[In this case, Paul has no hand to tip. There are plenty of other students already doing an admirable job of providing a distraction, which Paul can still overhear from the crest of this hillside. He's as dishevelled and sticky as Akechi is, but when he dangles his legs over the edge of the pseudo-cliff it doesn't seem to concern him.]

I'm not sure 'calling them off' is an option.

[He's still a little breathless from the sprint, his heart racing, and he devotes some of his focus to down-regulation as he leans over his knees and looks with interest in the direction of the noises coming from elsewhere. That scream sounded particularly abrupt.]

My guess? It's a lesson in discretion. Not every threat needs to be met head on. A cobra doesn't seek out unnecessary conflict, but knows when to retreat to the rocks.

[He shrugs, a rueful twist to his mouth.]

Or someone told him it would be a bad idea. One of those, I think. Do you think anyone is actually going to be able to fight a bear without resorting to weapons or powers?