Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

ONE-HUNDRED-AND-NINETEEN

'Everything and everyone has a line they cannot cross. Come high tide, come great plague, come burning inferno, some limits stand strong.'

-An extract from the book 'Evolutions' written by philosopher Adette Briggs.

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ONE-HUNDRED-AND-NINETEEN

Somewhere in North-Western Titan Country

Levi's heart leapt into his throat. Erwin, he was here; they had been found.

Erwin was alone; he rode his white stallion over, leaping from the saddle and rushing up to them. Levi didn't know if he'd been looking for them, but, either way, there seemed a sliver of hope amidst his dark despair.

Erwin's face turned to horror as he saw the gory wreck that was Lorelai's body. His blue eyes reflected the glossy shine of her blood.

"Lorelai..." Erwin breathed, still with shock.

Levi shared the sentiment. Lorelai had always seemed so indestructible; to see her this way was like something out of a nightmare.

"She's lost a lot of blood. Her leg's gone. I don't know what to do," Levi rambled. His emotions were a tidal wave inside him. "And Elske, she- I can't believe-"

Erwin crouched down beside him and placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. He could only imagine what Levi had just witnessed. "Take it easy. How long have you been here?"

Levi scrunched his eyes shut, willing himself to calm down. But the cool composure he always had depended on seemed impossible to reach. "I don't know, ten minutes, an hour? The bleeding just won't stop."

Erwin swallowed thickly. If he was being honest, Lorelai looked like a corpse.

Her skin was pale and ashy, leached of the healthy blush that had made her look so alive. Her dark eyes were closed in a troubled slumber.

Gently, Erwin felt for her pulse. To his absolute astonishment, she was alive. With the state of Lorelai's body and the blood loss, she should have been dead long ago. Something was tying her here.

However, it may not matter. Erwin was carrying no medical equipment. If Lorelai wasn't dead now, she certainly would be soon.

"She's alive," Levi asserted, reading his thoughts. "And she'll stay that way. She can't die, not after Elske..."

"What happened to Elske?"

Levi looked so guilty at that moment; it was as if Erwin had happened across him in the middle of a crime scene.

The silence between them was heavy.

"Levi?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

Erwin didn't know what he was talking about. He was probably delirious from shock.

"The battalion is miles away," Erwin breathed. "I expect they're nearly back at Falkirk. I was searching for stragglers when I found you two."

Levi wiped his eyes. "What do I do?"

Erwin looked backwards at his horse. It certainly couldn't carry all three of them, and besides, with the state of Lorelai's body, he doubted she'd make it to Falkirk.

They could attempt to signal for reinforcements, but there was no telling how long that would take.

They had reached a lull in the titan onslaught, but Erwin had no doubt that the longer they idled, the higher the chance they'd encounter a new group of enemies.