CHAPTER 16
They headed back the way they had come.The moon had disappeared behind a bank of clouds. It was dark, but at least the Thunderpath was quieter now. The only monster they heard was far off in the distance. The cats crossed the path together and pushed their way through the hedge on the other side.
Firepaw could feel his muscles growing stiff with tiredness as they hurried on. Bluestar kept up a swift pace with her nose thrust forward and her tail high. Tigerclaw loped beside her. Firepaw followed a few paces behind with Graypaw, but Ravenpaw was flagging.
“Are you okay?” Firepaw asked.
“Yes,” Ravenpaw panted, not meeting Firepaw’s eyes. “Just a bit tired.”
“What did Tigerclaw say when he came out of the cave?” Firepaw meowed, trying not to sound too curious.
“He wanted to check that we were still guarding the entrance,” replied Graypaw. “Why?”
“Only that damp old cave,” Graypaw mewed, looking surprised.
“He seemed a little edgy,” ventured Ravenpaw.
“He wasn’t the only one!” Graypaw meowed, looking at the black cat.
“What do you mean?” asked Ravenpaw.
“Just that the fur on your neck stands up whenever you see him these days,” whispered Graypaw. “You nearly jumped out of your skin when he came out of the cave.”
“He just surprised me, that’s all,” Ravenpaw protested. “You have to admit, it was a bit creepy by Mothermouth.”
“I suppose so,” agreed Graypaw.
The cats slipped under a hedge into a cornfield that glowed silver in the moonlight, and followed the ditch that ran around its edge
“So what was it like inside, Firepaw?” Graypaw demanded. “Did you see the Moonstone?”
Graypaw shot him an admiring glance. “So it’s true! The rock really does shine underground.”
Firepaw didn’t reply. He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring8 the image of the Moonstone that dazzled his mind. Then pictures from his dream crowded into his head, and his eyes shot open. Bluestar was right: they had to get back to camp as quickly as they could.
Ahead, Tigerclaw and Bluestar had leaped through a fence, out of the cornfield. The apprentices9 followed, squeezing under the fence, onto an earth track. It was the path that led past the Twoleg nest and the dogs. Firepaw looked up and saw Bluestar and Tigerclaw trotting10 tirelessly together, silhouetted11 against a skyline tinged12 with red. The sun would be rising soon.
“Look!” he called to Graypaw and Ravenpaw. An unfamiliar13 cat had jumped out in front of the two warriors14.
“This is Barley18,” Bluestar explained to the apprentices as they caught up. “He lives near this Twoleg nest.”
“I’m well, thank you,” replied Bluestar. “And you, Barley? How’s the prey20 been running since we last passed this way?”
“Not so bad,” replied Barley, with an amiable21 gleam in his eye. “One good thing about Twolegs—you’ll always find plenty of rats nearby.” The black-and-white tom went on: “You seem in more of a hurry than usual. Is everything all right?”
Tigerclaw looked at Barley. A growl2 rumbled22 deep in his chest. Firepaw could sense that the warrior15 was suspicious of the loner’s curiosity.
“As always, Bluestar, you are tied to your Clan like a queen to her kits,” observed Barley, not unkindly.
“What is it you want, Barley?” asked Tigerclaw.
Barley flashed him a reproachful look. “I just wanted to warn you that there are two dogs here now. You’d be safer going back into the cornfield instead of past the yard.”
“We know about the dogs. We saw them earlier—” Tigerclaw began impatiently.
“We are grateful to you for the warning,” interrupted Bluestar. “Thank you, Barley. Until next time…”
“Come,” ordered Bluestar, heading off the track. She pushed her way through the long grass between the path and the fence that led back into the cornfield. The three apprentices followed, but Tigerclaw hesitated.
“You trust the word of a loner?” he meowed.
Bluestar stopped and turned to face him. “Would you rather face those dogs?”
“They may be untied26 now. We’re going this way,” meowed Bluestar. She ducked under the fence into the field. Firepaw slipped after her, followed by Graypaw, Ravenpaw, and finally Tigerclaw.
By now, the sun had lifted its head above the horizon. The hedgerows sparkled with dew, promising27 another warm day.
The cats padded along the edge of the ditch. Firepaw looked down into the deep gully, steep-sided and filled with nettles28. Firepaw could smell prey-scent. There was something familiar about the bitter odor, but it was one he hadn’t smelled for a long time.
