Firestar opened his eyes. He was lying on the grass of Fourtrees with moonlight washing around him and the rustle1 of leaves above his head. For a few heartbeats he relaxed, reveling in the warm air of greenleaf.
Then he remembered Fourtrees as he had last seen it, the branches black and stark2 in the depths of leaf-bare and the clearing thronged3 with screeching4, warring cats.
Abruptly5 he sat up. He was not alone. The warriors7 of StarClan lined the clearing, illuminating9 it with the shimmer10 of their pelts12 and the gleam in their eyes. In the front rank Firestar could see the cats who had given him his nine lives: Bluestar, Yellowfang, and Spottedleaf, Lionheart…and a newcomer, Whitestorm, restored to his youthful strength, with starlight glimmering13 in his thick fur.
“Welcome, Firestar,” meowed the white warrior6.
Firestar scrambled14 to his paws. “Why…why have you brought me here?” he demanded. “I should be back there, fighting to save my Clan8.”
It was Bluestar who replied. “Look, Firestar.”
Firestar saw there was a space beside her. At first he thought it was empty, but suddenly he realized that it was filled by the faintest outline of a flame-colored cat. His green eyes glowed so pale they barely reflected the starlight that filled the hollow, but Firestar recognized him at once.
“You have lost your first life,” Bluestar meowed gently.
A shiver ran through Firestar. So this was what it felt like to die. He stared in mingled15 curiosity and fear at the pale copy of himself in the middle of the clearing, and as his gaze locked with the ghost cat’s he suddenly saw himself, hunched16 and bleeding, his fur ragged17 and the light of desperation burning in his eyes.
Firestar wrenched18 his head aside to break the contact. There was no time for this. Surely the whole point of having nine lives was so that he could keep going?
“Send me back,” he begged. “If we’re losing the battle, BloodClan will rule the forest!”
Bluestar stepped forward. “Patience, Firestar. Your body needs a moment to recover. You will go back soon enough.”
“But it might not be in time! Bluestar, why are you letting this happen? Will StarClan not help us, even now?”
The former ThunderClan leader did not reply directly. Instead she sat down, her blue eyes glowing with wisdom. “No cat could have done more than you for ThunderClan,” she meowed. “Even though you are not forest-born, you have the heart of a true Clan cat…more than ever Tigerstar or Darkstripe did, for though they taunted19 you with being a kittypet, they both ended up betraying the Clan of their birth for the sake of their own ambition.”
Firestar’s paws worked impatiently in the grass. What was the use of empty praise? He could not tear his mind away from what was happening in that other clearing, where loyal cats were fighting and dying. “Bluestar—”
The she-cat raised her tail to silence him. “Perhaps your quarrel with Tigerstar gave you the strength you need,” she went on. “All along, you did what you thought was right, even when your Clan mates disagreed with you. You suffered loneliness and uncertainty20, and that has made you what you are now…a gifted, intelligent leader with the courage to lead your Clan in its darkest hour.”
“But I’m not leading them!” Firestar hissed21. “And I can’t save them—I’m not strong enough. We’re going to lose the battle. Bluestar, this can’t be the will of StarClan! We’ve always believed our warrior ancestors wanted there to be four Clans22 in the forest. Have we been so wrong?”
There was a ripple23 of movement from the front rank of the starry24 warriors. Bluestar rose to her paws as she was joined by the other eight cats who had given Firestar a life at the ceremony beside the Moonstone. All nine of them encircled the young cat who stood defiantly25 in the center of the clearing.
A voice spoke—not Bluestar this time, but an echo vibrating inside Firestar’s head as if all nine cats were speaking to him at once. “Firestar, you are wrong. There were never four Clans in the forest.”
As Firestar stared, rigid26 with shock, the voice went on: “There were always five.”
Firestar felt nine pairs of eyes, alight with wisdom, rest on him. “Fight bravely, Firestar. You may return to the battle now, and the spirits of StarClan will go with you.”
The shapes of the StarClan warriors seemed to dissolve into light. Firestar felt their strength flooding through him as water soaked into the thirsty ground, and he knew the courage that came with faith restored.
He opened his eyes. The sounds of battle rushed into his ears and he sprang to his paws. Straight in front of him he saw Cloudtail battling with Scourge27. The young white warrior was on the ground, blood flowing freely from his wounds as Scourge shook him by the scruff and raked claws across his flank. But Cloudtail had his teeth fastened in Scourge’s leg, and even though he was terribly injured he would not let go.
“Scourge!” Firestar yowled. “Turn and face me!”
The small black cat whipped around, letting go of Cloudtail in his shock. “How…I killed you.”
“You did,” Firestar spat28 back at him. “But I am a leader with nine lives who fights alongside StarClan. Can you say as much?”
