more of an inconvenience than a thread

Uruk moved with the quiet confidence that would be expected from someone who'd just killed his father; his stormy gray coat blending with the shadows of the willows as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The rhythmic sound of their hooves, muted by the soft earth and the whispering breeze, accompanied them as they traversed through the Whistling Willows. The place was eerie in its stillness, the drooping boughs of the trees creating a veil that obscured the world beyond. The scent of the damp earth and fresh water filled the air, a start contrast to the dry grasses of the Knolls.

As Xurek moved beside him, the larger stallion's presence was reassuring, a solid force of nature that Uruk trusted implicitly. When the sharp crack of a branch snapped through the air, Uruk's ears flicked forward, muscles coiling in anticipation. He caught the flash of movement, the spotted pelt of a predator, honing in on them from above. The big cat's audacity brought a grim smile to Uruk's lips; how foolish it was to challenge beasts of their stature.

Xurek's words barely registered as Uruk's focus zeroed in on the leopard. The moment Xurek sent the creature flying, Uruk was ready. He pivoted with surprising speed for his size, lowering his horned head in a fluid motion. The feline's body twisted in the air, desperate to grain control, but Uruk was already there. His great horn met the cat with brutal precision, the impact resounding through the grove. The cat let out a strangled yowl, a mix of pain and shock, as it was flung aside, crashing into the underbrush.

"Not much time at all," he agreed, thinking that would be enough to drive the cat away. Uruk straightened, his eyes cold and calculating as he watched the leopard limp as it struggled to stand. It seemed relentless as it readied it's stance for yet another strike against the massive duo.

[ 1/3 Explore new land (Whistling Willows) ]
[ 1/3 Fought a large opponent (Leopard) ]

"Speech"