CHAPTER 2
Fireheart saw a ripple1 of paleamber fur and looked up to see Goldenflower slip out of the nursery behind the dark tabby kit5. A pale ginger6 kit dangled7 from her jaws8, and she placed it gently on the ground next to Bramblekit. Fireheart knew at once that Goldenflower had seen his reaction, for the pale ginger queen wrapped her tail protectively around her kits9 and lifted her chin, as if she were challenging Fireheart to say something.
Fireheart felt a rush of guilt10. What was he thinking of? He was the Clan11 deputy, for StarClan’s sake! He knew he had to reassure12 Goldenflower that these kits would be cared for and respected like any other member’s of ThunderClan. “Your…your kits look healthy,” he stammered13, but his fur prickled as the dark tabby kit stared up at him with unblinking amber2 eyes, the image of Tigerclaw’s menacing glare.
Fireheart tried to push away the fear and anger that made him instinctively14 unsheathe his claws and press them against the hard ground. It was Tigerclaw who betrayed ThunderClan, he told himself. Not this tiny kit.
“It’s Tawnykit’s first time out of the nursery,” Goldenflower told him. She glanced anxiously down at the little kit.
“They’ve grown quickly,” Fireheart murmured.
Goldenflower leaned down and licked each kit on the head, then padded toward Fireheart. “I understand how you feel,” she mewed quietly. “Your eyes have always betrayed your heart. But these are my kits and I will die to protect them if I have to.” She looked up into Fireheart’s eyes and he saw the intensity15 of her feeling in their yellow depths.
“I’m afraid for them, Fireheart,” she went on. “The Clan will never forgive Tigerclaw—nor should they. But Bramblekit and Tawnykit have done nothing wrong, and I will not let them be punished because of Tigerclaw. I’m not even going to tell them who their father was, just that he was a brave and powerful warrior16.”
Fireheart felt a pang17 of sympathy for the troubled queen. “They will be safe here,” he promised, but the amber eyes of Bramblekit still made his paws prickle with unease as Goldenflower turned away.
Behind them Whitestorm squeezed out of the nursery. “Brindleface thinks her two remaining kits are ready to begin their training,” he told Fireheart.
“Does Bluestar know?” Fireheart asked.
Whitestorm shook his head. “Brindleface wanted to share the news with Bluestar herself, but she hasn’t visited the nursery in days.”
Fireheart frowned. The Clan leader usually took an interest in every aspect of Clan life, especially the nursery. Every cat knew how important it was for ThunderClan to have fine, healthy kits.
“I suppose it’s not surprising,” Whitestorm continued. “She’s still recovering from her wounds after the battle with the rogue18 cats.”
“Shall I go and tell her now?” Fireheart offered.
“Yes. Some good news might cheer her up,” Whitestorm remarked.
With a jolt19, Fireheart realized that Whitestorm was as worried as he was about their leader. “I’m sure it will,” he agreed. “ThunderClan hasn’t had this many apprentices20 in moons.”
“That reminds me,” meowed Whitestorm, his eyes suddenly brightening. “Where’s Cloudpaw? I thought he was fetching prey22 for the elders.”
Fireheart glanced away awkwardly. “Er, yes, he is. I don’t know what’s taking him so long.”
Whitestorm lifted a massive paw and gave it a lick. “The woods are not as safe as they once were,” he murmured, as if he could read Fireheart’s uneasy thoughts. “Don’t forget WindClan and ShadowClan are still angry with us for sheltering Brokentail. They don’t know yet that Brokentail is dead, and they might attack us again.”
Brokentail had once been the leader of ShadowClan. He had nearly destroyed the other Clans23 in the forest with his greed for more territory. ThunderClan had helped to drive Brokentail out of his troubled Clan, but had later given him sanctuary24 as a blind and helpless prisoner—a merciful decision that had not been welcomed by his former enemies.
