Chapter 22: Leave It to Beavers
The construction site was a mess of twisted metal and shattered concrete, a testament to a long-standing feud between two Wesen communities. Nick and Hank were investigating what appeared to be a simple accident, but Rosalee, with her deep knowledge of Wesen history, quickly identified it as a conflict between Eisbiber (beaver-like Wesen) and Bärgeist (bear-like Wesen). It was a generational dispute, a simmering resentment that had finally boiled over, all because someone's great-great-great-grandpappy apparently looked at someone else's great-great-great-grandpappy funny.
Adam, perched on a discarded concrete slab, grimaced. "You know, Ciri, I always thought 'family feuds' were just for, like, Shakespearean dramas and Thanksgiving dinners. Turns out, it's also for Wesen communities with long memories and even longer grudges. And frankly, this is just petty. All this property damage over something that happened, like, a hundred years ago? Get over it, guys. It's like the Hatfields and McCoys, but with more fur and less banjo music. Though, I could probably add some banjo music if I wanted to."
[ New Wesen Type Discovered: Eisbiber. Information added to Library. ]
[ New Wesen Type Discovered: Bärgeist. Information added to Library. ]
[ Wesen Conflict Detected: Inter-Family Feud. Threat Level: Moderate. Priority: De-escalation. ]
Ciri, who had zero patience for senseless violence, scoffed. "Such prolonged conflict achieves nothing. A decisive strike is one thing. This… this is a waste of energy. They squabble like children."
"Agreed," Adam said, scrolling through the newly updated Library entries. "And frankly, it's bad for business. All this property damage. Someone's gotta pay for that. And it's not gonna be me. So, we de-escalate. And if they don't de-escalate, then it's acid time. But let's try diplomacy first. Or, you know, aggressive persuasion. It's like a corporate merger, but with more woging and less PowerPoint presentations."
Their investigation, a blend of Adam's meta-knowledge and Ciri's sharp tracking skills, led them to a tense standoff between the two communities. The Eisbiber, industrious and territorial, were clashing with the more aggressive Bärgeist. Monroe and Rosalee were trying to mediate, but their efforts were being met with stubborn resistance. It was like trying to herd cats, if the cats were also bears and beavers who hated each other.
"Alright, Ciri," Adam whispered, observing the escalating tension. "Here's the plan. We break up the fight. No unnecessary drama. Just a quick, clean operation. And then, if they don't listen, acid. Lots of acid. For anyone who refuses to play nice. Because frankly, I'm tired of all this noise."
They moved swiftly, Adam's enhanced durability allowing him to shrug off a glancing blow from an enraged Bärgeist that would have sent a normal human flying. He then popped a Thunderbolt potion. His eyes, for a terrifying moment, turned completely black, reflecting the dim light of the construction site like twin voids. He moved with enhanced speed and strength, delivering precise, non-lethal strikes that stunned and disoriented the Wesen.
A Bärgeist, mid-woge, lunged at Monroe, its claws extended, a guttural roar tearing from its throat. Adam intercepted it, his steel sword clashing against the monster's arm with a deafening clang. The Bärgeist roared in surprise, its eyes widening as it saw Adam's black eyes. This was not a Grimm. This was something else. Something unnatural. Something that should not be able to stop its punch. A flicker of primal terror, a moment of confusion, crossed its face, breaking its aggressive momentum.
"Hey, Yogi Bear!" Adam yelled, pushing back against the Bärgeist's arm with surprising force. "Time for a time-out! No more fighting over picnic baskets! Seriously, this is why we can't have nice things."
Ciri, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of silver and steel, her movements fluid and precise. She darted around the brawling Wesen, striking at their joints, exploiting the weaknesses Adam had identified. A casual, almost effortless parry deflected a blow that would have shattered a human's arm. Her movements were so graceful, so efficient, they looked less like combat and more like a deadly dance. She was a force of nature, a ballet of brutality.
The Wesen, disoriented by Adam's unnerving presence and Ciri's relentless attacks, stumbled, their feuding momentarily forgotten in the face of this new, terrifying intervention. Adam seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful, non-lethal kick that sent the aggressive Bärgeist sprawling.
"Well, that was fun," Adam panted, his eyes flickering back to normal. "A little too much grunting for my taste, but effective. And surprisingly, no banjos. Missed opportunity." He then produced the Acid of Dissolution. "Alright, clean-up crew. Let's make this shiny bit of trouble disappear. Poof! No evidence, no fuss. Just like magic. And it saves us from having to explain why a beaver and a bear were fighting over a broken fence."
[ Kill Count: 0 Wesen. Level Up! Current Level: 5. Kills to Level 6: 32. ]
"Still Level 5, but progress!" Adam exclaimed. "This is like a family reunion, but with more property damage. And speaking of property damage, I'm pretty sure I saw a Maurits in the news. Rat people. Next up, pest control, supernatural edition." He paused, then looked at Ciri. "Hey, you know, this whole 'generational trauma' thing? It's a classic trope. You ever try to explain tropes to someone who only understands 'hit them until they tell the truth'?"
Ciri stared at him, her brow furrowing. "Generational… trauma? What is this 'generational trauma' you speak of? Is it a new type of curse? One that passes from parent to child?"
Adam sighed dramatically. "Oh, Ciri. We have so much to discuss. It's a long, complicated conversation. Involving inherited pain, unresolved conflicts, and a lot of therapy. It's like a family curse, but without the cool magic. Just a lot of repressed anger. But for now, let's just say it's why some people are so… stubborn. Now, about those rat people…"
Nick, meanwhile, with Monroe and Rosalee's help, managed to de-escalate the feud between the Eisbiber and Bärgeist. He found the Wesen, shaken but alive, and the conflict… mysteriously resolved. Another mysterious intervention. Nick felt a growing sense of gratitude, mixed with a healthy dose of unease. Who were these people? And why did they keep cleaning up his messes before he even got there? He was increasingly reliant on them, even if he didn't fully understand them. They were a necessary evil, or perhaps, a necessary good. A very, very loud good.
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