The vines crawled across the floor. Mana ran through them like blood through an animal. This was the Blood Woods, known for its high density of mana. This mana gave life to all things around it, be they plant or animal. Now, the plants live. Be it with a primitive intelligence.

As the vine crawled across the ground, like a snake hunting a rabbit, it felt the vibrations in the ground. The tree needed food, and it was the job of the vine to get it. There would be plenty of prey near the water. The mana rich water encouraged grown among both beast and monster. As such, it was a popular place.

Every once and a while, the vine pulsed out with mana, checking the trees around it to see if any of them were smart enough to hunt for prey. So far, they seemed to be normal. The vine was pleased with this. There would be no fight today. Today, it would grow. It could feel it in its veins. The Mother Tree was close to evolving. It was strange for a tree to evolve. They just got smarter, not stronger. Strength came with age.

As the vine got closer and closer to the water's edge, it slowed more and more. It didn't want to frighten off any prey. Prey had good hearing. It began to use the mana that ran through it for more than just detecting trees. It covered itself in it. Acting as a magical camouflage. Soon, the watering hole was in 'view'.

Three creatures were there currently. A Goblin, weak, and not worth the effort. A wolf. A normal wolf. Also not worth the effort. Finally, there was a Saber Tooth Lion. A magical Lion that had the teeth of a Saber Tooth Tiger. It was worth a fortune to the Mother Tree. The vine begun creeping up upon it, mana acting as a near-perfect camouflage. Though it had to stop many times due to the Goblin, who shuffled about while drinking, ready to run at any moment. It was setting the Saber Tooth Lion off, making it weary.

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Soon, the vine had no more forest to give it cover. It was directly behind the Lion. Bringing magic to the front of the vine, it unleashed a massive flash of light, blinding all those with traditional sight. This included the Lion. It then wrapped its body around the waist of the Lion. It quickly retracted back towards the Mother Tree, moving faster than the blink of an eye. However, the Lion soon realized what was going on and fought back.

Out of its mouth shot fire, but the Vine counted by casting water on the mouth. This vine was the oldest and strongest. It would not be stopped so easily. It then swung the lion off to the side, slamming it against a normal tree, stunning it for a moment. By the time the Lion came back to its wits, it was too late. It was already being dropped into the gaping maw of the Mother Tree.

The Vine was pleased. It had done as it was told. The Mother Tree promised its rewards after the evolution. It took weeks. But soon it was done. The Mother Tree had become so much smarter. It told the Vine to go out, far into the forest. So the Vine did so. Far into the deep reaches of the forest. Then, nothing. The Vine lost connection with the Mother Tree. The last thing he heard was 'Grow anew.'

The Vine was going to die. It was already dying. So it did the only thing it could. It burrowed into the ground. It evolved. It used the mana inside of it to change its shape into a seedling. A new magical plant had started growing.