Dismay kept Firestar’s paws rooted to the ground as he watched the newcomers approach. He noticed that some of them were wearing collars.
“Collars?” Ashpaw spat1 behind him, echoing his thought s. The apprentice2’s voice was sharp with disgust. “Look at them—they’re kittypets! We won’t have any trouble beating them.”
“Keep quiet,” his mentor3, Dustpelt, warned quietly, “until we have the full measure of our enemy. We don’t know anything about these cats yet.”
Firestar remained silent until all the strange cats had moved into the clearing and gathered around TigerClan. A huge black-and-white tom stepped out of their ranks and went to stand beside Tigerstar. Firestar presumed this was the leader of the new comers. He was almost as big as Tigerstar himself, and he was muscular and battle-scarred. Even though they wore collars, Firestar knew these cats were far from being pampered6 kittypets.
Behind the black-and-white warrior7 appeared a much smaller black cat, who stalked light-footed through the grass to stand on Tigerstar’s other side. Firestar could not imagine who he was; he looked more like a medicine cat than a warrior.
Firestar could feel every hair in his pelt4 tingling8, and the air tasted thick, as if a storm were about to break. “So, Tigerstar,” he meowed, forcing his voice to remain steady. “Do you want to tell us who your new friends are?”
“This is BloodClan,” Tigerstar announced. “They come from Twolegplace. I have brought them to the forest to persuade you foolish cats to join with me. I knew you wouldn’t have the sense to agree on your own.”
A hiss9 of outrage10 rippled11 through ThunderClan and WindClan. Firestar heard Thornclaw whisper, “Remember those rogues12 we scented14 the day I was made a warrior? I bet they came from BloodClan.”
He could well be right, Firestar thought. A patrol of these rogues from Twolegplace, checking out the forest to see what Tigerstar had to offer them. And what exactly had he offered? To share the forest in return for their help in battle?
“You see, Firestar?” Tigerstar’s voice was exultant15. “I am even more powerful than StarClan, for I have changed the Clans16 in the forest from four to two. TigerClan and BloodClan will rule together.”
Firestar stared at his enemy in alarm. There was no possibility of reasoning with Tigerstar now. His hunger for power had twisted him so that in his mind his own huge figure dominated everything, blotting17 out even the light of StarClan.
“No, Tigerstar,” he answered quietly. “If you want to fight, let us fight. StarClan will show who is more powerful.”
“You mouse-brained fool!” Tigerstar spat. “I was prepared to come here and talk with you today. Just remember that it was you who drove us to this. And when your Clan5 mates are dying around you, they will blame you with their last breath.” He swung around to face the mass of cats ranged behind him. “BloodClan, attack!”
Not a cat moved.
Tigerstar’s amber18 eyes widened and he screeched19, “Attack, I order you!”
Still none of the warriors20 moved, except for the small black cat who took a pace forward. He glanced toward Firestar. “I am Scourge21, the leader of BloodClan,” he meowed, his voice cold and quiet. “Tigerstar, my warriors are not yours to command. They will attack when I tell them, and not before.”
The look Tigerstar gave him was incredulous and glittered with all the hatred22 he had ever shown to Firestar, as if he couldn’t believe that this scrap23 of a cat was defying him. Firestar seized his opportunity. He paced forward until he stood right in front of the two leaders. Behind him, he heard Graystripe hiss, “Firestar, be careful!”
But this was no time for being careful. The very future of the forest was at stake, balanced on the breadth of a hair between Tigerstar’s bloodthirsty quest for power, and the whims24 of the unknown BloodClan.
Now Firestar could see that the collar Scourge wore around his neck was studded with teeth—the teeth of dogs, and…cats’ teeth, too. Great StarClan! Did they kill their own kind and wear the teeth as trophies25?
Others of the cats were wearing the same grisly ornaments26. Firestar’s belly27 clenched28 and his mind reeled with a vision of blood flowing down the sides of the hollow, washing around the cats’ paws in a sticky, reeking29 tide. His terror was not just for himself and his own Clan, but for every cat in the forest, friends and enemies alike.
Would blood truly rule the forest, as Bluestar had prophesied30? Had she meant that BloodClan would rule? Firestar shot a scorching31 glance at Tigerstar, wanting to express all the hatred he felt for the cat who had brought them to this.
But Firestar knew he had to hold on to his self-control if he were to make any impression on the BloodClan cats. Dipping his head toward their leader, he meowed clearly, so all the cats could hear him, “Greetings, Scourge. I am Firestar, leader of ThunderClan. I wish I could say you are welcome in the forest. But you would not believe me if I did, and I have no wish to lie to you. Unlike your supposed ally here, I am a cat of honor.” He flicked33 his tail toward Tigerstar, trying to put all the contempt he felt into the single gesture. “If you’ve believed any promises he made to you, you’re mistaken.”
