“No.” Graystripe’s voice rasped in his throat.
Firestar pressed closer to his friend, sharing his grief at Stonefur’s death and his anger that the RiverClan warrior2’s courage had been worth nothing in an unfair fight.
Blackfoot looked down at Stonefur’s body in satisfaction.
Darkstripe whirled to confront the two apprentices4. “Tigerstar,” he meowed, “let me kill them.”
Graystripe would have sprung forward then, in spite of anything Firestar could do, but before he could move Tigerstar shook his battle-scarred head. “Really, Darkstripe? A prisoner can defeat you, but you think you could take on two apprentices?”
Darkstripe bowed his head in shame. His leader’s eyes narrowed coldly as he stared at the two young cats. They were huddled5 together, trembling with shock. They hardly seemed to realize that their own lives were hanging by a hair.
“No,” Tigerstar meowed at last. “For now I will let them live. They may be useful to me alive.”
Firestar flashed a look at Graystripe, who returned his glance with mingled7 relief and apprehension8 in his eyes.
Tigerstar summoned Jaggedtooth. “Take the apprentices back to their prison.”
The ShadowClan warrior dipped his head and herded9 the two stunned10 cats away through the reeds. Graystripe’s hungry gaze followed them out of sight.
“The meeting is at an end,” Tigerstar declared.
At once the cats in the clearing began to slip away. Tigerstar leaped down from the Bonehill and vanished into the reeds, flanked by Blackfoot and Darkstripe. Eventually only Leopardstar was left. She padded forward until she stood over the broken body of her former deputy. Slowly she bent11 her head and nosed Stonefur’s torn gray pelt12. If she meowed a last farewell, Firestar did not hear it, and after a moment she turned and followed Tigerstar through the reeds.
“Now!” Graystripe sprang to his paws. “Firestar, we’ve got to rescue my kits13.”
“Yes, but don’t go rushing off,” Firestar warned him. “We have to make sure all the cats have gone.”
His friend’s body was quivering with suppressed tension. “I don’t care!” he spat14. “If they try to stop us, I’ll rip them all apart.”
“The kits are safe for the moment,” murmured Ravenpaw. “There’s no need to take risks.”
Firestar cautiously raised his head above the level of the reeds. By now it was quite dark; the only light came from Silverpelt and a pale glow from the moon low in the sky. The ShadowClan and RiverClan scents17 were rapidly fading. The only sound was the dry rustle18 of wind in the reeds.
Crouching19 down again, Firestar murmured, “They’ve gone for now. This is our chance. We’ve got to find where they’re keeping the apprentices, and—”
“And get them away,” Graystripe interrupted. “Whatever it takes.”
Firestar nodded. “Ravenpaw, are you up for it? It will be dangerous.”
The loner’s eyes widened. “You think I’d leave, after we saw that? No way. I’m with you, Firestar.”
“Good.” Firestar blinked in gratitude21. “I thought you would be.”
Beckoning22 his two friends with his tail, he led the way into the clearing, his pawsteps growing hesitant as he left the shelter of the reeds. He knew what he was doing was against the warrior code, but what Tigerstar had done had left him no alternative. He did not know how his warrior ancestors could have watched the slaughter23 of Stonefur without doing anything to save him.
Creeping close to the ground, the three cats reached the stream where rotting fresh-kill lay strewn along the bank. In the midst of his cold fury, Firestar spared a moment to be angry at the waste of prey24 in such a hard season.
“Look at that!” he hissed25.
“But we could roll in it,” Ravenpaw suggested. “It’ll disguise our scent16.”
Firestar gave him a brief nod, approval calming his anger. Ravenpaw was thinking like a warrior. Firestar crouched26 down and pressed his fur into the decaying carcass of a rabbit. Graystripe and Ravenpaw followed. The gray warrior’s eyes were like chips of yellow flint.
When all three cats were thoroughly27 covered with the scent of crowfood, Firestar headed into the reeds where he had seen Jaggedtooth disappear with the two apprentices. There was a narrow path along the frozen mud, as if cats regularly came and went that way. All Firestar’s senses were alert.
As they headed away from the river toward the farmland on the other side of RiverClan territory, the reeds thinned out and the ground rose. When Firestar and his friends came to the edge of the cover, they saw a grassy28 slope in front of them with an occasional clump29 of gorse and hawthorn30. About halfway31 up a dark hole yawned in the hillside. Jaggedtooth was crouched outside it.
