CHAPTER 18
Brambleclaw raced through the dark forest.He felt as though every limb, every hair on his pelt1, was bursting with energy. He couldn’t wait to tell his father and Hawkfrost the news. Clan2 deputy! When Firestar made the announcement, he hadn’t been able to believe it. But it was true. Not only Firestar, but StarClan themselves had chosen him. Now he had the chance to show the whole of ThunderClan what he could do.
He pelted3 into the clearing where Tigerstar waited on his rock with Hawkfrost sitting on the ground below. “Tigerstar!” he panted. “Great news!”
Tigerstar fixed4 him with an amber5 gaze that brimmed with pride and satisfaction, and Brambleclaw realized that he already knew. “ThunderClan deputy,” he meowed. “You have done well.”
“Deputy!” Hawkfrost exclaimed. Brambleclaw caught the glitter of jealousy6 in his ice-blue eyes. “Without an apprentice7?”
“I was StarClan’s choice,” Brambleclaw explained. “They sent Leafpool a sign.”
Tigerstar spoke8 sharply. “Do not speak of StarClan here. You have gained your position through your own skills and through everything you have learned from me. And yet when power was within your paws you almost threw it away.” His gaze darkened, so that Brambleclaw had to brace9 himself not to flinch10. “Why did you remind Firestar that you hadn’t had an apprentice?”
“I’m sorry,” Brambleclaw meowed. “I was so shocked I couldn’t believe what he was saying.”
To his relief, Tigerstar nodded. “Perhaps it was not so foolish after all,” he decided11. “Now none of your Clan can accuse you of seeking power unfairly.” He swiped his tongue around his jaws12 and turned to Hawkfrost. “As for you, your time will come.”
Hawkfrost’s lip curled, showing his sharp teeth. “I doubt it. It sometimes seems like Leopardstar and Mistyfoot will live forever.”
Tigerstar lashed14 his tail. “No son of mine admits defeat. Leopardstar is the oldest of the Clan leaders, and when she goes to join StarClan, who else could Mistyfoot appoint as deputy? Don’t forget that you have already been deputy once.”
Hawkfrost nodded and seemed to make an effort to shrug15 off his ill temper. “Congratulations,” he mewed to Brambleclaw.
“Thanks,” Brambleclaw replied. “I’m sure you won’t have to wait long for your turn.”
“Enough of this,” Tigerstar meowed with a flick16 of his tail. “There are more plans for us to make. The two of you are destined17 to rule the whole forest, and every cat will do as you command. Not one bite of prey18 will be eaten by any cat unless you say so.”
Hawkfrost’s eyes gleamed, but Brambleclaw took a pace back. What was Tigerstar talking about? It was a huge step from being Clan deputy to ruling the entire forest.
“What do you mean?” he asked. “How can—?”
Tigerstar silenced him with a snarl19. “Once you are both leaders, Hawkfrost will take over ShadowClan as well as RiverClan. They will welcome him because I was their leader once, and he is my son. And you, Brambleclaw, will lead WindClan alongside ThunderClan.”
“But Onestar leads WindClan!” Brambleclaw pointed20 out. “And they’ve been ThunderClan allies for many seasons.”
Tigerstar’s tail-tip twitched21. “Which is why taking control of their Clan won’t be a problem. Those weak fools in WindClan are so used to taking orders from ThunderClan that they’ll hardly notice the difference.”
Brambleclaw stared up at his father, daunted22 by the blaze of certainty in his amber eyes. “But there have always been four Clans23,” he objected, knowing how feeble his words must sound.
“There used to be, in the forest.” Tigerstar flicked24 his ears, dismissing the Clans’ former home. “But now that everything else has changed, perhaps it’s time for that to change too. It willchange, if you have the strength.”
For a few heartbeats, Brambleclaw let himself get swept up in his father’s vision of the future. It was tempting25 to imagine himself controlling a vast swath of land, with two Clans of strong, powerful warriors27 at his command. He could lead them well, he knew. StarClan had chosen him to be ThunderClan’s deputy; perhaps this was just the first tiny pawstep on his way to a glorious destiny.
“Of course we have the strength,” Hawkfrost meowed. “At the next Gathering28 we should start making friends in our future Clans, so that we’ll have their support when we take over.”
Tigerstar nodded, but Hawkfrost’s words disturbed Brambleclaw. He already hadfriends in WindClan. They wouldn’t support him if he tried to take over; they would think he had betrayed them. He glanced at Hawkfrost, who was obviously waiting for him to respond, and gave a noncommittal murmur29. He wasn’t going to agree to anything until he’d had time to think this through.
