Haibu Lost in New York. Blake Freeman

lucky you’re so cute, Mr. Seal. I wouldn’t give just anybody my fish. I need these to prove to my family and my village that I am as strong as they are!”

      With his head cocked to the side, the seal seemed to be trying to understand all the words that were coming out of her mouth.

      “My name is Haibu. What’s your name? Nosey? Because you do seem a little nosey.” Haibu giggled. “Maybe I’ll just call you Kanuux,” she said, saying the word like Kuh-new. “Kanuux means heart! Your cute little black nose is shaped just like a heart.”

      The seal nodded at Haibu.

      “You like it? Great! That’s what I’ll call you then—Kanuux! By the way, a heart is my favorite shape, so you are now my favorite Kanuux. Do you want to come home with me? You can help me fish, and everyone in the village will know who we are! The dynamic duo!”

      Soon, it was midday, and Haibu had been fishing since early morning, pulling out huge fish that weighed nearly as much as Kanuux the seal. All that work made Haibu exhausted. Likewise, Kanuux was sleepy from all the fish he had eaten. Haibu yawned as loud as a ship’s horn. Kanuux’s eyelids grew heavy.

      Haibu turned to Kanuux with a good idea. “I think we should have a nap before our trip back.”

      She lay down on the ice and Kanuux lay his head across her stomach, and they both drifted off into their own little dreamlands.

      POLAR SHIFT

      Haibu’s eyes opened suddenly to an unfamiliar crunching noise. Confused, she whispered to herself, “What could that be?”

      Kanuux was still fast asleep beside her. As Haibu sat up to look around, she was horrified to see a large, full-grown, nine-hundred-pound polar bear just a few feet away. And it was eating all of her fish!

      Before she even thought about what she was doing, Haibu screamed at the bear, “Nanuq, NO! Not yours! Shoo!”

      The polar bear swung his head in Haibu’s direction and snarled, showing his large fangs.

      Haibu instantly regretted her actions. “Oh no…”

      There are many things for a Mayok to fear in the north, but none more terrifying nor dangerous than an angry polar bear. The ferocious bear lunged straight toward Haibu, stopping directly in front of her! Haibu heard the loud crack of the ice beneath them. She froze.

      Growling, the bear showed how tough he was by flashing his dangerous teeth directly in front of Haibu’s face. His growl was so deep that it shook Haibu’s entire body, making her teeth chatter and her hair stand up on her arms.

      “P-p-please,” Haibu begged.

      The bear leaned in closer to Haibu and with a voice that sounded like it was coming from somewhere deep, deep, deep in a cave, answered, “Please, what?”

      Yesterday was a long day and last night was a short night, so Haibu was more than a little surprised by the polar bear encounter. And now this … Did that polar bear just speak to me? And did I just understand him?

      Haibu wasn’t sure what was happening. She wondered if she was in a state of shock. “P-P-Please don’t hurt us. Just take the fish.”

      Now, bears are not known for their manners, nor have they ever been caught using a napkin. The hungry bear leaned even closer, baring his large, razor-sharp teeth and dripping saliva onto Haibu’s feet. He roared, “Do you think I need your permission?”

      The bear stood on his hind legs, towering over Haibu. Then he crashed back down on all fours and shouted, “I will take what I want, human!”

      Needless to say, the crash knocked Haibu to the ground. Kanuux, who was wide awake now, whimpered and scurried backward a few feet. Haibu couldn’t take her eyes off of the bear.

      She whispered to herself, “He can talk.” Slowly, she crawled to her feet, “I’m trying to be nice and offer you fish.”

      “And I am not asking you for permission! I will take what I want, just like you did!” the bear snarled.

      “Then take it and please leave,” Haibu shouted back.

      The bear began to circle around Haibu. “You humans are weak and pathetic. You take all you can, even when you’ve had enough.”

      “I’m not trying—”

      “I did not ask you to speak!” the bear roared.

      Haibu was terrified. She knew the bear could gobble her up in seconds, then turn around and do the same to Kanuux. Still circling Haibu, the polar bear continued, “You humans are the reason I have to resort to stealing fish. Day and night, I see you pulling fish from the great waters, taking them all with no regard to any other animal out here.”

      He stopped in front of Haibu and raised a paw in the air. Haibu squeezed her eyes shut, sure this was the end.

      CRASH! The bear slammed his paw down on the ice. “You humans are the reason this ice is breaking so easily!” he yelled.

      The ice started cracking even more, and this time the sound lasted longer. Haibu looked down, slowly retreating from the sound of the crackling ice. “Not all of us are b-b-bad.”

      “I know who you are,” the bear snarled.

      “You do?”

      “You’re one of those who can speak to animals.”

      “I am?”

      The bear exhaled heavily and poked at Haibu’s chest with one of his large claws. “It’s a bit obvious, don’t you think, human?”

      “I don’t know. I-I-I’ve never really tried, I guess.”

      The bear roared, “That’s because your kind doesn’t care! It’s a good thing only a few of you can talk to us!” The bear roared even louder. Then he turned and began to move away from her, back toward the fish.

      “I’m sorry for whatever humans have done to you or your family,” Haibu called. She was sincere. She believed in being happy, being friendly, and being family.

      The bear stopped short. His head drooped and his low rumbling growl grew louder. He swung around to face Haibu again. “What would you know about my family?”

      “N-n-nothing,” Haibu stuttered.

      “No, you wouldn’t understand, because you probably still have your family. How would you feel if I took your family from you?” The bear leaned right into Haibu’s face. His breath was so hot she could barely keep her eyes open. “I lost both my cubs to a human like you,” he said.

      “W-Why?”

      The bear leaned within an inch of Haibu’s face and gave the loudest roar yet. “So the humans could stay WARM!”

      The bear raised his paw high in the air once more, and this time Haibu knew it would be the end. There was no more trying to talk her way out of it. She had to act fast. As the bear swiped, Haibu ducked and rolled under its paw. She dashed to the sled and grabbed the spear. In one motion she spun around and crouched, with the spear pointed towards the bear.

      “GO AWAY! I’ve done nothing to you!” she yelled.

      The polar bear leaped closer to Haibu. “I won’t give you the chance!” he growled.

      Kanuux looked back at Haibu and, with a sad face, dove into the water.

      Using every ounce of courage, Haibu started swinging the spear to keep the bear at bay. The size and