CHAPTER10
Fireheart woke at dawn with theimage of his sister still clear in his mind. He pushed his way out of the den1, hoping the routine of the day would distract him. It was another cold, frosty morning. Whitestorm and Longtail were waiting near the camp entrance, preparing to leave on patrol. Mousefur padded past on her way to join them and greeted Fireheart with a cheery mew. Whitestorm called for Sandpaw, who came racing2 out of her den just in time to follow the patrol as it pounded out of the camp. It was a scene Fireheart had watched many times, but for once he didn’t yearn3 to join them as they thundered away into the morning-fresh forest.
He padded across the clearing, wondering if Cinderpaw was awake yet. Brindleface was just squeezing out of the narrow nursery entrance. A speckled kit4 followed her, then one more. A third kit, pale gray with darker flecks5 like the other, tumbled out and fell onto the ground.
Brindleface picked it up by its scruff and placed it gently back on its paws. The tenderness of Brindleface’s action brought Fireheart’s dream flooding back. His mother had probably done the same for him. He knew that Brindleface’s fourth kit had died soon after it was born, and she seemed to love the remaining kits6 even more fiercely now.
Fireheart was overwhelmed by a pang7 of envy at the thought that the other cats here all shared something he did not—they were all Clanborn. Fireheart had always been proud of his loyalty9 to the Clan8 that had taken him in and given him a life he would never have known as a kittypet. He still felt that loyalty—he would die to protect ThunderClan—but no one in the Clan understood or even respected his kittypet roots. Fireheart felt certain the she-cat he had seen yesterday would. With an ache in his heart, he wondered what memories they might share.
Fireheart heard Graystripe’s heavy pawsteps behind him. He turned to greet his friend, stretching his head to touch Graystripe’s nose, and asked, “Could you take Cinderpaw for the day?”
“Oh, it’s nothing important,” replied Fireheart as casually11 as he could. “I just wanted to check out something I saw yesterday. Watch out for Cinderpaw, though; she doesn’t listen to orders very well. Don’t take your eyes off her or she’ll be charging off in every direction.”
Graystripe’s whiskers twitched12 with amusement. “She sounds like a pawful! Still, it’ll be good for Brackenpaw. He never charges off anywhere without thinking about it carefully first.”
“Thanks, Graystripe!” Fireheart bounded away toward the camp entrance before his friend could remember to ask him where he was going.
As the Twolegplace came into view through the trees, Fireheart dropped into a crouch13. He opened his mouth and breathed in the cold morning air. No sign of a ThunderClan patrol, and no Twoleg scents15 either. He relaxed a little.
Slowly he approached the Twoleg fence where he had seen the she-cat disappear. He hesitated at the bottom and looked around, sniffing16 the air once more. Then he leaped, landing on a fence post in one easy jump. No Twolegs to be seen—just an empty garden with its strongly scented17 plants.
Fireheart felt exposed on the post. The branch of a tree hung low overhead. Its leaves had gone, but it would be easier to hide there. Silently he pulled himself up and lay down to wait, flattening18 himself against the rough bark.
Fireheart could see a swinging flap in the entrance to the Twolegplace. He had used one just like it as a kit. He fixed19 his gaze on the flap, hoping his sister’s face would appear at any moment. The sun rose slowly into the morning sky, but Fireheart started to feel cold. The damp branch was drawing the heat from his body. Perhaps the Twolegs were keeping his sister shut in. After all, her kitting would be soon. Fireheart licked a paw and wondered if he should go back to the camp.
Suddenly he heard a loud clatter20. Fireheart looked up and saw his sister pop out through the swinging flap. The fur along his spine21 rippled22 with anticipation23, and Fireheart fought to stop himself from leaping down into her garden straightaway. He knew he would frighten her, as he had done yesterday. He smelled like a forest cat now, not a friendly kittypet.
Fireheart waited until his sister had reached the end of the grass; then he crept to the tip of the branch and slipped down onto the fence. Quietly he jumped into the bushes below. The she-cat’s scent14 brought his dream flooding back to him.
