It was the time before dawn when the moon had set, but the sun had yet to streak1 the horizon with milky2 fingers of light. The night was still and cold, black like frozen water.
Firestar padded out of his den3. The clearing was empty, but he could hear the faint sounds of warriors4 waking up. Frost glittered on the ground, while above his head Silverpelt flowed like a river across the sky.
Pausing to drink in the night air filled with the scents7 of so many familiar cats, Firestar felt every hair on his pelt6 stand up. This could be the last morning he would ever spend in camp. It could be the last morning for any Clan8. He felt as if everything were spinning out of his control, but when he looked for strength in the knowledge that StarClan controlled his fate, he found only uncertainty9.
Firestar sighed and shook himself before walking over to the fern tunnel that led to Cinderpelt’s den. The medicine cat was dragging herbs and berries into the clearing, where Fernpaw was making them into bundles ready to carry.
“Is everything ready?” Firestar asked.
“I think so.” Pain filled Cinderpelt’s blue eyes, as if she were already seeing the wounded cats who would soon need her help. “I’ll need more cats to carry all this up to Fourtrees. Fernpaw and I can’t manage it on our own.”
“You can have all the apprentices10,” Firestar meowed. “Fernpaw, will you go and tell them?”
The young she-cat dipped her head and hurried off.
“Once we get there, the other apprentices will be needed to fight,” Firestar went on. “But Fernpaw can stay with you. Find somewhere well out of the way. I think there’s a sheltered hollow on the other side of the stream—”
Cinderpelt bristled12. “Firestar, you don’t mean that? What use will I be if I’m not where the fighting is?”
“But the cats need you,” Firestar insisted. “If you’re injured, what happens to the rest of us?”
“Fernpaw and I can take care of ourselves. We’re not helpless kits13, you know.” Cinderpelt’s tart14 response reminded Firestar of her mentor15, Yellowfang.
Sighing, he padded up to the medicine cat and touched noses with her. “Have it your own way,” he meowed. “I know I can’t say anything to change your mind. But please…be careful.”
Cinderpelt let out a soft purr. “Don’t worry, Firestar. We’ll be fine.”
“Have StarClan spoken to you about the battle?” Firestar forced himself to ask.
“No, I’ve seen no omens17 at all.” The medicine cat raised her eyes to Silverpelt, where it was fading in the predawn sky. “It’s not like StarClan to be silent when something so important is going to happen.”
“I…I had a dream from them, Cinderpelt,” Firestar told her hesitantly, “but I’m not sure I understand it, and there isn’t time to tell you all of it now. I just hope it means something good for us.”
There was curiosity in Cinderpelt’s blue eyes as he spoke16 of his dream at Sunningrocks, but she did not question him.
Firestar returned through the fern tunnel and crossed the clearing to the elders’ den. On the way he passed Brackenfur on watch, and waved a greeting with his tail.
When he reached the fallen tree, charred18 by the fire that had swept through the camp last greenleaf, Firestar found all the elders still sleeping except for Speckletail, who sat with her tail curled around her paws.
The she-cat rose to her paws as Firestar came toward her. “Is it time?”
“Yes,” Firestar replied. “We’ll be leaving soon…but you’re not coming with us, Speckletail.”
“What?” The fur on Speckletail’s shoulders stiffened19 with annoyance20. “Why not? We may be elders, but we’re not useless. Do you really think we’re going to sit back and—”
“Speckletail, listen. This is important. If you’re honest, you know that Smallear and One-eye would barely make it to Fourtrees, never mind fight when they got there. And Dappletail’s getting very frail21. I can’t lead them into battle against Scourge22.”
“And what about me?”
“I know you’re a fighter, Speckletail.” Firestar had thought carefully about what he was going to say, but with the elder glaring at him he felt like a raw apprentice11 again. “That’s why I need you here. There’ll be the other three elders here, and Willowpelt’s kits. They’ve learned some defensive24 moves but they’re not ready for battle. I’m putting you in charge of the camp while the rest of us are away.”
“But I—Oh.” Speckletail broke off as she understood what Firestar was asking her to do. Slowly the fur on her shoulders lay flat again. “I see. All right, Firestar. You can count on me.”
