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When Duty Calls

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Literature Text

Featuring: Urs 'The Bear'
Year 758 of the New Age -  Mid Autumn (In the day after the Oracle's Death)
Oakfern - The Warren
Urs Word Count: 1,268






Pain.

Pain was nothing.

Fear.

Fear was nothing.

There was only the pounding in his head and the rumble in his chest as he bellowed out. The stag slammed his hooves down and struggled. He could feel his strength slowly giving away. ”no” he whispered weakly.



Earlier that ‘day’


Urs walked along the caverns, ears swiveling as he patrolled alone. He breathed deeply and focused on the scents. He reached out with his magic and felt the surrounding areas. Only little streams and puddles was present along with a soft ‘drip.’ of the cave’s moisture. Deeming this place secure, Urs trotted off to the next set of caverns, mind heavy with deep thought.


~The Oricel is dead. Killed by the king..Why had that happened?...~ he paused a moment to greet another guard, before continuing on his way. ~..She abandoned us. Nazam told us so...she had been gone for so long..~ Anger bubbled up in the guard. His ears pinned back as he grit his teeth. ~She betrayed us and left us! How dare she watlz back in like nothing had happened?! How dare she keep the word of Galeach from them?!.~

“.She was a traitor..” He hissed. Offenses were not to be taken lightly in the herd of Oakfern. It was essential for their survival that EVERYONE do their fair share and that they all remembered who the TRUE enemy was…Eggbreaker. Fawntaker. Never forget, the Oathbreakers.

He would never forget the way his herd was so badly treated. He would never forget the Oathbreakers who had doomed his ancestors.. Doomed them all the a life under the mountain. A life with only darkness….except for the blessed presence of Gealach. Gealach had saved them. He was their guardian. Their soft silver light in this dreary world.

But Gealach could not do everything for them. He needed each Oakfern to do their part and help one another.

That is where Urs came in. Urs had always dreamed of being a guard as a young foal. This was his calling. He could feel it in every step, every breath, every fiber of his being, and every last drop of his life blood.

The herd’s safety was his top priority and he would lay down his life for them all.

Shaking his head, he remembered the past few days’ events. The blinding light and how his fellow herdmates panicked. Urs almost did. He almost gave into that maddening urge to flee in any direction.

But he had not.

Instead he had regained control of himself and in that uncertainty and blindness, he had helped soothe their fears. Urs had prevented further tragedy and injury to the others. He was lucky, only gaining a few scrapes instead of gouges.


A scream echoed through the tunnels, weak, and desperate. Urs snapped out of his thoughts and bolted down the caves. His rack scrapped along a out sticking rock or two, but his stride never faltered.  He broke out of the narrow path and into a small cave.

”please…...help… the tiny voice choked out. A fawn, not quite old enough to be a yearly lay gasping on the floor, around her body coiled one of the many predators who liked to snack on Oakferns… an Anaconda. The snake was the largest Urs had ever encountered...easily 18' or longer.

The guard was a bit surprised but did not think twice before lunging at the creature. Teeth barred, Urs slashed with his horns and boiled the puddle under its scaly body.

With a hiss the predator loosened its grip, and the little filly quickly slipped away, darting down the tunnel behind Urs.

Furious from losing its fresh prey, the large snake struck at Urs. One two, strike, one two strike! The creature hissed and snapped.

Urs was completely focused, watching the Anaconda’s deadly attacks and countering with his own. Hot and Cold, Ice and Fire. The stag used the watery floor as much as he could to deter his foe, but it barely phased the snake. It was blinded by anger and hunger. Fueled by the warmth of the sun that sprinkled through the loose ceiling.


The sooty stag misstepped. It was a deadly mistake. Before Urse could regain himself, the predator lunged, catching him around his rear and coiled, gaining a deathgrip around his lower ribs.

Thrashing and bucking, Urs was slowly dragged to the floor. ~The hero has become the victim.~ he thought grimly. Ears pinned back he bit and tore at the snake’s body, fighting now for his own life.

Withering, the Anaconda rolled, dragging Urs along with it. It pulled him into the small body of water. Normally he would have no problem. He could easily stand in this water. It was only as deep as his knees, but on his side that was a different story.

Water, the very element he relied on, was turning against him. It splashed and quivered, he lost his mental focus and it rushed into his nose and mouth. Fear prickled at his mind. No it could not end like this! Swallowed by this filthy creature of death. Urs Coughed and gagged, trying to stand as the snake tightened it’s grip.

Pain.

Pain was nothing.

Fear.

Fear was nothing.

There was only the pounding in his head and the rumble in his chest as he bellowed out. The stag slammed his hooves down and struggled. He could feel his strength slowly giving away. ”no” he whispered weakly.

~Galeach help me!~ he mentally cried out.

A gentle calmness filled his mind. Perhaps it was Urs regaining his focus, or perhaps it was something more..

Urs pushed on the water below his head, forcing his nose above the water. Air. Sweet Air! with a harsh cough, he forced the water from his nose and could breath once more!

Throwing his head back violently, one of his twines caught the snake through the head. It screamed and released him, thrashing about as it slowly bled to death.

The guard got to his knees and shook the snake loose, trampling at to put it out of its misery.

He was weak. He slowly pulled himself out of the pool and stood by the edge of the water, panting. ~That was too close..~ He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, calming his heart and nerves.

Opening his eyes once more, Urs moved the snake outside of the tunnels. This would further protect the herd by keeping other predators from poking around at the smell of blood.


He walked down the tunnels, returning into the caverns. There was a squeal and the filly from earlier came bouncing up to him, running all around his legs with joy. He smiled, watching her. ”Are you ok?” he asked her.

Nuzzling his chest, she nodded her head and squeaked out a little “yes sir!”

“Tin?...Tin!?” an older doe trotted up, and spotted the filly. “Oh Tin!.. Where have you been?!” she asked worriedly, looking to Urs. “Honey are you bothering this guard?”

Urs shook his head, ”She is not bothering me at all..but there is something you need to know..” He gently explained to the doe, the danger he had found her filly in. By the end of the shortened story, the doe was wide eyed and nuzzling Tin. “Thank you.” she whispered. “Thank you so much.. My Gealach bless you.” she added and touched his muzzle in appreciation.

The little filly looked up at Urs and rubbed against his side one last time before trotting off after her mother.

Urs watched them go, eyes shining with pride though his body was tired. This is what he lived for. This was his purpose in life. His herd’s safety was the top priority, and he would always be here for them.

Featuring: Urs 'The Bear' 
Year 758 of the New Age -  Mid Autumn (In the day after the Oracle's Death)
Oakfern - The Warren
Urs Word Count: 1,268

My sample rp for the Oakfern Captain of the Guard position


Image to come :la:
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TeacupDreams's avatar
Good luck Urs, 100% support from Ami, we're both rooting for you 
Urs4Captain2014