xxiii. NO MATTER WHAT

episode 34: opening

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

NO MATTER WHAT

•••

It wouldn't go away.

Laying the blame on the glaringly lit sun with fiery rays striking her from above and lambent down on her was an easy decision for her to figure. It was much more simple to lay the fault on the Colossal Titan for the steam that engulfed her. A sensible explanation that she could follow and expound. A reassurance in her head that clarified the pounding of her heart and flutter in her stomach knowing there was an unceasing flare of crimson and red that colored her skin bright and warm. Features flushed and irritatingly lucent on her complexion. However, no matter how stubborn and strenuous she bit on her tongue, gnawed the insides of her cheeks, and riveted the astringent taste of copper, the faint blush of pink on her cheeks wouldn't go away.

Unfortunately, Freya knew the true reason why.

Scampering horses and mumbles of scouts teemed in the air as the entirety of their ride was on top of the walls. It was said be a quick and straight route compared to taking a path through trees and dirt from what Freya heard. Frankly, she found herself bristling the surface on the very edge of the group, horse galloping on the left side of cadets and an irrational debate in her mind pondered the chances of her falling from the side soon. It was an option she considered doing herself, really. To plummet deep on the ground and let the darkness take over. She was desperately trying her best to ignore the squeeze in her heart, dredging for a distraction before she could wander back to her conversation with a certain raven haired man.

Although, the situation that she found herself in would work to distract her for the time being.

"Prepare to disembark!" A few spaces in front of her, Commander Erwin's order blared all the way to the back of the group. A conclusive reminder that they were nearing their destination. And soon enough, their riding came to a slow stop, spotting familiar figures of green and brown uniforms idly resting in front of them. A few of them stood in preparation, the rest laid on their backs, eyes closed and chest rising with slumbering exhales.

Strolling to the front came Moblit, shock reeling through his features as he breathed in relief. He gave a short salute. "You made it, Commander Erwin."

"Is the situation the same?" Commander Erwin dismounted his white stallion.

"Yes, sir." Moblit nodded.

"Good." The blonde man faced the array of soldiers behind him. "Deploy the lifts!"

Sliding off her horse, Freya was heedful to avoid the cadets that tramped through with additional gear and supplies. Head ducked low when a wooden beam came pass her, hearing the shuffle of boots skidding on the ground as they worked on the wooden and metal lifts from the side. Turning on her heels, she slightly jumped back at the sudden presence standing in front of her, mentally scolding herself for not even noticing. She blinked at the unexpected appearance, taking in the sight of his navy button down and hazel hair. "Moblit?"

Bringing a hand behind his neck, Moblit shared her a sheepish grin. His deep voice surprisingly soft and meek. "I just wanted to say Hange was right to trust you. You delivered the message earlier than expected."

"I don't know why she even does that." Freya admitted with a sigh. She then noticed the questioning and perplexed look Moblit sent her. She clarified. "Why she trusts me."

"She knows what she's doing." He paused, hands falling to his sides. "At least, most of the time."

"Are you supposed to be saying that?" Amusement filled Freya's eyes.

Shaking his head, Moblit continued, brown strands of his hair unruly. "That's not the point. But I think I'm starting to understand."

It was little odd for Freya to even comprehend that the two of them were even having a conversation. Between them, it was nothing more than simple nods of acknowledgements and curt replies to one another. To have him speaking to her without Hange, who usually started most of their talks in the dining halls back in headquarters, was unexpected. She raised an eyebrow. "You understand why she trusts me?"

"It's not hard to see why." He shrugged, shoulders raising in honesty.

Freya straightened at that. Curiosity seeped into her tone. "Care to explain?"

There was a small smile that formed on his face. His usual tensed expression gone. Calm and unnerved for that miniscule moment. Turning to be genuine and soft. He opened his mouth, seconds from speaking. Instead, an alarmed yelp escaped his throat. His brown irises seemed to turn hysteric as Freya's eyebrows rose at the reaction. Gaze shooting down, his eyes widened in double, seeing a hand enclosed around his ankle. "Hange?!"