“There are pawprints leading into that hole,” Firestar murmured.
Graystripe lifted his muzzle32 to taste the air and let out a faint sound of disgust. “Sick cats,” he meowed quietly. “You’re right, Firestar; this is the place.” He bared his teeth. “Jaggedtooth is mine.”
“No.” Firestar’s tail whipped out, signaling his friend to stay where he was. “We can’t afford a fight. The noise would bring every cat in the territory. We have to get rid of him another way.”
“I can do that.” Ravenpaw’s paws anxiously kneaded the ground, but his expression was determined33. “He’ll recognize you two, but he doesn’t know me.”
Firestar hesitated, then nodded. “How will you do it?”
“I’ve got a plan.” Ravenpaw’s eyes shone with anticipation34, and Firestar realized that the loner was almost relishing35 the danger, as if he had missed having a chance to use his warrior skills. “Don’t worry; it’ll be fine,” the black cat assured him.
Straightening up, he strolled out of the reeds and up the slope, his head and tail held high. Jaggedtooth got up and paced forward to meet him, the tabby fur on his neck bristling36.
Firestar gathered himself, ready to spring if the ShadowClan warrior attacked. But though Jaggedtooth looked aggressive, he did nothing more than give Ravenpaw a suspicious sniff37.
“I don’t know you,” he growled38. “Who are you and what do you want?”
“Think you know all the RiverClan cats, do you?” Ravenpaw inquired coolly. “I’ve got a message from Tigerstar.”
Jaggedtooth grunted39 and his whiskers twitched40 as he sniffed41 Ravenpaw again. “Great StarClan, you stink42!”
“You don’t smell so pleasant yourself,” Ravenpaw retorted. “Do you want this message or don’t you?”
Firestar and Graystripe exchanged a glance as Jaggedtooth hesitated. Firestar felt his heart thud painfully against his ribs44.
“Go on, then,” the ShadowClan warrior meowed at last.
“Tigerstar wants you to go to him at once,” mewed Ravenpaw. “He sent me to take your place guarding the prisoners.”
“What?” Jaggedtooth lashed6 his tail in disbelief. “Only ShadowClan guards the prisoners. You RiverClan cats are all too soft. Why did Tigerstar send you and not one of our own Clan1?”
Firestar flinched45. Ravenpaw had made a potentially fatal mistake.
But the loner didn’t seem bothered. Turning away, he meowed, “I thought we were supposed to be all one Clan now. But suit yourself. I’ll tell Tigerstar you wouldn’t come.”
“No, wait.” Jaggedtooth twitched his ears. “I didn’t say that. If Tigerstar wants me…Where is he, then?”
“Over there.” Ravenpaw pointed46 with his tail in the direction of the RiverClan camp. “He had Darkstripe and Blackfoot with him.”
Jaggedtooth made up his mind. “Right,” he muttered. “But you stay out here till I get back. If I smell your stink inside the hole I’ll rip your fur off.”
He headed down the slope. Ravenpaw watched him go, then padded up and sat down just outside the hole. Firestar and Graystripe crouched in the reeds as Jaggedtooth passed within a couple of tail-lengths of them. He was hurrying now, and did not even stop to scent the air as he vanished down the path.
Once he had gone, Firestar and Graystripe bounded across the open ground to join Ravenpaw. Graystripe paused briefly47 to sniff and meowed, “Yes! They’re in there!” before he vanished inside the hole.
Firestar stopped in front of Ravenpaw. “Well done!”
Ravenpaw licked his paw and drew it over his ear two or three times to hide his embarrassment48. “It was easy. He’s such a stupid furball.”
“Yes, but he’ll know something’s up as soon as he finds Tigerstar,” Firestar pointed out. “Keep watch, and call out if you see any cat.” With a last glance behind him, he plunged49 into the hole after Graystripe.
He found himself in a long, narrow passage carved out of the sandy soil. Thick darkness engulfed50 him after the first few tail-lengths. There was a lingering scent of fox, but it was faint and stale, as if the original occupant of the hole were long gone. Stronger by far was the fear scent rising from the darkness, the scent of cats who had given up all hope.
The passage led steadily51 downward. Before he reached the end of it, Firestar heard the sound of scuffling and surprised mews. One of the apprentices called out, “Father? Is it really you?”
