Cool night air whispered through Jaypaw’sfur. Up above, he knew the half moon would be floating in a clear sky. His mentor1, Leafpool, padded beside him, following the stream that divided WindClan’s territory from ThunderClan’s.
Jaypaw’s belly3 was churning with anticipation4. Would Rock speak to him at the Moonpool? The thought that he might encounter only the cats of StarClan made his tail twitch5 with impatience6. StarClan wasn’t important, after all. They were only Clan2 cats who had moved on to a different place. The prophecy had said he would have the power of the stars in his paws. That must mean that he would be more powerful than StarClan, so why should he waste time walking with them in his dreams?
He needed to go further back, to find the ancient cats who had once gathered at the Moonpool. They must be the truly powerful cats, who would help him find his destiny.
It’s Lionpaw’s and Hollypaw’s destiny, too. Jaypaw did his best to ignore the small voice niggling at the back of his mind. His brother and sister would have to find their own source of power. He had been chosen to be a medicine cat, so this must be the right way for him alone.
“Leafpool, wait for us!”
The distant call came from WindClan territory. Leafpool halted, and Jaypaw waited by her side. Tasting the air, he picked up the scents8 of three cats: Barkface and Kestrelpaw, and Willowpaw, who must have met up with the WindClan cats on her way from RiverClan.
“Where’s Mothwing?” Leafpool asked anxiously as the other medicine cats caught up. “She’s not ill, is she?”
“No, she’s fine,” Willowpaw replied. “But Beechfur has an infected beesting, so Mothwing thought she’d better stay in camp and look after him.”
Huh!Jaypaw thought. And hedgehogs fly!He could guess why Mothwing wasn’t with her apprentice9. The infected warrior10 was just an excuse. Mothwing didn’t have any connection with StarClan. She must have decided11 that she could get a good night’s sleep in her own den12 instead of trekking13 all the way up to the Moonpool to have it there.
“Hello, Jaypaw,” Willowpaw mewed. Her voice was cool and polite.
“Hi, Willowpaw.” Okay, I know you don’t like me. I’m not all that besotted with you, either
“Hi, Jaypaw.” Kestrelpaw sounded more friendly. “How’s the prey14 running in ThunderClan?”
“Fine, thanks,” Jaypaw replied.
Before he had to think of anything else to say, he caught the strong ShadowClan scent7 of another cat bounding up behind them.
“I thought I’d missed you,” Littlecloud panted.
“We would have waited for you,” Leafpool mewed.
The cats set off for the Moonpool. Jaypaw felt Kestrelpaw padding along at his side. “Hey, Jaypaw,” he began, “what’s it like, being blind?”
Well, you can’t see, mouse-brain!Jaypaw felt his neck fur bristling15 at the stupid question. “Everything’s dark. But I can hear and scent okay, so that’s how I find my way around.”
“That’s really tough.”
The other apprentice’s sympathy made Jaypaw flex16 his claws. From the sound of his voice and the whisper of his paws on the moorland turf, he had a pretty good idea where Kestrelpaw’s ear was. How would you like it slashed17, huh?
“I manage,” he retorted.
Quickening his pace, he caught up to Littlecloud; his paws itched18 to run on ahead but that would draw too much attention to the fact that he walked here in his dreams—when he could see. He couldn’t wait to get to the Moonpool.
But after he had paced down the spiral track, feeling his paws slip into the paw prints of those long-ago cats, after he had touched his nose to the water and settled himself comfortably, Jaypaw found it hard to sleep. All around the pool he could hear the other cats’ breathing sink into the rhythmic19 patterns of dream-sleep, while he stayed obstinately20 awake.
“Come on,” he muttered. “What’s the matter with you?” For once he didn’t want to enter the others’ dreams. He wanted a dream of his own: to wake underneath21 the hill, in the tunnels where he had met Rock and Fallen Leaves. If he didn’t manage it now, it would be a whole moon before he had another chance to visit the Moonpool.
He closed his eyes, willing sleep to come, but he could still feel the damp rock under his paws and hear the sound of the waterfall and the breathing of the cats around him. Stretching his jaws22 in a yawn, he opened his eyes again. His fur prickled with excitement as he realized that he could see.