"Moblit..." Goggles gone and face laid with blisters and burns, Hange squinted up. Eyes narrowed from the glaring sun that sheened down. Body turned and oriented flat on the ground. Heavily, she rasped to Moblit. "G-Give me a map."

It was tight. Compacted and ungainly. Shoulders compressed with one another. Seeing the distressed state Hange was in for her to not move, cadets had gathered around the woman. Clustered close. A tiny circle formed around to listen at the devised arrangement that she conjured up. Freya gritted her teeth at the distressing position that she was in. Knees bent, posture hunched with a few Military scouts breathing down her neck. Another two crammed her in the middle. The temptation to ram her elbows to those around her was strong.

Hange ran her palm on the crisp parchment map, smoothening the crease and folds of it. She jabbed a finger on the lower left corner. "It might be a long shot, but there's a giant forest here. We should head straight for it. Though, it's not like they have a way to hide the Armored Titan's footsteps, but I that's where they're headed."

"Why's that?" Kneeling in front of her, Commander Erwin asked.

"It's a gamble, but even if they have the strength to change into Titans, the other Titans outside the wall might still be a threat. Especially after all that fighting. They might not be as bad off as Eren, but I'm sure they're exhausted. Like how Annie was out cold for awhile. Let's assume for now that their destination is somewhere outside of Wall Maria. Considering the distance they'll have to cover, we can assume they'll need to recover their stamina. Which means they'll want to rest somewhere where Titans are unable to reach them. At least until nightfall when Titans can't move." Hange explained. She turned her head to the side. "What do you think?"

It was only then that Freya realized the question had been directed at her. She blinked once. Twice. A pair of brown eyes locked with hers. She weighed Hange's words in contemplation seeing as she did hunt people for a living. Coming to an abrupt stand, her back came colliding with the two cadets behind her. She could hear their faint groan roll in her ears, quiet curses slipping from their tongues. Her tone was light and merry, hidden amusement laid in her voice. She clasped her hands together with a shake of her head. "Nope. That about covers it."

Commander Erwin stood. "Let's move!"

With the crowd dispersing and returning back to work on the lifts, Hange slid the map away. "If we reach the forest before nightfall, we still might make it in time."

A second from walking, Freya turned around at the statement. Attention on the brunette in front of her. She was a little surprised to see that no one had even bothered on moving Hange from the ground. "We? You can't even stand."

"I'm in perfect shape." Hange unconvincingly assured. Though, one look at her showed how wounded she was, evidently in no condition to fight. She paused, pondering for a second. "Moblit will help me."

At mere mention of the name, Moblit joined them. He came to a stop beside Freya. Confused, he asked. "Hange?"

Fists clenched, Hange brought an arm forward, followed by the other as she seemed to drag herself on the ground to move, wiggling on the concrete surface like a worm. "G-Get me a horse."

"Where are you trying to go?" Moblit asked in disbelief.

"To that village where we captured the Titan who couldn't walk." Hange told him, still attempting to reel herself ahead.

"You mean Ragako? Connie's Village?" Freya questioned. She was well aware with the situation of the empty and somewhat deserted place. A rumoring ghost town. Vacate and haunting. Eerily sounding to be an abandoned site without a single living souls spotted in the area.

"I need to see it with my own eyes." The brunette said, determined.

"Don't say something so ridiculous. Your body can't take riding a horse right now." Moblit scolded. Hands on his hips, tone stern.

Like a child being called out by their own mother, Hange turned her head low. Gaze falling and features morphed in crooked devastation. However, she didn't stop. Still on the move, arms crawling. Now an inch past Freya's boots. "I have a hunch that we need to investigate."

Feeling Moblit's stare bore a hole on the side of her face, Freya turned her head at the man. He nudged his head down at Hange. Hazel eyes meaningful and pointed. A silent request for her to do something. Gaze back on the crawling woman, Freya's blue stare glinted in amusement, knowing damn well that they would outrun Hange by just taking three steps forward. She shrugged. "Looks like there's no stopping her."

Sighing rather loudly, Moblit's shoulders sagged down in defeat. "All right. I'll go there on my own, so you just stay here and faint or something." With a final shake of his head, Moblit strode away. Direction headed towards the Commander a few distances back to inform of the newly short operation. It was clear that regardless of how firm he was to reason with his superior, he couldn't be able to say no.