Fireheart knew that Whitestorm was warning him as carefully as possible—the warrior hadn’t even mentioned the possibility that Tigerclaw might still be around—but his guilt at letting Cloudpaw go off alone made him defensive25. “You let Brightpaw hunt alone this morning,” he retorted.
“Yes. I told her to stay in the ravine and to be back by sunhigh.” Whitestorm’s tone was mild, but he stopped washing his paw and looked at Fireheart with concern in his eyes. “I hope Cloudpaw won’t go too far from the camp.”
Fireheart looked away and muttered, “I should go and tell Bluestar the kits are ready.”
“Good idea,” answered Whitestorm. “I can take Brightpaw out for some training. She hunts well, but her fighting skills need some work.”
Silently cursing Cloudpaw, Fireheart padded away toward the Highrock. Outside Bluestar’s den3, he gave his ears a quick wash and put Cloudpaw out of his mind before calling a greeting through the lichen26 that draped the entrance. A soft “Enter” sounded from inside, and Fireheart pushed his way slowly in.
It was cool in the small cave, hollowed out of the base of the Highrock by an ancient stream. The sunlight that filtered through the lichen made the walls glow warmly. Bluestar sat hunched27 in her nest like a brooding duck. Her long gray fur was dirty and matted. Perhaps her wounds are still too sore to wash properly, Fireheart thought. His mind shied away from considering the other possibility—that his leader no longer wished to look after herself.
But the worry he had seen in Whitestorm’s eyes pricked28 at him. Fireheart couldn’t help noticing how thin Bluestar looked, and he remembered the half-eaten bird she’d abandoned last night, returning alone to her den instead of staying to share tongues with her senior warriors29, as she’d used to.
The Clan leader raised her eyes as Fireheart entered, and he was relieved to see a faint spark of interest when she saw him.
“Fireheart,” she greeted him, sitting up and lifting her chin. She held her broad gray head with the same dignity Fireheart had admired when he first met her in the woods near his old Twoleg home. It was Bluestar who had invited him to join the Clan, and her faith in him had quickly established a special bond between them.
“Bluestar,” he began, respectfully dipping his head. “Whitestorm’s been to the nursery today. Brindleface told him her kits are ready to begin their apprenticeships.”
Bluestar slowly widened her eyes. “Already?” she murmured.
Fireheart waited for Bluestar to start giving orders for the apprentice21 ceremony. But the she-cat just stared at him.
“Mentors,” echoed Bluestar faintly.
Fireheart’s fur began to prickle with unease.
Suddenly a flinty hardness flared33 in her blue eyes. “Is there any cat we can trust to train these innocent kits?” she spat34.
Fireheart flinched35, too shocked to answer. The leader’s eyes flashed once more. “Can youtake them?” she demanded. “Or Graystripe?”
Fireheart shook his head, trying to push away the alarm that jabbed at him like an adder36. Had Bluestar forgotten that Graystripe was no longer part of ThunderClan? “I—I already have Cloudpaw. And Graystripe…” His words trailed away. He took a small, fast breath and began again. “Bluestar, the only warrior not fit to train these kits was Tigerclaw, and he has been exiled, remember? Any one of ThunderClan’s warriors would make a fine mentor31 for Brindleface’s kits.” He searched Bluestar’s face for a reaction, but she was staring unseeing at the floor of the den. “Brindleface is hoping to have a naming ceremony soon,” he persisted. “Her kits are more than ready. Cloudpaw was their littermate, and he’s been an apprentice for half a moon now.”
Fireheart leaned forward, willing Bluestar to answer. At last the she-cat nodded her head briskly and lifted her eyes to Fireheart. With a wave of relief he saw the tension leave her shoulders. And although her gaze still seemed remote and icy, it was calmer now. “We’ll have the naming ceremony before we eat this evening,” she meowed, as if she had never doubted it.
“So who do you want to be their mentors?” Fireheart asked cautiously. He felt a tremor37 ripple through his tail as Bluestar stiffened38 again and her gaze darted39 anxiously around the cave.
“You decide.”
