CHAPTER 14
Leafpool curled up in her nestof moss1 and bracken, but she shifted around for a long time before she slept, feeling as though ants were crawling through her pelt2. How could she get in touch with Willowpaw to tell her about StarClan?
When at last she drifted into unconsciousness, she opened her eyes and found herself at the top of a slope overlooking the lake, not far from the place where Brambleclaw had sat, staring across the water. There was no sign of the tabby warrior4 tonight. Instead, as she brushed through the long grasses, each blade outlined in silver, there was a different cat waiting for her by the lake. The frosty glimmer5 of StarClan shone in its fur as it gazed out over the water.
Spottedleaf?Leafpool quickened her pace until she was racing7 through the undergrowth to the water’s edge. But when she reached the shore and saw the StarClan cat more clearly, she realized it was Feathertail, Stormfur’s sister, who had died in the mountains on the way back from the sun-drown-place.
The beautiful silver-furred tabby let out a welcoming purr. “I hoped you would come, Leafpool,” she mewed. “We have a task tonight, you and I.”
“What’s that?” Leafpool asked, her pelt prickling with excitement.
“StarClan wants me to help you visit Willowpaw in her dreams,” Feathertail explained.
Leafpool stared in astonishment8 at the StarClan warrior. Each medicine cat dreamed his or her own dreams of StarClan—they never appeared in each other’s. She had assumed that the only way she could meet Willowpaw was in the waking world. “Can that be done?”
“Yes, but very rarely, and only in times of greatest need. Follow me.”
Rising, she brushed her muzzle9 lightly against Leafpool’s, then bounded away along the lakeshore. Leafpool raced after her. Moonlight shone all around her and she felt as though her paws were lighter10 than the wind. She skimmed across the stream that marked the WindClan border without even feeling the water touch her paws. Was this what it felt like to be a warrior of StarClan, she wondered—as though she could run forever, leap into the sky, and toss the moon like a shining leaf?
The whole journey might have lasted for several seasons, or no more than a heartbeat. The horseplace flickered11 past, and Feathertail slowed down as the two cats drew closer to the RiverClan camp. They crossed the stream and padded silently up the bank on the other side; Leafpool set her paws down as delicately as if she were stalking a mouse, even though she knew this was only a dream and she couldn’t wake the sleeping RiverClan warriors12.
Mothwing’s den13 was in a cave hollowed out by the stream on the far side of the camp. As Feathertail led the way toward it, Leafpool spotted6 the small gray shape of Willowpaw curled up in a nest of moss just outside.
Feathertail flicked14 her ear gently with the tip of her tail. “Willowpaw,” she breathed. “Willowpaw, we need to speak to you.”
The small gray cat’s ears twitched15 and she curled up more tightly. Feathertail nudged her with one paw, softly repeating her name. This time Willowpaw blinked and looked up.
“Do you mind?” she mewed crossly. “I was chasing this huge fat mouse and I was just going to sink my claws in it when—” She broke off, gazing from Leafpool to Feathertail and back again. “I’m still dreaming, aren’t I?” Her eyes stretched very wide. “You’re Leafpool from ThunderClan, and you must be a warrior from StarClan.” Looking dismayed, she slapped the tip of her tail over her mouth. “I’m so sorry I snapped at you,” she mumbled16 through her fur.
Feathertail’s blue eyes glimmered17 with amusement. “Don’t worry, dear one. You’ll soon get used to visits in your dreams, now that you’re a medicine cat apprentice18.”
Willowpaw scrambled19 to her paws. “Welcome to RiverClan,” she meowed formally. A puzzled look crept over her face. “You have RiverClan scent20,” she mewed to Feathertail, “but I don’t know you.”
“My name is Feathertail,” the silvery she-cat replied. “You weren’t even born when I left on the journey to the sun-drown-place.”
Willowpaw’s eyes filled with awe21. “And you never came back,” she whispered. “You gave your life to save your friends and the Tribe in the mountains. I’ve heard the story. RiverClan will never forget you.”
Feathertail blinked affectionately and let her tail rest for a moment on Willowpaw’s shoulder. “Enough of that, dear one,” she mewed. “Tonight we’re here to show you something.”
