CHAPTER 12
Fireheart padded swiftly out of thecamp, hoping no other cats would see him and ask him where he was going. The warrior1 code said that a Clan2 leader’s orders should be obeyed without question. Until now, Fireheart had always accepted that. He had never imagined that he would ever disobey Bluestar, and yet the time had come when he must challenge her orders or watch the destruction of his Clan. The only way he could see of avoiding the battle was for Tallstar and Bluestar to meet together and talk about the evidence of prey4-theft in both their territories. Once Bluestar understood that WindClan was suffering in just the same way as ThunderClan, Fireheart was sure she would call off the attack.
He did not know what Bluestar would do to him afterward5, if she realized that he had gone to see Tallstar without her permission. He just hoped she would eventually understand it was for the good of her Clan.
At the entrance to the gorse tunnel Fireheart took a last look around at the camp. For a moment he watched Brightpaw, practicing the hunting crouch6 all by herself outside the apprentice7’s den3. She crept lightly up on a dead leaf and pounced8 on it, trapping it with outstretched paws.
“Well done!” Fireheart called.
Brightpaw looked up, her eyes glowing. “Thank you, Fireheart!”
Fireheart nodded to her, then turned and headed through the gorse tunnel. The short meeting had strengthened his resolve, for the eager young apprentice represented all that was important within the Clan. Fireheart knew that he could not let that be destroyed.
By sunhigh, Fireheart was approaching the stream that lay on the route to Fourtrees. He stopped for a moment to rest. In his confusion and anxiety he had not taken time to eat before he left the camp, and a rustle9 in the undergrowth reminded him of how hungry he was. He dropped into the hunter’s crouch, only to realize a couple of heartbeats later that the sounds were not made by prey. He caught a glimpse of a familiar dark pelt10, and breathed in the scent11 of ThunderClan cats.
Puzzled, Fireheart pressed himself to the ground behind a clump12 of fern. He hadn’t ordered a patrol in this direction, so why were his Clan cats here now? Then the undergrowth parted and Darkstripe emerged, mewing sharply over his shoulder, “Follow me. Try to keep up, can’t you?”
Two small shapes appeared out of the bracken. Fireheart’s eyes widened in surprise as he recognized Goldenflower’s two kits13. Bramblekit bounced into the open, batting at a fallen leaf, while Tawnykit followed more slowly.
“What, a strong kit like you?” Darkstripe meowed. “Don’t be silly. It’s not far now.”
What isn’t far? Fireheart wondered in alarm. What are you doing out here, and where are you taking these kits? He expected to see Goldenflower with them—surely her kits had never been this far from the nursery before?—but she did not appear.
Bramblekit scampered15 over to his sister and gave her a nudge. “Come on—it’ll be worth it!” he urged.
Both kits hurried after Darkstripe to a shallow place where they crossed the stream, squealing16 in fear and excitement as the water swirled17 around their paws. On the far side of the stream, Darkstripe veered18 away from the route that led to Fourtrees, and headed instead along a much narrower path that twisted away under the trees. A burst of outrage19 shook Fireheart. He knew exactly where that path led. Darkstripe was taking the kits toward the border with ShadowClan.
Fireheart had to wait for them to climb the slope beyond the stream before he dared to emerge from the ferns and follow. By the time he caught up they were approaching the border. The strong reek20 of ShadowClan reached Fireheart, and he saw the kits stop and start sniffing21 the air.
“Is it a fox?” asked Bramblekit.
“No, it’s ShadowClan scent,” Darkstripe replied. “Come on, we’re nearly there.” He led the kits across the border, Tawnykit complaining that she was getting the horrid23 scent all over her paws.
Growing angrier still, Fireheart slid into the shelter of a hawthorn24 bush just on the ThunderClan side, where he could watch without being seen.
Close by, Darkstripe had come to a halt. The kits flopped25 down on the grass, exhausted26, only to spring to their paws again a moment later when a clump of bracken rustled27 and another cat stepped into the open.
The newcomer was Tigerstar. Fireheart froze, though he was hardly surprised. He had guessed that Darkstripe had been hoping to curry28 favor with Tigerstar by bringing his kits to see him, but the ShadowClan leader’s prompt appearance suggested that this meeting had been arranged all along.
Fireheart wondered if Goldenflower knew about this. She was not here with her kits, so perhaps she didn’t even know that Darkstripe had taken them away. She might just think they had gone missing. She must be frantic,Fireheart thought. He tensed his muscles, ready to leap out and confront Darkstripe, but he stayed in his hiding place and made himself concentrate on what was happening in front of him.
Tigerstar padded forward, the muscles rippling29 under his dark tabby pelt, until he stood in front of his two kits. For a moment he inspected them, and then bent30 his head to touch noses, first with Bramblekit and then with Tawnykit. Even though they could never have seen such a massive cat before, both kits stood bravely before him and met his gaze without flinching31.
“Do you know who I am?” meowed Tigerstar.
“Darkstripe said he would take us to meet our father,” replied Bramblekit.
“Are you our father?” Tawnykit added. “You smell a bit like us.”
Tigerstar nodded. “I am.”
The kits exchanged a wondering glance as Darkstripe mewed, “This is Tigerstar, the leader of ShadowClan.”
Their eyes grew huge, and Bramblekit breathed, “Wow! You’re really a Clan leader?”
When Tigerstar dipped his head in agreement, Tawnykit mewed excitedly, “Why can’t we come and live with you in your Clan? You must have a really nice den.”
