The Bonds of Blood" [Fem OC X AOT]

chapter 9

Rae watched intently as Eren sprinted towards the Colossal Titan, his expression fierce with determination. His movements were swift and calculated, every step bringing him closer to the massive adversary.

Rae's heart pounded as she followed him, knowing the stakes were higher than ever.

As Eren launched his attack, the ground trembled under the Titan's colossal weight.

Determined to aid him, Rae sprang into action.

Her ODM gear whirred as she zipped towards the Titan, but her path was abruptly blocked.

The Titan swung its enormous arm, smashing it into the wall with a force that sent shockwaves through the air.

Cannons mounted on the wall exploded into fragments, and Rae had to maneuver quickly to avoid the debris.

"There's definitely a person inside it," Rae thought, her mind racing as she backed away from the impact zone.

Her eyes never left Eren, who skillfully scaled the Titan's arm. He sprinted along the limb, his eyes fixed on the nape.

Just as he was about to strike, the Titan released a torrent of scalding steam, obscuring everything in sight.

From the dense cloud of steam, Rae glimpsed a hooded figure darting away, utilizing the ODM gear with practiced ease. The figure moved swiftly, disappearing into the chaos.

'ODM gear! It's one of the soldiers,' Rae realized, her mind racing to identify the mystery person.

She was about to give chase when she felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back.

"Hey, Rae! Are you alright?" It was Reiner, his face etched with concern, his voice cutting through the cacophony around them.

"Reiner... did you see someone escaping?" Rae asked, still scanning the area for the hooded figure.

"Huh? Did you hit your head? We need to report to HQ; the Titans have breached the wall!" Reiner replied, his tone urgent as he turned to lead the way.

With a reluctant nod, Rae followed him through the chaos towards the headquarters.

The once orderly hub was now a scene of frantic activity.

Soldiers bustled about, preparing their gear, while officers shouted orders over the din. Yoshi, spotted her as she entered and rushed over, his face pale with worry.

"Rae! Are you okay? I heard the Colossal Titan appeared where you were fixing the cannons," he exclaimed, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"I'm... I'm fine, Yoshi," Rae replied, her mind still reeling from the sight of the hooded figure.

She decided not to mention it, not wanting to add to her brother's worries.

The atmosphere inside HQ was charged with tension. Officers were barking commands, and soldiers hurriedly equipped themselves for the imminent battle. The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder.

"Yoshi, where's Eren?" Rae asked suddenly, her mind flashing back to Eren's confrontation with the Colossal Titan.

Anxiety gripped her, making her voice tremble.

"He's okay! Don't worry, he's with Armin, refilling his gas tanks," Yoshi reassured her, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder.

Rae felt a wave of relief, but the overall situation still gnawed at her.

Memories of Eren's mother's death at the hands of a Titan haunted her, and the fear of history repeating itself loomed large.

She could still see the image of the Titan's gaping maw closing around Carla, her screams echoing in her mind.