CHAPTER 22
“Fireheart?” Bluestar looked up as hepushed his way through the lichen1. She was still huddled2 in her nest, her fur ruffled3 and her eyes anxious. Fireheart couldn’t help wondering if she’d moved at all since he’d seen her last.
“Cloudpaw is back,” he announced. He had no idea how Bluestar would react to any news nowadays, so he might as well tell her straight out. “He was in the Twoleg territory beyond the uplands.”
“And he found his way back from there?” asked Bluestar in surprise.
Fireheart shook his head. “Ravenpaw saw him and came to tell me where he was.”
“Er…Tigerclaw’s old apprentice6,” Fireheart reminded her awkwardly.
“I know who Ravenpaw is!” snapped Bluestar. “What was he doing in ThunderClan territory?”
“He came to tell me about Cloudpaw,” Fireheart repeated.
“Cloudpaw,” echoed Bluestar, tipping her head slightly to one side. “He’s back? Why did he come back?”
“So StarClan led him home,” murmured Bluestar.
“Ravenpaw helped,” Fireheart added.
Bluestar stared at the sandy floor of the den8. “I thought StarClan wanted Cloudpaw to find a life outside the Clan.” Her voice was thoughtful. “Perhaps I was wrong.” She turned to Fireheart. “Ravenpaw helped you?”
“Yes. He led us to where Cloudpaw was shut in. He even saved us from dogs.”
“What did Ravenpaw say when you told him about Tigerclaw’s treachery?” Bluestar demanded suddenly.
Fireheart was caught off guard by the question. “Well, he…he was shocked, of course,” he stammered9.
“But he tried to warn us about him, didn’t he?” Bluestar’s voice sounded full of regret. “I remember now. Why didn’t I listen to him?”
Fireheart struggled to find a way to comfort his leader. “Ravenpaw was just an apprentice then. Every cat admired Tigerclaw. He hid his treachery well.”
Bluestar sighed. “I misjudged Tigerclaw and I misjudged Ravenpaw. I owe him an apology.” She looked up at Fireheart with heavy eyes. “Should I invite him back into the Clan?”
Fireheart shook his head. “Ravenpaw wouldn’t want to come back, Bluestar. We left him in Twoleg territory, where Barley10 lives,” he explained. “He’s happy there. You were right when you told me he would find a life that suited him better outside the Clan.”
Fireheart felt as if the conversation were getting out of control. “I think Clan life will suit him in the end,” he meowed, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. “But only you can decide whether we should take him back.”
“Why shouldn’t we?”
“And what do you think?”
Fireheart took a deep breath. “I think Cloudpaw’s time with the Twolegs has taught him that his heart lies in the forest, just as mine does.”
He was relieved to see Bluestar’s eyes brighten. “Very well. He can stay,” she agreed.
“Thanks, Bluestar.” Fireheart knew he should feel more joyful13 that Cloudpaw had been accepted back into ThunderClan, but his relief was still tinged14 with doubt. Cloudpaw had fought well against the WindClan patrol, and seemed genuinely pleased to be back in the camp, but how long would this last? Until he got bored with training? Or fed up with catching15 his own food?
Bluestar went on thoughtfully, “And we should also tell the Clan that if they see Ravenpaw in our territory, they should welcome him as they would a denmate.”
Fireheart dipped his head gratefully. Ravenpaw had made few friends as an apprentice, mainly due to his paralyzing fear of Tigerclaw, but there was no cause for any cat in ThunderClan to hold a grudge16 against him. “When will you make the announcement about Cloudpaw?” he asked. It would be good for the Clan to see their leader on the Highrock once more.
“You tell them,” Bluestar ordered. A thorn of disappointment pricked17 at him. Had Bluestar reached the point where she felt unable to address her own Clan? And even though he itched18 to tell the other cats that Cloudpaw could stay, Fireheart needed the Clan to be certain it was Bluestar’s decision. She had kept to her den for so long and left so much of the daily running of the camp to Fireheart, how could the cats be sure that she had ordered this? If she made the announcement herself, not even Darkstripe could complain.
Fireheart stood in silence, his mind whirling.
“Is something wrong?” Bluestar narrowed her eyes quizzically.
“Perhaps Darkstripe should tell the others,” Fireheart ventured slowly. “After all, he was the one to object.”
The breath caught in Fireheart’s throat as a glimmer19 of suspicion momentarily clouded Bluestar’s gaze. “You’re becoming shrewd, Fireheart. You’re right. Darkstripe should be the one to spread the news. Send him to me.”
