The Bonds of Blood" [Fem OC X AOT]

Chapter 12

"That's how we managed to climb the wall," Connie said, his voice filled with both relief and exhaustion as he finished recounting their harrowing journey. His eyes darted from face to face, gauging their reactions to the perilous events they had survived.

"We asked them to deliver gas to you multiple times, but they didn't listen," Christa said, her frustration evident. Her brow furrowed, and she clenched her fists, remembering the helplessness they had felt as they tried to send aid to their comrades.

"Yeah, we barely managed to escape too," Ymir added, her tone grim. She exchanged a somber glance with Christa, the gravity of their near-fatal escape weighing heavily on her. Every second had been a fight for survival, and the memories of those moments were still fresh and raw.

"So that means... that not all of you made it," Christa's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes welling up with tears. She looked at Connie, hoping for some reassurance, but fearing the worst.

"Yeah," Connie affirmed, nodding his head slowly. The weight of their losses was palpable in his voice, and the sorrow in his eyes spoke volumes. Each nod felt like a silent tribute to those they had lost along the way.

"Does that mean... Mikasa died too?" Ymir asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty. She braced herself for the answer, dreading what she might hear. The thought of losing Mikasa, their steadfast warrior, was almost too much to bear.

"No," Connie replied, shaking his head. "She came back with Jean, but disappeared afterwards."

~

"Huh?" Rae opened her eyes. She felt disoriented, and her surroundings were a blur. Her head throbbed, and she realized she couldn't move her left arm.

Hearing Rae's weak voice, Annie, who had been sitting vigilantly beside her, quickly turned her attention to Rae. She reached for a glass of water on the small table nearby and held it out to Rae.

"Annie... Is it you? Where are we?" Rae's voice was faint but filled with confusion as she regained her senses. Her vision gradually cleared, and she could see Annie sitting by her bed.

"Rae, you're awake!" Annie exclaimed, relief flooding her voice. "We're in the temporary infirmary set up for injured soldiers."

Rae's eyes darted around the room, taking in the sterile environment, the rows of beds filled with other wounded comrades. The reality of their situation started to seep back into her consciousness. She remembered the chaos, the battle, and the moments before she blacked out. Panic surged through her, and she attempted to sit up, only to collapse back onto the bed with a pained gasp.

"Be careful," Annie gently admonished, her hands steadying Rae and easing her back down. "You need to rest."

"Annie, where is Yoshi? And the others?" Rae's voice was laced with anxiety, her mind racing through the faces of her friends and her brother.

"They're okay, at least for now," Annie replied, her tone soothing but firm.

A sigh of relief escaped Rae's lips. "I'm glad," she whispered, the tension in her body momentarily easing.

Silence enveloped the room, a stark contrast to the noise and violence that had preceded it. Rae's thoughts turned inward, the weight of recent events pressing heavily on her.

"I'm sorry," Rae spoke after a few moments, her voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't save Mina."

The memory of the titan's jaws closing around Mina was vivid and haunting. Rae's heart clenched with guilt and helplessness. She replayed the scene in her mind, wondering if she could have done something differently, if she had been faster or stronger. The loss was a heavy burden, and the thought of facing Mikasa with news of Eren added to her torment.