Tanner knew what he was getting himself into, after all sailing through the treacherous stretches of arctic ocean was one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. But even that knowledge had not prepared him for what was to come.

What started off as an eerily quiet morning in the sea turned into a nightmare within moments as a sudden violent jolt rocked the boat shattering the calm. Mallory’s instincts kicked in, his seasoned hands steadying the wheel.

Unbeknownst to the three fishermen, the sea had a surprise waiting for them, one that would test everything they had learned in their years on the water. They didn’t know that this day would change the trajectory of their lives forever.

Mallory, Tanner, and Jacob hailed from the small, rugged town of Frosthaven, a place so far north that the sun barely skimmed the horizon during the long winter months. The three of them had been fishing together since they were old enough to hold a rod.

A few months back, after a few drinks at the pub they decided to start their own fishing business, pooling their savings to buy a boat and the necessary equipment. It was a modest operation, but it was theirs, and they took pride in it.

They would venture out to sea at the crack of dawn and voyage through the frigid waters in the hope of some snow trouts or salmon. If they were lucky, they would get to haul in some crabs, a lucrative bonus that made the hard days worth it.

It was a day like any other. The sea was calm, the sky clear, with a sense of anticipation in the air about the day’s catch. Mallory, with his grizzled beard and weathered skin, kept his eyes on the horizon, ever-watchful for the icebergs that drifted through these frigid waters like ghosts.

The wind howled around them, whipping the icy spray from the sea into their faces as Jacob, and Tanner wrestled with the fishing nets. They had been out since dawn, the cold biting at their fingers, but the promise of a good catch kept them moving.

The Arctic had changed in their lifetimes, the ice melting faster every year, creating new dangers in a place that was already unforgiving. The boat rocked gently as they moved about their tasks, a rhythm they had known since childhood.

It was a quiet morning, the kind that lulled a man into thinking that the sea was calm, that nothing could go wrong. Until all of a sudden, a sharp jerk rocked the boat. Jacob was the first to notice the shift, a sudden shudder that ran through the boat like an electric shock.

Tanner, busy with the lines, cursed under his breath, stumbling as the boat lurched to one side. Mallory’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing at the waters ahead. “Steady, lads!” Mallory’s voice cut through the rising tension, a rock of authority in the chaos.

For what felt like an eternity, Mallory battled the elements, his knuckles white as he held the wheel steady against the waves. The boat tilted dangerously to one side, and then, with a final, desperate turn, Mallory managed to pull them free of the chaos.

Mallory exhaled a long, shaky breath, while Jacob and Tanner, both pale and wide-eyed, slowly picked themselves up from where they had braced against the boat’s violent movements. The three men exchanged glances, the unspoken question hanging in the air: What had just happened?

They moved as one, stepping out onto the deck to assess the situation. However, the sight that met them was enough to make their blood run cold. A colossal iceberg loomed before them, its sheer size almost incomprehensible.

It towered over the water, a massive wall of ice that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The iceberg was easily as large as Frosthaven itself. The sheer size of it made the three men thank heaven for being safe and sound.

As they stared in awe at the iceberg, something caught Jacob’s eye. At the far edge of the ice, just where it began to slope down towards the water, something was moving. He squinted, his breath catching in his throat as he tried to make out the shape.

 

Tanner adjusted the binoculars, his pulse quickening as he focused on the distant shape. The figure was small, moving slowly across the ice, barely visible against the blinding white of the iceberg. His mind raced with possibilities—was it a seal?

With a sharp intake of breath, he lowered the binoculars and turned to the others, his voice tinged with disbelief. “It’s a polar bear cub… stranded on the ice.” The three men stood in stunned silence, their eyes locked on the tiny, shivering form of the polar bear cub.

 

The sight of the helpless animal, so small and fragile against the vast expanse of ice, awakened something in them—an urge to help, to save this innocent life from a cruel fate. “We can’t just leave it there,” Jacob said, his voice thick with emotion.

 

The others nodded, the decision made without a word. They would rescue the cub, no matter the risk. Mallory, ever the cautious one, took the helm again, carefully steering the boat closer to the iceberg.

As they navigated through the icy maze, their eyes never left the small figure on the ice. When they drew nearer, the full scale of the iceberg became even more daunting. Its towering walls of ice stretched far above the deck of their boat.

The cub was perched high up on a ledge, its tiny body trembling with fear. The gap between the ice and the boat was too wide, too dangerous for the cub to attempt a jump. The reality of the situation hit them like a punch to the gut. How were they going to reach it?

 

“This isn’t going to be easy,” Mallory muttered. Jacob’s brow furrowed in concern as he studied the iceberg. “We can’t just leave it,” Tanner said, determination hardening in his voice. He looked around the boat, his mind working quickly. “We’ll have to climb up to it.”

Mallory and Jacob exchanged worried glances. “That’s insane, Tanner,” Mallory said, his voice laced with concern. “Those ice walls are unstable. One wrong move, and you’ll end up in the water, or worse.” Jacob nodded in agreement, his expression tense.

But Tanner was already moving, gathering fishing gear and ropes, his face set in grim resolve. His hands moved with purpose as he began fashioning a makeshift ice axe, tying the ropes to a couple of sturdy fishing hooks.

With that, Tanner stepped onto the ice, testing his weight before committing to the climb. The others watched, their hearts in their throats as he slowly ascended the icy wall, the makeshift hooks digging into the surface with each painstaking pull.

The journey was treacherous, the ice slick and unpredictable, but Tanner moved with a steady determination, driven by the desperate need to reach the cub. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Tanner reached the ledge of the iceberg.

He looked at the tiny polar bear cub. The little creature was huddled against the ice, its fur soaked and matted, its eyes wide with fear and exhaustion. It was smaller than Tanner had imagined, and shivered uncontrollably in the freezing air.

“Hey there, little one,” Tanner murmured, his voice low and comforting. The cub looked up at him with frightened eyes, but there was a flicker of trust in its gaze. Gently, Tanner unzipped his jacket, creating a warm, protective cocoon for the cub.

With a careful motion, he lifted the small, trembling body and tucked it inside his coat, feeling its rapid heartbeat against his chest. The cub nestled against him, seeking warmth, and Tanner could feel its shivers slowly subside.

Just as Tanner secured the cub, a sharp gust of wind whipped across the iceberg, stinging his face with icy pellets. He looked up, his heart sinking as he saw dark clouds rolling in fast, blotting out the sun.