Thanatophobia |Levi Ackerman|

Chapter 46

We started off nice and early that morning as we exited the gates. I was on edge for quite a while, but after about an hour of riding, we had yet to have passed a single Titan. Hange had hypothesized that we'd see a few but that most of the Titans had already made it inside of wall Maria.

Our sheer scent called them to us so they likely had already come straight for us. We knew a wave was due either today or tomorrow morning. Though based on the time and the plains ahead it was going to be tomorrow which was good for us. Fewer roadblocks meant we could get to our destination faster.

What almost amazed me most was the fact that not one of us looked back as we raced away. Several other units and the rest of Levi's squad also were out to survey the land now that it was mostly safe. Though they weren't supposed to go too far just yet, we would be the ones to make it.

We had the road for about 5 hours before the area started to look different. We had been used to seeing large open fields and small clusters of trees and forests. Soon enough we could see massive walls. The walls didn't stand quite as tall as the ones we had at home but still tall.

The whole idea that something actually existed past our walls, that something was built saw the shocked faces as we rode up on our horses. We came to slow as we entered the sandy area.

"This is the place; I'm sure of it. This is where they dump the Titans." Eren said looking at the wall with a strange look on his face.

"How do you know?" Levi asked looking at the wall just as confused as the rest of us.

"I've just seen it before. In my memories, well not mine but..." Eren trailed off but we had understood enough of what he meant.

I gripped the reins of my horse a little tighter and took a deep breath. Even though seeing tall walls around me was nothing new it still felt weird because they were not the same walls I knew. I mean the shock of the book we had found was real enough.

There was however a small chance it wasn't true. We didn't know for a fact anything actually laid outside these walls. Though now standing here in a literal sandpit it had no choice but to set in.

"Just up that hill." Eren said heading off towards the wall.

I looked to Hange who looked to be at a loss for words. She looked to us before following Eren blindly. I could hear sounds in the distance. If they didn't sound like anything alive. It didn't even sound mechanical. It sounded ambient like the wind but... different.

We followed and my nose was picking up a scent that I couldn't quite put my finger on. So many things were confusing my senses as I followed. I looked at Armin and he was smiling as we trekked straight ahead. I felt us start to go up the incline and the rocks here were huge. They outlined a path for us as we climbed the incline.

We had been in shade for a few months and silence hung over us as we didn't want to come here loud and proud. Though I was confident of our abilities, I didn't want to put them to the test.

As we came into the sunlight again I could see as far as the land went. Except where there should have been land, there was water. A sort of canal was begun this wall and where I would have expected a small area of water there was a massive body of water.

The ocean.

Just like how Eren and Armin used to dream and talk about. The water rippled as the wind blew and I saw the water rise and fall along the shoreline. I stopped my horse just taking it all in.

Despite the last few days being cold, the sun was causing it to feel incredibly warm. I almost felt the need to take off my jacket. I heard Armin gasp as he kept going forward to the edge of the small cliff. I felt the wind pick up and I heard all of our cloaks blow in the wind.