If they were on both sides of you but not coming in, then you were probably on the border of two pack’s territories. Neither one wanted to cross into the other’s to avoid a conflict. They could very well have been why they continued to howl and bark (to try and figure out who was where). Plus, did you check on the gut pile before you left? There is also a good chance that they were full and could not have cared less about an easy rabbit, but I would go with my first suspicion. If it were me I would have tried a challenge bark, followed by either hurt coyote, or hurt pup yips. A lot of times this will bring the alpha dogs in to further evaluate the situation, or prepare to wage war with a rival dog.