Read Online Black Flame by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane - Free Book Online

the daytime. They jostled together like a cluster of hairy spiders baring sharp teeth. There were so many of them, they had to run in two or three rows to fit into the narrow lane. Yet despite their crazed barking and dripping saliva, they didn’t charge at him. It simply wasn’t a suitable location to launch such an attack.
    Kelsang was amazed — the tallest among them only came up to his chest. Could they really be making this earth-shattering sound? What surprised him even more was that the three strongest dogs at the front didn’t understand even the basics of how to protect themselves. He could see at least five vulnerable spots, and yet they continued to thrust their faces forward, seemingly oblivious to the danger they were in. Kelsang was sure he could bite through the front leg of their leader, a blond lionesque dog.
    A feeling of superiority washed over him as he watched the mindless barking mutts. He knew if any of them were to face a wolf out on the grasslands, they would be killed in a single chomp. These dogs were all bark and no bite, and they bored him.
    Tilting his shoulder downward, he walked into the blond dog at the front as he prepared to leave the alley. The dog made no move to counterattack and screeched in pain.
    But Kelsang was being careless, and a black-and-white dog, perhaps itself descended from a Tibetan mastiff, suddenly appeared at his side and tore into his shoulder. Kelsang’s muscles tightened and turned as hard as stone, but he felt nothing beneath his long fur.
    Even so, he roared with anger like a lion disturbed during his feed. The other dog realized what a formidable opponent he was before it had even spat out the mouthful of fur. Kelsang was clearly no ordinary neighborhood dog.
    Kelsang easily knocked the black-and-white dog back into place. He barely had to make an effort as he sank his teeth into its neck, breaking it with just two sharp shakes. He tossed the floppy dog aside, the blood reminding him of his nights killing wolves. His desire to fight was like a wild fire spreading through his veins. Fear made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, and from deep in his throat he let out a bloodthirsty roar.
    The city dogs had never seen a massacre like this before. They usually only had to gang up on an intruding dog and knock it around a bit. They were scared senseless. A small bitch approached the dead dog and whimpered sorrowfully, while the others stood rooted to the spot, unsure what to do. One of them howled and turned away.
    Then the dogs fled in every direction, like a river flooding over broken banks, leaving the blood-soaked corpse behind. Kelsang had once again demonstrated the undeniable superiority of his breed.
    The sounds of early risers opening their front doors began to fill the alleyway. Kelsang licked the drying blood from the corner of his mouth and left. When he got back to the courtyard, the door was still open, and all was quiet inside. He snuck in and lay down in his corner.
    A young girl entered the courtyard that afternoon, when the sun was at its strongest. Kelsang had heard her turn into the alley and pricked up his ears, wondering if she was going to come in.
    He had already begun to think of the courtyard as his own. It was still unfamiliar in some ways, but his instincts were telling him to protect it — the instincts that had been given to him by his ancestors. He had been away from the camp for so long that the courtyard had become its replacement. Kelsang imagined that he had always guarded this camp. He had no interest in the actual campsite or the sheep on it. He was driven by instinct — that was all — and this courtyard was the painter’s camp.
    Kelsang watched as a pair of leather shoes stepped across the threshold before jumping to his feet. He took up his position by the door and growled. He wasn’t going to let the girl come in.
    A scream as sharp as broken glass. The girl jumped back down the