Firestar woke to see the den1 floor washed by the pale light of sunrise. Beside him, Sandstorm still slept, the moss2 stirred by her breathing. Careful not to wake her, Firestar rose, stretched, and padded out into the chilly3 morning.
The clearing was deserted4, but almost at once Whitestorm appeared from the warriors6’ den.
“I’ve sent out the dawn patrol,” he reported. “Brackenfur, Mousefur, and Graystripe. I told them to do a quick sweep up the ShadowClan border and report back to us.”
“Good,” mewed Firestar. “It would be just like Tigerstar to arrange a meeting at Fourtrees and then mount a raid somewhere else. That’s why I’m leaving you in charge of the camp, with as many warriors as I can spare.”
“Take all the strength you need,” Whitestorm meowed. “We’ll be fine. Young Brightheart is shaping up to be a really useful fighter ever since she started training with Cloudtail. And the elders can still raise a few claws, if they’re pushed.”
“They’ll be pushed, before all this is over,” Firestar predicted. “Thanks, Whitestorm. I know I can rely on you.”
The white warrior5 nodded and disappeared into the den again. Firestar watched him go, then padded across the clearing to the fern tunnel that led to Cinderpelt’s den.
When he reached the medicine cat’s den, he could hear her voice coming from the cleft9 in the rock.
“Juniper berries, marigold leaves, poppy seeds…”
Looking inside, Firestar saw the small gray she-cat checking the heaps of healing herbs and berries ranged alongside the wall of the den.
“Hi, Cinderpelt,” he mewed. “Everything in order?”
The medicine cat turned to him with a grave look in her blue eyes. “As much as it’ll ever be.”
“You think there will definitely be a battle?” Firestar asked her. “Have StarClan spoken to you?”
Cinderpelt came to join him at the mouth of the den. “No, not a word,” she replied. “But common sense says there’ll be a battle, Firestar. I don’t need an omen11 from StarClan to tell me that.”
She was right, Firestar knew, and yet her words chilled him. With such a momentous12 meeting ahead, why had there been no sign from StarClan? Had their warrior ancestors abandoned them in their time of greatest need? Too late, Firestar wondered if he should have traveled to Highstones to share tongues with StarClan.
“Do you know why StarClan are silent?” he asked Cinderpelt out loud.
The medicine cat shook her head. “But I do know something,” she meowed, as if she had read his thoughts. “StarClan haven’t forgotten us. They decreed long ago that there should be four Clans13 in the forest, and they won’t stand by and let Tigerstar change that forever.”
As Firestar thanked her and turned away to muster14 his warriors, he wished he shared her faith.
A stiff breeze was blowing as Firestar led his warriors up the slope to Fourtrees, rippling15 the grass and carrying the scent16 of many cats. Each gust17 brought a sting of rain from the gray clouds that pushed each other across the sky.
At the top of the slope, Firestar paused, crouching18 in the shelter of the bushes to look down into the clearing. Almost at once Cloudtail appeared at his side.
“Why are we standing19 about?” he demanded. “Let’s get on with it.”
“Not until I know what’s going on,” Firestar told him. “For all we know, we could be walking into an ambush20.” Facing his warriors, he raised his voice so that they could all hear him. “You all know why we’re here,” he began. “Tigerstar wants us to join his Clan7, and he won’t take no for an answer. I’d like to believe we can get out of this without a fight, but I can’t be sure.”
As he finished speaking, Cloudtail flicked21 Firestar on the shoulder with his tail and then pointed22 to the other side of the hollow. Turning, Firestar saw Tallstar approaching from WindClan territory, followed by his warriors.
“Good, WindClan are here,” he mewed. “Let’s go and meet them.”
Firestar led the way along the lip of the hollow until he came face-to-face with the long-tailed black-and-white tom.
The WindClan leader dipped his head in greeting. “Well met, Firestar. This is a black day for the forest.”
“It is indeed,” Firestar agreed. “But our Clans will stand for what is right by the warrior code, whatever happens.”
Firestar was surprised at how many had come with Tallstar. Remembering the wounded and devastated23 cats in the WindClan camp the day before, he had expected only a small group to come to Fourtrees. Instead practically every warrior must have been there. They still showed the scars of the raid on their camp, but their eyes were bright and determined24. Firestar recognized his friend Onewhisker, a long weal showing red along one flank, and Morningflower, her eyes cold with longing25 to avenge26 the death of her son.
Tigerstar might have a nasty shock, Firestar reflected, to see how many of WindClan’s warriors were still ready to fight against him. Taking a deep breath, he meowed, “Let’s go.”
Tallstar dipped his head. “Lead on, Firestar.”
Startled at being given such an honor by the older and more experienced leader, Firestar waved his tail to signal to the two united Clans—LionClan, he thought with a rush of pride. This was his destiny.
He stalked down the slope through the bushes, all his senses alert for attack. But he heard nothing except for the rustle27 of his own warriors following him. The scent of TigerClan was still some way off.
As Firestar led his cats into the clearing beneath the great oaks, the bushes on the opposite side parted and Tigerstar stepped out to face him. Blackfoot, Darkstripe, and Leopardstar flanked him like vengeful shadows. The massive tabby’s eyes gleamed as he spotted28 Firestar, and the young ThunderClan leader realized that this war was personal for him too. Tigerstar wanted nothing more than to sink his claws and teeth into Firestar’s pelt8 and rip him to pieces.
