POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 33

The vast, boundless ocean concealed countless dangers. Even though Qiao Qixi had never personally encountered the terror of a Greenland shark, he knew this journey was fraught with peril.

When they swam back from the north in the summer, the conditions were better. But now, traveling at night made everything more challenging.

Qiao Qixi stayed fully alert in the water, closely following Otis's figure. His greatest fear was suddenly seeing the fin of a shark—or worse, multiple fins.

But he thought, with his lucky streak, he probably wouldn't be that unfortunate.

Just as he had this thought, the water around him began to stir slightly, as if a large marine animal was nearby.

What could it be?

Even Otis slowed down to observe, which made Qiao Qixi nervous, tightening his guard and scanning the surroundings.

After a moment, Otis resumed his steady pace, indicating that whatever caused the ripples posed no threat.

And indeed, it was later revealed that the disturbance was caused by a pair of Pacific porpoises. These dolphins, which prefer to live in waters about 20 meters deep near the coast, are also endangered. Due to increasing ocean pollution, sightings of them have become rare in recent years.

Qiao Qixi was delighted to see them, feeling quite pleased with this chance encounter.

Meeting like this in the vast ocean, and with neither being on the other's menu, was truly a beautiful encounter. He could definitely get used to more of these—just not with sharks.

Please, no sharks.

As they continued their journey, Qiao Qixi encountered a few more marine animals. It seemed that after dark, everyone liked to come out and play.

Perhaps it was his good luck, or maybe Otis's experienced leadership, but they managed to avoid any shark encounters. That didn't mean the journey was without its dangers, though.

The biggest threat Qiao Qixi faced was when a leatherback turtle started chasing his feet, occasionally trying to bite him.

???

Qiao Qixi wondered if it was his feet that smelled bad or something. Why was this big turtle going after him instead of Otis?

Being chased by a turtle wasn't exactly something Qiao Qixi wanted Otis to deal with—Otis was busy leading the way and had no idea there was a sneaky turtle causing trouble behind him.

Finally, fed up with the pursuit, Qiao Qixi turned around and kicked the leatherback turtle a few times, sending it far away.

It wasn't his fault for being a bit rough—the turtle had started it by not playing fair.

After that, the rest of the journey was uneventful.

Unlike their previous leisurely pace with frequent breaks, this time they had far fewer stops. Otis seemed to have planned the journey to match Qiao Qixi's endurance, maintaining a balance that wouldn't exhaust the little bear but still pushed him enough.

By mid-November, the sea ice was rapidly forming at an impressive rate. The nine million square kilometers of ice were enough to lure most polar bears back to the ice sheets.

Qiao Qixi could sense Otis's urgency, as if something was driving him to quickly return to the ice, hunt enough food, and replenish what he had lost over the past two seasons.

Otis's weight had remained stagnant throughout autumn and summer, but like the little polar bear, he was still growing and had the potential to gain more weight, possibly peaking before he turned ten.

Adult polar bears typically gorge themselves during the winter, storing up enough fat for the coming spring. When spring arrives, their focus shifts to mating, and their interest in food decreases until they find a mate and complete the reproductive process.

Qiao Qixi, of course, didn't understand that Otis, nearing sexual maturity, had a burning desire within him, which was why he was so eager to return to the ice.

Qiao Qixi's motivation to return to the ice was much simpler—there were seals to hunt.

The rapid formation of the sea ice meant they had less distance to cover, which was a bit of good news that made Qiao Qixi smile.

A week later, they reached the edge of the sea ice.

The sight of floating white ice chunks on the nearly frozen sea was nothing short of spectacular.

But such sights had become routine for Qiao Qixi, who saw it as nothing more than returning home.

Swimming through the floating ice, they made their way toward the solid ice sheets.

When they reached the thicker ice, Otis suddenly switched positions, moving behind the little bear to gently push him forward, guiding him onto the ice.

Oh yeah~

The moment Qiao Qixi's backside touched the ice, he couldn't help but cheer inwardly. Achievement unlocked: Return to the ice, check!

Sitting on the ice, still wet, Qiao Qixi immediately set down his little yellow bucket and took a deep breath of the fresh, cold air.

Ah, Qiao Little Bear is back.

Otis soon climbed up after him, shaking off the seawater with a sharp, swift movement that contrasted sharply with Qiao Qixi's floppy, exhausted state.

If Qiao Qixi was too tired to stand, Otis looked like he could easily go another 50 kilometers.

Too lazy to stand up and shake off the water, Qiao Qixi began rolling on the ice, letting the cold surface absorb the moisture from his fur.

Otis, needing to dry off as well, found an open spot and quickly rolled around a couple of times before getting up, ready to continue.

This place wasn't safe—the ice was too thin, and there was no food.

Otis nudged the tired little bear lying on the ice, patiently encouraging him to get up. They needed to move to thicker ice.

Qiao Qixi: Okay, okay, I'm getting up!

But he was puzzled. With the snow still falling and no sun in sight, would the seals still come up to the surface to be hunted by polar bears?

The rookie polar bear had his doubts.

But he knew the answer would come soon enough.

