CHAPTER 3
“Have you seen Cloudpaw?” Fireheart emergedfrom the fern tunnel and called to Thornpaw, Mousefur’s apprentice1. The ginger2 tom was trotting3 toward the pile of fresh-kill with two mice dangling4 from his jaws5. He shook his head, and Fireheart felt a flash of annoyance6. Cloudpaw should have been back ages ago.
“All right. Take those mice straight to the elders,” he ordered Thornpaw. The apprentice gave a muffled7 mew and padded quickly away.
Fireheart felt his tail bristle8 with anger at Cloudpaw, but he knew it was fear that made him so furious. What if Tigerclaw has found him? Feeling his alarm grow, Fireheart hurried to Bluestar’s den9. He would tell her his decision about the mentors10 and then he could go and look for Cloudpaw.
At the Highrock, Fireheart didn’t pause to smooth his ruffled12 fur; he just called out and pushed his way through the lichen13 as soon as he heard Bluestar’s reply. The ThunderClan leader was crouching15 in her nest where he had left her, staring at the wall.
“Bluestar,” Fireheart began, dipping his head. “I thought Dustpelt and Darkstripe would be good mentors.”
The elderly she-cat turned her head and looked at Fireheart, then heaved herself up onto her haunches. “Very well,” she answered flatly.
A wave of disappointment broke over Fireheart. Bluestar looked as if she didn’t care whom he chose. “Shall I send them to you so you can tell them the good news?” he asked. “They’re out of the camp just now,” he added. “But when they return, I can—”
“They’re on patrol,” Fireheart explained uncomfortably.
“Where’s Whitestorm?”
“Out training Brightpaw.”
“And Mousefur?”
“Hunting with Brackenfur and Sandstorm.”
Fireheart saw the muscles in her shoulders tense and his heart lurched. What was Bluestar afraid of? His thoughts darted20 back to Cloudpaw and the fear he had felt this morning in the silent forest. “The patrol’s due back soon.” Fireheart fought to stay calm as he tried to reassure21 his leader. “And I’m still here.”
“Don’t patronize me! I’m not some frightened kit22!” spat23 Bluestar. Fireheart shrank back and she went on: “Make sure you stay in camp until the patrol returns. We’ve been attacked twice in the past moon. I don’t want the camp to be left unguarded. In the future I want at least three warriors to remain in camp all the time.”
Fireheart felt a chill shudder24 through his pelt16. For once he did not dare meet his leader’s eyes, afraid that he wouldn’t recognize the cat he saw there. “Yes, Bluestar,” he murmured quietly.
“When Darkstripe and Dustpelt return, send them to my den. I wish to speak to them before the ceremony.”
“Of course.”
“Now go!” Bluestar flicked26 her tail at him, as if she thought he was putting the Clan14 in danger by wasting time.
Fireheart backed out of the den. He sat down in the shade of the Highrock and twisted his head to lick the fur on his tail. What should he do? His pounding heart told him to race into the forest, find Cloudpaw, and bring him home to the safety of the camp. But Bluestar had ordered him to stay here until one of the patrols returned.
Just then he heard the crashing of cats through the undergrowth outside the camp and he smelled the familiar scents28 of Darkstripe, Runningwind, and Dustpelt on the warm air. Their pawsteps slowed as they trotted29 through the gorse entrance, Runningwind leading the way.
Fireheart sprang to his paws with relief. Now he could leave the camp and find Cloudpaw. He hurried across the clearing to meet them. “How did the patrol go?” he called.
“No signs of the other Clans,” reported Runningwind.
“But we did smell your apprentice,” added Darkstripe. “Near Twolegplace.”
Darkstripe shook his head.
“I expect he was looking for birds in one of the Twoleg gardens.” Dustpelt smirked31. “They’re probably more to his taste.”
“Fairly. We lost his trail when we started to head back to camp.”
