Fireheart emerged from the warriors1’ denand paused. He gazed across the clearing to where Sandstorm was crouched4 by the nettle5 patch, gulping6 down a piece of fresh-kill. He had chosen some of the warriors he wanted to come with him to Snakerocks, but so far he had not spoken to Sandstorm. He was reluctant to risk her life on this dangerous mission, and afraid that she would refuse to come if it meant following his orders. Yet he knew that he could not imagine going without her.
Taking a deep breath, he padded over to the nettle patch and sat down beside her.
Sandstorm swallowed the last mouthful of squirrel. “Fireheart? What is it?”
Quietly Fireheart told her what Longtail had discovered at Snakerocks. “I want you to come with us,” he told her. “You’re fast and brave, and the Clan7 needs you.”
The she-cat turned her green gaze on him, but Fireheart could not read the expression there.
“Ineed you,” he blurted8 out, afraid she was about to refuse. “For Bluestar’s sake, as well as the Clan’s. I know things haven’t been right between us ever since I stopped the battle with WindClan. But I trust you. Whatever you think about me, do it for the Clan.”
Sandstorm nodded slowly. She was looking thoughtful, and a small seed of hope began to grow in Fireheart’s heart. “I know why you didn’t want to fight WindClan,” she began. “In a way, I thought you were right. But it was hard to know you had gone behind Bluestar’s back without telling the rest of us.”
“I know, but—”
“But you’re the deputy,” Sandstorm interrupted, reaching one paw toward him for silence. “You have responsibilities the rest of us can’t understand. And I can see how torn you must have felt—between loyalty9 to Bluestar and loyalty to the Clan.” Hesitating, staring down at her paws, she added, “I was torn too. I wanted to be loyal to the warrior2 code, and I wanted to be loyal to you, Fireheart.”
Fireheart felt too full of emotion to answer. He stretched out his head to press against her flank, and to his delight she did not move away. Instead she looked up at him again, and he felt as if he were drowning in the depths of her green gaze. “I’m sorry, Sandstorm,” he murmured. “I never meant to hurt you.” His voice barely more than a whisper, he added, “I love you.”
Sandstorm’s eyes glowed. “I love you too, Fireheart,” she whispered. “That’s why it hurt so much when you asked Bluestar if Brackenfur could mentor10 Tawnypaw. I thought you didn’t respect me.”
“I made a mistake.” Fireheart’s voice shook. “I don’t know how I could have been so mouse-brained.”
Sandstorm let out a purr and touched her nose to his.
“I want you beside me always.” Fireheart breathed in her scent11, rejoicing in the warmth of her body. He suddenly felt that he would always be happy if he could stay like that forever.
But he knew that he could not. “Sandstorm,” he told her, lifting his head. “I know what we’re going to face out there. It’s more dangerous than I ever imagined. I’m not ordering you to come, but I still want you with me.”
Sandstorm’s purr grew deeper, a vibration12 that filled her whole body. “Of course I’m coming, you stupid furball,” she mewed.
Fireheart set a double watch on the camp that night and kept vigil himself in the center of the clearing. A growing sense of horror crept over him as he listened to the wind sighing through the bare trees. It seemed to carry Spottedleaf’s voice to him, murmuring about the enemy that never slept: Tigerstar, the dogs—or both. The enemy was about to unleash14 its fury, and no cat was safe. The next day, Fireheart knew, could see the final destruction of his Clan.
As he watched the moon above him, barely waning15 from the full, Cinderpelt emerged from her den3 and padded across the clearing to sit beside him.
“If you’re leading a patrol tomorrow, you should get some sleep,” she advised. “You’ll need your strength.”
“I know,” Fireheart agreed. “But I don’t think I could sleep.” He raised his eyes to the moon again and the glittering stars of Silverpelt. “It looks so peaceful up there. But down here…”
“Yes,” murmured Cinderpelt. “Down here I can feel the evil growing. The forest is dark with it, and StarClan cannot help us. It’s up to us.”
