CHAPTER 10
As Brambleclaw walked away from thefresh-kill pile, he spotted1 Ashfur limping away from Leafpool’s den2. Fresh cobwebs were plastered on the gash3 in his foreleg. He was heading for the warriors5’ den, but before he reached it Birchpaw came bounding over to him.
“Hi, Ashfur!” he meowed. “Brackenfur is taking Whitepaw for a training session. Can we go with them?”
“No.” His mentor6’s voice was an ill-tempered growl7. “I fell off a rock and opened this wound again. Leafpool says I can’t leave the camp today.”
Birchpaw’s tail drooped8; he turned his head to watch mournfully as Brackenfur and his apprentice9, Whitepaw, left through the thorn tunnel.
Brambleclaw strolled over to Ashfur and Birchpaw and flicked10 the disappointed apprentice with his tail. “Cheer up.” To Ashfur he added, “I’m just leaving on patrol. I could take Birchpaw with me, if you like.”
Birchpaw’s tail shot straight up in the air again and his whiskers quivered with excitement. “Please, Ashfur!” he begged.
Ashfur opened his mouth; Brambleclaw was convinced he was about to refuse. Then a new voice spoke11 from behind Brambleclaw. “Good idea. Birchpaw missed a lot of training while he was hurt. He shouldn’t miss any more.”
Brambleclaw turned to see his Clan13 leader leaping down the rocks from the Highledge. “I thought we’d go up by the ShadowClan border,” he meowed. “We’ll renew the scent14 markers and check for fox traps.”
Firestar nodded, though Ashfur was staring at Brambleclaw through narrowed eyes. Without saying anything the gray warrior4 turned away and stalked off to the warriors’ den.
“Off you go, then,” Firestar meowed to Birchpaw. “Do as Brambleclaw tells you and watch out for those traps. You don’t want to lose your tail, like Berrykit.”
“I’ll be careful,” Birchpaw promised.
Brambleclaw stuck his head through the branches of the warriors’ den and called Sandstorm and Thornclaw to join the patrol. Ashfur, settling himself among the mossy bedding, ignored him.
The day was overcast15, with a damp breeze that promised rain later. Prey16-scent was muted, as if all the prey were hiding in their holes, and there was little sound except for the rustle17 of branches overhead.
Birchpaw was still trembling with excitement; Brambleclaw could see that he was struggling to control himself and pad along quietly beside the rest of the patrol.
“Why don’t you run ahead and see if you can spot the ShadowClan scent markers?” he suggested. “Come back and tell us when you find them.”
“Okay, Brambleclaw!” Birchpaw’s eyes gleamed, and he bounded off with his tail straight up.
Brambleclaw suppressed a pang18 of anxiety at the sight of his fuzzy haunches, where the fur was just beginning to grow back. Birchpaw had been lucky to survive the badger19 attack. But he couldn’t be protected by his Clanmates forever. He had to learn the skills he needed to survive, and being out on patrol was a good way to put them into practice. “Be careful of fox traps!” he called after him.
“It’s time he ran the itch20 out of his paws,” Sandstorm commented when the apprentice had disappeared. “Between his injuries and Ashfur’s, he’s hardly been out of camp since the badger attack.”
“Maybe Firestar will let you take over his training until Ashfur’s fit again,” Thornclaw suggested.
“Maybe.” Brambleclaw nodded, trying to hide how much the idea pleased him. He was enjoying this taste of mentoring21, and his paws tingled22 with eagerness to have an apprentice of his own.
He still hoped Firestar would choose him to mentor Berrykit. He admired the kit’s brave, inquisitive23 nature, even though it had led to trouble. He was the biggest and strongest of Daisy’s litter, too, with the potential to be a fine warrior.
Leaping over the gnarled roots of an oak tree, Brambleclaw spotted Birchpaw standing24 beside a bramble thicket25 a few tail-lengths ahead, his jaws26 open to draw in scent.
“I’ve found the scent markers, Brambleclaw,” he reported.
“What? You can’t have.” Hadn’t Ashfur given Birchpaw any training at all? “We’re nowhere near the ShadowClan border.”
Birchpaw looked hurt. “But I’m sure . . .” he began.
Sandstorm brushed through the ferns until she reached the spot where Birchpaw had stopped to taste the air. A moment later she came back, her green eyes gleaming with anger. “Birchpaw’s right,” she meowed. “ShadowClan has set their scent markers just beyond those brambles.”
Brambleclaw felt a growl rising in his throat. With his patrol behind him, he stalked across the clearing and skirted the brambles. The reek28 of the ShadowClan scent markers flooded over him after a couple of tail-lengths.
“Those are fresh,” he hissed29. “If we follow them we should be able to catch up to the patrol and ask them what they think they’re playing at.” Whirling around, he added, “Birchpaw, run back to camp as fast as you can. Tell Firestar what’s going on, and fetch help.”
The apprentice took off, racing30 back along their trail with his belly31 close to the ground and his tail streaming out behind him.
