CHAPTER 20
Were any more of the medicine cats dreaming ordinary dreams? Jaypaw let his vision flit back to StarClan’s hunting grounds. He wanted to see the other cats, find out which ones truly shared with StarClan. Sunlight flickered2 once again through the trembling canopy3 of leaves and warmed his pelt4.
He was back.
“Spottedleaf was right.” A rasping purr sounded from the long grass beside him. The grass quivered as a disheveled she-cat padded out. Her long, pale fur was matted in places, and her paw steps were heavy. Jaypaw recognized her broad, flat face at once. It was the face that had stared directly at him from the ranks of StarClan when he had first seen them at the hollow.
“What did Spottedleaf say?” he asked.
“She warned me not to leave you to your own devices too long.”
“I wasn’t doing anything,” he mewed defensively.
“I’m not a kit!” Jaypaw retorted.
“Who are you?” he meowed.
“Yellowfang. I was ThunderClan’s medicine cat before Cinderpelt. You’ve heard of Cinderpelt, I assume?”
“Of course,” Jaypaw mewed, lifting his chin. “Leafpool keeps looking for her among StarClan, but she can’t find her.” He narrowed his eyes. “Have you seen her?”
“Yes, I’ve seenher,” Yellowfang answered. “But I didn’t come here to talk about Cinderpelt.” She cleared her throat. “You’re trying to walk in other cats’ dreams, aren’t you?”
“So what if I am?”
“You should be careful,” she warned. “A cat with big ears sometimes hears more than he should.”
“And who decides what I should and should not hear?” Jaypaw countered.
“You do.” Yellowfang’s gaze burned into his. “But you are young, and curiosity can be dangerous. Be careful where you tread.”
Jaypaw bristled10. Why was this old fleabag telling him what to do? “Leafpool knows I can walk in other cats’ dreams,” he snapped. “She told me it was a special gift.”
“It is,” Yellowfang agreed.
“Then why shouldn’t I use it?”
“You have claws?” Yellowfang’s eyes glinted as she asked him the question.
“Of course!”
What a stupid question.“You’re a member of StarClan!” he retorted. “I wouldn’t attack you.”
“Why not?”
“It would be wrong!” What did she think he was? A weasel? “You’re my ancestor and my elder—”
Jaypaw stared at her. What was she trying to say?
“There are many reasons why we don’t use every power we have. Sometimes the warrior13 code guides us, sometimes instinct, sometimes common sense.” She leaned closer toward Jaypaw, and he tried not to shrink away from her stale breath. “You have a remarkable14 gift, Jaypaw, but you must think before you use it.”
Yellowfang narrowed her eyes and sighed. “Kits!” she muttered. “I’m wasting my breath.” She turned, ready to leave.
“Wait!” Jaypaw wasn’t going to lose a chance to speak with StarClan. He wanted to solve the puzzle of Mothwing. “Do you often share things with the medicine cats?”
Yellowfang glanced back at him, her eyes glittering with suspicion. “Sometimes. Why?”
“Have you spoken with Mothwing?”
“I just want to know if you’ve spoken to her.”
Before he could say anything else, the old cat stalked away into the grass. It quivered, then fell still, and her scent23 disappeared like mist in the wind.
Jaypaw itched19 with crossness. There was so much he wanted to know; why couldn’t StarClan just be open with him? Well, he decided24, if the answers are there to be discovered, I’ll discover them!
He padded through the trees, trying to draw the scent of another medicine cat to him. A WindClan odor, earthy as moorland air, hit him.
Barkface.
Eagerly, Jaypaw followed his scent. He ducked low and crept through a clump25 of ferns, weaving carefully between the stems so as not to set them rustling26. Peeking27 out the other side, he spied Barkface. The medicine cat’s eyes were shadowed with worry. Another tom stood with him—WindClan by his scent, his pelt black and white.
“How many dogs will come, Tallstar?” Barkface asked fearfully.
“I don’t know,” Tallstar replied.
