A large group of us were on an "owling outing" after dusk down in Southern California when we heard the rustling of something stalking us through the brush. The guide said it was a mountain lion, and we were mostly pretty excited about it until it flanked us and growls started coming from in front of us.
The guide didn't think it would attack; it was making way too much noise and seemed to be telling us, "I was here first, turn around." We decided to do just that, since we had kids with us.
Exciting, but a little scary.
Same thing here, heard the growl turned to my wife and said "Nature hike's over, I'm ready to go home. How 'bout you?"
The great thing is in Kalifornia you can't even carry a gun to defend yourself.
The continued sounds of rustling brush around you when you are outside and in lion country should be paid attention to.
We learned that a few years ago from a lady friend who used to live a few miles north of town where lion sightings and tracks were a normal thing.
I had told her about hearing rustling of leaves (not the sound from rats or squirrels) one night after we went off day light savings time as I took our garbage toters to the curb. She said that she and her husband and one of the older teenagers did the garbage toter pushout with someone riding shotgun after daylight savings time went off. One night before the new plan went into effect, she and her husband heard some rustling of leaves. They shined their flashlight towards the sounds and had 3 pair of eyes looking back at them and one big growl.