“Thank you.” Firestar blinked his gratitude25 at her. “If the battle goes badly, we’ll try to fall back here and reinforce you, but we might not make it. If BloodClan comes here, you’ll be all that’s left of ThunderClan.” His eyes met Speckletail’s. “You’ll need to get the kits and elders away. Try to cross the river, then head for Barley’s farm.”
“Right.” Speckletail gave him a brisk nod. “I’ll do the best I can.” Turning, she looked over to where Brightheart slept in the shelter of the tree trunk. “What about her?”
“Brightheart is as strong as any warrior5 now,” Fireheart meowed, his heart lifting. “She’s coming with us.” He padded over and nudged the young she-cat with one paw. “Wake up, Brightheart. It’s time to go.”
Brightheart blinked up at him with her good eye, then rose and stretched. “Okay, Firestar. I’m ready.”
She was heading out into the clearing when Firestar called her back. “Brightheart, if we come through this, you’ll be sleeping in the warriors’ den from now on.”
Brightheart’s ears pricked26 and she seemed to stand taller. “Thank you, Firestar!” she meowed, and dashed off, all her drowsiness27 vanished.
Dipping his head in farewell to Speckletail, Firestar followed Brightheart into the clearing. By now the other cats had begun to emerge from their dens28. The apprentices, Featherpaw and Stormpaw among them, were cluster e d around Cinderpelt, each carrying a bundle of herbs. Dustpelt was with them, speaking urgently in a low voice to Fernpaw.
Closer to the warriors’ den, Brightheart had joined Cloudtail, while Mousefur and Longtail stalked around each other in a final practice of their fighting moves. As Firestar watched, Graystripe and Sandstorm slipped out from between the branches of the den with Thornclaw and Mistyfoot just behind. Whitestorm came up and urged the cats toward the nettle29 patch for a piece of fresh-kill.
Firestar felt a rush of pride. These were his cats, brave and loyal, every one of them.
Above him, the outlines of bare branches had begun to show black against the sky. Firestar felt a moment of sheer terror at the reminder30 of the approaching sunrise. He forced himself to stride confidently across the clearing until he joined Whitestorm beside the fresh-kill pile.
“This is it,” the white warrior meowed.
Firestar took a vole from the pile of fresh-kill. His belly31 was churning with tension, but he forced himself to swallow a few mouthfuls.
“Firestar,” Whitestorm continued after a moment, “I just wanted to say that Bluestar could not have led us better in these terrible days. I’ve been proud to serve as your deputy.”
Firestar stared at him. “Whitestorm, you’re talking as if…” He couldn’t put what he was afraid of into words. The older warrior’s respect meant more to him than he could say, and he couldn’t imagine how he would cope if Whitestorm did not come back from the battle.
Whitestorm concentrated on the blackbird he was eating, avoiding his eyes, and didn’t say any more.
The camp was still dark when Speckletail emerged with the other elders to see the warriors off. Willowpelt’s kits rushed out of the nursery to say good-bye to their mother and Sandstorm. They looked excited; they didn’t fully23 understand what the Clan was going to face.
“Well, Firestar,” Cloudtail meowed. “Is everything ready?” The tip of his tail twitched32 nervously33 as he admitted, “I’ll be a lot happier when we’re on the move.”
Firestar swallowed the last of his vole. “So will I, Cloudtail,” he replied. “Let’s go.”
Rising to his paws, he gathered his Clan with a flick34 of his tail. As his gaze met Sandstorm’s, he felt strengthened to see her green eyes glow with trust and love.
“Cats of ThunderClan,” Firestar called, “we go now to fight against BloodClan. But we’re not alone. Remember there are four Clans35 in the forest, and always will be, and the other three will fight with us today. We will drive out these evil cats!”
His warriors sprang up, yowling their agreement. Firestar turned, and began to lead them through the gorse tunnel and up the ravine toward Fourtrees.
When he paused at the top for a last glance back at the camp, he did not know if he would ever see his beloved home again.
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1
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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milky
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| adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的 | |
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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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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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7
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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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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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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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tart
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| adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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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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omens
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| n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 ) | |
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charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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25
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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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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drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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28
dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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29
nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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30
reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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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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32
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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33
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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34
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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35
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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