The Experiment (Attack on Titan // LeviHan) (Part 1)

The Panther's Prey, Part 1

**Several weeks later**

Nothing would ever be the same.

The unthinkable had happened: Wall Maria had fallen. The entire outer territory was lost. with thousands of refugees seeking shelter behind Wall Rose, food was getting rapidly short. More would die. Many more.

And during all of this, the Survey Corps had been as useless as its critics claimed it was. Unable to see it coming, unable to stop it, unable to understand any of it.

They liked to think of themselves as the best and the most skilled soldiers of all military branches, Zoë thought bitterly, as she watched exhausted children in rags curl up on their mess floor, but had nothing more to offer to these poor souls than this: a cold floor to sleep on for a night.

"We'll have to take all their names tomorrow before they're sorted into one of the camps," Commander Erwin said at her elbow, gazing down on the huddled shapes with a face that was ashen from exhaustion. "With a bit of luck, we will be able to find their parents."

She appreciated his attempt to remain stubbornly optimistic, however misspent it was. Erwin Smith knew just as well as her that the reported civilian casualties from Shiganshina were devastating. There weren't enough boats, the evacuation had not happened fast enough. The Garrison had been wiped out almost completely. No telling what was currently going down in the villages out there - but since they had had no way to warn all of the inhabitants of the incoming threat, she had a pretty good idea of what it was: Apparently, Titans ate until their over-full stomachs regurgitated half-composed human remains. And then they ate more. Until no more humans were there to be eaten.

"Go get some sleep, Hange," Erwin said and turned around to walk out of the room.

"You too, Sir," she said to his retreating back.

"Have you eaten anything?" seizing the opportunity, Mike came over, hovering like a giant mother hen.

Zoë shook her head. She wasn't hungry.

"Where's that idiot Moblit?" Mike murmured, turning his head from side to side. Spotting the man in question at the other end of the room, he yelled: "Moblit! Why has Hange not been fed?"

"Shhhh," Zoë flinched, "the children!"

"Sorry, sorry," Mike apologized but the little ones hardly stirred. Some had fainted from exhaustion earlier, they had barely been able to get fluids and a little food into them.

"I'm not a horse," Zoë pulled a face, "no need to feed me like one."

"But you're as thin as a weed, " Mike insisted. "I worry."

"Don't," she said, trying not to sound annoyed. Frankly, she wasn't ready for Mike's insistent attention. That included his well-meant attempts to have her unburden her heart to him. But she was completely fine with a heart that bled incessantly. In fact, the now familiar pain seemed like just punishment for her failures. She hoped it would never go away.

It had to be tiring for the others to see her in such low spirits though, she guessed. She could relate: Someone who managed to look even more miserable than herself was Petra Ral and yes, that irritated even her. Apparently, Petra had been very much in love with Captain Levi. Everybody knew by now and everybody had offered their sympathies. Several times. Somehow, only Zoë hadn't found the right words yet.

Mike next to her sniffed audibly, then growled low in his throat.

Oh, for fuck's sake.

Theo Treibel had just come in, his arms full of blankets, soon putting them on children who had to share theirs with others. Mike hadn't exactly taken to their latest transfer - though he knew they should thank anyone who was willing to join the Survey Corps on their knees. Their latest expedition had cost them 40% of all soldiers. 40 fucking percent. If this continued, there would be no Survey Corps to speak of soon.