CHAPTER16
The rain continued through the nightand into the next morning. But by sunhigh, the clouds began to clear. A somber1 air hung over the clearing as the Clan2 waited for news of their leader.
Fireheart crept out from the patch of brambles by the boundary wall, where he’d sheltered since dawn. He padded over to Bluestar’s den3 in the side of Highrock. There was no sound from inside. As he turned away, he ran into Willowpelt carrying food to the nursery. She tipped her head questioningly to one side.
Fireheart had given Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw a day’s rest from training. He could see them now, lounging outside their den, looking bored. Fireheart knew he had let them down, but he wanted to stay in camp while Bluestar was sick. At least Tigerclaw wasn’t here to criticize his decision. The great deputy had taken out the dawn patrol.
Suddenly the lichen5 at Bluestar’s den twitched6 and Frostfur burst through. She raced across the clearing to Yellowfang’s den and reappeared within moments with the medicine cat behind her.
Fireheart bounded over to Bluestar’s den just as Frostfur and Yellowfang pushed through the hanging lichen. He stopped outside and sat down, his heart racing7. Frostfur peered out.
“What’s wrong?” Fireheart asked, his voice trembling.
Frostfur closed her eyes. “She has greencough,” she told him bleakly8. “Stand watch and make sure no one comes inside.” She ducked back inside.
Fireheart sat motionless as shock flooded through him. Greencough! Bluestar really was in danger of losing another life.
A sharp yowl outside the camp made him turn and look toward the gorse tunnel. Dustpaw exploded into the clearing and skidded9 to a halt beside Fireheart. “I’ve come from Tigerclaw,” he panted. “I have a message for Bluestar.”
“She’s sick,” Fireheart replied. “You can’t go in.”
Dustpaw flicked11 his tail impatiently. “Tigerclaw needs to see her at the Thunderpath. It’s very urgent.”
“What’s wrong?”
Dustpaw glared at him. “Tigerclaw asked for Bluestar,” he sneered12. “Not some kittypet pretending to be a warrior14!”
Fury shot through Fireheart and he unsheathed his claws. “Bluestar can’t leave the camp,” he growled15. He flattened17 his ears and moved so that he blocked the entrance to his leader’s den.
“Fireheart is right.” Yellowfang’s rough meow sounded behind him. She had come out of Bluestar’s den.
Dustpaw looked at the medicine cat, shrinking beneath her orange gaze. “Tigerclaw has found evidence of ShadowClan warriors18 in our territory,” he meowed. “They’ve invaded our hunting grounds!”
In spite of his fear for Bluestar, Fireheart felt his lip curl in anger. How dared they? After what ThunderClan had done for them!
But Yellowfang wasn’t interested in Dustpaw’s report. She turned to Fireheart, her eyes filled with urgency. “Fireheart,” she meowed. “Tell me, do you know whether there is any catnip in the Twolegplace?”
“Catnip?” Fireheart echoed.
“I need it for Bluestar,” Yellowfang explained. “It’s an herb I haven’t used for moons, but I think it will help her.” The medicine cat had Fireheart’s full attention now. She continued, “It has soft leaves and an irresistible19 scent20. . . .”
Fireheart interrupted her. “Yes, I know where to find some!” He had never seen it in the woods, but as a kit13 he had rolled in a patch in his Twoleg home.
“Good,” replied Yellowfang. “I need as much as you can carry, and fast.”
“What about Tigerclaw?” demanded Dustpaw.
“Tigerclaw will have to deal with it on his own for the moment!” Yellowfang snapped.
Cinderpaw had been watching them from the tree stump21. She bounded up. “Deal with what himself?” she mewed excitedly. Fireheart signaled her to be quiet with an urgent flick10 of his tail.
Cinderpaw’s eyes widened but she held her tongue.
Yellowfang paused to think. “Where’s Whitestorm?” she asked.
“Patrolling Sunningrocks with Sandpaw and Mousefur,” Dustpaw answered.
Yellowfang nodded. “With Bluestar sick and Fireheart fetching catnip, we can’t risk sending any more warriors out of the camp. If ShadowClan isin our territory, it might attack here. They’ve done it before,” she reminded him grimly.
“If I’m quick getting the catnip,” Fireheart put in, “I could meet Tigerclaw afterward24 and bring back his message for Bluestar.”
Dustpaw’s eyes flashed. “But he wants Bluestar to see the evidence for herself. ShadowClan has left the remains25 of fresh-kill on our side of the Thunderpath!”
Yellowfang silenced him with a growl16. “Bluestar doesn’t need to see the evidence,” she rasped. “The word of her deputy ought to be enough.”
“Tigerclaw just needs to be told that Bluestar can’t come,” meowed Fireheart. “I’ll take the message to him after I’ve fetched the catnip. Where is he?”
“I’ll go!” Dustpaw spat26. “Do you think you’re a better messenger than me because you’re a warrior and I’m just an apprentice?” He threw Fireheart a look of pure hatred27.
But Yellowfang had no time for quarrels. “The Clan will need protecting while Fireheart is gone!” she hissed at Dustpaw, flattening28 her ears. “Isn’t that duty important enough for you? Now, where is Tigerclaw?”
“Beside the burned ash tree that overhangs the Thunderpath,” Dustpaw replied sulkily.
“Right,” Yellowfang growled. “Go now, Fireheart! Quickly!”
As Fireheart sped away across the clearing, he heard small pawsteps sprinting29 after him. “Fireheart, wait!”
“Go back to your den, Cinderpaw,” he meowed over his shoulder without slowing down.
“But I could go and give Tigerclaw the message while you get the catnip!”
