Graystripe growled1 deep in his thro a t and gathered himself to spring.
“No!” Firestar gasped3, leaping on his friend before he could leave the shadow of the reeds. “If Tigerstar sees us, we’re crowfood!”
On Graystripe’s other side Ravenpaw grabbed him by one shoulder. “Firestar’s right,” he hissed5. “What chance would we have against all these cats?”
Graystripe writhed6 desperately7, as if he hadn’t heard. “Let me go!” he snarled8. “I’ll flay9 that piece of fox dung! I’ll rip his heart out!”
“No!” Firestar repeated in an agonized10 whisper. “We’ll be slaughtered11 if we show ourselves now. We won’t leave your kits12, Graystripe, I promise we won’t, but we’ve got to wait for the right moment to rescue them.”
Graystripe went on struggling for a moment longer, then subsided13 with a grunt14 of agreement. Firestar let him go, nodding to Ravenpaw to do the same.
“Listen,” he murmured. “Let’s find out what’s going on.”
While they had been holding Graystripe down, Tigerstar had begun to speak, his voice drowning the noise of their scuffle among the reeds.
“Cats of TigerClan,” he began, “you all know the hardships that we have to face. The cold of leaf-bare threatens us. Twolegs threaten us. The other two Clans16 in the forest, who have not yet realized the wisdom of joining with TigerClan, are a threat to us.”
Firestar’s tail-tip twitched17 in anger and he flashed a look at Graystripe. Tigerstar was the threat! All that ThunderClan and WindClan wanted was to get on with their lives in peace, according to the ancient traditions of StarClan and the warrior18 code.
But Graystripe’s burning gaze was fixed19 on his two kits, cowering20 at the base of the Bonehill; he was unaware21 of Firestar’s glance
“Surrounded as we are by enemies,” Tigerstar went on, “we must be sure of the loyalty22 of our own warriors23. There is no room in TigerClan for the halfhearted. No room for cats who might waver in battle, or worse still, turn on their own Clan15 mates. TigerClan will not tolerate traitors25!”
Except the traitor24 who leads it, Firestar thought. Or Darkstripe,
who would have watched his own Clan be devoured26 by dogs.
The cats in the clearing broke out into yowls of agreement. Tigerstar allowed the clamor to continue for a moment before signaling with his tail for silence. The noise died and he began to speak again.
“Especially we will not tolerate the abomination of half-Clan cats. No loyal warrior would ever take a mate from another Clan, diluting27 the pure blood that our warrior ancestors decreed for us. Bluestar and Graystripe of ThunderClan both flouted28 the warrior code when they took mates from RiverClan. The kits of such a union, like the ones you see in front of you now, can never be trusted.”
He paused, and his deputy Blackfoot yowled out, “Filth29! Filth!”
Darkstripe took up the cry, and a chorus of yowls and screeches30 echoed his words. This time Tigerstar let them fall quiet in their own time, gazing out over the cats below him with a look of calm satisfaction.
He and Blackfoot must have rehearsed all this, Firestar realized in horror.
He noticed that it was the ShadowClan warriors who yowled the loudest. The RiverClan cats joined in less enthusiastically; Firestar guessed they might not all fully31 agree with the ShadowClan leader, but they did not dare stay silent.
The two half-Clan apprentices32 flattened33 themselves close to the ground, as if they were afraid of being swept away in the gale34 of the Clan’s fury. Stonefur crouched35 over them as if he could protect them, gazing around with defiance36 in his eyes.
Where is Mistyfoot? Firestar wondered. Tigerstar knows she’s half-Clan too. What has he done with her?
Tigerstar spoke37 again. “Half-Clan cats have been tolerated until now, but the time for tolerance38 has passed. There is no place in TigerClan for warriors who owe allegiance to two Clans. How can we trust them not to betray our secrets, or even turn on us and kill us? Can we expect StarClan to fight on our side if we allow those who are not pure in heart and blood to walk freely among us?”
“No!” Darkstripe screeched39, flexing40 his claws and lashing41 his tail from side to side.
“No, my friends. We must get rid of the abominations in our midst! Then our Clan will be clean again and we can be sure of the favor of StarClan.”
Stonefur sprang to his paws. He was so weak that he stumbled and almost fell, but he managed to stay upright and face Tigerstar.
