The Moonlit Hollow had a heavy stillness about it, broken only by the occasional squeaks of the Frost Minks as they darted around the hollow. Aria lay sprawled beneath her favorite cluster of rocks, her muscles aching from dragging the Frost Tusker's carcass back into her territory.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered, glaring at the minks. "I'm supposed to be a fierce predator, not a babysitter for a pack of fluff balls."
The Frost Mink squeaked in reply, its bright blue eyes shining with innocence as it nudged a small chunk of meat toward her.
"What's this? A peace offering?" Aria asked, narrowing her eyes at the tiny creature.
The mink squeaked again, nudging the chunk closer.
Aria sighed, her sharp blue eyes softening. "Fine. I'll take it. But this doesn't mean we're friends."
She snapped up the piece of meat and swallowed it in one quick motion, licking her chops.
The mink squeaked happily, bouncing in place before darting off to join the others at the carcass.
---
Aria stretched, her claws flexing against the frozen ground as she rose to her paws. The soreness in her muscles was a constant reminder of how hard she'd fought to defend her territory—and how much effort she'd put into feeding these ungrateful minks.
"Alright," she muttered, her tail flicking. "If I'm going to keep playing protector, I might as well make sure nothing else is planning to invade my hollow."
She padded toward the edge of her territory, her sharp blue eyes scanning the snow for signs of movement. The Wildlands were quiet, the fresh snowfall undisturbed.
Her sharp nose caught a faint scent—something musky and unfamiliar.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "What am I smelling?"
"Unknown entity detected. Traces suggest multiple individuals. Threat level: Unknown."
Aria's fur bristled. "Multiple? That's just perfect."
She crouched low, her body blending into the shadows as she activated Lunar Veil.
"Lunar Veil: 75% Progress."
Moving silently, she followed the scent trail, her sharp claws flexing as her instincts screamed at her to stay alert.
---
The trail led her to a small clearing just beyond the hollow's edge. Aria crouched behind a boulder, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she scanned the area.
A group of creatures was gathered near the clearing, their sleek, wolf-like forms blending with the snow. Their silver-gray fur shimmered faintly in the pale light, and their glowing yellow eyes glinted with predatory intent.
"Direwolves," Aria muttered under her breath.
The system chimed.
"Hostiles detected: Direwolf Pack (Beast Awakening Stage, Intermediate Phase). Pack size: 4. Threat level: High."
Her stomach sank.
"Four of them," she thought, her sharp claws scraping against the ground. "Because one giant boar wasn't enough for today."
The direwolves prowled through the clearing, their sharp noses sniffing the air as they moved closer to the hollow.
"They're scouting," Aria realized, her tail lashing. "Trying to decide if it's worth the risk."
Her mind raced as she considered her options. Fighting four wolves at once would be dangerous, even with her skills. But letting them move into her territory was out of the question.
---
Aria activated Spirit Step, phasing through the shadows as she positioned herself behind the pack.
"Spirit Step: 60% Progress."
The wolves didn't notice her until she struck, her sharp claws raking across the flank of the nearest wolf.
The creature let out a startled snarl, spinning to face her as the others turned, their glowing eyes narrowing.
"Alright," Aria growled, crouching low. "Come and get me."
---
The fight was chaotic, each wolf lunging at her with sharp claws and snapping jaws.
Aria used Lunar Veil to dart around them, her shimmering form blending into the shadows as she struck from their blind spots.
"Lunar Veil: 80% Progress."
She struck with precision, her claws tearing into their flanks and hind legs. But the wolves were relentless, their pack instincts allowing them to coordinate their attacks.
One wolf lunged at her, its jaws snapping inches from her neck. Aria twisted mid-air, her sharp claws raking across its face as she dodged the attack.
Another wolf charged from the side, but she phased through its strike with Spirit Step, reappearing behind it to land a devastating blow.
"Spirit Step: 65% Progress."
---
Despite her speed and precision, the fight was taking its toll. Aria's breaths came in short gasps, her muscles burning with exertion as she faced down the remaining two wolves.
"Can't keep this up," she thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "I need to end this. Now."
She activated Lunar Veil again, her shimmering form disappearing into the shadows as she circled the wolves.
The creatures growled, their sharp noses sniffing the air as they tried to track her movements.
Aria struck with all her strength, her claws tearing into one wolf's flank and sending it crashing to the ground. The final wolf lunged at her, but she dodged its attack and landed a devastating blow to its hind leg.
The creature let out a pained snarl before retreating into the shadows, its injured companion limping after it.
---
Aria collapsed onto the snow, her chest heaving as the adrenaline coursed through her.
"Quest Complete: Eliminate Threats. +50 EXP earned. Minor Attribute Boost applied."
The Frost Mink appeared moments later, its tiny blue-furred companions trailing behind it.
"You always show up after the fight," Aria muttered, glaring at the tiny creature. "How convenient."
The mink squeaked, tilting its head innocently.
"Yeah, yeah," Aria muttered, shaking her head. "You're welcome. Again."
---
She dragged herself back to the hollow, her body aching with every step. The minks followed closely, their soft squeaks filling the air as they scurried around her.
"Alright," Aria muttered, flopping onto the snow beneath her favorite cluster of rocks. "No more fights today. I'm serious."
The Frost Mink squeaked, curling up beside her with a contented sigh.
Aria sighed, her sharp blue eyes softening. "You're lucky I have a soft spot for you."
As the snow began to fall again, Aria closed her eyes, her exhaustion giving way to a faint, begrudging warmth.
"For now, the hollow is safe," she thought, drifting off to sleep. "Let's see how long that lasts."