CHAPTER 5
The ThunderClan leader had reached thetop of the ravine by the time Fireheart caught up with her. She paused to sniff2 the air before padding into the forest. Fireheart noticed with relief how relaxed she seemed now that they were out of the camp, nosing her way through the undergrowth toward the RiverClan border.
Fireheart glanced in surprise at the she-cat. This wasn’t the quickest route to Fourtrees and the uplands beyond, but he didn’t question her. He couldn’t help feeling excited at the thought that he might catch a glimpse of Graystripe across the river.
The two cats met the RiverClan border above Sunningrocks and followed the scent3 markers upriver. A warm breeze carried the faint heather scent of the moor4 down to them. Fireheart could hear the river flowing past on the other side of the ferns. He craned his neck and saw the water glimmering5 in the dappled light under the trees. Above his head the leaves glowed green and flashed at the edges where the sunlight pierced the thick roof of the forest. Even in the shade, Fireheart felt hot. He wished he could plunge6 into the water like a RiverClan cat, to cool himself down.
Finally the river bent7 away, deeper into RiverClan territory, and Bluestar carried straight on, following the markers along the border between ThunderClan and RiverClan. Fireheart couldn’t stop glancing across the scentline, searching the woods beyond for any sign of RiverClan cats, wary8 of being spotted9 by a patrol but ever hopeful of seeing his old friend. Bluestar was leading them recklessly close to the border, even crossing it occasionally as they weaved through the undergrowth. Fireheart had no idea how RiverClan would react if they found them here. The two Clans10 had nearly come to conflict over Silverstream’s kits11, and battle was averted13 only when Graystripe took his kits back to their mother’s Clan1.
Suddenly Bluestar stopped and lifted her muzzle14, opening her mouth to taste the air. She dropped into a crouch15, and Fireheart, trusting Bluestar’s warrior16 instincts, flattened17 himself too, ducking behind a patch of nettles18.
Fireheart could smell them now. He felt his hackles rising as the scent grew stronger and he heard the swish of fur disturbing the undergrowth ahead of them. He raised his head very slowly and peered through the trees, his heart thumping20 as he searched for a familiar gray pelt21. Beside him, Bluestar’s eyes were wide and her flanks barely moved as she took silent, shallow breaths. Was she hoping to see Graystripe too?Fireheart wondered. It hadn’t occurred to him before now that Bluestar might also want to run into some RiverClan cats. It would certainly explain why she had come this way.
But Fireheart couldn’t believe that it was Graystripe she wanted to see. Yesterday, in her confusion, she’d forgotten that the gray warrior had left the Clan, and Fireheart sensed that Bluestar’s mind was spinning with other thoughts. Then it hit him like a fledgling dropping into his paws: her kits. Many moons ago, the ThunderClan leader had given birth to two kits that had been raised in RiverClan. She’d entrusted22 them to their RiverClan father when they were barely old enough to leave their nest. Bluestar’s ambition and loyalty23 to her Clan had made it impossible for her to raise the kits herself. Now they lived as RiverClan warriors, unaware24 that their real mother came from ThunderClan. But Bluestar had never forgotten them, although only Fireheart knew her secret. It must be Stonefur and Mistyfoot that Bluestar was scanning the undergrowth for.
A glimpse of tawny25 mottled fur in the distance made Fireheart duck down again. That wasn’t Graystripe, or either of Bluestar’s offspring. A vaguely26 familiar scent confirmed to Fireheart the identity of the warrior. It was Leopardfur, the RiverClan deputy.
Fireheart glanced at Bluestar; she still had her head up, peering through the trees. The rustling27 of ferns warned Fireheart that Leopardfur was getting nearer. He felt his breath quicken. What would happen if she saw the ThunderClan leader so close to the RiverClan border?
Fireheart froze as the rustling in the bushes grew louder. He heard the RiverClan deputy stop, and her silence told him she had detected something. Staring desperately28 at Bluestar he was about to signal to her with his tail when she dropped her head and hissed29 in his ear, “Come on; we’d better head deeper into our own territory.”
Fireheart sighed with relief as the ThunderClan leader crept silently away. Keeping his ears flat and his belly30 to the ground, Fireheart followed her away from the scent markers and into the safety of ThunderClan’s woods.