Now alone with Hange, it was as if Freya had stumbled upon a brief play. There was a sense of affected theatrics in the breeze. A melodramatic surge that interned Freya's regard on the woman as she lifted a hand up. Fingers clawing and grasping nothing but air, struggling pants coming from her mouth. It was dramatic. Entertaining. Within a second, Hange fell limp on the ground. Eyes closed and chin down, brown hair falling on her face as she passed out. Freya bit the insides of her cheek, failing to hide the smile that appeared on her face.

However, it soon dissolved. Slowly faded into a dismaying frown. Lips curved in the slightest that displayed her puzzlement. She squinted her blue eyes. Right hand outstretched in front of her. The many accessories of silver adorned her fingers.

"Uh-Oh, you got that look on your face."

Freya turned at the voice. With an eyelid shut close, the other open, Hange peered at her with a mischievous grin. The corner of her lips tugged up in a sly look. Freya arched an eyebrow. "What happened to you and fainting?"

"It got boring." Hange sighed sullenly.

A hum vibrated from her chest. "Laying around and doing nothing seems pretty appealing to me."

"Then who's gonna keep me company?" Hange mumbled. The tip of her pointer finger traced the ground, slowly dragging and creating visionary shapes and lines. "That's not what true friendship is."

"You..." Freya frowned. It took her a quick second to register her words. "You think we're friends?"

"Is that even a question?" Brown eyes went wide as if she had been in slight disbelief at what she was hearing. Hange beamed. "Of course, we are."

There wasn't a single ounce of hesitance in her words that Freya could detect. Not a single waver in her voice. Nothing but genuine excitement that spurred from her tone. It wasn't until a soft grip circled her calf that she snapped back to reality. Her brows furrowed. "What are you doing?"

Unabashed and antic, Hange's arm had made its way around Freya's leg. Locked tight and surprisingly firm with what little energy she had left. "I can't even move right now. The least you can do is stay with me."

"What is it with you and hugging me?" Freya asked, tilting her head to the side in genuine curiosity. She could already feel a few inquisitive stares dig their way into her back. Eyes darted left and right, she could faintly see Armin and Mikasa a few feet away. The two sitting side by side as they ate their block of crackers, idly watching the interaction between her and Hange. Beside them stood Sasha, Connie, Historia, and Jean. The four blinked, their conversation paused, brows raised in amusement. She averted her attention to Hange once more. "You're really not going to let go?"

Hange shook her head, indicating a firm no. With a reluctant sigh, Freya's fingers worked on the clasp of her gear. Leather harness undone and the metal weight gone from her waist as she gently dropped it off to the side. She lowered herself to the ground, legs crossed as she sat. In front of her, Hange took it upon herself to situate closer. Both her elbows rested on Freya's knees. Hands intertwined as she laid her chin on top of them. All the while, a grin formed on the brunette's face. Features morphed in triumph as Hange spoke. "I'm a little bit jealous you get to go out there. You're lucky."

Leaning back on the palms of her hand, Freya stared at the woman. "You actually want to face Titans?"

"I can't be stuck here doing nothing." Her shoulders rose. Freya passed the movement as a little shrug considering Hange's position. "Moblit should return soon."

"How long have you two known each other?" Freya couldn't help but ask. She could tell how Hange was warm-hearted to most. Even to a stranger she didn't know. Or a scout that she had never encountered. Seeming to be her usual behavior. Yet, there was something about the pair that told her their trust was immeasurable. A part of her was envious for it. "The two of you seem... pretty close."

"Not long really. I met him the day I joined the Survey Corps." Hange's brown eyes widened. "Levi, too!"

At the mention of his name, Freya couldn't care to conceal her surprise. "He was there?"

"Levi was an unexpected surprise to all of us." Hange recalled. "So was the others."

"Others?" Freya's back straightened. Shoulders taught as her interest rose. "What– What do you mean by that?"

