You had instantly stopped your horse in shock, looking down at your green cape to see blood. You stared at the blood in disbelief and shock, knowing the blood wasn't yours. You looked to your side, seeing a large hand over where Garret used to be.

Your eyes widened and tears started to form as you stared at where Garret used to be. You didn't hear horses running anymore, so you knew your squad members had stopped as well.

"(Y/N), we have to run!" Armin yelled, his eyebrows furrowed in worry as he looked over at you. "If we don't leave now, none of us will survive!" The large hand retracted slowly, allowing you to see a dead Garret and his horse.

Even though you didn't know him, you were sad about his death. The sadness was quickly replaced with rage as you balled your fists before pulling out your swords, jumping off your horse and shooting a wire at the abnormal.

"(Y/N)!" Armin yelled, but failed to catch your attention. He turned to the remaining squad members with a serious expression. "Head towards the forest." He then jumped off of his horse, following you and drawing out his swords.

You landed on the abnormal's arm, shooting a wire to get to the back but was stopped when the titan grabbed you, capturing you in it's grasp. You saw the nape of the titan come flying off, and the grip around your waist loosened, but Armin managed to catch you and brought you to the ground.

"(Y/N)," Armin said, looking into your eyes with worry and concern. He brought a hand to your cheek, causing a blush to appear on your cheeks. "I need you to stay alive for me. Can you promise me that?" You nodded, before Armin pulled you back to your horses, both of you getting on and continuing with your journey.

Thumping was heard once again, and you looked to your side to see yet another titan. You and your squad tried to pick up your pace, but was hard since your horses were running as fast as their legs could take them.

There were multiple thumps, and you looked to your side to see four more titans. You and your squad instantly started panicking, knowing none of you could take on five titans at a time.

The thumping got louder and the titans were coming dangerously close. You and your squad managed to pass them, but they were right behind you. You looked behind, seeing how close they were and brought your attention back in front of you, trying your best to pick up the pace. Elijah must've known you were all doomed, based on what he did next.

"I'll distract them," Elijah said, causing everyone in your squad to look over at him confusedly. "You guys get to the forest." He turned his horse around, and ran towards the titans. You looked behind in disbelief as he used his wires to zip around the titans, buying you and the rest of your squad as much time as possible.

Morgan muttered curse words before turning around as well, following Elijah and zipping past the titans, successfully slicing the nape of one of the titans. She looked over at you, seeing how you had your gaze locked on her in disbelief.

"Go, and don't look back!" She yelled, before zipping to the next titan, but getting caught by it. She tried to get out if it's grip, but ended up getting devoured, Elijah following the same fate.

You felt tears stream down your face as you heard their last screams, knowing they sacrificed themselves for you and the rest of your squad. The forest was close by now, only a few seconds away. You could even see Mikasa's squad farther to the left.

A scream was heard, and you looked to your right to see Mariah in the hands of another titan. You jumped off your horse and zipped towards the titan, being only a second too late as you watched the titan swallow Mariah.

The titan reached for you, so you let go of your wires to let yourself fall to the ground. But instead of landing on your feet, you ended up on your back. Armin had jumped off his horse and ran towards you as you stood up despite the pain in your back.

"(Y/N)!" He yelled, but you ignored him and got up, facing the titan and shooting your wires into it again, flying towards it's back. You were about to slice the nape, but a hand of another titan made contact with you, slapping you into the forest and knocking you out.

"(Y/N)!"

--

"MIKASA!" Mikasa looked to her side, stopping her horse as she saw Armin running towards her on his horse. The others in Mikasa's squad had also stopped. Mikasa's expression instantly turned worried as she saw the desperate look in Armin's eyes and the tears streaming down his face.

"Armin, what happened?" Mikasa asked worriedly when Armin had caught up.

"M-my entire squad...is dead..." Armin looked down at his lap ashamed, tears continuing to stream down his face. "One of the titans hit (Y/N) and she ended up in the forest..." Armin looked back up at Mikasa.

"I went to look for her but I couldn't find her..." Armin continued. "Mikasa, I can't find her!" He sobbed loudly, and Mikasa placed her hand on top of Armin's reassuringly.

"It's not your fault," she explained softly, trying her best to calm down her friend.

"Yes, it is!" Armin argued, anger and sadness in his voice. "I should've saved her! I should've saved all of them!" Armin squeezed his eyes shut, sobbing loudly.

"Armin," Mikasa said, but failing to get Armin's attention. She brought her hand up, slapping Armin's cheek and causing him to stop crying. He looked away in shock, before turning his gaze to Mikasa and placing a hand on his now stinging cheek.

"We have to get to the forest," Mikasa explained, causing Armin to shake his head furiously.

"I'm not leaving until I find--"

"Armin!" Mikasa yelled, cutting her friend off. "People's lives are at stake!" Armin looked around at the remaining squad members, seeing how desperate and scared they looked. He looked down at his lap, ashamed that he had failed to both protect and find you.

