biggest fear now was other animals—anything could attack him at any time, leaving him completely defenseless.

Approaching the dead walrus cautiously, Rio prodded it to ensure it was truly lifeless. Then, grabbing a chunk of sturdy ice, he struck the walrus’s mouth. Blood gushed out as he managed to tear the flesh around one of its tusks. Gritting his teeth, he yanked the tusk free. It was a disgusting task, but he had achieved his goal. Rio rinsed the tusk in the icy water, though his hands couldn’t endure the cold for long.

Now armed with a makeshift weapon, Rio turned his attention to his next problem—food. Starving, he searched the area but found nothing edible. His only option was to eat the walrus, but it would need to be cooked first.

Rio retraced his steps to his small hideout, where Arnoll’s cat, Timmy, was safely tucked under the overturned float. The hideout was far from sufficient; it was unbearably cold, and Rio knew he would freeze if he didn’t improve it. Searching his memory, he recalled something about heat preservation from his studies. “The laws of heat!” he exclaimed. Ice, he remembered, acts as an insulator, trapping warmth.

With renewed determination, Rio began building a proper shelter. He dug a deep, wide pit into the snow, flipping the float over it to serve as a roof. Using the walrus tusk, he carved blocks of ice to create a small tunnel leading into the chamber, securing it to prevent collapse. He then layered the float with additional ice blocks to trap warmth inside.

Crawling into his newly constructed hideout, which now resembled an igloo, Rio held Timmy close under his arm. He spread his jacket over the ice as a makeshift bed and laid down, Timmy curled up beside him. Timmy looked at Rio with sad, hungry eyes. “I’m sorry, Timmy,” Rio murmured. “There’s no food yet. But don’t worry, I’ll find some—and I’ll keep you safe.”

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As the last light of day faded, Rio fell asleep, his thoughts drifting to his mother and Arnoll, who had become like a brother to him.

The next morning, Rio awoke numb from the cold. Even with his improved shelter, Arctic nights were brutal. Timmy was still asleep as Rio stepped out, blocking the entrance with ice to keep the cat safe. In the distance, Rio noticed something unusual—a building that hadn’t been there the day before. Gripping the walrus tusk tightly, he headed toward it, hopeful for help.

As he drew closer, he realized it was a ship, though something was off. It was damaged, snow spilling inside through broken parts. Rio’s heart sank as he recognized it—it was the small ship he had seen before. It must have somehow wrecked here.

Climbing aboard, Rio searched for survivors or supplies. The ship appeared to be a long-distance fishing vessel. To his delight, he found fish, a gasoline stove, packaged food, and useful tools. In the kitchen, he discovered knives, likely used for preparing fish. Deeper inside, he came across a dormitory room with mattresses and blankets. Though the room was filled with snow and dangerously close to the water, Rio gathered as much as he could onto a broken wooden slab and dragged it back to his shelter.

Outside, he noticed the polar bear he had seen earlier—it was dead, likely shot by the fishermen. An idea struck him. Using the knives, he carefully skinned the bear. The fur was thick and warm, perfect for protection against the cold.

Back at the shelter, Rio dug a pit in the ice to store the fish, the cold preserving them. He stashed the packaged food and tools in a corner. Using the wooden panels from the ship, he covered the ice floor, placing a mattress on top. He fashioned a cloak from the polar bear skin, lining it with a blanket and cutting armholes. The remaining fur became a warm blanket for Timmy.

Setting up the gasoline stove outside, Rio lit it, savoring the comforting heat. He roasted a fish and shared it with Timmy, their first proper meal in days. The stove, now a precious resource, was carefully stored to conserve fuel.

With a warm shelter, food, tools, and a weapon, Rio felt a spark of hope. Survival seemed possible. He resolved to find the fishermen and escape with them on their emergency boat. That day, for the first time in a long while, Rio felt a glimmer of joy, though the absence of Arnoll weighed heavily on him.