Fireheart nodded. At least he had an idea where to begin looking for Cloudpaw. “Darkstripe and Dustpelt,” he meowed, “Bluestar wants to see you in her den.” As the warriors padded away, Fireheart wondered whether to go with them, just in case Bluestar was still acting33 strangely. Then he noticed that Runningwind was leading Thornpaw toward the camp entrance. “Where are you going?” he called anxiously. Bluestar wanted three warriors to remain in camp; he couldn’t go and look for Cloudpaw if Runningwind was going out again.
“I promised Mousefur I’d teach Thornpaw how to catch squirrels this afternoon,” Runningwind meowed over his shoulder.
“But I…” Fireheart’s voice trailed away as the lean warrior19 eyed him curiously34. He couldn’t bring himself to admit how worried he was about Cloudpaw. He shook his head. “Nothing,” he meowed, and Runningwind and Thornpaw disappeared into the gorse tunnel. A twinge of guilt35 shot through Fireheart as he watched Mousefur’s apprentice padding obediently after the warrior. Why couldn’t he inspire that sort of behavior in his own apprentice?
The rest of the afternoon dragged. Fireheart settled himself beside the nettle36 clump37 outside the warriors’ den and strained his ears, scanning the sounds of the forest for any sign of Cloudpaw’s return. But the fear that Bluestar had stirred in him had eased slightly since Darkstripe reported scenting38 only the young apprentice on the patrol, and no intruders in ThunderClan territory.
As the sun began to sink below the treetops, the hunting party returned. It was followed by Whitestorm and Brightpaw, drawn39 away from the training hollow, no doubt, by the scent of fresh-kill. Longtail and Swiftpaw returned soon afterward40, but there was still no sign of Cloudpaw.
There was plenty of prey41 to go around, but no cat approached the pile. News of the naming ceremony had spread through the camp. Fireheart could hear Thornpaw, Brightpaw, and Swiftpaw whispering in excited mews outside their den until Bluestar padded out from her cave, when they hushed one another and looked up with huge, expectant eyes.
The ThunderClan leader leaped onto the Highrock in a single, easy bound. She had clearly recovered from her physical injuries after the battle with the rogue43 cats, but Fireheart didn’t know whether to feel relieved or worried by this. Why hadn’t her mind recovered as quickly as her body? His heart quickened as she raised her chin, preparing to call the Clan together. Her voice sounded dry and cracked, as if it had grown brittle44 from lack of use, but as she yowled the familiar words, Fireheart felt his confidence return.
The sinking sun glowed on his flame-colored fur, and he thought of his own naming ceremony, when he had first joined the Clan. Proudly squaring his shoulders Fireheart took the deputy’s place at the head of the clearing below the Highrock, while the rest of the Clan gathered in a circle around the edge. Darkstripe sat calmly at the front, staring ahead with unblinking eyes. Dustpelt sat stiffly beside him, unable to suppress the excitement that shone from his eyes.
“We are here today to give two Clan kits45 their apprentice names,” Bluestar began formally, glancing down to where Brindleface sat with a kit on either side of her. Fireheart hardly recognized the boisterous46 gray kits he’d seen wrestling in the nursery earlier. They looked much smaller out here, with their fur neatly47 groomed48. One of them leaned toward its mother, its whiskers trembling with nervous excitement. The larger kit kneaded the ground with its paws.
“Come forward,” Fireheart heard Bluestar’s voice command from above.
The kits padded side by side to the center of the clearing, their mottled gray coats bristling49 with anticipation50.
Fireheart watched as Dustpelt walked toward the larger gray kit and stood beside him.
“Dustpelt,” Bluestar went on, “this will be your first apprentice. Share your courage and determination with him. I know you will train him well, but don’t be afraid to turn to the senior warriors for advice.”
Dustpelt’s eyes gleamed with pride, and he leaned down to touch Ashpaw’s nose with his own. Ashpaw purred loudly as he followed his new mentor to the edge of the circle.
The smaller kit remained in the center of the clearing, her eyes shining and her little chest quivering. Fireheart caught her eye and blinked warmly at her. The kit stared back at him as though her life depended on it.
