“Where? How many warriors1?” Fireheart demanded.
“Over there.” Brackenpaw flicked3 his tail toward the deeper forest. “I don’t know how many. They’re creeping through the undergrowth.”
“Okay.” Fireheart thought quickly, trying to ignore the sudden thumping5 of his heart. “Go back to camp. Warn Bluestar and Tigerclaw. We need some warriors out here right now.”
“Yes, Fireheart.” Brackenpaw spun6 around and raced off down the ravine.
As soon as he had gone, Fireheart headed into the forest, prowling with new caution beneath the arching ferns. At first all seemed quiet, though it wasn’t long before he picked up the rank scent7 of many intruding8 cats—the scents9 of WindClan and ShadowClan.
Somewhere ahead, a bird sounded a stuttering alarm call. Fireheart took cover behind a tree. He could still see nothing. His fur prickled with anticipation11.
He bunched his hindquarters and sprang, clawing his way up the trunk of the tree until he could scramble12 onto a low branch. Crouching13 there, he peered down through the leaves.
The forest floor seemed empty, with not even a beetle14 stirring. Then Fireheart caught sight of a fern quivering. Something flashed white and was gone. Moments later a dark head poked15 out of the undergrowth below the tree. Fireheart recognized Nightstar.
A soft mew came from him. “Follow me!”
The ShadowClan leader emerged from the bracken and raced across a stretch of open ground. A band of cats streamed after him; Fireheart grew even more tense when he saw how many. Warriors from WindClan and ShadowClan bore down on his camp together; Fireheart saw Tallstar and Cinderfur, Deadfoot and Stumpytail, Wetfoot and Onewhisker, running side by side as if they were littermates.
Not long ago, these cats had been fighting each other in the snowbound WindClan camp. Now they were united in their hatred16 of Brokentail and of ThunderClan for sheltering him.
Fireheart knew he would have to fight them. Even though he thought of the WindClan warriors as his friends, he would have to stand by his leader and his own Clan10.
As Fireheart braced17 himself to spring down, he heard a single furious caterwaul from the direction of the camp, and recognized Tigerclaw’s voice summoning the warriors to battle. For all his distrust of the deputy, Fireheart couldn’t help feeling relieved. Right now, ThunderClan needed all of Tigerclaw’s fierce courage and fighting skills.
Fireheart scrambled19 down the tree, hit the ground with all four paws, and streaked20 toward the battle, no longer trying to hide from the invaders21. When he broke out of the trees, he saw that the open ground at the top of the ravine was covered with a mass of writhing22, spitting cats. Tigerclaw and Nightstar wrestled23 together, clawing furiously. Darkstripe had pinned down a WindClan warrior2. Mousefur flung herself, screeching24 in fury, on top of Cinderfur. Morningflower, a WindClan queen, raked her claws down Longtail’s flank and sent him howling back down the slope.
Fireheart sprang at Morningflower, anger pounding through his veins25. He couldn’t help remembering how he had helped this same queen carry her kit26 on the way back to WindClan’s camp after Brokenstar had driven out her Clan. She leaped around as Fireheart landed beside her, and pulled back just as she was about to swipe him with her claws. For a few heartbeats both cats stared at each other. Morningflower’s eyes were filled with sorrow, and Fireheart could see that she too remembered what they had endured together. He could not bring himself to strike her, and after a moment she backed away from him and disappeared into the heaving mass of cats.
Before he could draw breath, a cat slammed into Fireheart from behind, knocking him onto the damp ground. He scrabbled vainly to get up. Twisting his neck, he gazed up into the fierce eyes of the ShadowClan warrior Stumpytail; a heartbeat later the ShadowClan warrior’s teeth sank into his shoulder. Letting out a yowl of pain, Fireheart battered28 at Stumpytail’s belly29 with his back legs, clawing out great clumps30 of his brown tabby fur. Stumpytail’s blood spattered him as the ShadowClan warrior reared back in agony and was gone.
Fireheart scrambled up and looked around, panting. The fiercest fighting had shifted to the bottom of the ravine. The enemy cats were pushing forward, clearly determined32 to invade the camp. The outnumbered ThunderClan warriors were unable to keep them back. And where was Bluestar?
Then Fireheart saw her. With Whitestorm and Dustpelt, she crouched33 at the entrance to the gorse tunnel, ready to bar the way with her life. Already Onewhisker and Wetfoot had broken through Tigerclaw’s defense34, and as Fireheart stared, horrified35, Wetfoot flung himself at Bluestar.
Fireheart raced along the top of the ravine. Out of the whole of ThunderClan, only he and Yellowfang knew that Bluestar was on the last of her nine lives. If she died in this battle, ThunderClan would be without a leader—or worse, would be left to the control of Tigerclaw.
