A full moon crossed the skybehind thin wisps of cloud as Bluestar led her warriors1 to the Gathering3. Fireheart was already uneasy. In spite of her declaration of war against StarClan, Bluestar had insisted on going. “How can I trust you to lead the Clan4?” she had spat5 at her deputy when he had asked her which warriors he should take. Fireheart had simply bowed his head in obedience6, but he could still feel the pain of knowing that his leader was convinced he was a traitor7.
He also had his doubts about including Graystripe, but his friend had begged desperately8 to be allowed to come. “Please, Fireheart! I’ll be able to get news of Featherkit and Stormkit,” he had meowed. Fireheart knew that Graystripe was inviting10 hostility11 from RiverClan by appearing so soon after the battle at Sunningrocks, and had half hoped that Bluestar would refuse. But the ThunderClan leader had merely flicked12 her tail dismissively. “Let him come. You’re all traitors13, so what does it matter?”
Now Fireheart bunched together with the other ThunderClan warriors to follow Bluestar down the slope. As they emerged into the hollow, the first thing he saw was Tigerstar and Leopardstar sitting side by side, watching approvingly as a group of their apprentices15 scuffled playfully with eachother. Fireheart’s fur crawled as he saw those two together. He still had no evidence that Tigerstar was plotting revenge on his former Clan, but Leopardstar would certainly be feeling hostile after her Clan’s defeat at Sunningrocks.
“You’ve done a good job there,” meowed Leopardstar to her companion. “Those are strong young cats, and they’ve learned their fighting moves well.”
A purr rumbled16 in Tigerstar’s chest. “We’ve made some progress,” he agreed. “But there’s a long way to go yet.”
A pair of tumbling apprentices rolled right up to their leaders’ paws and Leopardstar shifted backwards17 to give them more room. The young ShadowClan cats were certainly muscular and well fed, Fireheart thought; he could hardly believe they were the same scrawny creatures who had almost died when the sickness swept through their Clan. He exchanged an uneasy glance with Graystripe; sooner or later, he was sure, ThunderClan would have to meet these skilled fighters in battle.
At a word from Tigerstar the apprentices stopped their playful skirmish and sat up, licking their ruffled18 fur. The two leaders began to make their way toward the Great Rock. Fireheart spotted19 Bluestar already waiting at its base, but he couldn’t see Tallstar, the WindClan leader.
As the ThunderClan cats dispersed20 to meet with warriors in other Clans21, he noticed Graystripe hurrying up to a plump bracken-colored she-cat, and caught the scent22 of RiverClan from her. Fireheart felt a pang23 of anxiety as he watched his friend. He trusted Graystripe absolutely, even though he would always have one paw in RiverClan while his kits24 were there. But several ThunderClan warriors would doubt his loyalty25 if they saw him so eager to talk to a RiverClan cat.
“Mosspelt, how are you?” Graystripe greeted the she-cat. “How are Featherkit and Stormkit?”
“Featherpaw and Stormpaw now,” replied Mosspelt proudly. “They’ve just been apprenticed26.”
“That’s great!” Graystripe’s yellow eyes were glowing as he turned to Fireheart. “Did you hear what Mosspelt said? My kits are apprentices now.” He glanced around. “They’re not here, are they?”
Mosspelt shook her head. “They’re too newly apprenticed for that. Maybe next time. I’ll tell them you were asking after them, Graystripe.”
“Thanks.” Graystripe’s excitement faded and was replaced by anxiety. “What did they think when I didn’t come back from the battle?”
“Once they knew you weren’t dead, they coped well,” replied Mosspelt. “Come on, Graystripe; it wasn’t much of a shock. Every cat in RiverClan knew you would go back eventually.”
Graystripe blinked in surprise. “Really?”
“Really. All the time you used to spend mooning around on the border or looking across the river. All the stories you told those kits about what you and Fireheart used to get up to when you were apprentices…It wasn’t hard to see that your heart had never left ThunderClan.”
Graystripe blinked again. “I’m sorry, Mosspelt.”
“Nothing to be sorry for,” retorted Mosspelt briskly. “And you can be sure that your kits will be well cared for. I’ll keep an eye on them, and Mistyfoot and Stonefur are mentoring28 them.”
“They are?” Graystripe’s eyes lit up again. “That’s great!”
Fireheart felt a pang of misgiving29. Mistyfoot and Stonefur were both fine warriors, but he wondered why they had agreed to mentor27 Graystripe’s kits. Mistyfoot had been a good friend to their mother, Silverstream, and so she might be expected to take an interest. But she and her brother had reacted with such hostility when he told them that Bluestar was their mother that Fireheart was surprised they wanted anything to do with kits who were half ThunderClan. Or was it possible that they wanted to teach the kits to be especially hostile toward their father’s Clan?
“You’ll tell them how proud I am, won’t you?” Graystripe meowed urgently to Mosspelt. “And remind them to do what their mentors30 tell them?”
“Of course I will.” Mosspelt let out a reassuring31 purr. “And I know Mistyfoot will help you keep in touch with them. Leopardstar might not like it, but…well, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
Fireheart had his doubts; after her rejection32 of Bluestar, Mistyfoot might not want anything more to do with ThunderClan. He suspected she would feel more loyal than ever to RiverClan and Graypool, the cat she had always loved as her mother.