“So you really don’t believe that StarClan has sent this pack to punish us?”
Cinderpelt met his gaze, her eyes shining with the reflected light of the moon. “No, Fireheart, I don’t.” She leaned toward him and let her muzzle17 brush lightly against the side of his face. “You’re not alone, Fireheart,” she promised. “I’m with you. And so is the rest of the Clan.”
Fireheart hoped she was right. The Clan would survive only if it united and faced this dark threat together. They had supported him in the battle that wasn’t fought against WindClan, but would they join him in facing the pack?
After a few moments Cinderpelt asked, “What will you tell Bluestar?”
“Nothing,” Fireheart replied. “Not until we’ve had a look around, at least. There’s no point in upsetting her. She doesn’t have the strength to cope with this—not now.”
Cinderpelt murmured agreement. She kept watch with him in silence until the moon began to set. Then she meowed, “Fireheart, I’m telling you as your medicine cat that you need to rest. What happens tomorrow could determine the very future of this Clan, and we need all our warriors to be at full strength.”
Reluctantly Fireheart had to admit that she was right. Giving Cinderpelt’s ear a farewell lick, he got to his paws, padded off to the warriors’ den, and curled himself into the moss18 beside Sandstorm. But his sleep was broken, and his dreams were dark. Once he thought he saw Spottedleaf bounding toward him, and his heart lifted in joy, but before she reached him she turned into a huge dog with gaping19 jaws20 and eyes like flames. Fireheart woke, shuddering21, to see that the first light of dawn was beginning to seep22 into the sky. This could be the last dawn I’ll ever see,he thought. Death waits for us out there.
Then as he raised his head he saw that Sandstorm was sitting beside him, watching over him while he slept. As he saw the love in her eyes he felt new strength flowing through his limbs. He sat up and gave the she-cat’s ear a gentle lick. “It’s time,” he meowed.
Bracing23 himself, he roused the cats he had chosen the evening before for his patrol to Snakerocks. Cloudtail almost leaped out of his nest, his tail lashing25 fiercely at the thought of confronting the creatures who had injured Lostface.
Brindleface, who had been sleeping close to the young warrior, awoke with him and followed him to the edge of the den. “May StarClan go with you,” she mewed, grooming26 the scraps27 of moss out of his fur.
Cloudtail pressed his muzzle against hers. “Don’t worry,” he assured his foster mother. “I’ll tell you all about it when I come back.”
Fireheart woke Whitestorm and then padded across the den to where Graystripe lay curled up in a pile of heather. Prodding28 him with one paw, he murmured, “Come on.”
Graystripe blinked and sat up. “This is just like the old days,” he mewed, in a vain attempt to sound cheerful. “You and me, charging into danger again.” He pushed his forehead against Fireheart’s shoulder. “Thanks for choosing me, Fireheart. I’m scared stiff, but I’ll prove that I’m loyal to ThunderClan, I promise.”
Fireheart pressed against him briefly29 and left the gray warrior to have a quick wash while he went to wake Longtail. The pale warrior shivered as he crawled out of his nest, but his eyes were determined30. “I’ll show you that you can trust me,” he promised quietly.
Fireheart nodded, still half-ashamed that he hadn’t listened to Longtail the night before. “The Clan needs you, Longtail,” he meowed. “Far more than Tigerstar and Darkstripe need you, believe me.”
Longtail brightened at that and followed Fireheart with the other warriors out to the nettle patch. They gulped31 down fresh-kill while Fireheart quickly reminded them of what Longtail had told him the day before. “We’re going to investigate,” he meowed. “We can’t decide how to get rid of these dogs until we know exactly what we have to face. We’re not going to attack them, not yet—have you got that, Cloudtail?”
Cloudtail’s blue eyes burned into his, and he did not reply.
