CHAPTER 3
Leafpool opened her eyes, sticky withsleep, and blinked. She was crouched1 in the middle of the stone hollow beside Cinderpelt’s body. Next to her, Firestar lay with his nose pushed deep into his friend’s gray fur, his eyes narrowed to slits3 as if he were lost in memories of the cat who had once been his apprentice4. Above the hollow, the sky was milky5 pale with the first light of dawn.
Opening her jaws6, Leafpool tried to draw in the last of her beloved mentor7’s scent8, but all she could taste was death. She had come to sit vigil with Cinderpelt after all the injured cats had been treated. But exhaustion9 had overwhelmed her and she had fallen asleep. I couldn’t even stay awake for you, she thought despairingly.
She would never forget the dream she had had on her journey with Crowfeather, in which she had heard Cinderpelt’s terrible cry of pain as the badger10 struck its killing11 blow. I should have stayed here, she told herself, guilt12 tearing at her sharper than a badger’s claws.
But even though she had come back to her Clan13, her thoughts were still haunted by Crowfeather. The glow in his amber14 eyes when he told her how much he loved her. The pain in his voice when he realized that her heart lay here, as ThunderClan’s medicine cat, and not with him. Leafpool had been faced with a terrible choice, but in the end she knew her place was here, in the stone hollow. She had given up Crowfeather, and had lost Cinderpelt too. All that remained was her duty to her Clan.
As she sat up, stretching cramped15 limbs, careful not to disturb her father at his vigil, she saw Stormfur keeping watch just outside the warriors17’ den18. Brook19 guarded the camp with him, sitting closer to the entrance. Other cats were beginning to stir now; Brackenfur put his head out of the nursery, then vanished back inside. A moment later, Brambleclaw and Dustpelt emerged from the warriors’ den and stood tasting the air.
Soon it would be time for the elders to carry the bodies of Cinderpelt and Sootfur out of the camp for burial. Leafpool bent21 her head over Cinderpelt, touching22 her muzzle23 to her mentor’s shoulder and brushing against her soft gray fur. She closed her eyes to try to sense Cinderpelt’s spirit, but above her the warriors of StarClan were disappearing as the sky grew brighter.
Cinderpelt? Tell me you’re still with me!
Leafpool tried to imagine herself padding through the stars with silvery pelts24 brushing against her on either side, but she couldn’t smell any trace of Cinderpelt’s familiar scent. Had Cinderpelt rejected her because she left ThunderClan withCrowfeather? Would she never hear her mentor’s voice again, not even in dreams?
Cinderpelt, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!she cried. Don’t leave me alone like this
“I can manage. I don’t need to be able to see to carry my Clanmates.”
Longtail’s voice interrupted Leafpool’s desperate prayer. She opened her eyes to see the three elders approaching, Mousefur in the lead and Goldenflower guiding Longtail.
“Of course you don’t,” Mousefur agreed. “We’ll carry them together, don’t worry.”
Firestar rose from Cinderpelt’s side, his movements stiff from wounds and weariness. Whitepaw crept out of the remains25 of the apprentices26’ den, glancing around nervously27 as if she wanted to make sure no more badgers28 had appeared. Thornclaw, who had been Sootfur’s mentor, padded up to him and pushed his nose one last time into the cold, gray-black fur.
“You taught him well,” Leafpool mewed softly, sharing his grief for the young warrior16. “He died bravely, fighting for his Clanmates.”
Rainwhisker slid between the cats who were clustering around the bodies. Leafpool saw that he was able to put weight on his injured leg, though it would be a while yet before the torn muscles were fully29 healed.
“Take it easy,” she warned him. “You’ll be limping permanently30 if you strain that leg.”
Mousefur dipped her head. “Very well.”
She and Rainwhisker took up the body of Sootfur, while Goldenflower and Longtail carried Cinderpelt. With a wrench32 of grief, Leafpool had to step back and let them take her mentor away. Her sister’s scent drifted around her and she felt the warmth of Squirrelflight’s pelt2 against her side. Leafpool leaned against her shoulder, grateful for the comfort of her presence.
