Attack On Titan The Shadow Beneath Me

Silence Brings Attention

   “Wow, I really thought Shadis was gonna kill Potato Girl!" A boy by the name of Connie Springer said, sighing with relief. There was a little incident during the introduction this morning. A cadet named Sasha Braus saw fit to steal a steamed potato from the mess hall and decided to eat it during the introductions.

   “Yeah, what a helluva first day," a brunette with ocean green eyes agreed. “Its funny, really, how being told to run until the sun sets didn't seem to bother her nearly as much as losing meal privileges for the next five days."

   “She said she was from Dauper. If I remember correctly, that's a small hunting village up in the mountains." Connie put in. The brunette suddenly removed his gaze from Potato Girl and stared at a cart filled with people, their heads hanging to hide their shame. “What is that?" He pointed with his chin.

   “Those are drop outs." A girl named Mina sighed sadly.

   “What? But it's only the first day!" The Armin kid gasped.

   “That's the way it is..." The brunette said with confidence. “If you can't handle the pressure, you gotta leave." He continued with an impassive face, and then turned his gaze back towards the sunset. “I'm surprised anyone would rather pull plants than fight."

   “Hey, Eren", a cadet named Marco tried to get his attention, “I know about some of us, but you never told us where you came from?" He finished off with a question rather than a statement. Eren snaked his right arm around Armin's shoulders with a toothy grin.

   “I'm the same as Armin: from Shiganshina." He gave Armin a little shake. 'Best friends, huh?' I glanced at them from the corner of my eyes with envy. Then, I heard a voice.

   “What about you, Analise?" Eren asked kindly. I blinked twice, a little taken back that someone actually cared about where I had come from. 'Silence really does bring you attention.'

   “I... um... lived with my folks in the hills by Shiganshina." I placed a hand on my forehead, feeling slightly light headed. “I wasn't there when it happened, though... I had already moved to Trost by then because I chose to stay with an older friend of mine. But my parents, uh... they g-got killed, argh!" I cringed at the sudden nauseating pain I felt in my stomach. I dropped hard on my knees, clutching my stomach and resting my forehead on the wooden platform, my ravenous black hair slowly sliding towards the ground. It took a few moments for it to go away; I felt a hand prod me gently on the shoulder. With the little strength I had regained, I lifted my head to see Armin holding out a hand. Reluctantly, I gripped his hand and allowed him to to lift me off the ground. Just as my legs were about to hive up on me again, Eren came forth and brought my arm around his neck and kept a hold of my waist in his other arm. “You need to cool off a bit." He said softly. “Here, sit down." He signaled Armin to pull a chair from a stack on the far end of the corner on the little patio we were hanging out in. Slowly, I dropped onto the seat, pulling my right hand over my stomach and channelizing heat like I did with Jean. The warmth bolted through my body, spreading around like wildfire. Suddenly, I heard a growling sound. I looked up to see Connie holding his stomach. “Sorry 'bout that." He laughed sheepishly while awkwardly rubbing his shaved head. “I haven't eaten for almost a day." 'Tch, softie."

   “A day isn't that much a deal." I remarked bluntly.

   “Easy for you to say, You're probably pampered." Connie retorted, slightly angling his body to hide his blushing face.

   “Honestly, it's been almost a week since my last meal; I've been giving my rations to younger, motherless children since the whole 'Wall Maria Incident.'" I informed him. All of their mouths gaped open. “If you know how to control your body, you can go for months without eating."

   “Wow!" Armin gasped in awe and concern. “No wonder why you barely managed your body weight a few moments ago." My only response was a shrug.

   “Well, I do plan to ask Shadis to allow Sasha my eating rights. It wouldn't bother me; it's been nearly a week. What's another five days?" I turned my eyes back to the sunset, which was now just a semi circle of apricot colored light.