POLAR BEAR ARC CHAPTER 3

Since the day Otis took a nap in Qiao Qixi's enclosure, they had occasionally visited each other, forming a somewhat unfamiliar but not entirely strange friendship.

However, to the staff, the two seemed very close. This kind of mutual acceptance of each other's presence usually only happened under extremely harsh conditions.

The staff believed that Alexander could alleviate Otis's negative resistance to the rescue center and thought they should spend more time together.

Qiao Qixi: "??"

What? Are you serious?

Obviously, they were. Not only did the staff not rebuild the wall, but they also started feeding them from the same trough!

At mealtime, when the staff found Alexander lingering in Otis's enclosure, they didn't want to separate the two bears, so they poured both bears' food into one trough.

What?

Qiao Qixi was the first to notice this odd behavior from the staff. He watched as his own food was poured into Otis's trough.

To confirm, Qiao Qixi specifically ran back to his enclosure to check, and sure enough, the staff had only placed food on Otis's side.

Well, luckily, after spending time together, Qiao Qixi's fear of Otis had lessened a lot, so he could try to get food from Otis's trough.

Qiao Qixi marched back, but seeing Otis, as large as a mountain, eating at the trough, he hesitated.

Everyone knows that predators are more vigilant while eating.

Qiao Qixi didn't need to get food; if he returned to his enclosure, the staff would eventually bring him food.

However, his strong curiosity made him want to know if Otis would reject him if he approached during mealtime.

Given Otis's keen senses, he should have noticed Qiao Qixi returning, but he didn't react, which reassured Qiao Qixi a lot.

It seemed their time together had not been in vain; even solitary polar bears were not so cold-hearted.

Finally, Qiao Qixi slowly moved to the edge of the trough to test the waters!

Otis glanced at Qiao Qixi for a moment and then continued eating.

This was a tacit approval... maybe.

Through the surveillance, the staff saw the young polar bear lean over and take a fish from the trough without any trouble.

An adult polar bear has a huge appetite and in the wild, where hunting is difficult, they usually eat everything they can without wasting any food.

Otis could easily eat everything in the trough in one go. Compared to Qiao Qixi's dainty eating, Otis ate very quickly; if he wanted, all the food could be his.

But Otis stopped eating after consuming most of the food, surprising the staff by stepping aside to clean his paws and mouth.

Qiao Qixi noticed this considerate gesture and from that moment on, he felt that he and Otis had truly become friends.

Establishing a relationship of mutual trust with another polar bear was the first thing that made Qiao Qixi genuinely happy since becoming a bear.

Qiao Qixi happily finished all the fish.

In the following days, they often ate together, and this routine continued for about ten days until it was time for Otis's check-up.

Given that Otis wasn't as friendly towards humans as Qiao Qixi, the rescue center had to use anesthesia for his examination.

Otis, taken out in the morning, returned at noon still under anesthesia.

Two staff members waited for him to wake up while chatting about work.

Qiao Qixi stayed by Otis's side, eavesdropping on their conversation.

He learned that Otis's injuries were caused by poachers, meaning Otis had gunshot wounds, explaining his stay in the ICU.

Fortunately, Otis was strong and had pulled through. Now, his recovery was going well.

The rescue center planned to release him into an area where poachers couldn't reach.

Qiao Qixi also overheard his own silly name being mentioned, saying they would release Alexander nearby.

It seemed that returning to nature was inevitable. Compared to his initial resistance, Qiao Qixi now felt less opposed to living in the wild.

He even felt a bit of anticipation.

As the anesthesia wore off, Otis slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Qiao Qixi's worried gaze.

Normally not daring to get close to Otis, Qiao Qixi now nudged Otis's face with his snout while Otis was still groggy.

Full-body anesthesia feels awful, doesn't it?

Yes, the feeling of powerlessness was very uncomfortable for Otis. He shook his head, trying to stay awake.

But his limp limbs still wouldn't support him, leaving him lying on the ground like a large, furry blanket. Luckily, his body no longer appeared so thin.

The trough had been filled with new food.

Qiao Qixi hopped over, grabbed a fish, and brought it to Otis... For animals, nothing expresses affection better than feeding.

Slowly recovering his strength, Otis got up and joined Qiao Qixi for lunch.

In April, the temperature on Greenland hovered around minus 30 degrees Celsius, which was only slightly cold for polar bears.

Ordinary polar bears could endure this, but Qiao Qixi, being a health-conscious young bear, always chased the sun, wherever there was sunlight, there he was.

