retreat

rout

flinch, recoil, revulsion, shrinking

disengagement, disentanglement

oasis

anchorage, mooring, port

cover, screen

abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, habitation, house, housing, lodging, lodgment (or lodgement), pad, place, quarters, residence, rest, roof

cloister, closet, covert, den, hermitage, hideaway, hideout, lair

castle, fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, redoubt, stronghold

lean-to, lee, shed, windbreak

flee, fly

flinch, recoil, shrink

chicken (out)

bow out

back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down

detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away

abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate

abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle [chiefly British], scarper [British], scat, scram, skip (out), skirr