POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 30

Now that Qiao Qixi had officially joined the ranks of homeowners, he was overjoyed. He thought that, barring any unforeseen events, he should have another 20 years or so to live, and this stone house could become a shared asset for him and Otis. They could come back and live here for a while every summer.

As long as Otis didn't abandon him, this house would belong to both of them—a joint property.

The more he thought about it, the more impressed he was with himself. At such a young age, he had already secured property in the Arctic Circle.

Amazing, simply amazing.

What was even more amazing was that this house came with a sea view. In the summer, the scenery must be beautiful, with the ocean right at their doorstep.

However, Qiao Qixi wasn't entirely sure if his sense of direction was as accurate as Otis's. Honestly, he couldn't even remember the route back to the pole, only vaguely recalling that they had stopped at five islands along the way—or was it six?

"..."

Suddenly realizing how useless he was at times, Qiao Qixi felt a pang of embarrassment. But he didn't dwell on it for long and quickly regained his confidence, running towards the beach. At least he was still good at catching fish.

In the Arctic, the gyrfalcon is a notorious thief, often snatching food from other animals, such as fish from polar bears, mice from arctic foxes, and even prey targeted by wolves.

With Otis's strong presence, he rarely became a target for the gyrfalcon. After all, a powerful male polar bear wasn't someone you'd want to mess with—you might end up plucked bald. But for the smaller, less intimidating Qiao Qixi, it was a different story. The only prey he'd ever killed was a few small fish, so he didn't have much of a threatening aura. It was no surprise that a gyrfalcon had its eye on the fish in his mouth.

While Qiao Qixi was focused on fishing in the sea, he didn't notice the danger approaching. Holding his breath, he surfaced with a fish in his mouth, his sharp teeth piercing through the fish's body. He could already taste the blood, but he planned to give this fish to Otis.

As he was moving, a gyrfalcon suddenly swooped down from the dark sky like an arrow, brushing past the little bear's face.

"Rawr!" Qiao Qixi yelped in surprise as a sharp pain shot through his nose.

The startled cry echoed across the water, immediately alerting Otis, who hurried over.

Qiao Qixi's cry wasn't just from the pain; it was mostly from the shock. He was already frightened by the eerie, ghostly surroundings, so the sudden attack by an unknown creature naturally startled him.

When he realized that the fish in his mouth had been snatched away, he was dumbfounded.

"???"

So, the thing that had ambushed him wasn't some supernatural entity but a bird stealing his food.

Oddly enough, Qiao Qixi felt relieved—no ghosts meant everything was okay.

But! The next second, he was furious. So angry that his cheeks puffed out, he started growling in frustration.

You jerk!

He let out a string of bear-language expletives in the direction the thief had flown, cursing the bird's ancestors as he vented his anger.

Qiao Qixi was usually kind to small animals, often buying canned food to feed stray cats on the weekends. But now, he was also a small animal, and he wasn't going to tolerate this. Why should he?

His fish...

Otis, who had been frantically swimming towards him, arrived just in time to see his little bear floating lifelessly on the water.

This scared Otis.

But in reality, Qiao Qixi was just drifting aimlessly, his mind filled with thoughts of the fish he had worked so hard to catch, which should have been eaten by Otis.

"Whimper..." So mad.

The cruelty of the animal world had struck without warning.

Realizing what had happened, Otis quickly gathered the little bear in his arms, using his sensitive nose to carefully check for injuries. His warm tongue kept licking Qiao Qixi's slightly open mouth, where he could still taste the remnants of fish blood—a taste Otis knew all too well.

After a thorough search, Otis finally found the small wound on Qiao Qixi's nose, where a bit of blood had seeped out.

The wound wasn't large, perhaps less than a centimeter, but Otis was still deeply concerned.

He kept licking the little bear's wound, his entire body radiating a mix of tenderness and anger—two emotions that intertwined within him.

In simple terms, he was both worried and angry.

If that gyrfalcon were still around, Otis would do everything in his power to tear it apart.

Then he'd pluck its feathers and eat its flesh.

Qiao Qixi wasn't quite as vengeful; he was just upset about losing his fish. He didn't want any bloodshed.

Otis's sharp emotions were so intense that even the heartbroken Qiao Qixi could feel them. When he snapped back to reality, he saw the angry expression on Otis's face.

So, polar bears do have expressions—Otis was usually just too laid-back to show them.

Wait, that wasn't the point.

The point was that Otis was angry too, and it didn't seem worth getting upset over a single fish. It was just a minor issue, right?

Qiao Qixi quickly hugged his friend, who was teetering on the edge of fury, and nuzzled his face against Otis's.

Come on, it's just a fish—no need to get angry!

Really, Otis, your health is more important. Don't let this upset you. Mwah!

Seeing that Otis was more concerned than he was, Qiao Qixi promptly let go of his own frustration, hugging and licking Otis affectionately. He didn't realize that Otis's anger wasn't about the fish but about the fact that the gyrfalcon had injured him.

Even if the wound was less than a centimeter.

But the little bear had bled.

