The wind howled across the icy plain, carrying with it faint whispers that seemed to echo from the jagged cliffs in the distance. Aria's sharp blue eyes scanned the horizon, her ears flicking at every sound. The Frost Minks huddled closer to her, their soft chirps tinged with unease.
"Great," she muttered, her claws flexing against the frozen ground. "Now the wind's talking. Just what we needed."
Behind her, Xuan Hao chuckled softly, his dark eyes glinting faintly. "You sure it's the wind? Could be your guilty conscience."
Aria shot him a glare, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "If I had one, you'd be the first to know."
He smirked, his blade resting casually on his shoulder. "I'll take that as a compliment."
---
The Frost Mink on Aria's back nudged her neck with its tiny nose, its wide eyes darting nervously to the distant cliffs.
"Relax," Aria muttered, her tail flicking sharply. "If something's coming, I'll deal with it."
The mink squeaked softly, pressing closer to her fur.
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow, his tone light. "I didn't know you were so good with kids."
"Keep talking," she growled, her claws scraping against the ice. "And you'll find out how good I am at shutting you up."
---
The group pressed on, the frozen plain giving way to uneven terrain dotted with jagged ice formations. Each step felt heavier than the last, the biting cold sapping their strength.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "How far to the cliffs?"
"Estimated distance: 8 kilometers. Current terrain stability: 70%."
Her fur bristled. "Eight kilometers? Are you kidding me?"
"Negative. Continued progress advised."
She growled softly, her tail swishing. "You're great at giving terrible advice, you know that?"
---
The Frost Minks chirped nervously as the terrain grew more treacherous. The smallest one climbed higher onto Aria's back, its tiny claws gripping her fur tightly.
"You're not going to fall," she muttered, glancing over her shoulder. "I'm not that clumsy."
The mink squeaked hesitantly, as if unconvinced.
Xuan Hao smirked, his tone light. "You inspire such confidence."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "I inspire survival. That's enough."
---
The wind picked up, carrying with it a faint, haunting melody that made Aria's fur stand on end. She froze, her sharp blue eyes scanning the ice formations for any sign of movement.
"Did you hear that?" she growled, her claws flexing.
Xuan Hao nodded, his blade glowing faintly. "Yeah. And I don't like it."
The Frost Minks huddled closer to Aria, their tiny bodies trembling as they let out soft, anxious chirps.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's out there?"
"Energy signatures detected: Moderate threat. Hostile probability: 40%."
Her fur bristled. "Fantastic."
---
A faint shadow flickered at the edge of her vision, darting between the ice formations with unnatural speed.
"There!" she growled, crouching low.
Xuan Hao followed her gaze, his blade at the ready. "How many?"
"Not sure yet," she muttered, her claws scraping against the ground. "But it's not friendly."
---
The shadow materialized suddenly, revealing a sleek, serpentine creature with icy blue scales and glowing red eyes. It slithered across the snow with eerie grace, its movements silent but deliberate.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What is that?"
"Hostile identified: Frostscale Wyrm. Moderate durability, high speed. Weak points: Eyes and underbelly."
Her claws flexed. "Of course it's fast."
---
The Frostscale Wyrm lunged without warning, its jaws snapping as it targeted the Frost Minks. Aria activated Spirit Step, phasing through the attack and reappearing between the wyrm and the minks.
"Not today," she growled, her claws glowing faintly as she struck its side.
The wyrm hissed, twisting to counter, but Xuan Hao intercepted it with a burst of crimson energy. His blade sliced through its scales, leaving a jagged wound along its flank.
"Keep it distracted!" Aria barked, darting toward its vulnerable underbelly.
---
The wyrm lashed out with its tail, the force of the strike sending shards of ice flying in every direction. Aria leaped over the attack, her claws sinking into the creature's exposed underside.
"System," she thought, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "How tough is this thing?"
"Moderate durability detected. Sustained strikes required for neutralization."
She growled, her claws raking against the wyrm's underbelly. "You could've just said it's annoying."
---
Xuan Hao delivered a powerful strike to the wyrm's head, his blade glowing with crimson energy. The creature let out a guttural hiss, its glowing red eyes flickering as it recoiled.
"Go for the eyes!" Aria called, her claws digging into the snow as she dodged another swipe of its tail.
"On it," Xuan Hao said, his blade flashing as he struck one of the wyrm's glowing eyes.
The creature screeched, its movements growing more erratic as blood splattered across the snow.
---
The Frost Minks chirped nervously, their tiny bodies trembling as they huddled together behind a jagged ice formation.
"Stay there!" Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes blazing as she darted in for the final blow.
She leaped onto the wyrm's back, her claws glowing faintly as she drove them into the base of its skull. The creature let out one last, pitiful screech before collapsing into the snow, its glowing eyes dimming.
---
The ravine fell silent once more, the only sound the faint whistle of the wind.
Aria slumped onto the snow, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. The Frost Minks scurried toward her, their tiny eyes wide as they climbed onto her back.
"It's over," she muttered, her sharp blue eyes softening briefly. "For now."
---
Xuan Hao wiped his blade clean, his dark eyes glinting faintly. "You're getting better at this," he said, his tone light.
Aria growled softly, her tail flicking. "And you're still irritating."
He smirked faintly, shaking his head. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
---
The group pressed on, the tension lingering in the air as they moved further from the battle site. The wind carried faint whispers, and the shadows seemed to grow darker with every step.
"For now," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing, "we're still standing. But something worse is out there, waiting.