Aria paced along the stream, her claws clicking softly against the frozen stones as she mulled over the morning's encounter. The human's words echoed in her mind, his calm demeanor and cryptic offer unsettling her more than any wolf or lynx ever could.
"An alliance?" she muttered to herself, her tail lashing behind her. "Yeah, sure. Let me just sign up to be your loyal house cat while you wander around pretending to be mysterious."
The system chimed softly, as if it had been waiting for her moment of frustration.
"Host stress levels elevated. Recommendation: Focus on physical training to regain equilibrium."
Aria snorted. "Thanks, system. I'll just do some push-ups until I forget that a glowing human broke my stealth like it was a cheap illusion trick."
Still, the system wasn't wrong. Dwelling on the encounter wouldn't help her. She needed to grow stronger, faster, and sharper if she wanted to hold her own in the Wildlands—and against people like him.
"Alright," she thought, her sharp blue eyes scanning the hollow. "Time to work. Let's see how far I can push these new skills."
---
The Moonlit Hollow was quiet, the fresh snowfall untouched save for her paw prints. Aria crouched low, her muscles coiling as she prepared to activate Spirit Step.
"Okay," she thought, focusing on a nearby boulder. "One phase through solid rock, coming up. No collapsing afterward this time, please."
The familiar hum of energy stirred within her, and her body shimmered as she phased through the boulder, emerging on the other side with practiced ease.
"Spirit Step: 20% Progress."
She landed lightly on the snow, her breaths even.
"Not bad," she thought, her tail flicking. "I mean, I'm not phasing through mountains or anything, but at least I don't feel like a squished bug anymore."
She repeated the process several times, alternating between phasing through rocks and darting between obstacles with Lunar Veil. Each movement felt smoother, her body responding faster to the commands of her mind.
"Lunar Veil: 25% Progress."
---
Her training was interrupted by a faint sound—a distant howl carried on the wind. Aria froze, her ears swiveling as she pinpointed the source.
"Wolves," she muttered, her sharp claws flexing. "Because of course it's wolves. What else could it be? A parade?"
The howls grew louder, closer. Her fur bristled as she scanned the horizon, her instincts on high alert.
"Hostile entities approaching. Estimated arrival: 2 minutes. Threat level: Moderate."
Her heart pounded as the first figures appeared in the distance—three wolves, their silver-gray fur blending with the snow. They moved with purpose, their glowing eyes locked onto her hollow.
"This can't be a coincidence," she thought, her tail lashing. "They're after something. Either me, or the hollow itself."
---
Aria crouched low, her mind racing as the wolves approached. She couldn't afford to fight them head-on—not with three of them and only one of her.
"Time to get creative," she thought, activating Lunar Veil.
The shimmering cloak enveloped her as she darted toward the edge of the hollow, her small frame blending into the shadows.
The wolves entered the hollow cautiously, their sharp noses sniffing the air.
"They're looking for me," she realized, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Good luck with that."
She moved silently along the edge of the hollow, circling around the wolves. Her enhanced perception allowed her to track their movements, and she waited for the perfect moment to strike.
---
One of the wolves paused near the stream, its head lowering to sniff at the snow. Aria crept closer, her claws flexing as she prepared to pounce.
"Alright," she thought, her muscles coiling. "Let's see how you like being ambushed."
She lunged, her claws striking the wolf's flank with precision. The creature let out a startled yelp, spinning to face her, but she was already darting away, her Lunar Veil shimmering faintly.
The other two wolves snarled, their glowing eyes scanning the hollow as they searched for her.
"Come on," she thought, her heart pounding. "Keep looking. I'm right here."
She struck again, her claws raking across another wolf's shoulder before disappearing into the shadows.
"Lunar Veil: 30% Progress."
---
The wolves regrouped, their growls reverberating through the hollow. Aria crouched low, watching them from a distance.
"They're nervous," she thought, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Good. Let them be nervous."
She activated Spirit Step, phasing through a cluster of rocks and reappearing behind the wolves. They didn't notice her until it was too late.
Her claws struck the third wolf, sending it stumbling into the snow. The creature yowled, its movements sluggish as it tried to recover.
The other two wolves turned on her, their glowing eyes blazing with fury.
"Two down," she thought, dodging their attacks. "One to go."
---
The final wolf lunged at her, its jaws snapping inches from her tail. Aria twisted mid-air, her claws slashing across its snout. The wolf snarled, its movements growing desperate as it tried to corner her.
"Not happening," she thought, darting around it with practiced precision.
With a final, well-timed strike, she brought the wolf down. The creature collapsed into the snow, its labored breaths fading as it lost consciousness.
The hollow fell silent.
"Quest Complete: Eliminate Intruders. +25 EXP earned. Minor Attribute Boost applied."
Aria collapsed onto the snow, her chest heaving as the system's notification echoed in her mind.
"Three wolves in one fight," she thought, exhaustion washing over her. "I'm starting to think this place isn't worth the hassle."
---
"System," she muttered. "Show me my updated stats."
The panel flickered into view.
---
[Status Panel]
Level: 6 (EXP: 5/200)
Cultivation Realm: Beast Awakening Stage (Initial Phase)
Attributes:
Strength: 12
Agility: 18
Perception: 16
Endurance: 13
Spirit: 15
Skills:
Lunar Veil: Cloak the user in moonlight, enhancing stealth and evasion (Skill Progression: 30%).
Survival Instinct II: Heightened awareness of danger; improved reaction speed during ambushes.
Spirit Step: Phase briefly through physical obstacles; costs stamina (Progress: 20%).
---
Her sharp blue eyes scanned the panel, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
"Level six," she thought. "Look at me, moving up in the world. Pretty soon, I'll be the queen of the Wildlands."
Her smirk faded as she glanced at the fallen wolves.
"Assuming I survive that long," she muttered.
As the snow began to fall again, Aria curled up beneath the rocks, her mind already turning to the next challenge.