Little Leika the bear has settled into a comfortable life. Her den at the edge of a small clearing in the forest is cozy; the garden she has tended provides her with enough food to get her through her long winter hibernation; and she can always count on her friends.

That all changes when a massive brown bear invades her territory, flouting the laws of the forest, destroying her supplies, and forcing her to set out in search of a new source of food. For the little bear, an adventurous journey into the unknown begins.

And this is true in two respects, for the encounter with her fellow bear raises more than just the question of survival in winter for Leika. Their meeting also confronts her with fundamental questions about her past—Leika sets out …