(somewhere in the north pole, two hours before)
The white snow and blue icebergs were completely engulfed in bright orange fluttering colors.
These were butterflies, they dotted the snowy and harsh terrain. A woman wearing a heavy fur coat and holding a metal compass in her hands was staring up at the dim sky. A few butterflies had taken rest on her shoulders and were exploring all over her coat but she didn't mind.
The compass in her hands wasn't working but she didn't need it to know she had found what she was looking for.
"It's coming... but when will it arrive? at this rate the coven may not even be able to escape the aftermath..."
She was a researcher of a certain witch coven that controlled the north pole. She had been studying the past events for over a week and she was now sure that it was coming.
"The end... I still don't understand how the end will happen but it must be avoided no matter what."
The researcher witch suddenly turned around, making the butterflies all around her soar to the sky in a beautiful display of orange. She was already feeling a bit of cold on the nape of her neck.
On her way to the village she came across a family of arctic foxes heading her way. She wasn't afraid of them and allowed them to approach her.
"Tell me, what is it I may help you with?"
"We apologise milady but we come in the name of high witch Deena."
The researcher witch frowned immediately. Her wand was tucked inside her coat to prevent snow collecting on it but she moved her hands towards it.
"What would a high witch of Ninrillin want with a witch of another coven."
The wolf witches were probably the most infamous of all the witch covens around the world. And even in a place this far away their name was handled with caution.
The largest of the arctic foxes stepped in to try and calm the situation.
"We mean you no danger, we simply carry a message dedicated to you from her. We would like it if you could take us to a safer place than here for we have much to discuss."
The witch stared at the fox but resisted the urge to set it aflame right there and then. The wolf witches were not to be trusted but starting a fight with one of their high witches wouldn't be beneficial to her coven.
"Fine I'll take you to a burrow I dug up for myself not too long ago. A storm is coming so I can't really be held responsible for how you return to your homes."
"That's fine with us, we simply act as servants for our mistress."
The witch visibly rolled her emerald green eyes and trudged through the thick snow in the direction of her burrow. The arctic foxes started leaping around her but following her closely while their eyes remained alert.
They soon came upon the burrow which just happened to be a large hole in the side of a stone hill capped with snow. The group entered and in the centre of the burrow was campfire ash from a recent fire.
The witch stared at the ash and snapped her fingers. Immediately a new campfire lit itself and it's warm light bathed all of the occupants.
The arctic foxes got themselves comfortable and the largest of them spoke first.
"I have been told to ask you a question first before we proceed. Are you aware of the angels who had just arrived on our world?"
"Angels? since when had the gods taken interest in our world?"
"Are you or are you not-"
"I wasn't aware."
The arctic fox nodded its head slowly and continued.
"The message we carry is a fragment of the prophecy our oracle had discovered after the arrival of these angels. The prophecy declares that all life will come to an end within the next five years. The exact cause is unknown but the effects are already becoming evident. You must have seen the butterflies flying about."
The witch frowned, she was aware of what the fox was implying.
"The magnetic poles... is that how our world will end?"
"No, those are just a few signs before the true storm, it's coming and none of us can stop it..."
The witch wasn't too happy with the fox's phrasing but she simply asked the fox for more detail on this 'storm'.
The arctic fox scratched the back of it's left ear with a padded paw and rested its head on the warm rock.
"Are you not going to continue?"
"No, I don't know much about the storm but my sister here does so she should be the one to tell you."
The witch turned to the fox that was stepping forward.
"The storm is something we aren't sure of how it will begin or end. We have reported cases of devils suddenly appearing around the world and even the dungeons are recurrently having waves. The matter hasn't reached a level for the major kingdoms to care."
The witch stared at the fox but kept her criticism to herself. If what these foxes said was true then this matter could turn serious given time.
"So is that all? you wished to just tell me we have no chance to stop it. You simply want me and my coven to lose hope?"
"Nothing of the sort! we came to inform you of what our mistress thought relevant to your coven. After all you control the Leviathan dungeon, the dungeon of the north..."
"We have the dungeon under control but I shall take what you have told me into account. There have also been more storms around lately and our monster pets have begun losing control of their strength. Thank you I shall inform my coven you may leave now to your... mistress."
The foxes all nodded and left the burrow one by one disappearing into the shadows of the storm outside. The witch watched them leave and pulled out a leather bound notebook from her coat.
She wrote with her finger tip, [4 years, 11months, ??days remaining until the end.]
She then returned her notebook back inside her coat and stepped out of her burrow, her figure melting into the rain.
********************
(Within the dark forest.)
A group of dark elves were jumping from branch to branch, not even attempting to conceal themselves. They were exploring the forest while collecting herbs growing on the barks of the trees they explored.
This was a team of dark elf adventurers fulfilling a quest handed to them. The dark elves had gathered enough herbs and were now returning to the outpost while collecting even more herbs.
They came to a stop when they felt the ground beneath them quake. The rumbling was low but the forest floor made a rather peculiar noise after.
'Grrr'
The dark elves frowned at the noise, was it some type of dungeon beast? they scratched their heads in thought but couldn't think of anything.
Just as they were about to continue on their way they felt a heavy and powerful presence appear in the forest.
{I hope you have some salt, cause I hate to eat unseasoned dark elf.}
Then the forest went into the darkest slumber it ever had.
★★★★★★★★★