CHAPTER 7
All day, anxiety had nagged1 atLeafpool like a thorn snagging her fur. She couldn’t forget how exhausted2 Brambleclaw had looked when he came to her for cobwebs to put on his wound. Had he been walking in dreams with Tigerstar again?
When her duties were done and she settled down in her den3 to sleep, she tried to send her dreaming paws along Tigerstar’s dark paths. The shadowy forest, with its pale light that didn’t come from moon or stars, terrified her, but she owed it to her Clan4 to discover what Brambleclaw was doing there. It wasn’t just for the sake of her sister; this mustbe part of her duty as a medicine cat.
She opened her eyes to find that tall, leafless trees loomed5 around her. Whispering shadows flickered6 between their trunks, and a path lay in front of her, winding7 between thick clumps8 of ferns. Her paws falling as lightly as if she were stalking a mouse, she began to follow the path.
She had not gone far before she scented10 more cats ahead. Cautiously she slid into the shelter of the ferns and crept forward, her pelt11 prickling with fear that Tigerstar might discover her spying on him.
Heartbeats later she halted, bewildered. Three cats stood on the path, but they were not Tigerstar and his sons. Starshine sparkled at their paws and in their fur. One of them turned her head and Leafpool recognized Bluestar, who had been leader of ThunderClan before Firestar. She had died before Leafpool was born, but the medicine cat had met her sometimes in dreams.
“Come out, Leafpool,” she meowed. “We have been waiting for you.”
Leafpool padded out of the ferns to stand in front of the blue-gray she-cat.
“You took your time,” one of the other StarClan cats rasped; it was Yellowfang, a former ThunderClan medicine cat who had been Cinderpelt’s mentor12. Her yellow eyes were narrowed in her broad, pale gray face, and she twitched13 her thick tail with annoyance15.
Leafpool didn’t recognize the third cat, a magnificent golden tabby. He dipped his head to her and introduced himself. “Greetings, Leafpool. My name is Lionheart. I was with Bluestar when your father first came to the forest.”
“I’m honored to meet you,” Leafpool replied. “But where am I? Why have you brought me here?” It wasn’t anywhere she had visited before in dreams, yet it obviously wasn’t the place where Tigerstar walked, because cats from StarClan were here.
None of the cats replied. Bluestar just mewed, “Come,” and led the way farther into the forest.
Soon the path reached a clearing lit by a wash of moonlight. Overhead the moon floated in a clear sky. The forest that had seemed so ominous16 now looked beautiful, the shadowy places beneath the trees filled with mystery instead of danger.
Just above the topmost branches of the trees, Leafpool spotted17 three tiny stars shining close together. Puzzled, she tried to remember if she had ever seen them before. As she gazed, they seemed to pulse brighter and brighter, until they threatened to rival the moon.
“Bluestar, what’s that?” she asked.
Bluestar didn’t answer. Instead, she led the way into the center of the clearing and gestured with her tail for Leafpool to sit. The three StarClan warriors19 gathered around her. Leafpool cast a final glance over her shoulder, but now she couldn’t make out the three new stars at all. I must be imagining things, she decided20.
“Do you have a sign for me?” she asked, giving all her attention to the three StarClan warriors.
“Not exactly,” meowed Bluestar. “But we wanted to tell you that the path of your life will twist in ways yet hidden to you.”
“Yes.” Yellowfang’s voice was dry, with an edge to it that made Leafpool almost certain the old medicine cat knew something she wasn’t telling. “You will tread a path that few medicine cats have walked before you.”
Fear stabbed at Leafpool; she dug her claws into the ground to keep herself steady. “What do you mean?”
“There are cats you have yet to meet,” Bluestar told her. “Yet their paws will shape your future.”
That’s no answer!Leafpool wanted to protest, but her respect for the StarClan cats kept her silent.
Lionheart rested his tail on her shoulder and his scent9 drifted around her, brave and reassuring21. “We have come to give you strength,” he meowed.
“Whatever happens, remember that we are always with you,” Bluestar promised.
