CHAPTER 8
Brightheart?
Jaykit felt a rush of anger so strong it almost knocked him off his paws. Why had Firestar chosen one-eyed Brightheart when there were so many other warriors3 to choose from? As if he couldn’t guess!
He dug his claws into the earth, refusing to step forward to greet his mentor4. He ignored her embarrassment5, although he could sense it like holly6 leaves pricking8 his pelt9. He ignored the encouraging murmurs10 of the other apprentices11. He ignored Spiderleg’s angry, “Sshh!” which quieted them. And then he felt a muzzle13 gently but firmly pushing him forward.
Leafpool’s voice murmured in his ear. “Go on.”
“I know it must be hard for you,” Brightheart greeted him sympathetically. “But I promise I will teach you how to protect your Clan15 even without sight.”
She pitied him!He could hear it in her voice. His anger swelled16 up again, sending blood pounding through his ears. “Why bother if you think I’m so useless? Why don’t you just send me off to the elders’ den17 with Longtail?” he hissed18.
Brightheart stiffened19. “No cat has said that you’re useless. And Longtail won’t thank you for being rude about him!” She stepped back from Jaykit and lifted her chin. “I’ve asked him to help with some of your training.”
Jaykit lashed20 his tail. Oh, great, he thought. Let’s lump all the useless cats together and hope a tree falls on them!
Firestar stepped between Jaykit and Brightheart. “From this day until you receive your warrior2 name, you will be Jaypaw.”
“Jaypaw! Jaypaw! Jaypaw!” Mousepaw’s and Berrypaw’s call rang around the hollow, and the other apprentices joined in loudly.
Jaypaw clawed the ground. You don’t have to try so hard! You’re only doing it because you feel sorry for me!
“Brightheart,” Firestar meowed, “you have never let what happened to you prevent you from being a fine warrior. I can think of no one better than you to teach Jaypaw how best to serve his Clan.”
Big deal, Jaypaw thought.
Reluctantly, he forced himself to touch muzzles22 with Brightheart, accepting her as his mentor. His whiskers brushed the side of her face that had been ravaged23 when she had been attacked by the dog pack. It felt strange to sense space where other cats had fur and flesh, and he had to suppress a shudder24.
The whole Clan raised their voices to cheer the new apprentices. Not me, Jaypaw thought bitterly. There’s not a cat here that thinks I’ll become a great warrior
When the calls died away Firestar spoke25 again. “ThunderClan is lucky to have so many apprentices. I hope they will train hard and serve their Clan well.”
“We will!” Lionpaw mewed.
“When can we start training?” Hollypaw asked.
“Come on, Lionpaw,” Ashfur meowed. “Let’s find you a nest in the apprentices’ den; then I’ll show you the forest.”
“Right now?” Lionpaw mewed excitedly.
“Why not?”
Hollypaw’s paws pattered on the ground around Leafpool. “Can we go with Lionpaw when Ashfur shows him our territory?”
“It’s a nice idea, Hollypaw,” Leafpool meowed. “But I need to show you the best herb-gathering places, and I’m sure Ashfur will want to show Lionpaw the boundary markers and the best places for hunting.”
“Oh.” Hollypaw sounded disappointed.
“But first, let’s look at the herb store,” Leafpool suggested, “so you get to know some of the leaves we’ll be looking at in the forest.”
“Okay,” Hollypaw mewed, sounding more cheerful.
As Lionpaw and Hollypaw padded after their mentors, Jaypaw sat down crossly. How come they get real mentors?He felt Brightheart’s tail touch his shoulder. “Come with me,” she meowed.
Sullenly28 he followed her to a clump29 of wilting30 grass that overflowed31 from a quiet alcove32 in the rocky camp wall.
“I think it’s best if we start . . .” Brightheart began.
Jaypaw did not listen to the rest. Instead he let his attention slip until her voice had blended with the sound of the wind swishing through the branches above the hollow. He could hear Lionpaw hurrying after Ashfur, eagerly following his mentor out of the camp and into the forest. Hollypaw’s scent33 was clear beyond the bramble-draped entrance to the medicine den; Jaypaw could taste the tang of the comfrey she was tearing and laying out to dry.
At least I’m not a medicine cat apprentice12.He felt a flicker34 of gratitude35 that Hollypaw had taken that role.