Her reply was barely audible, and Fireheart decided40 not to press her any more. He dipped his head and meowed, “Yes, Bluestar,” before backing out of the den.
He sat in the shade of the Highrock for a moment to gather his thoughts. Tigerclaw’s treachery must have shaken her even more than he realized if she didn’t trust any of her warriors now. Fireheart ducked his head to give his chest a reassuring42 lick. It was barely a quarter moon since the attack by the rogue cats. Bluestar would get over it, he told himself. Meanwhile, he had to hide her anxiety from the other cats. If the Clan was already uneasy, as Whitestorm had said, seeing Bluestar like this would only make them more alarmed.
Fireheart flexed43 his shoulder muscles and padded toward the nursery. “Hi, Willowpelt,” he meowed as he reached the queen. The pale gray she-cat was lying on her side outside the thicket45 of brambles that sheltered the kits, enjoying the warmth of the sun.
She lifted her head as Fireheart stopped beside her. “Hi, Fireheart. How’s life as a deputy?” Her eyes were gently curious and her voice was friendly, not challenging.
“Fine,” Fireheart told her. Or it would be, if I didn’t have a pain in the neck for an apprentice, he thought with frustration46, or the elders fretting47 about the wrath48 of StarClan, or a leader who can’t even decide who should mentor Brindleface’s kits.
“Glad to hear it,” purred Willowpelt. She twisted her head to wash her back.
“Is Brindleface around?” Fireheart asked.
“She’s inside,” Willowpelt meowed between licks.
“Thanks.” Fireheart pushed his way into the brambles. It was surprisingly bright inside. Sunlight streamed through gaps in the twisted branches, and Fireheart told himself he would have to get the holes patched before the cold winds of leaf-fall.
“Hi, Brindleface,” he meowed. “Good news! Bluestar says the naming ceremony for your kits will be this evening.”
Brindleface was lying on her side while her two pale gray kits clambered over her. “Thank StarClan for that!” she grunted49 as the heavier of the kits, his fur speckled with dark flecks50, sprang off his mother’s flank and flung himself at his sister. “These two are getting too big for the nursery.”
The kits tumbled over and rolled against their mother’s back in a tangle51 of paws and tails. Brindleface gently shoved the kits away from her and asked, “Do you know who their mentors will be?”
Fireheart was already prepared for this question. “Bluestar hasn’t decided yet,” he explained. “Are there any warriors you’d prefer?”
Brindleface looked surprised. “Bluestar will know best; she should decide.”
Fireheart knew as well as any cat that it was traditional for the Clan leader to select mentors. “Yes, you’re right,” he meowed heavily.
His fur prickled as the breeze carried the odor of Tigerclaw’s tabby kit to his scent52 glands53. “Where’s Goldenflower?” he asked Brindleface, more sharply than he intended.
Her eyes widened. “She’s taken her kits to meet the elders,” she replied. She narrowed her eyes at Fireheart. “You recognize Tigerclaw in his son, don’t you?”
Fireheart nodded uncomfortably.
“He has his father’s looks, but that’s all,” Brindleface assured him. “He’s gentle enough with the other kits, and his sister certainly keeps him in his place!”
“Well, that’s good.” Fireheart turned away. “I’ll see you later at the ceremony,” he meowed as he pushed his way back through the entrance.
“Does this mean Bluestar’s decided when the naming ceremony should be?” Willowpelt called over to him when he appeared outside.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Who will be their men…?”
But Fireheart trotted54 away before he could hear the rest of Willowpelt’s question. News of the naming ceremony would spread through the camp like forest fire, and every cat would want to know the same thing. Fireheart would have to decide soon, but his nostrils55 were still filled with the scent of Bramblekit, and his mind whirled as dark thoughts unfolded sinister56 wings within him.
Instinctively he headed for the fern tunnel that led to the medicine cat’s clearing. Yellowfang’s apprentice, Cinderpelt, would be there. Now that Graystripe had gone to live with RiverClan, Cinderpelt was Fireheart’s closest friend. He knew that the gentle gray she-cat would be able to make sense of the confused emotions that seethed57 in his heart.
