Attack on Titan: Survival and Dedication - Male Reader

PART FIVE

It was easy to forget out here. Sometimes, like today, Titans were practically nonexistent. Y/N couldn't see them in the hills or near the trees, they were gone. It was a stroke of luck or a moment of reprieve, because now more than ever Y/N was a man. He was no longer one with nature or an afterthought in its vast base.
  It was times like these he felt reluctant to return to civilization. It had been over two weeks since he talked to someone, someone alive and human, anyway. He didn't miss the feeling despite the loneliness he lived through.
  He walked on, the grass on his body was now faded, brown husks. He only wore it now for their natural smell and ability to keep the wind out. Without it, he was sure he would be dead.
  He had occasional bouts of rest. He would sit in the snow, eat a cracker, drink some ice-cold water, then walk some more. When night came he would set up camp. A hammock nestled in between two trees with a canvas overhead and a fire keeping him warm was as good as it could get.
  The world figured the island of Paradis had enough snow for the day, leaving Y/N wrapped in a wool blanket and his eyes gazing up at the stars.
  He kept his guns close. They offered some semblance of comfort and company in the wilderness but with only the sounds of bugs clicking and chirping he had nothing to be afraid of.
  Before he shut his eyes and drifted into a dreamless sleep, he thought of Lina and Felix.

Y/N peered through his spyglass with a thoughtful hum. Wall Rose was just within reach. The tall structure was easily twenty or so kilometers away.
  He surveyed the land with furrowed brows, frozen with ice from the mist escaping his face cover.
  Twenty-two Titans stood along the wall, their arms, ranging in length and girth, were raised as they reached for several soldiers posted along the wall. They were nothing more than green pinpricks so it was hard to determine what they were doing. If he had to guess, it would be the Garrison slacking off. They were the only ones permitted to use ODM gear within city limits.
  That reminded Y/N of the experimental rig strapped to his tired frame. He couldn't just waltz in with it, not without having to go through a quartermaster and engineer who would attempt to take it from him. He had no choice but to smuggle it in.
   He'd been giving it some thought. After the whole mess with Lina and Felix, he ultimately decided that it was best in the Scouts' hands. Even if secretly. Just who these people were was enough of a reason for him to give them such a dangerous weapon.
   Before he could ponder the matter any longer, a steady and distant rumble began to close in. The sound was like a hum and the vibrations in the ground didn't match even the average Titan's weight. After listening for a minute or so, the sound became clear.
  Horses? Y/N scanned the land leading up to Trost but found nothing. The Garrison was still stationed on the wall and showed no signs of movement.
  A courier, maybe? No, couldn't be. A courier would be alone or in a pair. They would never travel in small squads.
   As the distinct approach of horses closed in, Y/N turned to the South, his direction of approach. There was little to no snow and the wind was minimal here in the plains. It was the perfect condition in such rough elements. However, it was also the best time for hunting.
   Y/N's head shot up to the horizon, his eyes wide and his heart almost jumping out of his chest. The sound was just over a ridge and approaching fast.
  Bandits?! Were they tracking me?! Y/N cut his thoughts short as he quickly undid the knot to his snowshoes and made a run for the nearby trees.
   Snow crunched underfoot, the sound was loud and crisp, nearly overpowering the horses that came closer and closer. By the time he neared the forest, their heavy presence breathed down his neck.
   He didn't dare turn back, not as he scrambled for his backpack and tossed it aside. Whoever they were they were on him in seconds, entering the forest with such speed and eagerness that he swore they tried to trample him.
  In the vast forest around him, he could anchor to something and be pulled out of sight. That was the only chance he had of fighting back.
  As his hands found the grips of his guns, he hesitated. Who's to say he wouldn't launch himself into a lethal fall? Break his legs? Or miss entirely and be left defenseless for the second or two it would take to reel in his anchor or set another.
  However, his hesitation cost him dearly as the last thing he felt was the cold ground and a sharp pain behind his head.