About

Cathrin was born the second and last child of a small family of merchants, the Sorges, a few years after her brother Victor. Cathrin loved her older brother and looked up him as her role model in life- that was why, after turning 13, Cathrin intended to follow in his footsteps and run away from home in order to join the Scout Regiment. Her parents found out about this plan and, because they were unable to talk her out of it, decided to make a deal with her instead: Cathrin could enroll in the Military as long as she stayed in the top 10 cadets and joined the Military Police after graduation. Cat agreed, planning to break the promise and join the Scouts.

Her determination started to waver after Victor died in an expedition, only a few weeks before she was supposed to finish training. It caused Cathrin episodeds of insomnia, loss of apetite, extreme fatigue and it eventually culminated with her losing control of her 3D manuvering gear during training and getting a nasty head injury. Aside from a scar on the side on her head, the injury was also accompanied by vertigo.

Had she taken a long rest afterwards no further complication should have arised. However, being the stubborn person she was, Cat forced herself to continue training even harder than before. Following the last day of training in the Cadet Corps, Cathrin lost all her sense of balance and was unable to raise from her bed for days on end. After examining her condition, a doctor from Wall Sina gave the final verdict: the vertigo was bound to return was she to make any sudden movements. Cat was forced to leave the Military before she could even choose a regiment to join, and was given a cane to help herself keep her balance.

Her sudden expulsion from the Military attracted the animosity of her former comrades, who thought she had a last minute change of heart and was faking everything. The only person who really vistied Cathrin during this difficult time period was Hange Zoe, who had been a close friend of Victor's.

Roughly one year after leaving the Military, Cat was still too scared to let go of her cane for even a split second. Her parents, having had enough of their daughter "acting like a cripple" told her the truth. The doctor's diagnosis was fake: they had paid him in order to lie and say her vertigo was a permanent condition, being afraid of losing their only remaining child to the titans.

To say Cathrin was enraged at the news was an understatement. She reasoned that, deep down, her family had good intentions- but still, she couldn't just forgive their deceit.

After a lot of arguing, her parents talked to the same doctor yet again. It was too late to take the diagnosis back (the Sorges and the doctor could have been easily accused of treason and executed for putting their own well being above that of humanity). However, the doctor agreed to help Cat join the one part of the Military that did not require any form of combat whatsoever: the Medical branch. (In exchange for a decent sum of money, of course).

Despite the unethical way she obtained her job, Cat took her duties very seriously. She never let go of her cane afterward though, even while knowing she didn't truly need it. Maybe she kept it as a reminder of her stupidity, maybe she was trying to keep up the appearances of a "permanent vertigo"... or maybe she just had it modified so it would double as a sword. Perhaps it was a bit of everything in the end.