Chapitre 14: Boy
The next morning, the boy sat by the dying embers of his campfire, his mind heavy with thoughts of the looming catastrophe. "Two and a half years, maybe less," he muttered, running his fingers through his dirty hair. "That's all the time left before the walls fall, and Titans... devour everything. Kids, adults... infants. Doesn't matter."
He kicked at a small rock, watching it skitter across the dirt. "I should be doing something, preparing maybe, but I don't even know where to start." He sighed, the weight of his thoughts settling on his shoulders. His knowledge of the Attack on Titan world was fragmented, incomplete, and his isolation in the forest hadn't helped. The only company he had was his own voice and the faint memories from the lives he had absorbed.
"Maybe this isolation is messing with my head." He chuckled quietly, almost bitterly. "Wonder if my brother's married by now..." The thought of his family from his previous life brought a strange sense of detachment. It felt so far away, like a story he'd read rather than something he had lived.
He stood up, shaking off the lethargy. "No use thinking about that stuff now. I need a plan... something. But what?" He stared off into the trees, no closer to an answer than he had been the night before.
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POV: Yuuta Ackerman
Yuuta moved silently through the thick forest, his hand gripping the axe at his side, his bow and arrow slung over his back. His breath was steady, the cool morning air filling his lungs as he surveyed the area for any signs of movement. His goal was simple: hunt for food and skins to sell. Winter was approaching, and supplies were running low. His family would need all the help they could get.
The forest was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant chirping of birds. He had grown used to these sounds, He had hunted in these woods for years. His steps were careful, calculated, as he moved deeper into the wilderness, his eyes sharp for any game worth catching.
As he ventured further, his thoughts wandered to Mikasa. She had been so quiet lately, spending more time outside, observing the world around her. He had caught her staring intently at the ground the other day, watching a grasshopper devour a spider. The way she watched them, with that intense, focused expression, made him smile.
"What's going on in that little head of hers?" he mused softly, thinking of how she had been growing, maturing. It wasn't just physical—there was something different about her, something deeper. She was beginning to understand the world in ways most children her age didn't. Her curiosity about life, death, and everything in between reminded him so much of her mother, Kurumi.
He chuckled to himself, the sound almost lost in the quiet of the forest. "She's becoming more like her every day." A pang of pride swelled in his chest. Mikasa was learning to observe, to think critically about the world around her. In a world like theirs, where every moment could be their last, it was a skill she would need.
Yuuta crouched down, inspecting a set of tracks in the soft dirt. Deer, probably, or something similar. He adjusted the bow on his back, moving forward with silent purpose. His family relied on him to bring back food, but today, there was an ease in his steps. The hunt was familiar, almost comforting, compared to the turmoil beyond the walls.
For now, his focus was on the forest, on the hunt, and on his family waiting for him at home.
He wandered deeper into the forest, his eyes scanning for any signs of movement. His instincts were sharp, honed from years of hunting, but something felt different today. He paused, noticing a thin column of black smoke rising in the distance. It was faint, but unmistakable against the pale morning sky.
"Strange... no one should be out here," he muttered under his breath. The villagers rarely ventured this far into the woods, especially alone. His grip tightened on the handle of his axe as he cautiously made his way toward the smoke. His senses sharpened, alert for any signs of danger.
As he moved closer, his mind raced with possibilities. Bandits? A traveler lost in the woods? Or maybe someone worse... He shook his head, trying to push away the grim thoughts. Still, the unease remained as he approached the source of the smoke.
After a while, the faint trail of smoke led him to a small clearing. There, beside the remains of an extinguished campfire, sat a boy. His clothes were dirty and torn, his figure small and frail. The boy was muttering to himself, shaking his head as he stared into the distance, seemingly unaware of Kaito's approach.
He stopped a few paces away, narrowing his eyes as he took in the scene. The boy looked lost, or maybe even traumatized. "What's a kid doing out here alone?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. He studied the boy for a moment longer before stepping forward, deciding to confront him.
"Hey!" He called out, trying not to sound too intimidating. The boy snapped his head up, his eyes wide with panic as he scrambled to his feet, backing away slightly. He raised his hands, showing he meant no harm. "Easy, easy, kid. I'm not going to hurt you."
The boy's breathing was rapid, but after a moment, he seemed to calm down, his eyes still wide with caution. Yuuta could see the tension in the boy's posture, like a coiled spring ready to snap.
"Who are you? What are you doing out here?" He asked, his tone soft but firm. The boy didn't answer immediately, his gaze darting between him and the ground as if searching for an escape route.
Yuuta stepped closer, keeping his movements slow and deliberate. "Look, you don't have to be afraid. I'm just a hunter. Are you lost?" The boy shook his head slowly, his lips parting but no words coming out. His silence only deepened Kaito's concern.
"You got any parents around here? Someone looking for you?" He pressed gently, though the moment he asked, he saw the boy's expression darken. His eyes flickered with something—pain, maybe anger—but it was quickly buried beneath a mask of indifference.
"I'm... I'm an orphan," the boy finally replied, his voice low, almost mechanical. He didn't meet his eyes, instead staring off to the side like he was trying to disappear.
Yuuta frowned, sensing there was more to the story, but he didn't push. Orphans were common enough in this world. Still, something about this kid seemed... different.
"Alright," He said after a pause. "What's your name, kid?" The boy hesitated, his gaze finally lifting to meet Yuuta's. There was something unreadable in his eyes, something deeper than his age should allow.
"Alaric," the boy said after a long moment, his voice barely above a whisper.
He studied him carefully, noting the strange stillness in his posture, the way he seemed both tense and composed at the same time. Something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Well, Alaric," Yuuta said, keeping his tone light. "You shouldn't be out here all alone. It's dangerous. How about you come with me? I've got food, and you can rest for a while. No one should be wandering these woods on their own."
Alaric looked at him for a moment, as if weighing the offer, before giving a small nod. Yuuta turned, leading the way back toward his own camp, glancing over his shoulder to make sure the boy was following.
As they walked through the forest, Yuuta couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this kid. Something hidden beneath the surface, waiting to reveal itself. But for now, he focused on getting them both to safety.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Ramon69
Ramon69 YAY, Alaric is no longer a LONER!!!
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