POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 13

People were surprised to learn from the aerial footage that the plastic bucket wasn't randomly found on the ice floe; it belonged to the young polar bear.

Ah, this...

Everyone was astonished. They never expected that wild polar bears would carry their favorite items, especially during their southern migration.

It was just too cute.

It was remarkable that this young polar bear could remain so lively and cheerful in such a harsh survival environment.

This also indirectly proved that the adult polar bear leading it must be very caring, providing it with great care and protection.

People noticed that the big polar bear hadn't eaten since they first captured footage of the two polar bears.

As the ice floe slowly melted and shrank, the big polar bear remained lying in the center, only occasionally lifting a paw to bat at the playful cub when disturbed.

"It's conserving energy," the professor said. "After all, the ice floe will soon melt, and then it will have to endure a marathon swim of several hundred kilometers, which will exhaust almost all its energy."

"Especially since it has a cub with it," the young researcher discussing with the professor said worriedly. "Can a male polar bear really take a cub ashore as a mother bear would?"

The professor shook his head. "This is probably a first in nature, so it's crucial to track them closely."

Meanwhile, Qiao Qixi belatedly noticed that Otis hadn't gotten up to eat, even after more than ten hours had passed.

Normally, Otis, with his big appetite, would have eaten two or even three meals by now if there was enough food.

But now he wasn't eating.

Initially, Qiao Qixi was quite worried. Was Otis sick?

So he forcibly pried open Otis's eyelids, finding the eyes normal, clear, and full of life, though slightly exasperated, as if he wanted to roll his eyes.

Sorry...

Qiao Qixi ruled out the possibility of Otis being sick and, exhausted, snuggled up next to Otis, pondering why Otis wasn't eating.

As an animal, could Otis be thinking like him, wanting to leave the limited food for his companion?

Ah...

Though he knew he shouldn't project human thoughts onto animals, once he considered this possibility, Qiao Qixi couldn't stop thinking about it, imagining various scenarios that moved him to tears.

Just, how did he get so lucky to receive Otis's selfless care?

In the harsh wilderness, everything was pure and straightforward. There were no interests between animals, so Otis wasn't kind to him for any reward.

Thinking about this, Qiao Qixi sniffled, deciding more than ever that he would work hard to hunt seals in the future to take care of Otis in his old age, repaying his upbringing.

There was still half of the food left, and Qiao Qixi knew he couldn't finish it before the ice floe melted.

After some thought, he tore off a piece of seal meat and brought it to Otis's mouth.

Otis: "..."

Poor Otis had planned to rest, but the energetic cub needed his company too much.

Alright, Otis, who had an endless amount of patience for the cub he was raising, opened his eyes, took the meat from the cub, and then brought it back to the cub's mouth, coaxing him to eat.

Qiao Qixi: "..."

Seeing Otis take the meat, Qiao Qixi was initially happy, but Otis didn't eat it and instead gave it back.

Was he really not hungry?

The young polar bear backed away, indicating he wouldn't eat. Not only that, but he also dragged the entire seal to Otis, making various sounds and pawing the ground to urge Otis to eat.

Otis didn't quite understand Qiao Qixi's behavior. Wouldn't it be better to eat the remaining food himself?

But Otis doted on the cub he was raising and, to make him happy, even though he didn't need to eat frequently, he lowered his head to eat the meat for the cub's sake.

Qiao Qixi didn't realize he was being coaxed. Seeing Otis finally eating made him feel at ease.

In their final meal, they finished the remaining seal meat.

As the temperature rose, the remaining seal meat hadn't frozen.

The taste was still quite good.

The young polar bear pushed the seal carcass into the sea, a scene captured perfectly by the aerial footage, leading to another round of enthusiastic discussion among people.

:Smart little guy, this reduces the weight on the ice floe.

:Good job, tie him up and let it come to school!

:Aww, so cute~

:Look at how busy the little polar bear is; it's the busiest on the journey.

The logistics department.

Five hours after their meal, the ice floe could no longer support the weight of the two polar bears, showing signs of sinking.

Otis was the first to jump into the sea, swimming in front of the ice floe for a while as Qiao Qixi stayed on the ice.

But he had already put on his little yellow bucket, ready to join the ocean marathon at any moment.

When the ice floe could no longer support Qiao Qixi's weight, he kicked his legs and jumped into the sea, following Otis, officially beginning their southward journey.

The researchers updated their progress on the polar bear forum.

The young polar bear had also jumped into the sea, with his little yellow bucket particularly eye-catching.

The aerial footage showed a view from high above, looking down at the vast ocean, with only two tiny white... and yellow-dotted spots floating on the sea.

Compared to the vast, turbulent, and intimidating ocean, the two polar bears seemed so small and fragile.

People couldn't help but worry for them, feeling anxious.

They hoped the two polar bears would have a smooth journey and successfully reach the land on the other side of the ocean.

Before jumping into the sea, Qiao Qixi didn't know they would have to swim several hundred kilometers.

