Whispers within the Walls || Attack On Titan x OC

"To think we're back to square one in less than an hour after leaving the walls..." Jean muttered, frustration weighing in his voice.

Thanks to Krista's timely help, the five of them were now back on the move, trying to regroup with the formation.

Pierce held the reins of the horse as she rode behind Krista, the two sharing the mount.

Krista's cheeks were slightly flushed, feeling the faint pressure of Pierce's chest against her back. Meanwhile, Pierce wore the same impassive expression she always did.

"Things are even bleaker than I thought," Jean continued, glancing back at them. "And for some reason... it went the opposite way from the vanguard command team."

Pierce narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. 'Jean's right...' she mused. 'That Titan—it was staring at its palm like it realized something... or remembered something.'

'There's no mistaking it.'

Suddenly, the sharp thump of a flare launcher broke through the air. All heads turned toward the left.

Green smoke curled up into the sky.

"A green round?" Jean asked, brow furrowing.

"Looks like they're changing the course... and continuing the operation," Armin observed, his eyes tracking the distant trail of smoke.

"No way... that wasn't a retreat signal?" Krista asked, snapping out of her thoughts, concern creeping into her tone.

"What is Commander Erwin thinking...?" Jean muttered.

"All soldiers are supposed to have the right to decide when mission success is no longer possible," Reiner added, eyes narrowed. "Could be Command never saw our emergency flare."

"Even if we don't know," Pierce spoke up, her voice steady, "What we need to do hasn't changed."

Her gaze remained fixed on the open plain ahead. She reached for a flare round from her waist and fired it into the sky—another burst of green smoke rising to continue the pattern.

"Don't tell me..." Jean said, his voice dry, "You had smoke rounds this whole time?"

Pierce turned slightly, sticking out her tongue with a deadpan look.

Jean groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

⸻

"Hey, what are we doing in this tourist spot?" Jean asked, eyeing the towering forest on their left. "We're way off from both the original destination and the return point."

"I don't know..." Armin replied softly, "But it's Commander Erwin's order."

The five had regrouped with the other soldiers and eventually reached an unfamiliar area—an expansive forest filled with massive trees that made Titans look like dwarves compared to it.

'I never expected a place like this to even exist,' Pierce thought, her eyes drifting up the bark of one of the impossibly tall trees.

"He must have a plan," Armin added.

"What kind of plan?" Jean muttered, still staring ahead. "Are they planning to hold a welcome ceremony for us new recruits at a tourist spot?" He asked, his tone clearly sarcastic.

But Armin, earnest as always, replied, "No, I don't think so."

Pierce sighed. "Armin. He's clearly joking..."

Krista giggled softly from in front of her, which made Pierce's brow twitch in amusement.

"Anyway," Jean continued, "that giant woman is still tailing us. Whatever this plan is, we can't stay put for long."