CHAPTER 25
Fireheart dropped Speckletail’s kit1 at Whitestorm’spaws and turned to face the Clan2. “It’s shallow enough to wade3 most of the way,” he yowled. “Much shallower than usual. There’s a place in the middle where you’ll have to swim, but you’ll make it.” The cats looked at him with horrified4 eyes. “You have to trust me!” he urged.
Whitestorm met Fireheart’s gaze for a long heartbeat, then nodded calmly. He picked up Speckletail’s kit and waded5 into the river until he stood up to his belly6 in the dark water. Then he turned and flicked7 his tail for the others to follow.
Fireheart felt a familiar scent8 in his nostrils9, and a soft ginger10 pelt11 brushed against his shoulder. He looked down into Sandstorm’s bright green gaze.
“You think it’s safe?” she murmured, pointing with her nose to the fast-flowing river.
“Yes, I promise,” Fireheart replied, wishing with all his heart that they were somewhere else, far from this flame-threatened shore. He blinked slowly at the steadfast12 warrior13 beside him, trying to comfort her with his gaze when really he wanted to bury his muzzle14 in her fur and hide until this nightmare was over.
Sandstorm nodded as if she could read his mind. Then she raced through the shallows and plunged15 into the deep central channel just as lightning lit up the rippling17 water. Fireheart’s chest tightened18 as the she-cat lost her footing on the pebbles19 and disappeared under the surface. He felt his heart stop beating and his ears roar like thunder as he waited for her to reappear.
Then Sandstorm bobbed up, coughing and thrashing with her paws, but swimming steadily20 toward the far shore. She struggled out on the other side, her coat dark with water and clinging to her body, and called to her Clanmates, “Just keep your paws moving and you’ll be okay!”
Fireheart’s chest ached with pride. He stared at the lithe21 shape, silhouetted22 against the trees on the other shore, and could hardly stop himself from leaping into the water and swimming to her side. But he had to see the rest of the Clan across first, and he forced himself to watch his Clanmates as they began to plunge16 headlong into the river.
Dustpelt and Cloudpaw dragged Patchpelt’s body to the water’s edge. Dustpelt looked down at it, then gazed across the river, his expression bleak23 at the impossibility of carrying the dead cat to the other side when it would be difficult enough to swim alone.
Fireheart padded to the warrior’s side. “Leave him here,” he murmured, even though the prospect24 of leaving another cat behind tore at his heart. “We can come back and bury him when the fire has passed.”
Dustpelt nodded and waded into the river with Cloudpaw. The apprentice25 was almost unrecognizable under the smoke stains, and Fireheart touched his nose to the young cat’s flank as he passed, hoping Cloudpaw could sense how proud his mentor26 was of his quiet courage.
When Fireheart lifted his head he saw Smallear hesitating at the river’s edge. On the far side, Sandstorm was standing27 belly-deep in water, helping28 the cats as they struggled to the shore. She called encouragingly to the old gray tom, but Smallear backed away as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Fireheart dashed toward the trembling elder, grabbed him by the scruff, and plunged into the river. Smallear wailed29 and floundered as Fireheart struggled to keep his head above the surface. The water felt icy after the heat of the flames, and Fireheart found himself gasping30 for breath, but he plowed31 on, trying to remember how easily Graystripe had swum this same channel.
Suddenly a swift current dragged him and Smallear off course. Fireheart flailed32 with his paws, feeling panic rise in his chest as he saw the gently sloping bank slip past and a steep wall of mud loom33 in its place. How would he climb out here, especially with Smallear? The elderly tom had stopped struggling now, and hung like a deadweight in Fireheart’s jaws34. Only his rasping breaths in Fireheart’s ears showed that he was still alive, and might yet survive the crossing. Fireheart floundered in the water, trying to fight the current and keep Smallear’s muzzle above the water.
Without warning, a mottled head reached down from the bank and grabbed Smallear from him. It was Leopardfur, the RiverClan deputy! Scrabbling in the mud for a pawhold, she dragged Smallear out, dropped him on the ground, and reached down again for Fireheart. He felt her teeth sharp in his scruff as she hauled him up the slippery bank. He felt a wave of relief as his paws sank into dry ground.
