Chapter 5
The next day was technically the first day of the graduating class's career in the military, but most saw it as the last day of training. After all, they wouldn't choose a regiment until later in the night and there was a tradition that graduating recruits would clean the cannons and the Wall. Of course this task wasn't the most glamorous of duties, so few of the cadets where happy about this.
"Put your back into it, good for nothing lazy bones! Why Rolf's papa would beat you with a shoe if he saw how lazy this work was!" Few.
Rolf was grinning and humming to himself as he hung off the side of the wall with his Maneuver Gear, humming a traditional song of his homeland as he scrubbed at some of the dirty spots while berating the "lazy" cadets who had the unfortunate displeasure of being assigned with him.
Rolf leaned back and looked up at the wall with a sigh, a soft smile on his face as he squeezed the cleaning tools in his hands.
"Ah, Rolf is reminded of the many overly complicated chores Rolf was happily assigned to. Nothing like a good chore to get the laziness beat out of Rolf with a rubber mallet, yes?" Rolf asked, looking around at the others. As he reached into the bucket he held in his hand he saw it was empty, so he zipped back up to the top of the Wall.
Looking at the new defenses, Rolf was reminded of how he heard that there was a lot of new defenses, including these new wall cannons. Rolf had to admire them, turning what would be like a cute toy train system into larger instruments of Titan death was seen as a far more worthwhile venture in his eyes. As Rolf walked over to get a refill, he could hear some of the others in charge of cleaning the cannons talking.
"What happened to the MP, that was your whole thing!" Eren said, looking shocked at Connie, who's back was turned as he knelt to clean a cannon.
"Don't worry about it, a guy's allowed to change his mind isn't he?" Connie said in annoyance.
Rolf raised an eyebrow as he walked by another cadet, Mina Carolina. "What is this flam doodle with Connie-boy?" Rolf asked the girl, who turned to Rolf. While at first almost everyone would often pause and wait in confusion almost every time Rolf spoke, after three years it became accepted without a thought...even if actually understanding him wasn't that much better, although Mina definitely tried the hardest to get him.
"Connie's decided on not joining the Military Police. I think Eren's speech last night really lit a fire under him." She said, before Connie looked back at the two.
"Shut up, Eren's little temper tantrum had nothing to do with it!" Connie shouted angrily, to which Rolf chuckled.
"Yes, Rolf is so sure that Eren-boy had nothing to do with it, huh bald in the head and mind Connie boy! Isn't that right, Mina?" Rolf said, before smacking her on the back with a chuckle, and causing the poor girl to stumble forward, wincing, as Rolf walked ahead.
"Hey, Rolf! I thought I asked you to not do that." She said, crossing her arms, causing Rolf to look confused for a moment then nodded.
"Ah, Rolf apologizes! Rolf just forgot is all, what with the Son of a Shepherd being used to acting that way with Rolf's comrades home and here." Rolf said.
She sighed, before being interrupted by Sasha slowly walking forward with a dreamy look in her eyes.
"Hey, can you guys keep a secret?" Not waiting for a response, she opened up her jacket. "Cause I totally helped myself to the officer's pantry!" She said revealing a slab of meat, which understandably caused them to freak out. Well except Rolf, whose eyes were glued right on the delicacy he'd been denied for so long. As they tried to tell Sasha how stupid of an idea this was, Rolf could feel his stomach widen and belly growl, as his mouth watered a bit, before he shook his head.
"Yeah, do you have any idea how rare meat's been?" Mina said, which Rolf slowly nodded.
"Rolf is...very aware..." He said softly to no one in particular, as Sasha began to hide it in the cleaning supplies. At that moment, almost everyone in their group started chiming in how they'd like some. Rolf clenched his fists and swallowed before stepping forward.
"No! Ingrate fools, must Rolf slap some sense into your noggins?" Rolf said, looking back at them all, and stepping forward. "Sasha-girl, Rolf must ask you to return your stolen produce before Rolf...before...Rolf..." He said, looking down at it, feeling his heart race.
