The Moonlit Hollow was calm, the snow reflecting the pale morning light in a blinding white glare. Aria stretched beneath her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as the ache in her muscles reminded her of the previous day's battle with the Frostscale Lizards.
"This is getting out of hand," she muttered, her tail flicking in irritation. "Every day, it's something new. Wolves, lizards, boars—what's next? An avalanche of angry birds?"
The Frost Mink squeaked, hopping onto the rock beside her with a look of eager determination.
"You think this is funny, don't you?" Aria growled, glancing at the tiny creature. "You're not the one doing all the fighting."
The mink squeaked again, tilting its head innocently.
"Don't give me that look," Aria muttered, shaking her head. "If you're going to stick around, you'd better start pulling your weight."
---
As the sun climbed higher, Aria began her patrol of the hollow, her sharp eyes scanning the snow for signs of intruders. The Frost Mink followed closely, its tiny paws leaving faint tracks in the fresh powder.
Her instincts prickled as she reached the hollow's edge. The snow here was disturbed, faint tracks leading away from the boundary.
"Another one," she muttered, crouching low to sniff the ground.
The scent was faint but fresh, carrying the sharp tang of a predator.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "What am I dealing with this time?"
"Unknown entity detected. Threat level: Low."
Aria snorted. "Low? You've said that before, and it's never been true."
She straightened, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she scanned the horizon. "If this keeps up, I'll never get any rest."
---
Returning to the center of the hollow, Aria flopped onto the snow, her tail flicking in frustration.
"This isn't sustainable," she muttered, glancing at the Frost Mink. "I can't keep fighting off every predator that comes sniffing around. I need a plan."
The mink squeaked, tilting its head.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you," Aria said, rolling onto her side. "You and your fluff ball army are part of the problem. You attract trouble."
The mink squeaked louder, hopping up and down.
"What? You have a suggestion?" Aria asked, narrowing her eyes. "Because unless you can build a fortress overnight, I don't want to hear it."
The mink scurried toward the stream, squeaking excitedly as it dug at the snow.
Aria sighed, rising to her paws. "Fine. Show me what you've got, genius."
---
The Frost Mink led her to a small patch of rocky ground near the stream, where it had begun to dig. The other minks soon joined in, their tiny paws working furiously to unearth the rocks beneath the snow.
Aria tilted her head, watching as the minks revealed a natural barrier of jagged stones.
"Huh," she muttered, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "That's… actually not a bad start."
The system chimed softly.
"Suggestion: Fortify natural barriers to enhance territorial defenses."
Aria groaned. "Of course. Now you chime in with the obvious advice."
She padded toward the rocks, her claws scraping against the frozen ground as she examined the area.
"If I can build on this, I might be able to keep some of the smaller predators out," she thought, her tail swishing. "It won't stop the bigger ones, but it's a start."
---
The rest of the day was spent fortifying the hollow's edges. Aria worked tirelessly, dragging fallen branches and stacking rocks to create crude barriers around the stream and the hollow's narrow entrance.
The Frost Minks helped—mostly by digging and occasionally squeaking encouragement.
"This isn't half bad," Aria muttered, stepping back to admire her work. "It's not exactly impenetrable, but it's better than nothing."
The system chimed again.
"Territorial defenses improved. Threat deterrence level increased by 15%."
Aria smirked. "Fifteen percent, huh? I'll take it."
---
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Aria returned to her shelter, her body aching from the day's labor. The Frost Mink followed her, its tiny body bouncing with energy despite the long day.
"You're like a never-ending ball of enthusiasm," Aria muttered, curling up beneath her favorite rock. "How do you do it?"
The mink squeaked, curling up beside her with a contented sigh.
Aria sighed, her sharp blue eyes softening. "Alright, you win. Maybe having you around isn't the worst thing."
The other minks gathered nearby, their soft squeaks filling the hollow as they nestled together for warmth.
"For now, this place feels safe," Aria thought, closing her eyes. "But I can't let my guard down. Not yet."
As the snow began to fall again, the Moonlit Hollow settled into a fragile peace.