“Is that everyone?” Leopardfur demanded.
Fireheart looked around him. RiverClan cats were weaving among the ThunderClan cats as they crouched35, drenched36 and shocked on the pebbles. Graystripe was one of them.
“I—I think so,” Fireheart stammered37. He could see Bluestar lying under some trailing willow38 branches. She looked small and frail39 with her soaked fur flattened40 against her scrawny flanks.
“What about that one?” Leopardfur pointed41 with her nose to the unmoving black-and-white shape on the far shore.
Fireheart turned to look. The ferns on the other side were burning now, sending sparks flying into the river and illuminating42 the trees with flickering43 light. “He’s dead,” Fireheart whispered.
Without a word Leopardfur slipped into the river and swam to the other side. With her golden fur flickering in the light from the flames, she snatched up Patchpelt’s body and paddled strongly back, her front paws churning through the black water. A clap of thunder exploded overhead, making Fireheart flinch44, but the RiverClan deputy didn’t stop swimming.
“Fireheart!” Graystripe raced over to Fireheart and pressed himself against his friend, his flank warm and soft against Fireheart’s drenched body. “Are you okay?”
Fireheart nodded, dazed, as Leopardfur hauled Patchpelt’s body onto the shore. She laid it at Fireheart’s paws and meowed, “Come on. We’ll bury him back at camp.”
“The…the RiverClan camp?”
“Unless you prefer to return to your own,” answered Leopardfur coldly. She turned and led the way up the slope, away from the river and the flames. As the ThunderClan cats heaved themselves to their paws and began to follow, heavy drops of rain began to fall through the canopy45 above. Fireheart twitched46 his ear. Had the rain come soon enough for the burning forest? More exhausted47 than he could ever remember being, he watched Graystripe lift Patchpelt’s drenched body easily in his strong jaws. The rain began to fall more heavily, pounding the forest as Fireheart fell in behind the other cats, his paws stumbling over the smooth pebbles.
The RiverClan deputy led the blackened, bedraggled group through the reed beds beside the bank, until an island appeared ahead. In any other season it would have been surrounded by water; now the path merely glistened48 in the fresh rainfall.
Fireheart recognized this place. It had been ringed by ice the first time he had been here. Reeds had poked49 sharply through the frozen water then; now they swayed in great swathes, and silvery willow trees grew among the rustling50 stems. The rain cascaded51 down their delicate, trailing branches onto the sandy ground below.
Leopardfur followed a narrow passage through the rushes and onto the island. There was a lingering smell of smoke here, but the roar of the flames had faded, and Fireheart could hear the merciful sound of raindrops splashing down into the water beyond the reeds.
Crookedstar stood in a clearing in the center of the island, his fur bristling52 on his shoulders. Fireheart noticed the RiverClan leader glance suspiciously at Graystripe as the ThunderClan cats limped into the camp, but Leopardfur padded over to the light brown tabby and explained, “They were fleeing the fire.”
“Is RiverClan safe?” asked Crookedstar at once.
“The fire won’t cross the river,” replied Leopardfur. “Especially now that the wind has changed.”
Fireheart sniffed53 the air. Leopardfur was right; the wind had changed. The storm had been carried in on a wind much fresher than any he had smelled for a while. It rippled54 through his sodden55 fur, and Fireheart felt his mind begin to clear. Water dripped from his whiskers as he swung his head around to see where Bluestar was. He knew she should greet Crookedstar formally, but she was huddled57 among her Clan, her head low and her eyes half-closed.
Fireheart felt his belly clench58 with anxiety. ThunderClan could not afford to let RiverClan know how weak their leader was. He quickly stepped forward in her place. “Leopardfur and her patrol showed great kindness and courage in helping us flee the fire,” he meowed to Crookedstar, dipping his head low. Above him lightning still flickered59 across the cloudy sky and thunder rumbled60 in the distance, rolling away from the forest.
“Our camp was burned and our territory is still on fire,” Fireheart went on, blinking away the rain that streamed into his eyes. “We have nowhere to go.” He knew he had no choice but to throw himself on the mercy of the RiverClan leader.