"C'mon man, don't be such a buzzkill!" Connie said, before Sasha nodded.
"Yeah Rolf, we know how much you like talking about meat, this is your chance!"
"Please Rolf, I'll even give you a bit of mine extra." Mina tried negotiating. Of course, their pleads and begs fell on deaf ears, until Rolf responded.
"Rolf shall have it on his own!" The meat deprived Son of a Shepherd had gone on too long without his former primary source of nourishment that something...snapped. Rushing towards the box, Rolf was licking his lips as he forced it open, and reached in to grab it.
"Hey, hands off! It's not yours!" Sasha yelled as she ran to him and tried to push him off. Rolf growled as he almost snapped at the meat to get even a single bite.
"Oh no..." Mina said, running to get Rolf, with Connie doing the same towards Sasha.
"Sasha, Rolf, c'mon you'll blow it!"
As the two struggled against their captors and each other for the prize, Eren, Thomas, and Samuel watched in amusement, the former walking to the edge of the wall.
However, their struggling and skirmishing was soon put to a halt, as it was at that moment fate saw to frown upon the cadets, and humanity as a whole. A bright green-yellow flash of lightning shot in front of the Wall, creating a loud boom that caught everyone's attention.
Rolf looked forward, seeing Sasha and Connie had turned to look, their eyes widened in horror, while he felt Mina slowly squeezing her hands in fear. Slowly looking to the side Rolf could see why. It was a Titan, but not just any Titan. This one was colossal, standing a full massive head above the wall, staring down at the puny cadets. Unlike the Titans Rolf saw three years ago, this one looked like it didn't have any skin to it, just muscle, tendons, and massive teeth. Rolf slowly dropped the meat he had held as he suddenly felt a hint of fear. He'd been able to beat a Titan a while ago, but it was much smaller and he still hadn't even killed it. But this?
What is the mere Son of a Shepherd to do against a leviathan such as-
His thoughts where then interrupted by a powerful burst of incredibly hot steam sending Rolf flying back off the Wall. Rolf cried out as he was disoriented for a moment, seeing the world fly around, the buildings and sky rotating in his vision. Shaking his head, Rolf needed to clear it as he fell. Angling his body, he aimed himself at the Wall and fired off his hooks, skidding to a stop on the Wall. Panting, Rolf looked around. It looked like everyone was there, besides Samuel. Looking down he saw Samuel hanging by one of the hooks of Sasha, seemingly unconscious. That's when Rolf's eyes kept lowering and he saw something that even gripped his heart.
There was a hole in the Wall.
"They're gonna get in...they're gonna get in..." Connie muttered before suddenly yelling. "They're gonna get in!" He shouted out, snapping Rolf out of his own trance. Rolf looked up and gritted his hands. He'd been in hopeless situations before, and this was just like then, it had to be. Rolf raised his voice.
"Imbeciles! Listen to Rolf and get on up the Wall! We have a job to do!" Rolf shouted, as he saw Eren swing by him, yelling for them to join him and attack the infamous Colossal Titan. Rolf swung himself down to where Sasha was. "Rolf has Samuel, get up with Eren-boy." Rolf said, grabbing Samuel and taking the hook out of his thigh. Looking up, he had to nap his fingers to get her attention, before she scaled the wall. Hefting his comrade, Rolf shot himself back up the wall. Once he got there and set Samuel down, however, he saw that large, red, and skinless was...gone. Vanished in thin air. Pulling his own swords out, Rolf ran to join Thomas near the edge, looking down. All he could see was Eren hanging there.
"It vanished...I...how could I-" Eren started, before Rolf interrupted.
"Vanished? Then it is of no concern right now, hello goodbye. Right now we have much larger weeds to pluck." Rolf said, looking back down at the hole in the wall. That's when they heard another voice and whizzing of Maneuver Gear.
"Look alive!" A soldier from the Garrison said as he landed in front of them, the cadets standing at attention and saluting. "Operation: Colossal Titan Response is in effect, I expect you to take part!" The soldier said as two others arrived. "Report to HQ, if you got close to the thing we need details!" He said, before the soldiers ran off. Rolf realized he was actually about to do this, he was going to fight Titans.
