POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 21

Scars are badges of honor for men, but little Qiao Qixi would rather his little yellow bucket remain unscathed. Fortunately, the bucket was made of thick, resilient plastic and hadn't suffered any damage from Otis's rough handling. Qiao Qixi hugged the bucket, letting out a sigh of relief.

However, his sense of relief was short-lived. The tension between Otis and the mother bear had escalated, and the atmosphere was now thick with hostility. Qiao Qixi couldn't understand how the situation had turned so tense so quickly. Was it because the mother bear had growled earlier?

Sighing, Qiao Qixi thought, *You're both adult bears with cubs—can't you be a bit more mature?* He considered himself a peacemaker and decided to step in. But first, he carefully placed his little yellow bucket out of harm's way, then ran toward the two adult bears.

Otis and the mother bear had their heads held high, growling at each other with varying tones—an intense exchange that seemed like an argument but was actually a form of communication. Otis was asserting his dominance, warning the mother bear not to repeat her earlier actions, or he wouldn't be so lenient. The mother bear, unwilling to back down, made it clear that she would defend her boundaries.

This was undoubtedly a challenge.

Strong as Otis was, he refrained from physical confrontation, perhaps because of the blood relation. Aside from the loud, intimidating growls, he wasn't going to take any drastic action. But even these growls were enough to make the air vibrate, leaving Qiao Qixi trembling. Yet, when he glanced at the other cub, he found the little one calm and unbothered, as if this was a common occurrence.

*If that smaller cub can stay cool, I have no excuse to be shaking,* Qiao Qixi thought, quickly redefining his role. He nudged Otis and let out a soft, pleading sound, trying to calm him down. *Come on, let it go. Is it really worth getting worked up over a single mom?*

The little bear's attempt at pacification worked. Otis immediately ceased his growling, his attention drawn back to the cub that had been scolded earlier. His tone softened, switching from a ferocious growl to a gentle murmur, likely leaving the mother bear and her cub bewildered.

But Qiao Qixi was used to this. Otis wouldn't growl at him.

"It's okay, it's okay," Qiao Qixi murmured, licking and nuzzling Otis's handsome face. But the moment he touched his swollen side, he winced in pain, letting out a whimper. This, in turn, made Otis fret even more, shifting his focus entirely away from the mother bear and her cub.

Though not his intention, Qiao Qixi's whimpering had effectively diffused the tension, achieving the desired outcome.

The mother bear and her cub stood by, watching in confusion as Otis lavished the little male bear with gentle attention. Could this really be the same powerful, aggressive male bear from just moments ago? The atmosphere, once charged with tension, had been replaced with a tender, almost affectionate scene.

Otis continued to comfort the little bear, his touch as gentle as he could manage, until the cub stopped whimpering. Only then did Otis return to the task at hand, leading Qiao Qixi further along their path in search of prey.

After the recent tense encounter, Qiao Qixi decided to carry the bucket himself. With his swollen face, holding it in his mouth was the least painful option. Before following Otis, he stole one last glance at the mother bear and her cub, feeling a pang of regret. If only they could communicate better, he would have invited them to join their journey.

But even if he hadn't, it seemed they were heading in the same direction. The mother bear's destination was likely the same as Otis's—they were all searching for a hunting ground, a shared goal among all polar bears. In this sense, it was clear that Otis and his mother shared some common behaviors, perhaps an instinctive bond between parent and child.

As they traveled, the two adults and two cubs formed a makeshift group, each pair keeping a safe distance but moving in the same direction. The drone overhead captured this unusual interaction between the bears, sparking curiosity among the researchers.

Why was Otis willing to travel with this mother bear? Could she be another Alexander? No, that seemed unlikely. A closer analysis revealed that Otis's attitude toward the mother bear was one of indifferent tolerance—nothing close to the affection he showed Alexander. The most likely explanation was a familial connection, possibly mother and son.

The hunting ground Otis had in mind was still about two days away. They were all hungry, especially the mother bear and her cub, who were clearly exhausted. But two days was still within their endurance.

Endurance and calm—these were the first lessons polar bear mothers taught their cubs, essential survival skills with no alternatives.

In the short two days of travel, the four polar bears maintained a careful balance, with each adult watching over their cub. For the mother bear and her cub, this was just another natural encounter. But for Qiao Qixi, he felt they had already forged a deep bond—a revolutionary friendship.

Yes, in just two more days, the cubs could finally play together...or so he hoped. Watching the little cub sleep on its mother's back, Qiao Qixi couldn't help but think how cute it was, like a fluffy cloud or a sweet cotton candy. If only he could cuddle it, hug it, maybe even sneak a kiss...

