The fire dimmed not because no one wanted
To feed but because no one had the energy
The scar eyed man shivering violently
The soft spoken man coughing a storm
Eren weak but not dead as snow drifted through
The air and smiled mixing with ithe snow was smoke
Like a snow day at school and bile but something worse-rot beginning to form
In everyone ash watched not moving not talking
Just observing and calculating.
The scar eyed man dropped to his knees and gagged black streaks
Stained the white snow as he dropped convulsing violently eren noticed
"That's not normal" the scar eyed man tried to stand but his legs
Failed and hit body collapsed sideways.
His body twitched twice then stiffened the soft spoken
Man crawled towards him weakly "get....up" He said
No movement was made by the scar eyed man and no response
Ash looked him already knowing the truth.
Eren looked at him not accusing
Yet.
"How are you still standing?" He asked
"I ate less then you..." Ash said technically true but not the whole truth
Then eren studied for moment then turned away not wanting an answer
Then the soft spoken man forze panic setting in "I can't feel my fingers"
His voice trembled.
"My chest...." He grabbed at his shirt ash stepped forward
And kneeled besid him and just watched soft-spoken pupils were dilated
Sweat mixed with the frost along his hairline.the poisoned moved
Deeper the scar-eyed man was gone and the soft-spoken man was far behind.
Eren forced him self "we need to move" his voice thin "if we stay here,we freeze"
Ash stood.his injured leg protested.he ignored it.soft spoken tied to rise
He could. Eren went under his shoulder to support him.
The soft-spoken man screamed but not from
Pain but something inside him was tightening
He convulsed violently then-
Stillness two body's now eren lowered him back down
So as they layed motionless ash just stared.
Silent.the forest felt different quieter heavier ash stared at the corpses not
with malice nor regret and not with satisfaction just assessment.
Two less mouths to feed two less variables higher chance of survival.
Eren breathed hard "were not sick" He said quietly Ash didn't respond
Eren jaw tightened.
"This isn't random" He said. Ash just stared at him calmly an expression unreadable."Then what is it?" Eren held his gaze seconds stretched snow fell between them eren looked away first because he didn't want to know they buried
Nothing the ground frozen they left the bodies were they layed.
Ash collected what was useful with efficiency. No ceremony
They began walking slowly eren stumbled every few steps the poison still in him.
Just weaker ash adjusted his pace not out of kindness out of practically
If eren died to soon, ash would lose a buffer hours passed. Wind sharpened.
Ashes leg throbbed from the fall as eren breath grew unstable.the silence
Between them thickened finally-
Eren spoke"...if this was done on purpose....." He didn't finish and ash didn't answer.
Ahead, the trees thinned the cliff edge below the valley, swallowed mist
No easy path down eren laughed weakly "....of course..." Ash scanned the terrain his eyes adjusted the light bent differently around him.there a narrow rock
Path cutting down the side dangerous but possible.
Ash stepped forward eren hesitated "....if I fall don't come for me...."
Ash didn't turn around "....I wont...." his honesty made eren chuckle
They begin descending slow careful.
halfway down eren slipped his hand caught the edge barely his other hand clawed At the edge he looked up at ash. not pleading but understanding
"...so it was you...."not anger not hatred just clarity ash looked down at him.
Calmly erens strength was fading because of the poison
His limbs cold and numb ".....you betrayed me so I betrayed you....."
Ash said no emotion just facts erens eyes widened "....you knew...."
Ash just looked at him.
Then walked away eren pulled out his sword "so I guess I just have to kill you"
Eren chuckled and he slowly walked towards him ready to kill ash but ash then pulled out his blade blocking erens attack then kicked him down the ice eren stood no chance in his condition.
"Your weak your fragile and you definitely aren't smart enough to beat me"
Ash said "I know I can't beat you at full strength so weakening you was the best choice" ash said pointing his blade towards eren.
Eren looked at him coldly "do it...." He was ready to die then he put his hand to the floor getting ready to use his powers but ash saw it and stabbed his hand "AHHH!!!!" He yelled in agony. Then ash backed up and walked away Then eren grabbed his blade and stood up and ran at ash.
Then ash side stepped and kicked him down "I REFUSE!!!!!" Aura around eren spiked as his power grew as he stood up his eyes red "I'll kill you..." and blitzed
Ash sending him down the icy mountain.
Ash stood up and ash pulled out his warhorn "an ace I had been waiting to use"
And he blew on the warhorn nothing happened the wind more silent
Then a loud howl then eren turned around to see ash gone then he froze.
A silent growl came from behind him as he turned around And saw the forest
King and all ash heard was loud blood curdled scream as he ran through the forest [Congratulations you've killed an awakened and two pigs]
The voice said [here's your reward:flask bread and helmet]
And the helmet spawned on his head it was brown worn out helmet.
As he tripped as he heard the forest kings roar "betrayal Is A one way rode buddy" ash thought to himself as the forest king dropped down right in front of him as his gaze mets is bloodlusted eerie gaze.
Will he live will he die the only way to find out is to stick around for the ride.