"(Y/N)? Where are you off to?"

Glancing over my shoulder at Sasha to acknowledge her, I turned back to finish checking my horse's girth strap, giving her a pat before dusting off my hands.
"Some cattle were spotted from the east of Wall Rose. Thought I'd go and round them up." I explained, wincing as she began to choke on the bread roll she was eating.

"W..wait, on your own?! There are titans out there, ya know?!" She exclaimed, following after me once I started leading my mount from the stables.
"Yeah? And? I'm not going far. They're close by, and we need all that we can get. Everyone else is too busy, so may as well pull my weight."

Totally not an excuse to be free for a while...

The brunette dashed ahead of me, skidding to a halt in front of the doors and stretching her arms wide across.
"No way! I'm all for you finding something to do, (Y/N), but Maria is dangerous! Especially all on your own!"

I found her concern sweet, yet annoying at the same time. Heaving a sigh as my horse snorted, I reached out and nudged her arm, offering her a reassuring smile.
"You do realise I survived out there for years, right? Alone? It'll take an hour, tops. What, you think I might try to run away?"

It would have been a lie to say that the thought hadn't crossed my mind, but I wasn't about to tell her that. Realising she was never going to be able to sway me, Sasha deflated as she stepped aside, letting me continue on.
"No, but...it's super stupid! Way too reckless!" She continued to call after me, but I just waved over my shoulder to her, eventually climbing onto my horse once clear of the barracks.

Both Rose and Sina needed food. With limited farmland, crops and livestock were scarce, and now that we had welcomed many from the underground, we needed whatever we could find. Not only would fetching the stray cattle be a big win, but I would also get the chance to clear my head.

"Going for a ride?" When I flinched, my stirrups clinked, and I glanced down to my side to see Jean and Armin approaching.
"Uh, yeah. This little lady needed to stretch her legs..." I hadn't named this one. After losing Boy, and being unable to locate Liberty after our felon faze, I just couldn't see the point anymore.

"You do realise you're headed towards the wall, right? There's nowhere to ride." Armin pointed out, and I tightened my hold on the reins as they stared at me expectantly.
"Just doing a circuit. Gonna turn around at the guard post and make my way back..."

When did I get so bad at lying?

Jean cocked a brow as he moved to rub the nose of my mount, and I stood my ground, praying that he wouldn't see right through me.
"Why do you have your gear on?" Internally cussing, I shrugged my shoulders, looking off to the side.
"Ah, y'know, I like to be prepared. Wanted to get some odm training in once I finish up. Don't wanna get rusty..."

Humming in response, it seemed to be enough to appease Jean, yet he stayed put, lathering the chestnut mare with attention. Not only was it frustrating that I was being interrogated, but I still hadn't quite recovered from the little kiss we had shared the week before.

"You? Getting rusty? You're the fastest out of all of us, (Y/N)." Armin laughed, obviously skeptical of my story, but choosing to let it slide. "I suppose we better get a move on, then. We've been asked to lecture the new recruits about flare signals." Giving me a friendly wave, the blond continued on, but the copperet lingered behind.

"So...I was wondering..." He started, finally looking up at me, moving to my flank. "Before things get too heavy around here...and when we actually have some free time...would you maybe like to...do something?"

Shifting awkwardly in my saddle, I attempted to will away the warmth in my cheeks, but I was certain I was failing.
"Something..? That's pretty vague, Jean-Boy." I chuckled, trying to make light of my nerves.

Lowering his face to hide his obvious pinkened skin, Jean returned the same kind of chuckle, slightly pitched and cracking.
"I..I dunno...like, something. Lunch, dinner, just...hanging out? Something..."

Oh. Like a...

"Like a...date..?" I didn't mean for the word to sound so offputting, and he visibly recoiled once it had escaped my lips.
"I..I mean, kinda? O..or just hanging out as friends..! Whatever you're comfortable with..."

Sighing, I watched him closely, trying to come to an immediate decision about my feelings. With everything that had just been dumped onto me on the emotional baggage cart, it was impossible.
"Let's start as friends, I guess..." I murmured, instantly looking away when his head shot up. "I'm...s..still not ready to think about anything else...so...don't read into it too much, pony boy..!"

