Life of Maverick: In the Land of Giant Man Eaters

-Chapter 24: A Little Test Run-

Across the vast plains of Wall Maria

"Oh God...."

The young scout could feel the hairs behind his neck stand up straight as the sounds of rapid footsteps were getting close to their position, only for his attention to turn to the sound of a flare gun going off, and the sight of a black flare flying upward into the sky.

"D-Don't panic, we have to k-keep our focus." Dirk spoke out, trying his absolute hardest to mask his own growing nervousness. Placing his flare gun back into his jacket holster he tried to keep his squad in order, though their resolves only seemed to falter as the figure chasing them was soon beginning to catch up.

"Oh God...."The scout repeated as the sound of their pursuer's footsteps began to grow louder and quicker, to the point where he could almost hear their chaser breath through their nose.

"Remember this is just a practice run, t-to prepare us for such a s-situation!" The squad leader emphasized with stuttered breath, only to hear the near inhuman grunts coming from their pursuer.

"OH GOD...." The scout shouted, his focus absolutely gone as he could feel the pure terror emanating from the one chasing them, to the point where he began to lose control on his horse, as it too began to panic, wanting to get away from the terror close behind them.

"DON'T LOOK BACK DAMMIT!" Dirk shouted, no longer caring for the fear sounding in his voice, at this point everyone's nerves had been shot and their fight or flight instincts had taken over, their primal instincts to flee from the frightening presence and live another day completely taking over their minds.

Almost immediately after Dirk shouted out his order the poor scout lagging behind, for reasons still unknown, had turned his head back, only to be faced with the shocking sight of the glowing eyes of their pursuer looking back at him.

"OH, FUCKING GOD!" The scout shouted in a high-pitched tone. The poor scouts mind was far too frightened to continue and soon both he and his mount separated from the rest of the group in an effort to escape their chaser's grasp.

Maverick let out a snarl as he caused absolute chaos amongst the ranks of the right formation, Dirk's squad being one of the many groups he had scattered and most likely caused a few ruined pants.

But why? For what possible reasons was Maverick, a fellow scout and dear comrade, doing such a thing to his fellow soldiers? Why in the name of the many gods and pantheons above was he committing such acts? What events had caused him to chase down his fellows like the man-eating giants they had fought against?

Well to answer such a question we must turn back time, to about a few hours before this moment.

-oOo-

Strategy Room, inside Survey Corps Headquarters, a few hours before...

It was after breakfast when the commander had gathered everyone into the strategy room, a large classroom which, as its name implied, was meant for the use of strategizing plans and methods to combat their giant foes. Today however the Survey Corps were gathered to learn of the new expedition stratagem that Erwin had conceived for quite some time now, the Long-Range Enemy Scouting Formation.

With the assistance of a large drawing of the formation the commander, with an unusual amount of pep in his voice, had explained the many sections composing the entire formation, and the ones who would make up those sections.