The rest of their Clan stood with bowed heads as the elders made their way past the shattered thorn barrier and into the trees beyond.
Once they had disappeared, Firestar began to organize the patrols. Squirrelflight turned to Brambleclaw and the two cats headed back toward the warriors’ den, their flanks brushing.
Leafpool’s ears pricked33. She had thought her sister and Brambleclaw weren’t close anymore. She looked around for Ashfur and saw that he was watching too; she was shaken by the look of fury in his eyes.
Sudden fear for her sister swept through Leafpool like an icy wave. She recalled the dream where she had found herself wandering in a dark, unfamiliar34 forest with no sign of StarClan. There she had hidden on the edge of a clearing, watching while Tigerstar trained his sons Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost and urged them to seek power within their Clans35. Brambleclaw had a fearful inheritance, and Leafpool was not sure he was strong enough to resist his father’s treacherous36 promptings.
Should she tell Squirrelflight about the dream? She took a step toward her sister, then stopped. She had enough to do already, caring for the injured cats, and it was no part of a medicine cat’s duties to interfere37 in the friendships of other cats. Besides, that had not been a dream from StarClan, so she couldn’t be sure what it meant, or whether it was a warning about the future.
She padded across to Ashfur. “I need to check your wounds,” she meowed. “Especially that torn ear.”
Ashfur’s eyes glittered with anger, still staring after Squirrelflight. “Okay.”
He stood without flinching38 while Leafpool sniffed39 the wounds on his flank and foreleg, and gave his ear a careful examination. “They’re healing well,” she told him. “I’ll give you some poppy seed to help you sleep, if you like.”
Ashfur shook his head. “No, thanks. I’ll be fine.” With a last glance across the clearing, he padded over to join Dustpelt and Spiderleg, who were rebuilding the thorn barrier.
As Leafpool turned toward her den, she spotted40 Brightheart trotting41 rapidly across the stone hollow with her daughter, Whitepaw, just behind her.
“Leafpool, do you want me to gather herbs?” she offered. “Brambleclaw said I could take Whitepaw to help me.”
“That would be great,” Leafpool replied.
She gave the apprentice a friendly nod. Whitepaw was looking nervous. She probably imagines the forest is crawling with badgers, Leafpool guessed. I don’t blame her
“We need marigold more than anything,” she went on to Brightheart. “You’ll find plenty beside the stream.”
Brightheart nodded. “I know a good place. Thank StarClan it’s newleaf.”
Leafpool felt a sudden flood of gratitude42 toward her Clanmate. She winced43 with guilt when she remembered how she had been convinced that Brightheart was trying to take her place with Cinderpelt. “It’s a good thing Cinderpelt taught you so well,” she meowed. “I really need your help now.”
Brightheart’s good eye glowed with pleasure. “Let’s go, then. Come on, Whitepaw.” With a flick44 of her tail she bounded away to the camp entrance, the apprentice scurrying45 behind her.
Leafpool padded back to her den. Birchpaw, roused from sleep as she brushed past the screen of brambles, struggled to stand up, then flopped46 back into his nest of bracken.
“Don’t try to get up yet,” Leafpool warned. “I want to take a look at your eye.”
She was more worried about Birchpaw than any of the other cats. He was very young to have fought in such a fierce attack; he didn’t have the strength of a full-grown cat to help him recover from serious wounds.
The scratch around Birchpaw’s eye was red and puffy, only a faint gleam escaping past the swollen47 flesh. He was very lucky not to have lost the eye, Leafpool thought privately48, shuddering49 as she pictured a badger’s blunt claws ripping at the apprentice’s face.
Slipping inside her den where her supplies were kept, Leafpool found the last two leaves of marigold. Thank StarClan Brightheart was fetching more. Leafpool took the leaves outside and chewed them up, but when she tried to lay the pulp50 on Birchpaw’s eye, he ducked away.
“It stings,” he complained.
“I know, and I’m sorry. But it’ll hurt worse if the scratches get infected. Come on.” Leafpool tried to encourage him. “You’re not a kit51 anymore.”
Birchpaw nodded; his whole body stiffened52 as he braced53 himself. Leafpool patted on more of the marigold pulp, and this time breathed a sigh of relief to see the healing juices trickle54 into his eye.
