The Bond we hold [Eremika]

Horse ranch

All right class, on May 12th we have a special field trip planned!", the teacher annoucned excitedly. It was May 2nd, Eren and Mikasa were 13 years old now.
T

he heat was intense. It was a very hot summer. People kept their AC on in their homes and cars, while students were seen with ice cream, slushies, and other cold drinks.
Armin didn't even have his futon on for a change. Of course though, Mikasa still had her red scarf on. At 13 years old, Mikasa's black hair had grown quite long.
She was taller too. Eren had also grown a bit taller. "What was last year's field trip again?", Armin asked, not remembering.
"It was the Planetarium", Mikasa replied. "I hope its an indoor one again this year. It's too hot out", Eren complained.
Mikasa adjusted her scarf a bit, but she felt cooler in the classroom than outside.
"This year's summer field trip, will be at Colony Horse Ranch!", the teacher revealed then. Armin froze, he turned white, as his feet suddenly dug into the floor.
"A horse ranch? That's new", Eren admitted. Mikasa raised her hand then. "Yes, Mikasa?", asked the teacher.
"Ma'am, will we be riding?", Mikasa asked curiously. "You bet you all will! It's an all day trip for all of you to learn how to properly ride horses. We need permission slips from your parents", the teacher replied.
Mikasa suddenly smiled a little bit. "You look excited, Mikasa", Eren grinned, noticing. Mikasa looked down a bit. "I've never ridden but...I've always wanted too", she admitted.
Armin was trembling, a look of complete terror in his eyes. "Armin, what's wrong?", asked Mikasa.
"I'm not going!", Armin stated. Eren rolled his eyes, groaning. "Armin, get over it already! You fell off when you were practically a toddler!", Eren growled.
"They say when you get bucked off a horse, you need to get right back on. Or you'll never get over your fear", Mikasa said.
"Easy for you two! You don't get it! Horses are mean spirited...they have these black eyes that just stare into your soul...", Armin muttered.
"Just so you know, those 'black eyes' are most likely just looking at carrots", Mikasa said, quite defensive of horses.
"Armin, I was there you know. It was pretty fun, the horse I was on was laid back", Eren added.
"Look, why don't you just give it another try?", Mikasa asked. "No way! I can't go!", Armin shook his head.
Eren sighed while Mikasa's eyes softened, as Armin continued to look terrified.
After school, Eren and Mikasa walked home together. Armin had already went home. "He's such a wuss sometimes", Eren admitted, annoyed.
"It can't be helped...", Mikasa was looking down, seeming a bit spaced. The sun was beating down on them hard, the heat dangerous.
Despite Eren's earlier pestering for her to take her scarf off, Mikasa kept it on. But now she was feeling extremely ill. She was sweating a bit under her scarf, but most of all..she felt light headed.
Although Mikasa's face wasn't red. It was extremely white.
"Seriously, the guy's gotta get back on a horse. What if we had some type of disaster, and aliens attacked? And the cars no longer worked? We'd need to ride horses", Eren continued.
"Uh huh...", Mikasa said quietly. "We better hurry home", Eren said. "Wait...", Mikasa suddenly said, noticing he almost broke into a sprint.
"What's wrong, Mika?", Eren turned to see she had stopped walking. Mikasa had her hand pressed against a tree firmly, leaning.
She looked shaky. "Mikasa? Hey, what's wrong?!", Eren panicked, worriedly.
"I..I'm gonna be sick..!", Mikasa suddenly cried, as she fell to her knees, and threw up. Eren instantly ran to her side, he was half expecting something like this to happen.
As he rubbed her back, he quickly removed her scarf. Mikasa was too sick to react. Eren gently rubbed her back soothingly, a look of worry in his eyes.
"Easy, easy Mikasa...let it out, it's okay", Eren soothed her, rubbing her back slowly. Mikasa coughed, panting for air, extremely pale.
"I told you to take this scarf off, the heat's too much for you", Eren growled, worriedly.
Mikasa panted weakly, shaking. But she looked, and reached for her scarf. Eren held it back. "Mikasa, no! You're going to have heatstroke!", Eren put his foot down.
"Eren, please...I won't wear it...", Mikasa promised, her eyes pleading. Eren hesitated, but he slowly handed it to her.
