POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 39

As the storm began to subside one morning, the sky cleared completely, signaling the start of a period without night until September. With the wind dying down outside, the more intimate activities between the bears also eased.

Whenever Qiao Qixi didn't shyly flee from Otis after their moments together, Otis would first lick him, expressing his affection and comfort, before attending to his own needs.

At first, Qiao Qixi did try to escape, but later on, he stopped bothering. What was the point? He'd rather just lie down and sleep where he was.

After all, he'd lost count of how many times this had happened over the past few days. The frequency was such that even the normally bashful Qiao Qixi had grown used to it and could now approach it with a calm mind.

He thought to himself that there was no one else around, just him and Otis on this high snowy peak. He doubted anyone would be crazy enough to risk their life to film two male polar bears. But if someone did, he'd have to respect their courage.

After spending some time in the den, Otis had calmed down significantly. He was no longer overwhelmed by the relentless urges that had previously driven him to seek relief just to stay sane. The residual stirrings of spring still lingered, but they had diminished to a manageable level.

Thanks to Otis's calmness, Qiao Qixi didn't have to stay in the den for much longer. After sleeping one last time on Otis's belly, they were ready to descend the mountain and feast on some seals to replenish their strength.

The rutting season, though short, had taken its toll. Otis seemed to have lost over 200 pounds, which was quite alarming.

Qiao Qixi didn't know how other polar bears managed, but Otis's reaction seemed extreme. If they didn't return to the ice soon, he might lose another 500 pounds before spring was over.

Qiao Qixi understood that Otis's dramatic weight loss wasn't just due to hunger—hunger alone wouldn't cause such rapid weight loss. For example, Qiao himself had only lost around 5 to 10 pounds.

Otis's weight loss was clearly because he lacked the company of five or six female bears, leaving him to suffer alone.

The real culprit, Qiao Qixi, was sleeping innocently, snoring softly.

When he woke up and Otis 'informed' him that they were going down the mountain, Qiao Qixi immediately jumped up, ready to fetch his little yellow bucket.

The cameras hidden far away noticed them coming down and found it odd, leading to various speculations. Did Alexander no longer like this mountain? Was Otis taking him to a different, more pleasant peak? Or was Otis going to find a different partner for their tryst?

No one guessed that Otis and Alexander were heading back to the ice to hunt seals.

Their intelligence had failed them this time. People assumed male polar bears were insatiable and would continue indulging their energy throughout spring without returning to the ice until the season ended. They assumed Otis would do the same.

Scientifically, it's true that a male polar bear's breeding needs can't be met by just one partner, not physically or mentally.

But they were quickly proven wrong.

As it turned out, the two polar bears were indeed heading back to the ice, which was quite unexpected.

After the initial surprise, they found it rather adorable. It was probably because Alexander was hungry, constantly nagging Otis for seals, until Otis finally gave in.

While it was a bit disappointing, they couldn't help but admire Otis's gentlemanly demeanor. The truth was clear—Alexander was only two and a half years old, and it was already impressive that he'd followed Otis up the mountain, earning everyone's respect.

Otis, a calm and composed gentleman, likely thought the same and chose a sunny day to lead Alexander, who was craving seals, back down the mountain.

Admittedly, it must have been tough for Otis, who might have met five or six potential partners this spring, but such were the minor annoyances of raising a younger bear.

The photographers followed the two bears on their return journey, capturing many photos along the way.

In the perpetual daylight, Alexander's fur was as white as snow, and his large, round eyes were perfectly positioned for a front-facing shot, making him look irresistibly cute.

When this plump dumpling was photographed alongside his 20-liter yellow bucket, the contrast in colors, combined with the blue sky as the background, created a stunning visual.

Comparing these to photos from when Alexander was just over a year old, it was clear that his features had become more defined. While still cute, there was now a hint of boldness in his expression.

It was easy to see that he would grow into a very formidable polar bear.

Time flies, and people felt a bit sentimental, not wanting Alexander to grow up too quickly.

