CHAPTER 15
Fireheart carried the ball of wetmoss gently between his teeth. Some of the moisture had dripped out on the journey home, soaking his chest and cooling his forepaws, but there would be enough to quench2 Goldenflower’s and Willowpelt’s thirst until a patrol could collect more after sunset.
The Clan4 lay in small groups around the clearing while the sun slowly slid toward the treetops. Most of them had eaten and were quietly sharing tongues in the customary grooming6 session, pausing briefly7 between licks to greet Fireheart as he emerged from the gorse tunnel. He nodded to Runningwind, Mousefur, and Thornpaw, who were about to go out on the evening patrol.
Brindleface was getting ready to lead another group of elders to fetch water. She was gathering8 them together at the fallen oak, and Fireheart heard Smallear’s determined9 mew as he passed. “We’ll need to keep our ears pricked10 and our eyes sharp while we’re traveling.” The old gray tom went on: “You see that nick in my ear? I got that when I was an apprentice11. An owl5 swooped12 out of nowhere. But I’ll bet my claws left a bigger scar than his!”
Fireheart felt his fur relax on his shoulders, soothed13 by the familiar murmurings of Clan life. The ShadowClan cats were gone, just as Cinderpelt had promised, and he had seen Graystripe. He slipped into the nursery and placed the moss1 gently beside Willowpelt and Goldenflower.
“Thanks, Fireheart,” meowed Willowpelt.
“There’ll be more after supper,” Fireheart promised as the two queens began to lick the precious drops of water from the clump14 of moss. He tried to ignore the eyes of Tigerclaw’s kit15 gleaming hungrily from the shadows as Goldenflower pressed the moss with her muzzle16 to squeeze out another mouthful.
“Brindleface is going to lead the other elders to the river once the sun has set and the woods are clear of Twolegs,” Fireheart explained.
Goldenflower licked her lips. “It’s been a while since some of them have been out in the forest after dark,” she commented.
“I think Smallear is looking forward to it,” purred Fireheart. “He was telling stories about the owl that used to hunt near Sunningrocks. Poor Halftail looked a bit nervous.”
“A little excitement will do him good,” Willowpelt remarked. “I wish I could go with them. A scrap17 with an owl would be just the thing to stretch my legs!”
“Do you miss being a warrior18?” Fireheart asked, surprised. Willowpelt looked so comfortable lying in the nursery while her fast-growing kits19 scrambled20 over her. It hadn’t occurred to him she might hanker after her old life.
“Wouldn’t you?” Willowpelt challenged him.
Willowpelt twisted her head to pick up a tiny tortoiseshell-and-white she-kit that had tumbled off her flank. She dropped it between her forepaws and gave it a lick. “Oh, yes, I have my kits,” she agreed. “But I miss running through the forest, hunting for my own prey22, and patrolling our borders.” She licked the kit again and added, “I’m looking forward to taking these three out into the forest for the first time.”
“They look like they’ll make fine warriors23,” Fireheart meowed. The bittersweet memory of Cloudpaw’s first expedition, when he went into the snowbound forest and came back with a vole, rose in Fireheart’s mind, and he blinked. He dipped his head to the queens and turned to leave, glancing furtively24 at Tigerclaw’s kit. He couldn’t help wondering what sort of warrior it would be. “Bye,” he mumbled25 as he squeezed out of the nursery.
He could smell the tempting26 scents28 of the fresh-kill pile wafting29 from nearby, but there was one more thing he had to do before he could settle down for his evening meal. He padded across the clearing to Yellowfang’s den3.
The elderly medicine cat was resting in the evening sun, her fur dull and unkempt as usual. She lifted her muzzle to greet him. “Hello, Fireheart,” she rasped. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for Cinderpelt,” answered Fireheart.
“Why? What do you want now?” Cinderpelt’s mew sounded from inside her fern nest, and her gray head popped out.
“Is that any way to greet your deputy?” Yellowfang scolded, her eyes glinting with amusement.
“It is when he disturbs my sleep,” retorted Cinderpelt, clambering out. “He seems determined I shouldn’t get any rest these days!”
Yellowfang narrowed her eyes at Fireheart. “Have you two been up to something I should know about?”
“Are you questioning your deputy?” Cinderpelt teased.
Yellowfang purred. “I know you’ve been up to something,” she meowed. “But I won’t pry31. All I know is that my apprentice seems back to her old self again. Which is good, because she was no use to any cat while she was moping around like a damp mushroom!”
