A Wolf's Call (complete)

Chapter 6

Gail watched in surprise as Holly came through the hallways with the now fully dressed and clean girl following closely behind her. She had meant to go to the cleaning room where most of the wild children got a bath but instead had decided to manage the clearing up of the blood trails and warning the staff that she could be vicious so that none of them would get bitten as the intern had. It had taken longer than she had expected and by the time she was ready to go Holly had appeared with the girl behind her.

‘How did you…’ started Gail amazed at the girl’s sudden appearance.

‘I did my job. That’s all…’ replied Holly coolly.

She looked at the girl who stood on her hands and knees behind her and watched briefly as the girl crept to stand next to her.

‘She… bit an intern’ said Gail looking at the girl with a more wary gaze than before.

‘They scared her. That’s all!’ exclaimed Holly defensively.

At that point Holly turned amazed as she heard a deep growl coming from the girl’s throat. She saw that Shilo was looking at her occasionally as though to check her response. Doctor Brooks stared at the girl then at Holly.

‘Put her in her room,’ she said firmly and watched as Holly reluctantly pushed the girl into the room. Then she signalled for Holly to join her in the observation room.

Holly entered the room hesitantly but her gaze rested mainly through the window on Shilo. She watched sadly as Shilo curled up into the corner again and that familiar look of fear and insecurity spread across her face. Holly wanted with all her might to go in and comfort Shilo, but she knew there was something Doctor Brooks wanted to say and that it didn’t include, ‘Go in there and join her’.

‘Firstly, did she bite you? Feral children often do…’ started Gail moving towards Holly as though searching for bite marks.

‘No, I’m fine.’ Holly said stepping away from the doctor. ‘She’s not like other cases…’

‘Excuse me?’ said Doctor Brooks coolly.

‘She’s not! She understands! She… she’s willing to trust!’ argued Holly passionately.

Gail looked in at the girl who seemed timid and unpredictable.

‘What does she understand Holly?’ asked Gail

‘Words…’ she responded doubtful of why the Doctor was acting this way ‘And! And she understands how people feel to each other… she just wants to…’

‘What? What does she want?’ asked Doctor Brooks

‘To help…’ said Holly her voice barely audible

‘And you know ALL this after spending thirty minutes with her?’ said Gail.

‘Yeah…’ Holly responded.

‘And why? Why would she want to help the creatures that took her from her home? You don’t even know how long she’s been out there!’ exclaimed Gail.

‘It can’t have been too long! I mean if she’s so understanding of us, she must not have been out there for too long!’ argued Holly.

‘This isn’t protocol either Holly. You shouldn’t have worked with her alone, especially after she bit that intern. It’s dangerous. There should also always be at least two people watching her when she’s awake,’ explained Doctor Brooks logically.

‘But there was the camera, someone could have been watching us from there!’ Holly argued.

‘Could, is not good enough. This girl is unpredictable and you being alone with her was irresponsible.’ explained Gail. ‘This rehabilitation is not your job, you are here to learn, how can you learn when I’m not there to teach you?’