Dusk settled above the trees as the sky began to change colors. Brilliant blue turned yellow before fading and bleeding into oranges and reds. Stars were beginning to stipple against the sky glowing warmly, yet faintly. The sound of a low breeze snaked through the grass and coiled around the trees that were placed lovingly through the forest. The quiet noises of smaller animals playing hide and seek under the roots of trees and scuttling under leaves of brilliant red, burnished oranges, and sunny yellows that had fallen onto the ground.
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A silver figure made itself known as it crawled from where it had previously been sleeping with a yawn. Careful and cautious movements led the figure into a standing position where two tarnished silver ears turned and twitched listening for any sounds that might be a danger to itself. The only sounds that reached the silver figure were that of the forest's natural charm.
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A step forward had the silver figure making its way towards a small lake near where it had fallen asleep previously. Once arrived at the edge of the lake, the figure lowered its head to look into the shimmering surface of the water. A wolfish face peered back at the silver figure. Silver fur concentrated on the legs and the front of the figure's face shifted into tarnished silver as it dispersed. A pair of blue eyes completing the reflection.
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After watching its reflection for a few more seconds the wolf leaned down to lap up a few drops of water before lifting his head to spot another wolf drinking on the other side of the lake. Surprised for a moment the silver wolf took in the appearance of the other.
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The other wolf seemed to resemble its own markings, however the colors were different. Instead of the light silver coloring it had on its legs the other appeared to have a rich red color fading into black where the silver wolf's coloring faded into a tarnished silver. The other wolf hadn't seemed to have noticed the silver wolf yet so the other's eye color remained a mystery for the moment.
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A soft huff from the silver wolf gave warning to the other that still stood looking down into the water on the other side of the small lake.
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Sharp blue eyes met kind emerald green eyes. A hint of recognition flashed through the silver wolf's eyes as it noticed something in the other's gaze - sadness and grief. The type of grief that didn't come from the loss of someone, but from being driven from everything they once knew.
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The silver wolf moved forward - unsure of why it was moving, but moving anyway. Non threatening posture became the main thing that the silver wolf displayed as it made its way over to where the black and red wolf stood watching the silver wolf.
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Once the silver wolf was a few lengths away from the black and red wolf the aforementioned wolf spoke. "Can I help you?"
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The silver wolf stopped, surprised by the soft tone the other wolf used. From the way the other wolf's voice sounded it was female, the opposite gender of the silver wolf's own.
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The silver male spoke - keeping his voice soft similar to how the female had, "No, I simply wished to speak to you. May I ask your name?"
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The black and red female paused as if contemplating her reply. "The name I was given was War Stained, but I prefer to be referred to as Emerald. May I ask your name?"
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The silver wolf nodded replying without much thought, "My name is Lake. It is a pleasure to meet you Emerald. Are you alone?" His voice remained quiet as he spoke, never wavering in its kindness.
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"Yes," came the response from Emerald, "I am alone. My pack had a change in Alphas, and I was driven from the pack as a result."
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Lake nodded shallowly in understanding, a similar situation having happened to him, leaving him without a pack about a season ago. "Would you like to join me then? Surely two working together have a better chance at surviving than two alone and competing for space and food?" He wasn't sure why he offered companionship and help to Emerald, but found that he didn't mind the idea of having her around.
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Emerald blinked and didn't speak for a few long moments, seemingly shocked by the question that Lake had asked her. When the answer came it seemed measured and carefully thought out, "If the offer is not being extended due to pity over my situation and you are sure you would like me to join you then I don't see why not."
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Lake smiled softly, an unconscious action, on his part, "My offer is not made out of pity, but rather understanding. I have been alone for a little over a season and winter will soon be approaching. I haven't been around anyone for a time, so I don't think I'll mind to much."
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Emerald seemed to hesitate before speaking again, "Very well then, I will join you."
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With those words the two wolves entered a tentative friendship. By the time that autumn had passed and winter had come the two cast aways had become strong friends, relying on each other even when it wasn't strictly necessary to their survival as they had in the beginning.
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The two began to seek each other out without prompting or need of the other for something shortly after spring came. It was during this season, about half a year after they had met that the subject was broached.
