Desperate Solution

As they marched, he felt angry with himself as he gritted his teeth; through all of the pain his body was in as blood seeped from his lips, the strain in his heart was the most visceral. 

The pain began to lessen as the exhaustion intensified, cloaking his body with a numbness that increased the difficulty of his stride with each step. 

"I wonder...if anyone went to look for us," he spoke in a faint breath.

Aiko focused on supporting him as he walked, though the more they walked, the more she had to support his weight as his steps became unorthodox; tripping over his own feet, stumbling, and sometimes not even taking a step. 

"Ren...just focus on moving, okay?" She spoke to him in a reassuring voice. 

"Yeah...got it," he replied quietly. 

Though he assured her, it was only a few seconds later that he fell to unconsciousness, slumping over as the girl barely caught him before he landed face first into the soil.