The Central Goons had grown bolder in recent weeks. No longer content with intimidation alone, they had begun snatching boys off the streets, anyone small enough to drag away, anyone without someone watching. The boys taken were forced into hard labor on the Central Campus, their days filled with hunger, cleaning, and obeying. The unfortunate were thrown into savage warm-up fights, nothing more than living punching bags for Xavier Boulder’s goons to train on.

At that moment, Scat had just reached his bike. The trade was done, the precious medicine secured. He was ready to return to Bear Country, to save his friend Tony.

Scat didn’t see the two Goons until it was too late. He tried to escape their grasp but failed.