“That Leopardfur moves so loudly, I should think even ShadowClan heard her coming,” remarked Bluestar once they were away from the border. Fireheart’s whiskers quivered with surprise. He had begun to wonder if Bluestar had forgotten how fiercely the Clans defended their boundaries, especially in these difficult times.
“She’s a good warrior, but too easily distracted,” Bluestar went on calmly. “She was more interested in that rabbit upwind than looking for enemy warriors.”
Fireheart couldn’t help feeling cheered by his leader’s confidence. Now that he thought about it, there had been the scent of rabbit on the breeze, but he’d been too worried about Leopardfur to take any notice of it.
“This reminds me of the days I used to take you for training,” purred Bluestar as she padded through the sun-dappled woods.
Fireheart ran to catch up with her. “Me too,” he replied.
“You were a fast learner. I chose well when I invited you into my Clan,” Bluestar murmured. She looked back over her shoulder at Fireheart, and he saw pride in her eyes. He blinked gratefully at her.
“All the Clans have much to thank you for,” Bluestar continued. “You drove Brokentail out of ShadowClan, brought WindClan home from exile, helped RiverClan when they were flooded, and saved ThunderClan from Tigerclaw.” Fireheart began to feel a little overwhelmed by her praise as she went on: “No other warrior has your sense of fairness or loyalty or courage….”
Fireheart’s fur pricked31 uneasily. “But all the ThunderClan cats respect the warrior code as I do,” he pointed32 out. “Every one of them would sacrifice themselves to protect you and the Clan.”
Bluestar stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Fireheart. “You are the only cat who dared oppose Tigerclaw,” she reminded him.
“But I was the only one who knew that he killed Redtail!” Fireheart had still been an apprentice33 when he had found out that the ThunderClan warrior had been responsible for the death of Bluestar’s loyal deputy. But he had been unable to prove Tigerclaw’s murderous secret until the traitor34 had led the rogue35 cats against his own Clan.
A fiery36 resentment37 flashed in Bluestar’s eyes. “Graystripe knew too. It was only you who saved me!”
Fireheart looked away, lost for words. His ears twitched38 uncomfortably. It looked as if Bluestar didn’t trust any of her warriors except him and maybe Whitestorm. Fireheart realized that Tigerclaw had done more damage than any of the Clan could possibly imagine. The dark warrior had poisoned their leader’s judgment39 and drained away all her confidence in her warriors.
“Come on!” snapped Bluestar.
Fireheart watched the gray she-cat stalk away through the forest, her shoulders stiff and her tail fluffed up. He shivered. Although the sky was still bright overhead, he felt as if a black cloud had blotted40 out the sun and cast an ominous41 shadow over their journey.
They reached Fourtrees as the sun broke through the leaves at the top of the trees. Fireheart followed Bluestar down the slope into the valley, where the four great oaks stood, guarding the place where the Clans met each full moon under a single night’s truce42. The two cats passed the Great Rock where the leaders of each Clan stood to address the Gathering43, and headed up the far side of the valley.
As the grassy44 hill turned steeper and rockier, Fireheart noticed that Bluestar was struggling to keep up the pace. She grunted45 each time she jumped onto the next rock, and Fireheart had to slow down so that he didn’t pass her.
“Are you okay?” Fireheart asked.
“Not so young…” panted Bluestar.
Fireheart felt a pang47 of worry. He had assumed that her physical injuries from the battle had healed. Where had this sudden weakness come from? It made her seem older and more vulnerable than ever. Perhaps it’s just climbing in this heat,he thought hopefully. After all, her pelt is thicker than mine.
While Bluestar caught her breath, Fireheart peered nervously48 across the stunted49 gorse and heather that covered the uplands. This was WindClan territory, stretching away from them under the cloudless sky. He felt even uneasier here than on the RiverClan border. WindClan was still angry with ThunderClan because they had given sanctuary50 to the former ShadowClan leader, and it was Bluestar herself who had decided51 to take in the blinded Brokentail. What would a WindClan patrol do if they found the ThunderClan leader on their territory, with only one warrior to guard her? Fireheart wasn’t sure if he could protect his leader against a whole patrol.
