Where Feathers Fall (AoT Isekai)

Muffled thuds strike against the earth, dry leaves crunching under the hoofbeats of their convoy. Sweat beads roll down the temples of newly accepted scouts as they make their way through the trail bearing the blaring heat from above. The sun is relentless today.

Horses neigh once in a while, along with a curse for the heat. Mostly from Jean. The teen wipes the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand, "How much farther?"

Their escort, an established scout team leader, eyes the complainer with a hard face. "Close."

Y/n's mount pulls against the reins again, and she places her palm against its crest, "Calm, girl." Her mare, it seems, doesn't like her. Y/n can't remember if she accidentally did something to make her dislike y/n.

Another horse trots up to her side, and y/n looks to find Sasha with a slight smile directed at her mare. A moment so fleeting like a butterfly, yet y/n couldn't catch it. Sasha's smile falls away, and her eyes position themselves front again, a hollow watch returning.

Y/n opens her mouth to say something, but. . . what?

"Is that it?" A deep voice asks the escort. Reiner gestures to the structure emerging out of the grove. The Scout Regiment headquarters stands isolated — weathered stone and thick timber coming together to create the castle. Ivy creeps along the cracks of the stone walls, marking its age.

Only as they pass through the wide, arched doorway do they see signs of life. At the peak of the arch, flies the green flag — the Wings of Freedom, matching the cloaks of the soldiers inside. To the side of the building lie the stables for horses and in front that, the training yard enclosed by a simple wooden fence.

Curious eyes turn their way as they follow the escort through the entrance.

"So, this is the scout HQ, huh?" Jean's voice isn't quiet, "A bit. . underwhelming."

It's the escort who gives him a dirty look, "It's effective for our daily operations. The woodland around makes perfect ODM environment, and the wide yards allow for practice." He releases a harsh breath, "Anyways, I will take you all to Eld Jinn, after that, you're not my problem anymore."

They dismount at the stables, and some of the stablehands come out for the horses. Y/n releases the reins, carefully swinging one leg over and landing on the ground. A painful jolt runs up her calf — she needs to get better at dismounting. The reins are suddenly tugged from her hands. The mare neighs, almost in irritation.

"There, there," A warm voice comes from behind her, and follows it a middle-aged woman with a gentle smile. Her rough fingers grab onto the loose reins from y/n and she lends out a hand for the horse to smell.

"I think she hates me," Y/n says, untying the knots of the satchel. The mare as if sensing her, moves away.

The woman chuckles lightly, her brown hair secured tight in a bun reminding her of Annie. "No, that is not the case."

Y/n watches as the woman grabs hold of the leather noseband of her mare, nudging it slightly. The mare tosses her head, flinging it almost in irritation. "Hush, now, I'll fix it." Experienced hands grab around the headstall, and with a few twists, the latch loosens.

The mare instantly seems to calm down.

"Oh," Y/n says, "So, she doesn't hate me."

The woman shakes her head with an amused tilt in her lips, "No, she doesn't. Perhaps, she should, considering you didn't notice how tight her latch was the entire ride."

Y/n averts her eyes, shame burning her cheeks, "I don't have a lot of experience with horses."

"Form up, recruits! Eld's waiting for you." Their escort snaps, and y/n quickly undoes the knots, grabbing the heavy satchel that contained her belongings, and follows the group.