“Try to get some more sleep,” she suggested once she had checked the wounds on his haunches. “Do you need poppy seed?”
“No, I’ll be fine,” meowed Birchpaw, curling up again. “Will you tell Ashfur that I won’t be able to train today?”
“Sure,” Leafpool replied.
She waited until Birchpaw was asleep again, then set off for the nursery with more borage for Sorreltail. On her way she spotted Stormfur and Brook returning to the camp with jaws full of fresh-kill and realized how hungry she was. She could hardly remember the last time she had eaten: it must have been before her desperate dash back from the hills with Crowfeather to warn her Clan.
She made her way over to Stormfur and Brook. A small fresh-kill pile was already there, showing how hard the visitors had been working that morning.
“Hi,” Brook meowed. “I was going to bring some fresh-kill to your den.”
“No need, thanks, I’ll eat here,” Leafpool replied, after setting down the borage. “If you’re sure there’s enough. Have Sorreltail and the elders had some?”
“I’m seeing to them now,” Stormfur mewed. “You take what you want, Leafpool. There’s plenty of prey55, and Sandstorm and Cloudtail are out hunting as well.” He grabbed a couple of mice and headed for the nursery.
Brook took more fresh-kill for the elders, while Leafpool chose a vole for herself. As she crouched to eat it, Spiderleg and Ashfur came over.
Spiderleg shot Leafpool a swift glance, dipping his head awkwardly. “It’s good to have you back,” he muttered.
Leafpool felt as embarrassed as he looked. She didn’t want to talk to any cat about why she had left the Clan. “It’s good to be back,” she told him. It was a relief to turn to Ashfur and give him Birchpaw’s message. “It’ll be a few days yet before he’s fit to start training again,” she finished.
Ashfur nodded. “I’ll come and see him later,” he promised.
Leafpool ate her vole in a few rapid bites, then headed for the nursery to visit Sorreltail. The sun had cleared the trees at the top of the hollow, shining down from a blue sky dotted with a few white puffs56 of cloud. Leafpool was grateful for the warmth on her fur. The injured cats would be able to bask57 in the open while their nests were cleaned out.
The damaged brambles had been dragged out of the nursery the night before, leaving a few ragged58 holes where the sun shone in. Daisy’s three kits59 were playing around her, pouncing60 on the bright spots of light.
“That’s enough.” Daisy swept her tail around the three kits, drawing them closer to her. “If you want to play rough games, you must go outside. You’re disturbing Sorreltail. Remember how tiny her kits are.”
“Yeah, we’re not the youngest anymore,” Berrykit boasted. “We’ll be apprentices soon.”
Daisy didn’t reply, but Leafpool thought she saw uncertainty64 in the horseplace cat’s eyes.
Berrykit’s head popped up from behind Daisy’s protective tail. “Hi, Leafpool!” he meowed. “Where have you been? We missed you. Is your friend from WindClan going to stay with us?”
“Shhh,” Daisy mewed, giving Berrykit’s ear a flick with her tail-tip. “Don’t bother Leafpool now. Can’t you see she’s busy?”
Leafpool dipped her head gratefully to Daisy, her mouthful of borage giving her the perfect excuse not to answer. She slid farther into the nursery to find Sorreltail.
The young tortoiseshell was curled up in a deep nest of moss65 and bracken, her four kits burrowing66 close to her belly67. Brackenfur was beside her while the two cats finished off the fresh-kill Stormfur had brought them.
“That’s right.” Leafpool put the leaves down where her friend could reach them. “You need to make sure you have plenty of milk, with four kits to feed.”
“They’re worse than famished69 foxes,” Brackenfur purred, beaming proudly at his offspring. Leafpool was glad to see he was calmer now, beginning to recover from the shock of the attack, so that he could care for his mate and kits.
“They’re fine, healthy kits,” meowed Leafpool. “Just what the Clan needs.”