For the first time he thought he saw a flicker30 of uncertainty in Scourge’s cold eyes, and at last Firestar understood what Barley31 had told him. Scourge’s lack of belief in StarClan was his greatest weakness. Without belief, without the laws and customs of the forest Clans, Scourge did not have the nine lives of a true leader. When he died, he would be dead forever.
The BloodClan leader’s uncertainty lasted no more than a heartbeat. He aimed a final blow at Cloudtail, dislodging the weakening warrior and tossing him up against the Great Rock.
Firestar launched himself at his enemy. And with every stride, he was aware of the StarClan warriors racing32 alongside him, matching his pace: Lionheart’s golden strength; the lithe33, muscular body of Runningwind; Redtail’s dark fur, his bushy red tail streaming out behind him; Yellowfang with her claws outstretched; Spottedleaf, swift and determined35; Bluestar with all her strength and skill in battle restored.
Firestar seemed to cover the ground on winged paws. His claws raked along Scourge’s side and he dodged36 a blow to the head like the one that had claimed his first life.
But Scourge was fast. He flung himself between Firestar’s outstretched paws and aimed for his belly37, trying to rip him open with the same flick29 that had destroyed Tigerstar.
Firestar barely drew back in time. Now he was on the defensive38, trying to avoid the gashing39 claws and still get close enough to Scourge to land a blow of his own. He managed to grip the BloodClan leader near the base of his tail, and the two cats rolled over and over on the grass, a shrieking40 whirl of teeth and claws. When they broke apart Firestar saw his own blood spattering the grass, and knew he had to finish this fight quickly before he weakened again.
When the old trick came back into his mind he scarcely believed it could work against a fighter like Scourge. But he could think of nothing else. He dug his front paws into the bloodstained turf, and crouched41 in front of his enemy as if he were giving in, every muscle tensed in readiness.
Scourge let out a yowl of triumph and leaped at him. In the same heartbeat, Firestar hurled42 himself upward, crashing into Scourge’s belly and thrusting him backward onto the ground. His claws slashed43 through Scourge’s pelt11 and his teeth met in the black cat’s throat until he tasted the gush44 of warm blood. Firestar was dimly aware of Scourge’s claws flailing45 viciously at his shoulders but he held on, raking his enemy’s belly with his hind34 paws until the blows that were falling on him grew weaker.
Firestar shook his head, scattering46 thick drops of blood from his eyes. He released Scourge’s throat and drew back to deal the death blow from an upraised paw. But there was no need. Scourge’s eyes were fixed47 on him, dark pits of hatred48, and his body jerked convulsively. He tried to snarl49 defiance50, but the only sound was blood bubbling in his torn throat. His twitching51 limbs grew still and his eyes stared sightlessly at the sky.
Flanks heaving, his breath coming in agonizing52 gasps53, Firestar gazed down at his dead enemy. Who knew where this cat’s spirit was heading? Not to the ranks of StarClan, that was for sure.
A skinny black-and-white BloodClan cat was battling with Tallstar a couple of tail-lengths away. When he caught sight of Scourge’s lifeless body, the BloodClan warrior froze, staring, and scarcely seemed to notice when Tallstar raked his claws down the side of his head. “Scourge!” he gasped54. “No—no!”
He backed away, then turned and fled, blundering into another BloodClan warrior as he made for the bushes. The second warrior spat furiously and launched himself at Firestar, but before he could attack he too saw the body of his dead leader.
A terrible wailing55 broke from him. “Scourge! Scourge is dead!”
As the cry rose above the screeches56 of battling cats, Firestar saw the warriors of BloodClan falter57 and stop fighting. As they realized that they had lost their leader, they turned and fled. To Firestar’s dazed eyes, the Twolegplace cats seem e d to have shrunk. They were no longer fearsome warriors, but ordinary cats who had no place in the forest: slower than WindClan, duller than RiverClan, scrawnier than ShadowClan. All their menace was gone, and with a cry of triumph the forest cats surged after them and chased them out of the hollow.
Numb58 with exhaustion59, Firestar hardly had the strength to understand that his cats—LionClan—had won. The forest belonged to StarClan once again.
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1
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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2
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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shimmer
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| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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pelts
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| n. 皮毛，投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛，（连续）投掷 vi. 猛击，大步走 | |
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13
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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14
scrambled
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| 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 | |
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15
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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16
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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18
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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19
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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20
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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21
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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22
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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23
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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24
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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25
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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27
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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28
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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29
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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30
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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31
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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32
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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33
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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34
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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35
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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36
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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37
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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38
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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39
gashing
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| v.划伤，割破( gash的现在分词 ) | |
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40
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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41
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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43
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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44
gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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45
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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46
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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47
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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48
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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49
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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50
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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51
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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52
agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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53
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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54
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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55
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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56
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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57
falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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58
numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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59
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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