He went on scanning the camp. With the sureness he had possessed36 since his first memory, he knew that Daisy was circling in her nest, preparing for a nap. Mousefur was guiding Longtail back to the elders’ den. He sensed the old she-cat’s longing37 to be out in the forest; she was in a hunting mood, though her movements were stiff with age. Longtail padded quietly beside her, his limbs still as supple38 as a warrior’s.
It’s not fair he should live in the elders’ den,Jaypaw thought. He’s not old yet.
Then, like a storm cloud shadowing the hollow, he sensed a darkness sweep over the camp. He pricked39 his ears, and heard claws scraping the rocky ledge40 outside Firestar’s den. He knew by the scent that it was not Firestar who sat up there, flexing41 his paws. It was Brambleclaw.
Jaypaw knew his father sat up there often, a good deputy keeping watch over his Clan. But now he could sense something cold and uncomfortable, like a murky42 fog, in Brambleclaw’s mind. He struggled to understand it, groping for the right word.
Suspicion!
Brambleclaw was suspicious of his Clanmates! He was not watching over them, but searching for a cat he feared might betray him. Jaypaw shivered, the fur on his spine43 lifting. Why would any cat betray Brambleclaw? He was a great deputy.
He blinked, and his thoughts jerked back to Brightheart. She had jumped to her paws and was obviously waiting for him to say something. He flicked44 his tail, wondering how he could cover up the fact that he hadn’t been paying attention. But she had already guessed that he had not been listening to a word
She snorted impatiently. “We’re going to see Longtail, remember?”
Jaypaw’s heart sank. More pointless advice from a second-rate warrior. “Okay,” he mewed unenthusiastically.
Brightheart sighed. “Come on.”
Dragging his paws, he followed her across the clearing.
At the entrance to the elders’ den, Brightheart called through the spindly branches that brushed the ground around its edge, “It’s Brightheart and Jaypaw!”
“Come in, come in,” Longtail meowed.
Brightheart ducked down under the low branch entrance and padded into the space that ringed the trunk of the honeysuckle bush. Jaypaw followed, keeping his head low, uncertain for once about his surroundings. He had not been in this den before, but he knew by the scent that Longtail was alone. Mousefur must have gone out into the forest after all.
“Congratulations, Jaypaw!” Longtail purred. “You’ve been given a great mentor.”
“Thank you, Longtail.” Jaypaw heard shyness and pride in Brightheart’s mew.
“Firestar has set you quite a challenge for your first apprentice, Brightheart,” Longtail remarked.
“Just because I’m blind doesn’t mean—” Jaypaw began hotly.
“I wasn’t referring to your blindness,” Longtail interrupted. “I meant your attitude.”
“What’s wrong with my attitude?”
“It’s not many cats who’d try foxhunting before they were even out of the nursery.” There was humor in Longtail’s mew
Jaypaw bristled45. I was only trying to help my Clan!But before he could point this out, Brightheart was issuing orders.
“First I want you to clean out the moss46, get rid of any dusty or dirty pieces,” she instructed. “I’ll fetch some fresh for now, because you don’t know the best place to gather it.”
Cleaning out bedding! Jaypaw knew it was a routine apprentice task—he had heard Berrypaw and Hazelpaw complain about it often enough—but knowing that Lionpaw was already exploring the territory made him want to snarl47.
“Then,” Brightheart went on, “check Longtail for fleas49 and ticks, and Mousefur too, if she’s back by then. While you’re busy, Longtail can tell you about using other senses rather than sight.”
Jaypaw wanted to wail50 with frustration51. He and Longtail were totally different. Longtail had lost his sight afterhe had been a warrior. Blindness must have been devastating52 after relying on his sight for his whole life. But Jaypaw had never seen the world with any other senses apart from sound, scent, and touch. Being blind was totally natural for him. How could Longtail know what that was like? He could probably give Longtail more advice than the blind cat could give him—how to pick the freshest prey53 from the pile, how to tell where your denmates had been by the scents54 on their pelts55. . . .
“You might as well make a start, Jaypaw,” Brightheart suggested. Was that impatience56 he heard in her mew? You’ll be feeling more than impatience if you keep giving me rubbish tasks like this!he predicted mutinously57.
As Brightheart nosed her way out of the den, he began sorting through the moss, feeling with his paws for pieces that had grown dry and scratchy and sniffing59 for pieces that were beginning to smell stale. “This apprenticeship60 is going to be so dull,” he hissed under his breath.