"It's nothing for you to worry about." Hange said, turning to make it sound as if it was irrelevant. "Lost some people here and there on his mission. So did Moblit and I. More than you can count. You know how first expeditions go. I mean, you basically had the Female Titan chasing you!"

"Yeah, no need to remind me." A forced chuckle ripped from her throat. Licking her lips, she continued. "But what happened to the expedition?"

"I dunno, we were all put in different units back then. I heard the weather went bad that day. Everyone in his squad got wiped but him. He went quiet after that. Nothing new there, you know. But after burying the bodies of his squad mates, he became what everyone knew him to be..." Hange trailed off.

"Humanity's Strongest huh." Freya finished. Mind muddled at the very title. She ignored the teasing smirk Hange made, choosing to not think further of it as she directed the topic away. Despite the fact that she had been the one to bring it up. "What was your expeditions like?"

That seemed to have snap Hange in delight, eyes bright with anticipation. "Where to start?"

Freya wasn't sure how long time had passed, sitting crosslegged on the floor, drifting ten or more stories in her head from Hange. Surprisingly, she found herself glued onto each word, each tell, stuck in a strange world of Hange's adventures filled with a frank recount of frustration and glee, asperities and accomplishment she made in the Regiment, and genuine loss and determined success of her work. She didn't mind how open the woman was, somewhat grateful for a colorful change compared to a closed off response that she would usually get, feeling as if they were nothing more than little kids telling their day.

Admittedly, she found herself enjoying their time as her shoulders shook, palms of her hands flat on her stomach to control the messy laugh that bubbled from her throat. Her lips stretched wide as she smiled, quickly taking in the another past expedition story. It was one that took a year or two before, a chaotic tell of Hange nearly barring the life of Oluo in a chase with a Titan only to fall upon a dead body of a scout deep in the forest with an old worn out entree journal. The very thought of her past squad mates had a firm squeeze erupt in her chest, but the way Hange told the story did distract her from the sudden loss. "All that for a notebook?"

"It was more than a notebook!" Hange argued, proud at the sound of laughter entering her ears. "It was, well, it– it was everything! Uncovering the true nature of Titans has always been my primary objective."

Freya quirked na eyebrow. "Trust me, I'm aware."

"I'm serious!" Finding a loose thread hanging from the seam of Freya's pants, Hange twirled a finger around the thin material just on her knee. "Once this is all over, I'll let you read them. I've still go it with me after all this time."

"I'm holding you onto that." Freya agreed.

Instantly, a curt announcement from a scout broke through the air, seeming to pause their conversation as they turned their heads at the source. Heavy and creaking lift equipments rolled on the ground as they were settled off to the side, cadets set and prepared with refilled gears, and rows of horses had been lined below on the grass field. It would only be a matter of time before departure. The thought of leaving was one that Freya didn't look forward to, dredging the moments of facing a few particular Titans that were sure to come her way. She turned her attention back to Hange, the brunette blinking once and unusually quiet. The hand on her knee tightened.

Freya couldn't contain the smirk that grew on her face. "Are you going to miss me?"

"There's still so much to ask." Hange blew a baited breath. "But, yes, that too."

"I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, your life sounds more interesting than mine." Freya hummed as Hange wordlessly removed her hands from the blonde's legs. Standing, she quickly dusted off her hands by her thighs, bending to quickly attach her gear back on her waist. However, a quick sweep of her knuckles had her frozen on the spot, mind stricken with a tick of realization.

"What? What is it?" Hange asked, peering up in curiosity.

Freya was one to be rarely teed off by such an perverse and out of place item, typically brushing away sparse dilemmas under the rug or naturally withholding them for another time. However, it was a quiet tally in her head with meticulous counting and observance, attention squinted in deep intent of recalling. She could've sworn she had it all set and complete. Brindle slate of steel wrapped in the soft flesh of her right hand. For the time being, she didn't particularly mind how most her accessories rested on her unscathed digits, flashing a ridiculous glint of silver rings considering the bandaged wrap around her left. But what caught her concentration was the nearly empty space that had been left on her pointer finger. A single jewelry gone.

"I'm missing a ring."

•••

"Spread out! Take formation to locate any enemies!"

