The Moonlit Hollow was silent once more, but the quiet was heavy, filled with the echoes of the recent battle. The jagged ice formations cast long shadows over the ground, broken and scarred from the violent clash.
Aria sat near the edge of the hollow, her sharp blue eyes watching the horizon. Her body ached from the fight, and her breathing was steady but labored. The Frost Mink curled against her side, its tiny body trembling as it let out soft, worried chirps.
"We're still here," she muttered, her claws flexing against the frozen ground. "That's all that matters."
The mink squeaked, pressing closer as if to disagree.
"Don't get sappy on me," Aria said, her tail flicking sharply. "We've got enough problems without adding emotions to the mix."
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his blade sheathed but his posture tense. His dark robes were streaked with blood and dirt, but his expression remained calm, his dark eyes fixed on the glowing orb.
"It's holding up," he said, his voice breaking the fragile quiet.
Aria glanced at him, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "For now."
He smirked faintly, turning to meet her gaze. "You sound almost optimistic."
Her fur bristled. "Don't mistake caution for optimism."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Noted."
---
The Frost Mink stirred, letting out a soft squeak as it scurried toward Xuan Hao.
Aria growled, stepping between them. "Don't even think about it."
He raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "You really are protective."
Her sharp blue eyes glinted. "And you're really annoying."
Xuan Hao chuckled again, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll take that as a compliment."
---
The snow had already begun to cover the signs of the battle, but the jagged ice formations remained as stark reminders of the chaos that had unfolded. Aria patrolled the perimeter, her sharp senses attuned to every sound and movement.
"System," she thought, her claws scraping against the ground. "What's the status of the artifact?"
"Artifact resonance stabilizing. Energy fluctuations minimal. Hostile detection probability: 10%."
Her ears twitched. "Finally, some good news."
"Current stability is temporary. Continued vigilance recommended."
She growled softly, her tail swishing. "Of course it is."
---
Xuan Hao was seated near the artifact, reinforcing the barrier with faint threads of crimson energy.
"You're really committed to that thing," Aria said, her tone sharp as she approached him.
He glanced at her, his expression calm. "It's what's keeping us alive."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "It's also what's drawing everything to us."
He smirked faintly, tilting his head. "You're not wrong."
Her claws flexed. "So why bother?"
"Because," he said, his tone light, "I'd rather take the chance to prepare than sit around waiting to die."
---
The Frost Mink and its companions had gathered near the stream, their tiny chirps filling the air as they played in the shallow water.
Aria watched them from a distance, her sharp blue eyes softening briefly.
"They don't even realize how close they came to getting wiped out," she thought.
The smallest mink glanced back at her, chirping as if to say, We trust you.
She sighed, shaking her head. "That's your first mistake."
---
By midday, the tension in the hollow began to ease, but the artifact's hum remained a constant reminder of its presence.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Is it really stable now?"
"Artifact resonance stable. Energy fluctuations have ceased. Current conditions suggest temporary reprieve."
Her fur bristled. "Temporary. It's always temporary."
---
Xuan Hao approached her, his dark eyes glinting with quiet amusement.
"You seem less tense," he said, leaning casually against a jagged ice shard.
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 narrowed. "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, glancing 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?"
---
The wind picked up as the sun began to set, casting the hollow in hues of orange and gold. The air grew colder, the biting chill seeping into Aria's fur.
"For now," she thought, her sharp blue eyes blazing, "we've got a moment to breathe. But it won't last."
Xuan Hao stood beside her, his blade resting lightly against his shoulder.
"You keep saying it won't last," he said, his tone calm. "What if you're wrong?"
Her claws flexed against the ground. "Then I'll be pleasantly surprised."
He smirked faintly. "You don't strike me as the type to be pleasantly surprised by anything."
She growled softly, her tail swishing. "Try me."
---
The Frost Mink climbed back onto her back, chirping softly as it nestled into her fur.
Aria sighed, glancing over her shoulder at the tiny creature. "You're lucky you're cute."
The mink squeaked, its tiny eyes filled with trust.
"For now," she thought, her sharp blue eyes softening slightly, "we'll take the quiet. But the next fight is already waiting."
---
As the stars began to appear, the Moonlit Hollow settled into an uneasy calm. The artifact's hum remained steady, a quiet promise of the challenges still to come.