Crookedstar narrowed his eyes and paused. Fireheart felt his paws grow hot with frustration62. Surely the RiverClan leader didn’t think this wretched group of cats posed any threat? Then Crookedstar spoke63. “You may stay until it is safe for you to return.”
Relief flowed through Fireheart. “Thank you,” he meowed, blinking gratefully.
“Would you like us to bury your elder?” offered Leopardfur.
“You are very generous, but Patchpelt should be buried by his own Clan,” Fireheart answered. It was sad enough that the old warrior would not be laid to rest in his own territory, and Fireheart knew that his denmates would want to send him on his final journey to StarClan.
“Very well,” meowed Leopardfur. “I’ll have his body moved outside the camp so that your elders may sit vigil with him in peace.” Fireheart nodded his thanks as Leopardfur went on: “I’ll ask Mudfur to help your medicine cat.” The mottled she-cat scanned the drenched and shivering cats. Her eyes narrowed as her gaze fell on the huddled shape of the ThunderClan leader. “Is Bluestar injured?”
“The smoke was very bad,” Fireheart replied carefully. “She was among the last to leave the camp. Excuse me, I must see to my Clan.” He stood up and padded over to where Cloudpaw and Smallear sat, side by side. “Are you fit enough to bury Patchpelt?” he asked.
“I am,” meowed Cloudpaw. “But I think Smallear is—”
“I’m well enough to bury an old denmate,” rasped Smallear, his voice scratched by smoke.
“I’ll ask Dustpelt to help you,” Fireheart told them.
A brown tom was following Cinderpelt among the ThunderClan cats. He carried a bundle of herbs in his mouth, which he placed on the damp ground when Cinderpelt paused beside Willowpelt and her kits64. The tiny cats were wailing65 pitifully, but refused to drink when Willowpelt pressed them to her belly.
Fireheart hurried over. “Are they okay?”
Cinderpelt nodded. “Mudfur suggested we give them honey to soothe66 their throats. They’ll be fine, but it’s done them no good to breathe in the smoke.”
The brown cat at her side meowed to Willowpelt, “Do you think they could manage a little honey?” The gray queen nodded and watched gratefully as the RiverClan medicine cat held out a wad of moss67 dripping with sticky, golden liquid. She purred as her tiny kits licked at it, first tentatively, then greedily as the soothing68 sweetness entered their mouths.
Fireheart padded away. Cinderpelt had everything under control. He found a sheltered corner at the edge of the clearing and sat down to wash. His singed69 pelt tasted foul70 as he brushed his tongue along it. His body ached with tiredness but he carried on licking. He wanted to wash away all trace of the smoke before he rested.
When he had finished, he glanced around the camp. The RiverClan cats had fled the rain into their dens71, leaving the ThunderClan cats to huddle56 in groups at the edge of the clearing beneath the whispering wall of reeds, seeking any protection from the pounding rain. Fireheart was aware of the dark shape of Graystripe moving among his former Clanmates, soothing them with his gentle mew. Cinderpelt had finished tending to the cats and was curled up, exhausted, beside Ashpaw. Fireheart could just make out Sandstorm’s pale ginger flank, rising and falling steadily next to Longtail’s silver tabby back. Bluestar was asleep beside Whitestorm.
Fireheart rested his muzzle on his forepaws, listening to the beating of the rain on the muddy clearing. As his eyes closed, the unbearable72 image of Yellowfang’s terrified face burst into his mind. His heart began to pound, but exhaustion73 took over and he finally retreated into the refuge of sleep.
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1
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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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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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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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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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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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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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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plowed
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| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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flailed
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| v.鞭打( flail的过去式和过去分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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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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drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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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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willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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43
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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46
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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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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48
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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50
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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51
cascaded
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| 级联的 | |
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52
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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53
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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54
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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55
sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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56
huddle
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| vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人 | |
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57
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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clench
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| vt.捏紧（拳头等），咬紧（牙齿等），紧紧握住 | |
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59
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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60
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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61
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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62
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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63
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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64
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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65
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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66
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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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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69
singed
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
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70
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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71
dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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72
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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73
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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