“We must be careful not to be spotted,” he whispered.
“What did you say?” called Bluestar. The breeze was stronger up here, and even though it did nothing to ease the sun’s burning heat, it carried Fireheart’s words away.
“We must be careful they don’t see us!” Fireheart reluctantly raised his voice.
“Why?” Bluestar demanded. “We’re traveling to the Moonstone. StarClan has granted us the right to travel safely!”
Fireheart realized it would be a waste of time to argue. “I’ll lead the way,” he offered.
He knew the uplands well, better than most ThunderClan cats. He’d been here many times before, but he’d never felt as exposed and vulnerable as he did now. Quickly he led Bluestar into the sea of heather, praying that StarClan had as much belief in their right to travel here as Bluestar did, and that their warrior ancestors would protect them from any passing WindClan patrols. He also hoped that Bluestar had enough sense to keep her ears and tail low.
The sun was reaching its highest point as they neared the swathe of gorse at the heart of WindClan’s territory. Fourtrees was far behind them, but there was still a long way to go before they reached the slope at the edge of the moor that ran down into Twoleg farmland. Fireheart paused. A hot breeze was blowing toward him, as stifling52 as the breath of a sick cat, and he knew their scent would be carried back through WindClan territory. He just hoped the perfume of the honey-rich heather would mask it. Beside him, Bluestar signaled with a flick53 of her tail and vanished into the gorse.
An angry yowl sounded from behind them. Fireheart spun54 around and backed away, wincing55 as the gorse pricked his haunches. Three WindClan cats faced him, their fur bristling56 and their ears flattened.
“Intruders. Why are you here?” hissed a mottled dark brown tabby. Fireheart recognized Mudclaw, one of the senior warriors. A gray tabby warrior called Tornear was beside him, his back arched and his claws unsheathed. Fireheart had grown to know and respect these cats when he had escorted WindClan back from their exile in Twoleg territory, but all traces of their former alliance had vanished now. He didn’t recognize the smallest cat—an apprentice, perhaps, but every bit as fierce-looking and wiry as his Clanmates.
The fur rose along Fireheart’s spine57 and his heart began to pound, but he tried to stay calm. “We’re just traveling through—” he began.
Where was Bluestar?Fireheart thought desperately, half wanting her support, half hoping she hadn’t heard Mudclaw’s yowl and was heading safely through the gorse toward Twoleg territory.
A snarl59 at his side told him she had returned for him. He glanced quickly to see Bluestar standing60 at the edge of the gorse with her head held high and her eyes blazing with fury. “We are traveling to Highstones. StarClan grants us safe passage. You have no right to stop us!”
Mudclaw didn’t flinch61. “You gave up your rights to StarClan’s protection when you took Brokentail into your Clan!” he retorted.
Fireheart could understand the WindClan cats’ anger. He had seen for himself the misery62 they had endured when they were driven out by Brokentail’s Clan warriors. With a surge of pity he remembered the tiny WindClan kit12 he’d helped to carry home—it had been the only one of its litter to survive. The former ShadowClan leader had nearly destroyed the Clan with his cruelty.
Fireheart stared into Mudclaw’s fierce gaze. “Brokentail is dead,” he told him.
Mudclaw’s eyes glittered. “You killed him?” he demanded.
As Fireheart hesitated, Bluestar growled63 menacingly from his side. “Of course we didn’t kill him. ThunderClan aren’t murderers.”
“No,” Mudclaw spat back. “You just protect them!” The WindClan warrior arched his back aggressively.
Disappointed, Fireheart felt his mind whirl as he tried to think of another way to convince WindClan.
“You will let us pass!” Bluestar hissed. Fireheart froze as he saw his leader flexing64 her claws and raising her hackles, ready to attack.
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收听单词发音
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1
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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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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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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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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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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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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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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nettles
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| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
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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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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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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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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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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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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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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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39
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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42
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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43
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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45
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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46
wheezing
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| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
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47
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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48
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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49
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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50
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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51
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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52
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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53
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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54
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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55
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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56
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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58
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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59
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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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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61
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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62
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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63
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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64
flexing
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| n.挠曲，可挠性v.屈曲( flex的现在分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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