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The sun had slowly been rising into the sky, bringing dawn along with it as it traveled, when Emerald turned to Lake and began to speak softly. "Lake, um," the she wolf turned away with uncertainty plain in her eyes, "what do you think about the two of us becoming mates?"
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The silver male paused what he was doing, seemingly in shock, before giving Emerald his full attention. His tail waved gently at the idea, he had thought about it previously during the seasons they had spent together but hadn't said anything. He hadn't wanted to make her uncomfortable around him if that wasn't something Emerald was interested in.
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When Lake spoke his voice was soft and hopeful, "I would love to be your mate, if you will have me."
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Emerald's eyes lit up in something akin to joy at the silver wolf's words. "I wouldn't ask if it wasn't something I would want." A teasing tone leaked into her voice, reminiscent of how they had grown closer.
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Lake stood from where he had been laying previously and made his way over to where Emerald stood. He nudged the side of her muzzle, his nose pressing into her fur as he did so before pulling back. "I have something I would like to ask as well."
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Emerald tilted her head, a silent show of confusion. Surely it couldn't be to bad if Lake wanted to be her mate? "What is it?"
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Hesitance showed in Lake's eyes in the moments before he spoke, but as he did it dispersed revealed passion that had previously been hidden. "What if we made a pack? Not a pack like the ones that we were raised in, but one that was made for others who fell into similar situations to what happened to us? No one would ever be forced to leave, but they wouldn't be trapped with the pack." Lake continued to ramble on with his ideas for a pack. "We could call the pack Mistakes - wait no! Not like that!" Lake paused there catching the look that Emerald had given him when he had mentioned the potential name for the pack.
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"We could call the pack Mistakes to represent the mistakes that the packs that cast us out made. They made the mistake of forcing us to leave and abandoning us with only our wits to survive with. A mistake in giving up our loyalty and our faith in our previous packs."
Emerald smiled. "I think that I would like that. But... where would we find others like us?"
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Lake simply smiled, "From the neutral territories, where most wolves who have been cast out attempt to survive. I settled between pack lands because I know how hard it is to survive in the neutral territories, even at a risk of angering the packs around us. We could seek out wolves from there and then find a territory somewhere."
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Emerald laughed, "Of course, you have this all planned out. Very well then."
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The conversation ended there, leaving the two wolves to begin their journey. They made their way closer to the neutral territories and along the way found two wolves that would become their first pack mates. The two they found were she wolves cast out from different packs who had teamed up for survival.
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The first of these wolves was Dawn, a white she wolf with darker grey and black spots and dark blue eyes. The second's name was Golden Maple. She was a mocha colored female with darker brown and deep tans intermixed within her pelt, pair with a set of shimmering golden eyes.
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Together the four of them settled down and made their own territory, accepting wolves from far and wide that sought refuge. Some stayed while others left after a few days, but they became known for offering aid to those who needed them.
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The land that made up their territory was vast. Large hills and a few sprinkled caves made up the dens. A spring and a river were both located nearby. A large space for pack gatherings and plenty of room to run and play and just have fun.
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Emerald and Lake lived long lives, however Lake died sooner than Emerald, who by the time she died had been fondly nicknamed Emmy by many of the wolves in the pack. They were placed in a small tranquil clearing as they made their separate journeys to the stars.
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When the two reunited in the stars they watched their pack for days, smiling down on them and wishing all of the wolves there long, peaceful lives. The pair hunted together again and kept each other close, joining with those from the pack that each made their way to the stars.
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Occasionally they would take favor in some of the wolves. Some of these include Ausha, Aimilios, Oscura, Corrupted Jade, Zora Eveleen, and Ruptured Pyrite.
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Forever those who have passed within the pack join the ever growing number of those in the stars. Fierce protectors and gentle souls alike. There may be arguments at times, but none would change their lives or their afterlives.
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Content to watch those alive from the stars and to take care of the pack reunited in the stars, Lake and Emerald found their peace and their happiness.
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Once considered mistakes, they became influential and fundamental parts of a pack of those who simply needed a chance.
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Welcome now to the pack called Mistakes.
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(c)264707
Winter 
Night Weather: 
5
Infected Wound