The district of Trost was in a major panic. The alarm bells tolled, as Garrison troops tried to organize an evacuation from the district into the rest of Wall Rose. Meanwhile, the Advanced Garrison Squad was busy blocking up the hole with barbed nets and barricades while firing cannons at the Titans, before getting ready to engage. In the interior of the district sat a large building, which served as the headquarters of the military units within the district. Those Garrison soldiers not overseeing the evacuation or part of the Advanced Squad where here to organize and prepare to fight the Titans. The cadets in the district also found themselves here.
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire cadets!" Shouted the head sergeant as the cadets ran about trying to refill their gas and blades. "Time to put your training to work! I have faith you will be a credit to your regiment!"
As the various soldiers were busy focusing, or trying to comfort loved ones, Rolf went about holding onto his gear. He'd just been very quickly debriefed along the rest of the maintenance crew, and now he was getting ready. Rolf had filled up his gas, stocked his blades, and was walking outside to the meeting area, trying to take some calming breaths.
Rolf, calm your nerves and shivering. Stop shaking like Gertrude on egg collection day. Rolf has been taught the doohickies and how to's on mowing down this petulant flesh bitters! Rolf could take care of them three years ago, Rolf can do so more now! Rolf thought, as he stood in line, waiting for Captain Kitz Weilman's orders. The basic plan was that the interceptors would be in the vanguard closest to the breach, while the cadets would be led by the support squad in the middle to relay messages and resupply anyone who needs it. The elites were reserved to the rear guard and were tasked with protecting the civilians who still hadn't evacuated. However, as Rolf stood there and listened to the plan, the captain said something that almost made Rolf tremble in fear.
"I expect you all to man your posts, knowing the advanced team has been wiped out!" Rolf's eyes widened as he heard that, and he could hear fearful muttering between the rest of the recruits.
If that's true, than those vermin…
"That's right! The outer gate is history, the Titans are in!" The captain said, confirming their fears. "This means the Armored Titan is likely to reappear! If and when he does, the inner gate will also be history!"
The worried chatter from the recruits continued, as Rolf looked to his side, seeing Connie and Mina's worried faces. Rolf leaned over to them. "Worry not...R-Rolf is sure that this will not happen, yes?" Rolf said, before he was interrupted.
"Quiet!" Once the chatter died down, the captain continued. "Those in the vanguard, be ready! The whole area is nice and saturated! Your mission is a very simple one: defend the Wall until the evacuation is done!" With that said, he turned his head down to glare at everyone. "Now be aware, desertion is punishable by execution! If it comes down to it, lay down your lives! Dismissed!" The captain warned, as everyone saluted, before hurrying to rush to their posts.
Rolf was among those, but as he ran he saw the earlier panic and fear had only intensified in the light of the true reality of the situation and their new orders to die if necessary. Some where panicking, some were praying and begging to not die, and some were so stressed they could only vomit and heave. As Rolf walked by them, he couldn't help but feel the dread permeate into him.
No, Rolf grasp ahold of the nerves that try to flee like a cowardly sow! The Son of a Shepherd has seen worse, yes yes, Rolf will make it out.
As said Son of a Shepherd walked forward, he saw Jean and Eren were once again about to come to blows. Rolf shook his head, a bit annoyed they were still at it, even now. He kept walking forward until he saw Connie, Mina, Thomas, Sasha, and a few other recruits talking and trying to not panic.
"Rolf sees you yes, surely we should be rushing to our positions, correct?" Rolf asked, when they looked up at him. Connie glared and shouted.
"How can you be so calm and confident, huh?! Are you really that messed up in the head?!" Connie said, before Mina got in front of him.
"Connie, stop! We're all worried, but has Rolf ever been one to panic?" Mina questioned.
"She's right, we would all serve better to try to not panic." Sasha said...even if her voice was starting to crack and her eyes betrayed the fear welling up in her That's when Rolf stepped up.
