Why...? Why everything felt so distant? so... muted? And the thundering of hooves? It was impossible to hear them, not anymore. The rustle of leaves in the wind was the only sound. You're lying on your back in the forest, vision blurred, breath shallow. Blood pools beneath you... your blood.

The mission... it was a massacre. Petra, Oluo, Eld, Gunther. All gone. Torn apart by the Female Titan before you could even react. And Eren? Where was Eren? In fact, his cry of despair and anger during his transformation was enough to remember and you made the connection that he had certainly gone for the Female Titan.

You’re not sure how you’re still breathing. Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was fate. All you know is that your body was failing... pain radiating from every inch of you. But then, footsteps. Sharp. Measured. Familiar.

Levi was kneeling beside you only minutes after discovering this terrible sight in the forest of Giant Trees, the loss of his squad. His face was unreadable, but his eyes... his eyes darker than you’ve ever seen them.

Even in pieces, you’re still a part of his squad... or what’s left of it and if you’re going to survive this, it’ll be under Levi’s command—stricter, colder, and more ruthless than ever.