“What was that?” Mousefur had padded into the den, her pelt smelling of the forest. Her paw steps were uneven61, and she breathed in sharply as she sat down. “You’ve missed a bit over here,” she pointed27 out.
“He’s only just started,” Longtail defended him.
Mousefur snorted. “Does that mean we’ll have him scrabbling around the den until sunhigh? I was hoping to get some sleep.”
“It’s not my fault you’re stiff!” Jaypaw snapped. “You’re the one that went out into the forest when it’s damp.”
He felt Mousefur look closely at him. “How did you know I was stiff?”
“I could tell when you sat down,” Jaypaw replied, hooking out a wad of dry moss and flinging it toward the den entrance. “You moved slowly and made that noise.”
“What noise?”
A purr of amusement suddenly rumbled63 in the old she-cat’s throat. “I see Brightheart is going to have her paws full,” she meowed.
Jaypaw felt a glimmer64 of hope. Perhaps they’ll stop underestimating me quite so much once they realize it doesn’t matter that I can’t see. He finished sorting through the moss, then padded over to Longtail and began nosing through his fur.
“I bet you can’t wait to start training in the forest,” Longtail meowed. “I remember my first time out like it was last moon.” A wistful edge entered his mew. “Of course, I wasn’t blind then. Everything seemed so green and fresh. But you’ll still love it, even though you’re blind. There are so many scents out there.”
“That’s the one thing I’ve noticed about being blind,” Longtail went on. “Scents become so much sharper and more important.”
Thanks for the information.Jaypaw cracked the flea between his teeth.
“And sounds, of course,” Longtail added. “I can sometimes hear the mice moving at the top of the hollow. I never would have noticed that before. You should make sure you listen really well, all the time.”
Jaypaw began to check the fur around Longtail’s scruff. A tick was lodged65 behind the warrior’s ear.
“When it comes to hunting, it’ll help to have sharp hearing and smell. Prey is always hard to see, but smelling it is easy. Even when I could see, it was usually the scent or sound of prey that told me where it was hiding.”
You’ll be telling me that a fresh mouse tastes juicier than a stale one next, Jaypaw thought, tugging66 at the tick harder than he needed to.
“Ow!” Longtail complained.
“How’s it going in here?” Brightheart’s voice sounded at the den entrance. “Have you finished?”
“I think so.” Jaypaw looked hopefully toward Mousefur. “You don’t have any ticks, do you?”
“Only one in my side, but I can reach it myself,” she replied.
Jaypaw turned to his mentor. “I’ve finished, then.”
Brightheart began bundling pawfuls of fresh moss into the den. “Good. Spread this out and then come with me,” she meowed. “I’m going to show you the territory around the camp.”
At last!Hollypaw and Lionpaw had been out for ages.
“Good luck!” Longtail called as Jaypaw followed Brightheart out of the den.
She led him out of the camp and up the steep slope that led lakeward. “This trail leads to the top of the ridge67,” Brightheart explained. “It’s steep.”
“Okay.” Jaypaw decided68 not to tell her that he could already feel the slope beneath his paws. He followed his mentor as she wove through the trees, feeling the damp leaves slippery underpaw.
“Watch out!” Brightheart called, but Jaypaw could smell the bark ahead of him and swerved69 just in time to avoid the tree, his whiskers grazing the trunk.
“The trees are thick here, but there’s not too much undergrowth.”
“We’re at the top of the ridge now,” Brightheart told him. “Follow my scent and I’ll lead you along the crest71.”
“Right.” He could tell by the slope of the land that the forest fell away on either side; it felt as though they were climbing the spine of a great cat.
“If we go up this trail, we’ll be out of the trees soon.”
Jaypaw was beginning to feel out of breath, so he didn’t reply. He listened to the flies buzzing around him and shook his head when they tickled72 his ears.
“We’re out of the trees now, so don’t worry about bumping into anything,” Brightheart meowed. Jaypaw knew they had left the cover of the forest. A light, damp wind brushed his face.
“Stop here,” Brightheart meowed. But Jaypaw had already halted, feeling the land drop steeply away at his paw tips.
Scents flooded him—distant, strange smells he didn’t know yet—and he could hear water lapping far below. He knew that they were looking out over the forest and lake.
“We’ve followed the ridge out of the forest and right up to the end,” Brightheart explained. “The land slopes down steeply from here to the lake. RiverClan territory is across the water. Over where the sun sets is ShadowClan territory. And if you look back toward where the sun rises you’ll be able to see—” She broke off abruptly73.
