The Humanity's Strongest & The Graceful

Track

Meanwhile, In Shiganshina:

Tessa's POV:

While sitting at the outer gates, Tessa watches Kip chase his tail as she sits on the steps beside the stables. After watching everyone leave yesterday, Tessa couldn't shake the feeling of something awful happening, not even in the middle of the night as she tried to sleep. Yet her concerns about this expedition and feeling guilty about not going with them ate away at her. Tessa wanted nothing more than to join them, but she had to keep her word to Erwin, although she still thought it was fucking stupid because she was a damn Scout, for fuck's sake. Yet Erwin's treating her like a child, and for what? Why is it so crucial for her not to be there when she is the Head Doctor? Those questions kept building throughout yesterday and then overnight, causing her not to sleep. It didn't help that Kip whimpered when they watched Levi, Hange, Isabel, and Furlan leave. Tessa lets out a frustrated sigh as she looks at the sky, praying for the Scouts to return with the success of Erwin's new formation, but most of all, she needs Levi to return so she can confess the feelings she has ignored for the past several months.

Tessa takes a deep breath before running a hand through her long ebony-colored curls while the other twists the new winged necklace, a birthday present from Levi, while also thinking about yesterday from watching the Scouts leaving to meeting three childhood friends. She still wonders if the negative feeling will ever go away or does it possibly mean something, hence why she can't let it go. Tessa looks at the wing resting on her palm and smiles at how much thought Levi put into it since so many things show it. With the gems representing her birthstone, the sapphire, the wing almost resembles their shared winged knives, how it reminds her of the Scouts because that's how they found each other again, while the other is for the nickname Levi has for her, Angel, because of her pure heart of kindness, bravery, and happiness. However, what really made it even more perfect was how Levi remembered how much Tessa loved Vanessa's ring. The memories of Vanessa letting her wear it and Kenny teasing Levi, saying that's the ring he should use to propose to Tessa when they were older. Of course, Levi and Tessa would blush from Kenny's antics, and Vanessa would laugh at their crimson cheeks. Tessa didn't notice the wink Vanessa gave Levi as if she and Kenny had planned it from the beginning.

Tessa shakes her head from the memory while her hand rests against her heart, where the letter Levi wrote to her is while still remembering the sweet words, which calmed her nerves for the moment, along with the sadness dwelling from thinking about her mom again.

'I saw this, and I thought of you. I know it's not your mother's ring, but I hope you love it as much. I can't wait to see it on you. I swear I'll return, and we will fulfill the promise we made sixteen years ago.

Happy birthday, Angel.

-Levi.'

Tessa paced at the steps when she thought more about yesterday while twisting the wing, a new nervous tick great. When she had read Levi's letter, she had placed it inside her jacket pocket, which is where it is now, before putting on her new necklace. Tessa had looked at the Southern Gate once more before guiding Kip and Star through the city to the military barracks inside. She remembered how the people waved and smiled at her, which she returned, resulting in thinking about the times in the Underground because the people would always tell Vanessa how hopeful and blessed they felt to be around Tessa because she was a guiding light to them. Even now, people still tell Tessa that, which makes her miss her mom even more.

While thinking about yesterday, Tessa leans against a wall and sighs, remembering the three kids she met, who asked her many questions about the Scouts. Of course, it wasn't by accident how they met, just pure luck. It was after Tessa put Star in the stable house of the barracks before taking Kip on a walk around the city, only to hear someone getting kicked nearby the base, which made her pause and look at her hound, "Kip," Tessa whispered, which Kip's ears perked up, "Scout." She commanded, and Kip followed the command before listening in the direction of where they heard the struggle. Over the past several months, Tessa trained Kip with one-word commands. 'Scout' is for Kip to search for nearby surroundings. 'Track' is for Kip to find someone with their scent. 'Advance' is for Kip to lead Tessa or anyone else to his findings. 'Protect' tells Kip to guard. 'Return' tells Kip to rejoin Tessa's side. The commands were manageable for Kip to master, except 'Track' because Tessa needed to use someone else's scent. Hange and Isabel were out due to being Tessa's roommates and because Kip knew their scents too well. Tessa felt defeated because this was crucial for Kip to learn all the commands. It wasn't until the girls volunteered for Furlan and Levi that Tessa facepalmed because she realized they were the perfect candidates. The girls, of course, laughed at Tessa's realization while she rolled her eyes.