“Darkstripe.” Bluestar paused when she meowed the warrior’s name. Fireheart’s spine51 tingled52 as he saw a glimmer53 of fear flash in the leader’s eyes. He held his breath, but Bluestar blinked away her doubt and went on. “You will be mentor to Fernpaw.” The kit’s eyes widened, and she spun54 around to see the big tabby warrior padding toward her.
“Darkstripe,” meowed Bluestar, “you are intelligent and bold. Pass on all you can to this young apprentice.”
“Certainly,” promised Darkstripe. He bent55 to touch noses with Fernpaw, who seemed to shrink back for a heartbeat before stretching up to accept his greeting. As the new apprentice followed Darkstripe to the edge of the clearing, she cast an anxious look over her shoulder at Fireheart. He nodded back encouragingly.
The other cats began congratulating the two new apprentices56, crowding around them and calling them by their new names. Fireheart was just about to join them when he caught sight of a white pelt slipping into the camp. Cloudpaw had returned.
Fireheart hurried to meet him. “Where have you been?” he demanded.
Cloudpaw dropped the vole that was clamped between his jaws. “Hunting.”
“Is that all you could find? You caught more than that during leaf-bare!”
“What about the pigeon you caught this morning?” Fireheart asked.
“Didn’t you bring that back?”
“It was yourcatch!” Fireheart spat.
Cloudpaw sat down and curled his tail over his front paws. “I suppose I’ll have to fetch it in the morning,” he mewed.
“Yes,” agreed Fireheart, exasperated58 by Cloudpaw’s indifference59. “And until then you can go hungry. Go and put that”—he flicked his nose at the vole—“on the fresh-kill pile.”
Cloudpaw shrugged again, picked up the vole, and padded away.
“He’ll learn when he’s ready,” meowed the white warrior softly.
“I hope so,” Fireheart muttered.
“Have you decided61 who’s going to lead the dawn patrol?” Whitestorm asked, diplomatically changing the subject.
Fireheart hesitated. He hadn’t even thought about it, or the rest of the patrols and hunting parties for the next day. He’d been too busy worrying about Cloudpaw.
“Give it some thought,” meowed Whitestorm, turning away. “There’s plenty of time yet.”
“I’ll lead the patrol,” Fireheart decided quickly. “I’ll take Longtail and Mousefur.”
“Good idea,” purred Whitestorm. “Shall I tell them?” He glanced over at the fresh-kill pile, where the cats were beginning to gather.
“Yes,” answered Fireheart. “Thanks.”
He watched the white warrior head toward the pile, feeling his own belly62 growl63 with hunger. He was about to follow when he noticed another white pelt, longer-haired and the color of fresh snow, mingling64 with the cats around the fresh-kill pile. Cloudpaw had obviously disobeyed Fireheart’s orders to keep away from the sharing of prey. Fury flashed through Fireheart, but he stayed where he was, his paws as heavy as stone. He didn’t want to argue with Cloudpaw in front of the rest of the Clan.
As Fireheart watched, Cloudpaw picked out a fat mouse and bumped into Whitestorm. Fireheart saw the white warrior glare sternly at Cloudpaw and heard him murmur25 something—he couldn’t tell what, but Cloudpaw dropped the mouse at once and slunk back toward his den with his tail down.
Fireheart quickly turned his head away, embarrassed that he hadn’t confronted Cloudpaw before the senior warrior. Suddenly he didn’t feel hungry anymore. He saw Bluestar lying under a clump of ferns beside the warriors’ den and longed to share his worries about his disobedient apprentice with his old mentor. But the haunted look had returned to her eyes as she picked halfheartedly at a small thrush. Fireheart felt a sadness like ice in his heart as he watched the ThunderClan leader heave herself to her paws and walk slowly toward her den, leaving the thrush untouched.
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1
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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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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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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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 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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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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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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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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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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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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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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reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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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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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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26
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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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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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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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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smirked
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| v.傻笑( smirk的过去分词 ) | |
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jibe
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| v.嘲笑，与...一致，使转向；n.嘲笑，嘲弄 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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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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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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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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42
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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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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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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48
groomed
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| v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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49
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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50
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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51
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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52
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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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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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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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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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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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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63
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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