Life of Maverick: In the Land of Giant Man Eaters

-Chapter 23: A Place to Call Home-

The dawn was breaking over the lands inside the great walled bastions of humanity, signaling the start of the new day. Farmers across the fertile plains of Wall Maria and workers from the surrounding towns and villages rose from their slumbers, feeling the cool early summer breeze on their faces as they prepared for their morning toils.

Though there was one among the remaining human population that was not readying to work the fields or open a shop. No, instead this large statured figure had secluded himself in the deepest parts of the woodlands of Maria, inside a small makeshift arena built from the surrounding trees, shaped in the form of a pyramid.

This imposing figure was none other than the man from beyond the walls, the great titan slayer, the bane of all giant kind, the chosen champion of gods and deities from realms beyond, and the icon of worship and hope for thousands inside the Walls...

But most folks just called him Maverick.

In this woodland area he practiced his martial skills, moves and stances taught to him by masters long ago in his life. Each of his movements and strikes were quick and precise, cutting through the air itself.

The series of markings, symbols, and runic writings etched into his tanned skin glowed a constant blue hue as he moved across the arena, leaving a faint trail of light in the woodlands, and with such speed that was abnormal for a man of his size and build.

Finishing his last set he remained in place, allowing his muscles to relax and his mind to calm itself. Taking a few deep breaths he stood upright, taking in the sounds of the natural environment around him, be they the chirpings of birds or crickets in the grass.

As he listened to the sounds of nature he ran his hands through his hair, which had now grown longer and wilder, as well as his beard which had grown to cover his entire lower face and neck. As he brushed said unkempt facial hair he took the time to reflect, recalling the words of an old friend.

"The body's an odd yet wonderful thing. Our stomachs growl when we need to eat or when nature calls, we yawn when were tired, and our hair grows to tell us how long we've been kicking."

A chuckle escaped his lips while scratching at his grand longbeard. It wasn't as long as a dwarfs, but he was getting there.

'Getting pretty long, avoiding razors like the plague for a year's really paying off.' He said with a smile, while removing a hidden knot, though his smile soon turned downward as he realized what he just said.

'A year...been here for a whole entire year...' He took a deep breath before looking at the sky, seeing the few stars still scattered about. He wondered if any of those distant suns was once the sun he had looked upon on previous lifetimes.

Lost in his own thoughts for a bit he soon realized that the morning roll call would soon commence, judging by the orange horizon. Wiping the few beads of sweat off his chest he allowed the breeze to cool his upper body, before making his way out of the forest and towards the reopened Shiganshina District, to continue with the rest of his day.

-oOo-

Zoë Laboratories, Survey Corps Headquarters

Inside the lab of the Fourth Squad's leader lied the namesake herself, slumped over one of the tables, snoring away. She had attempted to spend another all-nighter planning for a certain event, only to pass out around two in the morning. The sounds of her snores, mixed with her mutterings were the only sounds that echoed in the room. Till the door to the lab opened, revealing her assistant.

"Hange?" He whispered as he slowly took a step inside the lab, and soon heard the sounds of his superior's snores. That was all he needed to know as he saw the state she was in, a sight that he had grown used to seeing from time to time. "*Sigh* Of course..."