Gazing at the compassion22 in her blue eyes, Leafpool tried to understand what Bluestar was saying. But it didn’t make sense. She knewwhere her life would lead from now on. She was ThunderClan’s medicine cat, nothing else, and would be until StarClan called her to walk with them in Silverpelt. She had given up all her dreams of life with Crowfeather.
“I don’t understand,” she protested. “Can’t you tell me more?”
Bluestar shook her head. “Even StarClan can’t see everything that will happen. The path ahead of you vanishes into shadow—but we will walk with you every pawstep of the way, I promise.”
Her words disturbed Leafpool, but they comforted her at the same time. She knew she was not alone. StarClan had not abandoned her, as she had feared when she was struggling with her love for Crowfeather. Perhaps that was why she couldn’t walk in Tigerstar’s dark forest anymore—by following her heart, she had come back to StarClan.
“Rest,” Lionheart purred, bending his head to give her a lick between the ears. “Rest and grow strong for what lies ahead.”
“Rest so you can keep that Clan of yours in order,” Yellowfang added.
The scent of the three cats wreathed around Leafpool. Her limbs felt heavy, and with a sigh she curled up in the lush grass of the clearing. A faint breeze ruffled23 her fur. Through the tangle24 of branches, she could see the three new stars shining even brighter than before. “Thank you,” she murmured, and closed her eyes.
Less than a heartbeat later it seemed, Leafpool’s eyes opened again. Sunlight was streaming through the cleft25 in the rock. Outside she could see Birchpaw sitting up in his nest near the mouth of her den.
“I’m starving!” he complained. “Can I go and get some fresh-kill?”
Leafpool got up and checked the apprentice’s wounds. The scars on his haunches were healing well, though it would be some time before the fur grew back. The swelling26 around his eye was almost gone, and the claw marks there were healing too. There was no sign of infection.
“I think you can go back to the apprentices’ den today,” she announced.
“Great!” Birchpaw’s eyes sparkled and his paws kneaded his mossy nest impatiently. “Can I start training again too? It’s soboring, sitting around here all day.”
Leafpool was relieved that he felt well enough to be bored. “Okay,” she told him. “But light duties only. Nocombat training. Anyway, Ashfur was pretty badly hurt. He won’t be able to do much for a while yet.”
“I’ll go and see if there’s anything I can do for him,” Birchpaw promised, vanishing before Leafpool could change her mind.
“I want to check your injuries every day!” she called after him.
Her dream had comforted and strengthened her, but her worries about Brambleclaw remained. She was sure he was still meeting Hawkfrost and Tigerstar, and she found herself watching him closely for any sign that the dreams were affecting his behavior in the waking world. As the Clan recovered from the badger27 attack, Brambleclaw seemed nothing less than a loyal and dedicated28 warrior18. But could any cat stay truly loyal under Tigerstar’s treacherous29 influence?
Two nights later, Leafpool returned late to camp with catmint gathered near the abandoned Twoleg nest. The moon was already shining and most cats had withdrawn30 to their dens31. Spiderleg, who was on guard duty near the entrance, nodded to her as she squeezed through the barrier of thorns. Leafpool took the herbs to her den, then slipped over to the fresh-kill pile for something to eat before she slept.
As she crouched32 to eat a blackbird, she heard a rustling33 sound from the warriors’ den. The branches parted and Brambleclaw’s strong tabby body emerged. Without noticing Leafpool, he padded across the clearing, paused for a quick word with Spiderleg, then vanished into the thorn tunnel.
What is he up to? He had left the camp openly, as if he didn’t mind who saw him. But why was he going out alone, when all the other warriors were sleeping? Was he going to meet Hawkfrost?
“You’re working late tonight,” Spiderleg remarked as she passed him again.
“Some herbs are best gathered by moonlight,” Leafpool replied; it wasn’t exactly a lie, but collecting herbs was the last thing on her mind right now.