There was a constituent rhythm that Freya's heart followed. In beat with the ceaseless trudges and tramps of horses that raced around her on the stretching grass field directly after the announcement came. Hands tight on the reins of her horse, she turned her head. Gaze peering past behind her shoulder. Despite the growing distance between her and the towering grey border, she trained her stare on a familiar figure leaning on the edge of the wall. She nearly smiled at the sight. Chest swelling with amusement, blue eyes connecting with a pair of brown ones as Hange had managed to wave her hand wildly in the air for a farewell.

Without realizing it, Freya gave a subtle wave of her fingers back. Then out like a decadent light, flickering and turning, Freya watched as Hange collapsed hard on her chin. Eyelids close and mouth parted. Brown hair in front of her face. There was no mistaking that she would wake up anytime soon. Limp on the edge of the wall and motionless. It wasn't until Hange's form turned into nothing but a obscure dot in her vision that Freya returned her attention back to the front.

Soon after and a few spaces to her right, Hannes called. "Hey, Mikasa!" His attention had been directed to the speeding girl in front of them. A second call of her name gained nothing. Another, Mikasa finally whipped her head around, snapping and blinking in silent realization. Hannes scolded. "Stop pushing so hard. You're drifting near the vanguard. It'll ruin the whole formation. I know how you feel, but didn't I tell you? Eren won't get taken away without putting up a fight. Don't you agree?"

Mikasa managed to nod.

"You know he'll never give up." Hannes continued as Mikasa finally slowed, falling in line beside the man as she listened. "So it's up to us to stay calm and be there when he needs us. Just like we did back then."

Freya didn't mean to ruin such a special moment. It was an all too sweet reassurance that Mikasa needed, finding it to be thoughtful of the man to do. But the question slipped before she could reconsider withholding her tongue. "I'm sorry but who are you exactly?" She was well aware of his name and footing in the Regiment thanks to Armin, but she couldn't quite understand how profound his relation went with the rest. "To Eren, I mean."

Hannes was observant, careful with the selection of his words as his gaze fell upon the blonde, narrowed in scrutiny and inspection. "You're that bounty hunter I kept hearing about."

"All good things I hope." Freya mused.

"I'm someone who can probably do what you can't." All the affability of his tone disappeared.

"Which is?"

"Sacrifice my life for Eren. You?"

Frey was taken aback by the quick shift of his demeanor as she was startled by the intesnsity of his statement. She straightened on her seat, mind blank without an answer. In no way did she predict a response that had her suddenly sitting on edge. Blinking once. Twice. The corner of her lips twitched. "Way to lay it on me."

He turned his head back to the front. "I don't want anything to go wrong here so figure it out soon."

The entirety of the ride had plunged strenuously in unneeded silence that left the air tense and ungainly. Although Freya didn't mind the current state of the scouts around her, her thoughts were now consumed by a green eyed boy, often wondering on the endless possibilities of the mission. Every so often, one or two minutes passing, she would narrow her gaze on the rocketing flares that barreled in the sky. A number of green and red signals painting the horizon as their direction shifted to follow a secure path. She didn't bother to keep up with the dwindling time, seeing as they neared the forest of giant trees, a number of Titans looming behind its enormous trunks in anticipation.

The groups pace didn't slow. However, a quick and and faint slither of a flash beamed from within the leaves. Mikasa was the first to question the odd thing. "A light?"

"Straight ahead in the forest. I saw a light." Armin explained. "It's the light that appears when a Titan transforms!"

Freya blew a breath, slow and steady exhales puffing from her chest as she could hear the deep yell of Erwin from the front. "Soldiers, disperse! We believe the enemy has already transformed. Locate Eren and recover him! Battle is not our objective! Prioritize recovery and retreat!" He was direct and firm. Groups and rows of cadets disrupted into a cluttered mass that set of in different routes as Titans scrambled from their place, now chasing and large hands grabbing unfortunate cadets in their hold. Their shrill screams of panic and dread turned distant in her ears.

"Round up the horses! First thing is to find the enemy and let the others know. They should be fleeing from the forest!" Hannes informed as he led her, Mikasa, Armin, and a few of his Garrison men through thick columns of brown trunks and green. "Break!"