Fireheart stopped in his tracks and turned to face his young apprentice. “Cinderpaw, if there are any ShadowClan warriors around, you need to stay in camp.” Cinderpaw looked crushed, but Fireheart didn’t have time to worry about her feelings. “Go back to your den,” he growled. Without waiting to see her reaction, he turned and charged out of the camp.
He raced through Tallpines and wove quickly through the undergrowth that backed onto Twolegplace. As he scrambled30 onto the fence that bordered his old home, the familiar smell of the garden filled his nostrils31. Memories flooded his mind, making him dizzy for a moment. He thought of sunny afternoons playing in the garden with the toys his Twolegs held for him. He almost expected to hear them rattling32 his dinner and calling his kittypet name. Then he thought of Bluestar, fighting against greencough.
Fireheart leaped down into the garden and bounded across the lawn to the place where he remembered the catnip had grown. He inhaled33 deeply, his mouth open, and breathed out with relief. The enticing34 scent was still here somewhere.
Fireheart padded along the row of plants, sniffing35 the air. He couldn’t see the catnip, and all the time he was getting nearer and nearer to his old Twoleg nest. Fireheart’s steps grew slower. Scents36 of his kithood mingled37 with the catnip now, confusing him.
Fireheart shook his head to clear it, and concentrated on the catnip scent. He pushed his way under a large bush, still dripping from the overnight rain, and found a large patch of the soft, fragrant38 herb. The recent frost had killed some of the leaves, but the sheltering bush had protected enough for Yellowfang to use. Fireheart bit off as many leaves as he could carry. Their flavor seeped39 deliciously into his mouth, but he was careful not to chew, much as he wanted to. Bluestar would need every drop of their precious juice.
With his jaws40 full, he turned and raced back up the garden. He leaped over the fence and pelted41 back through the forest, ignoring the brambles that dragged at his coat. He felt as if his lungs would burst—with his jaws closed to hold the herbs, he could breathe only through his nose.
Yellowfang was waiting for him in the gorse tunnel. Fireheart dropped the catnip at her paws and took a long gulp42 of air, his sides heaving. With a grateful look, Yellowfang picked up the leaves and rushed away toward Bluestar’s den.
As he sat gasping43 for air, Fireheart realized he could smell Cinderpaw’s excited scent in the gorse tunnel. He sniffed44 the ground around him. Had Cinderpaw left the camp even after he’d warned her about the ShadowClan warriors?
Fireheart dashed to the apprentices’ den and stuck his head inside. Brackenpaw was alone, sleeping.
“Where’s Cinderpaw?” Fireheart meowed.
Brackenpaw lifted his head sleepily. “Uh, what?”
“Cinderpaw! Where is she?”
“Don’t know,” answered Brackenpaw, confused.
Fireheart withdrew his head and looked around the clearing. Frostfur was pacing outside Bluestar’s den, her coat ruffled45 with agitation46.
Fireheart wondered what to do. He didn’t have time to find Cinderpaw himself, and he didn’t want to tell the other warriors that she was missing. Graystripe!he thought suddenly. Graystripe could look for her while he went to find Tigerclaw. Fireheart hurried to the warriors’ den and slipped inside.
Graystripe’s nest was empty. A flash of anger shot through Fireheart. Where was his friend when he needed him? As if he couldn’t guess! Fireheart snorted crossly. Cinderpaw would have to fend47 for herself until he had found Tigerclaw and told him Bluestar was sick.
Fireheart raced back through the gorse tunnel and began the journey to the Thunderpath. As he followed the trail up the side of the ravine and into the woods, he was aware that Cinderpaw’s scent hung in the air. She must have come this way. Of course! She had gone to meet Tigerclaw herself! The fur on Fireheart’s spine48 prickled with worry and frustration49. How could she be so foolish?
As he skirted Snakerocks, Fireheart began to smell the Thunderpath and hear the roar of its monsters.
Suddenly a shrill50, high-pitched squeal51 sounded from the edge of the trees. Fireheart felt the blood run cold in his veins52. It was the same cry he had heard in his dream.
He raced out of the trees and skidded to a halt on the grass border beside the Thunderpath. He looked desperately53 up and down the verge54 and spotted55 an ash tree, charred56 by lightning. That must be the place where Dustpaw had said Tigerclaw wanted to meet Bluestar. But the deputy was still some way in the distance, padding calmly toward the ash.
Fireheart broke into a run. The verge was very narrow here, with scarcely room for a rabbit, but Fireheart kept going. He called out to Tigerclaw as he ran.
“Did you hear that cry?” But the roar of an approaching monster drowned out his words.
Fireheart shuddered57 as it passed, waiting for the noise to die away so he could call out again to Tigerclaw. Then he noticed something beside the ash, a dark shape on the thin strip of grass. With a sickening jolt58, he recognized the small body lying motionless beside the Thunderpath. It was Cinderpaw.
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1
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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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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7
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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8
bleakly
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| 无望地，阴郁地，苍凉地 | |
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9
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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10
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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11
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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12
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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15
growled
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| 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 | |
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16
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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17
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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18
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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19
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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21
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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22
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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23
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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24
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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25
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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26
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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27
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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28
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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29
sprinting
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| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的现在分词 ) | |
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30
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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31
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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32
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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33
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
enticing
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| adj.迷人的；诱人的 | |
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35
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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36
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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37
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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38
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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39
seeped
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| v.（液体）渗( seep的过去式和过去分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出 | |
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40
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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41
pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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42
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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43
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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44
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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45
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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46
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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47
fend
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| v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开 | |
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48
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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49
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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50
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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51
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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52
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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53
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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54
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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55
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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56
charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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57
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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58
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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