Fight or Flight

~They say you need to give the mother cat her personal space especially if she has some newborn kittens. ~

Kuma's muscles locked, every fiber of his being screaming at him to move, but he stood frozen. The growl reverberated through his bones, low and menacing, sending a cold sweat trickling down his spine. His breath was shallow, barely a whisper against the thick silence of the forest.

His eyes darted toward the pair of glowing orbs nestled in the darkness between the trees. They burned with an eerie light, predatory and unwavering. He felt the weight of the creature's gaze pressing down on him, assessing, calculating.

A mountain lion? No—something worse.

Analyze.

A flicker of glowing text appeared in his vision.

Analyze Output:

Silver Line Mountain Lion

Hp: 98/120

~This mountain lion is a magical beast, much stronger than an ordinary mountain lion. It has the ability to control silver energy, which gives it its distinctive silver markings. It is currently in its territorial phase, having just given birth to a litter of kittens. It is fiercely protective of its young and will attack anyone who enters its territory. Kuma must be careful to avoid crossing paths with this powerful and dangerous beast.

His stomach churned. The moment his skill registered the beast's power, his optimism shattered. He had hoped for a deer, maybe a stray Squabbit—anything but this. A fully grown Silver Line Mountain Lion was beyond him.

As if hiding her kittens behind her, the big cat came forward and revealed itself completely to Kuma.

The undergrowth rustled as the beast took a step forward, revealing its form. Muscles rippled beneath its sleek fur, streaked with veins of silver that shimmered like liquid metal. Its powerful limbs coiled, ready to pounce, and its ears twitched as if listening for his heartbeat.

Kuma knew better than to run. Sprinting would only trigger the predator's instincts—turning him from potential threat to prey. He forced himself to breathe, to think.

No sudden movements.

He raised his hands slightly, palms out. "Easy…" His voice was barely above a whisper, hoarse from the dryness in his throat.

The mountain lion did not move, but its tail flicked, eyes narrowing.

Kuma took a slow step backward. The ground beneath him was uneven, thick with roots and fallen leaves. Each shift of his weight had to be measured, careful. One wrong step, one crack of a twig, and he'd be dead.

Another step. Then another.

The lion watched, its nose twitching as it scented the air. Its pupils contracted.

Then its ears flattened.

Shit.

Without warning, the mountain lion lunged.

Kuma barely had time to react. He twisted to the side, throwing himself to the ground as a blur of silver and muscle streaked past him. The wind howled in his ears as he hit the dirt, rolling instinctively to put distance between them. A flash of claws slashed through the space he had just occupied, carving deep gouges into the earth.

Scrambling to his feet, he grabbed a fallen branch, gripping it like a makeshift weapon. Not enough. Not nearly enough.

The mountain lion landed with unnatural grace, pivoting mid-motion. Its lips curled back, revealing rows of sharp teeth. It prowled toward him, its body low, shoulders rolling with predatory confidence.

Kuma's mind raced. He couldn't fight it head-on. His spear was still back at his camp. His only option was escape.

His eyes flickered past the beast, scanning the terrain. Trees. Rocks. A slope.

If he could reach the incline, he could use it to his advantage.

The mountain lion leapt again.

This time, Kuma was ready. He ducked low, feeling the rush of air as claws missed his head by inches. He pushed off the ground, sprinting toward the trees. Not too fast. Don't show your back completely. He zigzagged, forcing the lion to adjust its approach.

A roar split the air, vibrating through his chest.

He reached the slope and dove forward, letting gravity carry him down. Dirt and leaves scraped against his skin as he tumbled, but he didn't stop. His shoulder hit a rock, pain flaring up his arm, but he gritted his teeth and kept rolling until he hit level ground.

Heart pounding, he staggered up.

The mountain lion prowled above, glaring down at him. Its tail flicked in irritation. For a long moment, it seemed to weigh the risk of chasing him. Then, with a final growl, it turned and disappeared into the trees.

Kuma exhaled, legs nearly giving out beneath him. He had survived.

Barely.

His hands were shaking. His entire body was trembling from the rush of adrenaline. He sank against a tree, chest heaving, sucking in ragged breaths.

Then he laughed. A breathless, disbelieving laugh.

"Holy shit."

The euphoria of survival flooded his senses. He was still alive. Beaten, bruised, but alive.

The relief was short-lived.

His throat was dry, burning. He had lost precious time. Water. I still need water.

He forced himself up, wincing as pain shot through his shoulder. His body ached, but he couldn't stop now.

Using the last light of the day, he resumed his search.

By the time he found the stream, darkness was creeping in.

The silver surface reflected the dimming sky, rippling softly as it flowed between moss-covered rocks. Kuma fell to his knees, cupping his hands into the cold water. He drank deeply, the cool liquid soothing his raw throat. It tasted pure, fresh.

He splashed some on his face, letting the chill wake him up. His body was exhausted, but he felt grounded again.

I need to eat. I need shelter.

He scanned the area. Nearby, a small clearing offered just enough space to build a makeshift camp. It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do.

Pushing himself to his feet, he grabbed a sturdy branch, examining its weight. With a few adjustments, he could fashion a crude spear. It wouldn't be much, but it was better than nothing.

Night was falling fast. He needed fire.

Gathering dry wood, he crouched down, striking rocks together, hoping for a spark. It took longer than expected—his fingers were stiff, his body weary—but eventually, embers caught onto the dried grass.

A small flame flickered to life.

Kuma sat back, watching it grow. The firelight cast shadows against the trees, pushing back the encroaching darkness.

His stomach growled. The traps. If he was lucky, one had caught something.

But that would have to wait until morning. Right now, he had fire, water, and safety. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

For tonight, he had won.

With a deep breath, he leaned back, eyes fluttering shut.

Tomorrow, he would be ready.

Tomorrow, he would fight smarter.

Tomorrow, he would survive.