POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 26

No matter how much people worried, the life of the polar bears on land remained as harsh as ever. They had to endure the heat and hunger, using whatever limited energy they had to search for food to stave off starvation.

Some of them chose to remain still, hoping their fat reserves would last until the snow and ice returned.

The clever seagulls, ever alert to the bears' mealtime, flocked to the area, eagerly feasting on the leftovers from Otis and Qiao Qixi's meals.

After showing up three times, these seabirds had firmly remembered this new feeding ground.

The noisy birds and the lingering scent of food scraps in the air inevitably attracted new scavengers.

After more than two months of struggling on land, the polar bears that arrived were all tired, emaciated, and had lost the lively spark in their eyes.

Fortunately, luck hadn't entirely abandoned them. Just before the beluga whales left these shallow waters, the bears finally caught up to them.

Yes, they were dusty and gray.

Especially around their faces and noses, where the grime was darkest.

Compared to them, Qiao Qixi would have looked positively handsome and pristine.

And of course, Otis, standing there like the very pinnacle of bearhood.

Three male polar bears arrived in succession. Though they were exhausted, they posed no threat to the mother bear and her cub. Still, the cautious mother bear led her cub toward the safety of Otis's "territory" to avoid any risks.

The newcomers' goal was clear: the beluga whales swimming in the shallow waters.

After their long journey, they were starving, but the feast before them wasn't something they could rush into—they had to be strategic.

The drone captured this scene: the three polar bears spread out across the sea, not interfering with one another. Hungry as they were, they were about to demonstrate their individual hunting skills, and with any luck, they might finally enjoy a much-needed meal.

Qiao Qixi had been yawning out of boredom under the shade when he suddenly saw the mother bear and cub approach. His eyes lit up.

*Hi there, little bear neighbor, how are you? Have you eaten?*

Qiao Qixi couldn't help but notice that the cub, whom he hadn't seen in a while, seemed to have grown bigger—was it because they had been eating more frequently lately?

*Tsk, tsk, tsk,* he thought, *Cubs really do need to eat to grow.*

With that in mind, Qiao Qixi glanced down at his own waistline, trying to see if he had grown fatter or taller, but he couldn't tell.

One thing he could be sure of, though, was that he was about twice the size of that little cub, meaning he was no longer a baby. Maybe he could even be considered an adolescent bear now.

But so what?

Otis still treated him like a baby all the time. Except when hunting, Otis never took his eyes off him.

This kind of attention was probably something Qiao Qixi hadn't "enjoyed" since he was three years old.

The sudden appearance of the mother bear startled Otis, who had been lightly dozing next to Qiao Qixi.

The massive bear, larger than any of the newcomers, opened his eyes, still a bit sleepy, but quickly woke up. He stretched, yawning and flexing his muscles.

Otis's movements were somewhat similar to those of a cat, though bears and dogs are more closely related. So perhaps it was more accurate to say it was a canine instinct.

With this thought in mind, Qiao Qixi chuckled to himself—imagine that, Otis and dogs were distant relatives.

As Otis stretched, his attention was already on the "intruding" mother bear and cub, as well as the scent of the unfamiliar polar bears drifting over from upstream.

From the way he stretched out his neck, it was clear he was surveying the situation.

The mother bear and Otis exchanged a long gaze, a silent communication that Qiao Qixi interpreted as a negotiation. The mother bear was testing Otis's response, while Otis was asserting his position.

There was no sound, but the message was clear.

In the end, just as Qiao Qixi had guessed, the mother bear stopped at the edge of Otis's "territory," deciding not to go any further. This was the outcome of their unspoken agreement.

Qiao Qixi couldn't help but feel proud of his ability to interpret these interactions. After just over four months as a polar bear, he could already accurately read much of their behavior.

It seemed that in another six months, his communication with Otis would be even more smooth and natural.

The arrival of the three new neighbors didn't really affect Qiao Qixi's daily life, even though his keen sense of smell informed him of their presence.

In fact, Qiao Qixi didn't mind the arrival of these strangers at all.

