Chapter 16: The Wild Child and Nature's Call
The woods of Portland, usually a serene escape from the city's hum, now held a different kind of quiet. A cold, unsettling silence broken only by the distant wail of police sirens. Another murder. And this one, according to the whispers on the police scanner Adam was monitoring, was particularly gruesome.
[CASE ALERT: Wild Blutbad girl. Status: Feral. Objective: Integration/Rehabilitation. Reward: [X] System Points.]
Adam sighed, taking a sip of his lukewarm coffee. "Alright, so we're doing the 'feral child' trope now? Great. Is she going to be raised by wolves? Because I'm pretty sure that's a Blutbad's natural habitat. Less 'Tarzan,' more 'feral werewolf with questionable hygiene'." He glanced at Wanda, who was already looking intently at the distant treeline, her brow furrowed.
"I feel… a wildness," Wanda murmured, her senses reaching out. "And a deep, deep fear. And loneliness. So much loneliness."
"That's our girl, the wild Blutbad," Adam confirmed, already mentally sifting through the Library's vast archives. "System, pull up everything on feral Wesen. Behavior patterns, methods for re-socialization, historical precedents. Anything on how to convince a creature that thinks humans are just slow-moving snacks that we're actually, you know, friends. Or at least, not food."
The Library responded, flooding his mind with a torrent of information. Cases of Wesen raised outside of human society, their instincts overriding any semblance of human behavior. Accounts of Grimms who had tried, and often failed, to integrate them. The delicate balance of nature versus nurture, played out in the brutal reality of the Wesen world. It was like trying to teach a cat to play fetch, but the cat could turn into a snarling beast and tear your arm off.
"So, basically, we're dealing with a creature of pure instinct," Adam summarized, a rare note of seriousness in his voice. "She's probably terrified, lashing out because that's all she knows. It's less 'criminal' and more 'tragic victim of circumstance'." He watched as Nick and Monroe, looking equally grim, entered the dense woods, following the faint trail of clues. Monroe, with his Blutbad nature, would be crucial here. He could understand the primal instincts in a way Nick couldn't.
"Monroe's going to have his work cut out for him," Adam mused. "Trying to be the 'Wesen whisperer' to a creature that probably thinks 'whisper' is a type of prey. Good luck, buddy. Hope you brought some treats. Or, you know, a very strong leash."
They observed from a distance, hidden by Wanda's subtle illusions that made them blend seamlessly with the forest. They saw the wild girl for the first time: a fleeting glimpse of a gaunt, almost animalistic figure, her eyes wide with fear and aggression, her movements fluid and untamed. She was a ghost in the trees, a creature of pure survival.
"She is so afraid," Wanda whispered, her hand instinctively reaching out, as if to offer comfort.
"And she has every right to be. Humans aren't exactly known for their welcoming committee when it comes to things that go bump in the night," Adam replied, though his gaze was thoughtful. "This isn't just a murder case, Wanda. This is a chance to actually help someone. To show that not all Grimms are just about hunting. Sometimes, it's about understanding. About rehabilitation. About, dare I say it, therapy." He gave a wry grin. "Though I doubt she's going to be receptive to a couch and a notepad. We're going to need a different approach. Something subtle. Something… me."
He considered the Library's shop. A calming artifact? A rare book on animal behavior, specifically for the 'Wesen' variety? He mentally noted a few items, already planning his next move. This wasn't just about solving a crime; it was about saving a soul. And maybe, just maybe, proving that even a sarcastic, meta-obsessed human could make a difference in a world full of monsters.
"Alright, Wanda," Adam said, a determined glint in his eye. "Time to put on our 'Wesen social worker' hats. This is going to be a delicate operation. Less 'capture the flag,' more 'convince the feral werewolf to join a book club.' Wish us luck."
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