Mikasa held it close, not putting it on. "Mikasa, you can't be wearing that scarf all the time. Not during the summer", Eren said firmly.
He gently helped her to her feet. Mikasa leaned onto Eren, her knees shaky. "Come on, let's get you home", Eren said worriedly.
When they arrived home, Eren was still supporting Mikasa. "Mom! Mikasa's sick..!", Eren yelled, urgently.
Carla, who had been in the kitchen, hurried over. "Mikasa!", she cried worriedly, running over.
She could tell just by looking at Mikasa she was sick. "She threw up on the way here...", Eren added, worriedly.
"Let's get you cooled down, sweetheart", Carla fretted, she gently felt Mikasa's cheek, it was hot.
Once upstairs, Mikasa got a cool shower, and collapsed into bed. She drank a glass of cold water, and lay on her back, kicking the blankets off of her, laying on the sheets.
Eren was at her bedside, making sure she kept her scarf off. Mikasa's breathing was a bit labored, as she felt the cool air from the fan on her.
"You feel any cooler?", asked Eren softly, as he gently felt her cheek. Mikasa blushed slightly at his touch.
"A bit...", she replied, looking exhausted. "Mika...you won't want to hear this, but you can't be wearing your scarf in this heat", Eren said firmly.
Mikasa looked away. She then sat up weakly, reaching for her scarf. She took it, and held it close. "I know it's important to you...", Eren started.
"You gave this to me...the night...my parents...", Mikasa began. Her voice cracked. "I know...but you can't be making yourself sick. It's too hot outside", Eren continued, anxiously.
"What if...we get seperated? And I don't have it?", asked Mikasa.
"Well..how have your breathing exercises been going with mom?", Eren asked then. To try and prevent Mikasa from having a panic attack, Carla tried teaching her some breathing exercises.
Although it didn't really help. Mikasa shook her head. "They didn't really work when we got separated in school, at night. I...didn't even think of them", Mikasa admitted.
Eren blinked softly, that was two years ago. But...he understand. It's only been three years since Mikasa saw her parents murdered. She needed Eren and her scarf.
They were her only sources of comfort. The only things keeping her completely sane. Most children would have completely shut down from seeing such a horror.
Eren sighed. "I wish there was some way you could wear your scarf and still stay cool", he admitted. Mikasa blinked then. She sat up, and gently ran her hand through her long black hair. She could feel the heat on her back from it.
Eren watched her. "What's up, Mikasa?", he asked. Mikasa bit her lip. "What if my hair was short?", she asked then.
"Oh...well...I guess it would help a lot...", Eren started, a bit nervously. He was so used to Mikasa having long hair.
"Ok, I'll cut it then", Mikasa decided. "Um well...you don't have to!", Eren protested, nervously. Mikasa got out of bed, and went into the bathroom.
"Hey, Mika! Not too short, all right?", Eren was panicking.
Mikasa got the pair of scissors, and went down to get Carla to do it for her. When the two went into the bathroom, Eren waited out.
He was feeling a bit nervous, hoping she didn't cut it too short. After a few minutes, the bathroom door opened.
"Eren, how does it look?", asked Mikasa, blushing a little. Eren blinked, and he was...pleasantly surprised. Mikasa cut her hair indeed, but it was still very feminine.
It still went down to her shoulders almost, plus her bangs were still long. It was an extremely adorable look.
"Hey...you look really cute!", Eren grinned, blushing a bit. Mikasa turned almost as red as her scarf.
"Really?", she asked. "Yeah, plus you'll be able to wear your scarf", Eren smiled. Mikasa's eyes lit up at this.
"But Mikasa, remember honey..if its still a really bad heatwave, you still need to take your scarf off", Carla added.
Mikasa nodded, not all that worried. They didn't get insanely bad heatwaves often.
She wrapped her red scarf back around her neck.
Before anyone knew it, the day of the field trip to the horse ranch came. The students gathered at the town bus.
"I don't see any sign of Armin", Eren said, looking around. "Maybe he won't show...", Mikasa said softly.
Just then, the two heard some commotion from the parking lot. "Armin, now come on son!", a voice growled.
"That sounds like Armin's grandfather", Eren said. Mikasa and Eren hurried over, and both frowned. Armin was holding onto the car seat for dear life, as his grandfather pulled.