He quickened his pace through the cool ferns and emerged into the sunlit clearing. At one end loomed58 the flat face of a tall rock, split down the center. The niche59 in the middle of the stone was just large enough for Yellowfang to make her den and store her healing herbs.
Fireheart was about to call when Cinderpelt limped out from the shadowy cleft60 in the rock. As ever, delight at seeing his friend was tempered by the pain of seeing the twisted hind4 leg that had prevented her from becoming a warrior. The young she-cat had been badly injured when she’d run onto the Thunderpath. Fireheart couldn’t help feeling responsible, because Cinderpelt had been his apprentice when the accident happened. But as she recovered under the watchful61 eye of the Clan’s medicine cat, Yellowfang had begun to teach her how to care for sick cats, taking her on as apprentice a moon and a half ago. Cinderpelt had found her place in the Clan at last.
A large bunch of herbs dangled from Cinderpelt’s jaws as she limped into the clearing. Her face was creased62 in a worried frown, and she didn’t even notice Fireheart standing63 at the tunnel entrance. She dropped the bundle on the sun-baked ground and began sorting fretfully though the leaves with her forepaws.
“Cinderpelt?” he meowed.
The little cat glanced up, surprised. “Fireheart! What are you doing here? Are you sick?”
Fireheart shook his head. “No. Is everything okay?”
Cinderpelt looked dejectedly at the pile of leaves in front of her, and Fireheart padded over and gave her a nuzzle. “What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you spilled mouse bile in Yellowfang’s nest again?”
“No!” replied Cinderpelt indignantly. Then she lowered her eyes. “I should never have agreed to train as a medicine cat. I’m a disaster. I should have read the signs when I found that rotting bird!”
Fireheart remembered the moment that had happened after his naming ceremony. Cinderpelt had chosen a magpie64 from the fresh-kill pile to give to Bluestar, only to find that, beneath its soft feathers, it was crawling with maggots.
“Well, no,” Cinderpaw admitted.
“So what makes you think you’re not cut out to be a medicine cat?” He tried not to let his mind dwell on the fact that the rotting magpie could have been an omen about another cat—his leader, Bluestar.
Cinderpelt flicked65 her tail with frustration. “Yellowfang asked me to mix a poultice for her. Just a simple one for cleansing66 wounds. It was one of the first things she ever taught me, but now I’ve forgotten which herbs to put in it. She’s going to think I’m an idiot!” Her voice rose to a wail67 and her blue eyes were huge and troubled.
“But it’s not the first dumb thing I’ve done lately. Yesterday I had to ask her the difference between foxglove and poppy seeds.” Cinderpelt hung her head even lower. “Yellowfang said I was a danger to the Clan.”
“Oh, you know what Yellowfang’s like,” Fireheart reassured69 her. “She’s always saying things like that.” Yellowfang had been ShadowClan’s medicine cat and, although she had become part of ThunderClan after being exiled by their cruel leader, Brokentail, she still betrayed flashes of the fierce temper of a ShadowClan warrior. But one of the reasons she and Cinderpelt got on so well was that Cinderpelt was more than capable of standing up to Yellowfang’s irritable70 outbursts.
Cinderpelt sighed. “I don’t think I’ve got what it takes to become a medicine cat. I thought I was doing the right thing, becoming Yellowfang’s apprentice, but it’s no good. I just can’t learn everything I need to know.”
Fireheart crouched71 down until his eyes were level with Cinderpelt’s. “This is about Silverstream, isn’t it?” he meowed fiercely. He remembered the day at Sunningrocks when Graystripe’s RiverClan queen had given birth before her time. Cinderpelt had tried desperately72 to save her, but Silverstream had lost too much blood. The beautiful silver tabby had died, although her newborn kits had survived.
“But I lost her.”
