before the attack

Annie

----------------------------------------------------- Annie's pov------------------------------------------------

I was abruptly  woken by my mum. She ushered me out of  warm bed and left so I could get dressed. The morning sunrise was exquisite . I could see the hues of gorgeous pink slowly fading . I wondered what the day could bring I had signed up to be an honorary marlean just a few short days ago ." I have one summer left till I join the military I wonder what i should do" I thought to myself it had never occured to me but i had never had any friends I knew I should get some company just for the summer then I can make some friends at the academy . I tied my hair up in my usual hairstyle and headed down for breakfast. I greeted my mum and dad who were sat in the dining room. My mum was pouring herself a cup of tea while my dad looked  at the newspaper as he did most mornings but this time his expression was changed usually he would idly look through the news paper but today he was smiling intently at it he gestured for me to come and sit. I walked over and sat opposite him in my usual seat and he turned to show me the news paper , which was on the front cover , and I saw  "15 NEW CANDIDATES FOR MARLEAN CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE ELDIAN DEVILS!" My jaw dropped i was indirectly on the front cover off the biggest Marlean news paper. "I- I'm on the front cover?" My dad turned the page to show me the paragraph of writing about the new regiment, of which i was a part of . My dad passed the news paper to me and I flicked through the pages to see if there was anymore but unsurprisingly there wasn't.Meanwhile my dad got up to get his toast and took the bacon off the pan and poured it onto a plate on the other hand my mum was coming to sit beside me she pulled me into her arms and said " Honey, we're so proud of you, you've done so well ." I enjoyed her soft warm embrace as it will be one of the last until after the invasion of Paradis Island. After I had left my mum's embrace i got up and asked" Can i go out to play since it's the first day of summer?" My parents look at eachother then at me. " Fine as long as your back by 8 o'clock." " Ok" I responded cheerfully. I bounded up the stairs opened my door. I glanced around my clean  room.I had a small desk on the left of my room below my window with a small mirror leaning on the wall to the right of the desk. My bed was in the center of my room with a small wardrobe next to it in, front of it was a pile of clothes folded neatly. I went to my desk and touched up my makeup and put my coat and shoes and ran downstairs . I shouted " Bye " as I left and heard them call in unison" Bye darling remember be back by 8pm". I ran down the street trying to explore as much of Liberio as I can as I only have six weeks.Although I've lived here all my life I still haven't reach the furthest corners of liberio. I sprinted  through alleys I eventually reached a small wooden fence.Curious I hopped the fence I walk in slowly not knowing where I was or who was here. I heard the soft wheat breezing against my skin. I saw a tree in the distance curious as to what it could be I ventured closer. Then I heard 2 slow footsteps followed by another 2. I dived into the wheat hoping to get some cover . Slowly I peaked my head over the dense wheat and saw two boys my age . One was tall with black hair and green eyes the other was shorter but still taller than me he had short bright blonde hair and hazel eyes he had broad shoulders. Suddenly they both step back in surprise. A rush of thoughts flurry my mind. What if they're Marleyean? What if they report me? Am I allowed here it looked like a farm but is it still in Liberio? Should I run? I should run.After this flurry of thoughts I got to my feet and sprinted for dear life hoping they're  not Marleyean. I head to the tree I was previously glancing at and start running faster than I've ever have before. Thanks to the surprise I had a head start and I was a naturally good runner so I was a good amount in front of them but they were following me and I don't know where I am and I don't wanna get closer to the Marleyean city. as I reached the tree I jumped for one of the branches and grabbed thankfully I caught the branch. I tried to pull myself up but my upper body strength failed me and i dropped. I tried to jump again but missed the branch entirely. I tried a third time this time the boys were getting closer to the tree I pulled myself up the tree and perched high enough a bird sat next to me humming calmly. The boys were now at the bottom of the tree  the black-haired boy look shy and looked at the floor. The more confident blonde called up. " What are you doing?"  "I'm sorry I didn't mean to trespass on marleyean land I was just exploring please don't hurt me I'll go back to liberio right away I'm so sorry" I called down. The blonde stared at me in disbelief. Had I upset him? What's he thinking ? I hope I'm not in trouble? this is the end I-" Us Marleyean???We're eldian" he said he seemed to still be in disbelief even the black-haired one briefly looked at me confused and then realizing his mistake jolted his head back down. I wonder what he's so shy about I haven't even done anything. " How can i tell your not Marleyeans?" i shouted. " We're on eldian land and we're candidates for the titans my names Reiner Braun and this is my friend Bertholdt Hoover." " h- hey err w-what's your n-name?" Bert stuttered just audibly." My names Annie Leonheart." I said still fearful this could be a trap." Do you believe us yet?!"Reiner exclaimed. " Not really" I replied now more confidently but i was still fearful." Did you read the news paper this morning?" He asked. I was so confused what does the newspaper have to do with anything how could that prove anythi-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My dad turned the page to show me the paragraph of writing about the new regiment. I started reading through it.

"This morning at 6am the Marleyean government announced that 15 new candidates have been chosen which is speculated to be a rumored attack force on the Paradis island devils. The candidates will be in fierce competition with each other. Their names are Annie Leonheart,Porco Galliard,his brother Marcel Galliard,Emma Ito, Zeke Jeager, Reiner Braun,Bertholdt Hoover,Ja-"     

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~flashback ends~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover the two candidates are here.They were telling the truth.I cant believe thi-"Annie you there? You've zoned out" Reiner called. " I-I believe you I" I blurted out without thinking. i had a thousand thoughts. Could they been the friends i've been longing for? Have i made a good impression?Are we going to be together for the whole of our training? Will we go to Paradis togethe- "Finally." Reiner responds. I'm glad to hear he's not angry with me or at least he doesnt sound angry. start to shift to get to the end of the tree. Then Bert turns to looks at Reiner and whispers something that was inaudible.I slowly make my way down the tree and put my hand out. "Friends?Bertholdt,Reiner." I asked now confident that they weren't Marleyean "sure" Bert responds" Call me Bert though it's odd being called Bertholdt" Bert replies "agreed" I respond without hesitation. "I wouldn't mind being your friend" Reiner says and shakes my hand. then i turn to Bert who shakes my hand but is obviously nervous. " so what were you two doing here?" i ask with slight hesitation. looking at the two of them as 3 birds passed over our heads tweeting happily."we always hang out here"They replied in unison.            "Really? What do you do here it's just a field?" I responded. looking at them confused.                        "Yeah, come with us" Reiner said while Bert nodded. i nodded quickly. I was curious as to what they are hiding.Reiner turned and walked from the tree and wondered down a small hill i followed with curiosity as he reached a dense wood. We walked for another five minutes and the woods ceased in a small area letting light in. Birds hummed and the trees slowly swayed in the gentle breeze a small creek lead through the opening  mossed stones laid in the creek. one tree, inside the creek, stood out from the rest it had a small ladder it ascended above the tree line i pointed to the ladder and asked" Where does that lead?"                                                                        "To the tree house!" Reiner responded happily.Meanwhile Bert started to climb the ladder it seemed slightly shaky but stable enough so I followed Bert and climbed the shaky ladder and Reiner followed soon after we reached the top there was a small floor of wood surrounding the large tree i walked round and there was a medium size box of wood enough to fit about 5 people in it. I was dazzled it was amazing. I loved it it wasn't much but i'm sure we will have so much fun here for the next 6 weeks.Bert gestured for me to come inside I followed him.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~end of chapter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed reading this its my first time writing anything like this but I think it read ok :) word count:1720                                                                                                                                                                       all names of people and places go to mappa studios and are not made by me                                          pictures are also not mine