"Rolf understands the cowering in the boots feared by you all, yes? But if one scatters like sheep before a wolf, the Shepherd cannot save all, otherwise the wolf can easily steal from Rolf's flock!" Rolf said, trying out one of those metaphors used by his friends sometimes. "Rolf is a bit worried, but Rolf's ancestors shall protect him! We have the know-how and the ways of lopping away these vile zombie giants." While it was a bit hard to understand what he meant, the others where able to get the gist of it.
Mina nodded, and smiled softly, as Connie ran a hand over his face. "Look...I'm sorry Rolf, you're right. It's just...ugh, this is so frustrating! Why'd it have to happen now?!" Connie asked. It was at that point that one of the Garrison soldiers and a clearly annoyed Mikasa ran over to the group.
"Rolf Yonick? You're with me, you've been assigned to the rear guard on special orders with Cadet Ackerman here. And before you say anything, this is an order, we need as many elite soldiers to make sure the evacuation gets back on track." He said, before Mikasa and the soldier walked away.
"What? Oh come on, that's not fair now you're in the rear guard too?!" Connie groaned. Rolf had looked back at them, then at the others.
"Well...Rolf was not expecting such an honor." Rolf said, before turning away. "Rolf is sure you all will do alright, yes? Rolf must get going, as should you!"
The others nodded, before speaking up. "Hey, good luck Rolf, we'll all need it." Sasha said.
"Yeah Rolf, you better come back to us, I wanna hear more of your stories!" Mina added.
"And if you die without us despite being back there, I'll lose what last respect for you I had." Connie said, to which Rolf smiled and waved back.
"Rolf will be more alright than a pickled wiener in the pit of Rolf's gullet, worry not friends!" Rolf said, as he ran after Mikasa.
The elite garrison squadron was made up of various smaller squads that were stationed at various places all over the rear of the district. For the most part, their tasks ended up being finding straggling or lost civilians and pointing them in the right direction as the Titans where mostly still fighting against the Vanguard or even the Middle Guard. This was a task Rolf...was ill suited for.
"Must Rolf explain again, yes? Follow road signs down the merrier like the chicken to make the diagonal toss, and hop the barrel!" Rolf said, pointing down one of the roads. He had spotted a small family who seemed desperately lost.
"Please, soldier, just lead us there! I don't understand what you mean, and the Titans are getting closer!" The father said in a panic, as Rolf sighed.
"Titans being distracted and cut like wheatgrass, yes? Now, Rolf shall explain again-"
"Follow this road for three blocks, then make a right and go straight and you should be there." Came the voice of Rolf's squad leader as he landed next to the Son of a Shepherd.
"Thank you! Come along." He said to his family as they raced down the road. The leader looked over to Rolf and sighed.
"Look kid, how about if you see anyone, you tell anyone in the group and they'll handle it, okay?" He said.
"Sir, we have a Titan!" Came the voice of one of the elite Garrison soldiers in Rolf's squad. The two shot their hooks up onto the rooftops and zipped there. Rolf landed next to Mikasa as they saw one of the Titans slowly ambling towards the squad. The leader gripped his gear and turned to the squad.
"Alright everyone, this is our most important task! Seeing as it's just one, it probably was just lucky enough to slip past the two advanced groups, so don't lose your courage! Spread out and try to flank it! If it looks like it's going for you, try to keep its attention while we kill it, but don't take any unnecessary risks!" He said, as the squad leaped away, spreading out among the rooftops.
Rolf's head zipped towards the farthest right, swinging low below the rooftops, keeping an eye at the top of the Titan's head. He couldn't see anyone else, but he did hear them, so he knew he was still in formation. He looked up ahead once satisfied that he knew where he was going to see a massive palm slamming towards him.
Rolf gasped and swung his leg up, kicking the hand backwards as he quickly reversed his body to almost slam into a building across the way. Panting, Rolf looked up to see there was a smaller Titan, no higher than four meters tall. It must've also snuck by and had made its way under the cover of the rooftops. Rolf stared back at the Titan, who was peering back at him, with what looked like a permanent scowl on its face, gray eyes glaring back behind long black hair in a sort of bowl shape.