It was like watching a parent fight a toddler, rather than a grandfather fight a 13 year old.
"Seriously Armin...", Eren growled.
"Armin, that's enough now! You gotta learn to get over your fear!", Armin's grandfather pulled Armin out of the car.
Armin grumbled, holding his futon over his head. "Look, your friends are there! Go on!", Armin's grandfather gave him a shove.
Armin sulked, as he walked up to Eren and Mikasa.
"Looks like you're riding after all", Eren grinned. Armin didn't say a word, looking terrified. "Armin, it's really okay. There's going to be a trainer for each of us. It'll be safe", Mikasa promised.
After the class got on the bus, within about a half an hour they arrived at the horse ranch.
"Whoa...look at all that land", Eren looked amazed, looking out the window as the bus pulled in. Mikasa's eyes darted around for any signs of horses.
She saw a few brown and palomino ones in the fenced grassy field, grazing. "They're beautiful", she smiled softly.
Eren smiled, he loved it when she was happy. "They're killers...", Armin whined. Eren rolled his eyes, and nudged Armin.
After the bus parked, the class was led by one of the trainer's. "Welcome class! The first thing we're going to do is give you all a tour of the ranch. And then we'll jump into our first riding lesson", the female trainer said.
As the tour began, the passed a fenced area. "We have about 25 horses overall here at the ranch. You'll be able to pick your horse once we get to the stables", the teacher began to say.
Mikasa was gazing at the grassy fields, as Armin hid behind Eren, shaking like a leaf. "Armin, honestly...", Eren sighed.
As they stopped, for the teacher to explain more, Armin went to glance at the fence, and he suddenly yelled in terror.
A gray stallion had walked up to the fence, his face inches from Armin's. "Something wrong?", the trainer asked worriedly.
"Yeah, sorry! Our friend Armin is terrified of horses", Eren replied, as Armin whimpered.
"There's really nothing to be scared of, Armin. If you want to be scared of any animal, its mountain lions", the trainer said kindly.
"B-But...", Armin stammered. "Ugh, Armin stop", Eren groaned. He reached out, and petted the gray stallion.
The horse nudged against Eren's hand softly. "That one there is Steel. He's stubborn, and has a mind of his own, but overall friendly", the trainer stated.
"Could I maybe ride this one?", Eren asked. "We'll have to see, let's continue", the trainer said.
Mikasa gently petted the gray horse, before they continued. "Now, wait here for a moment while I get all of you on the schedule", the trainer told them.
"I can't do this...I can't!", Armin panicked. "Armin, get a hold of yourself", Eren said softly.
"But...but...", Armin froze then, feeling something nudge his shoulder. They had their backs to the fence. Armin looked, his eyes wide in horror.
A large Palomino stallion was nudging him with his nose. "N-No..! Stay away!", Armin covered his head with his futon.
The Palomino gently nuzzled it off of Armin. "Hey...wait...he-hey! That tickles!", Armin was starting to smile a bit, as the gentle giant continued nuzzling him.
"See? What did we tell you, Armin?", Eren grinned, as Mikasa glanced at the field, seeming distracted.
"O-Okay...maybe this one is nice", Armin admitted, as he gently petted the horse's face.
"Eren...look", Mikasa said, her eyes focused. Eren blinked, and followed her gaze. "What is it, Mika?", he asked.
Out in the field, a large pinto horse was laying down, and licking her newborn foal.
The foal shook its head, having the same colors as its mother. "Whoa, look at that...!", Eren said, in awe.
"What are the chances of us coming on the same day as this?", Armin added, relaxing more. Mikasa watched intently, as the mare continued to lick her foal clean.
Mikasa's eyes softened a bit..thinking about her own mother. "Mikasa? You okay?", Eren asked worriedly, seeing that look in her eyes.
"Yes...I am", Mikasa assured him. For once...she was. She smiled softly, watching. 'I'm happy for you, little one. You have your mother right there with you...', she thought, as she watched.
"Oh look at that! You kids came on a good day!", the trainer smiled, seeing as she came back over. "Shouldn't you maybe send a vet over?", asked Armin.
"We like to wait an hour for them to bond, as long as things look good. But we still keep a close eye", the trainer replied.