On the contrary, having relatively ample hunting opportunities here reduced the risk of starvation. With one more bear hunting, the chances of another bear starving to death decreased. He was quite happy to see this.

The beluga whales lingering in the shallow waters were only there temporarily, as part of their seasonal migration. This meant that this polar bear paradise wouldn't last long. Once the belugas returned to the deep sea, the bears would have to continue their search for food elsewhere.

Otis was well aware of this. He knew that within the limited time they had, he needed to hunt as much food as possible.

To feed himself and the ever-hungry little bear.

By mid-August, the temperatures along the coast had risen, surpassing last year's record, making the polar bears increasingly restless.

The belugas, soon to return to the deep sea, were becoming harder to catch.

Even with a full day of patient waiting, success wasn't guaranteed.

The young polar bear, learning to hunt alongside Otis, could sense the change in circumstances. He wasn't sure if Otis was anxious, but he himself was so stressed about his lack of success in catching a beluga that he was starting to lose fur.

Of course, this was a seasonal issue, which was perfectly normal—*wah wah wah.*

During the molting season, Otis also had clumps of fur sticking to him. The trunk of the largest tree near the shore, along with the rough, uneven rocky ground, became tools for Otis to shed his old fur and scratch his itches.

Clearly, these clumps of fur were making him uncomfortable.

Anywhere Otis could reach with his mouth, he had already torn the fur off.

At this point, the little polar bear, usually only good for eating, was ready to be useful.

Seeing Otis writhing on the ground in discomfort, the little bear moved closer to help him remove the remaining clumps of fur.

Feeling the tug on his fur, Otis suddenly froze, lifting his head to look at the obedient little bear who was helping him.

This kind of action—pulling off clumps of fur—wasn't something that typically occurred between two polar bears, nor was it something ingrained in their instincts.

Otis only did it because he cared for the little bear, while the humans observing them believed that the young polar bear was doing this because he had learned it from Otis.

In any case, these were two intelligent and affectionate polar bears, and they seemed to be quite friendly toward other bears as well.

At this time of year, the fur on a polar bear's belly is at its thinnest because they need to stay cool.

Patiently, Qiao Qixi finished grooming the old fur from Otis's belly, licking the delicate areas where the skin was visible. Soon, a new layer of dense, fine fur would grow there.

Just in time for winter.

Otis lay on his back, completely still, as if thoroughly enjoying the little bear's attentive service.

Each time the little bear stopped, Otis would look at him with eyes full of expectation, as if asking him to continue.

Even without words, his body spoke volumes.

Qiao Qixi wasn't pausing for no reason—he was just using his paws to clean the fur out of his mouth.

*I'm licking, I'm licking,* he thought.

To be honest, Otis's abdominal muscles were incredibly firm—there was not an ounce of fat.

While Qiao Qixi had never licked his own belly, he could imagine the difference between himself and Otis, probably about three and a half polar bears.

As he diligently worked, Qiao Qixi wondered what it must feel like for Otis when he licked his belly.

*Ah, it must be pretty satisfying.*

"..."

Times were different now, and life seemed to be getting tougher. After finishing his work as Otis's little helper, the big bear wanted to cuddle him to sleep.

*But how could he sleep when they hadn't eaten all day?*

Waiting patiently for Otis to fall asleep, Qiao Qixi snuck off to the water's edge, hoping to catch a beluga whale by surprise.

To be honest, he really wanted to successfully catch a beluga before the summer ended, so he could share it with Otis.

Recently, his ambition and determination hadn't gone unnoticed by the forum members.

But Alexander, as a young bear, catching a beluga whale was indeed a rare occurrence. There was no need to spend 24 hours a day staring at the water.

Otherwise, Otis might think he wasn't doing his job, that he hadn't fed him enough...

Have you already forgotten the nightmare of being chased down to eat?

#Has Alexander Caught a Beluga Whale Today?#

The forum owner posted a picture of the little polar bear hunting alone today, taken from above, with only him in the sea: Ambitious Alexander.

: Oh wow, look at this little round bear working so hard, without a sharp edge in sight.

: What's going on? There's no sign of Otis around. I told you he wasn't reliable at raising a cub.

