Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

ONE-HUNDRED-AND-FOURTEEN

'The curse of the soldier is never living the peace he has fought to preserve.'

-An unseen extract written by philosopher Adette Briggs.

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ONE-HUNDRED-AND-FOURTEEN

Somewhere in North-Eastern Titan Country

And thus, they were back on the road.

"You know, all this time riding has made me think," Gabriel was saying.

"That's a first," Thomsen teased.

He waved off the insult. "I've realised that this whole Survey Corps thing is a lot of bull."

"Don't let Erwin hear you say that," Lorelai chimed in.

"I mean, think about it! It's one thing to ride out here with a set goal in mind. I get it, life for the cause and all that; but, I'm starting to forget what the point of all this was."

It wasn't an uncommon sentiment.

They'd been on the road again for three days— three long gruelling days of riding out in the open country. Though they were steadily making progress back to Falkirk, the reality of their failure was beginning to dawn on the Scouts.

Their entire mission had been for nought.

They'd used the entire budget on this little trip. And what had come of it? A thousand new questions and not a single answer.

"I understand your frustration," said Lorelai. "I feel it too. Of course, this wasn't ideal, but that's just how it goes sometimes. We move on; we keep riding."

"I'm tired of riding..." mumbled Thersa.

"But seriously, what was the Commander expecting when we turned up to Havas? A signed package saying, 'Dear Scouts, congrats on making it here! Here's your prize'?" Gabriel huffed.

"Oh, give him a break. The man's not a prophet."

"He has a point though, Lieutenant," piped up Thersa. "No one could have predicted that crater, but... was it really a safe bet to ride all of our hopes on the chances of something surviving?"

Gabriel nodded. "See, Thers' gets it."

"'Thers'?" Thomsen repeated incredulously.

Lorelai sighed. "Look, everyone, I know this mission hasn't exactly been going to plan-"

"That's the understatement of the century."

She gave Gabriel a pointed look. "But we're fed, we're making progress, and we've barely taken any casualties."

Her Squad considered it a moment.

"Things could be worse. We'll be home in a few days, and we'll deal with the failure then. But, for now, let's just keep the faith in Erwin, alright?"

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Unfortunately, their faith was soon squandered.

Soon, Erwin's anticipated storm began to blow over the land. It hit them barely two days away from Falkirk. It was a foreboding, maddening sight to see those tar-black clouds grow on the horizon.

They were so close. They'd come so far, crossed miles of Titan Country, only to be delayed further by the damned weather.

With the storm, of course, came the rain.