Levi's POV

Before my eyes were even open I could feel the dull pain throbbing through my temple. With each slowly paced bounce the pain spread farther around my head. Finally opening my eyes I could just barely see the top of the sun setting beneath the land between the thick trees surrounding me. Realizing I was hunched on the side of the horse, just the wrong bump away from falling off it, I grabbed the reigns and pulled myself back up to a sitting position.

I looked around me to see more trees. Pinching the bridge of my nose I took a deep breath and tried to remember what happened. I remembered the abnormal titan chasing us. We were gonna get ahead of it, get to the trees and take him down there. Did we?

I thought harder. I remembered a scream, a crunching sound. Blood.

Steve.

He tried to take the thing down himself, fucking idiot.

Slowly the rest of it started to come back to me. The titan throwing Steve instead of eating him, Hange yelling at me, the explosion of pain. Then nothing.

I must've passed out. How could I have let that happen.

I cursed myself before looking around again. I needed to get back to base. Luckily it was night now, there would be less titans out, more of a chance to get back. But what way is back? I sighed and pinched my bridge again.

The pain pulsing through my head wasn't dimming and my grumbling stomach wasn't helping at all. I needed food. I needed to lie down, rest my head, but I had no time. I grabbed my small water pouch clipped to my saddle and took a swig. The cool water was refreshing and woke me up a bit more.

Maybe I should turn around. I'm not sure what way my horse went once I passed out. I think I was heading to the left of my squad. Either way I don't think heading straight is right.

Pulling the reigns I turned my horse around and we started in the opposite direction of which we came. It was only a few minutes before I felt something small hit my cheek. I quickly looked up grabbing my blades ready to jump off the horse. I saw nothing. I looked around me, still nothing. I touched my finger to my cheek just to realize it was water that landed on me.

"Tch, guess I'm more stressed than I thought." I said out loud. While I'm no stranger to fear I don't usually express it but being out here alone is a whole new situation. Not knowing where I was or what direction the base is in was a huge problem. While it was night now it wouldn't be for long and with the sun came titans.

More and more raindrops fell from the sky as I got my horse moving again. It started off as a drizzle but quickly started to pour. I pulled my hood up for the small amount of cover it offered and kicked my horse to pick up speed. I wanted to get out of this forest, maybe then I could get an idea of where I am.

We continued on for about a half hour and the woods around me seemed to just get denser. The trees were growing closer together, their branches swinging low enough that I had to duck every once in a while. Large, thick roots popped out of the ground making it harder to walk through the rough terrain without slowing down.

A bright light shot through the sky, a thunderous boom following it. Tired, hungry and still in pain I was caught of guard by the deafening sound and jumped, tugging on the reigns and digging my sharp heels into my horse. Frightened, my horse shook violently trying to buck me off of him. I tried gripping the reigns tighter but between the rain and another flash of lightning I lost my grip and was flung off.

I immediately twisted in the air trying to adjust myself to stop the fall. I was able to quickly put my foot out and make contact with the ground to gain balance again but the dirt had become mud and I slipped. Twisting my ankle I fell onto a large root hitting the back of my head against it and I once again found myself falling into darkness.

. . .

Cold. All I felt was cold. Whipping around me, pushing through my skin and seeping into my bones. I shivered. I coughed. I slept.

. . .

Pain. I was still cold but the pain was so strong it overpowered anything else I was feeling. Each bump that shook my body was agonizing. Everything hurt. Every muscle, every limb. My wet clothes scratching against my skin felt like sandpaper. I wondered where I was but was to exhausted to hold onto a thought. I hadn't even opened my eyes before I fell asleep again.

. . .

I woke up to the sound of myself groaning. My body twitched and pain shot throughout it. My head was pulsing and I couldn't open my eyes. I opened my mouth to take a deep breath but my throat was so dry I only coughed. Pressure bubbled up in my chest as I tried to take in more air.

Another groan. Or was it a whisper? Something smooth touched my lips and I jumped slightly, too sore to move much. Cool water streamed into my mouth and I instinctively rose my head slightly and swallowed. The relief was instant.

I could breath easier as I laid back down. My head pulsed and a shiver went through me. I was still so cold.

"Cold." I whispered, I wasn't sure if the sound even came out of my mouth.

I heard a sigh, or was it the wind? A gentle bouncing pace started again causing short bursts of pain every now and then. I fell back into the darkness once more.

. . .

The clanging of metal woke me, each bang piercing my ears and knocking on the inside of my head. I lifted my hand to my throbbing temple and touched the tender skin. It was wet, my hair plastered to my face with sweat. I slowly tried to sit up and groaned at the deep ache that washed over my body.

"Oh! You're up." a gentle but surprised voice said.

My eyes shot open and I looked around. I was lying on a bed, shirtless and sweaty, my gear nowhere in sight. The house I was in was filthy, clutter filled every corner, stacks of books almost touching the ceiling. Vines, leaves and other plants I both have and haven't seen before covered the walls and shelves. The only light came from the dusty window across the room.

A small cot was laid on the floor next to the bed I was lying on. A thin blanket and an opened book laid face down on it. A small table above the top of the cot was also covered with a short stack of more books, a couple plates and a tall glass of water.

On the opposite side of the room was a small girl in a long white dress holding a pot in one hand and a glass jar in the other. Her long, brown hair was messy, tangled and falling in her face. Her big green eyes stared back at me, a mix of surprise, excitement and fear all glossing over them at once.

"Who the fuck are you?" I growled instinctively reaching my hand to my hips expecting to find my blades.

The small girl squeaked and flinched at the harsh sound of my words. Gently putting the pot down over a small flame behind her and placing the glass jar on another table she took a step towards me and spoke.

"I know you must be scared, you're pretty far from ho-"

"I said who the fuck are you" I cut her off raising my voice but my throat was dry and scratchy and I started to cough violently.

The girl gasped and ran over to my side. Kneeling down by the side of the bed she grabbed the glass of water next to us and handed it to me.

"Please, drink this. You have't had much water in the past couple days, you need it."

I slapped the glass out of her outstretched hand and it flew to the side spraying water all over her face and dress before shattering on the wooden floor.

"Who. The fuck. Are you?" I said once again.

This time, shaking and barley speaking above a whisper, she told me.

"Elizabeth."