CHAPTER1
Fireheart shivered. His flame-colored fur wasstill greenleaf-light; it would be a few moons before it was thick enough to keep out cold like this. He shuffled1 his forepaws on the hard earth. The sky was finally growing light as dawn crept slowly in. But even though his paws were cold, Fireheart could not suppress a glow of pride. After many moons as an apprentice2, he was a warrior3 at last.
In his mind, he replayed yesterday’s victory at the ShadowClan camp: Brokenstar’s glittering eyes as the ShadowClan leader backed away, hissing6 threats, before fleeing into the trees after his traitorous7 companions. The remaining ShadowClan cats had been grateful to ThunderClan for helping8 them to get rid of their cruel leader, and for the peace ThunderClan had promised them while they recovered. Brokenstar had not just brought chaos9 to his own Clan4—he had driven the whole of WindClan from their camp, right out of Clan territory. He had been a dark shadow in the forest since before Fireheart had left his kittypet life to join ThunderClan.
But for Fireheart, there was another shadow troubling his mind: Tigerclaw, ThunderClan’s deputy. Fireheart shivered again as he thought of the great ThunderClan warrior who had terrorized his apprentice, Ravenpaw. In the end, Fireheart and his best friend, Graystripe, had helped the frightened apprentice to escape into the Twoleg territory beyond the uplands. Afterward11, Fireheart had told the Clan that Ravenpaw had been killed by ShadowClan.
If what Ravenpaw said about Tigerclaw was true, it was best if the ThunderClan deputy believed his apprentice had died, for he knew a secret Tigerclaw would do anything to conceal12. Ravenpaw had told Fireheart that the mighty13 tabby warrior had murdered Redtail, the old ThunderClan deputy, in the hope that he would become the new deputy . . . which, eventually, he had.
Fireheart shook his head to clear it of these dark thoughts and turned to glance at Graystripe sitting beside him. Graystripe’s thick gray fur was ruffled14 up against the cold. Fireheart guessed he was looking forward to the first rays of sunshine too, but he didn’t say this out loud. Clan tradition demanded silence on this night. This was their vigil—the night when a new warrior guarded the Clan and reflected on his new name and status. Until last night, Fireheart had been known by his apprentice name of Firepaw.
Halftail was one of the first cats to wake. Fireheart could see the old cat moving among the shadows in the elders’ den15. He glanced toward the warriors16’ den at the other side of the clearing. Through the branches that sheltered the den, he recognized the broad shoulders of Tigerclaw as he slept.
At the foot of Highrock, the lichen17 that draped the entrance to Bluestar’s den twitched18, and Fireheart saw his Clan leader push her way out. She stopped and lifted her head to sniff19 the air. Then she padded silently out of Highrock’s shadow, her long fur glowing blue-gray in the dawn light. I must warn her about Tigerclaw, thought Fireheart. Bluestar had mourned Redtail’s death with the rest of the Clan, believing him to have been killed in battle by Oakheart, the deputy of RiverClan. Fireheart had hesitated before, knowing how important Tigerclaw was to her, but the danger was too great. Bluestar needed to know that her Clan was harboring a cold-blooded murderer.
Tigerclaw emerged from the warriors’ den and met Bluestar at the edge of the clearing. He murmured something to her, his tail flicking22 urgently.
Fireheart stifled23 his instinctive24 meow of greeting. The sky was growing light, but until he knew for sure that the sun was above the horizon, he dared not break his silence. Impatience25 fluttered in his chest like a trapped bird. He must speak with Bluestar as soon as he could. But for now, all he could do was nod respectfully at the two cats as they passed him.
Beside him, Graystripe nudged Fireheart and pointed26 upward with his nose. An orange glow was just visible on the horizon.
“Glad to see the dawn, you two?” Whitestorm’s deep meow took Fireheart by surprise. He had not noticed the white warrior approaching. Fireheart and Graystripe nodded together.