Fireheart was very relieved to see the two cats sparring with each other as they had done when Cinderpelt was first apprenticed32 to the medicine cat, before Silverstream had died. He shifted his paws awkwardly on the sun-baked ground. He had come to tell Cinderpelt that the ShadowClan cats had gone, but with Yellowfang here it was not easy.
“It’s strange,” Yellowfang growled33, looking pointedly34 at Fireheart. “I suddenly feel like fetching another mouse from the fresh-kill pile.” Fireheart blinked gratefully at the old medicine cat. “Anything you want, Cinderpelt?” she called over her shoulder as she padded toward the tunnel. Cinderpelt shook her head. “Okay, I’ll be back in a moment,” Yellowfang rasped. “Or maybe two.”
When she had disappeared, Fireheart meowed quietly, “I checked on the ShadowClan cats. They’ve gone.”
“I told you they would,” replied Cinderpelt.
“But they didn’t go until a couple of days ago,” Fireheart added.
“It would haven’t done them any good to travel any sooner,” mewed Cinderpelt. “And I had to make sure they’d learned how to make the herb mixture before they went.”
Fireheart twitched35 his tail at Cinderpelt’s stubbornness, but he couldn’t bring himself to argue with her. He knew she believed with all her heart that she had done the right thing in caring for them, and part of him agreed it had been worth the risk.
“I did tell them to leave, you know,” she meowed, her tone losing some of its certainty.
“I believe you,” Fireheart agreed gently. “It was my responsibility to make sure they left, not yours.”
“Graystripe told me.”
“He’s fine,” Fireheart purred. “He swims like a fish now.”
“You’re kidding!” mewed Cinderpelt. “I’d never have expected that.”
“Go and eat,” Cinderpelt ordered. “You’d better hurry up before Yellowfang demolishes39 the entire pile.”
Fireheart leaned down and licked Cinderpelt’s ears. “See you later,” he mewed.
Yellowfang had left him the choice of squirrel or a pigeon. Fireheart took the pigeon and looked around the clearing, wondering where to eat it. He sensed Sandstorm watching him, her slender body stretched out and her tail neatly40 curled over her hind41 legs.
Fireheart felt his heart begin to beat faster. Suddenly it didn’t matter that she wasn’t tortoiseshell, and that her eyes were pale green, not amber30. Fireheart looked at the pale ginger42 warrior, the pigeon hanging limply from his jaws43, and remembered what Cinderpelt had told him: live in the present, let go of the past. He knew Spottedleaf would always remain in his heart, but he couldn’t deny the way the fur tingled44 along his spine45 at the sight of Sandstorm. He padded across the clearing to join her. As he laid his pigeon beside her and started to eat, he heard her begin to purr.
Suddenly a terrible caterwauling made Fireheart jerk up his head. Sandstorm scrambled to her paws as Mousefur and Thornpaw thundered into the clearing. Their fur was matted with blood, and Thornpaw was limping badly.
Fireheart swallowed his mouthful quickly and heaved himself up. “What happened? Where’s Runningwind?”
The other cats gathered behind him, hissing46 with fear, their fur bristling47 as they prepared for trouble.
“I don’t know. We were attacked,” panted Mousefur.
“By who?” Fireheart demanded.
Mousefur shook her head. “We couldn’t see. We were in the shadows.”
Fireheart looked at the apprentice, who was swaying unsteadily on his paws. “Go and see Yellowfang,” he ordered. “Whitestorm!” he called to the white warrior who was already hurrying from Bluestar’s den. “I want you to come with us.” He turned to Mousefur. “Lead us to where this happened.”
Sandstorm and Dustpelt looked expectantly at Fireheart, waiting to receive orders. “You two stay here and guard the camp,” he meowed. “This might be a trap to lure49 our warriors away. It’s happened before.” With Bluestar on her last life, Fireheart knew he had to leave the camp well protected.
He charged out of the camp with Whitestorm at his side and Mousefur panting behind them. Together they scrambled up the ravine and raced into the forest.
Fireheart slowed his pace when he saw that Mousefur was struggling to keep up. “Quick as you can,” he urged. He knew she must be in pain after the fight, but they had to find Runningwind. He had a horrible feeling that this attack must have something to do with ShadowClan. Littlecloud and Whitethroat had been in ThunderClan territory so recently. Had they tricked him into leading his Clan into danger after all? He headed instinctively50 toward the Thunderpath.