An earsplitting squeal29 made Firepaw whip around. Ravenpaw was struggling and clawing at the earth. Something had hold of his leg and was dragging him down into the ditch.
Before they could react, all five cats were surrounded. Huge brown rats swarmed31 out of the ditch, squeaking32 shrilly33. Firepaw could see their sharp front teeth glinting in the early dawn light.
Suddenly one leaped onto Firepaw’s shoulder. Fiery34 pain shot through his shoulder as the rat sank its teeth into his flesh. Another grasped his leg between its powerful jaws35.
Firepaw flung himself down and writhed36 madly, trying to shake free. He knew the rats were not as strong as he was, but there were so many of them. Yowls, hisses37, and spits told him that the others were also being attacked.
Firepaw slashed38 fiercely with his claws, slicing out at a rat that held on to his leg. It let go, but another one gripped his tail. Fast as lightning, powered by fear and rage, Firepaw fought and hacked39 at his attackers. Twisting his head around, he sank his teeth into the rat that had embedded40 itself into his shoulders. He felt the bones of its neck crunch41 in his mouth and its body go limp, before it fell away onto the dirt track.
Firepaw gasped42 with pain as yet another rat leaped onto his back and sank its teeth in. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of white fur. For a moment he was confused; then he felt the rat being dragged off him. Firepaw spun43 around to see Barley flinging the rodent44 into the ditch.
Without hesitating, Barley glanced around and sprinted45 over to Bluestar. She was writhing46 on the path, covered in rats. In a flash Barley had the spine47 of one between his teeth and was plucking it off her with practiced ease. He spat it onto the ground and grabbed another in his mouth as Bluestar thrashed beneath him.
Firepaw rushed over to Graypaw, who was being attacked from both sides by two smaller rats. Firepaw lunged at the nearest one, giving it a bite that left it dead. Graypaw managed to turn and pin down the other with his claws. He grabbed it with his teeth and flung it into the ditch as hard as he could. It did not come back.
“They’re running away!” Tigerclaw yowled.
Sure enough, the remaining rats were fleeing down into the safety of the ditch. Firepaw could hear the scrabbling of small paws disappearing into the nettles. The bites in his shoulder and hind1 leg stung sharply. He licked carefully at his fur, wet and matted with blood, its sharp tang mingling48 with the stench of the rats.
Firepaw looked around for Ravenpaw. Graypaw was standing49 at the edge of the nettles, mewing encouragement as Ravenpaw pulled himself out of the ditch, muddy and stung. A young rat was still hanging on to his tail. Firepaw bounded over and finished it off quickly while Graypaw helped to pull Ravenpaw over the top of the ditch.
Now Firepaw looked for Bluestar. He saw Barley first, standing at the top of the ditch, scanning the depths for more rats. Bluestar was lying on the path nearby. Alarmed, Firepaw dashed to his leader’s side. The thick gray fur at the back of her neck was drenched50 with blood. “Bluestar?” he mewed.
Bluestar did not reply.
A furious yowl made Firepaw look up.
Tigerclaw leaped on top of Barley and pinned him to the ground. “You sent us into a trap!” he snarled51.
“I didn’t know the rats were here!” spat Barley, his paws scrabbling in the dust as he struggled to stand up.
“Why did you send us this way?” hissed Tigerclaw.
“The dogs!”
“The dogs were tied when we passed them earlier!”
“The Twoleg unties52 them at night. They guard his nest,” Barley panted, wheezing53 under the weight of Tigerclaw’s massive paws.
“Tigerclaw! Bluestar is injured!” Firepaw burst out.
Tigerclaw released Barley at once. Barley got up and shook the dust from his coat. The great warrior bounded over to Bluestar’s side and sniffed54 her wounds.
“Is there anything we can do?” Firepaw asked.
“She is in the hands of StarClan now,” meowed Tigerclaw solemnly, stepping back.
Firepaw opened his eyes wide with shock. Did Tigerclaw mean that Bluestar was dead? His fur prickled as he looked down at his leader. Is this what the spirits at the Moonstone had warned her about?
Graypaw and Ravenpaw had joined them and stood beside their leader, horror-struck. Barley hung back, craning his neck to see what was happening.
Bluestar’s eyes were open but glazed55, and her gray body lay motionless. She didn’t even appear to be breathing.
“Is she dead?” whispered Ravenpaw.