“You did everything you could.” Fireheart leaned forward to lick Cinderpelt on her soft gray head. “Look, just ask Yellowfang what herbs to use in the poultice. She won’t mind.”
“I hope so.” Cinderpelt sounded unconvinced. Then she gave herself a shake. “I need to stop feeling sorry for myself, don’t I?”
“Sorry.” Cinderpelt threw him a rueful look that glimmered75 with a hint of her old humor. “I don’t suppose you’ve brought any fresh-kill with you?”
Fireheart shook his head. “Sorry. I just came to speak to you. Don’t tell me Yellowfang’s starving you?”
“No, but this medicine-cat thing is harder than you’d think,” Cinderpelt replied. “I haven’t had the chance to take any fresh-kill today.” Her eyes flashed with curiosity. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Tigerclaw’s kits.” Fireheart felt the bleakness76 seep77 into his belly78 again. “Especially Bramblekit.”
“Because he looks like his father?”
Fireheart winced79. Were his feelings that easy to read? “I know I shouldn’t judge him. He’s just a kit. But when I saw him, it was as if Tigerclaw were looking at me. I…I couldn’t move.” Fireheart shook his head slowly, ashamed of his admission but glad of the chance to confide80 in his friend. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust him.”
“If you see Tigerclaw every time you look at him, it’s not surprising you feel like that,” mewed Cinderpelt gently. “But you must look beyond the color of his pelt44 and try to see the cat inside. Remember, he’s not just Tigerclaw’s kit. There’s some of Goldenflower in him too. And he will never know his father. It will be the Clan that raises him.” She added, “You of all cats should know that you can’t judge someone by the circumstances of their birth.”
Cinderpelt was right. Fireheart had never let his kittypet roots interfere81 with his loyalty82 to the Clan. “Has StarClan spoken to you about Bramblekit?” he asked, knowing that Cinderpelt and Yellowfang would have studied Silverpelt at the moment of his birth.
His heart lurched uncomfortably as the gray cat looked away and murmured, “StarClan doesn’t always share everything with me.”
Fireheart knew Cinderpelt well enough to know she was holding something back. “But they shared somethingwith you, right?”
Cinderpelt gazed up at him, her blue eyes steady. “His destiny will be as important as that of any kit born to ThunderClan,” she mewed firmly.
Fireheart knew he wouldn’t be able to make Cinderpelt reveal what StarClan had told her if she didn’t want to. He decided to tell Cinderpelt about the other problem that was troubling him. “There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about,” he confessed. “I have to decide who should be the mentors for Brindleface’s kits.”
“Isn’t that up to Bluestar?”
“She asked me to choose for her.”
Cinderpelt lifted her head in surprise. “Why are you looking so worried, then? You should be flattered.”
Flattered? Fireheart echoed silently, recalling the hostility84 and confusion in Bluestar’s eyes. He shrugged85. “Maybe. But I’m not sure who to pick.”
“You must have some idea,” Cinderpelt prompted him.
“Not a clue.”
Cinderpelt frowned thoughtfully. “Well, how did you feel when I was named as your apprentice?”
Fireheart was caught off guard by the question. “Proud. And scared. And desperate to prove myself,” he replied slowly.
“Which one of the warriors do you think wants to prove himself most?” Cinderpelt mewed.
Fireheart narrowed his eyes. An image of a brown tabby flashed in his mind. “Dustpelt.” Cinderpelt nodded thoughtfully as he went on: “He must be dying to get his first apprentice. He was pretty close to Tigerclaw, so he’ll want to prove his loyalty to the Clan now that Tigerclaw’s been exiled. He’s a good warrior, and I think he’ll make a good mentor.” Even as he spoke83, Fireheart realized he had a more personal motive86 for choosing Dustpelt. The tabby’s eyes had flashed enviously87 as Bluestar twice made Fireheart a mentor, first to Cinderpelt, then to Cloudpaw. Perhaps, Fireheart thought guiltily, giving Dustpelt an apprentice would soothe88 the warrior’s jealousy89 and make him easier to get along with.
