The Bonds of Blood" [Fem OC X AOT]

Chapter 18

As they reached the forest of the tall trees, the dense canopy overhead cast long, shifting shadows on the ground. The forest was an eerie, yet majestic place, with trees towering so high that they seemed to touch the sky.

Armin looked over at Yoshi from his horse, noticing the way his friend’s brow furrowed in deep thought, his eyes distant and unfocused. Yoshi appeared both distracted and worried, his usual composure replaced by an unusual pallor.

Earlier, Christa had seen their distress signal and galloped to their aid with spare horses. Their squad, once scattered and weary, had regrouped.

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and leaves, and the sound of their horses’ hooves thudded dully against the forest floor, muffled by the dense undergrowth.

“Follow orders, we have to stop the titans from going into the forest,” their captain commanded, his voice a blend of urgency and nervousness.

The squad obediently tied their horses to the trees, the animals snorting softly, their breath visible in the cool forest air. With practiced ease, the soldiers used their maneuvering gear to ascend the towering trees, the hiss of the gas canisters cutting through the quiet.

High above the ground, they perched on sturdy branches, the thick foliage providing both cover and a vantage point.

"Yoshi, you look like you know something," Jean said, his voice laced with frustration. He had been grumbling about the perceived foolishness of their squad leader’s decision, unable to mask his irritation.

Yoshi, who had been lost in his thoughts about the female titan, snapped out of his trance. His eyes met Jean's, still clouded with worry. “We— we should follow the orders for now,” he replied, his voice lacking its usual steadiness. He looked pale, almost ghostly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Jean nodded, though his expression remained skeptical. He moved away, leaving Yoshi and Armin in their lofty perch. Armin, ever observant, approached Yoshi with a furrowed brow. “Yoshi, are you okay?” he asked, his tone gentle yet filled with concern.

Yoshi looked up at him, his face still pale. “Armin, by what you said back there, you suspect it too, right?” He avoided saying anything directly, but his words conveyed the gravity of his thoughts. Armin’s eyes widened slightly, but he nodded, understanding the unspoken implication.

“Yes, I do think it's them,” Armin admitted, his own face losing some of its color. He clenched his fists, the tension palpable between them.

“Rae and Eren are in danger if the plan doesn’t work,” Yoshi said, his voice trembling slightly. He looked down, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. The leaves rustled softly in the breeze, a stark contrast to the turmoil within him.

Armin knew exactly what plan Yoshi was referring to. He had also deduced that Commander Erwin had intentionally led them here, to this foreboding forest, to expose the titan shifters among them. The realization weighed heavily on them both, the enormity of the situation pressing down like the dense canopy above.

The forest, with its ancient, towering trees and thick underbrush, seemed to close in around them, a silent witness to their unease. The distant sounds of their comrades preparing for the impending battle added to the tension, each rustle of leaves and creak of branches heightening their awareness of the danger that loomed just below them.

~

"Eren, fire the signal," Levi commanded, his sharp eyes spotting multiple black flares signaling the approach of an abnormal titan nearing the center.

Eren swiftly complied, launching the signal as they plunged deeper into the forest.

"The right wing is lost! Please relay the message," a soldier on horseback approached from the left, his voice edged with urgency.