“I don’t know. We must wait and see,” replied Tigerclaw.
The five cats waited in silence as the sun began to climb into the sky. Firepaw found himself wordlessly begging StarClan to protect his leader, to send her back to them.
“Bluestar?” mewed Firepaw, his voice trembling.
“It’s all right,” Bluestar rasped. “I am still here. I have lost a life, but it wasn’t my ninth.”
Joy flooded Firepaw. He looked at Tigerclaw, expecting to see relief on his face, but the dark warrior was expressionless.
“Right,” Tigerclaw meowed in a commanding tone. “Ravenpaw, fetch cobwebs for Bluestar’s wounds. Graypaw, find marigold or horsetail.” The two apprentices dashed away. “Barley, I think you should leave us now.”
Firepaw looked over to the loner who had fought so bravely to help them. He wanted to thank him, but under Tigerclaw’s fierce gaze, he didn’t dare. Instead of speaking, Firepaw gave Barley a tiny nod. Barley seemed to understand, for he nodded in return and left without another word.
Tigerclaw nodded.
Ravenpaw came charging back, his left forepaw wrapped in a thick wad of cobwebs. “Here,” he mewed.
“Shall I put them on her wounds?” Firepaw asked Tigerclaw. “Yellowfang showed me how.”
“Very well,” agreed Tigerclaw. He walked away and scanned the ditch again, his ears pricked58 for more rats.
Firepaw peeled a clump59 of cobwebs from Ravenpaw’s paw and began to press them firmly onto Bluestar’s wounds.
She winced60 under his touch. “If it had not been for Tigerclaw, those rats would have eaten me alive,” she murmured, her voice tight with pain.
“It wasn’t Tigerclaw who saved you. It was Barley,” Firepaw whispered as he took some more cobwebs from Ravenpaw.
“Barley?” Bluestar sounded surprised. “Is he here?”
“Tigerclaw sent him away,” Firepaw answered quietly. “He thinks Barley sent us into a trap.”
“And what do you think?” Bluestar rasped.
Firepaw didn’t look up, but concentrated on pressing the last bit of cobweb into place. “Barley is a loner. What would he gain by sending us into a trap only to rescue us from it?” he mewed eventually.
Bluestar laid down her head and closed her eyes again.
Graypaw returned with some horsetail. Firepaw chewed the leaves and spat the juice onto Bluestar’s wounds. He knew it would help stop infection, but he still wished Spottedleaf were with him, with her knowledge of and confidence in healing.
“We should rest here while Bluestar recovers,” announced Tigerclaw, padding up.
“No,” Bluestar insisted. “We must return to the camp.” Narrowing her eyes in pain, she struggled to her paws. “Let’s keep going.”
The ThunderClan leader limped along the edge of the field. Tigerclaw walked at her side, his face dark with unknowable thoughts. The apprentices exchanged anxious glances, and then followed.
“It is a long time since I saw you lose a life, Bluestar.” Firepaw overheard Tigerclaw’s whispered words. “How many have you lost now?”
Firepaw couldn’t help feeling surprised at Tigerclaw’s open curiosity.
“That was my fifth,” replied Bluestar quietly.
Firepaw strained his ears, but Tigerclaw did not reply. He padded on, lost in thought.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
hind
|
|
| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
growl
|
|
| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
flinched
|
|
| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
tingle
|
|
| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
savoring
|
|
| v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的现在分词 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
apprentices
|
|
| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
trotting
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
silhouetted
|
|
| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tinged
|
|
| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
unfamiliar
|
|
| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
barley
|
|
| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
clan
|
|
| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
rumbled
|
|
| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
smoothly
|
|
| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
flicked
|
|
| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
untied
|
|
| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
nettles
|
|
| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
squeal
|
|
| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
swarmed
|
|
| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
squeaking
|
|
| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
shrilly
|
|
| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
writhed
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
hisses
|
|
| 嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
slashed
|
|
| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
hacked
|
|
| 生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
embedded
|
|
| a.扎牢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
crunch
|
|
| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
rodent
|
|
| n.啮齿动物；adj.啮齿目的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
sprinted
|
|
| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
mingling
|
|
| adj.混合的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
drenched
|
|
| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
unties
|
|
| 松开，解开( untie的第三人称单数 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
wheezing
|
|
| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
glazed
|
|
| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
pricked
|
|
| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
clump
|
|
| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
winced
|
|
| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |