Almost the whole formation encircled the covered wagon they were working in (Levi sat on the
left of Eren and Hanji sat on the right). Every so often, a bloody bandage, an empty bottle, or some other piece of disposable medical equipment would be thrown out the back. At one point Eren's Maneuver Gear harness was thrown out as well. Mikasa was fighting her way though the crowd with Armin, Jean, and a couple others failing at holding her back. Swearing, screaming, and empty threats rang out with the thunder.
"Ugh...let her through already!" Levi ordered as he threw another blood-soaked bandage out the back and used his teeth to pull his sleeves up higher.
Mikasa broke through the line of people and ran to the wagon at full speed. She peered over the side with fresh tears forming under her eyes. Eren was ghostly pale and his lips were an almost inhuman shade of blue. His hair clung to his face in matted clumps.
"M-Mi...k-kasa..." Eren's voice was hoarse and shaky. He leaned to get up, but Levi forced him down.
"Ah ah ah! I don't need you getting up. This is hard enough with all of us shivering like babies. But, on the bright side, we had covered wagons this time."
"Splint," Hanji ordered quietly, "and another gauze pad."
Just then, a fresh blast of wind and rain blew into the covered wagon, soaking them again. Eren caught the bulk of the rain and started trembling once more. Hanji pulled her cloak off and put it over Eren.
"I hate rain," Levi and Hanji grumbled in unplanned unison.
"Leg...hurts...," Eren muttered.
Mikasa ran around to the drivers side and hopped into the wagon. She knelt by Eren's shoulders and reached for his hand. She squeezed Eren's hand lovingly and the corners of his mouth twitched. Mikasa took that as a grateful smile.
"Feel that?" Hanji asked as she poked Eren's good leg.
Eren nodded and Levi thought he saw Hanji smile. But, if she did, it quickly faded as Hanji finished tying the splint and bandaging the leg. She set Eren's leg down gently on a wad of folded towels. The focus shifted to Eren's upper half now. Hanji unbuttoned Eren's shirt and wiped either rain or sweat off her forehead. Her brows relaxed and she sank back on her heels.
"What is it?" Levi asked casually...even though he meant it to sound much more concerned.
"It's only a gash. And here I thought there was internal bleeding and stuff," Hanji said with a smile.
"How is that good?" Mikasa didn't seem to be in a joking mood and didn't realize she was squeezing Eren's hand tighter.
"Because," Hanji began as she reached for a needle and started stitching up Eren's side,"all it needs is a few rows of stitches. The ribs should take care of themselves until we reach the Wall."
The work continued for a few more minutes before Hanji tied off the last stitch and wrapped Eren's torso and chest in bandages.
"There," Levi said as he and Hanji rose and jumped out of the wagon. Hanji ran off towards Erwin, but Levi stood there and used the rain to wash the blood from his arms, "that's all we can do from now. Stay with him and try and keep him warm; he's lost a lot of blood. We're leaving momentarily."
Mikasa nodded and sat down criss-cross in a last minute attempt in getting comfortable. Levi walked to his horse, and tried to pinpoint the reason why had been scared that Eren might die. After all, Levi had made it evidently clear that if Eren died he wouldn't be phased by it...so why was he so frightened earlier?
The wagon offered its occupants a bumpy ride and it was-by no means-warm and dry. Hanji had cut the left leg of Eren's pants off up to the middle of his thigh. The left boot had been removed and was laying in the corner of the wagon. Mikasa pulled her cloak off and placed it over Eren, a familiar action by now. She didn't care that she was cold, she had her scarf. She moved Eren's head into her lap. He was so cold-like living ice-his clothes were wet and pasty and his skin felt clammy. The blue was fading from his lips at a snail's pace, but they still remained dry and cracked. A sob escaped her lips in a short squeak. Eren's eyes opened slowly-they were bloodshot and dull. What was once bright turquoise-green had been replaced with a bleak sea foam-grey.
"Eren!" She breathed before breaking out in tears.
"What happened...?W-Why is it so-cough cough-cold?"
Eren leaned over and spat out a few drops of blood before lying back down. Mikasa wiped a stray droplet off the corner of his mouth with the cuff of her sleeve.
"Rest, Eren," her tone was firm, but calm,"it'll stop raining soon."
His eyes fluttered shut as she stroked the hair out of his face. It was rare to see Eren so destroyed and beaten down to such a degree as this.