When he was above the tunnel entrance, Fireheart plunged36 straight down the slope, his paws barely touching37 the treacherously38 steep rocks, to land, skidding39, in the thick of the fight. His teeth tore into Wetfoot’s neck, dragging the warrior off Bluestar. The ThunderClan leader slashed40 her claws at the gray tabby tom until he scrabbled backward and fled.
A wave of fighting cats bore down on Fireheart and the other cats by the gorse tunnel. Fireheart bit and scratched instinctively41 without knowing which cat he was fighting. Sharp claws slashed his forehead and blood began trickling42 into his eyes. He took a gasping43 breath, feeling as if he were about to suffocate44 in the rank scent of his enemies.
Then he heard Bluestar meowing close to his ear. “They’re pushing through the wall! Fall back—defend the camp!”
Fireheart scrabbled to keep on his paws as the invaders carried the battle into the tunnel itself. The gorse tore at his fur like hostile claws. It was impossible to fight here, so he turned along his own length and struggled through the gorse into the camp.
In the clearing, Willowpelt, Runningwind, and Sandstorm had rushed to guard the nursery, ready to protect the nursing queens and their kits45. Longtail, hastily licking his wounds, stood outside Brokentail’s den4 with Brackenpaw beside him. Among the branches of the fallen tree, Fireheart could just make out the dark tabby fur and sightless eyes of the former ShadowClan leader. He couldn’t help feeling a pang46 of frustration47 that they were being attacked for the sake of this cruel and murderous cat.
Nightstar and Onewhisker were the first to break out of the tunnel, streaking48 across the open ground toward Brokentail’s den. Tallstar pushed his way through the thorny49 hedge and joined them. More of the invaders followed.
“Stop them!” Fireheart yowled, rallying the Clan warriors as he raced across the clearing. “They want Brokentail!” He threw himself on Nightstar, rolling the black tom over on the dusty ground. He couldn’t help wondering how many ThunderClan cats really wanted to defend the former ShadowClan leader. Many of them would no doubt be happy to hand him over to the other Clans50. But Fireheart also felt sure that they would stay loyal; whatever they felt in their hearts, they would fight for ThunderClan.
He pinned Nightstar down, his teeth buried in the leader’s bony shoulder. Nightstar writhed51 under him and then heaved upward. Fireheart lost his balance and suddenly found that he was trapped—the warrior, though old, was still ferociously52 strong.
Nightstar bared his fangs53, his eyes gleaming. All of a sudden he reared back, letting Fireheart go. Shaking blood from his eyes, Fireheart saw that Brackenpaw had leaped at the ShadowClan leader and was clinging to his back with all four paws. Nightstar tried vainly to shake him off and then rolled over, crushing Brackenpaw against the ground. The apprentice54 let out a furious howl.
Fireheart slashed at Nightstar with claws outstretched, but Tallstar thrust between them, trying to reach Brokentail’s den. To his dismay, Fireheart felt himself being forced backward.
Then Tigerclaw was there. The huge deputy was bleeding from many wounds and his fur was plastered with mud, but his amber55 eyes still burned with the fire of battle. He swiped a massive paw at Tallstar, bowling56 him over and sending him scrambling57 away.
More ThunderClan cats appeared: Whitestorm, Mousefur, Runningwind, and Bluestar herself. The tide of battle turned. The invaders started to retreat, breaking for the tunnel and the gaps in the bracken around the clearing. Fireheart watched, panting, as Onewhisker vanished at the tail end of the fleeing invaders. The battle was over.
Brokentail stayed crouching in his den, his head low as he stared unseeing at the ground. He had made not one sound during the battle. Fireheart wondered if he even knew what his adopted Clan had risked for him.
Close by, Brackenpaw struggled to his paws. Fur hung raggedly58 from one shoulder, and his coat was smeared59 with dust and blood, but his eyes glowed.
“Well done,” Fireheart meowed. “You fought like a warrior.”
The apprentice’s eyes shone even brighter.
Meanwhile the battered ThunderClan cats were gathered around Bluestar. All were muddy and bleeding, and they looked as exhausted60 as Fireheart felt. At first they were silent, their heads lowered. Fireheart could sense no triumph in their victory.
“You brought this on us!” It was Darkstripe who spoke61, angrily confronting Bluestar. “You made us keep Brokentail here, and now we’ve been torn to pieces defending him. How long before one of us is killed for his sake?”
Bluestar looked troubled. “I never thought it would be easy, Darkstripe. But we must do what we believe is right.”
Darkstripe spat31 at her with contempt. “For Brokentail? For a couple of mousetails I’d kill him myself!”
Several of the other warriors mewed their agreement.