“No,” called Mousefur. “It’s this way.” She brushed past him, quickening her pace, and veered51 toward Fourtrees. Fireheart and Whitestorm sped after her.
As they raced through the trees, Fireheart realized he had been this way before. This was the trail Littlecloud and Whitethroat had followed after Bluestar had sent them away the first time. Had a ShadowClan raiding party come through the stone tunnel under the Thunderpath?
Mousefur skidded52 to a halt between two towering ash trees. The Thunderpath droned in the distance, its foul53 stench drifting through the undergrowth. Ahead, Fireheart saw Runningwind’s lean brown body lying on the ground, ominously54 still. A black-and-white tom was bending over the unmoving warrior. With a jolt55, Fireheart realized that it was Whitethroat.
The ShadowClan warrior’s eyes stretched wide as he saw the approaching cats. He began to back away from Runningwind, his legs stumbling with shock. “He’s dead!” he wailed56.
Fireheart’s ears flattened57 as rage pulsed through him. Was this how ShadowClan warriors repaid another Clan’s kindness? Without stopping to see what Whitestorm and Mousefur were doing, he let out a furious screech58 and flung himself at Whitethroat, who shrank away, hissing. Fireheart knocked the ShadowClan warrior backward, and Whitethroat landed limply on the ground, offering no resistance as Fireheart loomed59 over him.
Fireheart stared down, confused, as his enemy crouched60 helplessly beneath him, his eyes narrowed into terrified slits61. While he hesitated, Whitethroat darted62 away and bolted into a tangle63 of brambles. Fireheart chased after him, ignoring the thorns that tore at his fur. The ShadowClan warrior must be heading for the stone tunnel. He pushed onward64 and caught a glimpse of the tip of Whitethroat’s tail as the tom struggled out of the brambles onto the grass verge65.
Fireheart emerged a moment later and saw Whitethroat poised66 on the edge of the Thunderpath. Fireheart hurtled toward him, expecting Whitethroat to flee to the tunnel, but Whitethroat took one look at the ThunderClan warrior and raced straight onto the Thunderpath.
Fireheart watched in horror as the terrified cat scrambled blindly across the hard gray surface. A deafening67 roar sounded in his ears. Fireheart shrank back, screwing up his face as the foul-smelling wind of a monster blasted his fur. When it had passed, he blinked open his eyes and shook the grit68 from his ear fur. A ragged69 shape was lying motionless on the Thunderpath. The monster had hit Whitethroat.
For a long heartbeat Fireheart froze, flooded by dreadful memories of Cinderpelt’s accident. Then he saw Whitethroat stir. Fireheart couldn’t leave any cat out there. Not even a ShadowClan enemy that had killed one of ThunderClan’s bravest warriors. He peered up and down the Thunderpath. There were no monsters in sight. He scurried70 across to where Whitethroat lay. The tom looked smaller than ever, his white chest glistening71 with blood like fire in the rays of the slowly sinking sun.
Fireheart knew that moving the cat would only hasten his death. Trembling with shock, he looked down at the warrior Cinderpelt had taken such trouble to care for, in secret from the rest of her Clan. “Why did you attack our patrol?” he whispered.
He leaned down as Whitethroat opened his mouth to speak, but the warrior’s gurgling mew was drowned as a monster roared past terrifyingly close, sending a wave of fumes72 and grit over the two cats. Fireheart sank his claws as well as he could into the unyielding surface and crouched closer to the ShadowClan warrior.
Whitethroat opened his mouth again, releasing a thin trickle73 of blood. He swallowed painfully, sending a juddering spasm74 the length of his body. But before he could speak, his eyes focused on a point over Fireheart’s shoulder, back toward the woods of ThunderClan territory. Fireheart watched as Whitethroat’s eyes glittered with fear before they glazed75 over for the last time.
He spun76 around to see what had filled Whitethroat’s final moments with such terror. His heart lurched when he saw who stood at the edge of the Thunderpath—the dark warrior who had prowled through so many of his dreams.
Tigerclaw.
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1
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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grooming
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| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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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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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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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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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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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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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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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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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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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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wafting
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的现在分词 ) | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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apprenticed
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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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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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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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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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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demolishes
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| v.摧毁( demolish的第三人称单数 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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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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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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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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43
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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44
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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46
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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48
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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49
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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50
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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51
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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52
skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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53
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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54
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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55
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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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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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
slits
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| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
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62
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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63
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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66
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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67
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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68
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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70
scurried
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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72
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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73
trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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74
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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75
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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76
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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