The Moonlit Hollow was bathed in the soft glow of dawn, the snow sparkling like a sea of diamonds. Aria woke slowly, her body aching from yesterday's fight with the Icefang Cougar. She stretched, her claws flexing against the icy ground.
"Another day, another chance to avoid getting mauled," she muttered, shaking the stiffness from her legs.
A faint squeak reminded her she wasn't alone. She turned her sharp blue eyes toward the Frost Mink, which was sitting a few feet away, watching her with its wide, innocent gaze.
"Right," she grumbled, her tail flicking. "Still here, huh? Guess you didn't get the memo about leaving."
The mink squeaked again, its tiny paws shuffling nervously in the snow.
Aria sighed. "Alright, what do you want now? Breakfast? Directions? A personal tour of the hollow?"
The mink tilted its head, squeaking softly.
"I'll take that as a yes," Aria muttered.
---
She padded toward the stream, the mink scurrying after her like an overeager shadow. Aria crouched low, her sharp eyes scanning the snow for signs of prey.
"Let's see," she thought, sniffing the air. "What's on the menu today? Hares? Birds? Something that doesn't involve nearly dying would be great."
The scent of a Frost Hare caught her attention, and she crouched lower, her body blending into the shadows as she activated Lunar Veil.
The shimmering cloak enveloped her, and she moved silently through the snow. The hare was nibbling on a patch of frozen grass near the stream, oblivious to her approach.
"One quick pounce," she thought, her claws flexing. "And—"
The mink let out a loud squeak, breaking the silence.
The hare bolted, disappearing into the underbrush before Aria could react.
She turned slowly, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she glared at the mink.
"Did you just blow my hunt?" she growled, her tail lashing.
The mink squeaked again, looking unrepentant.
"Unbelievable," Aria muttered, her claws scraping against the frozen ground. "I let you stay, and this is how you repay me? You're lucky I don't eat you instead."
The mink scurried closer, squeaking softly as it nuzzled against her leg.
"Don't try to be cute," she muttered, pulling her paw away. "You're not off the hook."
---
Aria spent the next hour patrolling the hollow, her sharp senses on high alert for signs of danger.
The mink followed her the entire time.
"Do you have a death wish or something?" she muttered, glancing over her shoulder.
The tiny creature squeaked, its round eyes filled with what Aria could only describe as blind trust.
"Great," she thought. "Now I'm stuck with a freeloading fluff ball that thinks I'm its babysitter."
Her patrol brought her to the edge of the hollow, where she crouched low, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon.
The Wildlands were deceptively quiet, the fresh snowfall masking the tracks of predators. Aria's instincts told her danger was never far away.
"Stay here," she muttered to the mink, her voice sharp.
The tiny creature blinked up at her, then sat obediently in the snow.
"At least you're good at following orders," she muttered. "Better than some humans I've met."
---
The wind carried a faint scent to her nose, and she stiffened. It was faint but unmistakable—the musky tang of a predator.
"Something's out there," she thought, her claws flexing.
She activated Lunar Veil, her shimmering form blending into the shadows as she crept forward. The scent grew stronger, and she crouched lower, her sharp eyes scanning the snow for movement.
A large, shadowy figure emerged from the trees, its sleek black fur glinting in the pale light.
"Hostile detected: Shadow Panther (Beast Awakening Stage, Intermediate Phase). Threat level: Moderate."
Aria's fur bristled. "Of course," she thought. "Because one predator in a day is never enough."
The panther's glowing yellow eyes scanned the hollow, its movements deliberate and predatory.
"It's hunting," she realized, her tail lashing. "But is it after me or the mink?"
Her sharp blue eyes flicked toward the mink, which was still sitting obediently in the snow near the edge of the hollow.
"If it's the mink, then I'm not involved," she thought, her claws scraping against the ground. "It's survival of the fittest out here, and that fluff ball—"
The mink squeaked loudly, drawing the panther's attention.
Aria groaned. "Why do I even bother?"
---
The panther crouched, its muscles coiling as it prepared to lunge. Aria moved first, darting out of the shadows and slamming into the panther's side.
The creature snarled, its glowing eyes blazing as it turned to face her.
"Guess you're stuck with me now, mink," she thought, her sharp claws flexing. "Hope you're worth it."
---
The fight was swift and brutal. The panther was fast, its movements sleek and deadly, but Aria's speed and agility gave her an edge.
She activated Lunar Veil, darting around the panther and striking from its blind spots. Her claws raked across its flank, drawing a furious snarl.
"Lunar Veil: 50% Progress."
The panther lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Aria twisted out of the way, her Agility II skill sharpening her movements.
The fight continued, the two predators clashing in a blur of fur and claws. Aria's sharp strikes wore the panther down, her precise movements keeping her one step ahead.
Finally, with a well-timed strike, she brought the panther down. The creature let out a final snarl before collapsing into the snow.
"Quest Complete: Eliminate Threats. +30 EXP earned. Minor Attribute Boost applied."
---
Aria collapsed onto the snow, her chest heaving as the adrenaline coursing through her began to fade.
The mink scurried toward her, squeaking softly.
"You're welcome," she muttered, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she glared at the tiny creature. "Don't expect me to do that again."
The mink nuzzled against her leg, its bright blue eyes filled with what looked like gratitude.
Aria sighed, her tail flicking. "Great. Now you're even cuter. How am I supposed to stay mad at you?"
As the snow began to fall again, Aria let out a soft huff, curling up beneath the rocks.
"Just so you know," she muttered, glancing at the mink. "You owe me. Big time."
The tiny creature squeaked softly, curling up beside her.
"Yeah, yeah," Aria muttered, closing her eyes. "Just don't get any ideas about moving in permanently."
But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help the faint smile tugging at her lips.