“Well, then, that’s one chosen,” Cinderpelt mewed encouragingly.
Fireheart looked down into the medicine cat’s clear, wide eyes. She made it sound so simple.
“And what about the other?” asked Cinderpelt.
“The other what?” Yellowfang’s rasping mew sounded from the fern tunnel, and the dark gray she-cat padded stiffly into the clearing. Fireheart turned to greet her. As usual, her long fur looked matted and dull, as if caring for the Clan left her no time for grooming90, but her orange eyes gleamed, missing nothing.
“Bluestar’s asked Fireheart to choose the mentors for Brindleface’s kits,” Cinderpelt explained.
“Oh, has she?” Yellowfang’s eyes widened in surprise. “Who’ve you come up with?”
“We’ve already chosen Dustpelt?” Fireheart began.
Yellowfang interrupted him. “We’ve?”she rasped. “Who’s we?”
“Cinderpelt helped,” he admitted.
“I’m sure Bluestar will be pleased that a cat who’s barely begun her apprenticeship30 is making such important decisions for the Clan,” Yellowfang remarked. She turned to Cinderpelt. “Have you finished mixing that poultice?”
Cinderpelt opened her mouth, then shook her head before wordlessly padding back to the pile of herbs in the middle of the clearing.
Yellowfang snorted as she watched her apprentice limp away. “That cat hasn’t answered me back for days!” she complained to Fireheart. “There was a time when I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. The sooner she gets back to normal, the better it’ll be for both of us!” The old medicine cat frowned, then turned back to Fireheart. “Now, where were we?”
“Trying to decide who would be the second mentor to Brindleface’s kits,” Fireheart answered heavily.
“Who doesn’t have an apprentice?” rasped Yellowfang.
“Well, Sandstorm,” Fireheart replied. He couldn’t help feeling it would be unfair to give Dustpelt an apprentice without giving Sandstorm one too. After all, the two cats had trained together and earned their warrior names at the same time.
“Do you think it would be wise to have two inexperienced mentors at the same time?” Yellowfang pointed out.
Fireheart shook his head.
“So is there a more experienced ThunderClan warrior who doesn’t have an apprentice?” Yellowfang pressed him.
Darkstripe, Fireheart thought reluctantly. Every cat knew that Darkstripe had been one of Tigerclaw’s closest friends, even if he had chosen to stay with the Clan when the traitor91 had been sent into exile. Fireheart realized that if he didn’t choose Darkstripe to be a mentor, it might look as if he were taking revenge for the hostility that the warrior had shown him since he first came to ThunderClan. After all, Darkstripe was an obvious choice to take one of the apprentices.
Yellowfang must have seen the look of determination on Fireheart’s face, for she meowed, “Right, that’s sorted. Would you mind leaving me and my apprentice in peace now? We have work to do.”
Fireheart pushed himself to his paws, his relief that he had found two mentors tempered by the uneasy feeling that, while the chosen cats’ loyalty to the Clan was not in question, he was far less sure of their loyalty to him.
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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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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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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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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ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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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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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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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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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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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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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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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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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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sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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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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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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apprenticeship
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| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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mentors
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| n.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的名词复数 )v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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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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flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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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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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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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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tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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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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glands
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| n.腺( gland的名词复数 ) | |
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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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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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seethed
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| （液体）沸腾( seethe的过去式和过去分词 )； 激动，大怒； 强压怒火； 生闷气(~with sth|~ at sth) | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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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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magpie
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| n.喜欢收藏物品的人，喜鹊，饶舌者 | |
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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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cleansing
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| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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robustly
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| adv.要用体力地，粗鲁地 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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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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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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74
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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glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bleakness
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| adj. 萧瑟的, 严寒的, 阴郁的 | |
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seep
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| v.渗出，渗漏；n.渗漏，小泉，水（油）坑 | |
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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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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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81
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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82
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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83
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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84
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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85
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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86
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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87
enviously
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| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
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88
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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89
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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90
grooming
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| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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