When I head that small, happy laugh, I knew he was smiling, but I just couldn't look at him to see it. I didn't need another thing to tip my thoughts towards the possibilities with the man. Nobody else deserved the kiss of death that came with my affections.

"A..alright! I'll even overlook the insult because you said yes!" He laughed, patting my leg before walking off after Armin. "I'll see you at dinner, then! Have a good ride!" Once he was completely out of earshot, I let out a long sigh of relief, kicking my horse into a steady rising trot.

Jean, Levi, Erwin...Dimitri, Marco, Eld, Petra, Oluo, Gunther, Mike, Boy, Nicho...

By the time I reached the gate, my head ached, and I didn't have the patience to be polite to the guards.
"Can we help you, lady?" One of them grunted, eyes narrowed in my direction. Gritting my teeth, I put on my serious face, shoulders back and chest out.

"You really aren't good at your job, are you? I was told you would open the gate for me upon my arrival!" I snapped back, ready to get vicious if I had to. The Garrison soldier glared at me, stepping closer to try and intimidate me.
"Oh yeah? By who?!"

Come on, you've been around enough pretentious pricks to know how to act the part, (Y/N)...

With my higher position on my horse, I had the upper ground, both figuratively and literally.
"By who..? Commander Erwin, of course! I've been tasked to retrieve a herd of cattle spotted beyond this wall, and I don't have time for your bullshit!"

Oh, Mr. Garrison Guy didn't like my tone one bit, I could tell, but before he could bark back, one of his comrades sidled up to his side.
"Uh, Sir...isn't this that girl..? You know...the one who lived beyond..? The one who stared down the barrel of the Commander's pistol and didn't even bat an eye..?" Another nodded in agreement from off to the side, motioning to me with his chin.
"Yeah...I heard she bit off Captain Levi's ear, and it had to be sewn back on..."

Where the hell do these rumours even come from..?!

It did seem to work in my favour, however, as the man eased, looking a little more nervous than he did infuriated.
"B..be that as it may, nobody leaves Wall Rose alone, Scout or not. I'll have to hear it straight from the Commander's own mou-"

"Didn't you hear the woman, you deaf piece of shit? Open the damn gate. We have work to do." When I heard that voice behind me, I was pretty sure I had wet my saddle. Slowly pivoting to look around, my eyes settled upon Levi, sitting atop his horse and looking far from impressed.

Oh, lovely. He's going to let me out so he can dropkick me back over. Great.

The Garrison soliders didn't need to be told twice when it came from the mouth of the revered Captain, and they did as asked, the gate opening to reveal the vast, green vista beyond. Gulping, I gave them a curt nod before kicking my horse into a gallop, stiff as a board when I heard him follow.

It wasn't until the wall was far in the distance that he rode up beside me, and I knew that it was in my best interest to slow down.
"If you're going to chew me out, could you just get it over with?" I sighed, glancing over to him via a roll of my eyes.

"I believe we established your stupidity a long time ago." He replied bluntly, directing his horse with one hand on the reins whilst the other rested upon his thigh. "Sasha told me what you were planning. I simply came to ensure that you didn't get your dumb ass eaten."

Oh, am I gonna make one hell of a dent in her not-so-secret food stash when I get back!

Groaning, I sped up a little, but he easily kept up with me.
"It didn't occur to you that maybe I wanted to be alone? You of all people should realise that." I muttered, keeping my eyes on the dark clouds drifting in on the horizon.

"Obviously. I just decided that I didn't agree." Whipping my head around to shoot him optical daggers, I was met with the side of his face, completely neutral, as per his usual self. "I've spent enough time with you to know that you do idiotic things when you're upset or confused. You should honestly be thanking me for dropping my duties and accompanying you."

Puffing my cheeks, I wanted to snark back at him, but I couldn't refute what he had said. I did get reckless when things were rocky, and this was no different. Relaxing, just a little, I returned my attention to the front, keeping my eyes peeled for the cattle I was hunting.

"Alright then. Thanks for tagging along, short stuff. I appreciate it..."

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***Potential alone time with
Captain Teenie Tiny Teaparty? Perhaps.

My head is empty. Only Rem and Ram remain.

Next Time: Beef***