“Darkstripe.” Tigerclaw shouldered his way through the assembled cats to stand beside Bluestar, who looked suddenly old and fragile beside the huge dark tabby. “This is your leader you’re talking to. Show some respect.”
For a heartbeat Darkstripe glared at them both, then bowed his head. Tigerclaw swung his massive head, sweeping62 his amber gaze over all the cats.
“Fireheart, go and fetch Yellowfang,” meowed Bluestar.
Fireheart turned toward the medicine cat’s den, to see that she was already running stiffly across the clearing, followed closely by Cinderpaw. Quickly the two cats began to check the warriors’ wounds, searching out the ones who needed the most urgent treatment. As Fireheart waited for his turn, he saw another cat appear from the camp entrance. It was Graystripe. His fur was sleek63 and unmarked; a couple of pieces of fresh-kill dangled64 from his jaws65.
Before Fireheart could move, Tigerclaw broke away from Cinderpaw and strode across to meet Graystripe in the middle of the clearing. “Where have you been?” he demanded.
Graystripe looked bewildered. He dropped the fresh-kill and meowed, “Hunting. What on earth happened here?”
“What does it look like?” snarled66 the deputy. “WindClan and ShadowClan invaded, trying to get at Brokentail. We needed every warrior, but it seems that you weren’t here. Where were you?”
With Silverstream, Fireheart answered silently. He thanked StarClan that at least Graystripe had brought back some prey67, so he had a genuine reason for being away from camp.
“Well, how was I to know what was happening?” Graystripe protested to the deputy, beginning to look annoyed. “Or do I have to ask your permission before I set paw out of camp?”
Fireheart winced—Graystripe should have known better than to provoke Tigerclaw like that, but perhaps guilt68 was making him reckless
Tigerclaw growled69 low in his throat. “You’re away too often for my liking—you and Fireheart.”
“Hang on!” Fireheart was stung into replying. “I was here today when the cats attacked. And it’s not Graystripe’s fault that he wasn’t.”
Tigerclaw let his cold gaze rest on Graystripe, and then Fireheart. “Just be careful,” he spat. “I’ve got my eye on you—both of you.” He swung around and stalked back to Cinderpaw.
“Like I care,” Graystripe muttered, but he didn’t meet Fireheart’s eyes.
While Graystripe went to take his prey to the pile of fresh-kill, Fireheart limped back to the medicine cats to have his wounds seen to.
“Hmph!” growled Yellowfang as she ran an expert eye over him. “If they’d pulled out much more of your fur, you’d look like an eel18. But none of the wounds is deep. You’ll live.”
Cinderpaw came up with a wad of cobweb, which she pressed to the scratch over Fireheart’s eye. Gently she touched her nose to his. “You were brave, Fireheart,” she whispered.
“Not really.” Fireheart felt embarrassed. “We all did what we had to do.”
“But it’s not easy,” Yellowfang rasped unexpectedly. “I’ve fought battles in my time, and I know. Bluestar,” she went on, turning to the leader and facing her squarely, “thank you. It means a lot to me that you’d risk your Clan to protect Brokentail.”
Bluestar shook her head. “There’s no need for thanks, Yellowfang. It’s a matter of honor. Despite what Brokentail has done, he deserves our compassion70 now.”
The old medicine cat bowed her head. Softly, so that only Bluestar and Fireheart could hear, she mewed, “He has brought great danger to my adopted Clan, and for that I am sorry.”
Bluestar moved closer to her and gave her gray coat a comforting lick. For a moment the expression in her eyes was that of a mother soothing71 a fretful kit. A picture came into Fireheart’s mind of the Clan leader padding through the forest on the night of the Gathering72, and the moonlight that shone on three silver coats—on Bluestar, Mistyfoot, and Stonefur.
Fireheart gasped73. Was that really what he had seen? Three cats so identical that they could be nothing else but kin27? Mistyfoot and Stonefur were sister and brother, he knew…and Graypool had told him that they had once borne the scent of ThunderClan.
Was it possible that Bluestar’s kits hadn’t died all those moons ago? Could it be that Mistyfoot and Stonefur were the ThunderClan leader’s lost kits?
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1
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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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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intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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beetle
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| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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eel
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| n.鳗鲡 | |
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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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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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24
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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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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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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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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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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39
skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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41
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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42
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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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
suffocate
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| vt.使窒息，使缺氧，阻碍；vi.窒息，窒息而亡，阻碍发展 | |
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45
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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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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48
streaking
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| n.裸奔（指在公共场所裸体飞跑）v.快速移动( streak的现在分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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49
thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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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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51
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ferociously
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| 野蛮地，残忍地 | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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raggedly
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| 破烂地，粗糙地 | |
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smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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61
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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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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65
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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66
snarled
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| 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 | |
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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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68
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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69
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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70
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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71
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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72
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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73
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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