At this point, Qiao Qixi had completely forgotten about his injured nose; his heart was now entirely focused on Otis.

All he wanted was for Otis to feel better.

Having spent so much time together, the little bear knew exactly how to make Otis happy.

After some cuddling and licking, Otis's emotions gradually stabilized, and he no longer thought about the gyrfalcon that had hurt Qiao Qixi.

He lowered his head and lovingly licked the little bear's wound again.

Polar bears can feel fear and panic, and seeing the little bear 'lifelessly' floating on the water earlier had definitely frightened and worried Otis.

Now that Qiao Qixi was back to his lively self, it eased Otis's anxiety.

Ah, everything was fine now.

Otis's earlier state had been terrifying, even though his sharp anger wasn't directed at Qiao Qixi. The little bear still felt his fur stand on end from being so close.

Determined to catch another fish for Otis, Qiao Qixi dove back into the water. The saltwater stung his nose, reminding him of the injury he had sustained in the brief encounter.

Qiao Qixi immediately cursed the bird's ancestors again.

He tried to swim towards the deeper waters where the fish were more plentiful, but a strong force lifted him out of the water and carried him back to shore.

His plan to venture out was abruptly cut short, and from this forceful intervention, he could almost hear Otis's message: 'You're injured, so don't go into the water. Come back and rest—I'll take care of you.'

Geez, could he be any more of a domineering protector?

After all, they were just two polar bears.

And both male.

"..."

Darn, the sea breeze was making his eyes sting.

But still, how could Otis be so good?

It was really hard to figure out.

The protective Otis brought the little bear back to their new home, nuzzled him a couple of times, and then headed back to the sea.

Qiao Qixi, with his odd thoughts, suddenly remembered a strange phrase: 'I can either catch fish with both hands or hold you. If I hold you, I can't go to the sea to catch fish for you.'

As he watched Otis's large figure gradually disappear into the water, Qiao Qixi blinked.

At that moment, a different kind of emotion welled up in him—bittersweet and tinged with awe.

As a human, Qiao Qixi had always cried while watching animal-themed movies, while romance or family dramas rarely moved him. Maybe it was because animals always seemed to embody a spirit of selflessness and sacrifice.

They were always giving and protecting those they cared about without hesitation.

And they were always genuine.

Animals never lied about their feelings; their likes and dislikes were always clear.

Ah, thinking back on the past few months of roughing it, the little bear sniffled, thinking to himself that Otis must really, really love this irresistibly charming bear.

Otherwise, why?

Qiao Qixi stood outside their new home, feeling emotional for a moment, letting the sea breeze dry some of his fur before happily heading inside.

Why stand out in the cold wind when you have a house?

He really couldn't understand how those without homes managed.

Not long after Qiao Qixi settled inside, Otis returned, looming like a large shadow in the night. But the little bear wasn't scared, not even a little bit.

After all, Otis had brought him a fat fish,

immediately offering it to him.

Of course, refusing wasn't an option—whoever doesn't eat is not thinking straight.

However, the little bear only nibbled on the part below the fish's head, then spit out the head and the rest of the fish without giving it another glance.

Otis, who was always licking his lips, glanced back and forth between the little bear and the fish, his gaze urging him to eat.

But Qiao Qixi just wouldn't eat.

Blinking innocently, he looked around as if confused, and Otis clearly didn't know what to do with this picky little bear.

In the end, Otis had to eat the remaining fish head and tail himself.

Only then did Qiao Qixi snuggle up to Otis, signaling that there was no need to go hunting again.

He was tired and ready for sleep.

To keep the other occupant of the house from leaving, the little bear nestled into Otis's arms.

With a gentle push, he pretended to fall asleep.

Even with all the brains in the world, Otis would never guess that the little bear was playing him.

Thinking that the little bear had really fallen asleep, Otis gave up the idea of going out to hunt again.

On their first night in the new home, both polar bears slept soundly.

Apart from a few gaps in the structure, which let in some wind, everything else was perfect.

On this cold autumn night, the bitter wind swept across the Arctic.

Although polar bears are resistant to the cold, the power of the wind can sometimes be more intimidating than the cold itself.

Staying inside their house was indeed warm and comfortable.

Upon waking, they could hear the howling wind outside, almost like it was crying.

The strong wind had arrived.

It might pass quickly, or it might last for a while—only humans could know for sure.

After becoming a polar bear, there was no way to access weather forecasts online.

Weather predictions could only rely on instinct, a sixth sense, and a keen nose.

As a polar bear that had come into this life halfway, Qiao Qixi might have lost these advantages.

It wasn't about whether he tried hard enough.

Realizing that he hadn't sensed the approaching storm, the little bear sighed. Never before had he felt so acutely the challenges of being an animal.

Especially an animal without a home.

He was deeply grateful for Otis's foresight in setting up a warm shelter before the storm hit.

Until the storm passed, Otis stayed inside, either sleeping, licking Qiao Qixi, or playing with him.

And of course, their playtime was quite childish.

Stormy weather is usually a good opportunity to get some rest.

But since the house was small, their roughhousing turned into playful teasing.

