However Long The Night

NINE: Today marks a day of true change

The horses were restless as the Scouts lined up to begin the reconnaissance mission. It's as if every living thing on the island felt the upcoming journey their soldiers were about to take.

Her given horse, Orion, was an overgrown beast. Not many horses were left after the recent influx of Scout members, so Rosario received one not many desired. She didn't either. He was too large and imposing. His weight made him slower and his size caused every movement to draw attention. Not to mention that every scout had to care for their own horse, so she had double to work because of the beast.

And truly a frightening thing he was, she thought. No wonder he had never been chosen. His colors mixed gray and white like faded charcoal with black spots dotting over him. His mane was long, covering his eyes in a way that forced Rosario to continously cut it. When she'd asked if she could shave him, the dirty look from the stable keeper was answer enough. Brushing him took longer than for the others scouts.

The one thing going for him was how calm he was, though that was no outstanding feat. All horses were bred for patience and calm. A scared horse being chased by titans is like welcoming death with open arms. One other decent thing about it was its needed no more than the bare minimum care. It didn't require affection or attention like the other horses of Scout's she'd seen. It recognized her as it's owner, following her and her commands, but nothing more than that.

As they waited by the gate of Klorva, ready to enter into the lost land of Wall Maria, the scouts lingered for the final preparations to be set in place. All gas canisters were full and every blade was as sharp as it could go. All horses were fed and rested and every horse carried a heavy bag of snacks in a pouch attached to them. No wagons were prepared due to the nature of the mission. And, also, because of some stupidly optimistic belief that they'd have nothing to carry on their way back. All that was left to do was the last positions in the formation. 

Rosario stayed atop her personal beast; it took too much effort to get on him, he was too tall for her. The commander had relieved her of her permanent position beside her for the mission. She waited by herself, braiding Orion's ridiculously long mane only to undo it and do it again. Orion hardly cared. Together they passed the time, both calmer than everyone around them. 

The gallop of a horse ceased beside her and Rosario turned to see Arlert on her right, and Ackerman and Jaeger on her left. She went back to braiding Orion's hair, not sparing them another glance.

"It's so close," Arlert said, the smile evident from his tone alone. "Retaking the wall, reaching the sea. All we've done has been for this and we're finally here."

Without looking from her horse's gray hair, Rosario muttered, "we aren't there yet. There's still a month to the actual expedition. We could die tonight for all we know."

Jaeger huffed. "A bitch through and through, aren't you?"

"Sure."

"We're finally getting the upper hand on beating the titans," he argued. "If we retake Wall Maria, we can elimate all the titans past the walls. We can change the tide. Humanity can—"

Rosario looked over at him with a mocking smile. "Aren't you the dreamer, Jaeger? How many titans do you think are past the walls? How many of us do you think will even survive the expedition? We know nothing about titans. Beating them is just a carrot on a stick used to keep you running to your deaths. I'm sure today will be proof enough of it."

"We don't know nothing," Mikasa Ackerman said. Rosario looked at her, unable to stop herself from sizing her up. There were very little people that could take on someone with Rosario's abilities and Ackerman's were in that short, short list.