Swiftcurrent Creek this country is ours

Bazi sent out a starlight bark, summoning help to deal with the band of trespassers. Bones's ears twitched and she scanned the nighttime scenery, waiting to see who might join them. Captain Fox arrived quite promptly, falling into step on Bazi's other flank. Although separated by the white scout, the juvenile tipped her head in acknowledgement of the leader. Her skull bobbed again when another dark shadow, a stranger, joined the group.

Before long, they approached the skulking troupe of shadows. Like the unseen Fox, Bones bristled at the mere sight of the coyotes. Although such a laid-back, easygoing creature, her black lips peeled back from her teeth in a dangerous scowl and her ears swept backward, nearly disappearing against her skull as she glowered at her sworn enemies. A rare growl—high-pitched but nonetheless dangerous-sounding—clawed its way up her throat, bursting from her mouth to echo in the otherwise quiet darkness.