Eren POV
At first there was nothing.
They were waiting for something to happen with breaths stuck in their throat.
Until they heard it.
The sound of hooves, thunder-like and powerful like the magnificent creatures emerging from the forest's borders. They were glinting in the last remnants of sunshine, a deep red clashing with their dark fur; a harsh reminder of the night and its dangers. A threat intertwined with elegance and graceful movements.
Around them the world kissed the sun goodbye and the moon greeted the animals with milky light that only seemed to serve the purpose of urging the approaching creatures on.
A rumbling echoed through the night when they came to a sudden halt in front of the stunned trio. They were taller than any horse Eren had ever seen. Somehow, he felt connected to the whisper of intelligence in their calm eyes.
Kou chuckled quietly but Eren couldn't take his eyes off the three animals that were standing rather proudly in front of them, snorting and shaking their heads to show off their long manes.
"What-"
"Those are three horses of the king's personal lifeguard.", Kou said and bowed her head when one of the animals met her eyes. "We have managed to get to them a few years ago. Since then they haven't left our sides, no matter how often we gave them an opportunity to flee."
"Years...", Eren whispered with a speechless huff. "You have been waiting for my return all those years?"
"Of course.", Kou answered so softly that Eren almost didn't catch her words. "And you will get all your answers, I promise. But let's not waste any more time. The others can't wait to finally meet you."
- - -
It was a challenge at first to get on the back of those giant horses. Eren was almost certain they would throw them off their backs the second they sat down and yet they surprised him when they stood still and waited for Armin and Eren to get on the first horse, while Mikasa and Kou mounted the other two horses.
"All that lives is connected. Only a fool would doubt this one truth of the universe."
Holding on to the horse's mane and feeling his best friend's arms around his waist, Eren fondly remembered his grandmother's words and found how true they were in the feeling of the horse's heart beating against his shin and the hard breaths of Armin on his neck.
Kou steered her mare inside the forest and shortly after that they disappeared between the giant trees, hidden from unwanted eyes through their crowns.
The wind was cold and sharp against Eren's cheeks and he relished in the feeling of freezing air meeting his lungs with every breath he took. He dared to close his eyes for a second and trusted his mount to find the right way.
Around him he heard sharp breathing, the wind being their constant companion; it picked up leaves and was biting at Eren's skin like small needles.
The thing inside him roared at the feeling of getting carried over the earth almost as if they were flying and for the first time since it had awakened inside of his heart, Eren smiled at the feeling of it being that close to his soul.
Armin clung tightly to him and should have been the only source of warmth. But Eren felt like all the heat he needed was given to him by the creature that was now a part of him.
He opened his eyes and was met with the astonishing sight of the mountain getting bigger and bigger with every second, rising above their heads and close to meeting the clouds that had formed this night to hide the moon. To hide them.
Eren let go of the horse's mane with one hand and held it up as if he wanted to reach the top of the trees they passed.
He laughed breathlessly when the wind danced around him rather than tear at his fingers. It was a strange but welcomed feeling – a feeling of being connected to nature itself. Of being a part of it and the plans it had for earth and life.
Kou looked back over her shoulder and met him with a slight smile.
He nodded at her with excitement written across his face. She shook her head, the smile not fading from her face and turned back around while Mikasa didn't look as happy as her about Eren's enthusiasm.
"When will we arrive?", she shouted against the wind.
"Soon.", Kou answered and pointed at something they had yet to see. "Follow my lead."
Mikasa grumbled something but her voice was too quiet for Eren to hear.
He wondered what was going on between those two and felt a twinge of regret at the realization that he didn't know much about both of his friend's life at the moment.
Eren sighed and got a grip on the mare's mane again with Armin shuddering softly as the wind picked up its pace and cut into their thin clothing.
They continued riding like that for a while until the trees finally revealed the great chain of mountains behind the dark forests, reaching high above their heads as if they were to fight the clouds.
Eren raised his chin and narrowed his eyes at the snow glimmering on top of those stony giants.
Kou got her horse to slow down a bit und waited for them to follow her example. Together they came to a halt, maybe a mile away from where the paths led upwards over the mountain chains.
"Up there we'll find them." She gestured at some point but neither Eren nor his friends knew what to look for. "Prepare yourself."
"For what?", Mikasa hissed. "You said they wanted us there."
"And I stand by my word.", Kou answered calmly. There was a strange cold glimmering in her eyes when she turned her head to look all three of them in the eye. "But they aren't new to the danger of getting found out. All of them will be ready to fight until their very last breath. If they can't recognize us fast enough then they will start attacking."
"We understand.", Eren said and sent Mikasa a sharp glare as his sister wanted to argue some more with the girl. She stood down but with clenched teeth and her fingers tight around her mare's hair.
Eren motioned for Kou to show them the way.
The girl nodded at him with narrowed eyes. But he couldn't detect a hint of worry behind them. Just her earnestness. And for now it would be enough.
They were long gone when another pair of feet stepped out of the forest and hard eyes took in the mountain's silhouette.
None of them could have foreseen the danger they were in.
(This took way too long....rly sorry about that.
We are about to meet the revolutionaries. How will they react? Will they attack them as Kou predicted? And who is following them?
Hope you liked this short chapter! I will try to make the next one longer again! Thanks for reading anyway!)
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Coming for your heart
同人小说|| Book 1 || Eren Yaeger had to flee from his home when he was only six years old. With his mother and his adopted sister he tries to forget anything related to the King and the secrets they left behind. Many years later war comes for Eldia and Er...
