Despite their misgivings about the many dangers that lie ahead, the bears venture out onto the Everlasting Ice and learn of their final destination with the help of a mystical bear spirit.

"Toklo, Kallik, Lusa, and Yakone trek onward toward the Melting Sea, the site of Kallik's traumatic cubhood--and prepare to be separated for the first time since their journey began"--

Three young bears of different species--one black, one polar, and one grizzly--travel on a perilous quest to the Northern Lights, escorting a shape-shifting grizzly cub whose destiny will affect them all

When the bears return to Great Bear Lake for the longest day gathering, they find their reunion more challenging than they expected.

"The four bears have reached the mountains where Toklo spent his cubhood--but they soon discover that the home Toklo has returned to is nothing like the one he remembered"--