𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙴𝚗𝚎𝚖𝚢 |𝙰𝚘𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌

Chapter 20 - Action Part 1

As soon as the wall fell, Mara's first thought was Jean. She had been glad before that they weren't assigned to the same group but now he seemed too far away from her. She wished she'd paid more attention to the role call. Where had he been assigned? On the wall? No, Connie and Sasha were up there. Shit, she hoped they were okay. And Eren, that stubborn bastard, he had more to do with his life than die here.

Mara turned the corner towards the Garrison Headquarters, when the town bell began ringing. In all the time that she'd lived in Trost, it had never been as loud as it was now. It echoed, bouncing off the wall of every building until the sound seemed to have no source.

"Please evacuate as we have drilled!" soldiers' voices called out, "leave all personal belongings behind."

Almost instantaneously, the citizens of Trost began to flood the streets. They ran in a blind panic, their only motivation was survival. Mara lost her bearings in the crowd, the rush of people knocking past her brought her back to the past. Another time similar to this one, memories of these same streets and the feeling of overwhelming loss.

Focus. Now isn't the time to lose yourself in memories, she thought.

The crowd continued to push past her in the direction of Wall Rose. She needed to get away from the footflow or she'd be swept with them. Mara moved against the swarm of people to the side streets away from main roads. She knew these roads. After her father left for a battle he'd never return from she'd become accustomed to dodging law enforcement on these very streets. A route to the Keep was beginning to form in her mind.

"Cadet!"

Mara was so focused on the path ahead she almost missed a Garrison Captain calling to her.

"Cadet!"

She turned towards the voice. She recognised the dark stubble and piercing gaze of Captain Ryler. Mara's first instinct was to turn and run but she had to remind herself she wasn't a vagabond with a stolen loaf of bread anymore. She was a real proper cadet, no soldier, and Ryler wouldn't recognise the girl that stood before him. She wasn't the same wide-eyed street urchin she was before. Mara straightened up.

"Yes, sir."

"Is there any reason you've left your post?"

"Well I-"

"No matter," Ryler interrupted, "you may assist my squad in escorting the civilians towards Wall Rose while we wait for our next commands."

"But, Sir I-"

"You may be wearing the uniform but you are no longer a cadet, and need I remind you a soldier's first priority is always his superior's command."

Mara nodded. He was right, she'd known when she conscripted that her own feelings wouldn't matter in a crisis. She couldn't walk away no matter who it was for.

"Good choice, soldier," Ryler said, "now fall in."

He gestured behind him towards his squadron who adjusted their formation so that there was a clear space for Mara to occupy. Mara stepped in beside a middle-aged man and a young blonde woman who gave her a reassuring smile. She felt naked next to them without her ODM gear and a touch inadequate but she couldn't let her lack of experience deter her. She was a Garrison soldier, just like she'd wanted.

Even so, as she walked she couldn't help but feel empty. She'd gotten what she wanted but she still wasn't satisfied. She couldn't stop thinking about Jean. She learned from the Garrison soldiers that Trost had not yet been breached by Titans and there had been no casualties, yet the nagging feeling didn't leave. She pushed it down; it was probably due to the fact she wasn't a real soldier yet. Once she'd donned the proper uniform she'd fit in. She was sure of it.