Karkat pulls back some small amount when she goes to slide down, to make sure she has the room for it. He can't blame her. He might have dealt with stab wounds before without much trouble, but the doesn't mean they didn't hurt, and none of them had come after the hell they've been through in the arena.

"Yeah, we can stay."

He settles back against the wall himself, eyes turned out and ears alert. He takes his knife in hand - he set it down while he dealt with the rope - and keeps firm hold on it now. They won't get caught off guard again.

He doesn't ask her how it's doing now. It has to hurt; her body language makes it obvious.