The Moonlit Hollow was quiet, the snow-covered ground reflecting the pale light of dawn. Aria stirred beneath her favorite rock, the warmth of the Frost Mink pressed against her side a faint comfort against the chill in the air.
Stretching, she yawned and rose to her paws, her sharp blue eyes scanning the hollow. The barriers she'd built over the past few days stood firm, though a faint unease lingered in the back of her mind.
"Too quiet," she muttered, her tail flicking. "The Wildlands never stay calm for long."
The Frost Mink squeaked, bounding to her side with an eager expression.
"Morning already, huh?" she muttered, glancing down at the tiny creature. "What's the plan today, fluff ball? More trouble? Another predator invasion?"
The mink tilted its head innocently, then scurried off toward the stream, its tiny paws kicking up snow as it went.
Aria sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know why I even bother asking."
---
The morning passed uneventfully, much to Aria's surprise. She hunted, patrolled the hollow, and checked her defenses—all without encountering so much as a stray scent trail.
Her sharp claws flexed against the frozen ground as she paused near the stream, her reflection shimmering faintly in the icy water.
"This can't last," she thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Something's coming. I can feel it."
The Frost Mink scurried to her side, its bright blue fur glinting in the sunlight. It squeaked softly, nuzzling against her leg.
"What's with you today?" Aria muttered, glancing down at the tiny creature. "You're being unusually clingy."
The mink squeaked again, then darted off toward the hollow's edge.
"Hey!" Aria called, her claws scraping against the ground as she followed. "Where do you think you're going?"
---
The Frost Mink led her to a narrow gap in the barriers, where the snow was disturbed by faint tracks.
Aria crouched low, sniffing the ground. The scent was faint but strange—a mix of predator and something unfamiliar.
"System," she thought, her fur bristling. "What am I smelling?"
"Unknown entity detected. Threat level: Unknown."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed as she straightened, her tail lashing. "Unknown, huh? That's not reassuring."
The Frost Mink squeaked nervously, pressing against her leg.
Aria growled softly, her claws flexing. "Stay behind me. If this turns into a fight, I'm not saving you twice."
---
Following the tracks, Aria moved cautiously, her sharp senses on high alert. The trail led her deeper into the Wildlands, where the snow grew thicker and the trees cast long, jagged shadows.
The scent grew stronger, and she crouched lower, her sharp blue eyes scanning the terrain.
It wasn't long before she spotted the source.
A strange creature stood in a small clearing, its sleek, black fur glinting faintly in the light. Its glowing red eyes were fixed on a patch of frozen ground, where it appeared to be digging with sharp, clawed paws.
"Hostile detected: Abyssal Prowler (Beast Awakening Stage, Advanced Phase). Threat level: High."
Aria's fur bristled. "An Abyssal Prowler? What's it doing here?"
The creature growled softly, its movements deliberate and precise as it unearthed something from the snow.
Aria's sharp eyes caught the faint glint of metal—a strange, orb-like object half-buried in the frost.
"What is that?" she thought, her claws scraping against the ground.
The system chimed.
"Unknown artifact detected. Energy signature: Significant. Analysis incomplete."
Her tail lashed as she crouched lower. "Significant, huh? That can't be good."
---
The Abyssal Prowler lifted the artifact in its jaws, its glowing red eyes scanning the clearing as it prepared to leave.
Aria growled softly, her muscles coiling as she prepared to strike.
"This is my territory," she thought, her sharp claws flexing. "You're not taking anything from here."
She activated Lunar Veil, her shimmering form blending into the shadows as she moved silently toward the creature.
"Lunar Veil: 100% Progress. Skill Level Up: Lunar Veil II Unlocked."
Her movements felt smoother, her body lighter as the upgraded skill enveloped her.
The Abyssal Prowler stiffened, its sharp nose sniffing the air as it detected her presence.
Aria lunged, her claws striking the creature's side with precision.
The Abyssal Prowler snarled, dropping the artifact as it spun to face her.
"Alright," Aria growled, crouching low. "Let's see what you've got."
---
The fight was fierce and brutal.
The Abyssal Prowler's speed and agility matched her own, its sharp claws slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Aria activated Spirit Step, phasing through its attacks and reappearing behind it to strike its exposed flank.
"Spirit Step: 80% Progress."
The creature snarled, twisting mid-air as it lashed out with its tail. Aria dodged, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she circled the predator.
The artifact lay forgotten in the snow, its faint glow casting eerie shadows across the clearing.
"Whatever that thing is," Aria thought, her claws raking across the Abyssal Prowler's side. "It's important. Too important to let this thing take it."
---
The battle raged on, the Abyssal Prowler growing more desperate as its movements became erratic.
Aria's strikes were relentless, each one chipping away at the creature's strength.
Finally, with one last lunge, she sank her claws into its neck, ending the fight.
The Abyssal Prowler let out a final, pained snarl before collapsing onto the snow.
"Quest Complete: Eliminate Threats. +70 EXP earned. Minor Attribute Boost applied."
---
Aria stood over the fallen creature, her chest heaving as the adrenaline coursed through her.
The Frost Mink appeared moments later, its tiny paws scurrying toward the artifact.
"Don't touch that!" Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as the mink froze.
The artifact's faint glow pulsed, its energy sending a strange shiver through her body.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "What is this thing?"
"Analysis complete: Fragmented Immortal Artifact detected. Properties unknown. Energy signature suggests significant potential."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "Significant potential? That sounds both promising and terrifying."
The Frost Mink squeaked, nudging the artifact toward her.
Aria hesitated, then carefully lifted the orb with her claws. Its surface was cold to the touch, but a faint warmth pulsed beneath it, as if it were alive.
"Great," she muttered, glancing at the mink. "Now I've got a mysterious artifact to deal with. Because my life wasn't complicated enough already."
---
Dragging the artifact back to the hollow was exhausting, but Aria refused to leave it behind. The Frost Mink followed closely, its tiny body trembling with excitement.
The other minks gathered around as she dropped the orb near the center of the hollow, their soft squeaks filling the air.
"Don't touch it," Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "I don't know what it does, and I'm not taking any chances."
The Frost Mink squeaked, curling up beside the orb as if to guard it.
Aria sighed, flopping onto the snow beneath her favorite rock. "This can't end well."
As the snow began to fall again, Aria closed her eyes, her exhaustion giving way to a faint, uneasy anticipation.
"For now, the hollow is safe," she thought, drifting off to sleep. "But something tells me this artifact is going to change everything."