The 57th Expedition (3)

Mina's POV

Memories are wonderful. It can vary from a person's perspective and surroundings, but it will always show us how important the little things are in life. It doesn't have to be festive, nor does it have to be grand. These memories that I treasure mostly consist of those gentle and quiet moments that I rarely experience. 

In addition to those memories is this gal named Petra Ral. Unlike her usual demeanor with her squad mates, she always comes off as girlish whenever she's talking to me. For example, on one certain Monday morning, when I was in my usual spot in the courtyard, basking in the warmth that the sun provides, she once again surprised me by covering my vision from the rays of the sun.

"Mina?" Her glistening brown eyes covered my whole sight as the sun behind her back illuminated her bright and innocent smile. "Were you sleeping?" 

Seeing her disrupting my resting time, I sighed. However, this young and wonderful lass did not take it negatively as she chuckled at my attitude. "Petra, I am simply resting, not sleeping." 

"Yeah, you have horrible eyebags. Want me to make you some tea?" 

Those words that she has spoken were enough for me to leap up from this crate as I eagerly nod my head. "You're the best, Petra." 

She laughs as her smile brings warmth and tenderness, so contradictory to how this world is. 

I'm scared.

For the first time in a few years, I fear what the future will show me. Those memories that I have carelessly added to my collection are something that I will someday regret if I fail to protect the squad that Captain Levi himself has created. 

I shouldn't have gotten close to her.

Biting my lip until I tasted blood, I continued to maneuver my way in this huge forest as my eyes trembled in every direction that they gazed. Breathe in and breathe out: Petra taught me her way of calming herself, but it only added to my anxiety about not knowing what would happen next. 

"Eren!" I called out to him, hoping for someone to reply. "Petra! Where are you?!" 

I stumbled on the nearby branch and noticed how my right hand quivered. In annoyance, I used it to punch the trunk of the tree, hoping that it would alleviate that pent-up stress that had blown inside of my chest. Just why… why did I relax? Why was I careless?! Seeing that this is new territory for me, shouldn't I have been more careful? SO WHY?!

"Fuck!" I once again punched the poor tree as blood trickled heavily from my hand. "Fucking hell…" 

Just where are you, Eren? 

Without anyone to answer me, I silently leaped off the branch, praying – to whomever – that I may find them breathing and alive.

"You're seriously praying to anyone?" 

Like a pang in my head, I almost lost my balance upon hearing her exasperating voice. With a growl, I responded, "I have no time for you, you useless ancient being." 

She chuckles, one that greatly irritated me. "How rude, young Yeager. Look, you haven't lost your sense of sight. Aren't I amazing? I've been meditating a lot nowadays." 

After taking another turn in a nearby branch, I groaned. "Yeah, but I can't fucking hear anything except for your stupid voice. Now get out!" 

"Rude as ever." 

I rolled my eyes and finally landed on the ground to properly beg Ymir to get lost. "If you're doing this to irritate me, then please stop. I'm busy trying to look for,"

"Eren, I know." She finishes my sentence, capturing my whole attention. "Want me to give you a hint?" 

A hint? I hesitated before responding. "You've never done this before. What's the catch?" 

"Earning your trust." 

Lifting my eyebrows upon hearing her answer, I crossed my arms as bewilderment crossed my features. "You're seriously doing that right now?" 

"No better time to do it, am I right, young Yeager?" 

I sighed and could visualize her smirking at me. 

Truthfully, due to my pride, I didn't want to accept her help. However, in this case, time is ticking, and I am desperate to find their hiding place. If not me, then Annie would. By then, all of Squad Levi would have been annihilated. 

I clenched my hand around my arm as tightly as I could before finally succumbing to her help. "Where are they?" 

"How demanding."

Fuck you, Ymir!

But instead of cursing her, I pleaded. "Please… tell me where they are." However, after saying those words while lowering my pride, my ears perked up upon hearing her laugh. Something within me snapped, "This little shi-"

"All right, all right, I'll tell you! Ahaha!" 

***

After finally acquiring the location of their hideout, much to my annoyance in that horrendous being, I used my gear to pull myself as fast as I could manage while making sure not to overuse my gas. 

