A few hours earlier.
The stone pierced into the skin of the beast. Blood began to leak from its head into its fur.
The bear roared in pain, forced awake from its autopilot.
The trees in front of the monster were smashed as collateral damage from its awakened frenzy.
It n-e-a-r-l-y fell onto four feet.
The eyes of the freak locked in on Mike, blood began to cover it's face as it beared it's fangs.
This is it! It's going into hunt mode!
Mike ran in the opposite direction as fast as he could.
But why the opposite direction? Isn't that a clear path? Wouldn't it make more sense to run diagonally into the woods to maximize difficultly of chasing?
Wrong~
In hunt mode, the bear's speed is constant whether in or out of a clearing. Running anywhere but opposite to the bear will prove inefficient.
Here's a lesson in geometry kids!
Balls A and B are on a flat graph a good distance from each other. Ball A will try to catch Ball B and Ball B has to run.
There is a rectangular path that the both of them sit on, and Ball A will slow down if it leaves this path.
But here's the thing.
Ball A is in hunt mode, it will not slow down until it reaches it's target or loses energy.
So what now little one?
Running in the opposite direction will expend the most energy as of right now.
When it slows down, it will switch to the slower Attack mode and I'll have the leeway to both attack and escape the bear for good.
And escaping Attack mode is simple, run into the woods.
So right now, I just need to outrun The Hunt!
Easier said than done, kiddo.
Mike ran and didn't look back, the heavy 'thud' noises were indicative enough of his distance.
I need to run faster! He's gaining on me!
Raising his knees a bit higher, stuffing his sling into his hand to remove drag.
It's within 130 meters, I'm sure of it!
Mikes only weapon was not a sling, he has been preparing for hours.
He just needed to make it that far without having his head blasted off.
His body felt hot in the cold night, his breathing sped up and went deeper as he ran.
His posture leaned front as Mike slowly lost himself in the "escape."
The moonlight, the cold, damp air and the pointy wet grass. Heightend his awareness, letting the moment reach the pinnacle of his concious mind, whilst the rest of the details melted.
The sound of the Hunt gathered too close for his comfort, Mike's fear mixed with his adrenaline-fueled determination to pollute his head with thoughts.
Did I really need to do this? Or was i biting off more than I could chew?
Am I another Tyson? Fully confident in his ideals, letting the world roll the dice, and preparing to move with the only outcome that I wished for?
Did I take a moment to consider that I could die here?
No! I did not!
To consider the possibility of one's death is to accept that your are incompetent enough to die!
And if there's one thing I don't possess, it's bloody incompetency!
This bear won't kill me, it won't even scratch me. I will see this to the very end!
That is the kind of man I am!
Mike felt the wind breeze towards him on his right, it was unnatural in nature, but he had no time to call natures bluff.
Out of pure instinct and quick thinking, Mike jumped forward and rolled into the grass.
The sound of the bear grunting and wood cracking was unmistakable, he made the correct call.
This is it, the last stretch before then phase of battle, Mike knew the bear would reach its limit within 200 meters.
Because that's approximately the distance I chased it down this morning. And I found you walking!
Mike took the smallest moment to look back at the bear.
Moonlight made its uneven proportions look even more unnerving.
Its head was large, but not as large as it's body. This was an idea of a monster brought to life.
This thing looks more massive at night or I'm just scared. I don't know.
Mike scrambled to his feet and took off, the bear plucked it's hand out and followed suite.
He began breathing out his mouth from the run, Mike rationally knew the bear was slower now, but the sound of it's footsteps rang through his head.
It was at this moment, a small thought festered into him.
What if I placed my bow too close? What if it's still in hunt?
But Mike had properly steeled himself.
Then I still have the sling, there's stones in my pocket so it doesn't matter.
I don't need to panic, I need to be Aware.
Mike ran, he felt the bear get slower and slower.
"Can ya run any slower you tub of lard?!" A thoughtless taunt, out of pure dopamine boost from the relief.
But the bear was losing speed, rapidly. If the time to fly on one leg was any time, it was now.
Mike hadn't turned around but he knew.
The bear switched modes.
He turned around and dug into his pockets to find the stones he left there, Mike watched as the bear beat down a tree and rooted it from its place.
It's not going to throw that at me? Right?
Marvel character over here, top tier dialogue if I say so myself.
The bear grabbed the trunk with both arms now and swung, Mike jumped into a bush as the tree crashed down where he formerly stood.
Shit! Ranged attacks! Why didn't I factor that in?
Because it didn't make sense. That's why.
Mike charged into the woods, searching for his bow and set of makeshift arrows.
Those trees can't be flung regularly, it must take less energy than running but more energy than swiping normally.
Which means it can't keep this up forever!
Mike cackled, he hadn't felt this estatic since he beat elden ring.
I still hold the advantage!