"So, it seems you thought you could tussle with Rolf, yes? Get a quick bite before moving on to the trough, yes? Sad that you chose this day to mess with the Son of a Shepherd!" Rolf boasted as he jumped off the wall he hung in front of and zipped towards the Titan. It reached down and grabbed onto Rolf's wire and yanked on it, pulling Rolf towards it. As Rolf landed on the Titan's arm, it looked down and leaned down quickly to try and bite Rolf off its arm. The farm boy smirked as it leaned down and reached his arm back before throwing all of his weight into this punch.
The fist collided with the Titan's jaw, and with a small boom, the Titan's head was knocked back with a sickening snapping sound as well as the Titan's jaw was snapped and dislocated, maybe even broken. When the Titan let go of Rolf's wire as it stumbled into the building behind it, Rolf leaped backwards, and shot towards its left, spinning in the air to face it. Once landed, Rolf grinned and shot towards it and swung his leg, connecting to the back of its head, knocking it forward. Seeing this, Rolf had a perfect view of this peering Titan's nape. Spinning again, he kicked off of the building and launched himself at it.
"Shlieyaheeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Rolf screamed as he swung both blades at it, carving deep into its flesh, kicking off the neck and landing on the ground, turning back to see his handiwork. He grinned as the Titan fell with a groan, dead. Rolf leaped in the air, raising a hand. "Rolf has done it! Rolf has honored his ancestors and comrades!"
"Nice job Rolf!" Came the squad leader's voice above, causing Rolf to look up. "We didn't see this Titan, it was too small to see and must've made it back here as well." Came the voice of his Squad Leader who zipped down, landing there, seeing the corpse next to Rolf, having just missed Rolf's kill. Rolf shot up to stand next to him. "It's not easy surviving an ambush, let alone killing the one that did it. And for a cadet rookie as well."
Rolf smiled and saluted. "Rolf thanks you for this humble congratulations at Rolf's bidding, sir."
"Yeah yeah, but listen we still have that Titan to get. It's distracted, and we're waiting to lure it over here with the rest of us flanking." He said, pointing over to the Titan and one of the soldiers who was ahead of it and running to the squad. Rolf nodded, before hearing something else. Looking back, Rolf saw another Titan a fair bit away, but still visible. However, this blonde Titan was crawling along the rooftops, which Rolf immediately could tell the danger of.
"Sir, Rolf has spotted a beast over there acting stranger than his Great Nana when hungry!" Rolf said, pointing to it. The leader looked over and grimaced.
"An abnormal...it coulda gotten this far in any way. Fortunately, it looks like it's heading back in towards the middle. We shouldn't break formation to deal with it unless it comes back."
However, Rolf shook his head. "Sir, Rolf can easily handle these measly little things! You all can handle one of these together, Rolf shall go get it!" Without waiting, Rolf leaped off the building and zipped away, quickly losing his leader's angry shouts.
Grinning Rolf saw that it kept leaping faster and farther away.
"Yes, run little beast! For you shall face the thrashing of Rolf!"
Rolf landed across one of the rooftops, looking up at the sky. He'd been so focused on trying to find this Titan he hadn't noticed the clouds that came to cover the sky and could already tell it was going to start raining soon.
Grunting, Rolf leaped across and saw that his query was still gone.
"Poppycock!" Rolf shouted angrily as he stopped to take a breath. The Titan had been leaping across the buildings faster than Rolf could catch up, and at one point Rolf had missed a mark with his gear and fell to the ground. Then his wires had gotten tangled up, and by the time he finally got up on a roof, the Titan had vanished. However, not one to give up, Rolf kept running in the direction he thought it went, but by now it seems Rolf had missed it.
"Well...Rolf supposes he shall return to Rolf's squad, yes?" Rolf said, as he turned around...and realized he had no idea where he was. He hadn't been paying too much attention to where he was going, and that was when Rolf realized he'd been gone for a lot longer than expected.