: No, Otis is just resting.

: Looks like everyone misunderstood. Otis just caught a beluga not long ago. They're not hungry now—Alexander's probably just practicing his hunting skills.

: The kid's got a drive. As a dad, I'm shedding tears of pride (even though he hasn't caught anything, lol).

: No matter the outcome, the effort is commendable. But let me say this: Alexander reminds me of a classmate who worked really hard, came in first and left last every day, but their grades, sigh...

: That "sigh" was really on point.

: Don't talk down on Alexander like that. What's most important these days? Not grades, but attitude!

: No, what's most important these days is background. Not getting it? Let me spell it out—I want a dad like Otis, or a husband would do, too. Wah wah wah.

As more and more people became interested in Otis and Alexander's lives, many expressed how much they liked Otis, the silent and stoic giant.

He was doting, reliable, strong, and gave off a sense of security, to the point that people were envious of Alexander.

Especially the women—most found it hard to resist his charm.

Back on the shallow coast, as people had speculated, Otis woke up to find Qiao Qixi lying by the water. Without hesitation, he went over.

Thinking the little bear was hungry, he gave him a thorough licking on the head and face before entering hunting mode, ready to catch a beluga for the little bear to eat.

Qiao Qixi glanced to the side, thinking, *Is he here?*

Once again, Qiao Qixi regretted that he couldn't speak.

*I've been sitting here for half the day, and I really want to rant about a few things.*

The belugas in the sea were getting fewer and fewer.

And each one was becoming more vigilant, keeping their distance no matter where they swam.

*Of course,* Qiao Qixi thought, *most of the belugas in this area have already been chased by Otis, and belugas aren't dumb.*

Over time, they became more wary.

Now, the young polar bear, practicing his hunting by the shore, was feeling conflicted, much like someone dreading their period—afraid it wouldn't come, but also afraid it would.

How could he forget the nightmare of being chased around and force-fed meat?

What if Otis caught a beluga in the next second, and it just so happened to be a particularly plump one...? The thought made Qiao Qixi shudder.

After much deliberation, he came up with a plan.

Otis preferred to hunt only when he was certain of success. He wouldn't make a move unless the opportunity was perfect.

*Heh heh,* Qiao Qixi chuckled to himself.

In the coming moments, he had an 80% chance of making the first move, leaving no opportunity for Otis to step in.

But this strategy came with consequences!

After three attempts, Otis was giving him a look that said, *You little troublemaker...*

"..."

The fiasco finally ended when the little troublemaker tired himself out and stopped causing trouble, content to watch the expert in action.

What Qiao Qixi didn't expect was that the next beluga they caught would be their last meal on this shore.

After they ate and took a nap, Qiao Qixi went back to the shore to continue practicing, only to find that the belugas had completely disappeared.

It was as if overnight, all the belugas had returned to the deep sea, leaving the once lively shallow waters calm and empty.

*Ah, what...*

Qiao Qixi was a bit taken aback.

It all happened so suddenly.

What could have caused this?

Otis, on the other hand, seemed to have anticipated it. He showed no attachment to the shore where they had stayed for nearly a month. Once he realized the belugas had left, he immediately signaled the little bear that it was time to move on.

To ensure that the little bear wouldn't hesitate to follow, Otis cleverly picked up the little bear's beloved yellow bucket.

*Using the emperor to control the lords...?*

A phrase popped into Qiao Qixi's mind. Recently, his head had been full of strange thoughts like this. Amused by himself, he quickly scampered to catch up with Otis.

Unlike Otis, who had no attachment to their "old home," Qiao Qixi felt a strong sense of belonging to this shore and was a bit downcast about leaving.

After all, who wouldn't prefer stability over wandering aimlessly?

But maybe this was just life—feeling stuffed to the brim one moment, worrying about where the next meal would come from the next.

But as long as he was with Otis.

Looking at Otis's large, reliable back, Qiao Qixi thought happily, *Anywhere doesn't seem lonely with him around.*

The little polar bear quickened his pace and gave Otis's big butt a playful bump with his own.

