Knights of Shiganshina

Blood

AUTHORS NOTE & GRAPHIC WARNING:

Hello guys, this chapter is a bit graphic, just a heads up. Also, thank you so much for giving me 450+ reads already 😊. Means a lot and I didn't expect to get this many reads so soon. Let's me know how much I've improved already. Anyways, hope you guys like the chapter.

"Finally, some open country." Shadis said, taking in a deep breath. "You don't see nothin' like this anymore boy, I tell ya." Eren trotted next to him on Whitefoot. The two stood on horseback and stared out into the deep lands. The wind passing through the grass made it look like the ripples in a lake or pond. Eren never saw anything like it. He never even stepped foot out the city of Orvud. Lady Dina wasn't very fond of change, so he spent all of his life there. He never complained, though. It was the city on the northmost side of Sheena, after all. Every winter, there was guaranteed snow up to his knees, and to him, there was nothing better. However, this sight was damn close to matching it.

"It's beautiful." Eren admitted, watching two deer off in the distance galloping towards a forest. He felt Shadis place his hand on his shoulder. His grip was tight, not enough to hurt, but enough to know it was affectionate.

"That it is boy, that it is." The two had pressed ahead slightly from the caravan of convicts. A few of the men were beginning to make Eren uncomfortable, especially the one named Havlocke. In a group of eight prisoners, he had to have been the worst of them all. His hair was greased to hell, couldn't tell if its original color was brown or blonde. He had warts stemming from under his chin all the way down to his lower neck. His nose was bent in two directions, and almost every tooth he had was rotted. Definitely could have laid off a few meals as well. Mike said he was an old soldier who got caught fondling a damn child. Just the thought of it made Eren's blood boil. It never surprised him just how fucked people could get in this world.

"So, your thoughts on our travelling companions?" asked Eren as he turned Whitefoot around and walked back to the cart.

Shadis spit over his shoulder then trotted next to him. "Definitely prefer nicer folk, but what can you do. Just try to avoid them if ya can."

"I'm surprised some of them even get a choice."

"Heh, you and me both. It ain't fair, but when's life ever been just, hmm? A fucker could kill a small family and be given the chance to work their sentence as a glorified meat shield. No justice, no true retribution, no nothin'. Although, can't say everyone who chooses to work their sentence as a scout are bad folk. Some people just got dealt a bad hand."

"You think someone like Havlocke is good people?"

Shadis spat again. "No, if it were up to me, I'd have had his body kicked into a river and watch it float downstream." Eren couldn't help but give a chuckle.

"You and me both. How come he didn't get the executioners block?"

"Just depends on who's in charge of the sentence. The one who decided his probably gave him the option 'cause he was a solider. Probably thought he could be useful." All Eren could do was shake his head at the notion. It was disgusting. He gave more respect to the dirt under his boot than to him. "Don't worry about it too much though. Dare say he'll do something again, then he'll be executed for sure."

"Still, doesn't make it any better."

"No, it doesn't."

When the two made it back to the caravan, they were greeted with light smiles from the scouts and cold eyes from the convicts. The other Scouts alongside Mike were Nanaba and Gelgar. Nanaba was very similar to Mike regarding her practical demeanor, but she was a lot more of a lively spirit. However, she was nothing compared to Gelgar. The man would sit on the caravan for hours singing and strumming his lute. All he needed was a hat to cover his bald spot. Eren thought of suggesting he just shave the entire head clean like Shadis, but why piss off your new companions already. They were all good company, though. He could tell each had a story he was itching to hear.