It's amazing, really, what animals can do for people. The horses have always been an important part of the Survey Corps, so often their lifelines out beyond the walls. They lose them nearly at the same rate as their soldiers, their losses often nearly as keenly felt. Caring for them is a vital part of the corps activities, almost ritualistic and therapeutic for some. Erwin has both seen and felt the comfort in it. He thinks he sees a little bit of it in Eren now, a handful of moments where their conversation and the unhappy events of the past several months seem to just wash entirely away.
Erwin waits a little while before responding, letting those moments stretch. Their time is limited, now, with Eren's already a third over. They should hold onto the peaceful moments for as long as they can.
"I know," he agrees, although Erwin files that part about the titans in the walls as a point of interest to return back to. "We are at the disadvantage of being forced to prove them right. By threatening us they force our hand to choose, to lay down and accept death, or to fight for our lives, and for some of us to turn ourselves into the devils they believe us to be to protect the rest."
It still feels as though there is a piece missing. Why, after more than a hundred years, did Marley suddenly feel the need to increase its violence against the people inside the walls? More than four generations have gone by since the initial exile, and aside from an apparent steady stream of forcibly transforming people into pure titans, wandering in unceasing nightmares, it seemed as though they had been content to let them be.
Sending in agents to track down Grisha Jeager could have been done more covertly than using children with the power of the Armored and Colossal titans.
Resources is his most prominent theory. Perhaps Marley is in need of more land or minerals, or is aware of something that even they here on Paradis have know knowledge of. Is the island in a place that has suddenly become of strategic importance?
These are the sorts questions that spin almost unceasingly through his mind. There is so much to know about the outside world that it burns deep and hot in his core, not unlike the raging, impossible heat of the Colossal titan, now infused within him.
Erwin blinks, as though coming out of a trance.
"Eren, the memories of the moments of inheriting a titan are suppressed, so for years you weren't aware you were carrying it." Two, technically, as he's already pointed out. "But looking back on it...is there anything from your time as a cadet that you can recall that might have been a sign? A feeling or a memory you didn't understand?"
no subject
Erwin waits a little while before responding, letting those moments stretch. Their time is limited, now, with Eren's already a third over. They should hold onto the peaceful moments for as long as they can.
"I know," he agrees, although Erwin files that part about the titans in the walls as a point of interest to return back to. "We are at the disadvantage of being forced to prove them right. By threatening us they force our hand to choose, to lay down and accept death, or to fight for our lives, and for some of us to turn ourselves into the devils they believe us to be to protect the rest."
It still feels as though there is a piece missing. Why, after more than a hundred years, did Marley suddenly feel the need to increase its violence against the people inside the walls? More than four generations have gone by since the initial exile, and aside from an apparent steady stream of forcibly transforming people into pure titans, wandering in unceasing nightmares, it seemed as though they had been content to let them be.
Sending in agents to track down Grisha Jeager could have been done more covertly than using children with the power of the Armored and Colossal titans.
Resources is his most prominent theory. Perhaps Marley is in need of more land or minerals, or is aware of something that even they here on Paradis have know knowledge of. Is the island in a place that has suddenly become of strategic importance?
These are the sorts questions that spin almost unceasingly through his mind. There is so much to know about the outside world that it burns deep and hot in his core, not unlike the raging, impossible heat of the Colossal titan, now infused within him.
Erwin blinks, as though coming out of a trance.
"Eren, the memories of the moments of inheriting a titan are suppressed, so for years you weren't aware you were carrying it." Two, technically, as he's already pointed out. "But looking back on it...is there anything from your time as a cadet that you can recall that might have been a sign? A feeling or a memory you didn't understand?"