Cost Of War (Pieck x reader)

Operation: Recover Eren (Part 1)

Y/N Pov

The explosion sent debris flying everywhere as it sent many of us flying, along with burning hot steam. Reiner bit down on Eren's nape as he took him out of his titan. Bertholdt holding Ymir as they started running into the distance. 

Time Skip ----- 6 hours later

We all sat along the wall, many injured from burns and debris striking them as the uninjured, mainly those who were on top of the wall tended to the wounded. We couldn't chase after Reiner and Bertholdt because we couldn't get our horses on the other side of the wall. Which is a good thing. Gives them more time, but seeing the amount of effort it took for Reiner and especially Bertholdt, they're going to need to rest somewhere. Probably a forest or something.

"When do you think the rest of the scouts will get here?" Connie asked as I tended to a wounded scout, who got struck in the head. I was changing his bandage.

"It's already been hours. Soon hopefully." I replied as I finished changing the bandage.

"We need to be ready. Grab someones gear and put it on. They'll most likely be here anytime now. We should be ready to move." I said as the others nodded. Taking some other scouts cloak and gear, and putting it on. 

"Do you think... Do you think they're dead?" 

"No. If they wanted to kill them they would've done it in the fight. The colossal could've easily killed them. So I think their objective was to capture them." I explained further my 'reasoning' as to why they captured Eren.

"Then why did they capture them?" Christa asked as she stared me down. Obviously wanting some semblance of an answer because of them capturing Ymir.

"The fuck if I know. They hid among us for years. I thought I knew them, but I'm obviously dead wrong. So I can't explain shit." I said trying to put as much animosity into my voice as possible.

"You're right. I'm going to ask them face to face. Why? Why would they do what they did." Connie said, determination filtering into his voice. 

"Well, we need to focus on getting Eren back first. Obviously." I said as Connie let out a small chuckle, somehow in this time.

"Yeah. Of course."

-----

It had been a couple of hours of waiting. The sun had started to set. Everyone who survived the blast unscathed waited. Until the trampling of horses against the stone of the wall echoed out from the distance. It wasn't just the scouts, but every regiment riding a top the wall. The entire military force of the walls.

"They're here." I said as we all stood, waiting for them to arrive as many of the soldiers who were injured started to wake at the new noise and rumbling.

"I never thought they'd ride along the wall." Armin said as they rode closer and closer, having lifts with them as well.

"That's probably the quickest route for so many soldiers." I added as Armin simply just nodded, accepting my reasoning.

"Christa... I'd prefer if you stayed back, but-"

"No matter what you say, I won't. I refuse to wait here when Ymir was taken away. You two should know how I feel." Christa replied, her resolve unwavering. 

"Ooooo someone's down bad." I said as Christa immediately turned around and rubbed her face quickly.

"But, she does have a point, Armin. We all have plenty of reasons for chasing after them. While we might have different motives, we all converge at the same goal. To find Reiner and Bertholdt and get the truth out of them." I said as we stared forward at the incoming force.

"You're right. I still can't believe it. That Reiner and Bertholdt are our enemies. I've gotta hear it straight from their mouths." Connie said as Erwin was the first to stop in front of us as the rest of the soldiers came to a halt as well.

"You made it commander Erwin!" Moblit was the first to greet the commander as he was able to stand due to his more minor burns. 

"Is the situation the same?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good. Deploy the lifts!" Erwin ordered, his voice booming across the empty space above the walls as soldiers got to work with the lifts.

"Hange?!" Moblit yelled basically as the heavily burned Hange managed to crawl her way to them, through the pain.

"Moblit, g-gimme a map." Hange uttered as a map was given to her. She laid on the ground as almost everyone crowded around her.

"It might be a long shot, but there's a giant forest here. We should head straight for it. Though, it's not like they have a way to hide the armored titan's footsteps, but I think that's where they're headed."

"Why's that?"

"It's a gamble, but even if they have the strength to change into titans, the other titans outside the wall might still be a threat. Especially after all that fight. They might not be as bad off as Ere, but I'm sure they're exhausted. Like how Annie was out cold for a while. Let's assume for now that their destination is somewhere outside of wall Maria. Considering the distance they'll have to cover, we can assume they'll need to recover their stamina. Which means... they'll want to rest somewhere where titans are unable to reach them. At least until nightfall when titans can't move. We have until night! If we reach the forest before nightfall, we still might make it in time!" Hange said as Erwin nodded, standing up. 

"All soldiers, prepare to move out! The horses will be ready shortly! Descend the wall and wait for my orders!" Erwin yelled as everyone soldier saluted before jumping off the wall essentially. Once everyone had a horse and was ready, Erwin spoke up again.

"All squad leaders, coordinate with your squad. There will be almost no formation when we go into the titan territory. Just follow the my lead and the smoke signals. Coordinate and stay with your squad. This is the operation to recover Eren, at any cost! The life of every soldier here is expendable when compared to Eren! Give it all to recover Eren! Let's move!" Erwin ordered as he was the first to charge, followed by everyone else in a rough long range scouting formation. Mostly consisting of squads as their own bubbles placed around. 

"Dedicate your heart!"