CHAPTER 8
Leafpaw watched the monster pull awayand opened her mouth to howl, but no sound came out. The forest spun1 around her and she blinked, fighting the urge to lie down and never get up again.
Twolegs began to run toward the trees, shouting and waving their paws.
They were not safe yet.
Brambleclaw exploded from the undergrowth behind them. “Quick! Run!” He raced to Squirrelpaw’s side and gave her a shove.
Squirrelpaw dragged her horrified2 gaze from the clearing and stared at Brambleclaw. “What about Graystripe?”
“Which way?” Cody yowled, staring into the trees.
“Follow me,” Brambleclaw ordered.
Leafpaw hadn’t seen Brambleclaw since he left the forest with Squirrelpaw. This was a very different cat that had returned—an experienced, confident warrior4, calmly issuing commands in spite of the huge danger they were all in. This wasn’t the time to find out exactly where they had been for the last moon. Pulling her paws free from the mud, she scrabbled through the undergrowth behind Squirrelpaw and Cody. Cloudtail passed her, with Brightheart so close to him that their fur touched.
Relief flooded through Leafpaw when she saw the familiar pelts6 of Sorreltail and Rainwhisker flash through the trees up ahead. Mistyfoot was with them. All the trapped cats had been freed—but they had lost Graystripe.
She heard the Twolegs crashing through the forest behind them. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched them blunder through the bushes, swerving7 clumsily around the trees and stumbling over trailing brambles. Leafpaw knew they would not catch her now. This was her domain8; she could race through it as fast as any creature, her lithe9 body perfectly10 suited to slipping through the undergrowth like the wind.
The cats scrambled11 down Snakerocks. The Twolegs were far behind now, and Leafpaw slowed her pace. Cody fell in beside her as they padded breathlessly into the leaf-strewn glade12 beside the Great Sycamore. The other cats were sprawled13 on the ground, exhausted14. Cloudtail was licking Brightheart’s ears as if he would never get them clean. Mistyfoot watched them, her pale gray flanks heaving.
“The Twolegs won’t catch us now,” Leafpaw assured her.
“But what about foxes and badgers16?” Cody’s eyes were huge. “Aren’t the woods full of all kinds of dreadful things?”
“Like wildcats?” Leafpaw joked weakly. She collapsed17 onto the soft leaves next to the other ThunderClan cats.
Rainwhisker struggled to sit up. His dark gray fur stood on end, and there was blood oozing19 between the claws on one of his front paws. “Are you sure they got Graystripe?”
“But he was fighting like a TigerClan cat!” Thornclaw protested. “They couldn’t have caught him!”
“There were too many Twolegs,” Squirrelpaw explained.
Mistyfoot dipped her head toward Squirrelpaw. “I owe him my life,” she murmured. “I thought we would never escape.” She stared intently at her. “You saved us.”
Squirrelpaw sat up. “It wasn’t just me,” she insisted. “We all risked our lives. Graystripe led the way.”
Leafpaw narrowed her eyes and studied her sister. That was the reply of a warrior, not an apprentice21. She noticed how much leaner and stronger Squirrelpaw had become—much fitter than the scrawny ThunderClan warriors22. Leafpaw bent23 her head to lick her own patchy, unkempt fur. For the first time, she felt awkward around her sister, unsure what to say when so much had happened since they had last seen each other.
Leafpaw wished she could offer comfort, but she didn’t know what to say. If it hadn’t been for her brave Clanmates, she would be making that journey instead of Graystripe.
“May StarClan help him,” murmured Thornclaw.
“StarClan was with us today,” Leafpaw reminded her. “They gave you the strength to face the Twolegs. They will look after Graystripe.”
Sorreltail hauled herself to her paws and touched Leafpaw’s muzzle26 with hers. “Thank StarClan the Twolegs didn’t take you as well,” she murmured. “Squirrelpaw saw you in a dream, trapped in that place. She insisted we rescue you.”
“It wasn’t just me you saved,” Leafpaw meowed, looking gratefully at her Clanmates.
“You saved all of us,” Cody agreed, padding over to Leafpaw’s side.
Sorreltail pulled away from Leafpaw and looked sharply at the kittypet. “Who are you?” she demanded. “You’re not a forest cat, but you don’t look like a rogue28, either.”
“This is Cody,” Leafpaw meowed. “She stopped me from feeling sorry for myself, and made me believe we might be able to escape.”
Rainwhisker sat up and stared at the tabby she-cat. Thornclaw flattened his ears.
“Yes, I’m a kittypet,” Cody confirmed.
Brambleclaw got to his paws and padded over to Cody. Leafpaw saw her friend try not to flinch30 away from the broad-shouldered warrior, whose coat was streaked31 with mud and blood. “Do you want us to show you the way back to Twolegplace?” he offered.
“It’s not safe enough to go that way yet,” Leafpaw warned. “The Twolegs might be searching the woods.”
Brightheart sat up and stared nervously around the glade.
“We’ll be even safer back at the camp,” mewed Squirrelpaw. “Why doesn’t Cody come with us for now?”
