Chapter Text
Heaved footsteps darted in and between of the oak-wood trees of Loftelia Forest.
"They ran over this way! Hurry up!" Shouts and cries of men were heard throughout the forest, followed by spears and brazen fire.
"Huff Huff...Mikasa, I can't run anymore..." A young blond male desperately whispered to the strong back of a female whose red scarf hid her face.
"Armin...Can you shift? We just need to get to where Eren is!" Glancing behind her, the young girl's ear began to elongate whilst pure black fur began growing out of every inch of her body. Completely shifted, Mikasa stood strong. Her flowing black fur shook gently in the swirling mist of the forest. Her strong paws gently patted the gasping young boy, urging him to hurry.
Taking a few deep breaths, Armin began shifting aswell. Completely opposite of Mikasa, Armin's fur was pure white with hints of grey at the tips. Catching his breath. the two young wolves could hear the indignant shouts of men close on their trail as the two continued running further deeper into Loftelia Forest.
The Forest of the Swallowing Mist.
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-Meanwhile, somewhere extremely deep within the forest's heart-
"Eren! Do you know where Mikasa and Armin are? It's almost time for lunch!"
A soft tinkling voice echoed in the clearing, Eren groaned before shouting back.
"No, they went out to the human side to grab some supplies! They'll be back soon!"
Scratching himself behind his ears, Eren'shair ruffled softly in the soft breeze. Loftelia Forest was known as the forest of the swallowing mist because quite literally, it is always shrouded in an eerie mist. Not many adventurers and hikers dare to venture too deep into the forest as many if not all have never returned. It is also the forest where many mythical beasts reside in. Nymphs, werewolves, faeries, water sprites and many more. These mythical beings seek protection from the forest's thick mist, in return they cannot speak anything of the forest's core. Eren slowly rose up before prodding over to a nearby river, dipping his fingers into the shimmering water he quickly shifted into his were-form. Leaning back into pouncing position, Eren leaped into the river enjoying the cold splash against his fur on a mild hot day. The river sprites quickly scattered at the sudden intrusion before timidly appearing before Eren's form.
Smiling sweetly at the meek sprites, Eren's teal eyes shone with mischief before he lifting a paw to create a semi wave at the sprites. The river sprites and faeries all joined in with the fun with their protector. Eren. After several hours of waterworks and fun, Eren bid the river sprites and faeries farewell before returning to his cottage.
"Eren! Where have you been?!" A familiar scolding voice found its way to Eren.
"Ma...I was in the river playing with the river faeries and sprites" Eren flattened his ears in attempt to pull off a pouting soft look,
"You should've told me, Armin and Mikasa have been missing for a while...I'm worried about them. Can you go look for them?" Carla's golden eyes flickered with worry as she paced back and forth the cottage gathering and putting things here and there. Beginning to worry, Eren nodded before he swiftly ran out the door. As the protector of the forest and also the strongest alpha wolf, his heightened senses allowed Eren to quickly track down his where his friends were.
They're moving...at such a fast pace. Wait, they've stopped. And I sense...5...no, 10 people. They're being chased?! I've got to get to them! Growling, Eren easily navigated over the densely vegetated terrain his large paws thudding heavily against overgrown tree roots. A faint shout was heard in the distance, "One of them is wounded! They can't be far! Find them!"
Eyes shining dangerously, Eren let out a ferocious howl as it echoed throughout the forest. Finally catching up to where Armin and Mikasa were, the teal eyed wolf barely held back the murderous aura emanating from him as he stared at the broken spear head embedded in Mikasa's leg. Both Mikasa and Armin were back in their human forms. Armin was sobbing profusely trying to explain what had happened when Mikasa gently rubbed his shoulders hoping to calm the sobbing boy
"Eren, I fought off two of them because they were trying to catch Armin. It seems like they're looking for wolves with white fur only" Mikasa whimpered slightly when she tried to get up, as the three of them heard growing footsteps. "Stay here, I'll draw them away" Eren pried himself away from a complaining Mikasa before quickly disappearing into the growing mist.
"Mikasa...*hic* will Eren be okay?" Armin worryingly stared after the blur of white fur. Eren...Be safe please. Mikasa would never forgive those who would hurt Eren. She'd hunt them down till they're all dead. Deciding he was close enough to the group of humans, Eren shifted back into his semi-human form and began channeling his powers through his palms. A mix of blue and green tones began swirling in Eren's palms.
I don't want to kill anyone, I'll just increase the thickness of the mist.
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"What was that?!" An excited voice tore through the countless shouts and shuffles of desperate men.
"Hanji...calm the fuck down, you're not helping" A stoic man scowled, his mood worsening at the constant swirl of mist that clung to his body. "But Levi, that howl could be the key to finding the Jaeger clan of the myths!" Barely containing her excitement, the woman's brown eyes shone with excitement. Groaning, Levi quickly fished out an imprinted dagger when a nearby fern rustled slightly.
"Jaeger clan huh..." Eyes narrowing into a glare, Levi took up a defensive stance. He wasn't about to let some mythical creature take him by surprise, the man had read and heard enough about the disappearances that happened within Loftelia Forest. Adventurers and curious villagers that had ventured in too deep the forest, only to never return as if the mists had claimed their very souls.
"Hanji, Erwin" Without anything being said, the three took defensive stances. Hanji had a crazed smile plastered across her face whilst Erwin's piercing blue eyes calmly assessed the situation. The mist began to slowly thicken as swirls of air became the breaths that the men breathed. "What the fuck is with this mist?!" Steadily growing more irritated, Levi backed away from the area where he had heard the fern rustle, "Hanji, Erwin what the fuck do we-"
Turning around, the ravenette was completely alone. The mist had become entirely like an almost thick smog blanketing even the dense vegetation. Feeling unamiliarly cold, Levi felt his strength begin to ebb away. What is with this mist? Is this how those are spirited away? Deciding against his better judgement, Levi felt his way through the dense fog. Stopping at a nearby tree, Levi felt his consciousness slipping away. Looking ahead, something caught his eye.
What is that...celestial glow? Wanting to approach the glow, it cleared just enough for Levi to see that the celestial glow was in fact a swirl of light in the palm of what seemed to be a human.
"H-Hey! Who's there?!" Levi breaths turned ragged as he struggled to keep consciousness. Alerting the mysterious person, the shadow flinched before slowly turning away. Levi caught a glimpse of what had seemed to be a tail and...ears? Just before he lost consciousness Levi caught a faint flash of teal before his strength completely ebbed away. Jaegers.