The Moonlit Hollow lay quiet once again, the faint glow of the artifact casting golden ripples across the snow. Aria rested beneath her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes half-closed as she tried to recover from the fight with the Abyssal Hounds.
Her muscles still burned, and the faint hum of the artifact's energy buzzed at the edge of her senses like an unwelcome reminder of the chaos it had brought.
"I should've left that thing where I found it," she muttered, her tail flicking in irritation.
The Frost Mink, curled up beside her, let out a soft squeak and nuzzled her side.
Aria sighed, glancing at the tiny creature. "You think I'm overreacting, huh? Tell that to the five hounds I just had to take down."
The mink squeaked again, tilting its head innocently.
"Of course you're not worried," Aria grumbled. "You're not the one doing the fighting."
---
The sun rose slowly, its pale light creeping over the horizon and bathing the hollow in a soft golden glow. Aria rose to her paws, stretching as her sharp claws scraped against the frozen ground.
"Another day," she muttered, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she scanned her surroundings. "Let's see what fresh disaster this artifact is going to bring."
The Frost Mink scurried to her side, its bright blue fur glinting in the morning light.
"You coming with me again?" Aria asked, glancing down at the tiny creature. "Fine. But stay out of my way this time."
The mink squeaked, bouncing eagerly as it followed her toward the hollow's edge.
---
Aria spent the morning patrolling her territory, her sharp senses on high alert for any signs of intruders. The snow was undisturbed, the crisp morning air carrying no fresh scents.
For once, it seemed, the Wildlands were quiet.
"Too quiet," Aria thought, her claws flexing as she crouched near the stream. "There's no way this is going to last."
The Frost Mink scurried beside her, sniffing at the icy water before letting out a soft squeak.
"What is it now?" Aria muttered, glancing down at the tiny creature.
The mink squeaked louder, its round ears twitching as it turned its gaze toward the horizon.
Aria followed its line of sight, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she spotted a faint movement in the distance.
"System," she thought, her fur bristling. "What am I seeing?"
"Unknown entity detected. Threat level: Moderate."
Her claws scraped against the frozen ground. "Moderate? Let's see about that."
---
She crouched low, activating Lunar Veil as her shimmering form blended into the shadows.
"Lunar Veil II: 30% Progress."
Moving silently, she crept closer to the source of the movement, her sharp blue eyes scanning the snow-covered terrain.
The creature came into view moments later—a sleek, feline-like predator with icy blue fur and glowing yellow eyes. Its long, sinuous tail swayed behind it as it moved, its sharp claws leaving faint tracks in the snow.
"Hostile detected: Frostshadow Lynx (Beast Awakening Stage, Advanced Phase). Threat level: High."
Aria growled softly under her breath. "Of course. Another lynx. Because I haven't had enough of those lately."
---
The Frostshadow Lynx crouched low, its glowing eyes locked on the hollow. Aria's sharp blue eyes followed its gaze, her stomach sinking as she realized it was staring directly at the artifact.
"They can sense it," she thought, her claws flexing. "This thing is a beacon for trouble."
The lynx growled softly, its muscles coiling as it prepared to strike.
Aria moved first, lunging out of the shadows with her claws extended.
The lynx snarled in surprise, its sharp claws raking through the air as it twisted to face her.
"Alright," Aria growled, crouching low. "Let's see what you've got."
---
The fight was fast and brutal.
The Frostshadow Lynx was quick, its sleek body darting through the snow with deadly precision. Its glowing eyes tracked her every movement, its sharp claws slicing through the air as it lunged at her.
Aria activated Spirit Step, phasing through its attacks and reappearing behind it to strike its exposed flank.
"Spirit Step: 100% Progress. Skill Mastery Achieved. Minor Skill Boost Applied."
The transition felt smoother than ever, her stamina barely affected as she moved through the shadows with ease.
"Finally," she thought, smirking faintly. "A skill I can actually rely on."
The lynx twisted mid-air, its claws raking across her side as she dodged. Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes blazing as she retaliated with a powerful strike to its hind leg.
---
The battle raged on, the lynx's movements growing more desperate as its strength waned.
Aria's strikes were relentless, each one chipping away at the creature's defenses.
Finally, with one last lunge, she brought the lynx down.
The creature 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 lynx, her chest heaving as the adrenaline coursed through her.
The Frost Mink appeared moments later, scurrying toward her with a squeak.
"You always show up late," Aria muttered, glaring down at the tiny creature. "What, were you hiding behind a rock again?"
The mink squeaked innocently, tilting its head.
Aria sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. You're welcome."
---
Dragging the lynx's carcass back to the hollow was exhausting, but the sight of her fortified barriers gave her a small sense of accomplishment.
The other minks gathered around as she dropped the lynx near the stream, their soft squeaks filling the air.
"Don't get any ideas," Aria muttered, flopping onto the snow. "This isn't a free buffet."
The Frost Mink squeaked, nuzzling against her leg.
Aria sighed, her sharp blue eyes softening. "Alright, fine. You can have some. But just a little."
---
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the hollow in a soft golden glow, Aria settled beneath her favorite rock. The Frost Mink curled up beside her, its tiny body warm against her side.
"For now, we're safe," she thought, her sharp blue eyes drifting shut. "But that artifact is going to bring more trouble. I can feel it."
As the snow began to fall again, the Moonlit Hollow settled into a fragile peace, the artifact's faint hum a constant reminder of the challenges yet to come.