“A Gathering would be the perfect opportunity to take power,” Hawkfrost went on, his eyes gleaming. “Brambleclaw, when you and I are leaders of our Clans, we could choose our strongest cats to come with us to the Gathering—”
“Cats who will carry out your orders without question,” Tigerstar put in, dipping his head to Hawkfrost as if he already guessed his son’s plan and approved of it.
“Of course. And then we simply kill the other two leaders and take over their Clans while they’re all trapped on the island.”
“What?” Brambleclaw felt his neck fur rising. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. “At a Gathering?”
“Yes—that’s the clever part of it,” Hawkfrost explained. “No cat will be expecting trouble.”
“And two strong warriors will be all you need to guard the end of the tree-bridge,” Tigerclaw added. “No cat will be able to escape.”
Brambleclaw took a step back. “How can you suggest killing30 at a Gathering? StarClan would never forgive us if we broke their truce31.”
Hawkfrost shrugged32. “StarClan was angry when the fight broke out at the last Gathering—or so Barkface said. But I didn’t see any cat being hurt because of it.”
“Everything is possible.” Tigerstar’s voice growled33 deep in his chest; his amber eyes were fixed on Brambleclaw with a baleful glare. “You will never be a powerful leader if you keep cringing34 to StarClan. Or if you’re afraid to get blood on your paws.”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” Brambleclaw retorted. “But I won’t kill at a Gathering.”
Hawkfrost padded over to him and swept his tail across Brambleclaw’s shoulder. “Keep your fur on,” he mewed. “It was only an idea. If you don’t like it, there are other ways.”
“There’d better be.” Brambleclaw wasn’t sure he wanted to go on with this at all, but he found it hard to talk freely—or even think—under Tigerstar’s ominous35 amber gaze.
“We need to talk properly about this.” Brambleclaw jumped as his half brother seemed to echo his thoughts. “Why don’t we meet when we’re awake?”
There can’t be any harm in that, Brambleclaw decided. Perhaps if he could discuss things with his half brother without their father listening to every word, he could get things straight in his own mind. He might even be able to convince Hawkfrost that leading their own Clans would be enough, without trying to take over the others.
“Okay,” he mewed. “Where?”
“Your territory, I think,” Hawkfrost replied. “I’ll find it easier to get away than you will, now that you’re deputy.”
Brambleclaw nodded; that made sense. “By the lake, then. Just beyond the ShadowClan border the woodland stretches right down to the water’s edge. Let’s meet there.” That way, he added to himself, Hawkfrost could stay within the agreed two tail-lengths from the shore. No cat could accuse them of doing anything wrong.
“Fine,” Hawkfrost agreed. “Let’s meet in two days, at sunrise. You’ll need all of tomorrow to get used to your new duties,” he added with a friendly flick of his tail.
“Excellent.” Tigerstar’s voice rumbled36 in his throat, the nearest the fierce cat ever came to a purr. “Go now. We will meet again soon and discuss the plans you have made.”
Brambleclaw turned to go, only to glance back as Hawkfrost called his name. His half brother’s ice-blue gaze was fixed on him with glittering intensity37.
“You won’t forget our meeting?” Hawkfrost meowed.
“No, of course not.”
“Remember, the way to power is hard, and paved with difficult choices,” Tigerstar warned.
He held Brambleclaw with an unwavering stare. For a heartbeat Brambleclaw felt like a piece of prey, trapped and unsure of which way to run.
“I’m not afraid,” he meowed, trying to sound confident. “I’ll be there, don’t worry.”
“Hey, wake up!” A paw prodded39 Brambleclaw sharply in the side. “Are you planning to sleep until leaf-bare? It’s time to appoint the patrols.”
Brambleclaw blinked his eyes open to see Squirrelflight standing40 over him. “You’re deputy now,” she informed him. “Or had you forgotten?”
Brambleclaw scrambled41 up, shaking himself to scatter42 scraps43 of moss44 and fern from his pelt. To cover his confusion, he gave his chest fur a few quick licks. Since the Clan had been in their new home, the senior warriors had divided the deputy’s duties among themselves; now they would all fall on his shoulders.
I can handle it, he told himself.
A misty13 light was already filling the warriors’ den38; the dawn patrol would have to leave right away.
“Okay,” Brambleclaw meowed. “I’ll lead the dawn patrol. Squirrelflight, will you come with me? Cloudtail, we’ll take you as well, and Rainwhisker.”
