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Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:33 pm
 Opal's tale starts in a snowy wood, far from the nearest Ulaya village. Noone knows if it was an accident or fate, but Opal's box never made it to her parents. Cold and alone in the dark, her box was discovered by a small pack of arctic wolves who brought her home and kept her warm. They raised her like one of the pack. Over time her fur coat grew thick and her body grew strong. When she was old enough the Elder spoke to her. "I suppose by now you’ve realized you are different than us. You were separated from your people when you were but a young pup. If you should wish to find them, head north following the star and you can be there in a day".Having said his peace, he left Opal alone to think. Opal grew curious of the others like her. She had always called the pack her family and never for a second questioned it. Soon her curiosity got the best of her as curiosity often does, and she bid her pack farewell, setting off on a mission to find her true home. She did as the Elder had told her and traveled with the Northern Star. Her journeys lead her across what seemed to be a frozen sea and down through the FrostRidge Mtn pass. It was dark by the time she found herself at the forest she was told of. The trees were thick and covered in snow, and the only light leaked in from a full moon’s glow. Opal figured this was a good a place as any to sleep for the night. She walked a bit farther and tripped over something in the darkness. Opal jumped up quickly ready to attack but instead of an attacker she found a box… her box. As if untouched by time, a box sat in front her, white with purple and teal markings. This site chilled her to bone yet was strangely comforting. She flipped the box open and curled up inside of it. She wanted to remember what it was like, but she couldn’t. It was quiet and peaceful. A soft breeze rustled through the trees and Opal dozed off.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:35 pm
It was morning, Opal opened her eyes as sunlight peaked through the branches and birds chirped a welcoming hello. She stepped out of the box and looked at it once more. Deciding this was part of her past she could not carry with her, she flattened it and decided to stash it in a nearby hollow tree.
Filled with a new sense of hope for answers Opal charged off out of the forest continuing on. As the forest got farther away she noticed the snow around her gradually turning to large meadows and fields of grass. It was still chilly but felt the temperature felt warmer. Suddenly she came across the start of a path. A sense of excitement rushed over her and the followed the path all the way to the end. There stood a village. This must’ve been the place her elder spoke of. That excitement was now mixed with a feeling of unease. What if they didn’t want her there?
Her focus was quickly drawn away when a voice from behind her spoke. "You look lost" Opal turned to find a women standing behind her with a basket of fresh berries at her feet. She was an older Ulaya, her fur a smoky grey and her eyes a warm brown. Opal was silence for a moment, not having seen her own species before. She gathered her thoughts then responded. "Apparently I have been lost for a long time." The older Ulaya smiled and introduced herself as Magnolia, but said to call her Mags. Mags inquired what Opal had meant by she was lost for a long time, so Opal explains. She said her name was Opal and lived in the snow, beyond the mountains. She recounted all the events that happened over the last day then grew silent once more. Mags nodded and smiled soft, a brief sadness in her eyes. "Please, come inside. You came all the way after all." And with that Mags picked up her basket and continued inside the village gates. Not wanting to be left outside alone again Opal hurried in after her.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:38 pm
Inside the Ulaya village Opal stayed close on Mags’ tail, taking in all sites. It was all a bit overwhelming. There were structures everywhere made of wood and stone, like dens but not quite. Mags said they called them houses. Everywhere she looked there were Ulaya just like her running around and having conversations. Some had horns like her, others had wings and some had nothing at all! When they finally stopped Opal noticed it was another house, with a garden beside it. Mags told her to come inside and sit and she would return shortly. The inside of the house was inviting. There was cloth on the floor and bedding in the corner. She found it odd that everyone slept in their own separate beds. How did they keep warm? There were various potted plants and other items placed along pieces of wood on the walls, and a big round piece of wood in the middle of the room where the berry basket now sat. It was cozy.
Mags return awhile later. She looked at Opal a bit saddened and informed her there was nothing in her records about a lost child in the village. She said she knew this wasn’t the answer Opal wanted but she was more than welcome to stay here. Opal’s heart felt heavy. "Oh I almost forgot, I got you something!" Opal lifted her head to see a gift placed in front of her; it was a pouch with a strap. "It’s for storing things when you travel" Mags stated, helping drape it across Opal’s torso. Opal thanked Mags for the gift and said she needed some time to think. It upset her that her parents weren’t here, but maybe this place could still be her home. Over the next few days Opal tried her best to fit in. Unfortunately for her growing up with Wolves, instead of Ulaya didn't really help with socializing. The village people looked just like her but they didn't act like her. They didn’t want to play catch or wrestle. Some of them hadn’t even heard of snow, and the rest weren’t really that fond of it. They were very weird.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:39 pm
It had been about a week since Opal arrived and she still wasn’t fitting in. Late one night while she laid in her bed Mags had made for her, she saw a weird glow from the window. Being the curious person she was, she decided to investigate. She followed the glow through the dimly lit town. She got close enough that she could make out a cloaked figure in the glowing mist. Opal tried to approach the figure, but by the time she got there, it was gone. It was dark and quiet on the street once again, except for this… scratching noise. Opal looked down and noticed a box on the doorstep next to her. It was black with rainbow on top and a small purring was coming from inside. Suddenly the door opened. It was a black male Ulaya with wings like a dragon. He looked at Opal confused, then his eyes fell to the box, and widened. Overcome with joy the male rushed back inside to get his wife. It took Opal a moment to realize what happened had just happened. These parents were expecting, and their bundle of joy had just arrived.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:41 pm
For the rest of the night Opal laid awake, unable to rest peacefully. The next morning the town square was a bustle with parents who’s cubs had been delivered in the night. Seeing all the happy families together weighted heavily on Opals heart. She would never have that, she thought to herself. Nothing would ever make her whole again. Her parents must not have wanted her bad enough. Overwhelmed with these thoughts, Opal fled. Mags somehow knew this might happened and had filled Opal’s pack with food for the road.
Opal ran as quickly as she could, not caring where she ended up. She ran out of the village, and through the forest without even stopping to blink. Exhausted and heavyhearted, she collapsed in a clearing along the FrostRidge Mountains. She lay there, buried, embracing the familiar snow as her mind raced with thoughts. What was her purpose? Who were her parents and why did they never look for her? When she finally pulled herself together a blizzard had began to form.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 7:42 pm
She found shelter in a nearby cavern. You could feel a comforting warm seeping from the entrance and the walls were lined with beautiful crystals. She ventured inside and found there was fresh water trickling down the back wall and along the ground were pools of warm water, like soothing baths. After exploring the cave she found herself a heated rock and decided to sleep. Opal awoke later that evening to her stomach rumbling. She opened her pack to find some fresh berries from Mags’ garden and smiled softly. Having filled her stomach on berries, Opal stepped back outside. She noticed a shimmer of lights reflecting against a frozen pond, like the colors of the cloaked figure. Flopping over onto her back she looked up at the sky where the aura lit up the darkness and danced among the stars. Opal decided wasn’t ready to be an Ulaya, but she knew she definitely wasn’t a wolf. For now she just wanted to be Opal. "It’s nice here. I think this place will be my home. It might be lonely but for now it’s all I need"
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