I’d read that mountian lions, unlike other large cats, scream, that it sounds like a woman screaming. Once it was at evening twilight, once in the early night.
It was unearthly, not like any scream of a human, really. Almost like the scream or call of a hawk but of course much louder, with more depth. It was very frightening.
You probably reacted way better than I would have, Little Jeremiah! I would have locked myself inside the house and wouldn’t go outside till NOON the next day (and then armed like Rambo). The only GOOD thing... you are aware that they are near you. I would think that awareness is much better than assuming that they aren’t anywhere near you...