Cade spared one last glance for the coffee she couldn't have--<span style="font-style: italic">until later,</span>she reminded herself-- then bounded after E. Her powerful lupine body carried her through the woods like a ginger colored streak, graceful as she navigated through the treacherous maze of dangerous thistles and roots. She followed E, though it wasn't really necessary; they both knew the way well enough. These woods were their territory, which made them as inexplicably<span style="font-style: italic">theirs</span>as the bushy tails that continued the length of their spines.<br/><br/>As beautiful as the weather was, and as simple the task, there was still a lingering sense of danger. Eryan was coming home, and it was possible, even likely that the Claws would try something because of it. This tainted an otherwise pleasant run, and at the first hint of a foreign smell, Cade came to a grinding halt.  Her lips curled in a snarl, fur bristling. There was that unmistakable musk that meant fight, danger, death, and enemy. She could smell them, but she could not see them. She didn't dare look at E, eyes scanning the woods. She knew her packmate was there.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFFFFF">The run felt nice, pounding out her frustrations without so much as a second thought. This was what she needed, the freedom of a run and the peace of mind a sweep to know that the area was free and clear of intruders. Perhaps that's why she liked doing the sweeps. While others were eating and waking up, she was able to set her own mind at rest that no one was going to be attempting a second run at the pack.<br/><br/>Looking back on it, Eilidh would swear she'd jinxed it, that she should have knocked her muzzle into a tree or something to counteract her own thoughts...but it was too late. She'd smelled Dex before she saw him, body colliding with hers just as the wind carried his stench to her. Rolling and snarling, she fought to get on top, kicking him free as she recovered, eyes narrowed as her teeth bared. Her fur stood on end, her fists clenching as she hunkered down, ready to launch a second strike at her.<br/><br/>Where the run had been her peace of mind before...the knowledge that least Cade hadn't hit the same issue was all that remained. Cade could handle herself, though, so long as she stayed ahead of the fight.<br/><br/>He was first to make a move, charging at her as she charged back, loosing a growl just before they collided for a second time.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Here we go...</span></span><br/><br/>A low growl trickled out from Cade's throat as her body tensed with anticipation. Now that she'd stopped and properly scented the air, the stench of Claws was heavy. Specifically, Riley. She heard a sound-- the tiniest rustle, but it was enough to cue her to move. Riley landed awkwardly on her haunches, instead of being able to deliver the killing blow he'd been going for-- a powerful bite to the spine. Cade kicked him off and rounded, teeth bared. It was going to be her, in the form of a wolf, against Riley, who was in anthro form.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Looks like I'm up shit street,</span>Cade thought. Riley had size and opposable thumbs going for him. Nonetheless, the ginger wolf leaped into the chest of her opponent, claws extended. Instead of latching on and tearing Riley into so much meat, she pushed back off. If she'd stayed, she would have been grabbed, and that would have been bad. This way, she knocked the other wolf off balance, and was out of arm's reach.<br/><br/>For a moment, he did lose his balance, but he did not fall. He watched Cade with narrowed, yellow eyes. "Tch." He lunged for Cade, wrapping his arms around the wolf's middle. Claws dug into Cade's soft underbelly, and she howled, wriggling to get free. The howl was involuntary; in the next moment she let out a ferocious growl, bones popping and snapping as she grew in size. Suddenly, Riley had his arms around a fully grown dire wolf, and this had become more of a problem than an advantage. He quickly retreated, but not before Cade delivered a numbing blow to his ribs that made it hard to breath.<br/><br/>"Damn," Riley gasped.<br/><br/>Cade, a little ways away, nodded her large head. Blood matted the fur on her belly.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFFFFF">A howl resounded, echoing throughout the otherwise abandoned forest. It sent a shiver down her spine and a snarl cropping up of her own as she glared at the other wolf with a pointed, predatory gaze and watched as he turned tail and ran. There was an urge to keep pursuing him, to follow him and ream him a new one for posing as a distraction; that had to be what this was, a distraction. Had they wanted them dead, they'd have attacked them again just like they had not so long ago.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">And you allowed him to get to you,</span> Eilidh growled at herself, watching his hide run away before turning to make her way for Cade. Briefly, she caught side of Riley and the smell of Cade's blood had her growling as he ran, but he didn't turn to face her. Instead, her pace picked up and she found the woman, blood matting her fur and let out a huff.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Lets get you back and cleaned up...</span> came her thought, drifting over to Cade before trying to help her, making sure she could stand up as she needed. Had she the inability to walk, Eilidh would carry her while she healed. All she needed do was say the word.<br/></span><br/><br/>She nodded her large head, whuffing and padding towards the Den. She was a little unsteady for a moment, before she got her balance. The wound was on her lower, left belly, which gave her a pronounced limp on that side. Nonetheless, she would at least make it back unassisted. She was embarrassed enough about getting it in the first place.