“I won’t take you, Cloudtail, unless you promise to do as you’re told without question.”
“Oh, all right.” The tip of Cloudtail’s tail flicked32 irritably34. “I want every last dog turned into crowfood, but I’ll do it your way, Fireheart.”
“Good.” Fireheart’s gaze swept over the rest of the patrol. “Any questions?”
“What if we come across Tigerstar?” asked Sandstorm.
“A cat from another Clan on our territory?” Fireheart bared his teeth. “Yes, you can attack him.”
Cloudtail let out a growl35 of satisfaction.
Gulping down the last of his fresh-kill, Fireheart led the way out of the camp and up the ravine. Although the sun had nearly risen, clouds covered the sky, and shadows still lay thick among the trees. There was a strong smell of rabbit not far from the camp, but Fireheart ignored it. There was no time to hunt.
The warriors advanced warily36 in single file with Fireheart in the lead and Whitestorm keeping watch at the rear. After what he had learned from Longtail, Fireheart felt even more strongly that the familiar forest had become full of danger, and his fur prickled with the expectation of attack.
All was quiet until they drew close to Snakerocks. Fireheart was just considering the best way to approach the caves when Graystripe mewed, “What’s that?”
He plunged37 into a clump38 of dead bracken. A moment later Fireheart heard his voice, strained and hoarse39. “Come and look at this.”
Fireheart followed the sound and found Graystripe crouched over a dead rabbit. Its throat had been torn out, and its fur was stiff with dried blood.
“The pack have been killing40 again,” Longtail mewed grimly.
“Then why didn’t they eat the prey41?” asked Sandstorm, coming up to sniff42 at the limp, gray-brown body. She sniffed43 again. “Fireheart, there’s ShadowClan scent here!”
Fireheart opened his jaws and drew the forest breeze over the glands44 in the roof of his mouth. Sandstorm was right. The scent was faint but unmistakable. “Tigerstar killed this rabbit,” he murmured, “and then left it here. What for, I wonder?”
He remembered how Longtail had reported seeing Tigerstar feeding the pack with rabbit, and the reek45 of rabbit that had followed them all the way from the ThunderClan camp. Backing away from the prey, he summoned Cloudtail with a flick33 of his tail. “Go back along the way we came,” he instructed. “You’re looking for dead rabbits. If you find any, check for other scents46, and then come and tell me. Whitestorm, you go with him.”
He watched the two warriors retreat and then turned to Graystripe. “Stay here and guard this. Sandstorm, Longtail, come with me.”
Even more cautiously now, pausing to taste the air every few steps, Fireheart drew closer to Snakerocks. It wasn’t long before they discovered another dead rabbit lying exposed on a rock, with the same betraying scent of Tigerstar lingering around it. By this time they were in sight of the mouth of the cave. Fireheart could just make out the shape of yet another rabbit lying at the edge of the open space in front of it. There was no sign of the pack.
“Where are the dogs?” he muttered.
“In that cave,” replied Longtail. “That’s where I saw Tigerstar leave the rabbit yesterday.”
“When they come out, they’ll see the rabbit over there, and they’ll scent this one….” Fireheart was thinking aloud. “And then there’s the one Graystripe found…” Understanding hit him like a rock and he could scarcely breathe for fear. “I knowwhat Whitestorm and Cloudtail will find. Tigerstar has laid a trail straight back to the camp.”
Longtail crouched down on the forest floor and Sandstorm’s eyes stretched wide with horror. “You mean that he wants to bring the pack right to us?”
Pictures flashed through Fireheart’s mind of massive, slavering dogs racing24 down the sides of the ravine and breaking through the fern wall into the peaceful camp. He could see jaws snapping, limp feline48 bodies tossed high in the air, kits49 wailing50 as cruel teeth reached for them…. He shuddered51. “Yes. Come on; we have to break the trail!”
