What does 2 Samuel 17:8 mean?

He continued, 'You know your father and his men. They're tough and desperate, like a mother bear robbed of her cubs. Your father is a seasoned fighter; he won't spend the night with the troops.' 2 Samuel 17:8 - Modern Text Bible

(Hushai paints David and his men as dangerous and unpredictable, warning that they're not easy targets.)