Native American tribes had many stories of the bear. Many believed in the shapeshifters, where tribesmen could become animals. One of these stories is of a Cherokee girl named Nita.
Her tribe faced the bear every full moon. When the bear came, many would die. To protect his daughter, the chief sent her away to live in a rip in time and space, called the void. He told her it was for her protection, but he never told her of the bear history.
One member of his tribe, was burdened with carrying the bear trait. For a lifetime, they would be cursed with being both human and bear until their death. Then a new child would be born to carry the trait. While in the void, Nita discovers the history of the white bear, and her people's inheritance.