Brambleclaw checked the scent markers to discover which way the ShadowClan patrol had gone, then bounded off in pursuit, with Sandstorm and Thornclaw a pace behind. The ShadowClan scent became stronger and stronger, until Brambleclaw reached the top of a gentle slope and spotted the patrol setting more markers in the hollow on the far side.
Bristling32 with fury, he paused for a couple of heartbeats to size up the enemy patrol. There were four ShadowClan cats: Russetfur, Oakfur, and Cedarheart—the same three who had watched Berrykit struggling in the fox trap—and Rowanclaw. The ThunderClan cats were outnumbered, but Brambleclaw knew there wasn’t time to wait for reinforcements to arrive
“Russetfur!” he called to the ShadowClan deputy. “What are you doing here?”
All four ShadowClan cats whipped around to face the ThunderClan patrol.
“What does it look like?” Russetfur mewed insolently33.
“It looks like you’re trying to steal our territory,” Thornclaw hissed.
“The Clan boundaries were agreed on long ago,” Brambleclaw reminded them. “Every cat knows the extent of their territory.”
“That was then,” meowed Cedarheart.
“ShadowClan needs more space.” Russetfur narrowed her eyes at Brambleclaw. “And ThunderClan is too weak to defend it anyway, ever since the badgers34 attacked your camp.”
“What do you know about the badgers?” Sandstorm asked, taking a step forward.
“Enough,” Russetfur replied. The tip of her tail twitched35. “We know that you are all too badly injured to fight us right now. You’re too busy repairing your camp to watch over your borders. Andyou lost your medicine cat.”
For a heartbeat Brambleclaw was utterly36 bewildered. How could ShadowClan have found out about the badger attack? Then he remembered that only three nights earlier Leafpool had paid her half-moon visit to the Moonpool. She must have revealed ThunderClan’s weakness to Littlecloud.
His claws sank into the ground; there was no time to think about that now. “Get out of our territory,” he snarled38 at Russetfur. “Or we’ll show you the same welcome we gave the badgers.”
Russetfur curled her lip. “I don’t think so.”
Letting out a fearsome screech39, Brambleclaw hurled40 himself down into the hollow. His first rush landed him on top of Russetfur; his claws raked across her shoulder. She tried to fasten her teeth into his throat, but he pushed her off with one paw on her chest. She writhed41 under his weight, her eyes blazing with anger.
Brambleclaw caught a glimpse of Sandstorm locked in battle with Oakfur, her hind12 paws battering42 his belly, while Rowanclaw and Cedarheart had Thornclaw pinned down between them. Brambleclaw aimed one more blow at Russetfur and sprang to help his Clanmate, only to feel Russetfur’s claws score his haunches as he bounded away.
Birchpaw, get a move on!
He leaped on top of Cedarheart, gripping the dark gray tom’s neck fur in his teeth. Russetfur bit his tail; he lashed43 out with his hind legs to beat her off. He rolled on the ground in a tangle44 of fur and mingled45 scents46, hardly knowing which cats were his enemies.
Then he heard a yowling in the distance that rapidly grew louder. Russetfur, her face pushed close to his as she clawed his neck, spat47, “Fox dung!” and leaped away from him. Cedarheart wriggled48 out of his grip. Brambleclaw staggered to his paws to see Firestar and a fresh patrol of ThunderClan warriors racing down into the hollow.
Firestar leaped on Russetfur, caterwauling a challenge, and fastened his teeth in her throat. Russetfur scored her claws across Firestar’s shoulder, but she couldn’t struggle free. Squirrelflight rushed straight at Cedarheart, carrying him off his paws and pinning him to the ground. Just behind her, Dustpelt leaped on top of Rowanclaw, sinking his claws deep into the ShadowClan warrior’s fur. Oakfur let out a screech of terror as he saw Spiderleg and Rainwhisker surging through the bracken toward him; Sandstorm aimed a last blow at his haunches as he scrambled50 over roots and through brambles, heading for the ShadowClan border.
“Back off!” Russetfur yowled. She managed to stagger to her paws, leaving tufts of fur in Firestar’s teeth and claws. She was bleeding from her throat as she retreated.
Firestar flicked his tail, ordering his own warriors to let the ShadowClan cats go. Squirrelflight bit down hard on Cedarheart’s ear and sprang away from his flailing51 paws. Dustpelt rolled away from Rowanclaw and came to his paws snarling52. Both ShadowClan warriors turned and fled, but Russetfur stood her ground a few heartbeats longer.
“Don’t think you’ve won, Firestar,” she spat, her sides heaving. “ShadowClan willset a new border.”
“Not here in ThunderClan,” Firestar retorted. “Now get back to your own territory.”
Her eyes glaring hatred53, Russetfur let out a furious hiss before turning to flee after her Clanmates. Spiderleg and Rainwhisker followed hard on her paws, letting out fearsome screeches54 as they pursued the invaders55 out of sight.
“Thanks,” Brambleclaw gasped56 as Firestar shook his rumpled57 fur and padded up beside him. “And you, Birchpaw,” he added; the young apprentice, bright-eyed and panting, flanked his Clan leader. “That was well run. You brought help just in time.”