Cloudtail stretched his jaws in a huge yawn, mumbled45, “Right with you,” and woke the younger warrior26 by tickling46 his nose with the tip of his tail. Rainwhisker sat bolt upright, staring around as if he wasn’t sure what had disturbed him.
“Sandstorm,” Brambleclaw went on, feeling awkward to be giving orders to a senior warrior, “would you choose a hunting patrol, please?”
The ginger47 she-cat dipped her head in agreement. “Two would be a good idea, don’t you think?” she suggested. “Which cat would you like to lead the other?”
“Er . . . Dustpelt?” Brambleclaw would have been quite prepared for the tabby tom to react with annoyance48 at being ordered around by a younger cat, but all he did was stretch and mutter, “Okay.”
“You know, Brambleclaw,” Sandstorm meowed, a trace of amusement in her voice, “you don’t need to worry about giving us orders. You’re deputy, and that’s that.”
“Thank you,” Brambleclaw replied. Trying to sound convincing, he added, “I’ll be loyal to my Clan as long as I have breath enough to fight.”
He repeated the words in his mind as he led his patrol out through the thorn barrier and up the slope toward the ShadowClan border. It was true. Nothing mattered to him more than the well-being49 of ThunderClan. He would show every cat in the forest what a great deputy he could be. Regretfully he realized that there was still more than a half moon to wait before the next Gathering, when Firestar would announce his deputyship to the other Clans, and he would be able to sit on the oak roots with Mistyfoot, Ashfoot, and Russetfur.
When they reached the border he half hoped that they might meet a ShadowClan patrol, so that he could mention his new position to them, but everything was quiet. The scents50 of ShadowClan cats were fading, suggesting that their dawn patrol had passed by earlier. Brambleclaw’s pelt prickled with impatience51. He was desperate to tell his news to some other cat; he almost felt that if a mouse crossed his path he would stop to inform it that it was about to be eaten by the ThunderClan deputy.
By the time the dawn patrol returned, the hunting patrols were bringing in their first catches. Brambleclaw dispatched Birchpaw and Whitepaw to take prey to the elders, and to Firestar and Leafpool. Then he called the remaining cats around him and started assigning patrols for the following day. He didn’t want to be flustered52 again as he had been this morning; besides, he wanted to be sure he was free for his meeting with Hawkfrost.
While Brambleclaw was speaking, Berrykit scurried53 out of the nursery and skidded54 to a halt in front of him. “I want to go on patrol,” he announced. “Can I?”
“No,” Brambleclaw told him firmly. “Not till you’re an apprentice.”
“You’ll take me then, won’t you?”
“Yes, of course.”
Berrykit’s eyes shone. “I’m going to be the deputy’sapprentice,” he announced to every cat within earshot.
Brambleclaw gave him a friendly nudge with one paw, and went on giving out the duties.
“Hey, bossypaws.” Squirrelflight’s voice held a mrrowof laughter as she flicked his ear with her tail-tip. “You’ve already assigned Ferncloud to a hunting patrol. She can’t do the dawn patrol as well.”
“Sorry,” Brambleclaw muttered to a confused Ferncloud. “You go hunting with Dustpelt. I’ll find another cat for the dawn patrol.”
“Later will do,” Squirrelflight told him. “First you can come and eat.” She led the way over to the fresh-kill pile, glancing over her shoulder to add, “Deputies do eat, I suppose? They don’t have to do their duties allthe time?”
Brambleclaw relaxed; in spite of her teasing words, there was a warm gleam of affection in Squirrelflight’s green eyes. But would Squirrelflight still want to be near him, would her eyes still glow as she gazed at him, if she knew that he had arranged to meet Hawkfrost tomorrow?
He knew what the answer was. He would lose Squirrelflight forever if she found out. What else might he lose as well? Tigerstar had been stripped of his deputyship and sent into exile when Firestar uncovered his plot to kill Bluestar. Would the same thing happen to Brambleclaw if his meetings with Hawkfrost and Tigerstar were revealed?
Brambleclaw tried to tell himself that no cat could ever uncover his secret, but he shivered in the warm sunlight of greenleaf. I’m not planning to kill any cat, he told himself. All he wanted was to make ThunderClan strong again. His Clanmates had been without a deputy for too long; now they had one, and Brambleclaw knew he would do anything to justify55 StarClan’s faith in him.
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1
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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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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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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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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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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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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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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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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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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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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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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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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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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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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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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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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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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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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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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truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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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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cringing
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| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
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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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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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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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prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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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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41
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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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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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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tickling
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| 反馈，回授，自旋挠痒法 | |
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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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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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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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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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52
flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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53
scurried
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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