Fingers quick to grip the handle of her blades, Freya whirred immediately high in the air. A blur of green and specs of blue from the dimming sky filled her vision as she parted from her horse. The group had disassembled into pairs, shifting to opposite directions for a prompt search of a green eyed boy, scattered into the unknown. Moving to her left was Armin. Blue eyes focused and calculating. Suddenly, a high and pitched gravelly roar bellowed deep in the area. She paused, body swaying back and forth in midair at the unsettling sound. Head turning to Armin, Freya asked. "What was that?"

"It sounds different from the rest of the Titans." Armin noted, pointing a finger to a certain direction.  "Up ahead." Freya didn't question the boy as she followed his lead, keeping a close distance as he seemed to know where to go. Though, his sudden pause in maneuvering nearly had her knocking into him. Stopping by a tree, feet firm on the surface to rest, she followed his quiet stare, head turning in realization at the growing commotion a few feet in front of her.

"She's the one they took in Titan form!" Connie held both his blades firmly, reasoning with the two Military cadets in front of him who were seconds away from an attack. But what caught Freya to have her jaw falling slack and agape in complete surprise was heaving Titan perched beside Connie, nails sharp as an eagle's talon that dug deeply on the tree it held itself on. Connie turned to face the Titan, unfazed by the contradicting appearance of his comrade. "Hey, Ymir. Why are you the only one here? Where's Eren? What about Reiner? Bertolt?"

"So that's..." Armin swallowed. "Ymir."

"Did something go wrong with her transformation or what?" Freya voiced aloud.

If it hadn't been for all the obvious evidence pointing out to what everyone knew, Freya wouldn't have thought that the very Titan shown in front of her was Ymir herself. Brown hair matted that ended just above her shoulder, eyes dark and beady as a roaming beetle, and teeth jagged as the end of a hurling spear. She would've mistaken her for an abnormal Titan, not once questioning why it would appear strange. However, she was aware that it was heedful of their own body and mind, they're same usual self inside. Only she couldn't stop but compare it's short and stout frame to the four transfiguring shifters that she was mindful of.

"She probably turned and fought with Reiner." Swiftly, Mikasa arrived beside Freya.

"Ymir?" Surfacing from the opposite side, Jean asked. "Did you get away from Reiner? Where are they?!"

Landing on a tree beside him, Sasha added. "Tell us anything, Ymir!"

"Say something already!" Connie, now on top of the Titan's shoulder, stomped hard on the crown of Ymir's head. "Hey, ugly! We're in a hurry!" But the latter had been unaffected, head still shifting from left to right, almost in search for prey before Connie eventually returned to his previous spot.

"Is she keeping an eye out for Reiner?" Armin shook his head at the possibility that came to his mind. "Something's not right. Why is she looking at everybody one by one?"

"Maybe she can't talk?" It was an odd guess that Freya had threw in the piling stack of questions that weighed broadly in the atmosphere, watching as thick drops of drool ran down the corner of Ymir's open Titan mouth. She refrained a grimace from making a way on her face as it's sights settled on her figure for a fraction of a second.

"Ymir! Thank goodness. You're all right!" Historia's troubled call of the name echoed within the covert of greens as she whirred within their view, moving to join the group in weaving relief that morphed on her smiling features. Her blue eyes connected with a pair of dark and beady ones. Tears clear and threatening to spill in delight at the assembly.

Razor and jagged teeth bared wide open as Ymir's jaw hung expansive in a threatening snare, her feet propelling off in a sudden and all too quick leap that no had anticipated. Her direction was set and transparent as a short screech of their actions clawed from her throat. And within a second of appalled observation and still air, the untamed Titan devoured Historia's muddled frame, mouth consuming the girl whole with nothing but an unsightly view of her leg sticking from its puckered lips, lush with the capture before quick on an escape.

"No..." The color all fled away from Sasha's face.

"She..." Connie had gone wide eyed. "...ate Christa."