How could he get her attention without frightening her? Desperately24 he searched his mind, trying to think of the name his sister had been given. He could remember only his own kittypet name. Fireheart called softly from the bushes, “It’s me, Rusty25!”
The she-cat stopped dead and looked around. Fireheart took a deep breath and crept out from the bushes.
The cat’s eyes widened with terror. Fireheart knew how he must appear to her—lean and wild, with the sharp forest scents on his pelt26. The she-cat raised her hackles and hissed27 ferociously28. Fireheart couldn’t help feeling impressed by her courage.
In a flash he remembered his sister’s name. “Princess! It’s me, Rusty, your brother! Do you remember me?”
Princess remained tense. Fireheart guessed she was wondering how this strange cat could know these names. He dropped into a submissive crouch, hope soaring in his chest as he watched his sister’s expression slowly change from fear to curiosity.
“Rusty?” Princess sniffed29 the air, wide-eyed and wary30. Fireheart took a careful step forward. Princess did not move, so Fireheart edged closer. Still, his sister held her ground until Fireheart was standing31 only a mouse-length away.
“You don’t smell like Rusty,” she mewed.
“I don’t live with Twolegs anymore. I’ve been living in the forest with ThunderClan. I carry their scent now.” She’s probably never heard of the Clans32, Fireheart realized, remembering his own innocence33 before he’d met Graystripe in the woods.
Princess stretched her nose forward and rubbed her muzzle34 cautiously along his cheek. “But our mother’s smell is still there,” she murmured, half to herself. Her words filled Fireheart with happiness, until her eyes narrowed and she took a step backward, her ears flat with distrust. “Why are you here?” she asked.
“I saw you yesterday, in the woods,” Fireheart explained. “I had to come back to speak with you.”
“Why?”
Fireheart looked at her in surprise. “Because you’re my sister.” Surely she must feel something for him?
Princess studied him for a moment. To Fireheart’s relief, her guarded expression lifted. “You’re very thin,” she mewed critically.
“Thinner than a kittypet, maybe, but not thin for a Clan—a forest—cat,” Fireheart replied. “Your scent was in my dreams last night. I dreamed of you and our brothers and sister and . . .” Fireheart paused. “Where is our mother?”
“She’s still with her housefolk,” answered Princess.
“What about . . . ?”
Princess guessed what he was going to ask. “. . . our brothers and sisters? Most of them live near here. I see them in their gardens from time to time.”
They sat silently for a moment; then Fireheart asked, “Do you remember the soft bedding of our mother’s basket?” He felt a flicker35 of guilt36 about longing37 for such kittypet softness, but Princess purred, “Oh, yes. I wish I could have it for my own kitting.”
Fireheart’s discomfort38 faded. It felt good to be able to talk of such a tender memory without shame. “Will this litter be your first?”
Princess nodded, uncertainty39 showing in her eyes. Fireheart felt a wave of sympathy. Even though they were the same age, she seemed to him very young and naive40. “You’ll be fine,” he mewed, remembering Brindleface’s kitting. “You look as if your Twolegs treat you well. I’m sure your kits will be healthy and safe.”
Princess moved closer to him, pressing her fur against his flank. Fireheart felt his heart swell41 with emotion. For the first time since he was a kit, he caught a glimpse of what the Clan cats must take for granted: the closeness of kinship, a common bond determined42 by birth and heritage.
Suddenly Fireheart wanted his sister to know about the life he led now. “Do you know about the Clans?”
Princess gazed at him, mystified. “You mentioned a ThunderClan.”
Fireheart nodded. “There are four Clans altogether.” He went on, the words tumbling out. “In the Clan, we take care of each other. Younger cats hunt for elders; warriors44 protect the hunting grounds from other Clans. I trained all greenleaf to become a warrior43. Now I have an apprentice45 of my own.” Fireheart could see by her bemused expression that his sister couldn’t understand everything he was telling her, yet her eyes brightened with pleasure as he spoke46.
“I should go,” Princess mewed. “They’ll be worried if I don’t go back, and I have many tiny mouths to feed. I can feel them moving inside me.” She glanced at her swollen49 belly50, her eyes soft.
