This was a contest of patience.
The coyote was waiting, waiting for the bobcat to abandon her cubs, and then it would enter the bush for a feast.
Chen Wen was also waiting, waiting for the coyote to let its guard down, so he could capture it in one fell swoop.
And the bobcat was waiting too.
Its keen sense of smell had detected the scent on Chen Wen.
The bobcat let out a short call, but only Chen Wen on the scene understood the meaning of the call.
"Help me!"
Chen Wen remained silent.
He was afraid of startling the coyote away.
The coyote's hearing, vision, and smell were even sharper than the bobcat's.
If Chen Wen hadn't gone seven days without a bath, making his scent very wilderness-like.
By now, the coyote would likely have noticed him.
But thanks to the scent on him, the coyote didn't notice Chen Wen's presence.
Instead, the bobcat, which had interacted with Chen Wen, recognized him first.
Seeing Chen Wen not making any moves, the bobcat felt somewhat desperate.