Of course, many of these photos also featured Otis, or rather, almost every photo did. The two polar bears, deeply in love, were inseparable.

But not everything on this spring-filled land was as beautiful.

Mother polar bears with cubs probably disliked spring the most. During this season, they would be chased by male polar bears trying to harm their cubs, forcing them to hide and flee constantly.

Not every mother bear could escape, and sometimes a fight was inevitable.

On the way back, Qiao Qixi suddenly caught a whiff of blood. At first, he didn't think much of it—anything that wasn't the smell of seals failed to pique his interest.

But then it occurred to him: could a polar bear be injured?

He glanced at Otis, who, with his sharper senses, had likely noticed it long ago. But Otis showed no reaction and continued leading him toward the sea ice, undeterred.

His determined steps seemed unstoppable.

Sure, Qiao Qixi admitted that eating was important, but so was helping those in need.

Imagine if Otis hadn't been found when he was injured—Otis wouldn't be here today.

Unable to leave with a clear conscience, Alexander turned and bit Otis's leg: 'Rawr.'

Then he turned and started walking in the direction of the scent.

Otis had no choice but to follow him.

Judging by his demeanor, it was clear that the little bear wanted to check things out.

There were a few other polar bears like Qiao Qixi—after all, they were a naturally curious bunch.

By the time Qiao Qixi and Otis arrived, two other polar bears had already gathered around the injured mother bear. They weren't harming the shivering cub.

Fortunately, the photography crew following Qiao and Otis noticed the situation with the injured polar bear and quickly reported it.

"There's an injured polar bear."

The crew immediately requested a helicopter from the rescue station.

Before the rescue helicopter arrived, the polar bears around the injured mother bear didn't leave. It seemed that Alexander and Otis weren't the only ones who wanted to protect the mother and cub.

This scene was touching.

It was like human society, where there are bad people, but there are many more good ones.

The polar bear society was the same, with many gentle and kind individuals among them.

When the rescue team arrived, they were hesitant to approach.

"Oh, there's a group of polar bears surrounding them," one of the workers said with a helpless smile.

"Yeah, I see them," another replied, clearly a bit intimidated by the sheer number.

But there were always brave souls in the world, and after planning, they approached the bears.

They checked the mother bear's wounds and then transported her to the rescue station for treatment.

The cub was still too young, so it was taken along as well.

During this time, the rescue team was on edge, hoping these curious bears were just here to watch and wouldn't attack them.

After witnessing the mother and cub being taken away, the gathered polar bears began to disperse.

Having played an important role, Alexander and Otis resumed their journey, like unsung heroes quietly departing after a good deed.

The photography crew took one last set of photos of their return, marking the completion of this part of their documentation.

Next, they would move on to filming other polar bears as they courted and climbed the mountains.

A single crew wasn't just tracking one pair of polar bears. When Otis and Alexander chose to descend the mountain, the crew shifted their focus to a second pair.

A fleeting couple.

The difficulty level of filming this pair was low because this male polar bear wasn't picky—he got right down to business on an open slope.

But despite the openness of the scene, the crew watched the male polar bear's antics with the female bear without blushing or heart racing, unlike their excitement when observing Otis and Alexander.

Maybe it's true that what's forbidden is more enticing. The more concealed something is, the more intriguing it becomes.

"Ahchoo!" The little bear sneezed on the road, startling Otis, who looked back at him.

The big baby, now quite tall, wrinkled his nose, indicating that he was fine, just a bit itchy.

Interestingly, when they came ashore, many polar bears hadn't arrived yet. Now, on their way back, most polar bears were still lingering in the mountains.

They had avoided the "polar bear version" of the spring migration rush.

Because he was hungry, Qiao Qixi's thinking capacity naturally declined. He didn't have much thought to spare for whether Otis was still uncomfortable.

It wasn't until they returned to the sea ice and had their first full meal that Qiao's thoughts returned to normal. He began to wonder: 'Has spring passed yet?'