As she watched Sorreltail chew up the borage, she remembered the adventures the two of them had shared in the old forest, when she was still an apprentice and Sorreltail was a carefree young warrior. They could never be as close as that again. Now Sorreltail was a mother, while Leafpool was ThunderClan’s medicine cat. When she left with Crowfeather, she had briefly70 glimpsed what it would be like to turn her back on her duties—but her heart had brought her back to her Clan.
Leafpool felt distance yawning between her and Crowfeather like a mountain gorge71. Pain twisted inside her, but she pushed it away. She had chosen the life of a medicine cat; there was no going back.
“Try getting some sleep now,” she mewed to Sorreltail. “Brackenfur, make sure she rests.”
Brackenfur gave Sorreltail’s ears an affectionate lick. “I will.”
Leafpool turned away and blundered out into the bright sunlight, where she stood blinking. She had given up Crowfeather, her mentor was dead, and her best friend had a mate and kits to care for. Even her sister, Squirrelflight, who had once shared everything with Leafpool, was together with Brambleclaw again. Leafpool wanted her sister to be happy, but she missed being closer to her than any other cat.
Oh, StarClan!she murmured. I have given up everything for you. I hope this is what you wanted
For the rest of the day she buried herself in her duties. Brightheart and Whitepaw worked tirelessly to collect supplies, and by the time the sun went down the stocks of herbs and berries had been replenished72, and Leafpool had treated the wounds of every cat in the Clan. As they withdrew to their dens73 for the rest they badly needed, she looked around the clearing and saw that the terrible scars of the attack were beginning to fade. Dustpelt and his helpers had piled up thorns for a new entrance barrier that was already half completed, while Sandstorm and the other hunters had brought in plenty of prey to build up the fresh-kill pile.
Leafpool was exhausted74, but she knew she would be unable to sleep. Instead of going back to her den, she padded across the clearing and out past the partly rebuilt barrier of thorns. Unbidden, her paws carried her toward the lake, until she reached the open ground at the edge of the trees and could gaze out over the starlit water.
Memories flooded back of the nights she had sneaked75 out of camp to meet Crowfeather. Then her paws had felt as light as air; she had raced through the bracken to their meeting place.
Now everything was changed. Grief and loss weighed her down like stone. She settled into a drift of dry leaves, letting her gaze rest on the starry76 surface of the lake.
Not many heartbeats passed before she saw that the stars in the water were moving. At first she thought it was just wind ruffling77 the surface, but all around her the air was still. Her pelt prickled. Above her the stars of Silverpelt blazed down as they had always done, cold, white, and unmoving; but in the lake, some patches of water were dark and empty, while the reflected stars swam sparkling across the surface until they were clustered together in two slender paths.
Leafpool gasped78. The stars had become two sets of paw prints, twining together across the indigo79 water.
Was this a message from StarClan? Was she dreaming? A movement at the far end of the starry paw prints caught her eye, and she peered across the lake. Two cats had appeared, walking away from her with more stars spooling80 out after them. At first they were indistinct, shadowy shapes; Leafpool strained to make them out, expecting to see warriors from StarClan. Then as the shapes grew clearer she saw that one was a dark tabby with broad shoulders, while the other was smaller, lighter-framed, with dark ginger81 fur.
Leafpool’s heart thudded harder. It was Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight. They were padding away from her side by side, so close that their pelts brushed together and their tracks merged20 into a single glittering path. On and on went their paw prints, sparkling across the dark water. Then the cats faded into the shadows, and the reflected stars spilled across the surface of the lake until they matched the stars in the sky once more.
Leafpool shivered. StarClan knew she had been anxious about Brambleclaw, that her trust in him had been shaken by her sinister82 dream of Tigerstar. They must have sent this sign to let her know that his destiny was so closely intertwined with Squirrelflight’s, no cat could separate their paths.
Surely this meant StarClan approved of Squirrelflight’s choice for her mate? If that was the case, Leafpool had no need to worry about her dark vision of Tigerstar training his sons. She didn’t have to warn Squirrelflight about her relationship with Brambleclaw. Their future rested in the paws of StarClan.
Comfort crept over her like a warm breeze, and she curled up among the rustling83 leaves and drifted out on a wave of sleep.
