You're Not Alone

•33•

"He's alright. Disgusting, but alright," Levi scowls. "What did I tell you about trying to take her down? Now come on. We've got Eren. That means our work here is done. Don't screw this up by making it personal, you understand? We all get that you love him, but try not to act crazy."

Even Levi notices Mikasas infatuation with my brother. She'd be the one to act recklessly on his behalf. I look at the female Titan who is now steaming. We need to get away before she heals.

"I- I was just-" Mikasa stutters.

"Come on," I pull at her jacket and we follow behind Levi who is carrying my brother.

I see him glance back at the Titan and I follow his gaze. We can clearly see a tear coming out of her eye. Wether it is a tear of sadness or pain, it's odd to see it.

We meet up with the others who have horses and wagons with them. Levi places Eren down on the wagon and I make sure his head has a jacket under him for the bumpy ride.

We make up camp away from the woods and lay all the dead bodies in a row. All are covered in blankets that are tied on.

I watch Levi walk over to one of the bodies. Looking at the hand I notices one of them has a bite mark on their thumb. It's someone from team Levi.

Near me, I see that Jean and Armin are loading up some of the bodies into a wagon. I'm glad to see they are okay. Jean stands up and I can barely hear the words he's saying, but I can make it out.

"This is the part of our job I'll never get used to," he frowns.

"You're not alone in that," Armin replies.

"Seem's like death is just everywhere. All I can think about is how it'll end," I watch Jean's face sadden. "Which one of us is next and whether it'll be me."

"Try not to obsess over it," Armin reassured him. "Only thing that train of thoughts good for is breaking your nerve. Believe me. Push it out of your mind."

"I suppose you're right," Jean sighs and jumps from the wagon. "Nah, I know you're right."

I frown at their words. Everyone looks like they are ready to get home and never leave their rooms again. Who can blame them... we lost over half our comrades.

I go over to Sasha and Connie who are feeding their horses. Bodt is next to them, so I join the two and feed my own horse. She came and found me as soon as we left the forest. I'm glad I picked her as mine.

"So how much longer 'til our numbers up, you think?" Connie asks Sasha and I.

"I dunno, but we've made it this far," Sashas usual cheery voice sounds more forced.

"Yeah, luck of the draw," Connie frowns. I just rub Bodt's mane and sigh.

"So what?" I speak up. "We're alive. Be glad for it."

"Sorry... it's just kind of hard to celebrate around so many bodies." I look at connie. "They'll never see home again. Why should we?"

"Because someone has to explain to their families that they died heroically," I feel tears well up in my eyes.

Before I start crying again, I walk away and kick rocks to distract myself. But there's no distraction from all the bodies around us.

I overhear a couple of soldiers arguing with Commander Erwin about going back to retrieve their friends body. They don't want to go home and have nothing to give their dead friends family.

I can sympathize with them, but it's also too dangerous to go back. There were dozens of Titans on the edge of the forest when we left. With all the wagons full of bodies, we won't be able to out run any of them.