The feeling of his paws on the ice was always unique, thanks to the special structure of polar bear paws, which allowed them to walk steadily on the ice without slipping.

It had been a week since Qiao Qixi last ate, and Otis wasted no time searching for food.

Seeing Otis's eager pace, Qiao Qixi couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. If it weren't for him, Otis would probably be hunting at a more leisurely pace, enjoying the hunt as he usually did.

Yes, Otis was determined to catch a seal to satisfy the little bear who hadn't tasted seal all summer.

Though he was tired, Qiao Qixi was also on the lookout for the scent of prey the moment he got back on land.

But before he could pinpoint the seal's exact location, Otis had already found it.

"..."

Their first meal on the ice was a ringed seal. These seals are plentiful, scattered throughout the Arctic, and they're the polar bear's favorite food.

The bright red blood stained the snow in a large area, and the body of the freshly killed seal still emitted steam, its warmth lingering.

Otis quickly tore open the tough seal skin, allowing the little bear to eat the warm flesh inside.

In the frigid ice and snow, nothing made polar bears happier than a hot meal.

One ringed seal wasn't enough to fill two hungry polar bears. The considerate little bear didn't eat too much, letting Otis have the larger share.

After finishing the leftovers that Qiao Qixi didn't want, Otis playfully nudged his nose, as if saying, "You little rascal, I've seen through your tricks, but I can't do anything about it."

Qiao Qixi: ...

Cough, cough, he was getting used to these strange translations that popped into his head.

Oh well, as long as the message gets across.

After their meal, which left him about half full, Qiao Qixi felt his strength returning and became increasingly determined to try hunting on his own.

He nudged Otis's nose, trying to communicate his desire to go off on his own. But Otis didn't seem to get it. He just squinted his beautiful eyes and affectionately licked Qiao Qixi.

How annoying.

It was like they were speaking different languages.

With no other choice, Qiao Qixi turned his back on Otis, picked up his little yellow bucket, and started walking.

A few minutes later, he glanced back to find Otis following him.

Ugh!

Can't you take a hint and stop being a roadblock on my path to becoming a legendary polar bear?!

At this rate, he was more likely to become a lazy one.

But Qiao Qixi wasn't bothered. He quickened his pace, determined to hunt alone this time, no matter what.

Since he was moving quickly, Otis followed lazily, showing no intention of overtaking him.

Hmm...

It almost looked like a mom leisurely strolling behind her child in the neighborhood. All that was missing was one of those child safety leashes.

Ahhhh.

Qiao Qixi grew excited as he picked up the scent of a seal nearby.

Thanks to months of growth and practice, he was getting better at using the polar bear's innate navigation and tracking abilities.

His guess was spot on. After walking for a while, he spotted the seal in the distance.

Here was his chance to practice hunting.

The first step in Qiao Qixi's seal-hunting routine was to secure his little yellow bucket.

No other polar bear had to do this step, so they were always faster at getting into hunting mode.

Just as he finished setting the bucket down and looked up: "Darn it!!!"

That seal was his find!

Otis, who had been lagging far behind just a moment ago, suddenly closed the distance with one swift stride. How?!

Qiao Q

ixi stomped his feet, both frustrated and panicked, but he didn't dare make a sound and risk scaring the seal away. Inside, he was fuming.

As he stood there, cute and helpless, a thousand curses filled his mind. He silently screamed, "Otis! Let go of that seal and let me have it!"

But Otis, locked in his hunting mode, ignored him completely. What a shameless bear.

Fine...

No matter how angry Qiao Qixi was, he couldn't afford to scare the seal away. So he stopped in his tracks, gritting his teeth as he watched from nearby.

Okay, it's just one seal, right?

There are plenty more ringed seals in the Arctic. He could always find another one.

Hunting a seal took time, at least ten minutes even at top speed. Once Otis had hauled the seal ashore, he glanced around and couldn't see Qiao Qixi.

But he wasn't worried.

The little bear's scent was still nearby.

With a slight shake of his head, Otis grabbed the seal and went to find the little troublemaker.

Realistically, catching three seals in a short time was highly unlikely, even for someone as lucky as Qiao Qixi. If life were that easy for polar bears, they wouldn't be struggling so much.

At least within a five-kilometer radius, there probably weren't any more seals.

Going too far wasn't worth it—Qiao Qixi wanted to hunt alone, not split up from Otis.

If he went too far, it would hurt their bond.

It would make Otis worry.

When Otis caught up with the little bear who hadn't had any luck, he shared the now-cold seal with him.

It wasn't his fault.

Otis: ...

Despite his gentle demeanor, he didn't seem to blame the little bear.

After eating two seals in a row, it was time to call it a day and sleep.

They found a spot that Otis seemed to favor, and Qiao Qixi flipped his little yellow bucket upside down in a snowbank and gave it a firm pat.

That was a hard lesson learned.

Because the bucket was so light, it could easily roll away if he didn't secure it.

Goodnight to the world, goodnight to the stars.

And of course, goodnight to Otis, with a kiss on the cheek.

Before falling asleep, Qiao Qixi decided he would try again tomorrow. He was determined not to let Otis mess up his hunting plans.