For the first time that day, Jaypaw felt sorry for his mentor. She must have hoped that her first apprentice would be a healthy kit1 she wouldn’t have to make special allowances for. If only she realized that he didn’t want any special allowances, that he didn’t needthem.
“I might not be able to see what you see,” he told her, “but I can tell a lot from what I can hear and smell and feel.” He lifted his nose. “I know ShadowClan is over there, not just because the stench of them is strong enough to scare a rabbit, but because the tang of the pines tells me there can’t be much undergrowth, so the cats who hunt there must be cunning and good at stalking.” He turned his head. “And over there I can smell the moorland. The wind comes in a great unbroken sweep, undisturbed by trees. The WindClan cats who live there must be fast and small to hunt in such open country.” Then he gazed at the lake in front of them. “I know RiverClan live across the lake, though I can’t smell their scent. It’s hidden by the scents from the lake, which are stronger today because of the wind. But I know that RiverClan will feel the coming rain first because the wind is driving the waves this way—I can hear them slapping against the shore.”
“You can tell all that without seeing it?”
“Yes, of course.”
Suddenly Brightheart stiffened. She was listening intently, ears pricked. “A patrol is coming,” she announced.
Jaypaw had heard it already. A ThunderClan patrol was climbing the ridge toward them, rustling74 though the bracken and heather. He knew from the scents that it was Dustpelt, Hazelpaw, Thornclaw, and Poppypaw, but he didn’t say so out loud. He was pleased he had impressed Brightheart with his description of what was around them, but he didn’t want her to think he was showing off.
“Hi!” Poppypaw bounded out from the bracken first. Thornclaw followed with Dustpelt and Hazelpaw close on his heels. “You’re out of the camp at last!” Poppypaw mewed.
“Isn’t it great being an apprentice?” Hazelpaw added. “I still remember my first day. I was so excited!”
I bet your first day as an apprentice was more exciting than this.
“We’ve just done a border patrol,” Hazelpaw went on.
“And now we’re going to do battle training in the mossy clearing!” Poppypaw finished.
“Great,” Jaypaw muttered.
“You can come with us!” Poppypaw suggested suddenly. She turned to her mentor, Thornclaw. “He can come, can’t he?”
“Perhaps another day,” Brightheart meowed. “We haven’t finished exploring our territory,” she explained, addressing Jaypaw as much as Poppypaw.
“Oh, okay,” Poppypaw mewed.
“Where are you heading now?” Thornclaw asked Brightheart.
“I’m going to show Jaypaw the old Thunderpath.”
Thornclaw paused. “You’ll be careful?” he cautioned. “Don’t stray over the ShadowClan border.”
Jaypaw bristled. They might have only one eye between them, but they weren’t idiots! As he prepared to snarl a reply, Brightheart mewed sharply, “I know a border marker when I smell it!”
Jaypaw sensed a flash of reproach shoot from Dustpelt. “Firestar trusted Brightheart with Jaypaw,” he reminded Thornclaw quietly.
Thornclaw’s paws rustled75 on the leafy forest floor. “Of course,” he acknowledged. “Sorry, Brightheart.”
Brightheart met his apology with stony76 silence, and Jaypaw felt a prick7 of satisfaction that he wasn’t the only one who felt patronized by the other warriors.
“There’s a steep slope ahead of us,” Brightheart warned as they set off.
You don’t say!Jaypaw bit back the sharp reply, feeling the curve of the ground under his paws.
“Can you manage it?”
“Of course I can.” Angrily Jaypaw stepped forward. To his surprise, the ground dropped away much more steeply than he expected, and he half fell, half skidded77 down the muddy slope, scrabbling to slow his descent until a clump of heather slowed it for him.
Jaypaw struggled out of the heather, then gave his chest a couple of brisk licks. “I’m fine,” he mewed.
“That was quite a tumble. We can rest if you want,” Brightheart offered.
“I told you, I’m fine,” Jaypaw hissed. He shook the last scraps79 of heather from his pelt. “Which way now?”
He could feel Brightheart looking closely at him, but she didn’t say anything else about his fall. “Come on,” she meowed. “We can head around to the old Thunderpath from here.”
Jaypaw padded after her, furious with himself for losing his footing so easily just when Brightheart seemed to be treating him like a normal apprentice.