Fireheart looked out from beneath the bush. “Go, then. I have to return to my Clan anyway. But I’ll come back and see you.”
“Yes, I’d like that!” Princess called over her shoulder. She was already trotting51 back toward her Twoleg nest. “Good-bye!”
“See you soon,” Fireheart called. His sister disappeared from view, and he heard the swinging flap slap shut behind her.
Once the garden was silent, Fireheart crept through the bushes to the fence. He jumped over it and ran into the forest. Memories of kithood scents crowded his mind, suddenly more real than the scents of the forest around him.
Fireheart paused at the top of the ravine and looked down at the ThunderClan camp. He didn’t feel ready to go back yet. He was worried that it would all seem strange to him. I’ll go and hunt, he thought. Cinderpaw would be safe with Graystripe for a while longer, and the Clan would welcome any extra fresh-kill. He turned away and headed back into the forest.
When he finally returned to camp, he carried a vole and a wood pigeon in his mouth. The sun was setting, and the Clan cats were gathering52 for their evening meal. Graystripe sat alone beside the nettle53 clump54, a fat chaffinch at his paws. Fireheart nodded to him as he padded across the clearing to the pile of fresh-kill that had already been collected.
Tigerclaw was sitting below the Highrock, his amber55 eyes narrow. “I noticed that Cinderpaw spent the day with Graystripe,” he meowed as Fireheart dropped his catch onto the pile. “Where were you?”
Fireheart returned Tigerclaw’s gaze. “It seemed a good day for hunting—too good to waste,” he replied, his heart thudding in his chest. “The Clan needs all the fresh-kill it can get at the moment.”
Tigerclaw nodded, suspicion darkening his eyes. “Yes, but we also need warriors. Cinderpaw’s training is your responsibility.”
“I understand, Tigerclaw,” Fireheart meowed. He dipped his head respectfully. “I’ll take her out tomorrow.”
“Good.” The deputy turned his head and looked around the camp. Fireheart picked up a mouse and carried it over to eat next to Graystripe.
“Find what you were looking for?” asked Graystripe absently.
“Yes.” Fireheart felt a pang of sorrow for the pain in his friend’s eyes. “Are you thinking about that RiverClan warrior?”
“I do try not to,” answered Graystripe quietly. “It’s just when I’m alone I can’t help remembering Barkface’s prediction of an unnecessary death and trouble ahead—”
“Here,” Fireheart interrupted, and pushed his mouse toward Graystripe. “That chaffinch looks like it’ll be half feathers, and I’m not that hungry. Want to swap56?” Graystripe shot him a grateful glance, and the two friends exchanged prey57 and began to eat.
As he crunched58 on the chaffinch, Fireheart scanned the clearing. He could see Sandpaw and Dustpaw outside the apprentices’ den. Dustpaw was busy ripping apart a rabbit. Fireheart caught Sandpaw’s eye but she looked away.
Cinderpaw lay beside the old tree stump59 where he’d shared many meals as an apprentice. She was chatting enthusiastically to Brackenpaw, who nodded from time to time while plucking the feathers from a sparrow. Seeing the two young cats—brother and sister—lying together, so at ease, reminded Fireheart once more of Princess, and for the first time the familiar sights of his clan made Fireheart feel uneasy. He had been careful to lick his sister’s smell from his fur before returning to camp, but it was her scent that lingered in his nostrils60 as the sun disappeared over the distant horizon. He had found the closeness he had missed, but it had given shape to a sense of loneliness that, until now, had lain vague and nameless in his heart. Were the deep-rooted memories he shared with Princess stronger than his loyalty to the Clan?
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1
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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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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flecks
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| n.斑点，小点( fleck的名词复数 )；癍 | |
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kits
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| 衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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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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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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14
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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16
sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；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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17
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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18
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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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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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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ferociously
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| 野蛮地，残忍地 | |
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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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30
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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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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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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38
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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naive
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| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
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41
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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42
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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43
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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44
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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45
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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46
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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47
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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48
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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49
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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50
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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51
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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52
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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53
nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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54
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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swap
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| n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易 | |
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57
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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58
crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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