"...Rolf shall get the sock of shame thrust upon his derriere. Rolf is sure of it." Rolf said dejectedly, deciding he'd just have to make his way back to the evacuation zone and find his squad once there. However, as Rolf leaped across a road to another rooftop, Rolf looked down and his eyes widened at what he saw.
Blood and a few body parts where laying there. Rolf's eyes widened as he gasped and stopped, looking down at them. Of course Rolf had known in his mind that not everyone in this battle was going to make it, this was a war and he knew how those things played out, but still...to actually see it. It was then Rolf heard a slight moaning on the other side of the roof.
Running over to it, Rolf saw a familiar face partially obscured by a small pile of broken roof tiles. Slowly struggling to sit up was Mina Carolina. Rolf ran over and began to push aside the tiles, and helping her up.
"Ah, Mina-girl are you alright? What could have happened to get you in this precarious situation?" Rolf asked, before looking around. "...And...where are your assigned squadmates?"
"Huh...R-Rolf..." She said softly, groaning as she rubbed her head, looking down and wincing. She had a trickle of blood running down her chin, and she could feel a sharp pain on her back and legs. Looking around, her eyes suddenly widened. "Rolf! I...w-what happened?!" She suddenly screamed and gripped her head.
"Huh? Mina-girl, Rolf was not sure what happened. Rolf was just in the rear guard, doing as Rolf must, when Rolf killed a Titan and followed but lost another one, then howdy do to you Mina is here but all alone." Rolf said, confused.
"I...oh my..." She said, shaking a bit. "I...w-we were here...when a Titan came and...and it...oh it...Thomas..."
"Thomas? Rolf is confused a Titan-" That's when Rolf suddenly understood. The blood, the body parts. It all meant one thing.
"...What...happened?" Rolf asked slowly, suddenly aware of why she was panicking.
"I...we all just froze up...except Eren. He led us in a charge when...they came from everywhere. A Titan bit off Eren's leg...then Nack and Milieus were next to..." She shook. "Me and Armin just...froze. Another Titan came for him and was put him in his mouth. I...I tried to save Armin, but the Titan just...swung its palm at me and...I-I can't remember next..." She said slowly, tears beginning to well up.
Rolf's eyes were equally wide as he heard this. "E-Eren-boy? Armin?" Rolf asked, shaking a bit. "No...surely you jest Mina. I-I mean...Eren was always so happy and anger with Titan killing he couldn't have..." But Rolf's voice faltered as he saw the look in Mina's eyes.
"Why...why did I cower and do nothing until it was too late?!" She suddenly screamed, leaning down. "And why couldn't I save anyone?! I was too weak, I...I was..." Suddenly she felt a stinging smack on her cheek as Rolf returned his hand to his side.
"Rolf will not hear anymore self-pity boo-hooing!" Rolf declared, looking back. "Rolf must return and so shall you, yes? Can you go or must Rolf carry you like a sickly lamb?" Rolf asked, her eyes still a bit surprised from that.
"Um...I-I think...I think I can handle it." She said slowly getting up. Rolf nodded and leaped off the building and started to fly away, Mina close behind him. As the two flew away, Rolf made sure to keep an eye out, and this time couldn't help but notice the bloody stains on the ground and the occasional part as well.
How...how could Rolf miss this? Rolf thought in horror. How could Rolf miss the problems going on while his friends were in more danger?
As the two zipped along, Rolf looked over and saw a large number of soldiers on a group of buildings. "What is this? Ah, salvation! Come, follow Rolf!" Rolf shouted back at Mina and the two maneuvered over to the group.
"Hello fellow soldiers!" Rolf shouted as the two landed. They both landed and the first thing they saw was the hollow and empty faces that met them. Among them that Rolf recognized was Annie, Reiner, Marco, Jean, Bertholdt, Connie, and Sasha. Sasha seemed to be the only one not completely without hope as she looked at the newcomers.