“It’s all right; you may speak now. Your vigil is over.” Whitestorm’s voice was kind. Yesterday he had fought side by side with Fireheart and Graystripe in the battle with ShadowClan. There was a new respect in his eyes as he looked at them.
“Thank you, Whitestorm,” Fireheart meowed gratefully. He stood and stretched his stiff legs one at a time.
Graystripe pushed himself up too. “Brrrrr!” he meowed, shaking the chill from his fur. “I thought the sun would never come up!”
A scornful voice mewed from outside the apprentices27’ den. “The great warrior speaks!”
It was Sandpaw, her pale orange coat fluffed up with hostility28. Dustpaw was sitting beside her. With his dark tabby pelt29, he looked like Sandpaw’s shadow. He puffed30 out his chest importantly and mocked, “I’m surprised such heroes even feel the cold!” Sandpaw purred with amusement.
Whitestorm shot them a stern look. “Go and find something to eat; then rest,” he ordered Fireheart and Graystripe. The older warrior turned away and padded toward the apprentices’ den. “Come on, you two,” he meowed to Sandpaw and Dustpaw. “It’s time for your training.”
“I hope he has them chasing blue squirrels all day!” Graystripe hissed31 to Fireheart as they headed toward the corner where a few pieces of fresh-kill remained from last night.
“But there aren’t any blue squirrels,” Fireheart mewed in confusion.
“You can’t exactly blame them. They did begin their training before us,” Fireheart pointed out mildly. “If they’d fought in the battle yesterday, they’d probably have been made warriors too.”
“I suppose.” Graystripe shrugged33. “Hey, look!” They’d reached the fresh-kill pile. “One mouse each and a chaffinch to share!”
The two friends picked up their meal and looked at each other. Graystripe’s eyes suddenly sparkled with delight. “I suppose we take it to the warriors’side of the camp now,” he meowed.
“I suppose we do,” Fireheart purred, padding after his friend to the patch of nettles34 where they had often watched Whitestorm, Tigerclaw, and the other warriors share fresh-kill.
“Now what?” asked Graystripe, gulping35 down his last mouthful. “I don’t know about you, but I think I could sleep for half a moon.”
“Me too,” Fireheart agreed.
The two friends got to their paws and made their way toward the warriors’ den. Fireheart stuck his head through the low-hanging branches. Mousefur and Longtail were still asleep on the other side of the den.
He pushed his way inside and found a patch of moss36 at the edge. The smell told him it wasn’t a sleeping place already used by another warrior. Graystripe settled down beside him.
Fireheart listened as Graystripe’s steady breaths relaxed into long, muffled37 snores. Fireheart felt equally exhausted38, but he was still desperate to talk to Bluestar. From where he lay, his head flat to the earth, he could just see the camp entrance. He stared at it, waiting for his leader’s return, but gradually his eyes began to close, and he gave in to his longing39 for sleep.
Fireheart could hear a roaring around him, like wind in tall trees. The acrid40 stench of the Thunderpath stung his nostrils41, together with a new smell, sharper and more terrifying. Fire! Flames lapped at the black sky, throwing glowing cinders42 up into a starless night. To Fireheart’s amazement43, silhouettes44 of cats flitted in front of the fire. Why hadn’t they run away?
One of them stopped and looked straight at Fireheart. The tom’s night-eyes glinted in the darkness and he lifted his long, straight tail, as if in greeting.
Fireheart trembled as a memory burst into his mind of the words that Spottedleaf, the former ThunderClan medicine cat, had said to him before her untimely death: “Fire will save the Clan!” Could it be something to do with the strange cats that showed no fear of fire?
“Wake up, Fireheart!”
“You were mewing in your sleep!”
Still dazed, Fireheart sat up and shook his head. “Y-yes, Tigerclaw!” With a pang47 of alarm, he wondered if he had repeated Spottedleaf’s words out loud. He had dreamed like this before—dreams so vivid that he could taste them, and which had later come true. Fireheart certainly did not want Tigerclaw to suspect him of having powers that usually StarClan gave only to a medicine cat.