Not even an order from StarClan themselves could have made Fireheart try to retrieve52 the rabbit that was close to the cave mouth. But he snatched up the one that lay on the rock and bounded back to where he had left Graystripe. He set down his burden long enough to meow, “Bring that rabbit. We have to warn the Clan.”
Ears pricked53 in amazement54, Graystripe obeyed. They headed back toward the camp, and before they had traveled more than a few fox-lengths Fireheart spotted13 Cloudtail and Whitestorm coming to meet them, slipping warily through the undergrowth.
“We’ve found two more rabbits,” Cloudtail reported. “Both stinking55 of Tigerstar.”
“Then go and fetch them.” Rapidly Fireheart explained what he suspected. “We’ll dump them in a stream somewhere and break the trail.”
“That’s all very well,” Whitestorm meowed. “You can shift the rabbits, but what about the scent?”
Fireheart froze. Fear was making him stupid, he realized. The rabbit scent and spilled blood would still lead the pack straight to the ThunderClan camp.
“We’ll move the rabbits anyway,” he decided56 swiftly. “That might slow the dogs up. But we’ve got to get back and warn the Clan. They’ll have to leave the camp.”
Racing through the forest, ears pricked for the sound of the pack behind them, they headed for the camp. Soon they had more rabbits than they could carry. Tigerstar must have hunted all night to catch this many, Fireheart thought grimly.
“Let’s leave them all here,” Sandstorm suggested when they were still some way from the ravine. Her flanks heaved as she gasped57 for breath, and she had torn a claw, but her eyes glittered with determination, and Fireheart knew that she would run forever if he asked her to. “If the dogs find a good meal, they’ll stop to eat it.”
“Good idea,” Fireheart meowed.
“It might have been better to leave them closer to the cave,” Whitestorm pointed58 out, his eyes dark with worry. “That might have stopped the dogs’ coming to the camp at all.”
“True,” Fireheart replied, “but there isn’t time. The dogs could be on their way already. We don’t want to meet them.”
Whitestorm nodded agreement. They left the heap of rabbits in full view on the trail and sprinted59 on. Fireheart felt his heart pounding wildly. He should have known his old enemy would be connected with the dark force that threatened the forest. Only StarClan knew how Tigerstar had found out that the dogs were at Snakerocks, but he was using them to destroy the Clan he hated. As he dashed through the trees, Fireheart was afraid that it might be too late to stop him.
At the top of the ravine, he paused. “Spread out,” he ordered his warriors. “Make sure there’s no fresh-kill close to the camp.”
They headed down the ravine, ranging from side to side. Cloudtail drew ahead, and not far from the entrance Fireheart saw him stop dead. He was staring down at something on the ground.
“No! No!” His voice was an earsplitting yowl, and Fireheart’s fur bristled60 in horror.
“No!” Cloudtail yowled again. “Fireheart!”
Fireheart dashed to the warrior’s side. Cloudtail was standing47 stiff-legged, every hair in his pelt16 on end as if he were facing an enemy. His eyes were fixed61 on the limp heap of tabby fur huddled62 at his paws.
“Why, Fireheart?” Cloudtail wailed63. “Why her?”
Fireheart knew, but rage and grief made it hard to speak. “Because Tigerstar wants the pack to get a taste for cat blood,” he rasped.
The dead cat lying in front of them was Brindleface.
点击
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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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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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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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nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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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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vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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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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14
unleash
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| vt.发泄，发出；解带子放开 | |
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waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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22
seep
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| v.渗出，渗漏；n.渗漏，小泉，水（油）坑 | |
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bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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25
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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26
grooming
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| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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28
prodding
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| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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32
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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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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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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37
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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38
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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40
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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41
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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42
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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43
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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44
glands
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| n.腺( gland的名词复数 ) | |
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45
reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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46
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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47
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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48
feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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49
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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50
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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51
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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52
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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53
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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54
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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55
stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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56
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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59
sprinted
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| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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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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62
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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63
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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