Pluviophile | Levi Ackermann × Reader |

|Chapter 20| Halcyon

There was a shadow cast throughout the forest, the whispering trees touching the sky. There was the melodical hoot of an owl, flowing through the world like a letter of the night. Snow fell, lightly caressing the earth's floor, blanketing nature in a white coat.
My foot pressed against ice, my gear hooked to my waist. I lifted a foot, breaking into a run that sent my hair to my back, tucking itself behind my ears. My finger found itself on the trigger of my blade, and I pulled on it to send myself up into the sky like a bird, matching the heights of the owl that perched itself in a tree.

"Hyah!" I drove my blades clean through a titan, moving onto the next. My ODM clanked wildly against my sides, my gear loose. My eyes went down to my waist, looking at the buckle that shook in the wind. I'd have to fix that later. Right now, there was no time.
I plunged down sharply, drawing a deep gash in the nape of a five meter, the beast sprawling it's arms out on the ground as it fell.

My hair lashed in front of my face, and I had to push it aside as I landed on an abandoned house in the middle of Wall Maria, the cobbled roof dipping down into what appeared to be an old living room. I could still see an old bowl filled with diseases food, aged from the years untouched.
It was a meal never eaten. It belonged to a human who became the meal.

My jaw tensed as I clenched my teeth, eyes darting over to another titan, it's yellow teeth parted as it flailed its tongue at the sight of me. I could see it's ribcage through it's thin figure, legs nearly snapping as it stepped after me. I fixed my grip on my blades as I clutched them down by my sides, leaping off the roof and delivering a fatal blow to the titan, it's yellow teeth slamming down onto the lifeless house. I heard the crack of it's bones breaking, a large tooth slipping from the root of it's gums due to the force of the collision. Blood rained down.

I left the steam that flew up from the wound, watching as the titan evaporated into nothingness. My feet took hold of the bark of a tree branch,  and I let my energy come back to me.

As I was breathing, someone landed next to me. "There's a hoard approaching. Regroup with the others."

It was Captain Levi.

I hadn't expected to speak with him today. I suppose fate works in wondrous ways.

I gave him a short smile despite the news, nodding at his orders. Seeing him created a blossoming garden of hope and strength within me, and nothing could stop me as long as I was at his side.

I took for my squadron, watching as Hange led the charge. I spotted my horses reigns, Licht, in the hands of another member. I landed easily onto of Licht, taking the reigns from the man who held them and gave him an appreciative nod.

I ushered my horse forward, going fast enough to run alongside Hange. Her hair was tangled from the wind, glasses fogged from her breath.

I turned my head to look behind us, and what filled my eyes stunned me temporarily.

There were numerous titans far behind, and if I didn't know any better, I would have assumed they were a forest of enormous trees, all of them blurring together.

The leather of my horses reigns was cold to the touch, but I held on tight. I could see the other squadrons rearing up on us now, banding together in order to hear any orders Commander Erwin was to relay. I could see some Scouts immobilized from both the temperature and sheer terror.

We rarely went up against this many titans at once, and even I was beginning to feel on edge. My face went pale as I heard Erwin shout, his voice ringing out across the formation.

"Left and Right Wings detach and go opposite directions! Fire a flare when the hoard comes in contact!" He yelled out.

He then fired a green flare to signal the start of the mission. I was with the Middle Wing with the Hange Squad, following behind Commander Erwin.