“When will they reach us?”
“The Twolegs will bring them when they bring the sheep to eat the newleaf grass,” Tallstar told him. “You must be ready.”
“I will warn Onestar.”
As Jaypaw watched Barkface dip his head to the Clan1 leader, he felt soft fur brush his pelt. Startled, he jerked his head around.
Spottedleaf was beside him. “This is not your dream,” she mewed sharply.
Jaypaw bristled. Everywhere he went, there were cats telling him what to do! “I’m only watching,” he objected.
“Then tell me why I was given this gift at all,” Jaypaw demanded.
Before Spottedleaf could answer, another voice called his name.
“Jaypaw?”
He opened his eyes to darkness. The forest was gone and the Moonpool lapped at his paws. He could hear the other cats stirring. Littlecloud and Barkface were padding around the Moonpool, while Leafpool stood quietly at his side.
“Did you dream?” he asked her.
“Yes.”
Jaypaw’s whiskers twitched with curiosity. Shadows were clouding Leafpool’s thoughts. “What did you dream about?”
“A medicine cat does not discuss what StarClan shares with her unless there is good reason to,” she told him.
Did that mean he couldn’t tell her about Onestar’s warning to Barkface? Then he’d tell Firestar as soon as he reached camp. It was his duty. His tail trembled with anticipation31. Firestar would be impressed.
Mothwing was yawning on the other side of the Moonpool, as though she had enjoyed her sleep. Jaypaw leaned forward, focusing on her thoughts, but he could perceive only a careful blankness in her mind.
Willowpaw’s excitement suddenly flitted across the Moonpool, breaking his concentration like a warm breeze disturbing fallen leaves. I bet she’s dying to pass on Mudfur’s message.He felt her curious stare graze his pelt, and wondered if she had noticed him eavesdropping33 in her dream. He turned away from her quickly.
“Come on, Willowpaw!” Mothwing called. “It’s too cold to hang around.”
“We should get home,” Leafpool meowed.
“Have you got something important to tell Firestar?” Mothwing asked.
“I want to be back in camp before the dawn patrol leaves,” she replied. “Or they’ll waste time searching for us before they check the borders.” She turned and followed Barkface and Littlecloud to the top of the ridge34. Jaypaw padded after her. At the top he glanced backward, finding only stillness and silence.
“You go first,” Mothwing meowed. She waited for him to scramble35 down after the others and caught up with him as he followed them down the narrow valley.
“How’s your training going?” she asked.
“Okay, I suppose,” Jaypaw replied. He thought for a moment. “The best bit is sharing with StarClan.” He held his breath, waiting to see how she would react.
“Of course,” came the unsatisfying reply. “Any tough cases?” Jaypaw noticed she changed the subject immediately.
He thought of Stormfur. “One warrior has a scratch that won’t heal.”
“What are you treating it with?”
“Honey-and-horsetail poultices,” he replied. “But he rubs them off as quickly as I put them on. His nest is sticky with honey, and there’s a trail of it over half the camp.”
“Have you tried covering the scratch with catchweed after you’ve put on the poultice?”
Jaypaw recalled the feel of the fuzzy green balls on long, clinging stems. The tiny catchweed burrs would stick to Stormfur’s thick pelt without hurting and stop the poultice from being rubbed. “Thanks,” he mewed. “I’ll try it.”
“It helps to share ideas,” Mothwing commented.
“Does StarClan give you good advice, too?” he asked innocently, but Mothwing appeared not to hear. She was already hurrying to catch up with Willowpaw.
Jaypaw’s mind buzzed with curiosity as they trekked36 to the WindClan border. Mothwing kept a few paw steps ahead of him, until the cats paused at their meeting place.
“Good-bye,” Littlecloud meowed as he turned toward the lake
“See you at the Gathering,” Mothwing added, dipping her head to Leafpool.
“Travel carefully,” Leafpool called as Littlecloud, Mothwing, and Willowpaw headed lakeward together. “I’ll remember to leave those herbs for you, Littlecloud.”