'Is Otis still having those thoughts?'

The little bear, who had just finished eating, sat on the ice licking his paws, while his round eyes glanced down at Otis's lower half...

Otis was still eating, though not very focused, as part of his attention was always on the little bear.

Maybe because he noticed Qiao staring at his lower abdomen, Otis, who had been lying down to eat, soon chose to lie on his stomach.

"..." Peeping Tom Qiao felt a bit embarrassed.

But he hadn't seen anything.

Meanwhile, Otis, still eating, looked at Qiao with that same "predatory" gaze he had used back on the mountain.

This reaction thoroughly answered Qiao's question.

Of course, he still had those thoughts.

But Otis could ignore them. Despite losing 200 pounds, he hunted furiously upon returning to the ice.

Perhaps it was to replenish his energy quickly, but more likely, it was to vent the excess energy that had built up inside him.

Having watched Otis hunt seals so often, Qiao Qixi had picked up some tips. He was fortunate to have a good teacher and didn't have to scramble to develop subpar hunting habits for survival.

The weather had been excellent in the polar regions recently, and one sunny afternoon, Qiao Qixi dozed off out of boredom.

Otis was sleeping beside him, quite deeply, probably because he hadn't slept for two days.

Qiao thought for a moment, then quietly got up and snuck away. He wanted to show off his skills.

In spring, seals tend to be more relaxed because there are fewer polar bears on the ice.

A safe environment makes seals careless.

Qiao Qixi prowled the ice and noticed this fact, which worked in his favor.

A few months ago, hunting was still a challenge for Qiao—a problem looming over his head.

It's not that Qiao wasn't anxious about it.

But over time, some things happen naturally. His posture and presence as he moved across the ice had distinctly changed.

Though he wasn't as cool and sharp as Otis, after a few adjustments, this overly pampered young polar bear finally succeeded in his hunt.

His first kill came a bit late, but it was well worth the wait.

From the moment he hunted his first seal, the once naive and milk-scented Alexander gained a touch of fierceness.

Dragging a seal back was tiring for him.

After all, his body was built for bursts of speed, not endurance.

Luckily, Otis woke up, noticed Qiao was gone, and followed him with the little yellow bucket in his mouth.

When Otis saw the seal lying on the ground, he approached the little bear and licked the blood off Qiao's face.

Alexander licked his lips, thinking, 'Why clean up? I'll just get messy again when I eat.'

Otis didn't refuse the little bear's hard-earned prize. He gladly tore open the seal's skin and began eating in large bites.

As they approached the crucial time to store fat for the summer, they needed to eat a lot of seals over the next two months.

Watching Otis eat the food he had hunted, Qiao Qixi felt a deep sense of satisfaction—his grand dream of 'keeping' Otis had finally taken a small step forward.

This was the latest update on the forum.

#Alexander finally learned how to hunt after a trip up the mountain.#

︰This title, hahaha.

︰Looks like the poor kid was starving on the mountain.

︰The conspiracy theorist in me thinks it's more—could it be that Alexander wants to become independent as soon as possible?

︰Is the person above hinting that Otis is too strong for Alexander to handle?

︰Independence is a good thing. Congratulations, Alexander.

Independence was indeed a good thing. As the little bear grew older, his appetite would increase, and Otis's hunting alone wouldn't be enough to feed both of them.

Teenage boys eat a lot, and mother bears often drive their cubs away when they reach a certain age because food is scarce.

With Qiao learning how to hunt, it undoubtedly eased Otis's burden, though Otis himself might not care much.

He still tried his best to feed Qiao like before.

To hone his skills, Alexander sometimes hunted seals even when he was already full.

Then, after catching a seal, he would burp and think, 'This baby isn't hungry yet, so this is for Otis!'

Otis: '~~'

Seal: '??!'

But it wasn't always about hunting. Laziness and a playful spirit are part of a bear's nature, and sleeping and playing are just as enjoyable.