Instead of making Firestar afraid, the knowledge exhilarated him. Let him try! he thought.
“Greetings, Tigerstar,” he meowed coolly. “You came, then. Not still looking for those prisoners you lost from RiverClan territory?”
Tigerstar let out a snarl29. “You’ll regret that day’s work, Firestar.”
“Try and make me,” Firestar retorted.
The TigerClan leader did not reply, but waited as more of his followers30 appeared through the bushes. They were a formidable group, Firestar realized, though some of them bore wounds and claw marks from the raid on WindClan the previous day. His heart began to thump31 painfully as he realized that the battle he had feared for so long might be unleashed32 any moment.
Tigerstar took a pace forward, his head raised challengingly. “Have you thought about my offer? I’m giving you the choice: Join with me now and accept my leadership, or be destroyed.”
Firestar exchanged a single glance with Tallstar. There was no need for words. They had already decided33 what their response must be.
Firestar spoke10 for them both. “We reject your offer. The forest was never meant to be ruled by one Clan, especially not one led by a dishonorable murderer.”
“But it will be.” Tigerstar’s voice was soft; he didn’t even try to defend himself against Firestar’s accusation34. “With you or without you, Firestar, it will be. By sunset today, the time of four Clans will be over.”
“The answer is still no,” Firestar meowed. “ThunderClan will never submit.”
“Nor will WindClan,” added Tallstar.
“Then your courage is matched only by your stupidity,” growled35 Tigerstar.
He paused, his gaze raking the warriors of WindClan and ThunderClan. Firestar heard snarls36 from the TigerClan warriors behind their leader and forced himself not to flinch37 away from their glittering eyes and bristling38 fur. For a few heartbeats not a cat moved, and Firestar braced39 himself for Tigerstar’s order to attack.
Then he heard a choking sound behind him, and a single word gasped40 out: “Tawnypaw!”
Bramblepaw was standing rigid41 at Firestar’s shoulder, staring into the ranks of their enemies. Following his gaze, Firestar spotted the young she-cat standing close beside Oakfur, a ShadowClan warrior.
“What is she doing there?” That was Brackenfur, thrusting himself forward to stand at Firestar’s other side. “Tigerstar did steal her!”
“Steal her?” There was a purr in Tigerstar’s voice. “Not at all. Tawnypaw came to us willingly.”
Firestar didn’t know whether to believe him or not. Tawnypaw was looking down at the ground as if she didn’t w ant to meet the eyes of her brother and her former mentor42. He had to admit that she didn’t look like a prisoner; instead she just looked uncomfortable at being the center of attention.
“Tawnypaw!” Bramblepaw called. “What are you doing? You’re a ThunderClan cat—come back to us!”
Firestar winced43 at the pain in the young cat’s voice. He remembered the agony of losing Graystripe when his friend chose to leave and join RiverClan.
Tawnypaw said nothing.
“No, Bramblepaw,” Tigerstar meowed. “You come to us. Your sister made the right choice. TigerClan will rule over the whole forest, and you can share our power.”
Firestar saw Bramblepaw’s muscles tense. At last, after all the doubts and suspicions Firestar had felt about him, the young cat was faced with a simple choice. Would he follow his father or stay loyal to his Clan?
“What do you say?” Tigerstar prompted. “ThunderClan is finished. There is nothing there for you.”
“Join you?” Bramblepaw growled. He paused, swallowing as he fought to control his anger. When he spoke again his words rang out clearly so that every cat in the clearing could hear him.
“Join you?” he repeated. “After everything you’ve done? I’d rather die!”
A murmur44 of approval broke out among the ThunderClan cats.
Tigerstar’s amber45 eyes smoldered46 with rage. “Are you sure?” he hissed47. “I won’t make the offer twice. Join me now, or you will die.”
“Then at least I’ll go to StarClan as a loyal ThunderClan cat,” Bramblepaw retorted, his head high.
Firestar felt pride thrilling through him from nose to tail-tip. There could be no greater challenge to Tigerstar’s power than for his own son to reject him in favor of the Clan his father despised.
“Fool!” Tigerstar spat48. “Stay, then, and die with these other fools.”
Firestar braced himself as he waited for his enemy to launch the attack, convinced that battle was upon them. Instead, to his surprise, Blackfoot raised his tail in a signal.
The bushes on the opposite slope rustled49, and Firestar’s eyes widened in shock as more cats emerged into the clearing. He had never seen any of them before. They were skinny, their fur ragged50, but he sensed strength in their wiry limbs. The stench of crowfood and the Thunderpath rolled off them. These were no forest cats.
The warriors of ThunderClan and WindClan stared in disbelief as more and more of the strangers padded into the clearing. They fanned out into a semicircle around TigerClan, row after row of them, more cats than Firestar could remember seeing all together in the forest, even at a Gathering51.
“Well?” Tigerstar demanded silkily. “Are you still sure that you want to stand and fight?”
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1
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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7
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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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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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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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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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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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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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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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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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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30
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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31
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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unleashed
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| v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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35
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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36
snarls
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| n.（动物的）龇牙低吼( snarl的名词复数 )；愤怒叫嚷（声）；咆哮（声）；疼痛叫声v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的第三人称单数 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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37
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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38
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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39
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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40
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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41
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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42
mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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43
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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45
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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46
smoldered
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的过去式 ) | |
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47
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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48
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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49
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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50
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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51
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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