Tigerstar shook his head. “Your place is with your mother for now,” he told them. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not proud of you. They seem fine, strong kits,” he meowed to Darkstripe. “When will they be apprenticed32?”
“In a moon or so,” Darkstripe replied. “It’s a pity I have an apprentice already, or I could mentor33 one of them myself.”
Fireheart’s claws dug into the ground as a jolt34 of anger shot through him. Bluestar and I decide who the mentors35 will be, not you, Darkstripe!He almost hissed36 the words aloud. And you’re the last cat we would choose,he added silently.
Tigerstar turned his gaze back to his kits. “Can you hunt?” he asked them. “Can you fight? Do you want to be good warriors37?”
Both the kits nodded vigorously. “I’m going to be the best warrior in the Clan!” Bramblekit boasted.
Tawnykit refused to be outdone. “And I’ll be the best hunter!”
“Good, good.” Tigerstar gave each kit a quick lick on the head.
Fireheart couldn’t help remembering Graystripe, and how his friend had left the Clan of his birth so that he could stay with the kits he loved. Was it possible that Tigerstar was suffering just as much at being parted from Bramblekit and Tawnykit?
Then Fireheart’s blood ran cold as Bramblekit asked, “Please, Tigerstar, why are you the leader of ShadowClan when our mother is a ThunderClan cat?”
“They don’t know?” Tigerstar asked Darkstripe. The warrior shook his head. “Well, then,” Tigerstar meowed, turning back to the kits, “That’s a long story. Sit down and I’ll tell you.”
Fireheart realized this was the moment when he had to interrupt. The last thing he wanted was for Tigerstar to tell the kits a biased38 account of how he came to leave ThunderClan. One thing was certain: Tigerstar would never admit that he had been a murderer and a traitor39.
Rising to his paws, Fireheart stepped out of the shelter of the hawthorn bush. “Good day, Tigerstar,” he meowed. “You’re a long way from your camp. And so are you, Darkstripe.” His tone sharpened. “What are you doing here with these kits?”
As he padded up to join them, he had the satisfaction of realizing that both Tigerstar and Darkstripe were dumb-founded by his appearance. For a heartbeat they both gaped40 at him, while the kits bounced across the grass to meet him.
“This is our father!” Tawnykit announced excitedly. “We came all the way from camp to see him.”
“Why did no cat tell us he was the leader of a Clan?” Bramblekit piped up.
Fireheart did not want to answer that question. Instead he confronted Darkstripe with his eyes narrowed. “Well?”
“I saw you crossing the stream. You were making enough racket to wake the whole forest.”
“Fireheart.” Tigerstar dipped his head, the courteous42 greeting of a leader to the deputy of another Clan. There was no hostility43 in his tone. “Blame me, not Darkstripe. I wanted to see my kits. You wouldn’t deny me that, surely?”
“That’s all very well,” Fireheart replied in confusion. “But Darkstripe shouldn’t have taken them without permission. It’s dangerous to let kits wander so far away from their camp.” Especially with that dog loose in the forest,he added to himself.
“What if a hawk45 attacked? There’s still little cover in some parts of the forest. Have you forgotten Snowkit?” One of the kits let out a whimper and Fireheart stopped; he didn’t want to frighten them. “Take them back to camp, Darkstripe. Now.”
Darkstripe exchanged a glance with Tigerstar and shrugged46. To the kits, he meowed, “Come on. Fireheart has spoken, and we must obey.”
The two kits backed away from their father and followed Darkstripe as he set off back to the camp.
“Say good-bye to your father before you go,” Fireheart meowed, forcing himself to speak in a friendly tone. “You’ll see him again when you’re apprentices47 and can go to Gatherings48.”
Both kits turned to mew good-bye.
“Good-bye,” Tigerstar replied. “Work hard, and I shall be proud of you.”
He and Fireheart stood side by side as Darkstripe led the kits back down the slope and across the stream. When they had disappeared into the undergrowth, Tigerstar meowed, “Take care of those kits, Fireheart. I’ll be keeping an eye on them.”
Fireheart’s heart was pounding. When he had exposed the former deputy’s treachery, Tigerstar had threatened to kill him. Now they were alone once more, with no help nearby for Fireheart if the ShadowClan leader attacked. Fireheart’s muscles tensed, but Tigerstar made no move toward him.
“I’ll see they’re looked after,” Fireheart meowed at last. “I’m sure they will be loyal to their Clan. ThunderClan takes care of all its kits.”
Tigerstar knew about the two kits who had been taken to Graypool, Fireheart remembered with a jolt. He waited for the ShadowClan leader to challenge him about them. But Tigerstar did not question him, though his knowing expression chilled Fireheart. It was as though he were well aware that Fireheart could tell him more.
Instead Tigerstar dipped his head again and mewed, “We shall meet at the next Gathering49. I must return to my Clan now.” Then he turned and padded away.
Fireheart made sure the ShadowClan leader had really gone before he turned away too, following the border toward Fourtrees. Much as he hated to admit it, he couldn’t see that Darkstripe had done any real harm by taking the kits out of the nursery. Fireheart would have had to tell them eventually that their father was the leader of ShadowClan. And Tigerstar himself had behaved with more restraint than Fireheart would have believed possible.
Firmly he put the episode out of his mind. Time was running out. Before sunset, Fireheart knew, he must speak with Tallstar and find another way to solve the dispute over the stolen prey.
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1
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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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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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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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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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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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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scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；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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squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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24
hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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25
flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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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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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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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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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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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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36
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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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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biased
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| a.有偏见的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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41
blustered
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| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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42
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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43
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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46
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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47
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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48
gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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