That's enough to snap you out of your primal stillness. Whatever part of you that you've retained from your hairy, tree-dwelling forebears switches directly into evasion mode, and the path is suddenly a blur beneath you as you sprint away from whatever the hell is behind you.
Driven by instinct or not, you're aware that running is a temporary solution. Whatever is behind you has four legs, and it will catch you eventually.
But what are you supposed to do?
You take a deep breath. Your timing is going to have to be perfect. A large bush is coming up on your left, and as quietly as possible, you throw yourself off the path and onto the ground, dragging yourself silently back the way you came.
You can hear the scrabble of paws on the path, far closer than you're comfortable with. You hold your breath, trying not to make the slightest sound.
Finally, the sound of the paws fades. The creature has passed you by. You stay where you are for a few minutes more, then you stand. The path appears to be clear.
Still trying to keep any sound you make to a minimum, you walk on up the path.
Keep Going