"Now then, let's get to your horses", the trainer said.
When they arrived at the stables, they were all able to choose their horses.
Mikasa chose a black stallion named Midnight, while Eren got to ride Steel. Armin chose Walnut, the gentle palomino he was petting eariler.
"Okay, now you just put your foot in the stirrup", the trainers showed each of the students. Eren placed his foot on, and as he went to lift himself up, he clumsily fell off.
Steel gave him a look like 'Really?'
"Seriously?! Why is this hard?", Eren complained. "Don't worry, Eren. Most can't get it the first time", the trainer assured him.
Mikasa placed her foot in, and then easily lifted herself up. She swung her leg over, and was on in no time.
She gently petted her horse's black coat and mane. "Very good, Mikasa!", the trainer praised.
Armin was next. He very slowly put his foot in the stirrup. He gulped, nervously, his heart pounding.
Walnut looked at him softly. This horse's eyes were kind. Armin took a deep breath, and lifted himself on.
Once he was on, he was a bit tense. "Very good, Armin! See, it's not so scary", his trainer told him. Armin exhaled, as he gently petted Walnut's coat.
He then slowly relaxed. Eventually, Eren managed to get on his horse as well.
Out of them all, Mikasa mastered stirring first. Armin also grew good really fast. Eren was also getting the hang of it.
After a few hours of training, they were all given a chance to show off their new skills in the training field.
"Okay, Eren you're next!", the trainer said. Eren held onto the reins, as Steel trotted across the field in a circle.
"Very nice, Eren!", the trainer said.
"Next is Armin!", she called. Armin came riding in, at a slower pace, but still did well. Next, was Mikasa.
Mikasa's horse was cantering, but she had complete control over him. "Whoa, look at Mikasa go!", Armin cried.
Eren grinned. "Nice job, Mika!", he cheered. Mikasa blushed, smiling. Her red scarf blew from the breeze, along with her hair as Midnight continued to canter in the circle.
The teacher smiled watched, and got pictures of all the students riding for the parents.
Eren and Mikasa rode alongside each other, as Armin slowed to a walking pace, still a bit nervous.
"Armin, you're doing great", Mikasa smiled softly. "R-Really?", asked Armin. "You bet! You got over your fear so fast. We're proud of you, Armin", Eren grinned.
Armin's eyes lit up, smiling.
"Come on, I'll race you guys!", Eren grinned. Steel picked up speed, and so did Midnight.
"I'm good, Walnut isn't really a runner, as much as he is an eater", Armin smiled, as Walnut ate some oats.
Eren and Mikasa raced neck and neck, their horses picking up speed. "Hey! No racing, trainees!", the trainer yelled.
Mikasa pulled at her reins, her horse stopping with ease. Eren went to pull at his, but was a bit too hard, causing Steel to skid to a stop.
"Crap..!", the force threw Eren right off. "Eren!", Mikasa cried worriedly, but luckily Eren landed in a soft pile of hay.
Steel snorted, as Mikasa easily dismounted Midnight, hurrying over. "Eren, you okay?!", asked Armin, staying where he was.
"Eren!", Mikasa pulled him out of the hay bail. Eren spat hay from his mouth, some hay in his hair. "I'm good!", he grinned.
Mikasa sighed in relief. "Ugh, crazy kid", the trainer also sighed in relief.
After taking their horses back to the stables, they had a late lunch. Eren, Mikasa and Armin sat the the picnic table with their classmates.
"Mikasa, you were amazing! You're a born natural!", Eren said. Mikasa blushed, looking down. "You were really good yourself, Eren", she said.
"You both were awesome", Armin added. "But you were too, Armin", Eren grinned, as Mikasa drank some lemonade.
Armin looked down, smiling softly. "Now...I'm so glad grandfather made me come", he admitted.
"Mom is most likely gonna go nuts over these pictures", Eren added. He froze then, looking at Mikasa. "Mikasa...", he began, an apologetic look on his face. Mikasa blinked.
"Oh, it's fine Eren. Don't worry", she assured him. She then smiled softly, looking up at the blue sky.
"I know...my parents are proud of me...", she spoke in a soft voice. Eren looked at her worried, but he gave a small smile, and gently squeezed her hand.