Petrichor

Chapter 11 - Rory

"Consume" Chase Atlantic 

--Year 850, three days before the reappearance of the colossal titan--

I kicked a pebble from underneath my shoe, watching as it rolled across the dirt path. I'd come with Adalynn, Hange, and Levi to assess the recruits of the 104th Cadet Corps. The memorial of five years from the fall of Shiganshina was nearing in just a few days. It made me sick. It marked the day my family died. But it also became the day I made a new family. The day Adalynn and I vowed it was us against the world. The day we promised ourselves to secrecy about my abilities.

The cadets were sparring. They'd graduate in a few days. Watching them was boring, to say the least. Sure, it was interesting to see who was good and who would join the Garrison, but not a lot of these kids struck me as a scout.

Levi had excused himself to get water. He offered to get some for the rest of us, but only Adalynn took him up on it. I sat in the middle of Hange and Adalynn, elbows propped against my knees. The heat was bearing down against us, and my hair felt like it was on fire. My eyes wandered to a blonde girl sparring with a brunette boy. I could only see the blondie's face, her cerulean eyes narrowed as she threw the boy over her shoulder.

Adalynn began to laugh beside me, covering her mouth with a hand to muffle the noise. I tilted my head to get a glimpse of her. "Why are you laughing?"
She caught her breath, holding a finger up to me while she gathered herself. "Kids are just stupid," she answered, a small snort escaping her as she tried to hold back laughter. Her grin was short-lived as I turned my head.

I shrugged, mindlessly staring back at the boy who scrambled to get back up. He was determined. It was then that I saw his face. Ocean eyes filled with absolute tenacity and valor I recognized immediately. I pushed myself off the bench hurriedly, nearly falling over my own feet as I rushed towards him. He met my gaze the second I wrapped my arms around him, knocking him off balance.

"Aurora?" He panted, pulling his face away to look at me.

I nodded against him, a relieved chuckle flowing from my lips. "I didn't think you made it out," I admitted, gingerly letting go of him. He was just a tad taller than me compared to how he used to be half my size.

"Barely," he mumbled, eyes shifting to his sparring partner. She'd found someone else to fight. A taller, brutish blonde with buzzed hair. "Armin and Mikasa did too," Eren gestured to where they were among the crowd of cadets. His eyes wandered behind me, lighting up. "Did she join the Scouts?"

I followed his gaze towards Adalynn. She sat slumped over, eyes narrowed and fixed on nothing. I turned back to Eren, "Eventually. It took some convincing. We're actually here to assess you guys." I turned to face him again. "You still want to be a Scout?"

He nodded firmly, eyes narrowing. "There's no doubt in my mind."

My lips curled upwards. "Still just as headstrong as always," I teased, and he scoffed. My mouth was set in what seemed like an infinite smile, looking up at Eren. It was a breath of fresh air to see someone from Shiganshina I had a connection with. And not just him, but Armin and Mikasa were fine too.

"You should get back to training. I'll come around before you guys pick where you're off to."

Eren nodded firmly, and with a pivot of the heel, turned. "Oh, Eren," I called, and he paused to look over his shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"Be careful."

I languidly walked back to the two waiting for me. Hange opened her mouth, but I spoke first. "Shiganshina. His father saved my life." The answer seemed to satisfy her, and she nodded.