The Moonlit Hollow was eerily quiet. The golden hum of the artifact had dimmed after the battle, but the oppressive energy it radiated still weighed heavily on the air. Aria perched on her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes scanning the perimeter.
The Frost Mink sat on her back, nibbling at a stray piece of bark it had found. Aria sighed, her tail swishing irritably as she kept her focus outward.
"If you're going to sit there, at least pretend to be useful," she muttered.
The mink squeaked, tilting its head as if to say, I am useful. I'm keeping morale high.
Aria rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. You're a real warrior."
---
The morning passed without incident, but Aria's fur remained on edge. The artifact's energy had drawn hostiles steadily over the last few days, and the quiet felt unnatural.
"System," she thought, her claws scraping against the frozen ground. "Status update."
"Artifact resonance stable. Current probability of hostile detection: 50%."
Her ears twitched. "That's lower than usual."
"Probability fluctuates based on external conditions. Continued vigilance is advised."
Aria growled softly, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Right. Because I was going to take a nap or something."
The Frost Mink scurried down her back and onto the snow, its tiny paws leaving faint tracks as it darted toward the stream.
"Where are you going?" Aria called, her tail flicking. "Don't wander off too far."
The mink squeaked in reply, vanishing into the underbrush.
---
She spent the morning patrolling her territory, her sharp senses tuned to the faintest sound or scent. The snow was undisturbed, the air crisp and biting.
By the time she returned to the center of the hollow, the Frost Mink was back, sitting proudly beside a small pile of twigs and leaves it had gathered.
"Really?" Aria muttered, tilting her head at the pile. "What are you trying to do? Start a fire?"
The mink squeaked, puffing up its tiny chest as if to say, Yes. I'm contributing.
Aria sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
---
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the hollow as Aria sat near the artifact, her sharp blue eyes locked on its faint golden glow.
The Frost Mink sat beside her, its ears twitching as it nibbled on another piece of bark.
"I don't trust this calm," Aria muttered, her claws flexing. "Something's coming. I can feel it."
Her instincts were rarely wrong, and the tension in the air only made her more certain.
"System," she thought, her tail swishing. "Anything new?"
"Unidentified entity approaching. Threat level: Unknown. Estimated arrival: Imminent."
Her fur bristled. "Great. Just what I needed."
---
She crouched low, activating Lunar Veil as her shimmering form blended into the shadows.
"Lunar Veil II: 65% Progress."
The Frost Mink let out a nervous squeak, darting behind her for cover.
"Stay back," Aria muttered, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "And don't make a sound."
---
The figure emerged moments later, its sleek form moving through the trees with practiced ease.
It wasn't a beast.
A young man stepped into the clearing, his dark robes marked with intricate crimson patterns. His sharp black eyes scanned the hollow, lingering on the artifact with a mixture of curiosity and calculation.
"Who is he?" Aria thought, her claws flexing.
"Entity identified: Human cultivator. Cultivation stage: Core Formation, Early Phase. Threat level: Variable."
Her fur bristled. "A human? What's he doing here?"
The Frost Mink let out a soft squeak, trembling as it pressed against her leg.
"Stay hidden," Aria muttered, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Let's see what he does."
---
The man crouched near the artifact, his fingers brushing against its surface as he studied its glow.
"Interesting," he murmured, his voice low and calm. "This is no ordinary artifact."
Aria's fur bristled. "No kidding."
He straightened, his dark eyes scanning the hollow with keen awareness. "If something this powerful is out here, there must be something guarding it."
Aria froze, her sharp blue eyes locked on him as he turned slowly, his gaze sweeping the clearing.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "What's his deal?"
"Analysis suggests artifact detection skills. Potential motive: Acquisition or study."
Aria growled softly, her tail lashing. "Not happening."
---
The man stepped closer to the artifact, his hand reaching for it.
Aria lunged, her sharp claws raking through the air as she struck the ground in front of him.
He jumped back, his dark eyes widening briefly before narrowing with interest.
"So, there is a guardian," he said, his tone amused. "A snow leopard, no less. How curious."
Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes blazing as she crouched low, ready to strike.
He raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Easy. I'm not here to fight. Yet."
Her claws flexed against the frozen ground, her tail swishing in warning.
"System," she thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Can I take him if this turns ugly?"
"Probability of success: 40%. Recommend avoidance if possible."
Aria growled softly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
---
The man studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "You're not like other beasts, are you?"
She remained silent, her sharp blue eyes locked on him as her muscles coiled, ready to strike.
"Intelligent," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Good. That means we can talk."
Aria blinked, her tail flicking uncertainly.
"Talk?" she thought. "With a human? This can't end well."
The man lowered his hands slowly, his tone calm. "My name is Xuan Hao. I'm not here to take your artifact. I'm here to learn about it."
Her claws scraped against the ground, her sharp blue eyes narrowing.
"You don't believe me," he said, his voice steady. "That's fair. But I'm telling the truth. I don't need to steal your artifact. I have plenty of my own."
Aria's ears twitched, her sharp blue eyes locked on him.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "Is he lying?"
"Unable to determine."
She growled softly, her tail swishing. "Useless as always."
---
Xuan Hao crouched again, his gaze steady. "If you let me examine it, I can help you protect it."
Aria snorted, her sharp claws digging into the frozen ground.
"I'm serious," he said, his tone earnest. "This artifact is more powerful than you realize. It's going to attract things far worse than me."
Her fur bristled, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "And you're supposed to be the solution?"
He smiled faintly. "I can be. If you let me."
---
Aria stayed silent, her sharp blue eyes locked on him as she weighed her options.
She didn't trust him—not yet. But if he was telling the truth, he might be useful.
Finally, she growled softly, stepping back from the artifact.
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Does that mean you'll let me help?"
Her sharp blue eyes glinted, her tail flicking in irritation.
"For now," she thought. "But if you make one wrong move, you're done."