The Moonlit Hollow was quieter than usual, a silence that felt more ominous than peaceful. The air seemed heavier, thick with unspoken tension. The artifact's golden glow pulsed faintly, its hum steady yet unsettling.
Aria perched on a jagged rock near the hollow's edge, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. The Frost Mink scurried nervously around her, its tiny chirps breaking the oppressive quiet.
"You feel it too," Aria muttered, her claws flexing against the cold stone. "Something's wrong."
The mink chirped in agreement, pressing itself closer to her.
She sighed, her tail curling around the tiny creature. "Stay close. We might not have much time."
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his blade balanced lightly against his shoulder. His dark eyes were fixed on the glowing orb, his expression thoughtful.
"You're staring at it like it's going to talk to you," Aria growled, leaping down from her perch to approach him.
He glanced at her, his faint smile returning. "Maybe it will."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "And what would it say? 'I'm going to destroy everything'? Because that's all it's been doing so far."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're in a mood today."
"I wonder why," she snapped, her claws scraping against the ground.
---
The Frost Mink bounded toward Xuan Hao, chirping softly as it pawed at the hem of his robe.
He crouched slightly, his smirk widening. "Your little friend seems less grumpy than you."
Aria growled, stepping between them. "Leave them alone."
He raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes glinting. "Protective, as always."
Her tail lashed. "And you're as annoying as ever."
---
The sun climbed higher in the sky, but the hollow remained cloaked in an eerie stillness. The jagged ice formations reflected the faint light, casting long shadows that seemed to shift with every breath of wind.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's the status on the artifact?"
"Artifact resonance stable. Energy fluctuations minimal. Hostile detection probability: 30%."
Her ears twitched. "Minimal, but not gone."
"Residual instability remains. Continued vigilance is advised."
Aria huffed, her tail swishing sharply. "It's always 'continued vigilance.'"
---
Xuan Hao approached her, his blade now sheathed but his expression unusually serious.
"You're quiet today," he said, his tone calm.
Aria growled softly, her claws flexing. "And you're nosy every day."
He smirked faintly, shaking his head. "Just making an observation. You seem... distracted."
Her sharp blue eyes glinted as she glared at him. "What part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand?"
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, raising his hands in mock surrender. "As you wish."
---
The Frost Mink and its companions had gathered near the stream, their tiny chirps filling the hollow as they played in the icy water.
Aria watched them from a distance, her sharp blue eyes softening briefly.
"They don't know how lucky they are," she thought, her claws scraping against the frozen ground. "Ignorance really is bliss."
The smallest mink glanced back at her, chirping as if to say, Come join us!
She huffed, shaking her head. "Not a chance."
---
By midday, the artifact's hum began to change, its steady vibration giving way to faint fluctuations that made Aria's fur stand on end.
"System," she thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's going on now?"
"Energy fluctuations detected. Artifact resonance increasing. Probability of hostile attraction: 50%."
Her claws flexed. "It's always something. How long do we have?"
"Estimated time frame: 8–12 hours."
Aria growled softly, her tail lashing. "So we wait and hope it doesn't get worse. Great."
---
Xuan Hao had returned to the artifact, reinforcing the barrier around it with thin threads of crimson energy.
"You're putting a lot of effort into something you claim not to care about," Aria said, approaching him cautiously.
He glanced at her, his faint smile returning. "Who said I don't care?"
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "You're not exactly the selfless type."
Xuan Hao chuckled, his dark eyes glinting. "Maybe I just enjoy a challenge."
Her fur bristled. "If this thing blows up, it's on you."
He smirked faintly. "Noted."
---
The Frost Mink scurried toward the artifact, sniffing curiously at the glowing threads of energy.
"Stop," Aria growled, stepping forward to block the tiny creature. "That's not a toy."
The mink squeaked, tilting its head as if to say, But it looks interesting.
She sighed, nudging it away. "Trust me, you don't want to know."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're quite the guardian, aren't you?"
Her sharp blue eyes glinted. "Keep talking and you'll find out how good I am at protecting things."
---
The day dragged on, the tension in the hollow growing heavier with each passing hour. The artifact's hum grew louder, its glow flickering erratically as it pulsed with uneven energy.
Aria perched on her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. The snow remained undisturbed, but her instincts screamed that trouble was near.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "Give me the odds."
"Hostile attraction probability increasing. Estimated time frame for engagement: 6–8 hours."
Her fur bristled. "And no way to stop it, I assume?"
"Negative. Current conditions suggest inevitable confrontation."
She growled softly, her claws scraping against the rock. "Of course."
---
Xuan Hao approached her, his dark eyes glinting with quiet curiosity. "You're pacing again," he said, leaning casually against a nearby ice shard.
Aria huffed, her tail swishing sharply. "And you're still breathing. What's your point?"
He smirked faintly. "You've been acting like the weight of the world is on your shoulders."
Her sharp blue eyes blazed. "Maybe it is. Someone has to deal with this mess."
"And yet, here you are," he said, his tone softening. "Not giving up. I'll give you that much."
---
The Frost Mink scurried back to Aria, chirping nervously as it pressed against her leg.
She sighed, nudging the tiny creature with her paw. "What is it now?"
The mink squeaked, glancing toward the artifact.
Aria's fur bristled as she turned her sharp blue eyes to the glowing orb. "System, is it destabilizing?"
"Artifact resonance nearing critical levels. Fluctuations escalating. Hostile detection confirmed."
Her claws flexed. "How many?"
"Five hostiles detected. Estimated arrival: 4–6 hours."
---
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the hollow, the artifact's glow pulsed erratically, its hum a deep vibration that resonated through the frozen ground.
"For now," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes blazing, "we'll prepare. But this thing is going to keep testing us."
Xuan Hao stood beside her, his blade resting lightly against his shoulder. "Whatever happens next," he said, his tone calm, "I hope you're ready."
Aria growled softly, her claws scraping against the ground. "I've been ready since the day I got here."
He smirked faintly, his dark eyes glinting. "Good. Let's hope that's enough."