Brittle and thinned, strained as a cinched wire, something had snapped disdainfully in Freya's chest, heart rising in a quick whirl of shock that paused all thoughts in her head. Her body shifted before she could think, brain seeming to comprehend the last remaining seconds in disdain that reeled in her as she sound of her gear clicking in the air reverberated in her ears. Her gaze zeroed on the swift Titan, the sight of its bare back and whipping dark hair was nauseating as it leaped on trees, swung through thick branches. All rational thinking had left her mind blank and features paled. She turned her head, blonde hair falling in front of her eyes in sudden intensity, vision on the group as her voice yelled in desperation. "Move!"

Snapping from a trance of disbelief, the five youngsters pushed on their feet, body heaving in momentum as they followed. Jean huffed. "She's fast! We're losing her!"

"Why would Ymir do that?!" Mikasa gritted her teeth.

"I cant be the only one who could've guessed it would turn out this way." Jean responded.

"Yeah, she's clearly hostile to us now!" Armin said. "Looks like she's cooperating with Reiner. She lured us right in!"

Numerous feet away stood the end of the clearing, an open field of clear and smooth valleys breaking through the forest. Only a few meters close and Freya would have to soon catch up with Ymir's speeding form, her hands gripping leaves and branches as she swung from tree to tree, a wild creature that hurled in between greens to slip. Passing beside Freya was Mikasa. The girl was fast, determined to race with the Titan in drifting rage that blinded her. Freya eyed the girl in contemplation, teeth down hard on her tongue when a crackle of electricity resonated. It was faint. A sizzling sound that anyone would have mistaken it for a gnash of branch breaking. But it was all too familiar for Freya to understand.

"Slow down!" Inhaling a sharp and panic breath, Freya pulled on the back of Mikasa's collar, hauling the girl behind as her attention snapped to the front. A yellow flash of lightning painted the corners of her vision white, coming from the ending row of the forest trees as two figures jumped from high leaves, a glimpse of Reiner's blonde hair peaking from the image.

The heated impact of the surging Titan transformation pushed her slightly back in retreat considering how dangerously close she had been in trailing behind Ymir. The unexpected strike and lost of control with her gear from the surprise had her colliding with a tree, back ramming against the rough bark as Mikasa collapsed in front of her, the girl's body coming in contact with her chest as all the air was heaved out of her lungs, the two sitting on a large branch that fortunately withheld them. Stifling a groan, Freya blinked, peering above Mikasa's shoulder in confusion.

"No..." Mikasa mumbled under her breath, tone impending with distress as the Armored Titan bounded away on a run, Ymir and Bertolt clinging on the hardened plates of its shoulders. Tied and fasted with constraints on Bertolt's back was Eren, eyes closed and unconscious, unaware of the situation. "Eren's being taken away."

"Don't stop! Get on your horse and chase!" Hannes yelled from below as he maneuvered to catch up, behind him had been their rounded up horses. With Mikasa pushing herself off to join the man, Freya had followed, jaw tightening as she stood, a shaky breath falling past her lips. Plummeting deep to the ground, she found a horse for herself, the rest now galloping around in an attempt to reach the Armored Titan. "We're getting him back no matter what. Even if it means trading my life for it!" Hannes reminded, voice gruff before craning his head to the side. Dark eyes settled on Freya. "Got your answer yet?"

It wouldn't go away.

The question, plainly direct and simple, never did leave her head. She knew what he meant, his previous ask now vivid and true. It circled her thoughts, plagued her conscience with kindling contrition set on rearing. It would eat her up, devour every inch of her body, sink underneath her flesh and gnaw her bones with regret that she wouldn't understand. The very thought settled heavily on taught shoulders, stiff as a metal wire that coiled around her spine. The very answer settled wearily on the tip of her tongue. Dangerously hooked on the edge of despair and selfness. Somehow, she couldn't find it in herself to release those very words, swallowed in a pit of uncertainty that plummeted deep in her stomach. She forced a nod of her head.

"No matter what."

•••

— AUTHOR NOTE —

my arm is now fine thank u guys for ur concern about it last time! my overdramatic ass thought my doctor was going to pull an erwin smith on me. and for those who didn't know, i just published a gojo fic so check that out if u want. my heart couldn't handle writing hange and freya together more updates coming soon!