Run | Shingeki no Kyojin/Attack on Titan

乂9乂

~~~

Year 850, Karanes District

At long last, the day of the 57th expedition beyond the wall had arrived. After one long month of harsh training and memorizing the 'long-distance enemy scouting formation', it was time to put it all to the test.

The formation was an odd diamond-like shape, and the recruits were stationed just inside the outer edge, between the supply wagons and the scouting team. Our job was to take charge of the communications and handle the spare horses.

The whole purpose of this new formation was to increase the survival rate of the soldiers and to avoid engaging the titans as much as possible. Kudos to Commander Erwin for constructing it.

Now, we had travelled within Wall Rose from Trost District to the Eastern district of Karanes. Since the gate of Trost had been broken and sealed, it was impossible to exit from there.

The journey to retake Shiganshina in the long run would be much, much more difficult due to that, since we had to now forge a new, safer path through the ex-interior of Wall Maria.

Preparing to depart, I mounted my horse; a sturdy stallion with a glossy black coat and a neatly clipped mane.

Around me were few familiar faces, and many new ones as well. Notably nearby was Armin and Jean. My position in the formation was second column, fifth in the very corner of the right flank.

And with a deep rumble, the inner gate began to slowly lift from the ground, higher and higher until it locked in place with a scraping sound.

From the top of the wall, a soldier called out; "Commander, almost ready! We led the nearby titans some distance away. Thirty seconds to outer gate opening!"

This was it. It was really time. All those years of training, and here we are. Ready to fight the titans and retake Wall Maria. This was the first step to humanity's victory.

"Open the gate! Launch the 57th expedition outside the wall!"

With an even louder rumble, the outermost gate of Karanes lifted, bits of rock and dirt crumbling from its bottom. Beyond it, an abandoned town, destroyed by the titans.

"Advance!"

The mob of horses and wagons began to move, I nudged my horse in the ribs and he, too, moved forwards, following the ones in front of him.

Almost immediately after leaving the safety of Karanes, a very well-rounded titan bore down on the left flank of the group. From the damaged rooftops, a couple of soldiers quickly dispatched and executed it.

"Advance! Advance!!" I could hear Erwin shouting from the front over the unsteady clopping of hoof steps.

And for a long while, we traversed rather peacefully along an old dirt path, kicking up dry and dusty dirt into the air. The small town diminished and the landscape opened up into a grassy plain with scarce trees scattered about.

"Long-distance enemy scouting formation, deploy!" Erwin ordered with a sweep of his arm.

I split off from the central column, equally distanced from the others around me. The space between us grew further and further, but remained uniform.

A soldier from the center handed me a reign attached to one of the spare horses which ran alongside my own with equal pace.

Soon, we had all spaced out enough to where I could just barely see the closest soldier as a dark smudge. To my left, Armin just ahead of me, and Jean behind. Directly behind, in front and to the right of me were other soldiers who were part of the scouting team.