By the time she emerged from the thorns, Brambleclaw had disappeared, but Leafpool could easily track him by his scent. Her pelt tingled35 when she realized he was following the same rocky path that she had used when she went to meet Crowfeather on the WindClan border.
But Brambleclaw wasn’t heading for WindClan. Leafpool could already hear the faint chuckle36 of the stream when the tabby warrior’s scent trail veered37 away from the path and into the trees, toward the lake. Leafpool followed, keeping her jaws38 wide to distinguish his scent from the prey-scents that mingled39 with it.
Ferns brushed her pelt as she scrambled40 up to the top of a steep slope and emerged from the trees. Brambleclaw was sitting with his back to her only a couple of tail-lengths away, gazing out over the lake. Leafpool froze, terrified that her clumsy approach had given her away. But Brambleclaw didn’t move
Leafpool retreated a few pawsteps into the shelter of a twisted tree root. Could this be Brambleclaw’s meeting place with Hawkfrost? It was a long way for the RiverClan cat to travel.
The moon drifted across the sky while Leafpool waited, watching. But there was no sign of Hawkfrost or any other cat. Brambleclaw sat motionless, his gaze fixed41 on the star-flecked water. Leafpool wished she knew what was going through his mind
He and the rest of the Clan, including Firestar, seemed to believe that their troubles were over. It was hard to imagine anything worse than the badger attack; they had survived that, with the help of WindClan, and the scars were healing. But Leafpool couldn’t stifle42 her sense of disquiet43, even stronger now that she was alone with Brambleclaw. Bluestar, Lionheart, and Yellowfang had warned her of a dark future beyond their control. What trouble was still to come? And was the dark-furred cat in front of her involved?
As the night wore on, weariness crept over Leafpool. She nodded, jerked awake, then let her eyes close, curling up in a mossy spot between two tree roots. In her dreams she woke again, scrambling44 up to see that Brambleclaw had vanished. And beyond the place where he had been sitting, the lake was thick and scarlet45, as if waves of blood were rolling onto the shore.
Before all is peaceful, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red
With a gasp46 of horror, Leafpool turned to run. She slammed into something solid; her claws scraped against the bark of a tree. She was trapped! Struggling back to wakefulness, she realized that she had stumbled over a tree root and collided with the trunk beside her. Above her, early-morning light was filtering through the branches, dappling the grass.
“Who’s there?” demanded a sharp voice.
Before Leafpool could reply, Brambleclaw sprang up onto the root and stood staring down at her. His eyes were dark with anger. “What are you doing here? Are you spying on me?”
“No!” Leafpool retorted indignantly, with a stab of guilt47 that she had done exactly that. “I was out late last night, gathering48 herbs. I must have fallen asleep, that’s all.”
Fear churned in her belly49. He won’t hurt me, she told herself. He’s my Clanmate, for StarClan’s sake! Squirrelflight trusts him. Brambleclaw couldn’t possibly be following a path that led to blood and shadow if StarClan had such faith in him and Squirrelflight being together.
But she was still uneasy as Brambleclaw went on glaring at her, not speaking. Clutching at her dignity, she rose and stalked away. Though her paws itched14 to flee, she forced herself to walk slowly across the open ground, toward the sheltering ferns.
Beyond the trees the lake reflected the pale dawn light. Yet at that moment, the choking scarlet tide that had lapped stickily at the shore seemed far more real to Leafpool than the dove-gray water below her, barely rippled50 by the breeze.
Before all is peaceful, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red
What horror still lay in wait for ThunderClan?
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1
nagged
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| adj.经常遭责怪的；被压制的；感到厌烦的；被激怒的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的过去式和过去分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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3
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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5
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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6
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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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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9
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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10
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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11
pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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12
mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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13
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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14
itched
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| v.发痒( itch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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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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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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20
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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21
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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23
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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24
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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25
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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26
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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28
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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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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30
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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31
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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32
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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34
gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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35
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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37
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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38
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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39
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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40
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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41
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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42
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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43
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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44
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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45
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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46
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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47
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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48
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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49
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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50
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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