The kittypet stared uncertainly at the cats. For all her courage when they were trapped, she was obviously feeling daunted33 by being around so many of the wildcats she had heard about in bloodthirsty stories.
“You’ll be made welcome,” Leafpaw meowed. She looked at Brambleclaw and Rainwhisker, hoping she was right.
“Firestar won’t turn away a cat who’s in trouble,” Brambleclaw agreed.
“Won’t your Twolegs be missing you?” Sorreltail asked pointedly34, and Leafpaw glanced at her in surprise.
“Yes, of course.” Cody kneaded the ground with her paws. Some of the fire returned to her blue eyes. “But it sounds as if it wouldn’t be safe for me to travel through that part of the forest alone, and I don’t want to put any more of you in danger.”
“We’ll get you home as soon as it’s safe,” Leafpaw promised.
“I suppose we should be going then.” Sorreltail sighed. Shelooked at Brambleclaw. “What are we going to tell Firestar about Graystripe?”
Leafpaw swallowed. Graystripe was the ThunderClan deputy, one of the bravest and most experienced warriors, and Firestar’s best friend. How would the Clan18 cope without him?
The cats fell into a miserable35 silence as they trekked36 though the forest. Leafpaw noticed that Thornclaw seemed to be leading them toward Sunningrocks rather than the ravine. Why weren’t they going to the camp? She glanced at Squirrelpaw, puzzled.
“The Clan had to abandon the old camp,” her sister explained. “The Twolegs were getting too close.”
“I’m afraid so,” Thornclaw answered grimly.
“Surely there’s not enough shelter for all of us at Sunningrocks?” Cloudtail meowed.
“Not as well fed as they should be,” Squirrelpaw admitted.
“We should leave before they get any weaker,” Brambleclaw muttered.
Leafpaw wondered what he meant, and felt even more confused when Thornclaw flashed him a sharp glance. Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw had only just returned to the forest—why were they talking about leaving already?
“Are we nearly there?” Cody called from behind.
Leafpaw could hear the murmuring of the river through the leafless trees. They were nearing the RiverClan border, and Sunningrocks was not far ahead. “Yes, it’s not far now,” she called back.
Thornclaw padded onward39, and Leafpaw followed with the others through a swath of bracken. They emerged at the top of the slope that led down to the RiverClan border. Leafpaw could see water rippling40 at the bottom. It was unexpectedly comforting to find that the river was still there in spite of everything the Twolegs had done to the rest of the forest.
Mistyfoot padded down to the river. At the water’s edge she stopped and called back to the ThunderClan cats, “I honor the warriors of ThunderClan for rescuing me. And I mourn the loss of Graystripe with you.” Her blue eyes clouded for a moment; then she turned and pushed through the swirling41 water with powerfully churning paws till she reached the other side.
The ThunderClan cats headed for Sunningrocks. Leafpaw quickened her pace, impatient to be back with her Clan and anxious to know what had happened to their old home in the ravine. Cody matched her step for step, sticking close to her side; Leafpaw could tell by the flicking42 of her ears that the kittypet was both excited and nervous about meeting the Clan.
“Are you sure they won’t mind my coming back with you?” she whispered.
Leafpaw hardly heard her. She had just spotted43 Firestar sitting near the top of the broad gray slope. The sun lit up his fiery44 pelt5, picking out his bony frame. He looked thin and tired, and his eyes were half-closed. How could she tell him that Graystripe had been lost in rescuing her? The thought pieced Leafpaw’s heart like a thorn.
The breeze must have carried her scent45, for Firestar suddenly turned and stared down the rock. He jumped to his paws and raced down to them with his tail held high. “Leafpaw,” he panted, sliding to a halt. “You’re safe!” He licked her ears, and a purr throbbed46 in his throat.
“I missed you so much,” Leafpaw mewed, pushing her face into the familiar warmth of his pelt.
“Thank StarClan I have both of you back.” Firestar’s mew was thick with emotion.
Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw waited at the bottom of the slope with the other ThunderClan warriors, while Cody hung back among the trees.
Cloudtail and Brightheart shot past them onto Sunningrocks, calling for their kit27. “Whitepaw!” Cloudtail called. “We’re back!”
The snowy-pelted apprentice was dozing47 in a sheltered dip in the rock. At the sound of voices, she raised her head and leaped to her paws. “You escaped!” she cried, hurtling down the slope to greet her mother and father. She skidded48 into them, purring with delight. Cloudtail wrapped his tail around her, while Brightheart licked her so fiercely that Whitepaw ducked out of the way with a muffled49 squeak50.
Sandstorm came racing51 out from an overhang at the side of Sunningrocks. She bounded down the slope and nudged Firestar out of the way. “Leafpaw! Did they hurt you?”
“No,” Leafpaw answered as Sandstorm enthusiastically began to lick away the stench of the Twoleg nest from her daughter’s pelt. “I’m fine, honestly.”
“How did you escape?” Firestar demanded.
“Squirrelpaw rescued us.” Leafpaw delightedly fought to keep her balance against her mother’s eager grooming52.
