"Are you from the Mink Tribe? Why are you here?"
The polar bear looked at Werther in confusion when he heard the question.
"What's the Mink Tribe? I'm from the Snow Bear Tribe. I don't know what the Mink Tribe is. I was born here."
Once the polar bear realized the strange group before him had no intention of eating him, he relaxed a little.
"Not from the Mink Tribe? Then how can you talk? Can the others of your kind talk too? Don't worry, we won't eat you."
The snow bear hesitated, glanced at Tuski, then sat down heavily and patted his chest, satisfied that none of them would eat him.
"I really am a snow bear, not a member of the Mink Tribe. As for why I can talk, it's all because of this."
With that, the polar bear raised his head and pointed to a piece of metal beneath his neck.
It was shaped like a button. Because it was so small, no one would have noticed it unless he lifted his head.
"It's a piece of technology from the Third Layer. It lets animals talk. I was lucky enough to find it on the second layer."
Werther turned to Tuski. His eyes were shining with excitement.
Werther had tried many ways to help Tuski gain the ability to speak.
Tuski had never brought it up, but Werther knew how badly he wanted it.
"Snow bear, how about a trade? Sell me that thing. Name your price."
The snow bear showed little reaction to Werther's offer.
"Impossible. It's completely fused with me now, and it changed my throat. Even if you forced it off, it would be nothing but scrap metal.
"And don't call me 'snow bear.' My name is Ham.
"If you want one, you can