Rapidly he explained to Firestar how Birchpaw had found ShadowClan scent marks a long way inside the border, and how he and the rest of the patrol had come across the ShadowClan warriors stealing even more territory. “They thought we’d be too weak to stop them, after the badger attack,” he added.
“Are you hurt?” Squirrelflight asked, pushing forward to reach Brambleclaw. Her green eyes were full of concern, and she stood with her pelt49 brushing his as she examined him for wounds.
Brambleclaw took a moment to check their injuries. To his relief, his wounded shoulder was no worse, though he had lost several pawfuls of fur from his flank, and his tail stung as if Russetfur had done her best to bite it off. Sandstorm had a clawed shoulder, and blood was trickling58 from a scratch on Thornclaw’s throat.
“You’d better all come back to camp and let Leafpool see to you,” Firestar meowed.
“I’m fine,” Brambleclaw insisted. “We need to set our scent markers along the proper border, just in case ShadowClan feels like having another try.”
“I’m okay too,” Sandstorm added. “But Thornclaw, I think you should go back. That throat wound looks as if it could turn nasty.”
“Then I’ll come with you,” Squirrelflight mewed to Brambleclaw. Her eyes gleamed as she flexed60 her claws. “And if another ShadowClan cat dares to put one whisker across our border, I’ll show them they just made the biggest mistake of their life!”
When Brambleclaw and his patrol returned to camp after renewing the scent markers, his ears pricked61 at the wails62 of outrage63 coming from the stone hollow. He slipped through the thorn tunnel to find Firestar standing on the Highledge, with the rest of the Clan gathered below.
“We should attack their camp!” Mousefur yowled.
Firestar twitched his tail for silence. “We won’t attack them,” he meowed. “You know as well as I do that we’re not back to full strength yet. If we forced a battle and then lost, it would be a disaster.”
True enough, Brambleclaw thought. Too many ThunderClan cats still bore the marks of the badgers’ claws.
“But from now on,” Firestar continued, “all patrols should look for signs of ShadowClan warriors on our territory.”
Guessing he was about to bring the meeting to a close, Brambleclaw strode forward. “Firestar, there’s something I want to say.”
Brambleclaw gazed around until he spotted Leafpool, sitting not far from the entrance to her den. “Leafpool, did you tell Littlecloud about the badger attack?” he demanded.
Leafpool looked confused. “Yes—I told him when we met at the Moonpool.”
“And it never occurred to you that he would tell Blackstar? We wouldn’t have had this trouble if you had kept your mouth shut.”
The medicine cat sprang to her paws, her amber65 eyes flashing. “I had to tell Littlecloud how Cinderpelt died!” she exclaimed. “Did you think he wouldn’t want to know what happened to her?”
Brambleclaw knew he had been too harsh. But the fight against ShadowClan had shaken him; of all cats Leafpool should know when she was putting her Clan at risk!
“Did you tell the other medicine cats everything?”
“Barkface already knew,” Leafpool replied. “And Mothwing didn’t come to the Moonpool.” Eyes still gleaming angrily, she added, “Brambleclaw, it’s none of your business whatI say to other medicine cats.”
“It is if you need to decide where your loyalties66 lie,” he retorted. “You’re a ThunderClan cat as well as a medicine cat.”
Leafpool opened her mouth to reply, but said nothing. She looked stricken, and Brambleclaw realized too late that he shouldn’t have accused her so openly of being disloyal.
“How can you say something like that?” Squirrelflight gave him a glare that was fierce enough to scorch67 his fur. “Of course Leafpool is going to share important news like that with the other medicine cats. Her mentor died, for StarClan’s sake! That matters to all medicine cats, not just ThunderClan.”
“I know, but—” Brambleclaw tried to interrupt, but Squirrelflight swept on.
“It’s not Leafpool’s fault, or Littlecloud’s, that Blackstar and his warriors were mouse-brained enough to think they could invade ThunderClan. Besides, we’ve just shown them how wrong they were.”
Brambleclaw couldn’t meet her burning gaze. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “Sorry, Leafpool.”
“Squirrelflight is right,” meowed Firestar from the Highledge. “Blackstar is to blame for allowing his warriors to break the agreement we made. You can be sure of this: I’ll take it up with him at the next Gathering68.” His eyes darkened and he bared his teeth in the beginnings of a snarl37. “If he forces a war between our Clans69, he’ll find ThunderClan is ready and waiting for him.”
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1
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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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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gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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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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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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10
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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11
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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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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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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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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itch
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| n.痒，渴望，疥癣；vi.发痒，渴望 | |
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mentoring
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| n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识，并用心支持mentee的职业（发展）。v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 ) | |
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tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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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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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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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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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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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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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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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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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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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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39
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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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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41
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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43
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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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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46
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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47
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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48
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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50
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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51
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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52
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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53
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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54
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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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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56
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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57
rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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59
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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60
flexed
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| adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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61
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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wails
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| 痛哭，哭声( wail的名词复数 ) | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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66
loyalties
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| n.忠诚( loyalty的名词复数 )；忠心；忠于…感情；要忠于…的强烈感情 | |
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67
scorch
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| v.烧焦，烤焦；高速疾驶；n.烧焦处，焦痕 | |
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68
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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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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