The icy wind swept through the Moonlit Hollow, carrying with it a chill that gnawed at the edges of Aria's fur. She perched on her usual rock, her sharp blue eyes scanning the distorted landscape. The jagged ice formations created during the artifact's last surge still loomed ominously, reflecting its golden glow like fractured mirrors.
The Frost Mink scurried around her paws, occasionally tugging at stray leaves or chirping as if trying to distract her.
"You don't get it, do you?" Aria muttered, her claws flexing against the cold stone. "This peace isn't going to last. It never does."
The mink tilted its head, squeaking softly as if to say, You're too serious.
"Serious is what keeps us alive," she replied, nudging the tiny creature aside.
---
Xuan Hao sat near the artifact, his dark robes shifting in the icy breeze. Crimson threads of energy shimmered faintly around him as he meditated. He had been unusually quiet all morning, and for once, Aria didn't mind.
The artifact's glow had dimmed slightly, its hum steady but subdued. Despite the calm, the air felt charged, the kind of tension that made her fur bristle.
"System," she thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Status update."
"Artifact resonance stable. Energy fluctuations minimal. Hostile detection probability: 20%."
Her ears twitched. "That's lower than usual."
"Stabilization may result from previous energy surges. Temporary respite anticipated."
Aria huffed, her tail swishing. "Temporary. It's always temporary."
---
The Frost Mink bounded toward the artifact, its tiny paws leaving faint tracks in the snow.
"Careful," Xuan Hao said, opening his eyes to watch the creature. "That thing doesn't play nice."
The mink chirped, tilting its head as it sniffed the faint threads of crimson energy around the barrier.
Aria leaped down from her perch, growling softly as she nudged the mink away. "Leave it alone. You don't know what it's capable of."
Xuan Hao smirked faintly, rising to his feet. "Neither do we. That's the fun part."
Her sharp blue eyes glinted, her claws scraping against the ground. "You have a strange idea of fun."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "You'd be surprised."
---
The day passed uneventfully, but the weight of uncertainty hung over the hollow like a storm cloud.
Aria spent most of the time patrolling the perimeter, her sharp senses tuned to every sound and movement. The snow remained undisturbed, and the oppressive energy of the artifact seemed to have receded.
Still, her instincts wouldn't let her relax.
"System," she thought, her tail swishing. "How long until this so-called respite ends?"
"Duration of stabilization unknown. Probability of hostile attraction increases gradually over time."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "So we're on a timer again. Great."
---
Xuan Hao was seated near the artifact, his dark eyes focused on the golden orb. His expression was unreadable, but Aria could tell he was thinking.
"What now?" she asked, her tone sharp.
He glanced at her, his faint smile returning. "You're always so suspicious."
Her fur bristled. "You're always up to something."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not this time. I was just wondering about the artifact."
Aria's sharp blue eyes narrowed. "What about it?"
"It's too stable," he said, his tone thoughtful. "Artifacts like this don't just calm down after causing chaos. Either it's preparing for something, or something else is affecting it."
Her claws flexed against the ground. "And what do you think that means?"
He smirked faintly. "We're going to find out eventually."
---
By midday, the Frost Mink and its companions had gathered near the stream, chirping and scurrying around as they splashed in the shallow water.
Aria watched them from a distance, her sharp blue eyes softening briefly.
"They don't know how lucky they are," she thought. "They just play while I have to worry about keeping them alive."
The mink glanced back at her, squeaking as if to say, You should join us.
Aria huffed, shaking her head. "Not happening."
---
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the hollow. The artifact's glow pulsed faintly, its hum a quiet background rhythm.
Xuan Hao approached Aria, his dark eyes glinting with curiosity. "You've been quiet today."
She growled softly, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Maybe I don't have anything to say."
He smirked faintly, leaning against a nearby rock. "Or maybe you're thinking about what I said yesterday."
Her tail lashed. "What about it?"
"That you need a plan," he said, his tone calm. "This hollow won't protect you forever. The artifact won't stop growing stronger, and neither will the enemies it draws."
Aria's claws scraped against the ground. "I'll deal with it."
"Alone?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her sharp blue eyes blazed. "If I have to."
Xuan Hao shook his head, his faint smile fading. "Stubbornness is admirable, but it won't keep you alive. You need to think bigger."
---
The Frost Mink scurried over, chirping softly as it nuzzled against 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 as if to say, Where you go, I go.
Aria huffed, her tail curling around her paws. "Not helpful."
Xuan Hao watched the interaction with quiet interest. "You care about them more than you admit," he said.
Her sharp blue eyes flicked to him, narrowing. "What's your point?"
He shrugged, his tone light. "It's just interesting. Most beasts I've encountered don't have that kind of bond."
She growled softly, her claws flexing. "Maybe you've been looking in the wrong places."
---
As night fell, the stars appeared one by one, casting a faint glow over the hollow. The artifact's hum grew quieter, its glow steady but subdued.
Aria perched on her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. Xuan Hao sat nearby, his blade resting across his lap as he watched the artifact.
"For now," she thought, her tail curling around her paws, "we're safe. But it won't last."
---
Xuan Hao broke the silence, his tone calm. "You don't trust me, do you?"
Aria huffed, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Do I have a reason to?"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Probably not. But we're in this together, whether you like it or not."
Her claws flexed against the rock. "We'll see how long that lasts."
He smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to the artifact. "Fair enough."
---
The Frost Mink stirred, letting out a soft squeak as it curled up beside Aria.
"For now," she thought, her sharp blue eyes drifting shut, "we have peace. But this artifact? It's a ticking bomb."
As the snow began to fall, the Moonlit Hollow settled into a fragile calm, the artifact's golden glow a constant reminder of the storm still brewing.