“I had a dream last night.” Squirrelpaw stepped forward. “Spottedleaf told me where Leafpaw was trapped.”
“You were away on patrol,” Squirrelpaw explained. “It couldn’t wait. So Sorreltail and I found Leafpaw by ourselves—”
“And there wasn’t time to come all the way back to camp for help,” Sorreltail broke in. “The Twolegs were already starting to take all the cats they’d caught away from the forest.”
“We couldn’t rescue them by ourselves,” Squirrelpaw chipped in. “But we found Graystripe and Brambleclaw near Snakerocks.”
“And Thornclaw and Rainwhisker,” added Brambleclaw. “But it was Graystripe who led the rescue. He assessed the danger and decided54 it was worth trying to save all the cats the Twolegs had trapped.”
“Graystripe,” Firestar murmured. “I might have known he’d try something foolish.” He looked around for his old friend. “Where is he?”
Leafpaw felt the rock sway under her paws. Sandstorm stopped washing her, as though she sensed something was wrong.
Firestar looked at her with his head to one side. “Why didn’t he come back with you?”
Leafpaw saw him read her expression. His face suddenly seemed to be cast in shadow. “The Twolegs caught him,” she forced herself to say, the words dropping like stones in the cold air.
“Graystripe’s gone?” Firestar whispered. He sat down, drawing his tail around him. Leafpaw’s legs trembled. Her father had never seemed so far away, so far beyond her reach to comfort him.
“W-we should have gotten a bigger patrol together before we attacked,” Brambleclaw stammered56, staring grief-stricken at his leader. “I should have stopped him. I’m sorry.”
Firestar stared at the dark brown tom in front of him. A fire seemed to burn in his eyes, and, for a moment, Leafpaw was afraid that her father was going to take out his pain on the young warrior. Beside her, Squirrelpaw unsheathed her claws—would she really defend Brambleclaw against their father?Leafpaw wondered—but Brambleclaw met his leader’s gaze without flinching57.
“You have brought back my daughter, and Cloudtail and Brightheart.” Firestar almost seemed to be persuading himself that he could not blame Brambleclaw for what had happened. “Graystripe will find his way back to us.”
“But they trapped him in a monster,” Rainwhisker murmured.
Firestar stared at the gray warrior, hollow-eyed. “He will return,” he repeated. “I have to believe that or everything will be lost.”
Sandstorm moved closer to Firestar and pressed her cheek against his shoulder. But Firestar just turned away and walked slowly toward the shadowy overhang. Suddenly he looked old beyond his years.
Sandstorm padded after him. “We have both our daughters back.” Her voice drifted over the rock. “That is a miracle we never thought would happen.”
Firestar gazed at her. “Graystripe would have sacrificed himself for them in an instant,” he admitted.
“That is why he will always be a good friend,” Sandstorm murmured. She sat beside Firestar and curled her tail around him.
“Leafpaw!” Cody hissed from the shadow of the trees. “Is everything okay?”
Leafpaw could not answer. She was still staring at her father with a pang58 of sorrow so great she could hardly breathe. She felt her sister’s tail sweep gently down her flank.
“Don’t worry,” Squirrelpaw murmured. “Firestar will be all right, so long as he believes Graystripe will return.”
“But they trapped him in a monster,” Rainwhisker repeated, as if he would never get the image out of his head.
Mousefur looked grim. “Firestar will have to choose another deputy before moonhigh,” she meowed.
Squirrelpaw’s eyes flashed with rage, and she rounded on Mousefur, making Leafpaw jump. “You’re acting59 like Graystripe is dead!” she cried. “He’s not dead! You heard what Firestar said. He willcome back. We must not give up hope.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
horrified
|
|
| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
pelt
|
|
| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
pelts
|
|
| n. 皮毛，投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛，（连续）投掷 vi. 猛击，大步走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
swerving
|
|
| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
domain
|
|
| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
lithe
|
|
| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
scrambled
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
glade
|
|
| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
sprawled
|
|
| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
badgers
|
|
| n.獾( badger的名词复数 )；獾皮；（大写）獾州人（美国威斯康星州人的别称）；毛鼻袋熊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
collapsed
|
|
| adj.倒塌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
clan
|
|
| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
oozing
|
|
| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
flattened
|
|
| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
apprentice
|
|
| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
wailed
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
muzzle
|
|
| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
kit
|
|
| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
rogue
|
|
| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
sniffed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
flinch
|
|
| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
streaked
|
|
| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
reassured
|
|
| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
daunted
|
|
| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
pointedly
|
|
| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
trekked
|
|
| v.艰苦跋涉，徒步旅行( trek的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指在山中）远足，徒步旅行，游山玩水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
gulped
|
|
| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
kits
|
|
| 衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
rippling
|
|
| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
swirling
|
|
| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
flicking
|
|
| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
throbbed
|
|
| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dozing
|
|
| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
skidded
|
|
| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
muffled
|
|
| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
squeak
|
|
| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
grooming
|
|
| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
flinching
|
|
| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
pang
|
|
| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |