First Expedition: Petra and Oluo

The Night Before

"Petra can you stop shaking your leg, your shaking the table" Nifa whispered.

"I'm sorry I...I'm just nervous..."

"About tomorrow?" Nifa said as she bit off a hunk of bread.

Petra nodded slightly. Hoping her new captain didn't see her.

"Then why did you join the Survey Corps then?" Nifa asked.

"I want to...I want to help free humanity" she said but was bit shaky in her answer.

Petra Ral had felt confident the night she choose the Scouts, as many of her fellow cadets walked away. Her father had been so upset, he thought with her number 10 ranking she would go to the safety of the military police.

"Don't worry Petra dear, I'll keep you safe out there tomorrow" said a cocky voice.

Oluo sat down beside her with his tray of food.

Nifa and Petra rolled there eyes. But if Petra were being honest she was grateful to have Oluo in the Scouts with her. The two had become very close during their cadet days, sometimes Petra couldn't help be catch her self thinking about him in her off time. While his cocky attitude could be a bit irritating, she really admired his confidence, and he had a caring side to him that Petra was very drawn too.

"What makes you think you won't get eaten the first ten minutes your out there?" Nifa said with a laugh.

"Your looking at number one in his class Nifa."

"And yet you were dumb enough to join the Scouts" Abel said joining them. "But I mean you guys are with the best squad leader so, and Eld and Gunther will be with you too Petra"

"I mean I've heard the stories but I mean 'humanity's strongest'?" Petra said sneaking a glance at her captain. "He's kinda short"

Oluo laughed. "He's taller than you"

"I dunno, I kinda wish I was under Hange's command" Petra said. "I mean she knows the most about titans"

"Yeah but sometimes I think she wants to be a bit too friendly with them" Abel said.

"Or with Captain Levi" Nifa quipped.

"So you've heart about it too?"

"Heard about what?" Oluo asked.

"Rumor has it, the two captains are ugh quiet close...Moblit caught them once in her office"

"So he says" Nifa scoffed.

Petra just shrugged. "Seems kinda pointless, being in the Scouts, you never know when your going to die."

Oluo felt his heart sink a bit. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but he was falling for Petra. He had promised no romance for the exact reason Petra had mentioned, but he had a small sliver of hope that one day they could be free.

Oluo had always been the odd one out, even as a kid. He developed an arrogant personality to hide his insecurities growing up. That attitude didn't make him many friends in the Cadet Corps. But Petra Ral, she was the first person to show him kindness. She had been impressed but his ODM skills and sat down next him on night at dinner to ask for tips.

So they began having practices together, and a deep bond began to form. Though Oluo would never admit to his true feelings for her.

"So what do you think it will be like?"

Nifa's cheerful voice had knocked him from his thoughts.

"You know...the outside?"

Abel shrugged, "I guess lots of fields?"

"I am look forward to seeing the whole sky, the horizon" Petra said with a bit more cheer in her voice. "What about you Oluo?"

"I told my brothers I would try to get Gunther to make sketches for me when we make camp, and collect some grass and stuff send it back home."

Petra smiled looking down at her food, trying to hide her blush. She loved how important his family was to him, especially his brothers.

"He's going to make a good father one day" she thought.

"Attention Scouts!" Erwin called out, as a silence fell over the mess hall.

"We set out on the the 52nd expedition tomorrow, with the goal of scouting Krovla district. Be sure to rest up as we will be spending three days in the district. All squads will be assembled at the gate at 0700 hours. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir!"

Erwin sat back down and the chatter in the mess hall slowly started to pick back up.

"Such an early start" Nifa said yawning. "I hear in the MPs you get to sleep in until 0900 hours"

"So why didn't you join them Nifa?" Abel asked. "Weren't you in the top 10 of your class?"

"Number 3 actually and I joined because ever since I was a kid, I've been so curious about what is beyond the walls, about Titans....and I want a future for my kids, where they don't have to live behind giant stone walls"

"Kids?" Abel asked. "You're only 15 and you are thinking about kids?"

"I mean...I don't know doesn't everyone at this age?" Nifa said looking around the table.

Petra had zoned out a bit, looking over at the table where Eld, Gunther, and Moblit sat. They looked so relaxed, laughing and joking around.

"Maybe it does get easier as time goes by..." she thought.

************************************************
Petra was exhausted. While Nifa and some of the other rookies slept soundly, Petra had tossed and turned. She thought about Oluo, her father...if she died on this mission he would be left alone.

"But at least I could see my mother again" she thought.

"Ms. Ral have you check the medical kit?"

Petra jumped a bit. "Yes Captain, I've check it twice"

"Check it again" he said briskly.

"Yes sir"

Petra stifled a yawn. "He can be such a hard a**" she thought.

As she sorted through the pack again she heard a comforting voice behind her.

"You ok Petra?"

Petra looked up to see Oluo, his eyes filled with concern.

She gave a slight nodded. "Sometimes I wish I was in Captain Hange's squad"

Before Oluo could offer some words of encouragement Vice-Captain Eld Ginn approached them.

"Look he's like that with all new recruits, so I wouldn't take it personally, trust me we thought he hated me and Gunther when we first joined."

Both Petra and Oluo let out a slight sigh of relief.

"You may find it hard to believe but...the Captain cares a lot about those who serve under him. He's not as cold as he seems.

Eld knelt down to help Petra with the medical kit. "I know it's hard not to be scared your first time out...I vomited in someone's bushes the morning of my first time out. Don't worry, Gunther and I will look after you newbies."

Petra felt a bit better, but the nerves were still there as she mounted her horse.

She looked over at Oluo he gave her a warm smile.

"Raise the gates"

The grating sound of the gate broke through the still of the morning air.

"Alright Scouts move out!"

To be continued