Instantly his ears twitched23 in frustration24. He wasn’t in the underground cave. Instead, he had never left the Moonpool. He could see the curled-up bodies of his companions and reflected starlight glimmering25 in the water.
“Now what?” he demanded.
A quiet voice spoke27 behind him. “You wanted to speak with me?”
Jaypaw spun28 around, almost tripping over his own paws. Rock stood in front of him. His long, twisted claws scraped on the bare rock. Here in the open, out of the shadows of his cave, his bare skin looked raw and painful, and his bulging29 eyes glowed silver in his disfigured face. With an unexpected quiver of fear, Jaypaw wondered if Rock could see him or if he only sensed his presence.
“Why did you stop talking to me?” Jaypaw asked. “I tried and tried, but you wouldn’t answer.”
Rock dismissed the question with a flick30 of his ratlike tail. “I’m here now,” he rasped. “Say what you have to say.”
“Are you part of StarClan?”
Rock blinked. “No. I share tongues with the ones who came before.”
“You mean the cats like Fallen Leaves, who went into the tunnels to prove themselves?”
“No.” Rock’s voice grated like shifting stones. “More ancient even than those.”
“Then where did they come from?” Jaypaw meowed, exasperated31. “Is there a set of ancestors who are older than all the others? Did we all come from them—Fallen Leaves’s cats, and the Tribe cats, and the Clans32?”
Rock turned his silver gaze on Jaypaw. “There will always be stories older than any cat remembers,” he rumbled33.
That’s not an answer!“Then where did youcome from?”
The old cat stood silent for many heartbeats, staring out across the Moonpool as if he could look back across the abyss of time that separated Jaypaw from those ancient cats.
“You will find your answers in the mountains,” he murmured at last. “Though they may not be the ones you most want to hear.”
“What do you mean? Tell me now!” Jaypaw insisted.
But Rock was beginning to fade. The patches of reflected moonlight on his skin, the silver gleam of his bulging eyes, thinned out like mist until Jaypaw could see nothing but the shimmer34 of starlight on rock and water. He shivered in a sudden cold breeze.
“Come back!” he yowled.
There was no reply. The starshine faded, and scents of tree and bracken filled his mouth. He was standing35 in a dusky forest, in the midst of fern and grasses. Moonlight dappled the ground as it shone through gaps in the branches above his head. The air was warm, full of the tempting36 scents of prey.
Just ahead of him, Leafpool was following a narrow path that wound between clumps37 of bracken. She paused and glanced back over her shoulder. “I wondered if you’d join me,” she mewed.
Jaypaw was about to reply when the bushes just ahead of Leafpool rustled38 and a group of StarClan cats burst out into the open. Jaypaw spotted39 prey scurrying40 away from their claws.
A blue-furred she-cat halted briefly41 to mew, “Greetings, Leafpool.” Leafpool dipped her head, but the she-cat bounded onward42 before she could speak. Another cat, a powerful white tom, gave Jaypaw a friendly flick over the ear with his tail as he sped past.
Most of the StarClan warriors43 were intent on their prey. Their eyes were bright with delight in the hunt; their pelts44 gleamed and their muscles rippled45 in the moonlight. Jaypaw watched as each cat pounced46 on its prey and turned to race away with the limp body dangling47 from its jaws. He supposed they were taking it to some starry48 fresh-kill pile.
Leafpool padded up to him and touched her nose to his shoulder. “You see the silver tabby over there?” She pointed49 with her tail to where a beautiful she-cat was leaping to catch a plump vole. “That’s Feathertail. She was Stormfur’s sister. She died in the mountains.”
Jaypaw gazed curiously50 at the cat, wondering if she knew anything about the mountain cats’ ancestors.
“Can we talk to her?”
“She might not wait for us,” Leafpool replied. “She’ll want to take her prey back to the StarClan camp.”
“I want to ask her—” Jaypaw broke off as Feathertail bounded away. But she didn’t follow the other StarClan cats; she headed in a different direction, where the trees and bushes were thicker. “Where is she going?”
