Equanimity » Levi Ackerman

21 | ℌ𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔞𝔴𝔞𝔶

𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌: Altered timeline!

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Maria had been silently seated before Jean who followed behind his friends.

"I hate riding in the dark, I can't even see where we're going..." Connie sighed. "Why? It's not hard or anything." Sasha casually threw back, waving her torch back and forth.

"Keep it straight dumbass, do you want to set the whole forest on fire?" Jean hissed. "I know what I'm doing." She hollered in defense.

"I regret letting the two of you ride in the front..." "It's not like you call the shots here." Sasha barked back.

Maria flickered her eyes from Sasha to the dusky lighted forest path before them. "Quit bickering, you two. It's the intention we get there unnoticed." She muttered tiredly, leaning her back against Jean. The teen sighed out, looking over her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" He whispered. "I'm fine."

"Just checking..." "I know. Just keep an eye out for the cabin."

Maria was never really a fan of riding on horseback with two people, especially if she wasn't the one in control. She could only sit, watch her surroundings and listen to the conversations between her new squad members while being locked in by Jean's long arms. Aside from that, she hadn't seen her horse Mandel in weeks. It hadn't even crossed her mind at first, but she wasn't even sure if he was alive now.

"Look, I think that's it!" Connie announced as he squinted his eyes and tried to focus on the small building ahead of them.

"Are the others still behind us?" Maria asked - due to Historia, Eren, Armin, and Mikasa being awfully quiet - because her vision was being blocked by the teen behind her and she, therefore, couldn't look for herself.

"Yeah, still here." She heard Eren's voice respond to her.

"Alright everyone, listen up," Maria straightened her back as the cabin came into her vision.

"Mikasa, Connie, the two of you will check out the cabin while Armin and Sasha will scout the surrounding area. Historia and Eren will stay here with Jean and me. Be alert and report back to me as soon as everything's clear."

Hearing the sounds of confirmation, Maria watched the team split up before her.

"What's going to happen now?" Eren's voice now boomed from beside her. Both he and Historia were now in her line of sight, looking at the small woman for answers.

"Look, we simply have to stay put and wait for Levi and Hanji to come in the morning." The honey-blonde cast her eyes downward, internally battling with the fact she wasn't in a state to do something - were there anything to happen here. Pushing that thought aside, Maria knew she had to guide seven teens now that their superiors weren't here.

"We'll just have to be on the lookout and take turns during the night." "I'll do it tonight," Jean muttered. "Someone has to relieve you, you're not going to stand there all night. We need everyone well rested, that includes you, Jean."

"I would do it, but-" Maria was cut off by Eren. "But you can't, so I'll ask Sasha to relieve Jean when they get back. Besides Jean has to be awake to help you right? He won't be useful to you when he's asleep." The brunet shrugged. Maria blinked at his sudden sensible conclusion but regained herself quickly to beam him a smile in return.

"Idiot..." The honey-blonde heard Jean mutter under his breath, earning a scoff from the brunet. Before Eren could open his mouth, Mikasa and Connie returned from the cabin.