For example, when Otis yawned, Qiao Qixi would stick his paw in Otis's mouth.

Otis: "..."

He was momentarily startled but then started licking the little bear's paw as if nothing had happened.

Or, Qiao Qixi would climb onto Otis's back and try to flatten him with his several-hundred-pound weight.

Otis: "..."

The weight was nothing to him, and he didn't find the little bear's antics strange at all.

Little polar bears love to ride on their mother's back, so maybe Qiao Qixi was just remembering those moments.

Otis was incredibly patient.

So patient that Qiao Qixi, bored and mischievous, decided to push the limits.

This time, he sat on Otis's head, thinking that this might finally get a reaction.

Qiao Qixi's intuition was spot on. If only he could apply that intuition in a more practical way, he wouldn't still be such a clumsy bear.

Otis turned his head, grabbed the little bear's leg, and pulled him off his head, then gently nibbled on his belly.

The bear's teeth rhythmically tapped against Qiao Qixi's ribs, making him giggle.

That was his ticklish spot.

He started squirming and yelping, trying to escape Otis's playful punishment.

On this boring, stormy day, they kept each other entertained.

As the saying goes, where there's no wind, there's no waves. The strong wind whipped up large waves, and the sound of the crashing waves was constant.

Qiao Qixi was worried that their new home might flood, but fortunately, the house was far enough from the shore that the waves couldn't reach them.

After a few days, Qiao Qixi had a new perspective on his seaside home.

Aside from being a bit noisy, there were no other issues.

Human weather stations had long detected the strong winds affecting certain areas of the Arctic.

People working in conservation closely monitored the changing Arctic weather, feeling concerned.

The strong winds covered a wide area, likely affecting many animals.

Otis and Alexander were also within the affected area. It was unclear how they were coping.

In such weather, all the drones had been grounded, leaving only land-based cameras for observation.

But using land-based cameras to monitor polar bears was nearly impossible; their destructive power was immense. Once a polar bear noticed a moving camera nearby, that camera was doomed.

'The wind is really strong. Praying for the little animals in the Arctic.'

'Actually, their senses are probably sharper than any weather station. If they can find a place to hide, they should be fine.'

'Do you remember last year's footage of that tough polar bear during a windstorm? It just lay on the bare ground with its paws covering its head, toughing it out.'

'Haha, sorry, I instantly thought of Otis.'

'That tough bear was adorable.'

'They're big enough that the wind can't blow them away, so they can afford to be stubborn.'

'It's fine for a lone polar bear to be tough, but Otis is with the little bear. Considering how much he dotes on Alexander, I doubt he'd take any chances.'

'They've probably found a place to hide.'

'I work at the rescue station, and we've monitored Otis and Alexander's location—they haven't moved in days. They've definitely found a spot to shelter.'

When the winds finally subsided, drones were sent out again, capturing footage of... two polar bears nestled in a stone cave by the sea.

How cozy.

'Those are some smart bears,' chuckled the person reviewing the data. 'Had us worried for nothing.'

"Hey, look closely here," a colleague pointed out, focusing on a part of the stone house with clear signs of human activity. 'This stone is a different color; it looks like it was placed here on purpose to block a gap.'

"Who did that?" Surely, it wasn't those two polar bears. Could it have been the nomadic Inuit?

"Of course, it wasn't the polar bears," the colleague laughed. 'Male polar bears don't build nests. Only female polar bears preparing to breed do that. If a male polar bear helped a female build a nest, he'd be the best future polar bear dad in the Arctic.'

"True." The other person nodded in agreement.

Male polar bears are notorious playboys.

During the breeding season, they'll mate with multiple females and then leave without a second thought.

It's in their nature, so it might not be fair to call them playboys.

After the storm passed, the sea returned to calm.

Animals that had been hiding came out to forage, finding that the strong winds had cleared the mist from the land and sea.

Winter was approaching, with temperatures dropping rapidly, almost cold enough for snow.

When Qiao Qixi woke up, he eagerly stepped outside to breathe in the fresh air.

He stretched out lazily.

Just as he was about to call Otis to come out and stretch his legs, he noticed Otis following him outside.

Despite still being a bit groggy, it was clear that Otis would stick close to him no matter what.

Time to catch some fish together.

Qiao Qixi, being a bear with self-awareness, couldn't help but feel sorry for Otis. Here he was, a bear who could just sleep all day, but because he had a cub to take care of, he couldn't afford to be lazy.

But at the same time, he couldn't deny that a good meal was worth the effort.

Why lie around when you could be active?

Get out of your comfort zone, my friend.

As soon as the bears were hungry, the thieves who loved to snatch food would be hungry too.

This time, Qiao Qixi was extra cautious, always on high alert after catching a fish.

Finally, he achieved his dream of feeding Otis a fish he had caught before Otis was fully awake.

Ah, the feeling of "taking care" of Otis was wonderful.

He was thrilled.

Otis, still groggy from days of deep sleep, reflexively ate the fish.

It was indeed delicious.

Especially when fed by the little bear.

At that moment, the sleepy giant was fully awake, his dark eyes brimming with affection for his little bear.

Revised ✔