Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 79: Homeward Bound

Darkness fell upon the Scout Regiment once they reached the mountainous terrain of Wall Maria. It was a treacherous path to go on horseback, so the Scouts went on foot, carefully guiding their steeds by the reins. The entire trip was nothing short of tense with the soldiers' anxiety rising with every second. A Titan could show up at any moment, or worse, one of the Warriors. While the new lanterns allowed visibility in the dark, they also made the Scout Regiment one big target. Right now, the only advantage was that the Warriors didn't know when they were coming. Considering there were only three of them, possibly four, patrolling the area would be treacherous for even the most seasoned soldier.

"How much further?" Levi asked in a low voice.

Nanaba looked at the map, scrutinizing the details. "Once we're past this terrain, it'll be a straight shot to Shiganshina."

In the middle of the cavalry were the 104th cadets talking in low voices.

"I feel like something is gonna jump out at us," Hannah said with a shiver.

"I'm not too crazy about the atmosphere either," Connie added. "What if we run into the Titans that walk at night?"

"There's no moon," Jean reminded them. "There's no source of light that would let them be active. We're off the hook on that front."

"Not from Titan Shifters," Armin pointed out. "I doubt they have the same restrictions. Right, Annie?"

"Right," she answered simply.

Jean threw the blondes an annoyed expression. "Gee, thanks, guys. Just what we needed tonight."

"I've only seen the Armored Titan once," Franz said after a moment. "Scariest son of a bitch I've ever seen. And now, we're going up against three of them."

"We're ready for them this time," Eren stated with assurance. "No matter what they throw at us, we'll bring them down once and for all."

"Just don't get reckless," Mikasa urged. "You're their biggest target."

The Shifter grumbled under his breath about her overprotective nature, but she was right. While Annie had the power to fix the Walls, Eren was the one with the Coordinate. He wished there was a way for him to access those abilities again, but for now, he had to make do with the Attack Titan's strength. At least he and Annie had a plan for dealing with Reiner if it came to it.

Mikasa's eyes drifted over to Annie and noticed that she was deep in thought. "What's on your mind, Annie?"

She didn't answer for a moment, trying to choose her words carefully. "I told our superiors this, but Reiner, Bertholdt, and Zeke may not be the only ones we'll be facing."

Eren's eyes widened. "There's another one?"

Annie nodded. "Pieck Finger, also known as the Cart Titan. She's got the face of a mule, but she's damn fast on all fours. We used her to transport supplies as well as scouting the enemy's position."

"You think Zeke brought her here?" Armin asked, concerned.

"If he did, then she's probably watching us at this very second."

That statement caused Hannah's shivers to intensify. "B-But if that's the case, then she could ambush us right now!"

"Keep it down!" Hanji whispered harshly, getting involved in the conversation. "The last thing we need is for the Scouts to start panicking. You need to keep it together, Diament. We need you in this fight. Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," she answered with an enthusiastic nod.

"We have several contingencies in case we get ambushed," the Section Commander added. "Just follow our orders when the time comes."