explain, but he's cut short by a riding party on the hill above the road. Both Scouts look up, but it's Sasha who gasps in surprise, as well as the man looking down at them.
"Huh? Sasha?"
Elijah
We now ride with Sasha's father and his team away from the village after I inspected it for more Titans. Seems like the one Titan Sasha encountered was the only one. I look at her as she looks at the young girl riding sadly with one of the men. From what I understand, her mother was being eaten alive right in front of her... I can't even comprehend what the girl is going through.
"We been givin' horses to everyone in the area. That girl told us someone was still back there, while another was going towards the village too. Who'da thunk it was you? You fought off a Titan for that girl, didn't ya?" Sasha nods, to which her father smiles...and so do I. "Sasha... Yer all I hoped for."
"Father..."
He looks over to me. "And you, son. You came for my daughter, didn't ya?"
I nod. "Yes, sir. I came as fast as I could from another village. Looks like she had everything under control though."
"I see... Tell me why,"
I look away from the elder Braus to his daughter. "Sasha was the first friend I made outside of my homeland on our first day of training, and I to her as well. For the last three years, I've always been there for her even when I attended to my other friends in need. But... Ever since I lost two people close to me, I've realized I haven't lost the person I've known since day one. Dare I say one of my best friends." Elijah smiles as he looks from Sasha to her father. "When we first met, I gave her some Potatoes and water because she pissed off our superior officer and had her dinner privileges revoked and made her run for the rest of the day. She said that she'll pay me back one day... All this time, without even knowing it, she has. Simple as that, sir. Sasha has been there for me every day since Trost, she just didn't know I needed it...or her."
Sasha's father nods, then smiles. "I see. Thank you for bein' there for my daughter for the past few years. Nice to see she has a friend in the outside world."
I nod, then turn to Sasha, the girl blushing, most likely at my speech. Catching her eye, I gesture over to the side of the road for us to exit the formation. The others keep going per Sasha's silent command. I watch the villagers ride away for another moment before I turn to Sasha. "Are you okay?"
She nods. "Yeah. We're safe now, right? There aren't any more Titans."
"Yeah. I think Connie was right about them originating in the south... I hope his family is okay." I rub my head, trying my best not to think the worst. "I'm gonna go regroup with the others, hopefully, I'll run into Connie and Christa's. It's best if you and your people get to Ehrmich. You'll be safe there."
Sasha looks down, her face dropping sadly. "Are you sure, Elijah?"
I give her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll be okay."
"Okay. I, um really appreciate you coming for me. I'll pay you back somehow. Before you ask why... It's just... When I was trying to escape, I remembered the past. How you encouraged me to be myself when I was embarrassed about my accent, or when you said what helped you overcome your fear is protecting your friends... I even remembered your mother's lullaby. It's silly, pointless even...but if it wasn't for that, I don't know if you'd gotten to me in time. Or I'd be more of a coward."
"You were never a coward, Sasha. You just needed to realize that yourself. I'm always happy to help you." I chuckle as I think of a suggestion very specific to Sasha. "But if you really want to, you could always pay me back with a hot, steaming potato."
Sasha raises her head up, chuckling embarrassingly at the referred memory. "A potato?! Oh no... I really thought everyone had forgotten about that." She looks at me with a smile of her own. "I promise I'll repay you for everything. Just...not with food. So don't die out there, okay? Promise."
I smile right back. "I promise you, Sasha Braus. Even if I'm the last one standing against a horde of Titans, I will prevail." I lean over on my horse to hug her, but in the middle of it, something...unexpected happens. Sasha pulls away, her face red as an apple.
"I...uh... I'll see you soon! Good luck! Hya!" She rides off quickly to rejoin her father and the others, leaving me a confused, bewildered, dare I say speckledorfed of a man. I unconsciously graze my fingers over my lips...with the heat of another's still present.
"Sasha..."
