Outside the Walls (Attack on Titan fanfiction)

Chapter 13- Day One

She didn't have a crowd to see her off. She didn't have a farewell committee or a party to commemorate the moment.

She was alone.

As usual.

Ayano now rested beneath a tree, sipping small amounts of water from her flask. Her horse grazed on the soft grass. A map was spread out in front of the silver haired girl. According to what she calculated on the map (which she learned from Armin), Ayano had to travel for about two and a half days to reach the border of Shiganshina.

Ayano put her flask away and rolled the map up. She leaned against the tree, scattered sunlight casting shadows over her blank face. She didn't know what to do next. She had to let her horse rest.

Ayano rummaged through the bags and withdrew her green book. She took one of the bottles of ink and her feather pen.

Day One-

So far the journey has progressed without any complications. It's late afternoon... about 4 or 5. If I have calculated correctly, my destination is three days away, maximum. I have absolutely no idea where my home is, but I just know where I have to go.

Ayano stopped writing when her horse nudged her. She put the book away, knowing that the mare was ready to travel again. The cargo was loaded onto the horse along with the saddle, then they set off again.

~

Eren waited patiently in the bushes. He and his horse had taken the next elevator west of where Ayano departed. He had hoped to cut them off.

But he didn't know if she would even head west. He acted on his gut feeling.

Eren rubbed the back of his neck. Like I always do. He sighed and sat back, stroking his resting horse. The stallion's dark brown hair glistened in the setting sun's rays.

The horse picked up its ears. A few moments later, Eren also heard a distant sound. Ayano came speeding by, her white hair going by in a blur.

Eren waited for her to dissappear into the horizon, then he hopped onto his horse and sped after her.

He kept her silver white hair always in sight, yet stayed out of hers. Eren also made sure to guide his horse near the foliage in case he had to disappear. The sun had set and a full moon took its place. The colour was so much like Ayano's hair, and Eren saw it glisten in the moonlight. After a few hours of riding, Ayano slowed down when she had reached a house torn to pieces. The roof had caved in, leaving only little more than half of the structure standing.

Eren watched Ayano as she unloaded her things from the soft white mare, fastened a rope around her neck and tied that to a wooden post. After that she took a few sips from her flask and ate some of her stored food.

Ayano proceeded to walk around the ruined house, searching through every nook and cranny. Eren opened his red book and began scribbling.

Day 1-

Ayano reached an abandoned house early into the night. Somewhere around 9. She's now looking through the house. I don't know what she might find there, though.

Eren looked up and saw her holding something. The brunette took out the contraption that Hanji gave him. He looked through it, and it really did make faraway objects seem so much closer. Hanji might be a bit eccentric, but her mind was brilliant when it came to inventions.

Ayano was holding a toy. A little doll made from material stuffed with hay. It had black buttons for eyes, although one was falling out. Its little pink dress had been caked with old blood. Eren saw Ayano's hands tremble, then her hand flew to her mouth. Ayano dropped to the floor - she shook violently for a while. When she finally stopped, it was obvious that she was out of breath. Eren had to restrain himself when he saw her wipe away tears with her sleeve. He watched her next actions and recorded it as well.