diff --git a/src/huntmode.ts b/src/huntmode.ts
index 18c9287..b45b14e 100644
--- a/src/huntmode.ts
+++ b/src/huntmode.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import { Architecture, LoadedNewMap } from "./newmap.ts";
 import { FLOOR_CELL_SIZE, GridArt } from "./gridart.ts";
 import { shadowcast } from "./shadowcast.ts";
 import { withCamera } from "./layout.ts";
+import { getCheckModal } from "./checkmodal.ts";
+import { CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS } from "./mapgen.ts";
 
 export class HuntMode {
   map: LoadedNewMap;
@@ -130,23 +132,38 @@ export class HuntMode {
     let dx = this.velocity.x;
     let dy = this.velocity.y;
 
+    let touched = false;
     let amt = 0.006;
 
-    if (getPlayerProgress().getBlood() > 0) {
-      if (I.isKeyDown("w")) {
-        dy -= amt;
-      }
-      if (I.isKeyDown("s")) {
-        dy += amt;
-      }
-      if (I.isKeyDown("a")) {
-        dx -= amt;
-      }
-      if (I.isKeyDown("d")) {
-        dx += amt;
-      }
+    if (getPlayerProgress().getBlood() <= 0) {
+      amt = 0;
     }
 
+    let mvdx = 0;
+    let mvdy = 0;
+    if (I.isKeyDown("w")) {
+      touched = true;
+      mvdy -= amt;
+    }
+    if (I.isKeyDown("s")) {
+      touched = true;
+      mvdy += amt;
+    }
+    if (I.isKeyDown("a")) {
+      touched = true;
+      mvdx -= amt;
+    }
+    if (I.isKeyDown("d")) {
+      touched = true;
+      mvdx += amt;
+    }
+
+    if (touched) {
+      getCheckModal().show(null, null);
+    }
+
+    dx += mvdx;
+    dy += mvdy;
     dx *= 0.87;
     dy *= 0.87;
 
@@ -156,18 +173,42 @@ export class HuntMode {
     if (Math.abs(dy) < 0.0001) {
       dy = 0;
     }
-    if (dx < 0) {
+    if (mvdx < 0) {
       this.faceLeft = true;
     }
-    if (dx > 0) {
+    if (mvdx > 0) {
       this.faceLeft = false;
     }
 
-    this.velocity = new Point(dx, dy);
     let nSteps = 40;
-    let szX = 0.5;
+    let szX = 0.75;
     let szY = 0.75;
 
+    this.velocity = new Point(dx, dy);
+
+    // try to push us away from walls if we're close
+    for (let offset of CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS.values()) {
+      let bigBbox = new Rect(
+        this.floatingPlayer
+          .offset(offset.scale(new Size(0.02, 0.02)))
+          .offset(new Point(-szX / 2, -szY / 2)),
+        new Size(szX, szY),
+      );
+
+      let hitsWall = false;
+      for (let cell of bigBbox.overlappedCells(new Size(1, 1)).values()) {
+        if (this.#blocksMovement(cell.top)) {
+          hitsWall = true;
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+      if (hitsWall) {
+        this.velocity = this.velocity.offset(
+          offset.scale(new Point(0.005, 0.005)).negate(),
+        );
+      }
+    }
+
     let initialXy = this.floatingPlayer;
     for (let i = 0; i < nSteps; i++) {
       let oldXy = this.floatingPlayer;
@@ -393,7 +434,7 @@ export class HuntMode {
 
   #drawPlayer(globalOffset: Point) {
     let cellOffset = this.pixelPlayer.offset(globalOffset.negate());
-    this.drawpile.add(0, () => {
+    this.drawpile.add(1024, () => {
       D.drawSprite(sprThrallLore, cellOffset, 1, {
         xScale: this.faceLeft ? -2 : 2,
         yScale: 2,
diff --git a/src/mapgen.ts b/src/mapgen.ts
index 2417b71..6debb86 100644
--- a/src/mapgen.ts
+++ b/src/mapgen.ts
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ let mergeRects = (a: Rect, b: Rect) => {
   return new Rect(new Point(abx0, aby0), new Size(abx1 - abx0, aby1 - aby0));
 };
 
-const _CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS = [
+export const CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS = [
   new Point(-1, 0),
   new Point(0, -1),
   new Point(1, 0),
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ function connectRegions(knife: Knife) {
       }
 
       let regions = [];
-      for (let offset of _CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS.values()) {
+      for (let offset of CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS.values()) {
         let region = knife.regions.get(pos.offset(offset));
         if (region != null) {
           regions.push(region);
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ function growMaze(knife: Knife, start: Point) {
 
     let unmadeCells: Point[] = [];
     let lastDirOk = false;
-    for (let dir of _CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS.values()) {
+    for (let dir of CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS.values()) {
       if (canCarve(knife, cell, dir)) {
         unmadeCells.push(dir);
         if (lastDir != null && dir.equals(lastDir)) {
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ function removeDeadEnds(knife: Knife) {
         }
 
         let exits = 0;
-        for (let dir of _CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS.values()) {
+        for (let dir of CARDINAL_DIRECTIONS.values()) {
           if (knife.map.get(xy.offset(dir)).architecture != Architecture.Wall) {
             exits++;
           }