“No cat has ever questioned my loyalty,” he snarled. “Come down here and tell me to my face that I’m a traitor!”
Firestar wanted to wail42 aloud at the blue-gray warrior’s hopeless courage. Tigerstar could have swatted him aside with one paw, and yet Stonefur still remained defiant43.
“Mistyfoot and I never even knew that Bluestar was our mother until a couple of moons ago,” Stonefur insisted. “We have been loyal RiverClan warriors all our lives. Let any cat who thinks different come out here and prove it!”
Tigerstar angrily swept his tail toward Leopardstar. “You showed poor judgment44 when you chose this cat as your deputy,” he growled. “RiverClan is choked by the weeds of treachery, and we must root them out.”
To Firestar’s dismay, Leopardstar bowed her head. The gesture showed just how far Tigerstar’s power extended, that the once-formidable RiverClan leader was unable or unwilling45 to protect her own deputy.
Yet the dark tabby’s words gave Firestar hope. It sounded as if Tigerstar was about to banish46 Stonefur and the two apprentices. If he did, then Firestar and his friends could wait for them at the border, ready to take them back to ThunderClan, where they would be safe.
When Tigerstar spoke again, his voice was measured and cold. “Stonefur, I will give you a chance to show your loyalty to TigerClan. Kill these two half-Clan apprentices.”
An eerie47 silence spread through the clearing, broken only by Graystripe’s gasp2 of outrage48. Luckily the TigerClan warriors were so intent on the scene in front of them that no cat heard him.
“Firestar!” Graystripe whispered. “We must do something!” His claws dug into the ground and his muscles bunched, ready to spring, yet his eyes were fixed on Firestar as if he would not attack without his leader’s order.
Ravenpaw’s eyes, bright with distress49, turned to Firestar. “We can’t just watch them die!”
Firestar could feel his fur prickling with tension. He knew he could not stay crouching50 here in hiding while Graystripe’s kits were slaughtered a few foxlengths away. If all else failed, he was ready to give up his life in a battle to save them.
“Wait just a moment,” he murmured. “Let’s see what Stonefur does.”
The blue-gray warrior had turned to face Leopardstar. “I take orders from you,” he growled. “You must know this is wrong. What do you want me to do?”
For a heartbeat Leopardstar looked uncertain, and again Firestar began to hope that she would take a stand against Tigerstar and stop the destruction of her Clan. But he had underestimated the strength of her ambition, and her misguided faith that Tigerstar offered an invincible51 future. “These are difficult times,” she meowed at last. “As we fight for survival we must be able to count on every one of our Clan mates. There is no room for divided loyalties52. Do as Tigerstar tells you.”
Stonefur held her gaze for a moment more, a moment that to Firestar seemed to last for several moons. Then he faced the two apprentices and they shrank away from him, their eyes glazed53 with terror.
Stormpaw gave his sister a comforting lick. “We’ll fight him,” he promised. “I won’t let him kill us.”
Brave words, Firestar thought desperately. Stonefur was a skilled, experienced warrior, and even in his weakened state he was a formidable threat to two half-trained apprentices who had obviously been ill-treated and imprisoned54 as well.
The RiverClan warrior gave a little nod to Stormpaw, just like any mentor55 approving of his apprentice’s courage. Then he turned to look up at Tigerstar again.
“You’ll have to kill me first, Tigerstar!” he spat56.
Narrowing his eyes, Tigerstar flicked57 his tail at Darkstripe. “Very well. Kill him,” he ordered.
The black-striped warrior crouched low, every hair on his pelt58 quivering with joy that Tigerstar had given him a chance to prove his loyalty to his new Clan. With a grunt of effort, he hurled59 himself at Stonefur.
Pity and fear throbbed60 through Firestar. He could see only one end to the fight. The blue-gray warrior was so weak that he would be no match for Darkstripe. Firestar wanted to leap into the clearing and fight on Stonefur’s side, but he knew it would be suicidal in the presence of so many enemy cats. He knew that he had to hold back in the hope, however slight, of saving the apprentices. Firestar had scarcely known an ordeal61 worse than the one he faced now, remaining hidden while his friend was slaughtered.
Yet Stonefur’s skills had not deserted62 him. Quick as lightning, he dropped backward so that instead of landing on his shoulders Darkstripe was faced with all four paws, claws extended to rip at his fur.