Moonlight shone through the leafy den wall. Fireheart realized he must have slept through the whole day.
“You and Graystripe will join the evening patrol,” Tigerclaw told him. “Hurry up!” The dark tabby turned and stalked out of the den.
Fireheart let the fur relax on his shoulders. Clearly Tigerclaw didn’t suspect anything unusual about his dream. But while Fireheart’s secret was safe, he was equally determined48 to expose the murderous truth about Tigerclaw’s role in Redtail’s death.
Fireheart licked his lips. Graystripe lay beside him washing his flank. They had just finished sharing a meal beside the camp clearing. The sun had set and Fireheart could see the moon, almost full now, gleaming in a cold, clear sky. The past few days had been busy. It seemed that every time they lay down for a rest, Tigerclaw sent them out on patrol or a hunting mission. Fireheart had stayed alert, looking for a chance to talk with Bluestar alone, but when he wasn’t on one of Tigerclaw’s missions, the ThunderClan leader always seemed to have her deputy at her side.
Fireheart began to wash his paw, his eyes flicking around the camp, searching hopefully for Bluestar.
“What are you looking for?” meowed Graystripe through a tongueful of fur.
“Bluestar,” Fireheart answered, lowering his paw.
“Why?” Graystripe stopped washing and looked up at his friend. “You’ve had one eye on her ever since our vigil. What are you planning to do?”
“I have to tell her where Ravenpaw is, and warn her about Tigerclaw,” Fireheart meowed.
“You promised Ravenpaw you’d tell them he was dead!” Graystripe sounded amazed.
“I only promised to tell Tigerclawhe was dead. Bluestar should know the whole story. She needs to know what her deputy is capable of.”
Graystripe lowered his voice to an urgent hiss5. “But we only have Ravenpaw’s word that Tigerclaw killed Redtail.”
“Don’t you believe him?” Fireheart couldn’t help feeling shocked by his friend’s doubts.
“Look, if Tigerclaw lied about killing49 Oakheart in revenge for Redtail’s death, that means Redtail must have killed Oakheart himself. And I can’t believe that Redtail would have deliberately50 killed another Clan deputy in battle. It goes against the warrior code—we fight to prove our strength and defend our territory, not to kill each other.”
“But I’m not trying to make accusations51 against Redtail!” Fireheart protested. “It’s Tigerclaw who is the problem.” Redtail had been the ThunderClan deputy before Tigerclaw. Fireheart had never met him, but he knew Redtail had been deeply respected by all the Clan.
Graystripe didn’t meet Fireheart’s gaze. “What you are saying has implications for Redtail’s honor. And none of the other cats have a problem with Tigerclaw. It was only Ravenpaw who was scared of him.”
An uneasy shiver ran down Fireheart’s spine52. “So you think Ravenpaw made the story up because he didn’t get along with his mentor53?” he meowed scornfully.
Fireheart looked into his friend’s worried eyes and began to wonder. He supposed Graystripe did have a point—they had been warriors for only a few days, so they were in no position to start hurling55 accusations at the Clan’s most senior warrior.
“It’s okay,” Fireheart meowed at last. “You can stay out of it.” A twinge of regret flickered56 in his belly57 as Graystripe nodded and returned to washing. Fireheart believed that Graystripe was wrong to think it was only Ravenpaw who had a problem with Tigerclaw. Fireheart’s own instincts told him that the ThunderClan deputy should not be trusted. He had to share his suspicions with Bluestar, for her safety and the safety of the Clan.
A glimpse of gray fur on the other side of the clearing told Fireheart that Bluestar had emerged from her den—alone. He scrambled58 to his paws, but the ThunderClan leader leaped straight up onto the Highrock and called to the Clan. Fireheart lashed59 his tail impatiently.
Graystripe’s ears flicked excitedly as he heard Bluestar’s call. “A naming ceremony?” he meowed. “It must be Longtail getting his first apprentice. He’s been dropping hints for days.” He bounded over to join the cats gathering60 at the edge of the clearing, and, still itching61 with frustration62, Fireheart followed.
A small black-and-white kit10 padded into the clearing. His soft paws made no sound on the hard earth. He walked toward the Highrock with his pale eyes lowered and Fireheart almost expected to see him tremble—there was something in the slope of this kit’s shoulders that made him seem too young and timid to be an apprentice. Longtail won’t be impressed!Fireheart thought, remembering Longtail’s scorn when Fireheart had arrived at the camp for the first time. The warrior had taunted63 him viciously on his first day with the Clan, mocking his kittypet origins. Fireheart had disliked him ever since.
“From this day forward,” Bluestar meowed, staring down at the kit, “until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Swiftpaw.”
There was no flash of determination in the eyes of the black-and-white kit as he looked up at his leader. Instead his amber eyes were wide with anxiety.
Fireheart turned his head as Longtail padded toward his new apprentice.
Bluestar spoke64 again. “Longtail, you were Darkstripe’s apprentice. He taught you well, and you have become a fierce and loyal warrior. I hope you will pass some of these qualities on to Swiftpaw.”
Fireheart searched Longtail’s face for an expression of disdain65 as he looked down at Swiftpaw. But the warrior’s eyes softened66 as he met his new apprentice’s gaze, and gently the two Clan cats touched noses. “It’s okay, you’re doing fine,” Longtail murmured encouragingly. Yeah, right,Fireheart thought bitterly. Just because he’s Clanborn. Longtail sure didn’t welcome me like that. He glanced around the rest of the Clan and felt a pang of resentment67 as the cats began to murmur20 congratulations to the new apprentice.
“What’s up with you?” whispered Graystripe. “That’ll be us one day.”
Fireheart nodded, suddenly cheered by the thought of getting his own apprentice, and pushed away his resentment. He was a part of ThunderClan now, and surely that was all that mattered?
The next night brought the full moon. Fireheart knew he should be looking forward to his first Gathering as a warrior, but he was still determined to find a chance to tell Bluestar everything he knew about Tigerclaw, and the thought of it lay like a cold stone in his stomach.
“Have you got maggot-gut or something?” meowed Graystripe beside him. “You’re pulling some very weird68 faces!”
Fireheart looked at his friend, wishing he could confide69 in him, but he’d promised to leave Graystripe out of it. “I’m fine,” he meowed. “Come on. I hear Bluestar calling.”
The two cats trotted70 over to the group assembling in the clearing. Bluestar dipped her head to acknowledge their arrival. Then she turned and led the cats out of the camp.
Fireheart paused while the other cats scrambled past him up the steep trail that led to the forest above. This journey might give him just enough time to speak to Bluestar, and he wanted to gather his thoughts.
“Are you coming?” Graystripe’s voice called down.
“Yep!” Firepaw flexed72 his powerful hind73 legs and began to leap from boulder74 to boulder, leaving the camp behind.
At the top, he paused to catch his breath, his sides heaving. The forest stretched away before him. Beneath his paws he could feel the crisp crackle of newly fallen leaves. Silverpelt glittered in the sky like morning dew scattered75 on black fur.
Fireheart thought of his first journey to Fourtrees with Tigerclaw and Lionheart. He felt a pang of sadness as he remembered Lionheart. Graystripe’s mentor, and ThunderClan’s deputy between Redtail and Tigerclaw, had been a warmhearted, golden warrior. He’d been killed in battle, and Tigerclaw had taken his place. On Fireheart’s first visit to Fourtrees, Lionheart had taken the apprentices on a roundabout route, through Tallpines, past Sunningrocks, and along the RiverClan border. Tonight Bluestar would lead them straight through the heart of ThunderClan territory. Fireheart could see her already disappearing into the undergrowth, and he charged after the party of cats.
Bluestar was at the front, next to Tigerclaw. Fireheart ignored Graystripe’s surprised meow and caught up with the Clan leader. “Bluestar,” he called, panting, as he drew up beside her. “May I talk to you?”
