Elin followed the dark figure into the forest ahead. Strictly speaking, it was not a forest, but rather an arrangement of tree-like structures that had lost most of their botanical functions. The cracked bark would disintegrate into a powdery ash-like substance at the slightest vibration, while the overpowering stench of decay rose like a fountain from the base of the trees, making one's head spin. Running vigorously in such an environment proved to be incredibly difficult for Elin, but fortunately, the pursuer wasn't faring any better, stumbling and struggling with every step.
The visible miasma in the forest limited the areas illuminated by the moonlight. Despite being only about twenty meters apart, Elin couldn't make out the contours of the fleeing figure. He simply ran, showing no inclination to counter-attack or use the trees to conceal his movements. This all seemed like the work of an amateur thief, and if it weren't for the peculiar behavior he had observed near the quarantine house, Elin would have given up the chase. Monitoring a place like that must have had a special purpose.
Elin recalled the route he had taken earlier that morning. Once they exited this forest, they would reach the adventurers' tent area, and it would be impossible to continue the pursuit. He had to catch the figure within the forest, and the target seemed within reach as the distance between them gradually closed. Elin unfastened the clasp of his dagger sheath.
As the tree canopy ahead began to thin, Elin noticed that the figure didn't resemble a human in any way. Before he could identify it clearly, the figure suddenly vanished into thin air, and the heavy footsteps transformed into the agile and swift sound of running. A beam of moonlight illuminated the tawny back of a large feline creature.
It turned out that Elin had been chasing a druid all along! Lately, Elin had been considering whether or not to get accustomed to carrying a gun, and this pursuit once again brought that thought to his mind. The fleeing druid had only transformed at this moment, clearly in a rush to create distance. As an investigator in the law enforcement department, Elin had only encountered druid criminals a handful of times, but he wasn't particularly worried about them using the cheetah form to escape. Although their form changed, their overall physical capabilities didn't improve, and the increased speed in cheetah form would lead to exhaustion in a short period of time. If they were on a plain or in a city, shapeshifting wouldn't be advantageous for escape. However, the druid before him simply wanted to leave the forest quickly and enter the adventurers' gathering place. They didn't need to run far.
This situation frustrated Elin. Why hadn't he thought about the fleeing druid's objective earlier? He could have easily solved the situation by calling for guards to flank the other side. If it were Jiao Zhen, he would have definitely used that strategy. But now Elin had no choice but to increase his own pace, even if it meant his heart would burst out of his chest, and he still had to consider the possibility of a confrontation. In a desperate situation, he would conduct an inspection of the adventurers' camp, although doing so at night was extremely dangerous. I have to live up to the silver badge in my pocket.
The sound of the pursuer's running disappeared, but Elin believed that the distance between them hadn't reached the point where footsteps couldn't be heard. The large cat had gone into hiding, Elin thought. The fugitive was preparing to counterattack.
He drew his dagger and slowed down as he approached. Beasts were more difficult than humans to suppress their vital signs, whether it was the sound of breathing or the beating of the heart. Elin knew that the opponent hadn't reverted to human form and was lurking not far ahead. He could hear the distinct hissing sound from the large feline's windpipe, as well as the sound of the palms crawling on the ground, slowly pressing down due to tension, and the sound of soil sinking between the claws and knuckles. These sounds all came from the ground. It seemed that the opponent had no intention of launching a surprise attack but was prepared for a direct confrontation.
However, as Elin got closer, these sounds vanished and transformed into rough and weary gasps. Elin quickened his pace and rushed forward, only to discover that the fleeing figure had transformed back to its original form, lying on its side—a female tauren. Elin understood why he had initially mistaken her for a tall male human with peculiar attire.
She seemed to be bearing an immense invisible pressure, her eyes tightly shut. One of her horns was deeply embedded in the soil, and her heavy breath pushed the dirt in front of her nostrils. Her legs aimlessly moved back and forth on the surface of the soil, driven by pain. It appeared as if she had lost the ability to fight back.
Elin sheathed his dagger, feeling strangely bewildered by this unexpected victory. He squatted down and spoke to her, "Can you understand Common?"
She laboriously recited something that Elin couldn't comprehend, unsure if it was an answer to his question.
Elin realized he couldn't identify if this was Tauren language. He asked a different question, "Can you understand what I'm saying? If you can, nod your head."
It took her five seconds to exert the effort to nod. Soil clung to her chin.
Whatever had happened, the druid was in pain. While trolls might play dead, Tauren wouldn't. Considering that, aside from trespassing military territory at night, she hadn't done anything deserving severe punishment, Elin decided to go to the nearby adventurers' camp to get assistance. No one was willing to help for free, so he hired two people, purchased a makeshift stretcher, and carried the druid back.
A druid accompanying the troops diagnosed her and concluded that she had shifted in the wrong place. Druids' shapeshifting relied on the power of nature, and that decaying forest was heavily contaminated, causing harm to her physical body and nerves during the transformation process.
"The issue isn't significant; she just needs to rest for the night. However, she might experience extreme pain before falling asleep," the night elf said.
"Extreme pain? What kind of pain?"
"You are a human and have no understanding of the ways of nature, so explaining would be meaningless. I can only say that tonight, there's no way to interrogate her. Unless you want to execute this poor nature's daughter right now, please come back tomorrow morning after nine." His tone was filled with concern for his fellow druid.
"Then you keep an eye on her." Elin left, but he wasn't completely at ease. The Tauren clearly anticipated the consequences of her transformation in that forest, but she was willing to engage in such self-destructive behavior in order to escape. She must be involved in something significant.
