The following morning, the Scouts prepared to leave for their expedition. Kuro was positioned with Armin and Jean and Reiner and a few others, the rest of the 104th being scattered among other Squads, Eren riding with the elite Levi Squad.

Kuro was a little nervous. No amount of training could ever prepare them for what it was really going to be like. He was positioned to the right of his group. No use having him on the left, not with his blind eye.

The first charge out of the walls had felt like a release, some odd sense of freedom. Riding fast with his comrades by his side. He almost felt hopeful. That didn't last long. It was easy at first. They dodged the titans, but then something went wrong.

Black smoke. Abnormal. And then... he saw it. A female Titan. Fifteen metres tall. A sense of dread filled Kuro. There was no way he could get away... he spurred his horse on. He raced along with Armin, Jean, and Reiner. Something felt off. They pulled their hoods up on Armin's advice and tried to fight her, but all they managed to do was get her to leave.

Seeing Christa had been a relief. Finally, some hope that they would be able to get out and make it back alive. They managed to get back to the rest of the Scouts. But everything felt disorganised. No one knew what was happening. Even the more experienced Scouts seemed unsure.

Being sent up the trees was terrifying. The titans clawing below them. Kuro looked to his comrades. Even they looked scared. Talk went around that there was a plan... but it all seemed too haphazard. To made up on the spot. All it took was a roar before all the titans no longer acted the way they should.

It was a relief when the blue retreat flare was seen. It felt like it had been a long time, but the sun told the truth. Everything had happened in a few hours. Kuro clambered back onto his horse, tired, frightened and in poor spirits. Something had gone wrong. That had to be the only reason. They made their way back to the fields to regroup and to count up the dead and injured.

The field was spattered with blood, the grass swaying gently in the aftermath of the slaughter. Where even to begin? For some, only body parts remained... and others had been swallowed whole.

Armin stood with his head bandaged and his big eyes glistening with tears. "There were two bolts of lightening..." he said quietly. "Eren must have fought her..." He seemed dazed.

"It'll be fine," Kuro said. "He was with the Levi Squad after all. They're the best we have."

Still... the amount of death that surrounded them was horrifying. There were so few Scouts as it was... and it seemed their numbers would only fall. Seeing it almost made him feel sick, but he'd have to get used to it. He'd seen it twice before in Shiganshina and Trost, but this seemed worse. Soldiers who had returned before from previous expeditions now lay dead before them, yet... the ones from the 104th survived. He felt guilty. Surely, the less experienced should have died first. Not those with years behind them... not the ones with families to go back to. If he had died... there would be no point taking him back. There would be no one to return him back to.

Four Scouts then emerged from the forest, each burdened with a bloody, blanketed body. Quietly, they laid them with the others as Armin and Kuro looked on. As one of the Scouts passed by, Armin asked quietly, "Who are they?"

The Scout stopped, his head hanging with his eyes remaining downcast. "...Levi Squad," he said quietly.

Armin's eyes widened. "All... all of them??" His voice was nearly a whisper.

"Not the Captain," the Scout answered. "He went after Jaeger." He then continued on his way.

"No..." Kuro couldn't believe it. They couldn't be dead. They were the best. What the hell had happened in that forest? He looked to Armin. Would the Captain and Eren be able to make it back? If the Scouts' best squad had all died, then how on Earth was he still standing with only a few cuts and bruises?

Armin's eyes were glinting with terror. "How..." he whispered.

A zipping sound came from the trees, and the Captain and Mikasa landed in the grass. A very sticky, unconscious Eren was draped over Levi's shoulder, and the Captain was limping visibly. His strong shoulders seemed heavily weighted... and not just from the soldier he carried.

"I'll take him," Mikasa said stiffly, and Levi didn't argue as he passed him over. His face tightened with pain as he did so. He then made his way over to the still, lifeless forms in the grass.

Kuro hurried over to Mikasa. "What happened?" His voice was filled with worry and panic. With how the Captain was walking and Eren unconscious... this wasn't how it was meant to go. He calmed himself down and tried to focus. "Would you like some help with Eren? There might be a cart he can go on. Resting him on a horse won't be a good idea."

"I'm taking him to a wagon." Mikasa nodded ahead. "And I've got him." She hoisted him up a little, almost protectively. "The female titan got away... almost with Eren in her mouth. But Captain Levi saved him."

"Thank goodness for the Captain then." Kuro looked over to the injured, grieving man. "It must have been hell..." he mused. Looking to the ground, he shook his head. He felt utterly and completely useless. He hadn't been of any help at all. He'd not killed any titans nor even assisted in their deaths. Kuro had in fact missed. "Stupid eye..." he muttered to himself.

He looked out at everything; the death and disaster that surrounded him. The Scouts were lying in ruin. Armin and Jean had been taken off to help move the dead, but he was in shock. He felt like he couldn't move or even breathe.

Mikasa hoisted Eren up into a wagon, then climbed up beside him. She took off his cloak and folded it before gently lifting up his head and sliding the makeshift pillow underneath. Then she removed her own cloak and covered him with it. Her eyes were so full of pain as she looked down at him.

"That's the second time I almost lost you..." she grieved inwardly.

Nearby, the Captain slowly knelt beside the bodies of his soldiers and his dearest friends.

Kuro looked to Mikasa and then to the Captain. He would have gone over to comfort one of them... but he had no words to offer them. Kuro kicked at the ground beneath his feet.

He thought of everything he could have done to maybe help. For once, he'd been too safe, too cautious. If only he'd taken more risks. Maybe then at least one more family would have been able to welcome a soldier back again.

Why was he still alive?

The Captain stood and remained a few moments more before turning to head back to his horse. He reached up slowly, allowing her to sniff and then lick the backs of his knuckles. His countenance bore so much pain.

Everyone seemed like they'd lost hope. Kuro sighed. One of the older Scouts called him over to go around and check all the horses since everyone else was slightly preoccupied with the dead and the injured. He checked those hooked up to the wagons first. He made sure none were too badly injured and swapped round any that were too tired to pull. It was easy enough since there were several horses who no longer had their riders.

The Scouts worked quietly, loading the dead and the injured into the wagons. Mikasa left Eren to help, but was back at his side as soon as she could be. Captain Levi seemed completely in a fog as he gave orders and tried to make sense of the chaos. Finally, he climbed onto his horse, wincing visibly as he did. He gave the signal, and the Scouts moved out.

Upon returning to the city, the Scouts were met with nothing but disdain. The Military Police seized control of Eren like he was a traitor, jerking him away with unnecessary grunt force amid nasty sneers.

Kuro's shock of the damage done to the Scouts turned to anger. The things the people said and shouted at them... he gripped tighter to his horse's reins. How could they say such things when they are standing there doing nothing? he thought. He wanted to shout back... but knew it would be in vain... like everything else had been. He pitied Eren as he was taken away. He hadn't done anything wrong at all. There was another one... a real traitor who killed soldiers as if they were nothing yet Eren was being used as a scapegoat.

The Scouts were in low spirits as they were set up in the barracks. Mikasa didn't speak to anyone and simply found a corner of the room to do some strength training exercises in. Armin, his head still bandaged, sat on the edge of his cot leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and his folded hands over his mouth. The others were in a similar state. It was as if everyone was in shock. Truth be told... they were.