The air was crisp, carrying a faint, icy bite that seeped through even the thickest fur. Aria padded through the Moonlit Hollow, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. The frost-covered ground sparkled under the pale morning light, but the serene beauty of the Wildlands offered little comfort.
Her fur bristled with unease. The Wildlands were never truly quiet.
"Alright," she muttered, her tail flicking. "Let's see how bad today's going to get."
A faint squeak interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see the Frost Mink bounding after her, its tiny paws sinking into the snow with every step.
Aria groaned. "You again. Don't you ever take a day off?"
The mink squeaked in reply, tilting its head innocently.
"You're lucky you're cute," Aria muttered, shaking her head. "But don't get in my way this time. I mean it."
---
She reached the stream and crouched low, sniffing the air for signs of prey. The snow was undisturbed, the crisp morning air carrying only faint traces of past movement.
Her sharp claws flexed against the frozen ground. "Looks like the local wildlife finally got the message that this is my territory."
The Frost Mink scurried to the stream, peering into the icy water with curious eyes.
Aria sighed, watching the tiny creature splash at the water's edge. "You know, you'd be an easy snack if something decided to show up right now."
The mink glanced back at her, squeaking in defiance.
"Sure," Aria muttered, rolling her eyes. "Because you'd totally fight off a predator."
---
As the hours passed, Aria patrolled the hollow, marking boundaries and keeping an eye out for signs of intruders. The Frost Mink followed her at every step, occasionally darting off to investigate patches of snow or dig aimlessly near the rocks.
"You're like a hyperactive cub," Aria muttered, watching as the mink popped its head out of a small burrow it had just dug.
The tiny creature squeaked proudly, its bright blue fur glinting in the sunlight.
"Right," Aria said, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Just don't attract anything dangerous."
Her instincts prickled, and she froze, her ears swiveling as a faint sound reached her. It was distant but unmistakable—the crunch of snow under heavy footsteps.
Aria crouched low, her muscles coiling. "We've got company."
---
The sound grew louder, closer. The Frost Mink darted to her side, its tiny body trembling as it squeaked nervously.
"Stay behind me," Aria muttered, her sharp claws flexing.
The bushes near the hollow's edge rustled, and a large figure emerged from the shadows.
It was a boar, its massive tusks glinting in the light. Its coarse, frost-covered fur bristled as it stomped through the snow, its glowing red eyes scanning the hollow.
"Hostile detected: Frost Tusker (Beast Awakening Stage, Intermediate Phase). Threat level: Moderate."
Aria's tail lashed as the boar let out a low growl, its hooves digging into the ground.
"Great," she muttered. "A giant, angry boar. Just what I needed."
---
The Frost Tusker charged, its massive body barreling toward her with alarming speed. Aria darted to the side, activating Lunar Veil to cloak herself in shimmering shadows.
"Lunar Veil: 70% Progress."
The boar skidded to a stop, its red eyes scanning the hollow as it snorted in frustration. Aria moved silently, circling the creature as she prepared to strike.
She lunged, her claws raking across the boar's flank. The creature let out a furious roar, twisting to face her.
"You're tough," Aria thought, dodging another charge. "But I've dealt with worse."
The Frost Tusker lunged again, its tusks narrowly missing her as she phased through its attack with Spirit Step.
"Spirit Step: 55% Progress."
She reappeared behind the boar, her claws striking its exposed hind leg. The creature roared, stumbling slightly as blood stained the snow beneath it.
---
The fight was brutal, each of the boar's attacks carrying enough force to crush her if they landed. But Aria's speed and precision gave her an edge, her strikes wearing the creature down.
Finally, with one last lunge, she brought the Frost Tusker to its knees.
The boar let out a final, labored growl before collapsing into the snow.
"Quest Complete: Eliminate Threats. +40 EXP earned. Minor Attribute Boost applied."
---
Aria stood over the fallen boar, her chest heaving as the adrenaline coursed through her.
The Frost Mink scurried over to her, squeaking excitedly as it danced around her legs.
"You're welcome," Aria muttered, glaring down at the tiny creature. "But if you think I'm sharing this with you, you've got another thing coming."
The mink squeaked again, its round eyes gleaming with admiration.
Aria sighed, her sharp blue eyes softening. "Fine. You can have a bite. But just a bite."
---
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Aria dragged the boar's carcass toward the hollow, her muscles aching from the effort. The Frost Mink followed closely, its tiny paws sinking into the snow as it scurried beside her.
The other minks emerged from their hiding spots, squeaking excitedly as they gathered around the boar.
"Don't get used to this," Aria muttered, flopping onto the snow. "This was a one-time thing."
The minks ignored her, their tiny bodies clustering around the boar as they nibbled on the meat.
Aria let out a low growl, her tail flicking. "I should charge you all for this. Or at least make you do something useful."
The Frost Mink squeaked, nuzzling against her leg before darting back to the boar.
Aria sighed, curling up beneath the rocks. "I'm too soft for this," she muttered, closing her eyes.
As the snow began to fall again, the Moonlit Hollow settled into an uneasy calm.
For now.