On good weather days, the little bear liked to backfloat in the icy water.

He had just learned this trick.

He found that if he lay on the water's surface, he'd naturally float, and with a kick of his little chubby leg against the ice, he'd drift off.

When he encountered another piece of ice, he'd kick again, almost like a semi-automatic swimming experience—pure joy!

There were many ways to play with ice.

Some chunks would form large ice balls in the water, which they discovered while walking. Balancing on them was a real test of skill.

Otis had no trouble and could easily cross to the other side.

When Qiao stepped onto the ice ball, it kept spinning, and he had to walk in circles, like performing a circus trick.

It was quite fun.

Their progress slowed, but Otis didn't urge him on. He watched patiently as the little bear indulged in play.

Momentum made the ice ball spin faster and faster. After a while, the little bear started to struggle, unable to keep up with the speed.

'Rawr rawr.' The little bear looked to Otis for help.

Otis was powerless, just standing by anxiously.

Not wanting to get wet after drying his fur, the little bear took a risky leap, landing most of his body on the ice sheet, though one leg still dipped into the water.

Alexander quickly climbed ashore, shaking off his wet leg.

Phew, that was close.

Only one leg got wet, so he could live with that.

Otis nudged the little bear, then turned and led him onward.

Overhead, a small white seabird noticed the approaching polar bears and landed on a nearby piece of ice.

The clever birds knew that if these two polar bears hunted here, they might get a good meal.

But unfortunately, the polar bears were just passing through—they weren't hungry.

They had already been walking for a day, maybe longer.

Now, they needed to find a suitable spot to rest.

The little bear had grown up and could no longer sleep cradled in Otis's arms as he used to.

But Otis seemed slow to adapt—he kept trying to cuddle the little bear, though the young bear had grown too large. Hugging him now meant his head or feet would stick out.

It wasn't comfortable for either of them—one was pressed against the chest, the other squashed beneath the weight, all because the space was too small.

Qiao Qixi: 'Otis, maybe it's time we accept reality?'

After a few attempts, Otis finally seemed to accept the situation. Instead of sleeping cuddled up, they started sleeping side by side.

But it wasn't just Otis who found the change difficult—Qiao Qixi wasn't used to it either.

In the past, he could climb all over Otis's belly without worry, never afraid of hurting him.

But now that was no longer possible.

He couldn't lie on Otis's belly or run across his back.

The days of running wild on Otis's body were over.

But Otis's attitude hadn't changed a bit. Despite Qiao learning to hunt and sleep on his own, Otis still spoiled him just as much.

As they both transitioned into a new phase, it was Qiao who felt he wasn't spoiling Otis enough.

According to Qiao's observations, Otis was incredibly patient—a true master of restraint.

Since they had come down the mountain, Otis hadn't bothered him again.

Other polar bears could enjoy a wild spring season, but Otis had only indulged for about a week.

He wondered if Otis was struggling to hold back.

Qiao reflected on himself with a guilty conscience and finally decided to show Otis some affection before bed.

The little bear, who had been sleeping beside Otis, suddenly burrowed into his arms. By now, Otis had accepted that Qiao was simply too big.

He hesitated, wanting to hold Qiao, but it just wasn't practical.

Soon, Otis realized the little bear wasn't seeking a hug—he was trying to crawl under his belly.

The polar bear was likely very surprised, though he didn't show it.

His only giveaway was the fire that flickered in his dark eyes, just like the warmth that now spread through his body.

Otis responded by lifting his upper body to gently lick the little bear's fur.

When they were done, they playfully rolled in the snow together for a long time.

Qiao could easily tell from Otis's demeanor how happy and content he was.

After their play, Otis lazily stretched and lay down.

But he kept glancing over at Qiao until his eyes slowly closed and he drifted off to sleep.

Qiao rubbed his face, feeling a bit shy.

But there was nothing to be embarrassed about—he was sure that when he reached maturity, Otis would eagerly help him out three times a day.