Her eyes blinked open what felt like moments later. She still lay in the hollow; shadows of leaves danced over her as the branches of the beech84 tree moved in a gentle breeze. A sweet scent drifted around her, and she lifted her head to see Spottedleaf sitting on a root a tail-length away.
“Spottedleaf!” she exclaimed, knowing that she was dreaming. Suddenly she remembered the last time she had spoken to the beautiful tortoiseshell and she sprang to her paws, trembling with anger. “You lied to me! You told me to leave ThunderClan and go away with Crowfeather. Cinderpelt diedbecause I left my Clan!”
“Peace, dear one.” Spottedleaf jumped lightly down from the tree root and came over to brush her muzzle against Leafpool’s shoulder. “I told you to follow your heart—and your heart lies with your Clan. So you have followed your heart after all.”
Leafpool gazed at her, bewildered. Crowfeather had said exactly the same thing before he left her to go back to WindClan. “Then why didn’t you tell me that’s what you meant?” she protested.
“Would you have listened?” Spottedleaf’s gaze was full of pained love. “You needed to make the choice to go with Crowfeather. It was the only way you could find out that it was the wrong path for you to follow.”
Leafpool knew she was right. She hadn’t understood how committed she was to her Clan until she had tried to leave. “But Cinderpelt died!” she repeated miserably85.
“Cinderpelt knew what was going to happen,” Spottedleaf meowed. “She knew there was no way to escape it. Not even StarClan can turn aside the paws of fate. That’s why she didn’t try to stop you from going. Do you think things would have been different if you had stayed?”
“I know they would,” Leafpool insisted. “I would never have left her if I’d known!”
“That is a weight you will carry for a long while, but I promise you could not have done anything to change what happened to Cinderpelt.” Spottedleaf pressed close against Leafpool’s side. Her comforting warmth was still not enough to ease Leafpool’s pain.
“Since she died, I haven’t seen her in my dreams,” Leafpool whispered. “I haven’t felt her presence, smelled her scent, or heard her voice. She must be angry with me, or she would come to me.”
“No, Leafpool. Cinderpelt loved you; do you think she would abandon you, even in death? Her paws walk another path for now.”
Fresh anxiety surged up inside Leafpool. She had thought she understood the links between a medicine cat and the spirits of her warrior ancestors. What was this “other path”? Did Spottedleaf mean that Cinderpelt was wandering in the dark forest where Leafpool had seen Tigerstar?
“That I cannot tell you. But she is well, I promise you, and you willsee her again, sooner than you think.”
Spottedleaf’s voice faded away. The warmth against Leafpool’s side melted into the breeze, and the StarClan cat’s tortoiseshell fur blended into the dapples of light and shadow until Leafpool couldn’t see her anymore. Only her scent remained a heartbeat longer.
Leafpool opened her eyes to see the peaceful lake water still dappled with the reflections of countless87 stars. Fresh grief for Cinderpelt swept over her. Why did she have to die? Why hadn’t she come to Leafpool in her dreams like Spottedleaf? Leafpool wanted to cry like an abandoned kit.
Instead, she rose and stretched. “Wherever you are, Cinderpelt,” she mewed out loud, “if you can hear me, I promise that I will never leave our Clan again. I am their medicine cat now, and I will follow in your pawsteps until it’s my turn to walk with StarClan.” Hesitating, she added, “But please, if I ever meant anything to you, come to me when you can and tell me you forgive me.”
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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slits
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| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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milky
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| adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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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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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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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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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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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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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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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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badgers
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| 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 | |
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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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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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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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wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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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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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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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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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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sniffed
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| 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 | |
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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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trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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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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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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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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pulp
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| n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆 | |
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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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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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trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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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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puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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bask
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| vt.取暖，晒太阳，沐浴于 | |
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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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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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pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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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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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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burrowing
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的现在分词 )；翻寻 | |
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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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drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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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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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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ruffling
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| 弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱 | |
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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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indigo
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| n.靛青，靛蓝 | |
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spooling
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| n.络纱，络筒v.把…绕到线轴上（或从线轴上绕下来）( spool的现在分词 )；假脱机（输出或输入） | |
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81
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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82
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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83
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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84
beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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85
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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