Let's see…what sort of sound would frighten a bear? It's hardly your specialty, but you run through your repertoire best you can for the right option. "Woof! Woof-woof Woof!"
The woman and animals alike all look up toward the hillside where you're crouching out of sight. "Woof," you continue, trying to throw a bit of distance on your bull mastiff call, as if the mighty dog is in the grasses a few spans away from you instead.
The bear's nose works the air, clearly perplexed to hear a threat but not smell it.
Noticing an opportunity, the woman bellows, rushing the bear in its distraction and slashing towards its face. Her panicked swing goes wide, but the bear (deciding, apparently, that the road is growing much too crowded) recoils from her. As it turns its flanks knock the woman backwards into her mule-cart, jostling its contents and frightening the mule into a leap. The whole cart tumbles off the sloped road and lands with a splintering crack. From the debris, the mule slips free and breaks into as close to a gallop as its old legs can muster.
"Come, come, hep! No, no, no…" the woman wails, snatching up as many sacks as she can carry from the overturned cart before chasing the mule. The peeved bear trots off in the other direction.
"Woof," you toss out one last time for good measure. You feel quite clever about your choice. [+Surety]
Down The Hill