*Yoo-hoo! Buddy!*

Feeling the playful nudge, Otis quickly turned his head, his gaze shining as he looked at the excited little bear.

Qiao Qixi grinned warily, thinking, *I'm so cute, would Otis want to sit on me and squish me to death?*

*Better keep my distance.*

With a head full of mischievous thoughts, the little polar bear happily ran ahead.

Of course, Otis didn't want to squish him. Instead, he simply chased after him for another round of affectionate licking.

Qiao Qixi took the opportunity to snatch back his yellow bucket, placing it on his head like a helmet. *How can I roam the wilderness without proper protection?*

In case he tripped over a rock, the helmet could protect his head!

Until he got hungry, the little polar bear kept up his cheerful energy, clearly the happiest of the group.

Otis remained the center of attention, quietly watching as the little bear explored around him.

The terrain wasn't always flat, and sometimes they had to climb, cross ditches, and wade through water.

When they came across a relatively high rocky slope, Otis climbed it effortlessly. He looked back at the little bear below, letting out a low call.

Qiao Qixi took one look at the height and knew he couldn't make it. He shook his head, thinking, *No way, no way. I'll have to find a way around.*

Standing atop the slope, Otis looked around in confusion for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the little bear.

He climbed back down, then went up again, as if to say, *It's easy, see?*

Qiao Qixi just wanted to say, *Watch your own damn head.*

*Is there really no flat path in the world?*

Otis licked his lips: "..."

The big bear seemed a bit helpless in the face of the little bear's stubbornness, finally descending the slope for the second time.

Qiao Qixi thought he had won with his nonviolent resistance, but the next second, Otis came over, opened his massive jaws, and clamped down on his neck—yes, his entire neck—before lifting him up and carrying him up the slope!

"Awwwwww—"

The sudden shock, combined with the dull pain in his neck, made Qiao Qixi let out a sound that echoed across the silent land.

Fortunately, the ordeal was brief—just a matter of seconds. Otis had already successfully placed him on flat ground.

The little polar bear, lying flat on the ground, had tears in his eyes, *Wah wah wah,* convinced his neck was broken.

The sensation of being lifted off the ground by the scruff of his neck was terrifying.

He might have weighed a few hundred pounds, but to the 800-kilogram Otis, it was as easy as carrying a kitten.

Having never been carried like this by Otis before, Qiao Qixi nervously twisted his neck and, finding that nothing was wrong, quickly dropped his scaredy-bear act.

Otis took a few tentative steps, then looked back at the little bear with a gaze full of love and patience.

It was as if he was coaxing him to keep up.

*Could Otis have smelled something good?*

Qiao Qixi got up, wiped away his imaginary tears with his paw, and laughed to himself. *Surprise, surprise, I was fake crying again.*

Given how well they knew each other, he suspected Otis had found something delicious; otherwise, why would he be so determined to lead him over the mountains and through the valleys?

But the barren landscape didn't give him much hope.

As they left the shore and headed inland, Qiao Qixi was already preparing himself for a week without food.

Life in the wild meant having the mindset of survival in the wild. Expecting to be full every day—who did he think he was, a bear king?

The big and small polar bears walked slowly across the grassy slope.

Maybe they had walked 50 kilometers, maybe 80, but in any case, they had been walking for about three days.

The drone, not knowing where they were headed, couldn't help but feel a bit worried for the two little angels.

After following Otis for three days, a human cabin appeared in Qiao Qixi's sight—the first human-made structure he had seen since returning to the wild.

His first reaction wasn't excitement but concern.

After all, Otis being shot and hospitalized was

still fresh in his memory, all thanks to those cruel poachers.

But then again, Otis's nose was so keen—if he dared to come here, it meant there were no humans around.

Qiao Qixi froze.

*No way, no way, is Otis's target this cabin?*

Feeling a surge of guilt, Qiao Qixi thought, *My dear bear brother, breaking and entering carries at least a three-year sentence. Just because we're bears doesn't mean we can do whatever we want—that's not okay.*

*But the fishy smell coming from inside... damn, it's delicious.*

Revised ✔