more of an inconvenience than a thread

The shrouded stallion took a moment to survey the landscape, his eyes tracing the graceful arcs of the willows. The land, with its serene streams and ancient trees, held a beauty that even he, a creature with a lust for war, could appreciate. The golden light of the setting sun bathed the area in a soft glow, making the grove appear almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the violence going on within it.

The leopard, bloodied and battered, made one final, desperate attempt to lunge at Uruk. Its eyes, wild with pain and fear, locked onto him as it gathered its remaining strength for a last, futile attack. Uruk's expression hardened as he watched the cat, its resilience almost admirable but ultimately foolish.

With a swift, precise movement, Uruk lowered his horned head and met the leopard's charge head-on. The impact was decisive, his horn driving deep into the predator's chest. The cat let out a final, pitiful yowl before collapsing at Uruk's feet, the life drained from its once wild eyes. Uruk stood over the fallen beast for a moment, his breath steady and controlled, before lowering his head to wipe the blood from his horn on the cat's very fur.

Turning back toward toward Xurek, who was now rinsing his tusks in the stream, Urk allowed a faint smile to tug at the corner of his mouth. "Pathetic indeed," he echoed. "But.. this land.. its hold promise. If we can keep the predators at bay, it may serve us well." With that, he took a moment to take a cool drink from the stream, a breeze carrying away the scent of battle from him as they prepared to move on.

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

"Speech"