Before Annie could say anything else, Meeyn raised his hand. Black tendrils moved from him and wrapped gently around Reiner, Bertholdt, and Ymir. They were slowly lifted into the air. Reiner made a noise of surprise, trying to balance himself.
Bertholdt gasped softly. Ymir floated with her arms crossed, looking unsure but interested.
Annie's face turned red. She leaned toward Meeyn and whispered, "Make me float too."
Meeyn let out a quiet laugh. It wasn't loud or mocking—it felt warm. "Sure," he said.
More black tendrils reached out to her. They gently wrapped around her and lifted her into the air with the others. Annie floated upward, her cloak waving behind her. Her face was still a little red, but she looked more calm now.
She held the sides of her cloak to steady herself and avoided looking at the others.
Meeyn floated in front of the group, leading them upward. The broken village below them grew smaller and smaller.
"We're heading past the wall," he said. "There's a forest hidden by cliffs. That's where we'll set up our base."
They flew quickly, the land rushing by below them. They passed over torn-up plains, giant Titan footprints, and empty fields. Annie didn't say anything, but her earlier embarrassment faded. She was too busy staring down at the world. From above, everything looked different—quiet, peaceful, almost like a dream.
When they crossed over the remains of Wall Maria, the land below became rocky. Cliffs rose up in the distance. Meeyn led them toward a thick forest near those cliffs.
He slowly lowered everyone to the ground. The black tendrils disappeared as their feet touched the earth.
Annie landed softly. Her cloak settled around her as she stood up straight. She didn't look at Reiner. Her cheeks were still a little warm, but she stayed close to Meeyn. She didn't say anything, but her choice to stand near him spoke for itself. Reiner, Bertholdt, and Ymir landed nearby.
Forest Beyond Wall Maria – Evening
The forest was thick. Tall cliffs surrounded the clearing, casting long shadows across the trees. The leaves above blocked most of the light. The air was cool and smelled like pine and wet soil.
Meeyn stood in the middle of the clearing. His dark cloak moved gently in the wind.
"This is it," he said in a calm voice. "This is our base."
He pointed to the trees, the cliffs, and the open space around them.
"It needs work," he continued. "You're not guests. You're building your own shelter here."
Reiner frowned. Sweat ran down his face as he looked around. "You mean actual houses?"
Meeyn gave a small smile. "Unless you want to sleep under the open sky with Titans nearby, yes. Make houses. Nothing fancy. Just strong enough to stay dry and safe. Use what you find—wood, rocks, anything that works. You're Titans. This should be easy."
Bertholdt looked worried. He glanced at the dark trees around them. "What about Titans? Isn't it dangerous at night?"
"They won't come near us," Meeyn said firmly. "I'll make sure of it. Just focus on building. Start tonight. I want to see progress by morning."
Ymir raised an eyebrow. She folded her arms. "So what, you're just going to stand there and watch us work? No help from you?"
Meeyn let out a soft laugh. "I have my own tasks. And besides, you three could use the workout."
He looked at Annie. "You too. Pick a spot and make it your own."
Annie nodded once. She'd built shelters before. If she could do it back then, she could do it again.
Reiner looked at Bertholdt, then sighed. He rolled his shoulders and said, "Alright. Let's get started."
He turned toward Ymir. "You in, or just here to complain?"
Ymir smirked. "Fine. But I'm not sharing a roof with either of you." She glanced at Meeyn. "No offense, shadow guy."
"None taken," Meeyn replied.
The group split up. Reiner and Bertholdt started carrying logs. Ymir walked toward the base of the cliffs, pulling branches along the ground and muttering about wanting her own space.
Annie waited a moment. She glanced at Meeyn, then chose a flat area near a large oak tree. She took out her knife and began stripping bark from the branches nearby.
Meeyn stood quietly for a while, watching all of them. His red eyes glowed faintly as the sunlight faded.
Then, without a word, he stepped back into the shadows. He moved silently through the trees, using the Living Abyss to build traps and barriers around the forest. If any Titans wandered close, they wouldn't get far.
A Few Days Later
The clearing looked different now. Shelters stood all around, rough but solid.
Reiner's shelter was wide and sturdy, made from thick logs. Its slanted roof helped the rain slide off easily.
Bertholdt's was smaller and harder to see. It was tucked between trees, the walls uneven but reinforced with extra branches and stones.
Ymir's shelter was half-built into the cliff wall. It looked rough and bold, showing her need for space and independence.
Annie's shelter was small and neat. It was under the oak tree, well-hidden. The walls were tightly woven, and the roof was low. It wasn't meant to stand out—just to protect her and keep her unnoticed.
Everyone had fallen into a routine. They worked during the day and rested at night. Meeyn kept watch. Thanks to him, the Titans never came close. Their groans could be heard in the far distance, but they never entered the camp.
Food was hard to find, but they made do. Ymir was good at foraging. She brought berries and roots. They caught fish from a stream nearby. It wasn't much, but it kept them going.
Sometimes Meeyn left and returned with supplies. Blankets. Flint. Even an old kettle. He never said where he got them, and no one asked.
One evening, Annie sat outside her shelter. She was sharpening a long stick into a spear. Her movements were slow and careful.
The others were out scouting the edges of the forest, following Meeyn's orders to map the area. Annie had stayed behind. Her job was to strengthen the camp's defenses.
The quiet didn't bother her. In fact, it was comforting. She was used to it. But being alone also left her time to think—about the camp, the group, Meeyn… and herself.