After around 10 minutes of staring at each other, two of the cubs got bored and left. Mom and the last cub also turned their back on me and went into the forest. I breathed a sigh of relief as they disappeared into the distance.
Experiences like this make life worth living. You feel the connection between yourself and nature. Staying calm is the key. I don't know if I will be able to experience anything close to this in the future, but I am thrilled that you are part of this experience.