“Thanks, Mosspelt,” mewed Graystripe. “I won’t forget all you’ve done.” He looked around as yowling sounded from the top of the Great Rock to signal the start of the meeting.
Turning, Fireheart saw that all four leaders were now assembled, their pelts33 shining in the moonlight as they stood looking down at the cats below. He paid little attention as the leaders formally opened the meeting. Instead, he wondered whether Bluestar would mention the terrible assault on Swiftpaw and Brightpaw, and whether any of the other leaders had similar news. Fireheart almost hoped that they had, because that would prove that the dark force in the forest was not a threat to ThunderClan alone, and so had not been sent by StarClan to punish Bluestar’s challenge to them. Fireheart couldn’t help thinking it was something greater even than that, a huge shadow that encompassed34 the whole forest; something that did not know the warrior2 code and regarded the cats merely as its prey35.
When Tallstar had finished, Tigerstar stepped forward. He gave a quick summary of how ShadowClan’s training program was progressing, that another new litter of kits had been born, and that three apprentices had been made into warriors. “ShadowClan grows strong again,” he finished. “We are ready to take a full part in the life of the forest.”
Fireheart wondered if that meant ready to attack our neighbors.He waited with a sinking heart for Tigerstar to make a case for expanding his territory. The ShadowClan leader had paused and was gazing down at the assembled cats as if he had something particularly important to say.
“I have a request to make,” he began. “Many of you know that when I left ThunderClan, two kits of mine were in the nursery. They were too young then to travel, and I am grateful to ThunderClan for the care they have given them. But now it’s time for them to join me in the Clan where they rightfully belong. Bluestar, I ask that you give me Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw.”
Yowls of protest from ThunderClan warriors broke out before Tigerstar had finished speaking. Fireheart was too stunned36 to join in. He had been concerned all along that meeting with his kits at Gatherings37 would not be enough for Tigerstar, but he had never expected a public demand for the kits to be handed over to ShadowClan.
Bluestar drew herself up and waited for the noise to die away before she replied. “Certainly not,” she meowed. “These are ThunderClan kits. They are apprenticed now, and they will stay where they belong.”
“In ThunderClan?” Tigerstar challenged her. “I think not, Bluestar. The kits belong with me, and mywarriors will take care of their apprentice14 training.”
By that argument, Fireheart thought, Graystripe’s kits should be returned to ThunderClan, although he guessed that Bluestar wouldn’t want to reopen that debate with RiverClan. He was relieved to see that Bluestar was not going to back down easily. “Your concern is natural, Tigerstar. But you can be sure that the kits will receive the best possible training in ThunderClan.”
Tigerstar paused again, his gaze sweeping38 around the clearing, and when he spoke39 again it was not just to Bluestar but to the whole audience of cats. “The ThunderClan leader tells me how well my kits will be trained under her guidance—but ThunderClan have a poor record in looking after their young cats. One kit9 carried off by a hawk40. One apprentice savaged41 to death and another permanently42 crippled when they were sent out alone without a warrior. Does any cat wonder that I’m concerned about the safety of my kits?”
Gasps43 of horror came from all around the clearing. Fireheart gaped44 up at the ShadowClan leader. How had Tigerstar learned about Swiftpaw and Brightpaw? It was too soon for news to have traveled to ShadowClan, except…Darkstripe!Fireheart thought, flexing45 his claws in anger. That treacherous46 warrior must have gone straight to Tigerstar and blurted47 out everything!
In his fury Fireheart missed Bluestar’s reply, and when he made himself concentrate Tigerstar was speaking again. “I don’t see what’s so difficult,” he meowed smoothly48. “After all, it won’t be the first time that ThunderClan has handed over kits to other Clans. Will it, Bluestar?”
Fear clenched49 in Fireheart’s belly50. Tigerstar was referring obliquely51 to Mistyfoot and Stonefur. Graypool had told Tigerstar that they had been born in ThunderClan. Fireheart thanked StarClan that Tigerstar did not know the names of the kits or who their mother was. But what little he knew was more than the rest of ThunderClan.
Fireheart glanced sideways at Stonefur, sitting only a couple of tail-lengths away. The blue-gray tom had drawn52 himself up, his head erect53, and he was staring up at the Great Rock. His gaze was not fixed54 on Tigerstar, Fireheart noticed, but on Bluestar, and the expression in his eyes was one of pure hatred55.
Digging his claws into the ground, Fireheart waited for the ThunderClan leader’s response. He could see how shaken she was, and when she managed to reply every word seemed to catch in her throat like thorns. “The past is the past. We must judge each situation on its own merits. I will think carefully about what you say, Tigerstar, and give you my answer at the next Gathering.”
Fireheart doubted that Tigerstar would consent to wait for a whole moon, but to his surprise the ShadowClan leader dipped his head and stepped back a pace. “Very well,” he agreed. “One more moon—but no longer.”
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1
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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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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13
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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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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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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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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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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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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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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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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mentoring
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| n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识，并用心支持mentee的职业（发展）。v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 ) | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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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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reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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pelts
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| n. 皮毛，投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛，（连续）投掷 vi. 猛击，大步走 | |
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encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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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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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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38
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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39
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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40
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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41
savaged
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| （动物）凶狠地攻击（或伤害）( savage的过去式和过去分词 )； 残害； 猛烈批评； 激烈抨击 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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43
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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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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45
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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46
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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47
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
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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51
obliquely
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| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
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52
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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