“Tigerstar told me he had enemies in the forest.” There was all the cold of leaf-bare in the black cat’s voice. When Firestar looked into his eyes it was like gazing into the deep places of the night, unrelieved by the smallest gleam of light from StarClan. “Why should I believe you instead of him?”
Firestar took a breath. This was the chance he had wanted all along, the chance he had missed at the last Gathering34, when thunder and lightning had interrupted the meeting. At last he could stand in front of all the Clans of the forest and bring Tigerstar’s dreadful history into the open. But now it was not just a matter of tarnishing35 Tigerstar’s reputation, but of saving the whole forest from destruction.
“Cats of all Clans,” Firestar began, “and especially cats of BloodClan, you have no need to believe or disbelieve me. Tigerstar’s crimes speak for themselves. When he was still a warrior of ThunderClan, he murdered our deputy, Redtail, hoping to be made deputy himself. First Lionheart was chosen as deputy, but when that noble warrior died in a fight with ShadowClan, Tigerstar achieved his ambition at last.”
He paused; a grim silence gripped the whole clearing, broken only by a contemptuous rumble36 from Tigerstar. “Mew away, little kittypet. It won’t change anything.”
Firestar ignored him. “Being deputy wasn’t enough,” he went on. “Tigerstar wanted to be leader of the Clan. He set a trap for Bluestar by the Thunderpath, but my own apprentice strayed into it instead. That’s how Cinderpelt came by her crippled leg.”
A shocked murmur37 swept through the clearing. Except for BloodClan, they all knew Cinderpelt, and she was popular even with cats of other Clans.
“Then Tigerstar conspired38 with Brokentail, the former leader of ShadowClan, who was ThunderClan’s prisoner,” Firestar told the listening cats. “He brought a pack of rogues into ThunderClan camp, and tried to murder Bluestar with his own claws. I stopped him, and when ThunderClan had b ea t en off the attack we drove him into exile. As a rogue13, he slaughtered39 yet another of our warriors, Runningwind. T h en before we knew what he was up to, he had made himself leader of ShadowClan.”
Firestar paused and looked around him. He was not sure how BloodClan and their leader Scourge were taking all this, but he could see that he had the horrified40 attention of every other cat in the clearing. He steadied himself, wanting to be sure they heard the last, most dreadful part of his story.
“But Tigerstar still wanted revenge on ThunderClan. Three moons ago, a pack of dogs got loose in the forest. Tigerstar caught prey41 for them, then laid a trail of dead rabbits between the dogs’ lair42 and the ThunderClan camp to lead them to us. He murdered one of our queens, Brindleface, and left her near the camp to give the dogs a taste for cat blood. If we hadn’t found out in time to escape, the whole of ThunderClan would have been torn to pieces.”
“Good riddance,” Tigerstar growled43.
“As it was,” Firestar forced himself to go on, “our leader, Bluestar, died the bravest death of any cat, saving me and all her Clan from the pack.”
He expected yowls of outrage, but only silence greeted him as his story came to an end. The eyes of every cat were fixed44 on him, stunned45 with shock.
Firestar glanced at Leopardstar, still standing46 with Blackfoot and Darkstripe a little way behind Tigerstar. The River-Clan leader looked horrified. For a few heartbeats Firestar hoped that she might immediately break her agreement with Tigerstar and withdraw her Clan from his leadership, but she remained silent.
“This is Tigerstar’s history,” Firestar meowed urgently, turning back to Scourge. “It all shows one thing—that he’ll do anything for power. If he promised you a share of the forest, don’t believe him. He won’t give up one pawprint, not to you or any cat.”
Scourge’s eyes narrowed; Firestar could see that he was thinking carefully about what he had heard, and hope flared47 inside him like a tiny flame. “Tigerstar told me what he was planning to do with the dogs when he visited me two moons ago.” The black cat turned his head so that his gaze rested on the leader of ShadowClan. “He did not tell me that his plan failed.”
“None of that matters now,” Tigerstar broke in roughly. “We have an agreement with you, Scourge. Fight beside me now, and you’ll have all I offered you.”
“My Clan and I fight when I choose,” Scourge meowed. To Firestar he added, “I will think about what you have said. There will be no battle today.”
Tigerstar’s fur bristled48 with rage and his tail lashed49 from side to side. His muscles bunched as he dropped into a crouch50. “Traitor!” he screeched, and leaped at Scourge with claws extended.