“Me?” Willowpaw exclaimed. “Are you sure? Do you want me to fetch Mothwing?”
Leafpool and Feathertail exchanged a glance. Leafpool wasn’t sure how much Willowpaw understood. Did she realize that her mentor22 had no contact with StarClan?
“No, this sign is for you,” Feathertail assured her. “You can tell Mothwing about it when you wake up. Now you must come with us.”
The young apprentice’s paws danced in the grass. “Are we going a long way?” she asked. “As far as the sun-drown-place?”
“Not this time,” Leafpool told her. “Just to the edge of your territory.”
Remembering what Mudfur had told her about where to find the catmint, she took the lead, crossing the stream and heading across RiverClan territory to the small Thunderpath. Drawing closer to it, she could pick up the reek23 of Twoleg monsters and more smells from the Twolegs who came to sail their boats on the lake, almost drowning the scent markers of both Clans24. Even in a dream, she was cautious as she emerged from the undergrowth on the edge of the Thunderpath, but everything was dark and silent. All the Twolegs must have gone back to their nests when darkness fell.
With Willowpaw right behind her and Feathertail bringing up the rear, Leafpool padded along the Thunderpath, away from the lake. When she crossed the border scent markers she still hadn’t found the Twoleg nests Mudfur had told her about, but as she followed the Thunderpath around a wide curve, she spotted a light in a hollow not far ahead: a reddish light that didn’t come from moon or stars.
Her pelt prickled as she thought of fire, but she could not feel any heat or hear the crackle of burning. There was no scent of smoke either, but as she drew in air, she tasted the faintest possible trace of catmint.
“Down there,” she murmured over her shoulder.
She padded on more cautiously, and realized a few moments later that the light came from a hole in the side of a Twoleg nest. It was shining behind a pelt that gave it a reddish color. Looming25 up ahead of her was the dark shape of a Twoleg fence. Gathering26 herself, she leaped up and balanced herself on the top. Willowpaw scrambled up beside her, while Feathertail remained below.
The smell of catmint was stronger now. Willowpaw had picked it up too, and her eyes glinted in triumph. “Catmint!”
“That’s right,” Leafpool mewed. “A very useful herb for medicine cats, and quite hard to find, unless there are Twolegs to grow it for us.”
Willowpaw nodded. “Yes, it cures greencough. I wish we’d had some when Heavystep was ill. Mothwing and the patrols looked all over the territory.”
Leafpool swallowed another pang27 of guilt28. “Tomorrow she can fetch some from here,” she told Willowpaw. “But be sure to warn her to wait until after dark, when there aren’t so many Twolegs around.”
Still balanced on top of the fence, she tasted the air again for any likely dangers. “No kittypets or dogs,” she meowed with relief. “Willowpaw, do you know what dogs smell like?”
The apprentice shuddered30. “Yes, some of the Twolegs who come to the lake bring their dogs with them. They smell yucky.”
“Well, I don’t think there are any here, but tell Mothwing to check again when she comes for the catmint. And now we’d better be getting back,” she added.
Leaping down, they rejoined Feathertail and made their way back through RiverClan territory to the camp.
“Sleep deeply now,” Feathertail told Willowpaw as she settled in her nest again. “See if that fat mouse is still waiting.”
Willowpaw looked up at the two cats. “I’m so glad you came,” she mewed. “It’s great being a medicine cat. I can’t wait to tell Mothwing!”
Leafpool and Feathertail left her curled up again and set off around the lake to ThunderClan territory. This time they padded along more slowly.
“Thank you, Leafpool,” Feathertail meowed. “You’ve done well tonight.” She paused beside the stream that formed ThunderClan’s border with WindClan. Her gaze locked with Leafpool’s. “I spoke31 with Spottedleaf,” she mewed. “She told me about the butterfly sign.”
Leafpool felt a shiver run through every hair on her pelt.
“You understand, don’t you?” the StarClan cat continued. “You know what that means for Mothwing?”
“I guessed that Hawkfrost must have put the moth’s wing outside Mudfur’s den,” Leafpool confessed, the words threatening to choke her. “I don’t know how I’m going to face Mothwing now. What can I say to her?”