The wind had picked up by the time they reached the old Thunderpath. Jaypaw smelled rain on its way.
“We’ll head back to the camp from here,” Brightheart told him when they reached the gap in the trees where Twolegs had once cut a path, now overgrown and deserted80.
“But there must be more ThunderClan territory than this!” Jaypaw objected.
“Too much to explore today,” Brightheart meowed.
Crossly Jaypaw turned away from the Thunderpath and followed Brightheart back into the trees. He didn’t believe that they couldn’t circle the whole territory in one day. Brightheart obviously thought he wouldn’t be able to cope with a long day out of the camp.
They padded through the trees. Rain was beginning to fall, spattering on the leaves above them. Jaypaw looked up just as a raindrop found its way through the canopy81 and splashed onto his nose. He shivered and shook off the wetness. Perhaps it was not so bad that they were going back to the hollow. The rain was cold, and the wind that carried it over the lake even colder. He heard Brightheart’s step quicken and guessed she must be feeling the same way.
Then he stiffened.
There was another scent on the breeze, sharper than the rain and the leaves. Memories flooded him of his terrifying dash through the forest. Fox! Another sniff58 showed it was the same fox that had chased him over the edge of the hollow, with the scent of earth and bracken in its pelt. And it was close. Jaypaw dropped into a defensive82 crouch83 and opened his mouth to warn Brightheart, but her fear-scent told him that she had smelled the creature already.
“We must find Thornclaw’s patrol!” she hissed.
Jaypaw sniffed84 the air, searching for a scent-trace of the patrol. It would tell them which way to run. With relief, he picked up a faint smell of Thornclaw, but it was too late. The bracken up ahead rustled, and the fox hurled85 itself out and charged toward them. Jaypaw’s heart almost burst with fear. The fox cub’s paws pounded on the forest floor; its stench was stronger and its snarl was deeper than he remembered. The fox had grown since their last encounter.
“Run!” Brightheart ordered, throwing herself between the fox and Jaypaw.
“I won’t leave you!” Jaypaw yowled. “I can fight!”
He heard the clack of teeth as the fox snapped at Brightheart. She hissed, her paws skidding86 as she dodged87. The fox’s pained screech88 told Jaypaw that she had caught it with a claw as it had lunged past.
A rush of air tugged89 his fur as the fox darted90 past him. He twisted, claws unsheathed, and prepared to lunge forward. The fox was scrabbling to turn on the slippery leaves for another attack. Jaypaw leaped, spitting, but something tugged him back. His tail was caught in a bramble bush! He collapsed91 on the ground, dragged back by the thorns. A heavy paw landed on his back, knocking the wind from him. The fox had thundered straight over him, heading once more for Brightheart.
Then he heard Thornclaw’s yowl only rabbit-lengths away. The patrol had come!
The air filled with the battle cries as warriors and apprentices streamed into the clearing, ears flattened93 and claws unsheathed. The fox let out an angry yelp94 and raced into the trees, with Dustpelt and Hazelpaw pounding after it.
Jaypaw struggled to his paws, yanking his tail to unsnag it from the bramble bush.
“Jaypaw!” Poppypaw was at his side. “Are you okay?”
“Did the fox hurt you?” Brightheart called.
Jaypaw was relieved to hear his mentor. He smelled no blood on her, and her voice was strong. The fox had not wounded her.
“Don’t tell me you tried to fight the fox?” Thornclaw demanded. “You should have run for help!”
“I couldn’t leave Brightheart alone with it,” Jaypaw objected.
“I thought you would have learned by now that you’re no match for a fox!” Thornclaw growled96. Jaypaw curled his lip but said nothing.
“Is your tail okay?” Poppypaw asked sympathetically.
Jaypaw lashed it over the leaf-covered ground, ignoring the pain of the thorns still stuck in it. “It’s fine,” he muttered. The whole patrol must have seen him struggling like a helpless kit, defeated by a bramble bush. A hot wave of embarrassment washed over him from nose to tail.
“Will Dustpelt and Hazelpaw be all right?” he asked.
“They’ll chase the fox away from the camp,” Thornclaw told him. “I don’t think it’ll turn on them. Not after the fright we gave it.”
“We should get Brightheart and Jaypaw back to camp and send a patrol after them,” Poppypaw suggested.
“Good idea,” Thornclaw agreed.