Fireheart searched her expression, wondering if Bluestar had been unnerved by his cunning or the thought of seeing Darkstripe. But her eyes betrayed nothing as he meowed his farewell and backed out of the den.
Darkstripe had not moved. He sat, waiting for Bluestar’s judgment20, while the other cats carried on with their duties as usual. The few who remained around the clearing looked up inquisitively21 as Fireheart walked away from the Highrock.
Fireheart stared into Darkstripe’s amber22 eyes, trying not to betray his sense of triumph, and nodded toward Bluestar’s den, signaling with a flick4 of his tail that the ThunderClan leader wanted to see him. As the striped warrior23 strode past him, Fireheart padded to the pile of fresh-kill, which was already well stocked even though the sun was still climbing in the sky. The patrols were hunting well, he thought with satisfaction. Tired and hungry, he picked up a squirrel in his jaws24. If there was a storm coming, Fireheart thought, he hoped it would break soon.
On the way to the nettle25 clump26, Fireheart made a detour27 to the apprentices’ den where Cloudpaw sat alone, hungrily gulping28 down a sparrow.
The white cat looked up and swallowed hastily as Fireheart approached. “What did she say?” For once there was an anxious edge to his mew.
Fireheart dropped his squirrel. “You can stay.”
Cloudpaw broke into a loud purr. “Great,” he mewed. “When are we going out training?”
Fireheart’s weary paws ached at the thought, and he answered, “Not today. I have to rest.”
Cloudpaw looked disappointed.
“Tomorrow,” Fireheart promised with a glimmer of amusement. He couldn’t help feeling cheered by his apprentice’s enthusiasm to get back into the old routines. “By the way,” he went on, “you tell a fine story. You made your little escapade sound like quite an adventure.” Cloudpaw looked awkwardly down at his paws as Fireheart continued, “But as long as you start living by the warrior code, I’ll let the Clan go on believing you were ‘stolen’ by the Twolegs….”
“But I was,” muttered Cloudpaw.
Fireheart stared sternly back at him. “We both know that’s not entirely29 true. And if I catch you even looking over a Twoleg fence again, I’ll chase you out of the Clan myself!”
“Yes, Fireheart,” mewed Cloudpaw. “I understand.”
Fireheart curled up in his nest the following evening feeling pleased. His training session with Cloudpaw had gone well. For once his apprentice had listened carefully to every instruction, and there was no denying that his fighting techniques were getting better and better. I just hope it lasts, he thought as he drifted into slumber30.
The forest weaved its way into his dreams. Tree trunks loomed31 toward him through the mist, disappearing into clouds as they soared upward. Fireheart called out, but his voice was sucked into the eerie32 silence. Panic rose in his chest as he searched for familiar landmarks33, but the mist was too thick. The trees seemed to crowd in on him, growing closer together than he remembered, their blackened trunks scraping against his fur. He sniffed34 the air, his fur bristling35 in alarm at an acrid36 scent37 that he recognized but could not name.
Suddenly he felt the softness of another pelt38 pressing against his own. An achingly familiar scent enveloped39 him, soothing40 his fretful mind like a drink of cool water. It was Spottedleaf.
“What’s happening?” Fireheart meowed, but Spottedleaf didn’t reply. Fireheart spun41 around to face her, but he could barely see her through the mist. He could just make out her amber eyes filled with fear before the sound of Twoleg howling exploded into the silence.
A pair of young Twolegs came running out of the mist, their faces twisted in fear. Fireheart felt Spottedleaf dive away and turned to see her disappear into the fog. Terrified, Fireheart was left alone with the Twolegs rushing toward him, their feet thundering on the forest floor.
He woke with a start. His eyes flashed open and he stared fearfully around the den. Something was wrong. The world of his dreams had invaded his waking world; the acrid scent still filled the air, and a strange, choking mist seeped42 through the branches. Fireheart leaped to his paws and scrambled43 out of the den. An orange light shone dimly through the trees. Could it be dawn already?
The smell grew stronger, and with a sense of horror Fireheart knew what it was.
Fire!
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1
lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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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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4
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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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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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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barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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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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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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14
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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17
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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itched
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| v.发痒( itch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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24
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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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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detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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28
gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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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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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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seeped
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| v.（液体）渗( seep的过去式和过去分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出 | |
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43
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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