Otis, however, preferred to sleep in shaded areas, avoiding complete exposure—a wild animal's instinct for self-preservation.

If it were the wild, Qiao Qixi would naturally be more cautious, but here, he was safely kept by humans, making danger highly unlikely.

After Otis's morning check-up, it was Alexander's turn in the afternoon.

Though this little guy was in excellent health, the staff loved checking Qiao Qixi due to his good temper.

They even kept him in the examination room to play for a while.

With the polar day blending night and day, it was already nighttime when Qiao Qixi finally left the examination room and returned to his enclosure.

Qiao Qixi's return quickly drew Otis over. Despite looking unapproachable and a bit cold, Otis circled Qiao Qixi's enclosure and then watched him from a distance.

Earlier in the examination room, a staff member had told a colleague, "Otis has been lingering around Alexander's enclosure this afternoon, maybe he's worried about the little guy."

Qiao Qixi thought about it and ran joyfully towards Otis, showing youthful energy and recklessness in front of Otis for the first time.

But he couldn't help it; he was too happy. Was Otis really worried about him?

Just as he had been worried about Otis that morning.

Failing to control his speed, the young polar bear ran straight into the much larger Otis, ending up with a mouthful of snow.

Otis, weighing significantly more, remained unmoved, his sturdy legs standing firm in the snow like a small mountain.

His body didn't budge, and his expression remained unchanged, at most giving Qiao Qixi a glance.

Seeing Qiao Qixi bouncing around, Otis soon left his enclosure and returned to his own to sleep.

Qiao Qixi had already eaten in the examination room, but he worried that Otis hadn't had dinner yet, so he followed Otis back.

Otis didn't mind being followed.

Taking advantage of this, Qiao Qixi thought Otis's mood must have been like a roller coaster today.

Did this mean he needed comfort?

Self-proclaimed as the little sunshine of the polar bear world, Qiao Qixi boldly nudged Otis's body.

Would Otis chase him away?

No, Otis merely lifted an eyelid.

That look roughly translated to a young man's disapproval of a troublesome kid.

But he wasn't truly angry.

Surprised by not being chased away, Qiao Qixi, emboldened, cautiously lay down next to Otis.

In the cold, windy weather, sleeping without a blanket felt incomplete.

Usually sleeping alone, Qiao Qixi now snuggled against Otis's thick fur, feeling the warmth from Otis, finally finding a sense of sleepiness.

Goodnight, Otis.

Yawning, he quickly dozed off.

The next morning, Qiao Qixi woke up to being rolled over—it was Otis getting up, flipping him to the ground.

Or maybe not flipped—Otis just didn't want to be his free pillow anymore.

Qiao Qixi washed his face with his paw and squinted at the sky outside, starting a new day.

What he didn't know was that a pure polar bear doesn't fall into a deep sleep for long. Often, they might just rest with closed eyes or fall into a light sleep.

So, Otis maintaining a position to be Qiao Qixi's pillow for a few hours was already incredible.

From March to May, polar bears are quite active, as food is more abundant during this time, and most polar bears try to eat as much as possible to store enough fat for the summer.

Finding food in summer is very difficult for polar bears, which is no secret.

Pictures of emaciated polar bears on the internet are mostly taken in summer.

Therefore, before summer arrives, polar bears desperately eat a lot.

With frequent hunting comes danger.

In mid-April, the rescue center simultaneously rescued two injured polar bears, putting Otis and Alexander's release plans on the agenda.

The staff, perhaps fearing they would starve once released, had been feeding them more lately.

Sensing something, Qiao Qixi, who used to eat daintily and never more than 80% full, started eating more enthusiastically in recent days.

Compared to him, Otis's food intake significantly increased, and his weight also rose rapidly.

Qiao Qixi thought the rescue center might plan to release them not just because of space but also because they ate too much.

On their last meal at the rescue

center, Otis, unaware of his imminent departure, acted as usual.

But Qiao Qixi knew they would soon be separated and placed in different areas.

Honestly, it was a bit sad.

Qiao Qixi rubbed against Otis's furry arm, and Otis, only giving him an indifferent glance, didn't immediately walk away, which was the highest respect.

They stared at each other for a moment before Otis sat down, leaning against a rock to rest.

They had just finished eating.

Qiao Qixi knew this was their last moment at the rescue center; soon, the staff would come to sedate Otis and transport him by helicopter.

He wondered if this cold, indifferent giant would forget him in two days?

Oh well, heartless bear.

REVISED ✔