“Say nothing.” Feathertail’s voice was quiet, but filled with certainty. “Mothwing must learn to live with it.”
“Then . . . then does this mean Mothwing can’t be a medicine cat anymore?” Leafpool stammered32. “She cares so much—”
“I know,” Feathertail interrupted with a soothing33 purr. “The whole of StarClan knows. Mothwing has proved her skills and her loyalty34 many times over. It is StarClan’s will for her to stay where she is and teach Willowpaw all she knows.”
“But she doesn’tknow about StarClan,” Leafpool protested. “How can Willowpaw learn to understand signs if Mothwing can’t tell her?”
“That will be your task.” Feathertail touched Leafpool’s shoulder with the tip of her tail. “You have no apprentice yet—and no need for one,” she added. “You will be here to serve your Clan3 for many seasons more. So will you sometimes visit Willowpaw in RiverClan and speak to her at the Moonpool? You can teach her everything she needs to know, without having to walk in her dreams again.”
“Yes, of course.” Leafpool felt her paws tremble with relief. StarClan wanted Mothwing to stay as RiverClan’s medicine cat. That meant she was safe from her brother’s threats to reveal the truth. All of Willowpaw’s medicine cat training would be taken care of: Mothwing would pass on her healing skills, while Leafpool could teach her to interpret the signs from StarClan.
“But what about Hawkfrost?” she asked.
“His fate is in the paws of StarClan too,” Feathertail replied. “Spottedleaf led the kits35 to the butterfly because she felt it was time for you to know the truth. She believed she could trust you to use your knowledge wisely and accept the responsibility of helping36 Willowpaw.”
Leafpool bowed her head. “I’ll try.”
Feathertail led her through the forest toward the stone hollow. The moon still rode high, washing every fern and blade of grass with silver. The trees rustled37 in a faint breeze, setting light and shadow dancing around Leafpool’s paws. She had no idea how much time had passed, though she guessed that in the waking world the sky would be paling toward dawn.
Outside the thorn tunnel, Feathertail stopped. “I must leave you here,” she murmured, touching38 noses with Leafpool. “Dear friend, there are great changes ahead, but you can trust me to be with you always.”
“Great changes?” Leafpool echoed in dismay. “What do you mean?”
But Feathertail had already slipped away. For a heartbeat her pelt gleamed silver in the shadows, and then she was gone.
Uneasy once again, Leafpool gazed up through the trees to the frosty glitter of Silverpelt, as though her faraway warrior ancestors could give her an answer. No words came to her, but through the branches overhead she spotted the three stars she had seen in her earlier dream. Tiny though they were, they glowed more strongly than any other star in Silverpelt, throbbing39 with pure white light. Leafpool still didn’t know what they meant, but somehow she knew they were shining directly on her, and she felt safe again, sure that whatever happened, StarClan was watching over her.
Leafpool woke with a start to feel tiny paws pummeling her fur. Her eyes flew open to meet Berrykit’s excited gaze, no more than a mouse-length away.
“We’re back!” he announced. “Cloudtail and Brambleclaw came to fetch us.”
Leafpool scrambled up from the nest of bracken. She had overslept; already the sun was climbing toward sunhigh. Warm yellow rays poured down into the hollow, soaking into her fur.
“I’m so glad to see you,” she meowed. “Did you have a good journey back? Is your mother okay?”
“She’s fine,” Berrykit told her. “Hazelkit and Mousekit and I looked after her all the way, so she wasn’t scared.”
“She must be tired, though,” Leafpool commented, “going all that way twice in two days.” The kits ought to be tired too, though Berrykit looked as if he was bursting with energy. “I’ll bring her something to help her get her strength back.”
Slipping inside her den, she snagged a couple of juniper berries on her claws, then rejoined Berrykit, who immediately dashed out into the main clearing. Leafpool followed just in time to see Daisy and the other two kits disappearing into the nursery. Berrykit pelted40 across to join them, while Leafpool followed more slowly.
She had almost reached the entrance to the nursery when she heard Brightheart exclaim, “No! Cinderkit, come back here!”