Firestar felt his throat tighten63. He remembered a day during his apprenticeship64 when Stonefur’s mother, Bluestar, had taught him that very move. Bluestar, if you can see this, help him now! he begged.
The two warriors were a clawing, screeching65 knot of fur on the floor of the clearing. The rest of the cats scrambled66 backward to give them space, still keeping the same eerie silence. They were so intent on the battle, Firestar wondered for a moment if this might be the best time to rescue the apprentices. But Tigerstar was still crouched on top of the Bonehill, with a clear view of the whole clearing, and he would easily see them coming.
Stonefur had fastened his teeth into Darkstripe’s scruff and was trying to shake the dark warrior, but Darkstripe’s greater size and strength were too much. He lost his grip and the two warriors sprang apart, breathing hard. Blood was trickling67 from a scratch above Darkstripe’s left eye, and clumps68 of fur were missing from his flank. Stonefur’s pelt was even more ragged69, and as he shook one forepaw spots of blood spattered on the ground
“Get a move on, Darkstripe!” Blackfoot jeered70. “You’re fighting like a kittypet!”
With a hiss4 of fury Darkstripe launched another attack, but Stonefur was ready for him again. Slipping to one side, he raked his claws down Darkstripe’s side, and followed up with a blow to his back leg as the dark warrior crashed past him. Stonefur staggered from the force of the impact, but by the time Darkstripe regained71 his paws, he had recovered. This time the RiverClan warrior went on the attack, bowling72 Darkstripe over and fastening teeth and claws in his neck.
Firestar heard Graystripe’s intake73 of breath. His yellow eyes were blazing; on his other side Ravenpaw was sinking his unsheathed claws into the ground. Firestar felt hope burn in his belly74. Was it possible that Stonefur could win?
But Tigerstar had no intention of letting Stonefur escape. As Darkstripe struggled vainly to break free, the massive tabby flicked his ears at Blackfoot. “Finish it,” he ordered.
The ShadowClan deputy flung himself into the battle. He bit Stonefur in the shoulder and dragged him off Darkstripe, ducking to avoid his flailing75 paws. Darkstripe sprang on Stonefur to hold his hindquarters down, while Blackfoot scored his claws across the blue-gray warrior’s throat.
Stonefur let out a gurgling cry that was cut short. Both TigerClan cats released him and stood back. Stonefur’s body convulsed as blood welled from his throat.
A thin wailing76 noise went up from the watching cats, strengthening into a cry of triumph. Even Leopardstar, after a brief hesitation77, joined in. The two apprentices were the only cats to remain silent, their terrified eyes fixed on the warrior who had died to save them.
Firestar could only stare in horror as Stonefur went limp and the last breath left his body.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
hiss
|
|
| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
writhed
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
flay
|
|
| vt.剥皮；痛骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
agonized
|
|
| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
slaughtered
|
|
| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
kits
|
|
| 衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
subsided
|
|
| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
clan
|
|
| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
clans
|
|
| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
cowering
|
|
| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
unaware
|
|
| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
traitors
|
|
| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
devoured
|
|
| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
diluting
|
|
| 稀释，冲淡( dilute的现在分词 )； 削弱，使降低效果 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
flouted
|
|
| v.藐视，轻视( flout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
filth
|
|
| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
screeches
|
|
| n.尖锐的声音( screech的名词复数 )v.发出尖叫声( screech的第三人称单数 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
apprentices
|
|
| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
flattened
|
|
| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
defiance
|
|
| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
tolerance
|
|
| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
screeched
|
|
| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
flexing
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
lashing
|
|
| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
defiant
|
|
| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
banish
|
|
| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
eerie
|
|
| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
outrage
|
|
| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
crouching
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
invincible
|
|
| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
loyalties
|
|
| n.忠诚( loyalty的名词复数 )；忠心；忠于…感情；要忠于…的强烈感情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
glazed
|
|
| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
imprisoned
|
|
| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
mentor
|
|
| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
flicked
|
|
| （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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
pelt
|
|
| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
throbbed
|
|
| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
tighten
|
|
| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
apprenticeship
|
|
| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
screeching
|
|
| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
scrambled
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
trickling
|
|
| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
clumps
|
|
| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
jeered
|
|
| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
bowling
|
|
| n.保龄球运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
intake
|
|
| n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
belly
|
|
| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
flailing
|
|
| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
wailing
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |