Bear occasionally went south, then north (4)
I believe the answer is:
tote
'bear' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'occasionally went south then north' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'south then' becomes 'ot' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'north' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up or 'northward').
The alternating letters of 'went' are 'et'.
'et'+'ot'='etot'
'etot' written backwards gives 'TOTE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tote that I've seen before include "Carry or shoulder" , "transport" , "Bear" , "hump" , "system for betters" .)