Bluestar glanced at him and nodded. “Take the lead, Tigerclaw,” she meowed. She let her pace slow, and Tigerclaw bounded past her. The other cats followed the dark tabby without question as he raced on through the undergrowth.
The path emerged from the thick ferns into a small clearing. Bluestar leaped onto a fallen tree and sat down, curling her tail over her front paws. “What is it, Fireheart?” she asked.
Fireheart hesitated, suddenly struck by doubt. Bluestar was the cat who had encouraged him to leave his kittypet life and join the Clan. Since then she had trusted him time and time again when other cats had questioned his loyalty76 to a Clan whose blood he didn’t share. What would she say when Fireheart told her that he had lied about Ravenpaw?
“Speak,” Bluestar ordered as the pawsteps of the other ThunderClan cats faded into the distance.
Fireheart took a deep breath. “Ravenpaw’s not dead.” Bluestar’s tail twitched in surprise, but she listened silently as Fireheart continued. “Graystripe and I took him to WindClan’s hunting grounds. I . . . I think he may have joined Barley77.” Barley was a loner, not a forest cat but not a kittypet either. He lived on a Twoleg farm that lay on the route to Highstones, a sacred place for all the cats in the forest.
The ThunderClan leader stared past Fireheart into the depths of the forest. Fireheart searched her face anxiously, trying to read her expression. Was she angry? But he could see no anger in her wide, blue eyes.
After several long moments, Bluestar spoke. “I am glad to hear that Ravenpaw is still alive. I hope he is happier living with Barley than he was in the forest.”
“B-but he was born into ThunderClan!” Fireheart stammered78, taken aback by his leader’s calm acceptance of Ravenpaw’s departure.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean he was suited to Clan life,” Bluestar pointed out. “After all, you aren’t Clanborn, yet you’ve become a fine warrior. Ravenpaw may find his true path elsewhere.”
“But he didn’t leave ThunderClan because he wanted to,” Fireheart protested. “It was impossible for him to stay!”
“Impossible?” Bluestar rested her blue gaze on him. “What do you mean?”
Fireheart looked down at the ground.
“Well?” Bluestar prompted.
Fireheart’s mouth was dry. “Ravenpaw knew a secret about Tigerclaw,” he croaked79. “I . . . I think Tigerclaw was planning to kill him. Or else turn the Clan against him.”
Bluestar’s tail flicked from side to side, and Fireheart saw her shoulders stiffen80. “Why would you think that? What was this secret that Ravenpaw knew?”
Fireheart answered reluctantly, meeting her stern expression as boldly as he dared. “That Tigerclaw killed Redtail in the battle with RiverClan.” Redtail had been the ThunderClan deputy before Lionheart. Fireheart had never met him, but he knew Redtail had been deeply respected by all the Clan.
Bluestar’s eyes narrowed. “A warrior would never kill another of his Clan! Even you should know that—you’ve lived with us long enough.” Fireheart recoiled81 at her words, flattening82 his ears. It was the second time tonight she’d referred to his kittypet roots.
Bluestar went on. “Tigerclaw reported that it was RiverClan’s deputy, Oakheart, who killed Redtail,” she meowed. “Ravenpaw must be mistaken. Did he actually seeTigerclaw kill Redtail?”
“And you know that by saying this, you are questioning Redtail’s honor, because he must have been the cat that was responsible for Oakheart’s death? One deputy would never kill another in battle, not if it could possibly be avoided. And Redtail was the most honorable warrior I have ever known.” Bluestar’s eyes clouded with pain, and Fireheart felt a pang of dismay that he should have hurt her memory of her former deputy, even if unintentionally.
“I cannot account for Redtail’s actions,” he murmured. “I only know that Ravenpaw truly believes Tigerclaw was responsible for Redtail’s death.”
