North Star: The Arctic Fable Continues

By Jayanne Sindt

Ursula knew that she needed to stay healthy enough to make the swim, build a den, and prepare for her cubs. She needed to store as much energy as possible, as it would be up to five months of fasting in the den, then nursing her young for a few months after. She sometimes envied the male polar bears. Their only concern was themselves.
The Arctic adventure continues as Ursula the polar bear embarks on her journey to becoming a mother with the love and support of her brother Mato. We learn more about the Arctic region as we observe the adventures of her first born. This includes navigating the changing climate, hunting, human encounters, and making new friends.
Even polar bears must determine his or her heart’s desires, which isn’t easy. As the bears face challenges and learn how to maintain good relationships, readers will simultaneously learn about the importance of perseverance and the value of family. Despite difficulties, polar bears show us how to follow our “true north” with the guidance of our hearts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Nov 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781982215026

Jayanne Sindt

Jayanne Sindt is a “personal poet” offering custom writing at www.JayanneSindt.com. She previously authored a picture book, Mato Finds True North, and the first of this series, True North: An Arctic Fable. Jayanne has a bachelor’s degree in human development and family relations from the University of Connecticut. She continues life’s adventure with her husband Jim.

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Copyright © 2018 JAYANNE SINDT.

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Interior Graphics/Art Credit: DARLENE

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

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Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-1501-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-1503-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-1502-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018912741

Balboa Press rev. date: 11/07/2018

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1   Reunion

Chapter 2   The Beaufort Plan

Chapter 3   A Mother’s Concerns

Chapter 4   Ursula’s Craving

Chapter 5   Seal Hunt

Chapter 6   Is This Goodbye?

Chapter 7   Ship Strategy

Chapter 8   Ships Passing the Beaufort Sea

Chapter 9   A Meal and Some Company

Chapter 10   The Den

Chapter 11   A Star Is Born

Chapter 12   Into the Light

Chapter 13   Playmates and Progress

Chapter 14   A Human Encounter

Chapter 15   Tag Plans

Chapter 16   Spring Loading

Chapter 17   Star on Her Own

Chapter 18   A Grizzly Encounter

Chapter 19   Fast Friends

Chapter 20   Follow True North

Epilogue

Afterword

T

o all my relations

Sometimes a dead end is

Just a moment to make a choice,

Survey the situation,

And listen to your inner voice.

When you are troubled or confused

And don’t know how to move forth,

Trust in your heart’s direction

And follow your True North.

PROLOGUE

T he Arctic fable continues from True North as our main character switches from Mato to Ursula, brother to sister, the polar bear cubs who previously journeyed through the Arctic with their mother, Nanuqua, and an arctic fox, Charles. The two cubs learned many things about their mother and their environment as they met up with a magical spirit bear.

As the cubs left their mother to venture on their own, they watched both Nanuqua and the spirit bear become stars in the sky. They went their separate ways as Mato’s heart told him his True North was in the opposite direction of Ursula’s. The story continued with Mato’s adventures in the Arctic while he met and hunted with other males. Ursula followed her True North, and Charles joined her, as he had promised Nanuqua to remain as Ursula’s companion.

They all met up again at the great whale feast. A very large and old right whale chose to die on the icy shore of the Arctic Circle as her True North told her many polar bears would thrive on her bounty. Mato and his male bear friends were trusted to keep the peace so that as many bears as possible could eat, including older males, females, and mothers with cubs. Ursula had told Mato that she was preparing to have a cub and would need to eat as much as possible before making the journey to a den.

CHAPTER 1

REUNION

W hat do you mean you are going to have a cub? Mato (Mah TOE) asked. The fifteen hundred-pound polar bear seemed almost small as he posed the question. When? How? I mean … Ursula! he shouted at his much smaller sister.

She was the cub he had grown up with, his twin, his confidante, and rival. They pushed each other to be better, although they were very different.

Oh, Brother, said Al (short for Alpha), an older bear the same size as Mato. He shared the same mother as Mato and Ursula, but he was from the first litter of Nanuqua (Na Nook a). The twins were from the last.

Oh Brother is right. Ursula shook her head. Okay, biggest brother, what new hunting technique do you have to show me? She nodded at Al.

Mato threw his front paws up in disgust.

Al patted his shoulder. Don’t worry, kid. I’ll explain it all to you later.

Mato looked up at a star overhead, shouting, You never told me anything!

Their beloved mother, Nana (Nanuqua), had died and become a star. It was a beautiful ceremony actually, with a spirit bear named Roland that had come to the North Pole to see his old friend Nanuqua one last time. They had met before she had Al.

Roland was the last bear of his kind and held a special spirit ceremony with Nana, Mato, Ursula, and Charles the arctic fox. Mato and Ursula were sent to go out and live on their own, and Charles would accompany them. Roland and Nana continued the ceremony. Watching from a nearby ridge, they saw their mother polar bear and the spirit bear dancing up into the sky on colorful lights until they disappeared, leaving behind two bright stars.

Ursula and Charles had separated from Mato shortly after. Nana and Roland had taught them to follow their own True North, which means to follow your heart. So, Mato followed his heart toward his True North and Ursula followed her heart in another direction that was her True North.

Charles went along with Ursula, as he had made a promise to Nana to stay with her as she went on her own. Ursula had encountered a male who she deemed suitable for mating. She spent three days with the male, frolicking and mating as polar bears do in the springtime.

Meanwhile Charles went for a quick visit with his family. For Ursula, as with other female polar bears, her pregnancy would not actually start for almost four months so she could eat a lot and build a den to get ready for the birth of her cubs. It was very important for Ursula to gain a lot of weight so she would actually become pregnant with cubs. The only male near Ursula since had been Charles.

Ursula intended to return to the tundra, but she and Charles were drawn to investigate a wonderful scent. They came upon the great whale feast and seven male bears that seemed to be in charge of it. Luckily for Ursula and Charles, Mato was one of the seven polar bears watching over the whale feast. Normally Ursula would not be spending time with male bears. Mato introduced them to Al so they felt safe to take part in the feast.

Mato and Al told them the story of the great whale, Alma, that had come all the way