A heartbeat later the fluffy41 gray kit29 tottered42 out into the open, blinking blue eyes in the sunlight. Brightheart emerged after her, swooped43 down, and seized her gently by the scruff. She carried the adventurous44 kit back into the nursery without noticing Leafpool.
The medicine cat’s pelt pricked45. It was bad luck that Brightheart had chosen to visit Sorreltail at the very moment that Daisy returned. It couldn’t be easy for the ginger-and-white she-cat to encounter the cat she thought of as her rival, especially when she might have been hoping that Daisy had gone for good.
Leafpool hovered46 at the entrance to the nursery, wondering whether to go straight in, or come back another time. Before she could decide, she heard Daisy’s voice just inside the thicket47 of brambles.
“Brightheart, I’m glad you’re here. There’s something I wanted to say to you.”
“The reason I left . . . well, it was only partly because of the danger out here. I’ve been worried about the kits since the badger49 attack, but I’m their mother—I’d worry about them wherever we were. Mostly it was because I—I don’t have any cat in the Clan that I’m close to. Not like you and Cloudtail.”
There was a heartbeat’s tense silence. Leafpool started to back away, and Brightheart’s reply, when it came, was too low and indistinct for her to hear it.
“No,” Daisy responded more clearly. “Cloudtail is very kind to me, but he would be kind to any cat in trouble. He’s a good warrior and he loves you very much.”
Another pause, until at last Brightheart mewed softly, “I know.” Her voice shook as she added, “Thank you, Daisy. I’m really glad you decided50 to come back. ThunderClan needs more young cats, and your three will make excellent warriors.”
Daisy replied something in a low voice and a moment later Brightheart left the nursery, passing Leafpool with a nod. Leafpool tried to look as if she had only just arrived. She couldn’t miss the joyful51 look in Brightheart’s good eye, and prayed to StarClan that she and Cloudtail would become as close as they had once been, and that Daisy would turn out to be a friend to them both.
When Leafpool left the nursery after giving Daisy the juniper berries, Brightheart was crouched52 beside the fresh-kill pile, nibbling53 a vole. Cloudtail was in the center of the clearing, calling Thornclaw and Rainwhisker for a hunting patrol.
Leafpool beckoned54 him with her tail. When he padded across to her, she suggested, “Why don’t you ask Brightheart to go with you? You haven’t hunted together for a long time.”
Cloudtail looked puzzled.
Mouse-brain!Leafpool thought. “You remember Brightheart?” she prompted him. “Your mate? Whitepaw’s mother?”
The white warrior’s expression cleared. “Oh, I see what you mean! Right, I’ll do that,” he meowed. “Good idea, Leafpool.”
He swung around and bounded toward his mate. Leafpool saw him speak to Brightheart; then the she-cat rose to her paws and their tails twined together. Pelts55 brushing, they headed for the thorn tunnel, leaving Thornclaw and Rainwhisker to dash after them.
“I think some cat interfered56.” An amused voice spoke behind Leafpool.
Leafpool whirled around to see her sister watching her. “Squirrelflight, you frightened me out of my fur! What do you mean ‘interfered’?”
Squirrelflight rested her tail on her sister’s shoulder. “In a good way, I mean. It’s about time some cat opened Cloudtail’s eyes to what Brightheart needs from him.” She glanced around the clearing, where some cats were dozing57 in the warmsunlight, while others put the finishing touches to the newly repaired dens58. “Life’s good,” she mewed with satisfaction. “Maybe now we can have a bit of peace.”
Right now, it did look as if ThunderClan’s troubles were over. Remembering her sense of security as she gazed at the three tiny stars in her dream, Leafpool opened her mouth to agree when a strange darkness clouded her sight. The reek of blood rose around her and she felt sticky scarlet59 waves wash over her paws. An unfamiliar60 voice rasped the words of the prophecy in her ear, low and sinister61 and insistent62:
Before all is peaceful, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red. . . .
点击
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1
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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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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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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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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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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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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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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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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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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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer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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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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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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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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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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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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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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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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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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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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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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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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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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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nibbling
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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54
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
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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56
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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57
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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58
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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59
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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60
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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61
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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62
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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