Lost Faith and Cries for Change

His breath grew deeper as he gathered his nerves.

~what if they hate me for this. What if they WANT him to stay..~

No. Surely not. The herd was proud, and stubborn. The rules set over their liberty was enough to tick most off.

One by one, the ass kissing followers had dropped like flies. Some distanced themselves as soon as the king went mad. Some had been slowly leaving his side for years. While others….died.

Being in with the guards had its perks as well. They were not intended to be spies but you simply could stop hearing gossip. A deaf guard was a bad guard, and political gossip was easy enough to accidentally overhear.

Surely they would support their Captain, if not for a permanent position, at least in removing the broken regime.

The red stag was growing weaker in body and soul with each passing day. He had to know the sands of time were running out, slipping away into the abyss below. His control was waning and soon, if Galeach willed it, the nightmare would be over.

The sounds of many voices filled his ears as he stepped into the border of the cavern. Most of the herd was there.

Good.

Let them bare witness, for this was the Oakfern way.

The Captain chose this evening above the others, without there being a sacrifice the herd would have less of a blood lust and more of a rational mindset. It was the night before the Mourning of Darkmoon. Tomorrow was a day to remember all of those who had died. It would be disrespectful to hold such a brawl during their time. However, he hoped the spirits were already here, watching down upon him with favor.

His thoughts snapped back to the present, without a holiday tonight their voices buzzed through the cavern. No one knew why they were here. How could they? Not even most of the guard knew why the Captain called for this meeting, but still they came.

Curious eyes crawled over his pelt, watching, waiting for what was to come.

Clawed hooves carrying him up onto the ledge, Urs stopped and allowed the cavern to grow quiet.

“My dear brothers and sisters. I know our beloved herd has come upon troubling times. Your rights, your beliefs, your very way of life has come under fire.” He paused a moment, eyes scanning their faces.

“We hold the memories of days long gone, of a time when we were free.
A time when we did not fear to leave the tunnels, and even a time before we had known such a life.
Why is it that you now shy away from the world you once explored?
Why is it that you now fear your neighbors as though they were Oathbreakers?
Why is it that a late blooming fawn is hidden by their mother for fear of her own family?”

He tossed his head up, defiance screaming in his eyes.

“Nazam.”

A roar went up throughout the crowd, whether is was support or anger he could not tell.

“I have stood loyally by our king for many seasons now. I have given counsel when asked, and kept to my own duties when not. I now see the errors of my ways. For I did not question his actions, not enough to make myself heard. I stayed quiet, offering help to those who asked, believing our herd was in good hooves.

Perhaps there was a time when Nazam was a good leader, or at least a fitting one. Those days are long gone now.”

The bear raised his hoof, slamming it down with enough impact to knock some gravel loose

“Oakfern, hear me now. I Urs, Captain of the Guard, have lost all faith in our king and hereby challenge Nazam!”

Chaos followed.