Watching with horror, Firestar expected to see the smaller cat torn apart. He knew from bitter experience the strength in Tigerstar’s muscles. But Scourge whipped to one side, avoiding Tigerstar as he landed. When the massive tabby turned to face him, Scourge lashed out with his front paws. The pale leaf-bare sun glinted unnaturally51 on the tips of each talon52. Firestar felt his blood run cold. Scourge’s claws were reinforced with long, sharpened dogs’ teeth.
One blow to his shoulder unbalanced Tigerstar. He fell on his side, exposing his belly, and Scourge’s vicious claws sank into his throat. Blood welled out as the smaller cat ripped him down to the tail with a single slash53.
A desperate scream of fury erupted from Tigerstar, then broke off with a ghastly choking sound. His body convulsed, limbs jerking and tail flailing54. For a heartbeat a stillness settled over him, and Firestar knew he was falling into the trance of a leader who loses a life, to wake after a little while restored to strength and with the rest of his lives intact.
But not even StarClan could heal this terrible wound. Scourge stood back and watched coldly as Tigerstar’s body convulsed again. The dark red blood kept on flowing, spreading across the ground in a ceaseless tide. Tigerstar let out another shriek55; Firestar wanted to cover his ears so he didn’t have to listen anymore, but he was frozen to the spot.
Again the massive tabby’s body grew still for a heartbeat, but again the wound was too terrible to yield to the healing trance. Another spasm56 seized Tigerstar’s body. His claws tore up clumps57 of grass in his agony, while his screeches58 turned from fury to terror.
He’s dying nine times, Firestar realized. Oh, StarClan, no…
It was a death he would not have wished on any cat, not even Tigerstar, and he thought it would never be over.
When they saw what was happening to the leader they had believed was invincible59, horrified yowling came from the warriors of TigerClan. Firestar realized that they were all breaking rank; several cats pushed roughly past him in their mad haste to flee from the clearing. From somewhere behind him he heard Tallstar call out to his own warriors, “Wait! Hold the line!”
Firestar knew he did not have to give his own warriors the same order. They would stand with him to the end.
Tigerstar was panting now, his fight for life exhausting him. Firestar caught a glimpse of his amber eyes, glazed60 with pain and fear and hatred. Then his body gave one last jerk and lay still.
Tigerstar was dead.
Frozen in disbelief, Firestar stared down at the lifeless body. His oldest enemy, the most dangerous cat in the forest, the cat he had expected to fight to the death—gone, just like that.
Firestar was left facing Scourge. The small black cat looked unmoved. Now Firestar knew not to underestimate him due to his size. He knew he had never faced a cat more dangerous than this, who in a single blow could destroy a leader with nine lives.
Behind Scourge, the cats of BloodClan moved forward as if they were about to attack, and Firestar shot a glance at his own warriors to make sure they were ready. They stood in line with the warriors of WindClan, and Firestar braced61 himself to leap forward with them, but when he looked back at the enemy, Scourge raised one blood-soaked paw.
The cats behind him stopped.
“You see what happens to cats who defy BloodClan,” the black cat warned calmly. “Your friend here”—he gave a contemptuous flick32 with his tail toward Tigerstar’s motionless body—“thought he could control us. He was wrong.”
“We don’t want to control you,” Firestar rasped. “All we want is to lead our lives in peace. We’re sorry that Tigerstar brought you here with lies. Please feel free to hunt before you go home.”
“Go home?” Scourge widened his eyes in scornful disbelief. “We’re not going anywhere, forest fool. In the town where we come from, there are many, many cats, and live prey is scarce. Here in the forest we won’t need to depend on Twoleg rubbish for our food.”
His gaze slid past Firestar to where ThunderClan and WindClan stood ready for battle. “We are taking over this territory now,” he went on. “I shall rule the forest as well as the town. But I understand that you may need some time to reflect on this. You have three days to leave—or meet my Clan in battle. I shall wait for your decision at dawn on the fourth day.”
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1
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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pampered
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| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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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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blotting
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| 吸墨水纸 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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screeched
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| 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 | |
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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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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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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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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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reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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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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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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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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tarnishing
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| （印花）白地沾色 | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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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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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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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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lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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43
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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44
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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45
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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46
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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47
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
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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49
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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50
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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51
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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52
talon
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| n.爪；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物 | |
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53
slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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54
flailing
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| 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 | |
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55
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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56
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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clumps
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| 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 | |
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58
screeches
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| 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 | |
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59
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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60
glazed
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| 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 | |
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61
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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