"Let's go..." Armin said quietly before making his way to the forest, despite the pain in his heart. Mikasa's squad followed, and soon enough they were in the forest.

Mikasa was actually pretty sad about your death, but wanted to stay strong and not show it. She knew very well that her friends would be heartbroken. Even though Mikasa was never really with you much, she deeply enjoyed having you around, and the thought of you being dead brought pain to her heart.

Armin and Mikasa's squad tied their horses to a tree, and made their way to the remaining Survey Corps members. Everyone was supposed to meet up in the forest where it was slightly safer. If it was for a break or to see how many had survived, no one knew.

Armin kept his head down as he walked with Mikasa to Eren, who stood with Kadence. A smile stretched across Eren's face as he saw his two best friends, but it disappeared once he saw how broken Armin looked.

"Hi, Armin! Hi, Mikasa!" Kadence greeted happily, before noticing Armin's expression.

"Where's the rest of your squad?" Eren asked, causing the rest of the 104th to bring their attention to them before walking over. Armin's lip quivered as tears streamed down his face yet again. He was unable to talk, so he shook his head, meaning they hadn't made it.

"Wasn't (Y/N) in your squad?" Kadence asked, silently hoping you were still alive. The others around had also hoped the same, their hearts pounding loudly in their chests.

"I-I'm sorry..." Armin apologized quietly, not daring to look up at his friends. "I tried to save her..."

Kadence's eyes widened in complete disbelief. It felt as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest. She shook her head in disbelief, before dropping to her knees. She couldn't believe it. Nobody could. Kadence stared ahead in disbelief, not being able to do anything but stare until her brain had processed what had happened, and tears formed in her eyes.

Silence washed over Kadence and the 104th, as if all life was drained from them.

Sobs and sniffing could be heard coming from Kadence, who had brought her gaze to the ground in front of her. Tears continued to stream down her face, and her body trembled. No pain could relate to what she felt at that moment.

Kadence and Armin weren't the only ones crying. Krista and Sasha cried silently, and basically all of the 104th had tears in their eyes, but they forced them away.

Kadence looked up at Armin, gathering all the strength she could to ask the question everyone was wondering deep down.

"How...?" She asked, her voice cracking and barely audible. Armin had silently hoped that no one would ask, dreading the reactions he would get. He took in a few breaths before starting the explanation.

"She was going to save Mariah..." He started, trying his best to talk loud enough for the others to hear, and without any breakdowns. "But she was too late... Another titan came and hit her, sending her flying into the forest." Armin took a few seconds to calm down, before continuing with his story.

"I went looking but I couldn't find her anywhere..." Armin brought his gaze to the ground and squeezed his eyes shut, more tears threatening to escape. Kadence's eyes widened and she stood up.

"She might be alive," she said, feeling hope bubbling inside of her. She got no response from the others, meaning she was the only one with hope.

"W-we have to look for her!" Kadence continued, looking over at the 104th. "We have to try!" She still didn't get an answer, and Kadence furrowed her eyebrows in anger.

"Fine! I'll look for her myself!" She started walking away, grabbing her swords and pulling them out. The others looked at each other, not knowing if they should follow or not.

"I'm coming," Armin said, pulling out his swords. A chorus of "me too"s were heard. Kadence smiled, seeing how she had gotten all of the 104th graduates to come along. She turned around, ready to go but stopped when she saw a certain emotionless captain in front of her.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked, his gaze averting to each of the 104th and Kadence.

"Please captain," Kadence started with pleading eyes. "Let us go look for (Y/N). She might still be alive!"

"(Y/N) is missing?" A certain brunette with glasses asked, grabbing Kadence by the shoulders. Kadence nodded.

"But she might still be alive!" She explained. "Please, let me go look for her, I beg of you!" Kadence's voice cracked as tears started forming in her eyes again, scared she might never see her best friend again. Hanji's grip on Kadence tightened before loosening.

"I'm coming," Hanji said, determination in her once happy voice. Levi was about to say something when Hanji turned around and pointed at him. "And I don't care what you say!" She grabbed Kadence's hand and pushed past the smaller man, who looked back at the two.

"You'll die, shitty glasses," he explained, no emotion in his stern voice.

"Then come with us," she said, turning around to face Levi with desperate eyes. "Please." Levi furrowed his eyebrows at the brunette in front of him.

"No."

"Fine! See if I care!" Hanji started walking away angrily, Kadence following behind. Levi let out a loud and annoyed sigh.

"Fine," Levi agreed. Levi turned back around and pointed at Armin. "You're coming. The rest can stay." Armin nodded in response, walking up to Hanji and Kadence. Eren opened his mouth to argue, but closed it again when Levi sent him a death stare.

The four started walking away as Hanji looked over at Armin.

"I need you to tell me where (Y/N) ended up," Hanji said, seriousness in her voice as Armin nodded, before shooting a wire at a nearby tree and zipping away, the trio following close by.