Luckily for her, after seeing ginger-colored hair from the distance, I threw away my idea of strangling Ymir once we saw each other. 

As relief flooded within me, I shouted. "Petra!" 

"Mina?!" After seeing her surprised expression, my eyes eventually wandered toward Eren. "What are you doing here?!" 

But before they could question me further upon landing on the ground, I immediately grabbed Eren's hood and lifted it on his head. "Don't remove it, Eren. There's no telling where the enemy will appear."

"I could say the same to you, Mina." Then, without any warning, he grabbed my collar and pulled me closer to his face. It alarmed me, but after seeing his rage, I gulped. "Just what were you thinking when you engaged the female titan?! You could have died!" 

Eren continued to lecture me, and I should have taken his action right now as a warning, but instead, seeing him worried about me was both refreshing and new. Deep inside, I was touched. Never have I ever thought that having someone worry about me would bring out emotions that I thought I had lost forever. 

So, I chuckled, confusing everyone who saw it. 

"I won't die, Eren." I held his hand, which was still grabbing my collar, and gave it a slight squeeze. "Don't worry, I'm strong." 

Seeing him with this innocent look and comparing it to how tired his gaze is in the second world is something that I want him to retain. However, even if I do everything in my power to maintain it, the memories of his father will still be installed in his mind, setting it as a foundation for the rumbling to occur. Even so, my job right now is not to let him feel alone and to make him realize that there are people who are willing to stand beside him.

With a gentle tug, I eventually freed myself from his grip just when a blue smoke signal captured everyone's attention. 

If I recall correctly, this was the moment when Commander Erwin issued a retreat. Then that means that Annie has successfully shown everyone back at the capture point that she 'died.' 

How unfortunate to have me as your enemy, Annie. 

"Looks like it's over," Gunther says while issuing his next order. "Back to the horses! Prepare to retreat!"

"You heard the man," Oluo mumbles while sitting on the roots of a nearby tree before finally standing up. "Let's go see what the bastard inside looks like." 

Taking it as a sign to speak, I implored, "Wait! Please hear me out!" 

Eld took a step closer and responded. "What's wrong? How did you find us anyway? Did the captain order you?" 

I shook my head and spoke, "I came to warn you. Whoever the female titan is, she's coming."

"Mina?" Now, it was Petra who spoke as she grabbed my arm. "What are you saying?" 

"There's no time to explain, Petra. Please, just believe me and retreat as fast as possible." I grabbed her hand and pleaded once more. "The female titan is coming to get Eren. She's probably in her human form by now." 

"And why should we believe in what you're saying?" Gunther intervenes, making me sigh in irritation. "Stop acting on your own!" 

"If I don't, then you'll die!" I stepped back and grabbed Eren's arm, pulling him along with me. "Reprimand me after we reach the walls. I'm begging you, Gunther! We have to retreat now!" 

Without waiting for a reply, I ran, pulling Eren along with me. 

"Wait, Mina!"

"Please trust me, Eren." I looked back at him for one last time before placing my fist on his chest. "I am not your enemy. Even if death comes knocking at my door, I will always prioritize your and Mikasa's safety. Now, please, stay close!" 

He opened his mouth to speak, but I already pulled myself up along with his other squad mates. Eld and Gunter still wanted to question my motive but thank Ymir for Petra, who managed to convince them to believe in me. 

"Now tell us about the female titan," Petra called out to me and continued. "What do you mean that she's coming? Didn't they capture her?" 

I shook my head before responding. "They couldn't. Her hardened hands covered her nape, so Captain Levi and Captain Mike failed to capture her human form. You heard her cry, right?" After noticing everyone's nod, I continued. "All of the titans surrounding the forest ate her titan form, making everyone think that she would rather die than get captured." 

"And you think that she got away?" Eren asked me as I gave him a brief nod. 

However, just when Olou was about to speak, somewhere in a far-off distance came a green smoke signal. Gunther was the first to notice; hence, he says, "I'm sure that's the signal from Captain Levi. We'll rendezvous with the captain!" 

He stopped on top of a branch and got out his smoke signal. I paled. "Wait, Gunther, no!" 

But it was too late. He responded with a green smoke signal just when I warned him not to. 

***