“I don’t know.” Leafpool looked troubled. “Feathertail, wait!”
She set off after the silver tabby, and Jaypaw raced along at her side. They plunged51 through dense52 undergrowth and came out into a clearing. A stream ran through it, and on the other side the trees gave way to rocky slopes covered in stunted53 bushes.
“Feathertail!” Leafpool called again.
The she-cat paused on the bank of the stream and looked over her shoulder at them.
“Where are you going?” Leafpool panted, dashing up to her.
Feathertail set down her vole. “This fresh-kill is not for StarClan,” she explained. “I bear a responsibility to other cats, ones who still need the help of the Clans, even though many moons have passed.”
Other cats?
Leafpool touched her nose to Feathertail’s ear. “Are you talking about the Tribe of Rushing Water? Haven’t you done enough for them? You gave your life to save them from Sharptooth!”
“A shared past counts for a lot,” Feathertail replied, her blue eyes glowing with emotion. “Even if it was brief.”
She pressed her muzzle54 against Leafpool’s, then picked up her prey, leaped lightly across the stream, and was swallowed up in the shadows under the bushes.
Mouse dung!Jaypaw thought. I never got to ask her anything.
Letting out a faint sigh, Leafpool headed back into the trees. As Jaypaw followed her, he picked up a silver glimmer26 in the corner of his eye. Glancing around, he spotted Rock, crouched55 under a bush. The ancient cat’s sightless eyes gazed straight at him; then he heaved himself to his paws and padded off in the direction Feathertail had taken.
Jaypaw shivered. Somehow, StarClan, the ancient cats, and the Tribe of Rushing Water all seemed to be merging56 to shape the destiny of the cats by the lake. It made sense to Jaypaw. To have the power of the stars in his paws, he would need to have power over all the ancestors, past and present. Shadows pressed around him as he plunged into the undergrowth again. The lush forest scents faded away, and he felt rock beneath his paws. He could hear the gentle splash of the waterfall and knew he was crouching57 once again beside the Moonpool. He opened his eyes on darkness.
Around him he could hear the other cats waking from their dreams. They said little, and Leafpool didn’t speak to him at all as they climbed the spiral path and set off across the moorland, back toward the lake. Jaypaw could feel her anxiety like a swarm58 of stinging insects.
He waited impatiently for the other cats to say their good-byes and head off toward their own territories. As soon as he and Leafpool were alone, he demanded, “What do you think your dream meant? Are you going to tell Firestar?”
Leafpool hesitated, and when she spoke her voice was troubled. “It sounds as if the Tribe of Rushing Water is in some sort of trouble,” she replied. “I’m not sure whether I should tell Firestar. Whatever’s happening, it doesn’t seem as if ThunderClan cats will be affected59.”
Jaypaw twitched his tail in frustration. How could he discover his destiny if his mentor was going to pretend she never had the dream? “What about Stormfur and Brook60? If there’s something wrong in the mountains, they should be told.”
“I don’t know.” Her mew was soft and uncertain. “You could be right. Yes, perhaps I should tell Firestar. But ThunderClan isn’t involved, so I don’t think he’ll do anything.”
ThunderClan might be more involved than Leafpool realized, Jaypaw thought, as he followed his mentor along the border stream toward the camp.
At leastI’m involved!
He bared his teeth as if he were about to snap up a juicy piece of prey. There was only one way to discover the truth about his power. Somehow, he would have to find a way to go to the mountains.
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1
mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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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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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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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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trekking
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| v.艰苦跋涉，徒步旅行( trek的现在分词 )；（尤指在山中）远足，徒步旅行，游山玩水 | |
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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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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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flex
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| n.皮线，花线；vt.弯曲或伸展 | |
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slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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18
itched
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| v.发痒( itch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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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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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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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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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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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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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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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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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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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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shimmer
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| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
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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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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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37
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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38
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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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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42
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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43
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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44
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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45
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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46
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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47
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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48
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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50
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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51
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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52
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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54
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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55
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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merging
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| 合并（分类） | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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58
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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