Each time he saw a cub, these thoughts crossed Qiao Qixi's mind, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

During their rest, Qiao Qixi peeked out from Otis's embrace, perched on his large frame, and spied on the mother bear and her cub. The realization suddenly hit him—*Otis gets to enjoy all the things I can only dream about. He gets to cuddle, hug, and even lick little cubs, including...well, places that shouldn't be mentioned!*

Growing more frustrated by the thought, Qiao Qixi playfully bit Otis on the back.

Otis, who had been dozing off but keeping one eye on the cub, was taken by surprise. Though confused, he wasn't angry. Following his simple logic, he assumed Qiao Qixi might be hungry.

A moment later, Otis pulled Qiao Qixi down and enveloped him in a tight embrace, pinning him with his chin. Now, only Qiao Qixi's nose and a bit of his swollen face were exposed.

"!!"

Feeling utterly trapped, Qiao Qixi realized that since summer began, Otis hadn't held him like this—like a small, warm pillow. But today, with the mother bear around, Otis had become more vigilant, pinning him down to ensure he wouldn't wander off.

Completely stifled, Qiao Qixi's dreams of cuddling a cub were crushed by Otis's simple, overpowering restraint. Moments like these made Qiao Qixi painfully aware of his reliance on Otis.

But given the choice between defiantly running away and sulking in Otis's embrace, Qiao Qixi would probably choose the latter without hesitation.

During the endless daylight of the polar summer, polar bears still adhered to a five-hour sleep cycle, crucial for restoring energy and recovering from fatigue.

Qiao Qixi's swollen face improved over the next couple of days, just in time for their arrival at the hunting ground. He was thrilled to be rid of the pig-face look that had been cramping his style and ruining his chances of impressing any cubs.

The hunting ground was a broad estuary where a shallow river met the sea. The warmer waters attracted large numbers of belugas, especially mothers with their calves. Aerial photos of the estuary showed the water teeming with these white whales—enough to unsettle anyone with a fear of crowded spaces.

However, the abundance of belugas didn't mean they were easy to catch. It would take both skill and luck for the hungry bears to secure a meal here.

The experienced mother bear approached the task with calm, knowing full well that patience was key. She found a suitable rock near the water and settled down, waiting for the right moment.

Her cub waited by the shore, clearly nervous in Otis's presence, despite his lack of interest in the small bear.

Otis, meanwhile, led Qiao Qixi further into the estuary, away from the mother bear. He silently climbed onto a rock in the water, while Qiao Qixi, cautious of the deepening water, stayed closer to the shore, watching Otis from a distance.

Every time Otis hunted, Qiao Qixi thought he looked incredibly cool, embodying patience, strategy, and precision. If Otis were human, Qiao Qixi imagined he'd be a tall, handsome man with a quiet, dependable demeanor.

In the summer's not-so-cool waters, Otis crouched on a submerged rock, the water nearly reaching his chest. For over twenty minutes, he remained still, waiting for the perfect opportunity. Occasionally, he'd twitch his nose, scenting the air.

Otis's hunting skills had been taught by his mother, but as a male, he had natural advantages that made him even more adept. Compared to the mother bear upstream, Otis was quicker to catch prey. The scent of blood soon spread through the water as he dragged a beluga back to shore.

Qiao Qixi, watching the entire process from close up, still found it hard to believe. That beluga was huge!

It would take incredible strength and precision to catch one like that.

Otis shared the catch with Qiao Qixi, generous as always. Before tearing into the beluga, he shook the water from his fur and let out a misty breath through his nose. Even with his fur wet, Otis looked strong and handsome, though he probably wasn't aware of it.

Qiao Qixi checked Otis for any injuries as he returned, and though he admired Otis's strength, he couldn't help but chuckle internally. In just a few months, this powerful and handsome male polar bear would be someone's mate.

Smiling at the thought, Qiao Qixi settled down beside Otis, imagining a future where he, too, would be as strong and capable as Otis.

Otis, after glancing down at the starry-eyed little bear, leaned in and began licking him, seemingly for no reason.

Qiao Qixi was taken aback, especially when Otis kept licking his swollen side.

*Otis, you're licking the wrong bear!* he wanted to say, but Otis wasn't paying attention to his complaints.

With a sigh, Qiao Qixi resigned himself to steadying his balance to avoid being knocked over. Finally, Otis shifted his attention back to his own wet fur, leaving Qiao Qixi to start eating.

Initially, Qiao Qixi had planned to tear into the beluga's belly himself, but Otis quickly took over, ripping it open in a few swift moves and offering the tenderest part to Qiao Qixi.

Otis's overbearing generosity left Qiao Qixi with no choice but to eat, though he couldn't help but think, *Otis, save this for your future mate! I guarantee the female polar bears will adore you for it.*

But for now, he had to make do with Otis's forceful kindness, even if he wasn't a fan of the fatty parts.

Revised ✔