You are so good at writing sentient animals without having them seem overly cutesy or too humanlike, which are easy traps to fall into, imo. I love the interactions with the Black Rider, and also that you use this particular version of events, one of those great Tolkien moments where a villain (or potential villain) has the opportunity to turn aside but ultimately doesn't take it. The gift of the leaf is a great symbol of this, showing just what Curunir has already foresaken in his allegiance to Mordor. I also like Angandil's slightly goofy interaction with the captain ("Don't offer me your human liquor poison, philistine!"). Frankly I do like the idea of a crow downing whiskey, but it probably would have interfered with his function during the rest of the story. Plus Curunir shaking his fist after Olorin and calling him a "bloody meddling idiot" was pretty fantastic.
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You are so good at writing sentient animals without having them seem overly cutesy or too humanlike, which are easy traps to fall into, imo. I love the interactions with the Black Rider, and also that you use this particular version of events, one of those great Tolkien moments where a villain (or potential villain) has the opportunity to turn aside but ultimately doesn't take it. The gift of the leaf is a great symbol of this, showing just what Curunir has already foresaken in his allegiance to Mordor. I also like Angandil's slightly goofy interaction with the captain ("Don't offer me your human liquor poison, philistine!"). Frankly I do like the idea of a crow downing whiskey, but it probably would have interfered with his function during the rest of the story. Plus Curunir shaking his fist after Olorin and calling him a "bloody meddling idiot" was pretty fantastic.
Great job!