Bluestar sighed and relaxed her shoulders. “We all know that Ravenpaw has a vivid imagination,” she meowed gently, her eyes sympathetic. “He was badly injured in the battle, and he left before the fighting was over. Can you be sure he didn’t fill in the parts he’d missed?”
Before Fireheart could reply, a yowl echoed through the forest, and Tigerclaw bounded out of the undergrowth. His eyes flickered suspiciously over Fireheart for a moment before he addressed Bluestar. “We’re waiting for you at the border.”
Bluestar nodded. “Tell them we’ll be there in a moment.” Tigerclaw dipped his head, turned, and raced back through the ferns.
As Fireheart watched him disappear, Bluestar’s words echoed in his mind. She was right; Ravenpaw did have a strong imagination. Fireheart remembered his first Gathering, when apprentices from every Clan had hung on Ravenpaw’s words as he described the battle with RiverClan. And he hadn’t mentioned Tigerclaw then.
Fireheart jumped up as Bluestar stood. “Are you going to bring Ravenpaw back to the Clan?” he asked, suddenly afraid he had caused even more trouble for his friend.
Bluestar gazed deep into Fireheart’s eyes. “He is probably happier where he is,” she meowed quietly. “For now, we will let the Clan carry on believing he is dead.”
Fireheart stared back at her, his eyes wide with shock. Bluestar was going to lie to the Clan!
“Tigerclaw is a great warrior, but he is very proud,” Bluestar went on. “It’ll be easier for him to accept that his apprentice died in battle rather than ran away. And it would be better for Ravenpaw, too.”
“Because Tigerclaw might go looking for him?” Fireheart dared to ask. Was it possible that Bluestar believed him, even just a little bit?
Bluestar shook her head with a flash of impatience. “No. Tigerclaw might be ambitious, but he is not a murderer. Ravenpaw will be better remembered as a dead hero than a live coward.”
Tigerclaw’s call sounded again, and Bluestar jumped down from the log and disappeared into the ferns. Fireheart cleared the tree trunk in one leap and raced after his leader.
He caught up with her at the edge of a stream. He watched while she crossed, jumping from stone to stone to the other side. Fireheart followed carefully, his mind whirling. The knowledge about Redtail’s death had been resting heavily on his shoulders for days. Now he had finally told Bluestar, but nothing had changed. The Clan leader clearly didn’t think Tigerclaw was capable of cold-blooded murder. And worst of all, Fireheart himself had begun to doubt whether Ravenpaw had been telling the truth. He leaped onto the far bank and charged on through the undergrowth.
Fireheart skidded84 to a halt behind Bluestar as they reached the other ThunderClan cats. The group had paused at the top of the slope that led down to Fourtrees, the giant oaks where cats from the four Clans85 of the forest met in peace at each full moon.
Fireheart’s fur prickled as he felt Tigerclaw watching him. Did the dark warrior suspect what had passed between him and Bluestar? Fireheart shook his head to clear his mind and tried to think like Bluestar. Of course Tigerclaw would be interested in what Fireheart had said to Bluestar: he was the Clan deputy, so he would want to know anything that might affect the Clan. Fireheart looked again at Tigerclaw; the dark tabby was staring down the slope, his ears pricked86 and alert. The cats around him shuffled their paws in anticipation87. Tigerclaw glanced at each of them, silently rallying them with his steady amber gaze.
Bluestar lifted her nose and sniffed88 the air. Fireheart sensed a tightening89 of muscles and prickling of fur around him. Then Bluestar signaled with a flick21 of her tail, and the ThunderClan cats plunged90 down the slope toward the Gathering.
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shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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nettles
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| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
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gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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42
cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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silhouettes
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| 轮廓( silhouette的名词复数 )； （人的）体形； （事物的）形状； 剪影 | |
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flicked
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| （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） | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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56
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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scrambled
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| 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 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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flexed
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| adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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77
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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81
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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82
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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83
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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84
skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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85
clans
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| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
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pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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87
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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88
sniffed
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| 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 | |
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89
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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