Salik

"I'm taking this black cub, and if you try to stop me I'll feed your guts to the fish."

— Salik to Taqqiq in Great Bear Lake, page 284

Salik
Biographical information
Species:	Polar Bear
Book appearances
Living	Great Bear Lake, The Melting Sea, The Longest Day
Living	Great Bear Lake, The Melting Sea, The Longest Day

Salik (sah-lik) is a large male polar bear with heavy shoulders, a narrow face, a long snout, and long claws.

History

In The Original Series arc

Great Bear Lake

Salik first appears in this book when Kallik finds Taqqiq. He is the leader of the group made up of himself, Taqqiq and two more polar bears called Manik and Iqaluk. It is hinted by Taqqiq that Salik was the one who started the whole group and began to steal food from other bears, including older bears. He and the other bears in the group do not believe in the bear spirits, which is revealed when Siqiniq asked the bear spirit to bring back the ice, the whole group stays away from the crowd and played around loudly.

Later, the group confronts an older bear called Namak, who is just returning from the water with a fish in his mouth. They steal the fish, and gulp it down quickly.

After that, he tells the group that they should go to the forest, where the stronger bears are. He said that the bears there must have caught more prey, so he decides to go to the forest and raid their dens and steal their fish. When an older bear overhears them of their plans, he tells the group off, but Salik rudely tells the older bear to leave. Siqiniq comes to settle the business, and Salik boldly declares that the bear spirits are just a tale to frighten cubs.

Later on, when the group is covering themselves in mud to cover up their scents, Salik tells Taqqiq to tell Kallik to go away as he doesn't want her to hang around. Taqqiq seems to look up to Salik, saying that he is strong and clever, and is a good bear to be with. Salik later kidnapps Miki, and tells Taqqiq to take him to the polar bear land. He arrives with his group, showing how easy it was to catch a black bear.

After the bears argue, he realizes Ujurak is sniffing Miki. When Miki runs, he gives chase and pins Lusa, but is attacked by Toklo and is knocked to the ground. He is defeated in the fight, and Taqqiq says he is a bully and leaves the group.

In the Return to the Wild arc

The Melting Sea

Salik, Manik, Iqaluk, Taqqiq and two other unnamed bears appear at Kallik, Toklo, Lusa, Yakone and Shila's den. They say it was their territory and they should leave. Toklo wrestles Manik, and Salik cheers Manik on before driving the group and Shila away. It is revealed that they were stealing food from other bears and driving them away. They go to Shila's old den, to find it destroyed and with blood in it. Salik and his group appears, and taunts them. Shila attacks, and they swipe her away. When Kallik attacks Taqqiq, Salik sarcastically tells him to watch out.

They are next seen when Taqqiq lures them to Sakari's new den, pretending to join them. Salik and his gang are ambushed, and Salik fights Shila. Salik begins to win when Taqqiq leaps in to help Shila. Salik is beaten, and driven away. Salik warns Taqqiq not to come back to them, and Taqqiq tells him that he won't.

The Longest Day

Coming Soon

Quotes

Salik: "Don't come crawling back to us. You know what you'll get if you do."

Taqqiq: "I'm not coming back. I've found better friends."

^{The Melting Sea, page 254}

Salik: "What are you doing, Taqqiq?"

Kissimi: "It doesn't count. It only counts if we find you."

^{The Longest Day, pages 134-135}