"Rolf? Hey aren't you supposed to be in the Rear Guard too? Mikasa just showed up too, what's going on back there?" She asked, as Rolf walked up to her. "And...Mina is that you? Weren't you in Eren's squad?"
"Wait, death eyes Mikasa is here too?" Rolf asked, with Sasha pointing over to the back of one of the roofs, where Mikasa was leaning in front of...Armin! Rolf's eyes widened as he saw him. "But...Mina, Rolf thought you said Armin had been pushed into one of the beast's throats!"
"I...that's what I saw. Before I was knocked out." She said, before turning to Sasha. "Yes I...there weren't enough Titans there to get me...I guess..."
Rolf ran over to the two, looking down at them. "Armin-boy! Rolf was sure you were no more!" Rolf said with a smile, pulling up the small boy into his arms for a choking hug. Armin, however, began to shake when he heard Rolf say that.
"Mina...survived..." He asked softly as Rolf set him down.
"Yes she did. Rolf knows not how so, but she did as did you! Surely Eren-boy did as well, yes?" Rolf asked, but the look on Armin's face was as if Rolf had just force-fed him some of Wilfred's anti-worm medicine. "Right Armin-boy?"
"Thomas Wagner, Nack Tierce, and Eren Jaeger...I saw...all died valiantly...upholding their duty..." Armin said, sobbing as tears ran down his cheeks. Rolf was once again hit in the gut. When he saw Mina had survived and then Armin, he thought there might be a chance. But if he saw them all die before his eyes…
That's when the boy heard the talking behind him, how they would all die if they tried to do anything, or that they will anyways. Rolf felt his fists clench, until he turned around.
"To think...I survived only to die anyways..." Mina said, before Rolf shouted.
"Nonsense! Rolf is ashamed to hear such babbling and crying from this lot!" Rolf said, marching forward. "Eren-boy was a strong and powerful comrade, and Rolf will not listen to this fear mongering at his memory! Rolf's patience is thin like Mama's hair!" He said storming to the edge. "Rolf shall see to it we make it back to the Wall!"
"But we can't. There's too many Titans, and even if there were only a few we're almost out of gas." One of the cadets said. Rolf had completely forgotten about his gas, and after chasing a ghost Titan for a while he knew he couldn't have much left.
"Where is the rest of the gas, in the command yes? Then we shall go there first!" Rolf said, before another soldier spoke up.
"But the building is swarming with Titans, and there are probably smaller ones crawling all over inside, it's hopeless!"
"What, must Rolf repeat himself?! Rolf shall ignore your failure with such disgrace at your pitiful attempt to prove your sorry and feeble effort at self survival! Rolf would not line Wilfred's plumbing pit with such dribble." Rolf said before pointing to it. "Rolf has killed Titans with Rolf's own bare hands, and we have she-devil Mikasa with us! Just the two of us could crush the egg-weak beasts that infest the city like the fleas on Victor's back! Or, shall Rolf let you all be such cowardly sheep with no Son of a Shepherd to protect?" Rolf asked, looking at them all. "Rolf shall go, and Rolf knows that all of you shall follow Rolf, if only so your cucumber legs no longer grow soft in worry of being plucked for a garden dinner!" Rolf yelled, before leaping from the roof, and zipping away.
As Rolf flew through the air, he heard another one follow, looking back to see Mikasa. And it was at that point that Rolf soon heard a few more follow him, before a loud roar from the cadets picked up and the rest followed. Rolf grinned as he looked ahead.
"Look out, measly carnivores! For Rolf's flock shall be avenged!"
AN: And finally got another chapter up to my usual length standards, or at least on the lower end. This was also the first real time I had to write serious Rolf while keeping him in character and the zany and hard to understand Son of a Shepherd we all love, as well as finding out the best ways to go about getting some of the minor changes Rolf's appearance would start to create.
Sorry it took a bit longer to come out, it just seemed like life worked its hardest to prevent this chapter.
Hope you all are enjoying it thus far, and I hope you look forward to the next chapter.