The Moonlit Hollow lay still once more, the air heavy with the aftermath of the battle. The jagged ice formations reflected the faint golden glow of the artifact, their fractured surfaces painted red with blood. The ground was scarred with claw marks and charred from the Frostshadow Drake's final attacks.
Aria lay beneath her favorite rock, her sharp blue eyes half-closed as she tried to regain her strength. Every muscle in her body ached, and her breathing came in slow, shallow intervals.
The Frost Mink was nestled against her side, its tiny body warm and steady as it chirped softly.
"We made it," Aria muttered, her voice laced with exhaustion. "Barely."
The mink squeaked in agreement, pressing closer to her as if seeking reassurance.
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his blade sheathed but his stance still alert. His dark robes were streaked with blood, but his expression remained calm.
"That was a little too close," he said, glancing at Aria.
She opened one eye, her sharp blue gaze narrowing. "You don't say."
He smirked faintly, stepping away from the artifact. "You held your own. I'll give you that."
Her claws scraped against the frozen ground. "Save your compliments. They don't mean much coming from you."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Fair enough."
---
The Frost Mink stirred, letting out a soft squeak as it scurried toward Xuan Hao.
"Don't encourage him," Aria growled, rising to her paws with visible effort.
Xuan Hao crouched slightly, his faint smile widening as he ruffled the mink's fur. "What's wrong? Afraid they'll like me better?"
Her sharp blue eyes glinted. "Keep talking and you'll find out what I'm afraid of."
He chuckled, straightening. "Always so fierce."
---
The hollow remained eerily quiet for the rest of the morning. The snow had already begun to cover the signs of the battle, though the jagged ice formations stood as stark reminders of the chaos that had unfolded.
Aria patrolled the perimeter, her sharp senses tuned to every sound and movement. Despite the silence, her instincts remained on edge.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "What's the status of the artifact?"
"Artifact resonance stabilizing. Energy fluctuations minimal. Hostile detection probability: 10%."
Her ears twitched. "Minimal, but not gone. Figures."
---
Xuan Hao sat near the artifact, reinforcing the barrier with thin threads of crimson energy.
"You're not letting up, are you?" Aria asked, her tone sharp as she approached him.
He glanced at her, his dark eyes calm. "It's better than waiting for something else to show up."
Her fur bristled. "And if it does?"
Xuan Hao smirked faintly, his tone light. "Then we'll be ready."
---
The Frost Mink and its companions played near the stream, their chirps filling the air as they darted between the icy banks.
Aria watched them from her perch, her sharp blue eyes softening briefly.
"They don't know how close we came to losing everything," she thought, her claws scraping against the stone.
The smallest mink glanced back at her, chirping as if to say, You worry too much.
She huffed, shaking her head. "Someone has to."
---
By midday, the artifact's glow had dimmed slightly, its hum steady but less oppressive than before.
"System," Aria thought, her tail swishing. "Is it stable now?"
"Artifact resonance stable. Energy fluctuations have ceased. Current conditions suggest temporary reprieve."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "Temporary. It's always temporary."
---
Xuan Hao approached her, his blade resting lightly against his shoulder.
"You seem less tense," he said, his tone calm.
Aria growled softly, her claws flexing. "Don't mistake quiet for peace."
He smirked faintly. "I wouldn't dream of it."
Her sharp blue eyes glinted. "Good. Because the next time something shows up, you're taking the lead."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I'll hold you to that."
---
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, its wide eyes darting toward the artifact.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Is it destabilizing again?"
"Artifact resonance remains stable. No anomalies detected."
Her claws scraped against the ground. "Then why does it still feel like something's wrong?"
---
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the hollow, the air grew colder, and the artifact's hum seemed quieter than usual.
"For now," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes blazing, "we've made it through another fight. But this isn't over."
Xuan Hao stood beside her, his dark eyes reflecting the faint glow of the artifact.
"Whatever comes next," he said, his tone calm, "at least we'll be ready."
Aria growled softly, her claws flexing against the ground. "We'd better be."