Foresight

Chapter 4

Under a canopy of stars, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin sat on a gentle slope outside the refugee camp, their silhouettes etched against the dim glow of the campfires. The day's heavy burdens seemed to settle around them, especially palpable in Armin's slumped shoulders. He clutched his grandfather's straw hat tightly, a physical anchor to the man now gone on a government-mandated expedition into the perilous territory of Wall Maria.

Eren stared into the darkness, his jaw clenched tightly. "It's a suicide mission," he murmured, echoing the whispered fears he had overheard. His anger at the casual dismissal of the expedition's danger had turned to a cold realization when he caught Hannes explaining to his mother the harsh truth: it was a ploy to reduce the number of mouths to feed.

The inner walls were bursting at the seams with refugees from Wall Maria. He remembered seeing the crowded streets, the tired, haunted faces of those who had lost everything. The government had proposed the expedition to stave off starvation, drafting the injured and infirm first—those who couldn't work. Like Armin's grandpa.

Armin's eyes, usually bright with curiosity and wonder, were dimmed by grief.

The stars above seemed to mock their plight, twinkling indifferently as Eren's voice broke the night's silence. "It's all the titans' fault. We have to stop them... for us to truly live." His eyes, reflecting the starlight, were resolute as he turned to his friends. He remembered the day Wall Maria fell clearly, the screams, the chaos. The memory burned in his mind, a constant reminder of why he needed to fight. "Next year, I'm joining the Cadets."

Armin, his eyes brimming with tears yet shining with a determination mirroring Eren's, nodded slowly. "Me too," He wiped away the tears with the back of his hand and rose to his feet, discarding the safety of grief for the uncertainty of action.

Mikasa's voice, when it came, was soft but unwavering. "So am I."

Eren turned to her, his protest half-formed, but the look in her eyes stopped him. She wasn't just following him; she was choosing her own path. A path that included their survival, together.

Their shared resolve hung in the air, as tangible as the chilly night breeze. "Alright," Eren finally said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Together, then."

As the three friends solidified their pact under the stars, a lone figure sat nearby, quietly observing their exchange.

Carla Yeager watched the children, her expression a mix of resignation and sadness. Ever since the breach, she'd dreaded this day. Once she had dismissed Eren's proclamation of joining the scouts as a child's passing fancy, brought about by admiration for those brave enough to venture beyond the walls. But after the invasion, she'd known it to be only a matter of time. And where Eren went, Mikasa and Armin followed. His ever-present companions.

And she'd be left by herself. Worrying if today would be the day the military brought her news of their demise.

She felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

Titans had breached wall Maria, driving them from their homes. She'd lost so many friends that day. People she'd known all her life. Then Grisha, who'd been her rock through hard times, had up and vanished into the night, without so much as a goodbye. Kind, old, Mr. Arlert, who'd helped her look after the kids these past months, had been sent out to die. And soon, her children were going to be leaving as well.

She choked back a sob.

[Treatment center, near refugee camp.]

Carla cradled the box of medical supplies in her arms, her fingers cautious around the fragile glass bottles nestled inside. The cacophony of the camp - distant cries, the constant murmur of voices, and the rustling of tents - buzzed around her. Mikasa followed silently, her own box seemingly weightless in her arms. Carla glanced at the young girl, her strength never ceasing to amaze her. "You're holding up alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with both concern and admiration.

Mikasa nodded, a faint smile flickering on her face. "I'm fine, Mrs. Yaeger."

Carla's thoughts drifted to Eren, her son, who'd found his own place amid this chaos. Her heart swelled with a mix of pride and worry as she remembered Eren's keen observations about a patient's condition a few days ago - a mirror of Grisha's meticulousness. The doctor had been impressed, asked Eren some questions, and promptly taken him under his wing.

As they approached the designated tent, Eren was there, his hands diligently passing instruments to the doctor. Carla caught his eye, and for a moment, their gazes locked - a mother's silent conversation with her son.

The government had allowed her to stay behind on account of the children. There were too many orphans already. And years of assisting her husband in his clinic meant she was allowed to work as a nurse for the wounded as well.

Entering, Carla carefully placed the box on a makeshift table, the bottles clinking softly. Eren, noticing their arrival, paused in his task and offered a brief, weary smile. Despite the exhaustion etched on his young face, there was a newfound maturity in his eyes.

The doctor, a tall man with a stern face, looked up from the examination of his patient, and nodded curtly. "Mrs. Yeager, thank you."

Carla nodded in turn, and reached out to her son, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. "You're doing so well, Eren. Your father would be proud," she murmured.

Eren's smile was warming, but it didn't reach his eyes. Grisha's disappearance weighed heavily on them all, but Eren especially. He blamed himself for not being able to remember where his father had gone, or what had happened that night at all.

"Thanks, Mom," he replied, his voice almost a whisper. The doctor called him back to attention, and Eren hurried back to resume his work, the precision of his movements a testament to the skills he was rapidly acquiring.

Carla watched for a moment longer before turning to Mikasa. "Let's get these supplies sorted," she said, motioning towards the box. Together, they began to unpack, the familiarity of the task providing a small comfort amidst the chaos.

AN:

So, there we you have it. Been a while since I've written anything. It's short, I know, but that was always the plan for this story. I'm writing a bit about the times between the fall of wall Maria and Cadet Corps training arc. Feels like there's stuff there that can be explored, that most authors never do. An opportunity for character growth.

Hope you like it. Reviews are very much appreciated.

~Zenix404~

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Date: 23rd of July 2024