“Thanks, Leafpool,” the ShadowClan cat called over his shoulder.
Barkface crossed the border into his own territory. “Take care,” he meowed.
Left alone with Leafpool, Jaypaw was aware that the air had grown colder. He fluffed out his pelt. Frost was forming, stiffening38 the grass beneath his paws. Dawn must be coming.
He padded beside Leafpool into the forest. “Do you ever know what other cats dream about?” he asked, trying to sound as if he weren’t really bothered.
“I told you,” she answered, “we don’t discuss it.”
“But all medicine cats have dreams, don’t they?” he pressed. Did she know about Mothwing?
“Each medicine cat’s relationship with StarClan is different.” Leafpool spoke17 carefully, like a cat picking its way through a briar patch.
“But sharing tongues with StarClan is the most important part of being a medicine cat, isn’t it? Any cat could learn to heal his Clanmates, but a true medicine cat has to be able to pass on messages from StarClan.”
“There is more to being a good medicine cat than interpreting signs,” Leafpool told him firmly. “Come on.” She broke into a run. “The dawn patrol will be heading off soon.” She ran the rest of the way through the forest, checking to make sure Jaypaw was keeping up, but moving fast enough to keep him too busy to talk.
She knows more than she’s telling me, he thought as he followed her scent through the undergrowth
They arrived at the camp just as the dawn patrol was preparing to leave. Brambleclaw was pacing restlessly. Ashfur kneaded the ground, and Brackenfur sat washing his paws, his eagerness to be off showing in every urgent lick. Brambleclaw halted as Leafpool and Jaypaw padded through the thorn barrier; Jaypaw sensed his father’s relief at their safe return. “All well?” he called to Leafpool.
Now was Jaypaw’s chance to share what he’d learned. He scrambled39 up the tumble of rocks to Highledge. “Firestar!” he called, rushing into the leader’s den.
Firestar twitched in surprise. “Jaypaw?” he meowed.
Sandstorm woke up on the other side of the cave. “What is it?”
“I had a dream about StarClan,” Jaypaw began. “WindClan is going be attacked by dogs.” He sensed Firestar’s tail bristling40 and went on. “This would be a great chance to take some of WindClan’s territory! They’ll be distracted at the other end of the ridge, and there won’t be any patrols around to stop us. We can take the strip of trees, the stream. . . . We could become stronger than the other Clans. ShadowClan would never dare invade us again.”
“Did StarClan tell you this?”
Jaypaw nodded eagerly. “About the dog attack, yes.”
Sandstorm fixed42 Jaypaw with her steady green gaze. “Are you sure that this is what StarClan meant? That we should use the dog attack against our neighboring Clans?”
“Why else would they let me hear Tallstar’s warning?”
Then Firestar spoke. “We will not take advantage of WindClan’s troubles,” he meowed.
“But surely StarClan let me share this so we couldtake advantage of it!” Jaypaw argued.
“Are you sure they didn’t just want to warn us that dogs were loose nearby?”
Jaypaw’s tail twitched with indignation. “You weren’t there!” he snapped. “How do you know what StarClan meant?”
He marched out of the den and bounded down the rocks back to the medicine den. Why don’t they believe me?he thought furiously. I’m the one who shared with StarClan!What’s the point of being a medicine cat if they don’t listen to me?
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1
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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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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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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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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croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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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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11
shredding
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的现在分词 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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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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mutinously
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| adv.反抗地，叛变地 | |
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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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18
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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itched
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| v.发痒( itch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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24
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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25
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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26
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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peeking
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| v.很快地看( peek的现在分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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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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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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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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eavesdropping
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| n. 偷听 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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36
trekked
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| v.艰苦跋涉，徒步旅行( trek的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指在山中）远足，徒步旅行，游山玩水 | |
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37
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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38
stiffening
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| n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式 | |
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39
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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40
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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41
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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42
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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