Just as the long night was beginning to make way for dawn, Spieden was already up and walking through the territory. By the time she made her first circuit the sun had risen, glowing between the small cracks in the grey clouds. She was nearly about to turn back towards the heart of the packlands when she heard a faint yipping from the woods to the west.

Her silvered muzzle crinkled as she grimaced and a rumble started deep in her chest. Damn coyotes. With so few wolves on this side of the mountain now, it was easy for the little scavengers to move in. And judging by the multiple voices she heard, they were starting to band together for the winter. She knew if you gave the coyotes and inch, they'd take a mile, and she had no intentions in letting them get a hold on the lands surrounding the Bend.

Spieden gave a few alert barks that grew into a wavering howl that called for her packmates. She would do this alone if she had to, but help couldn't hurt. Not waiting for a response, she started at a lope towards where she'd heard the verminous howls. With how slow she was, she didn't want the coyotes to slip off before she could get there. As she neared the edges of the pack's territory she made sure to leave a marking of her own scent behind.

Spieden could already smell the coyotes' foul stench on the wind, they were much closer than she'd thought. And more troubling was the scent of blood. Either they had hurt someone, or they had killed prey that could have otherwise belonged to the Bend. Neither option was good.

The Coho woman wasn't sure anyone would come, and was wholly prepared to take on the vermin herself. Overly cocky, perhaps, and fueled by anger at coyotes so close. Her senses were focused on their scent, the distant yips and growls, that she didn't notice someone coming up from behind her. Her brown coat fluffed out on end in surprise, body flinching as the smaller, silver woman quietly sidled up beside her. She didn't expect someone to appear so suddenly, nor so silently, and for a fleeting moment almost thought the little female was a coyote herself. The familiar scent, and somewhat familiar appearance spoke otherwise, and without missing a beat Spieden kept on jogging at her steady plodding pace as if nothing had happened. She didn't like to be caught off guard, but even more than that she hated showing any sort of vulnerability.

She flicked an ear to listen as Jessie spoke up at her side. Apparently, Spieden could 'come with if she liked'... The hell? Spieden couldn't help but snort. What, did this woman think Spieden was just gonna sit behind and wait on her butt while coyotes were doing whatever the hell unattended coyotes got up to? Unlikely.

"I'm coming with," She replied brusquely. It was likely the sprightly little scout was faster than her, but Spieden would do whatever it took to keep up. She didn't plan on making a reputation for being a useless figurehead leader. Not daring to waste time that she knew they didn't have to spare, Spieden kept on moving. Her thick limbs did double-time, strides stretching to her limit to keep up a good pace.

Spieden quick pace slowed to a more cautious tread as the chattering yips of the coyotes grew closer. Spieden couldn't quite understand them, but they definitely sounded way more excited than they had any right to be. She shifted her weight downwards, trying to shrink her considerable size down to something that would be less noticeable through the sparse winter flora that separated the canines. She glared through the shrubbery at coyotes, seeing now that they cavorted around a downed deer. In stark contrast to the white snow, red smears of blood surrounded the carcass, matching the bloodied marks across the coyote's narrow muzzles. Spieden lifted her lip in a grimace, ears folded back as she counted them up. Her and Jessie were outnumbered by one, but she still thought the coyotes wouldn't be a match for them.

Spieden would have charged in that very moment were it not for Jessie's question. Her ears flicked and she softly in response, her eyes sweeping sideways to meet Jessie's emerald in a stare. "Chase 'em off, what else?" Spieden quietly grumbled, fiery eyes flicking momentarily from Jessie back towards the coyotes. Spieden wasn't a planner, and the solution seemed more than obvious to her. Besides, what else could they do? The mangy beasts certainly wouldn't sit down for a conversation. But now the seed of doubt had been planted, and Spieden hesitated, waiting to see if Jessie had an answer towards her somewhat flippant "what else".

The show of teeth from the silvery woman prompted Spieden's tail to raise, lashing a high banner to hold her position though the flattening of her uneven ears betrayed her lack of confidence with all of this. She did not like to lead, but to let this female walk all over her would be another thing. The timber-colored bridge of her nose wrinkled in distaste, but she kept her teeth covered. There were more important things to deal with at the moment rather than whether this female liked her. As long as they could get this over with and get back to doing their own thing.

"Fine." Spieden spat, replying with equal portions irritation to what she'd been given. "I'll do the killing, you can do the chasing." Spieden said with a bitter tinge. They'd go with Jessie's plan, but Spieden still wanted to call the shots and not let her subordinate push her around. Plus it meant she would be able to vent some pent up frustration over it all on some hapless coyote. Spieden lurched forward, heavy paws crushing the snow beneath her. The yipping and yammering had quieted, and it seemed at least one of them was looking her way.

Bursting out from the foliage cover and not caring whatever it was Jessie was doing, Spieden sprinted as quickly as her thick limbs would allow. The trio of coyotes scattered and danced around the carcass, obviously hesitant to give up a winter feast when they still had the benefit of numbers. Light footed and fleet, they circled Spieden as she charged in, her snapping jaws closing on air behind one of the little scavengers. She felt a sharp nip at her hock as one had managed to skirt behind her, unnoticed in the chaos. She whirled in place, a snarl tearing from her throat in more insult than injury as she lunged towards the one that had bitten her ankle.

The slippery coyote had already turned around and was trying to beat a retreat, but Spieden managed to clamp her teeth onto the brushy tan tail before it had gotten up to speed.