Have you ever had a memorable encounter with a wild animal? What happened?

A natural way to answer

Yes, I remember coming face to face with a deer while hiking. It stopped dead in its tracks just a few metres away, and we stayed completely still, watching each other. I was careful not to startle it. After a moment it turned and walked back into the woods. It was a small but oddly moving experience.

Key phrases to use

• stopped dead in its tracks — stopped very suddenly and completely, often out of surprise or fear“The dog stopped dead in its tracks when it heard the thunder.”
• melted back into — moved away quietly and smoothly until it could no longer be seen, blending into its surroundings“The fox melted back into the hedgerow before I could blink.”