when you see a movie and the plane is going down, the man does not say "If come out alive I will go to the supermarket to buy some milk" NO he says "please GOD dont let me die"
Sometimes 'prey' can be used metaphoricaly when you really hope something will happen. I guess its a way of feeling that we are actualy doing something without doing something. Its like hoping that all the elements come into play to make whatever it is we want to happen happen. A feeling that we have some control over something we have no control over. I guess we all wana feel we can have control over everything to some degree even if its asking another 'power' to do something its still a feeling that we had some input to it happening
Its kinda of a 'really hoping' thing., But i guess its more than that... A state of mind as is everything.
This is just my take, nothing more. And i just woke up so ya know.. lol