The mountainside was eerily silent, the only sounds the faint rustle of wind and the group's shallow breathing. Dani's heart pounded in his chest as the system notification burned in his vision:
[Warning: Unidentified Hostile Presence Detected Nearby.]
"We're ready," Arya whispered, gripping her sword tightly. The boys stood behind her, their makeshift weapons trembling in their hands.
Dani held up a hand. "Wait. Don't attack until we know what we're dealing with."
Minutes passed in tense silence. The shadows around them seemed to grow longer, the oppressive sense of danger thick in the air. Dani swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay calm.
When nothing happened, he stepped forward. "Stay here. I'll check it out."
"What?" Arya hissed. "Are you crazy?"
"Trust me," Dani said firmly.
The Discovery
Pushing through the underbrush, Dani's "Mind's Eye" activated automatically, revealing a faint aura ahead. He froze when he saw it: a massive fox lying on its side, its snow-white fur matted with blood. Its golden eyes flicked open, locking onto him with a piercing gaze that made his knees weak.
The system blared again:
[Warning: Hostile Threat Detected – Injured Nine-Tailed Fox.]
"Nine-tailed fox?" Dani whispered, his blood running cold. He knew what this creature was—it was a rare and powerful beast often described in legends. Even injured, it could kill them all in an instant.
The others emerged behind him, their weapons raised. Arya's jaw tightened as she took in the fox's size. "We have to kill it before it recovers."
"Stop!" Dani snapped, stepping between them and the beast.
"What are you doing?" Arya demanded.
"It's not attacking us," Dani said, pointing to the deep gash on the fox's neck. "It's injured. If it wanted to kill us, we'd already be dead."
A Delicate Task
Dani turned to Theo and Jace. "I need your help. Bring me water and something to bind the wound—cloth, vines, anything."
"You want to treat it?" Jace stammered. "Are you insane?"
"Just do it," Dani said sharply. "If we kill it, we gain nothing but more blood on our hands. If we save it… we might gain an ally."
Arya hesitated, then sighed. "Do as he says. But if it moves, I'm cutting it down."
With the boys scrambling to gather supplies, Dani approached the fox slowly, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. Its golden eyes followed his every move, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
"Easy," Dani murmured. "I'm not here to hurt you."
The system pinged again:
[Action Recommended: Treat the wound immediately to stabilize the creature.]
Dani knelt beside the fox, his hands trembling as he followed the system's instructions. Using the water and cloth provided by the boys, he cleaned the wound, then bound it tightly with strips of fabric. The fox flinched but didn't attack, its gaze unwavering.
Nightfall
As the group finished treating the fox, the sky darkened, and the temperature dropped sharply. Dani glanced around, realizing they wouldn't make it far before nightfall.
"We should camp here," he said, his tone decisive.
Arya frowned. "With that thing?"
"It's injured and not a threat anymore," Dani reasoned. "Moving in the dark is more dangerous."
After some grumbling, the group agreed. They gathered wood for a fire and set up a makeshift camp a short distance from the fox. Dani stayed close to it, keeping watch as the others settled in.
The fox's breathing had steadied, its golden eyes half-closed as it rested. Dani couldn't help but feel a strange connection to it, as if saving it had earned him some unspoken bond.
"You're either really brave or really stupid," Arya said, sitting down beside him.
"Maybe both," Dani replied with a small smile.
The fire crackled softly as the group fell into a wary silence. Despite the lingering tension, Dani felt a spark of hope. He'd made a choice tonight—not just to survive, but to save. And in this world, every choice mattered.