A moment later Firestar could no longer feel his fur brushing the passage walls on either side. His next step brought him up against a cat’s haunches; he recognized Graystripe by his scent. The scent of the two apprentices was stronger than ever, and with a jolt52 of relief Firestar recognized another cat.
“Mistyfoot!” he exclaimed. “Thank StarClan we’ve found you.”
“Is that Firestar?” Mistyfoot’s voice was hoarse53, close to his ear. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story,” Firestar replied. “I’ll tell you everything, but first we have to get out of here. Graystripe, are you ready?”
A tense mew of agreement came from his friend. Though Firestar couldn’t see him, he could picture him huddled close to Featherpaw and Stormpaw.
“Let’s go,” Firestar meowed, turning with difficulty in the narrow mouth of the underground den20. “Mistyfoot, we’re going to take you all back to ThunderClan with us.” Remembering how weak Stonefur and the apprentices had looked, he added, “Can you make it that far?”
“Once I’m out of this hole I can make it anywhere,” Mistyfoot mewed determinedly54.
“So can we,” added Featherpaw.
“That’s great. Mistyfoot, I’m so sorry, but we couldn’t rescue Stonefur…” Firestar began, looking for words to tell the she-cat about her brother’s death.
“I already know,” meowed Mistyfoot, her voice ragged55 with grief. “The apprentices told me. They say he died bravely.”
“Very bravely. All StarClan will honor him.” Firestar pushed his muzzle into Mistyfoot’s fur, a gesture of comfort. “Come on. We’ll make sure he didn’t die for nothing. Tigerstar will not hurt you as well.”
His heart thudding with fear, Firestar scrabbled his way back up the tunnel. At the top he paused to check that it was safe to emerge, then led the way into the open. He felt as if the rancid stench of the prison would cling to his fur forever. Ravenpaw took his place at the back of the group, keeping a lookout56 as they crept down the slope.
Silent as shadows, the cats followed the path through the reeds until they came to the clearing again. It was empty, the Bonehill casting its ominous57 shadow as far as the body of Stonefur lying still in the moonlight.
Mistyfoot went over to her brother and bent her head to nose his fur. Outside the darkness of her prison, Firestar saw that she was as skinny and unkempt as the dead warrior, every rib43 showing, her fur matted and her eyes dull with suffering.
“St o n e f u r, St o n e f u r,” she murmured. “What will I do without you?”
Firestar’s fur bristled58 with tension as he listened for the sound of approaching cats, but he forced himself to give Mistyfoot time to mourn. They could not take Stonefur’s body with them for the proper warrior’s vigil; this was Mistyfoot’s last farewell.
Stormpaw, who had been Stonefur’s apprentice3, approached as well. He touched his nose to his mentor’s head before padding back to stand beside his father.
Firestar could not help remembering Bluestar, and how much she had loved her lost kits. Had she been here, he wondered, to lead her son to StarClan? She and Stonefur had both died bravely, their cruel deaths caused by Tigerstar’s evil ambition. Every hair on Firestar’s pelt pricked59 with his longing60 to confront the dark tabby warrior and make him pay for his crimes.
“Firestar, we have to go,” Graystripe hissed, the whites of his eyes bright in the half-light.
His words roused Mistyfoot. Before Firestar could reply, she raised her head, gave Stonefur one last, loving look, and padded over to where the others were waiting for her.
Firestar set a brisk pace back toward the river, feeling himself relax as the stench of the Bonehill and the scattered61 prey began to fade. Graystripe helped the two apprentices along, encouraging them with gentle nudges and mews. Mistyfoot kept up bravely, limping on paws cracked and sore after her imprisonment62, while Ravenpaw stayed at the rear, his ears tilted63 back for the sounds of pursuit.
The night was silent except for the murmur15 of water, and by the time the river came in sight they had not encountered any other cats. Turning downstream toward the stepping-stones, Firestar dared to hope that they would escape undetected.
Then a distant yowling sounded through the reeds and the six cats froze in their tracks.
“The prisoners have escaped!”
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收听单词发音
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1
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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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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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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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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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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16
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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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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18
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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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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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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23
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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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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25
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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26
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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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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hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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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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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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38
growled
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| 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 | |
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39
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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40
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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41
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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42
stink
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| vi.发出恶臭；糟透，招人厌恶；n.恶臭 | |
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43
rib
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| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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45
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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48
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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49
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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50
engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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52
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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53
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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54
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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55
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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56
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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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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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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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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61
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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62
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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63
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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