Luckily, he didn't know, so he felt less psychological pressure.

Of course, they wouldn't swim the entire distance in one go. They would stop at some islands along the way to rest.

With good luck, they might even find some supplies.

Polar bears have an amazing sense of direction, remembering the routes they swam with their mothers as cubs and following these routes throughout their lives.

They rarely get lost.

Qiao Qixi was a 'memory-loss' bear. Without Otis's guidance, he would undoubtedly perish this year because he didn't even remember the migration route.

Fortunately, he had Otis leading the way.

Qiao Qixi hadn't had many opportunities to swim in the past, so his swimming skills were average. Now, to keep up with Otis and not fall behind, he had to figure out ways to swim faster on the spot.

For example, using the techniques humans developed for freestyle swimming, the fastest swimming style.

Imagining himself as a free fish, though no fish could be so round and plump.

Orca?

But orcas have sleek bodies and swim incredibly fast.

Sunfish?

Qiao Qixi never understood why sunfish, which were measured in 'lumps,' hadn't gone extinct yet.

Was it because their meat wasn't tasty?

So they could drift in the sea, eating and waiting to die.

A bit envious.

Under the scorching sun, the polar bears' heads were quite hot, while their bodies soaked in the seawater felt cool.

Was this the legendary hot and cold at the same time?

Otis swam at a steady pace, not too fast or slow, probably worried the cub couldn't keep up. He occasionally looked back, just as his mother did for him in his memory.

Fortunately, Qiao Qixi kept up quite well.

The first island they encountered was 50 kilometers away. It was Qiao Qixi's first time swimming such a long distance in one go, and he felt extremely tired.

After they landed, his legs trembled, and his body shook.

Even Otis walked slowly, unusually so, showing how arduous the journey had been.

The island was barren, without a trace of vegetation, indicating it had been covered in ice before.

With the ice melted, only a desolate, sandy terrain remained, unsuitable for plant growth.

Even in summer, the temperature remained around -10 degrees.

Polar bears couldn't find food here; it was merely a temporary rest stop to regain strength.

Was there really no food?

It seemed so, as Otis lay down to rest without looking for any.

He not only lay down but also hugged the young bear. If he could talk, he might have comforted the exhausted cub in his arms: "Just sleep; you won't feel hungry if you sleep."

Qiao Qixi: ...I don't believe you.

Alright, Qiao Qixi didn't have the energy to fuss either. He fell into a sweet sleep almost as soon as he lay down.

Embracing Otis on the island, Qiao Qixi didn't know how long they slept before waking up.

The sound of the rising tide echoed in his ears, and the sea level seemed to have risen since they landed.

Most of the Arctic ice had melted, turning into water that flowed into the sea.

The little bear looked around, and Otis was also awake, though he didn't seem in a hurry to leave.

He blinked his eyes and then closed them again.

That was great, Qiao Qixi thought, they could stay here a bit longer.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and the polar bears' southward journey wouldn't be completed in one day either.

No rush.

The two lazy bears cuddled up and slept soundly, amusing the researchers tracking them.

Aren't polar bears afraid of heat?

In summer, the temperature on the island was about -15 degrees, relatively mild.

Under the sunlight, the polar bears might occasionally feel hot, but certainly not cold, and wouldn't cuddle for warmth.

But the male polar bear they tracked was remarkable; he seemed to adore the little bear, his affection evident even on screen. His actions and thoughts appeared so warm and loving to humans.

He's really a good brother.

Or maybe a good father.

Remember, fathers usually don't look this new. This one's fur is very white, indicating he's young.

:Oh my, where were these two bears photographed? I think I know them.

This comment caught everyone's attention, and the commenter was an employee from the Greenland wildlife rescue station.

He occasionally browsed the forum.

:Who are you?

:An employee at the Greenland wildlife rescue station, which has rescued many polar bears.

:Okay, we'll contact you privately. If we confirm your identity, we'll send you the coordinates.

After exchanging information, they confirmed the bears' identities: indeed, they were Otis and Alexander, released into the wild over two months ago.

From then on, the two polar bears had names on the forum.

The big bear was Otis, and the little bear was Alexander. They weren't father and son or brothers, but had no blood relation at all.

They had been neighbors for a short time when rescued.

An insider happily shared on the forum that age and time didn't hinder the deep bond between the two polar bears. After returning to the wild, they quickly found each other and had been living together ever since.

:Ah, this story is too cute and heartwarming.

:The bears showed through their actions that quick companionship can be very happy.

:Thanks to Alexander meeting Otis, and Otis taking care of Alexander, they have many summers ahead~

:This is the happiest story I've heard this year.

:So Otis is under five years old. It's a bit worrying. Will he leave Alexander next spring?

:Maybe not. Otis is a special polar bear.

:Alexander is special too. I love his style. Haha, he's a cool and cute boy.

In his dreams, Qiao Qixi received many compliments from around the world, reaching a peak he had never experienced as a human.

Revised ✔