Seekers: The New Journey

Chapter 3(Cosmosia)

Cosmosia woke up to a strange cracking the very next day. She scrambled onto her paws as she tried to figure out what was that noise. Her mother was already awake, also trying to figure out what is causing that sound. Floyd woke up shortly after, hearing the noise. "What's happening?" Floyd asked. "Are there a pack of walruses under the ice or something?"

"Shhhh," Tolika said. "We have to go. Now." Cosmosia and Floyd obeyed her mother as they crawled out the small under-ice den and walked across the ice. "Its probably dead bears... there watching you.. right now.. trying to break free and take you..." Floyd said. Cosmosia rolled her eyes. "Your the worst at scaring bears, Floyd." Cosmosia said. The sound of creaking began again as they walked across the ice. Cosmosia's heart raced as she kept hearing the creaking. She never heard it before, and she don't know what it is. The creaking then sounded like cracking for a moment until it stopped. Tolika stopped and sniffed the air. Cosmosia followed and did the same, finding out the air was very moist. The air wasn't crisp like it used to be. Something has changed.

Suddenly, a loud crack filled the air and followed with a loud sucking noise, and slowly, Cosmosia felt the ice tilt below her paws. With a squeal, Cosmosia tried to run from the cracking ice, until she was thrown off her own paws, sliding helplessly towards the dark waters. Then, Tolika's paws grabbed Cosmosia's small paws and hauled her on solid ice. "WOW," Floyd said. "For a moment I thought you was gonna get swallowed up and I wasn't gonna see you again!"

Thanks... VERY comforting towards your sister who almost died... Cosmosia thought. Tolika watched as chucks of the ice drifted off to sea. "What... This.. This is too early! We barely had anytime to hunt!" Tolika said, still watching the chucks drift off until they were little specks. "I-It's burn-sky..?" Floyd stuttered. "No, no. Its too early for burn-sky. But the ice-melt is coming earlier and earlier each season. We have to go and find food... or we'll die out here." Tolika said. Cosmosia's heart raced again after she heard her mother say those words. Tolika was already frustrated with the ice melting, and the realization of with the ice melting means no hunting ground, made her even more frustrated. Cosmosia rubbed her small body against her mother's legs. "Mother, what will we do?" Cosmosia asked. Floyd stood next to Cosmosia, wanting to see how could he help. "We have to find more food, Cosmosia. Land is too far, and we'll starve if we don't find food now." Tolika answered. Cosmosia nodded as Tolika started walking. Cosmosia stayed quiet for a while, until she wanted to ask SOME question. "Mother, where do the white bears go when its the ice-melt?" Cosmosia asked. Tolika snorted. "Well, if you follow the Pathway Star, you eventually find the gathering place where all the white bears go." Tolika answered. Cosmosia nodded.

A few minutes later, they reached nearly calm waters at the end of the half melted ice. Tolika saw the small chucks of ice drift away. There was only one way to find the gathering place of the white bears and find food; swimming. The cubs never swam before, especially in deep, freezing waters. "Okay.. Looks like we have to swim." Tolika said. Cosmosia eyes widen. "S-Swim?!" Cosmosia stuttered. "Its the only way to survive, Cosmosia!" Tolika said. Cosmosia whimpered. "Now, Floyd, get in the water." Tolika ordered. "Umm, okay..." Floyd obeyed the order, and slowly fell in the freezing water. He panicked for a moment, until Tolika dipped in the water, aiding her son. Moments later, he finally starting staying afloat in the water. "Okay, come on Cosmosia! Your turn." Tolika said. Cosmosia whimpered as she stared at the water. "HAHA, COSMOSIA IS SCARED!" Floyd teased. Cosmosia snarled at her brother. "NO I'M NOT! I'M BEING... CAUTIONIOUS!" Cosmosia protested. Floyd started to laugh again, and Cosmosia felt hot with anger. But before she could say anything, she saw two large shadows under the water. "DEAD BEARS!!!" Cosmosia yelled in fear. Tolika and Floyd tilted they're heads until a giant thing come out the water, and chomped the mother's waist. It was a orca.

"MOTHER!" Cosmosia yelled as she saw Tolika clawing at the orcas. From the splashing of the orcas and Tolika trying to fight back, the foam of the water with started to get mixed with blood. Tolika roared and fought at the orcas, but the orcas were winning. Finally, the orcas submerged back in the water, leaving air bubbles and blood behind. The cold polar wind blew softly as Cosmosia stared at the water. "Mother..?" Cosmosia said. She saw no sign of her mother anywhere as the foam settled. "Floyd..?" Cosmosia said, searching the waters again. Cosmosia whimpered in fear.

Floyd's dead... Mother's dead.. The thoughts keep replaying in her mind as Cosmosia searched for a place to nap. She was alone now, and she had to find a way to survive. She then started digging in the snow, trying to form some type of den. She managed to make a hole, but it wasn't large enough. She kept digging until she was a few inches from the surface. She sighed. She had to face the fact that her brother and mother was dead, and she had to find a way to survive, before she'd starve to death or be another animal's meal.