I had a sow and 2 cubs in just about that situation last year. She knew something wasn't right, but couldn't put it together. She just stood there right where I'd gone through some brush. The cubs came almost right to the tree I was in playing around, I thought they might climb up.
The sow makes a clicking noise when she thinks danger is near and that makes the cubs climb the nearest tree... that was me. She never figured it out and they went on there way.
I enjoy the show but it could've turned ugly. Cute little cubs.