To see or not to see, where lies the greater fear?

I met a wolf once,
by met, I mean
we stared at each other
while comfortably separated.

For me, a magnificent encounter
with a mythical beast of the wild.
For him, something not belonging
had strayed into his sight.

With nothing much to say,
we carried on the day.

It never occurred to me
to be afraid,
sunny days in the woods
with freshly fallen snow
are not disposed to fear,
so I was not.

However, a cracking, unseen
big or small, from nearly by
in any woods, is a momentarily
terrifying thing not to see,
on this, the wolf and I agree.