The Moonlit Hollow rested under the pale light of dawn, the jagged ice formations casting sharp shadows across the snow. The artifact's faint golden glow pulsed steadily, its hum a low vibration in the cold morning air.
Aria stretched, her sharp blue eyes scanning the hollow. Her body still ached from the previous battles, but the brief respite had helped her recover some strength.
The Frost Mink scurried over, chirping softly as it tugged at a stray leaf with its tiny paws.
"Morning, pest," Aria muttered, nudging the mink with her paw. "You're lucky you don't have to deal with the mess this thing brings."
The mink squeaked in reply, tilting its head as if to say, What mess? Everything's fine.
Aria sighed, her tail swishing. "Ignorance really is bliss, isn't it?"
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his dark robes blending with the icy terrain. Crimson energy flickered faintly around him as he studied the artifact's glow.
"You're up early," Aria said, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she approached.
He glanced at her, his expression calm. "So are you."
Her tail flicked sharply. "Someone has to keep watch."
He smiled faintly, his dark eyes glinting. "And someone has to figure out what we're dealing with."
Aria growled softly, her claws flexing. "You mean the thing that nearly got us killed multiple times? It's pretty clear what we're dealing with."
Xuan Hao chuckled, shaking his head. "It's more than that, and you know it."
---
The Frost Mink bounded toward Xuan Hao, its tiny paws leaving faint tracks in the snow.
He crouched, offering the creature a faint smile. "You're braver than your guardian gives you credit for."
Aria growled, stepping closer. "Stop talking to them like that."
Xuan Hao straightened, his smirk widening. "Jealous?"
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed, her claws scraping against the ground. "Don't test me."
---
The morning passed in a tense silence. Aria patrolled the perimeter, her sharp senses tuned to every sound and movement. The snow remained undisturbed, but the air carried an edge that made her fur bristle.
"System," she thought, her tail swishing. "Status update."
"Artifact resonance stable. Hostile detection probability: 30%. Ambient energy levels normalizing."
Her ears twitched. "Normalizing? That's new."
"Recent environmental disturbances have subsided. Temporary stabilization detected."
Aria huffed, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "So we get a break, but for how long?"
---
By midday, Xuan Hao had finished reinforcing the barrier around the artifact. The faint crimson threads of energy shimmered faintly in the pale light, forming a protective dome that encompassed the glowing orb.
"It's not perfect," he said, stepping back to admire his work. "But it'll hold against most things—for now."
Aria approached cautiously, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "And if it doesn't?"
He shrugged, his tone calm. "Then we'll improvise."
Her fur bristled, her claws flexing. "You make it sound so easy."
He smirked faintly, his dark eyes glinting. "Easy? No. Necessary? Absolutely."
---
The Frost Mink scurried over to the barrier, sniffing at the glowing threads of energy.
"Careful," Xuan Hao said, his tone light. "That's not a toy."
The mink squeaked, tilting its head as if to say, Then what is it?
Aria groaned, nudging the tiny creature away. "Leave it alone. I don't need you getting caught in his experiments."
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, his faint smile returning. "Experiments? That's a bit harsh."
Her sharp blue eyes glinted, her claws flexing. "If it doesn't work, that's on you."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Fair enough."
---
The day dragged on, the oppressive tension in the hollow growing heavier with each passing hour. Aria perched on her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon.
Xuan Hao sat nearby, his dark eyes focused on the artifact.
"For now, the hollow is quiet," she thought, her tail swishing. "But it won't last."
---
As the sun began to set, casting the hollow in hues of gold and orange, Xuan Hao broke the silence.
"You need a plan," he said, his tone calm.
Aria growled softly, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "I have a plan."
"Do you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because staying here and fighting off wave after wave of hostiles isn't a plan—it's a delay."
Her fur bristled, her claws scraping against the rock. "What's your point?"
He leaned back, his smirk faint. "You need to think ahead. The artifact's energy is only going to grow stronger, and so are the enemies it attracts."
Her tail lashed. "And what do you suggest? Running?"
"Not running," he said, his tone serious. "Relocating. Finding allies. Preparing for what's coming instead of waiting for it to come to you."
Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "I don't need allies."
He smiled faintly, shaking his head. "You might not think so now, but you will."
---
The Frost Mink scurried over, chirping softly as it nuzzled Aria's leg.
She sighed, glancing down at the tiny creature. "And what do you think? Should we leave?"
The mink tilted its head, squeaking again as if to say, I follow you.
Aria huffed, her tail curling around her paws. "Not helpful."
---
The stars began to appear, casting a faint glow over the hollow. The artifact's hum grew quieter, its glow steady but subdued.
Xuan Hao stood, brushing the frost from his robes. "Think about it," he said, his dark eyes meeting hers. "You've done well so far, but this isn't a fight you can win alone."
Aria growled softly, her claws flexing. "I'll decide what I can and can't do."
He smirked faintly, his tone light. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
---
The Frost Mink curled up beside Aria, its tiny body warm against her side.
"For now," she thought, her sharp blue eyes drifting shut, "we'll stay. But if things get worse, I'll do whatever it takes to protect them."
As the snow began to fall, the Moonlit Hollow settled into a fragile peace, the storm still brewing on the horizon.