Murphy's Law—if you worry about something, it's likely to happen.

After waking up and trying to hunt on his own again, Qiao Qixi found himself once more with a giant bear in tow.

Before he could even spot a seal, Otis would lazily follow him around. But as soon as they encountered a seal, Otis would get there first, leaving the little bear with no chance to prove himself.

So, it wasn't that Qiao Qixi wasn't trying; it was just that this parent was holding him back!

Otis was seriously hindering his progress!

"Sigh." Life was tough; the little bear was frustrated.

It was clear that this scenario would keep repeating itself.

But Alexander never gave up on his dream of independence.

Meanwhile, the research station, using GPS data provided by the rescue center, confirmed that the two polar bears had safely returned to the sea ice.

This November, the total area of Arctic sea ice was over a million square kilometers less than in previous years. If this trend continues, in about 25 years, the entire Arctic ice sheet could disappear.

This was a truly terrifying prediction.

It was clear that measures to combat global warming were urgently needed. Otherwise, animals that rely on sea ice would be left without a home.

As the sea ice increased, other polar bears also returned to the ice, actively hunting to replenish their strength and fat reserves for the upcoming spring.

Qiao Qixi and Otis began encountering other polar bears.

After a summer of hardship, the bears they encountered were all pitifully thin.

But that didn't matter. As long as they could hunt seals for the next two months, they would soon return to their plump, round selves.

During these two months, even though the little bear never got the chance to hunt a seal on his own, he was well-fed and grew rapidly. He even experienced leg cramps at night from the intense growth.

Adolescent polar bears often go through an awkward phase where they look thin and gangly, but Qiao Qixi was an exception. He remained a chubby, round-faced bear, never losing weight despite his growth.

Not only did the little bear undergo significant physical changes during this period, but Otis, reaching maturity, also experienced physical transformations.

Otis had turned five.

The approaching spring was calling to him, and he might become a father this season if he could find a suitable mate.

Their frenzied eating spree continued until mid-February, when it noticeably slowed down.

By then, Otis had grown tall and muscular, much more robust than he had been in the summer.

Qiao Qixi assumed Otis was just taking a break from the endless feasting, possibly tired of the constant meat.

Excited by the prospect of finally proving himself, Qiao Qixi was ready to show off his skills, but Otis had other plans. He led them inland.

What was this about?

Why leave the ice, where food was plentiful, to head to the land?

Qiao Qixi looked longingly at the food-rich ice, then at Otis's retreating figure, torn.

Should he follow or not?

In the end, he decided to follow. After all, Otis was an experienced adult bear. Sticking with him was the safest bet.

At that moment, Qiao Qixi had no idea that the polar bear mating process involved the males wandering across the continent, searching for a mate.

When a male finds a scent that catches his interest, he tracks it.

Once the male and female polar bears meet, the female leads the male to higher ground, usually a secluded spot on a mountain, where they mate without being disturbed by other bears.

It's common during the spring for several male polar bears to fight over a single female.

This lively season is closely monitored by the research station, which tracks the bears year-round.

Dawn had yet to break—it was still just the prelude to spring.

Drones captured footage of the highly anticipated Otis stopping his feeding. This was expected, even with the added responsibility of caring for the little bear.

At this point, even that duty was overruled by the need to mate, leading Otis inland.

Everything was going according to the researchers' predictions—except for the fact that Otis was still leading Alexander and showed no intention of leaving him behind.

The researchers: "Uh, is he bringing the kid along on a date?"

They couldn't help but think that this approach would likely lead to failure... a lot of failure...

If Otis wanted to successfully mate with a female polar bear, he would have to temporarily leave Alexander behind.

Otherwise, it wasn't going to work.

Which desire would ultimately win out—Otis's need to care for the little bear or his drive to reproduce?

Everyone watching eagerly awaited the outcome.

The silhouette of the snow-covered mountains became clear in the distance. Wasn't it just snow mountains up ahead?

If nothing unexpected happened, they were heading toward the mountains. What exactly was Otis planning?

Qiao Qixi's mind was full of curiosity, and who could blame him for forgetting about the whole spring mating thing for a moment? After all, he didn't have that particular need.

To be honest, ever since becoming a polar bear, Qiao Qixi hadn't really thought about that aspect of life.

But Qiao Qixi was soon forced to face the truth.

In the midst of a snowy night, as he and Otis huddled together in a sheltered spot to sleep, Qiao Qixi vaguely felt the warmth next to him pull away.

Having grown accustomed to sleeping pressed up against Otis, he immediately woke up.

Were they getting up to move already?

But he clearly remembered they had just gone to sleep...

The sleepy little bear lifted his head and suddenly froze.

Ah, that...

For a moment, his entire body stiffened.

Then he quickly shut his eyes and turned his head away.

But even with his eyes closed, the image he had just seen lingered in his mind.

Otis was sitting nearby, legs splayed, licking himself...

"...!" Qiao Qixi shook his head, trying to shake the image out of his mind.

Ahhh, stop thinking about it!

After calming down a bit, he found himself thinking, "So that's how polar bears do it. So bold."

Revised ✔