Read Online The Wild Ones by C. Alexander London - Free Book Online Page A

stop a war. Why his parents had to die for it.
    â€œThe Bone is an ancient contract,” his uncle began, “between Azban and Brutus, the Duke of Dogs. Some say it never existed, but for those who believe in it, it gives the wild creatures all the—”
    Just then, someone pounded on the front door so loud it made them jump.
    â€œWho’s that?” Kit whispered.
    â€œHush.” Uncle Rik tensed and bared his teeth. “I’m not expecting any visitors tonight.”
    He slid the Footprint of Azban back into Kit’s seed pouch and handed the pouch back to him, then his claws came out. He crept toward the door. Before Uncle Rik was even half the distance down the hall, the door bent, like it was being squeezed from the outside, and then burst, sending splinters of wood flying in all directions.
    Kit and Eeni peeked out into the hall and saw, much to their dismay, the Blacktail brothers, Flynn and Shane, in the open doorway, and behind them, his body uncoiling, a massive python. It was the same brown-and-yellow python Kit had seen collecting payoffs from the small business owners. The python’s rows of needle-sharp teeth glistened in the moonlight.
    â€œRiky Two Ringssss,” the python hissed. “Sssso good to sssseee you thissss evening.”
    â€œAnd there’s Kit, our old friend,” said Shane Blacktail with an oil-slick smile.
    â€œ
Young
friend, you mean, brother,” Flynn Blacktail responded. “If Kit were older he’d know that you don’t run out on a losing bet before you’ve paid. Not on your worst enemy and certainly not on your friends.”
    â€œWe’d like to stay friends,” Shane said. “And we’d like young Kit to grow old.”
    â€œWe certainly would,” agreed Flynn. “Can’t be an old friend if you don’t grow old at all.”
    â€œWhat do you want with my nephew?” Uncle Rik demanded.
    â€œWere we not clear?” said Shane.
    â€œI thought we were terribly clear,” said Flynn.
    â€œRiky Two Rings doesn’t listen well,” said Shane.
    â€œPerhaps he’ll listen to Basil.” Flynn snapped his fingers. “Basil. Make him listen.”
    Basil the python slid his large body past the two raccoons, filling the hallway, and slithered face-to-face with Kit’s uncle. Kit and Eeni clutched each other nervously, but Uncle Rik didn’t move a muscle. He locked eyes with the snake.
    â€œWe just want what’s owed us,” Flynn called out from the other side of the python.
    â€œPlus a fee for our troubles,” added Shane.
    â€œYour troubles haven’t started yet,” Uncle Rik warned, and his chest puffed up so his body seemed to fill the hallway, blocking the snake from slithering even one scale farther.
    â€œSsssuch a big talker,” Basil said. “Makessss me wanna ssssqueeze the talk right out of him.”
    â€œIf my nephew has a debt, I’ll pay it,” said Uncle Rik. “But only if it’s fairly owed. We both know that the Blacktail brothers never won a bet fair in their lives.”
    â€œSlander!” Flynn Blacktail cried out.
    â€œLies!” Shane echoed him.
    â€œSlander
and
lies!” Flynn concurred. He held a paw up to the sky and spoke in a singsongy voice. “I swear before Azban himself that our games are twice as honest as any under the Slivered Sky.”
    â€œTwice of none is still none,” said Uncle Rik.
    â€œWe didn’t invent math,” Shane replied. “Kit lost his bet and ran out on paying. That’s a fact more true than any multiplication table.”
    â€œI didn’t lose,” Kit called out. “They cheated. I knew where the nut was, but they must’ve moved it with sleight of paw.”
    â€œSsssoundssss like your nephew doessssn’t want to pay,” Basil said. His body coiled forward underneath him. He reared himself back to strike. “Sssssoundssss like