The rain eased as dusk began to chill the air. Jaypaw lay pressed into the same sheltered clump of grass where Brightheart had taken him that morning. He had wanted to be alone, and the thorny97 wall of the warriors’ den hid him from the rest of the camp. But now Lionpaw had returned with Ashfur; he could hear them in the center of the clearing.
“Where’s Jaypaw?” Lionpaw sounded worried.
Hollypaw answered from outside the medicine cat’s den. “I haven’t seen him, but Brightheart’s back. He must be in the camp.”
“Shall we ask her where he is?”
Jaypaw didn’t want Brightheart to tell them what an idiot he had made of himself today. He slipped out and headed Hollypaw and Lionpaw off at the fresh-kill pile.
“There you are!” Hollypaw called.
“Hi,” Jaypaw muttered. He padded past them and pulled a mouse from the top of the pile.
Hollypaw followed him and picked up a sparrow. She dropped it on the ground next to Jaypaw while Lionpaw rooted among the prey until he found the fresh-smelling body of a vole. “I caught this myself!” he announced proudly, tossing it onto the ground beside Hollypaw.
“You caught prey on your first day?” Hollypaw sounded impressed.
“He probably held it down for you to finish off,” Jaypaw growled.
There was a moment’s silence; then Hollypaw brushed her tail over Jaypaw’s pelt. “I heard you ran into trouble,” she mewed. “It could have happened to any cat.”
“It’s only your first day,” Lionpaw reminded him.
Yes, and you caught a vole on your first day, didn’t you?
Hollypaw sniffed at the thorns in Jaypaw’s tail and plucked at one with her teeth.
“Do you want some herbs?” she offered. “I know which ones will soothe101 the pain and stop infection.” There was pride in her mew.
“No need.” Jaypaw took a bite of mouse, but it felt dry and tasteless. He nudged the mouse over to Lionpaw with his muzzle. “Here, you finish it. I’m not hungry.”
“Wait . . .” Lionpaw began. But Jaypaw padded gloomily away
He headed toward the apprentices’ den, which was underneath102 a bushy yew103 tree growing close to the wall of the hollow. It took him a moment to figure out where the entrance was, and when he had, he nosed his way in cautiously. The unfamiliar104 scents confused him—moss rich with the smell of different apprentices, the strong tang of yew sap. He had no idea what lay around him or where he should lie down.
“Hey, Jaypaw.” Hazelpaw’s mew came from the far side of the den. “There’s no one here but me. Just head toward my voice. There’s some clean moss next to my nest where you can sleep.”
Jaypaw was too tired and miserable105 to make a fuss about being helped. Gratefully, he padded toward Hazelpaw’s nest, and as he did, the scents around him began to fall into place, like a flight of birds settling one by one into a tree. He smelled Poppypaw’s scent, so stale that she had clearly not been in here since sunrise; Berrypaw’s nest had been slept in more recently, and Honeypaw’s smelled warm as though she’d just left it. Jaypaw wove cautiously among the little patches of scent until he found the clean moss beside Hazelpaw.
“Thanks,” he murmured, settling down.
“No problem,” she answered sleepily.
He was glad she sounded too tired to talk. Right now, all he wanted to do was to tuck his nose under his paw and sleep.
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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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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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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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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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gritting
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的现在分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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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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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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19
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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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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21
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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22
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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23
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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24
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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25
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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26
mentors
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| n.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的名词复数 )v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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27
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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28
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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29
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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30
wilting
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| 萎蔫 | |
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31
overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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32
alcove
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| n.凹室 | |
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33
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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34
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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35
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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36
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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37
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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38
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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39
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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40
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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41
flexing
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| n.挠曲，可挠性v.屈曲( flex的现在分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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42
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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43
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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44
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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45
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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46
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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47
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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48
flea
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| n.跳蚤 | |
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49
fleas
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| n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求） | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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51
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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52
devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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53
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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54
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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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
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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57
mutinously
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| adv.反抗地，叛变地 | |
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58
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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59
sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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60
apprenticeship
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| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
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61
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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62
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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63
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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64
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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65
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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66
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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67
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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68
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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69
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
flatten
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| v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽 | |
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71
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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72
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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73
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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74
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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75
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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76
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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77
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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78
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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79
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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80
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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81
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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82
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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83
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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84
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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85
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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86
skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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87
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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88
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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89
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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90
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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91
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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92
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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93
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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94
yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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95
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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96
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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97
thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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98
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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99
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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100
flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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101
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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102
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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103
yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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104
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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105
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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