The Gathering Storm

As I pondered Hanji's words, the hospital room seemed to shrink around me, the fluorescent lights above my bed pulsing with an ominous energy. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of the world outside these sterile walls bearing down on me. The Scout Regiment's efforts to stabilize me had been successful, but the cost was evident in Hanji's exhausted expression. I squeezed her hand gently, trying to reassure her that I was okay, but she just smiled weakly and leaned back in her chair. The sound of her creaking leather jacket and the soft beeping of the hospital equipment created a sense of normalcy, but it was a fragile facade. "Tell me more," I said, my voice low and urgent. "What do we know about the Titans' movements?" Hanji hesitated, her eyes darting to the side as if searching for something. "We've had reports of Titan sightings all over the walls," she said finally. "They're not just random appearances, either. They're... they're moving in a pattern. A massive horde, like a tidal wave of flesh and teeth." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I processed her words. The Titans' movements were always unpredictable, but this was different. This was a coordinated effort, a deliberate march towards... towards what? Hanji's grip on my hand tightened. "We've also received reports of a new type of Titan," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "One that's bigger than any we've seen before. Some are calling it the 'Colossal Titan'." The name sent a chill down my spine. I had heard rumors of such a creature, a monster of legend that could level a city with a single swipe of its hand. But I had always thought it was just that – a rumor. As I lay there, trying to process the enormity of what Hanji was telling me, I heard the sound of footsteps outside my room. The door creaked open, and a familiar face peered in. "Ah, Eren," said Levi, his voice gruff as always. "I see you're awake." He strode into the room, his eyes scanning the space before landing on me. Hanji released my hand, standing up to make room for him. "What do you know about the Titans?" I asked him, my voice eager. Levi's expression was grim. "We know they're moving, and we know they're heading straight for us. But we also know that we can't take them on alone. We need a plan, and we need it fast." He glanced at Hanji, who nodded in agreement. "We've been working on a strategy," she said. "But it's not going to be easy. We're going to need all hands on deck if we're going to survive this." I felt a surge of determination rise up inside me. I was ready to face whatever was coming our way, to do whatever it took to protect my friends and the people I cared about. But as I looked at Levi and Hanji, I saw the doubt in their eyes. They were scared, and they were right to be. The Titans were a force to be reckoned with, and we were in for the fight of our lives. "What's the plan?" I asked, my voice firm. Levi's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes burning with a fierce determination. "We're going to take the fight to them," he said. "We're going to gather every soldier we can, and we're going to march out to meet the Titans head-on." I felt a thrill of excitement mixed with fear. This was it – the moment of truth. We were going to face the Titans, and we were going to do it together. As Levi and Hanji began to outline their plan, I listened intently, my mind racing with strategies and counter-strategies. The Gathering Storm was coming, and we were ready to face it head-on. But as we talked, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were missing something – that there was a piece to the puzzle that we hadn't quite found yet. And then, just as we were about to finalize our plan, a loud explosion rocked the hospital, sending debris crashing to the floor. The lights flickered, and for a moment, everything was silent. The Titans had arrived.