The next morning, Elin sought out Jorgen to conduct the interrogation together.
"I want to go to Renner's for something; you can handle it yourself," Jorgen replied as Elin began to speak.
"Go ahead, there's always time to find Renner. Don't you think the experience of interrogating a Tauren druid is valuable?"
"She was standing at the edge of the forest late at night, you chased her, and she ran. There's nothing noteworthy about it. I don't see a reason to invest too much effort into this matter. Come to me when you find something important."
"But my Tauren language score is a C. And I cheated."
"...Very well."
The accompanying druid insisted that the interrogation should take place in the infirmary because "since she is not yet a criminal, she has the right to receive further treatment." As the two entered the room, the Tauren woman sat up from the hospital bed, her gaze shifting between the two without displaying any fear or hostility.
"Hello, officers," she said. Jorgen immediately looked at Elin upon hearing her words.
"I didn't know she could speak Common either until now," Elin remarked.
"Yes, I can," the Tauren replied.
Jorgen didn't bother to dwell on this minor detail and pulled up a chair to sit at the foot of the bed.
"We are not your superiors here," Jorgen said. "We are outsiders. According to procedure, your case should be reported, but if you cooperate and it is confirmed that you have not committed any crimes, we will let you go to save ourselves the trouble. State your name and identity."
"I am Windi Featherwing, as you can see, a druid of the Cenarion Circle. However, I am essentially independent of the Circle now and act on my own."
"You reside in the adventurer's camp?"
"Yes. You can ask around; many people know me."
"I don't doubt that," Jorgen said, then glanced at Elin.
As the witness to the events of the previous night, Elin understood that it was now Eren's turn to ask the questions.
"So, what were you doing here last night? Specifically, why were you standing not far from a longhouse..." Eren began.
"I know what that place is. It's where the patients, the plague-infected people, reside. That's why I came," she replied.
"Please elaborate."
"I came for the soil," she paused for a moment, looking at the two with a very serious expression, as if afraid they wouldn't understand what soil meant. "The soil of the entire Andorhal, soil samples from various locations. I study the state of soil corruption and explore the possibilities of restoring the land."
"Soil exists everywhere. Why did you have to go there in the middle of the night?"
"I needed to collect soil from around that particular building. It's not just the plague itself, but also the infected individuals who contaminate the soil. Each infected person is a source of pollution."
This statement made Eren somewhat annoyed. He couldn't connect what he saw last night, the sleeping girl illuminated by moonlight, with the term "source of pollution." He could accept the idea that the infected individuals in the isolation ward had a harmful effect on the soil, but he found it difficult to dehumanize them.
"Source of pollution? Are you implying that the people living in that house are not humans but rather plague-infested bags of supplies left by the Scourge? The people living in that house are our own. Your statement can be interpreted as hostile towards them. And on top of trespassing in a military zone at night, Jorgen, should we call Flint and throw her into the dungeon?" Elin said angrily.
"I am merely stating the facts," Wendie replied calmly, seemingly focused only on her own conclusions and indifferent to how others perceive them. "I can hear the weeping of the Earth Mother because Andorhal is gradually being revived, but the process is slow and painful, largely due to the incomplete eradication of the sources of infection."
"Alright, enough. Are you truly a tauren druid or a Bloodscar Crusader disguised beneath a thick fur? Maybe there's a companion waiting for you in the dungeon..."
"Elin, step outside," Jorgen said.
"What for?"
"Just step outside. I have something to discuss with you."
Reluctantly, Elin left the room with Jorgen. Jorgen said to him, "Why did you bring so much emotional baggage into the conversation? She is right. Plague-infected individuals are also new sources of infection, that's common knowledge."
"I feel like she clearly has hostile intentions. Perhaps she was planning something by being there in the middle of the night. Did you hear the words she used? 'Eradication.'"
"We said we would question her, but it doesn't mean we consider her a criminal. Can't you see that she's a well-trained druid who chooses her words very carefully? Haven't you noticed?" Jorgen replied.
"Do you want to release her?" Elin asked.
"Yes, that's right."
"Jorgen, I don't know what you're so eager to discuss with Renner, but if you can't focus on this tauren lady, then fine, go do your own thing. I'll handle it myself."
"I'm telling you these things because your emotions seem off. About those patients... did you see something?"
"No. I didn't see anything."
"As a detective, you should know that, from what we've seen so far, there is nothing suspicious about this tauren. It's best to let her go temporarily. If you were to throw her into the dungeon, you would have to face Flint and explain why you were at Amy's place last night. Aren't you afraid of unnecessary trouble?"
Elin had to admit that Jorgen was right. He had entered the quarantine house last night through deceit. Wendie hadn't done anything suspicious, and likening her to the Crusade was a product of his own hot-headedness.
"Fine then. I'll listen to you and let her go. But I still have a bad feeling about this," Elin said.
"A bad feeling?" Jorgen furrowed his brow.
"I mean, this is a plague-ridden land. Maybe something is about to happen. We have a house filled with plague-infected individuals who would rather see them dead, a nervous Bloodscar Crusader in the dungeon, Archbishop Nehru sleeping with Arugal's ashes in a big room, and now a Tauren Druid who made me run my legs off in the middle of the night. This is what they call the frontlines, right? If it were Stormwind or Auberdine, would we have encountered so many strange situations? If something is really going to happen, it might be a major event that leaves everyone dumbfounded."