The Moonlit Hollow was quiet, almost unnaturally so. The hum of the artifact remained a steady background noise, a reminder of its overwhelming presence. Aria sat at the edge of the hollow, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon.
The jagged ice formations glinted under the faint light of dawn, their fractured surfaces reflecting the golden glow of the artifact. The Frost Mink was curled up beside her, its tiny body rising and falling with soft breaths.
"It's too calm," Aria muttered, her claws flexing against the cold ground. "Something's coming. It always is."
The mink stirred, letting out a soft squeak as it nuzzled her leg.
"Don't try to comfort me," she said, her tail swishing. "You don't even know what's out there."
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his dark robes shifting in the icy breeze. Crimson threads of energy shimmered faintly around him as he meditated. He seemed as calm as ever, which only irritated Aria more.
"How can you just sit there?" she growled, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she approached him.
He opened one eye, his faint smile returning. "Because panicking won't help."
Her fur bristled. "Panicking isn't what I'm doing."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, but worrying doesn't help either."
Aria growled, her claws scraping against the ground. "Maybe I wouldn't have to worry if you stopped messing with that thing."
He glanced at the artifact, his dark eyes thoughtful. "It's not the artifact you should be worried about."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that it's not the only thing in the Wildlands with power," he said, his tone calm. "And if this thing is waking up, so are other things."
---
The Frost Mink scurried over to the artifact, sniffing at the faint threads of crimson energy surrounding it.
"Careful," Xuan Hao said, his tone light. "That's not something you want to play with."
The mink chirped, tilting its head as if to say, Why not?
Aria groaned, nudging the tiny creature away. "Leave it alone. I don't need you getting caught in whatever he's doing."
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, his faint smile widening. "Still don't trust me?"
Her sharp blue eyes glinted. "Not even a little."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Fair enough."
---
The day crept forward with agonizing slowness. Aria spent most of it patrolling the perimeter, her sharp senses tuned to every sound and movement.
The snow remained untouched, and the air was cold but still. Yet, something about the atmosphere made her fur stand on end.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "Status update."
"Artifact resonance stable. Hostile detection probability: 25%. Ambient energy levels normal."
Her ears twitched. "So nothing new?"
"Current conditions suggest temporary stabilization. No anomalies detected."
Aria huffed, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Temporary. It's always temporary."
---
By midday, Xuan Hao had resumed reinforcing the barrier around the artifact. The faint crimson threads of energy shimmered faintly as they wove together, forming intricate patterns around the glowing orb.
Aria watched him from a distance, her sharp blue eyes narrowing.
"You're awfully focused on that thing," she said, her tone sharp.
He glanced at her, his expression calm. "It's the only thing keeping us from being overrun."
Her fur bristled, her claws scraping against the ground. "Or it's the thing causing the problem in the first place."
He smirked faintly, his dark eyes glinting. "Both can be true."
---
The Frost Mink and its companions played near the stream, their tiny chirps filling the hollow.
Aria watched them from her perch, her sharp blue eyes softening slightly.
"They're too carefree," she thought. "They don't even realize how dangerous this place is."
The mink glanced back at her, chirping as if to say, Why don't you join us?
She huffed, shaking her head. "Not a chance."
---
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the hollow, the tension in the air grew heavier.
The artifact's glow had grown stronger, its hum deepening into a low vibration that resonated through the frozen ground.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's going on?"
"Energy fluctuations detected. Resonance threshold nearing. Hostile attraction probability increasing."
Her fur bristled. "How long do we have?"
"Estimated time frame: 6–12 hours."
---
Xuan Hao approached her, his dark eyes glinting with curiosity. "You look tense."
She growled softly, her tail swishing. "That's because I'm surrounded by things I don't trust."
He chuckled, leaning against a nearby rock. "And yet, you're still here."
Her sharp blue eyes glinted. "Don't push it."
---
The Frost Mink scurried over, chirping as it nuzzled Aria's side.
She sighed, glancing down at the tiny creature. "What is it now?"
The mink tilted its head, squeaking as it pawed at her leg.
Xuan Hao watched the interaction with quiet amusement. "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 form bonds like that."
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 louder, its golden glow illuminating the jagged ice formations around it.
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 that won't last much longer."
---
Xuan Hao broke the silence, his tone calm. "You've been thinking about leaving, haven't you?"
Aria huffed, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Maybe."
He smirked faintly, leaning back. "It's the smart move. This hollow won't protect you forever."
Her claws flexed against the rock. "I don't need your advice."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Just something to consider."
---
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'll wait. But when the time comes, I'll be ready."
As the snow began to fall, the Moonlit Hollow settled into an uneasy calm, the storm still brewing just beyond the horizon.