Frostbound

In an area far away from human habitation, where Winter reigned and the light of the Sun hadn't blessed the land in weeks, a disturbance was taking place. Eternal darkness blanketed the area for a week and would continue to do so for weeks more, but that wasn't what caused such a change.

A storm nearly a mile wide was responsible for such a shift.

The already formidable winter winds carried snow and ice alike as it spiraled around a dome at the storm's center. If one were to look deeper, past the physical representation of the elements, one would gaze upon the reason for such a disturbance.

The mana in the area funneled into the dome at a rate that sent the surroundings into a frenzy. The flow was so detached from its normal paths that it clashed with the magic outside of the storm's influence.

The beasts in the area had felt the shift at first and noticed the subtle draw that siphoned some of the mana away but thought nothing of it. They'd felt a beast evolve before and knew what the process entailed.

The area would return to normal in a day or two and all would be fine.

Except the draw didn't end.

Days turned into a week, then into two.

The draw only seemed to increase, and more mana rushed in to replace the amount siphoned. The localized storm grew more intense as more and more of the mana currents were disrupted and the concentration grew.

Some beasts, the smaller and less proud, took it as a sign. They left the area for fear of what was to come and knew they wouldn't stand a chance. Some stayed and basked in the dense magic taking the opportunity given to them using it to grow as fast as they could.

None noticed the dome at the storm's center. None even considered that it was the cause of all the disruption.

That wasn't their concern. The only thing they had on their minds was to make use of this opportunity while it lasted.