I stood beside my horse, checking over the tack and saddle and tightening straps as I waited for Erwin to address us all and give us our objectives for the day.

I glanced over the animal's broad back and saw two of the cadets from my squad talking intensely about something beside their own mounts.

"Johnson." I called out, making the young man jump as he came to attention and his eyes darted my way. I flicked my fingers at him. "Come here."

He left his buddy and walked over to me, giving me a stiff salute as he came to a stop in front of me. "Yes, corporal?"

I straightened, adjusting some of the straps on my 3DM harness as I did so, and then said, "I have a feeling the commander will be pairing us with another squad today. He's been more cautious lately and has wanted us to travel in larger groups in case of trouble." I raised an eyebrow as the uncomfortable young man fidgeted slightly under my gaze. "Even with your mistakes, you're one of the better new cadets. You show a lot of promise. I expect you to be on your game today. Don't embarrass me in front of our partner squad." I lifted my chin, motioning toward the group of cadets that stood behind him. "I'm expecting you to make up for the rest of the idiots who can't handle themselves out there. Am I clear?"

Johnson's eyes widened at my slightly undermined compliment and he straightened his shoulders, seeming more confident in his salute this time and the nervous edge had left his voice as he said curtly, "Yes, corporal."

I waved him off. "Fine. Get out of here."

He trotted off, back toward the rest of the cadets, and we all turned to attention as Erwin's voice could be heard calling out over the gathered squadrons. "Listen up, everyone. I have your assignments for the day."

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back against the warm, sturdy flesh of my horse. My eyes flicked across the gathering to Levi, who stood surrounded by the special forces unit. I rolled my eyes and scoffed under my breath. They all thought they were such hot stuff, when the true reason they were all still alive was simply because they had a titan in their group that protected them all from danger when the need arose.

"Corporal (L/N)."

I directed my gaze back to Erwin, who stood at the front of the crowd and had just called out my name. I pushed off the horse and came to attention, throwing him a quick, casual salute. "Sir."

He raised a thick eyebrow at me and then glanced down at the sheet he held in his hand. "You and your squad will be in charge of the West side of the Wall today. We're still trying to figure out how the titans breached Wall Maria. Keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious. And evacuate any towns you cross that haven't been emptied yet."

I nodded. "Understood, sir."

He dropped the sheet of paper back to his side and then said briskly, "And Corporal, you know I've been doubling the squads up for safety measures." He glanced over at Levi quickly and then his eyes flashed back to mine. "Your's and Corporal Ackerman's units will be joined for the mission today."

I swore under my breath and he raised an eyebrow at me again. "Is something the matter, Corporal?"

I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands into fists at my side. "No, sir. We'll join with Ackerman's squad." I kept my eyes on Erwin, refusing to look over at Levi or the special forces. They didn't need to see how irritated I was.

Erwin gave me a pointed look. "Good." He moved on to the next squad's orders for the day.

After everyone had received their orders, we all broke up into our groups, gathering our supplies, squads, and mounts together to get ready to leave the protection of the wall.

I walked among my cadets, who were standing at attention beside their horses, my hands held behind my back, as I gave them their final orders. "Watch your backs. Watch your squadmates' backs." I paused beside Johnson and, getting into his face, stated loudly so everyone could hear, "And most importantly, remember....what, Johnson?"

He kept his gaze directly ahead as he answered quickly, "Cut quick, and cut deep, Corporal."

I stepped back from him. "Very good, Johnson." I walked back toward the front of the squad, where my mount stood waiting patiently. "I expect all of you to make it back here for dinner tonight. If any of you...." I swung up onto the horse and took the reigns in my hands, pulling its head around so I was facing the group of cadets as I said dangerously, "...do something stupid and get one of your fellow squadmates killed, I will make your life such a living hell that you will wish you had died instead. Do I make myself clear, idiots?"

"Yes, corporal!"

I nodded briskly. "Good. Now mount up. We have a job to do."

I jerked my horse back around to face the gate as they all swung up onto their own mounts behind me with uniformed, practiced precision. I kept my eyes on the gate, which was slowly being lifted to reveal the countryside beyond, as Levi rode up next to me on his large, dark stallion.

He spoke from beside me, his voice low and flat as always. "Tch. Erwin has some nerve, putting the two of us together for this mission."

I scoffed, still not looking at him, and snapped back, "Why? Because you don't want to be paired with someone from the Underground?" I finally glanced over at him and widened my eyes in mock surprise. I gasped sarcastically. "Oh wait! That's right! Little Corporal Rivaille is just an Underground thug himself. I almost wouldn't have seen it because of that high horse he's hiding behind."
He met my gaze, his dark eyes flashing briefly with anger, but then he controlled himself and his eyes went flat again as he replied emotionlessly, "That has nothing to do with this. I just don't think it's right to pair the new cadets with the seasoned fighters of the special forces. The damn brats will just be in the way."

The gate had come up completely now, and the groups of squads that had been ahead of them in formation had started to disappear on the other side of the wall. I held my horse back as it danced nervously in place, eager to leave the city behind. I glanced over my shoulder at the cadets of my squad, who held position behind me, and then looked forward, toward the outside world. "People can surprise you, Ackerman. In fact, they have an annoying habit of doing so. Whether that's a good thing....or a bad thing."

I flicked the reigns against my horse's neck and it started forward, leading my squad out the gate of Wall Maria and into the world of the titans. I wasn't going to let Levi distract me from the objective. Distractions only got people killed in this world and that wasn't going to happen today, not on my watch.