Hollypaw slid out her claws, musclestensed to spring into battle. If she hadn’t yowled like that, they might have been able to sneak1 past the trespassers. At least there were only four strange cats confronting them. If it came to a fight, there was no way the newcomers would win. They might have had an easy time with the Tribe, but they would soon find out what it was like to mess with trained Clan2 warriors3!
The cat who had spoken was a large tom; dark stripes rippled6 on his silver tabby fur and his insolent7 amber8 eyes traveled lazily from cat to cat. His three companions pressed up close behind him: a skinny light brown tom with large pointed9 ears that swiveled alertly back and forth10, a dark-brown-and-white she-cat with green eyes, and a young tortoiseshell with white streaks11 like lightning on her face.
“I’ve seen youbefore,” the silver tabby taunted12 Talon13. “What are you doing, so far away from the waterfall? I didn’t think you hunted in these parts anymore.”
The skinny brown cat gave him a nudge in the shoulder. “Do you think they’re scared, Stripes?”
Stripes blinked slowly. “Flick14, you could be right. I reckonthey’ve realized that the prey15 around here belongs to us.” His tongue swiped across his jaws16. “That was a great rabbit I had this morning. Good and fat, more than I could eat.”
“You should show more respect for prey!” Crowfeather snapped.
Flick spat17. “Who are you to tell us what to do?”
Crowfeather’s lip curled to bare his teeth in a snarl18. “Want to find out?”
Brambleclaw touched the WindClan warrior4’s shoulder with his tail tip, a warning gesture. “We’re not looking for a fight,” he murmured.
Crowfeather cast him an angry glance but said no more, though his claws scraped the hard ground and his tail twitched19.
“What are you going to do with them, Stripes?” the skinny cat asked.
Before the silver tabby could answer, Night took a pace forward. She was stiff-legged with fury, her pelt20 bristling21. “You’ve no right to do anything with us!” she hissed22. “You’ve no right to come here and steal our prey.”
“Rights?” The brown-and-white she-cat spoke5 for the first time. “Who gave you the right in the first place?”
“Well said, Flora,” the skinny cat snickered.
The brown-and-white cat’s question cut across Hollypaw’s fury. She had been ready to fight on behalf of the Tribe. This was their territory, watched over by their warrior ancestors! But Flora’s question didn’t have an answer. Maybe the Tribe cats didn’thave the right to drive out the intruders.
“We’re not looking for trouble,” Brambleclaw mewed quietly, resting his tail on Night’s bristling shoulders. “We’re just traveling to the waterfall. You should let us go in peace.”
Stripes and Flick glanced at each other, then Stripes took a pace back, gesturing up the valley with his tail. “We’re not trying to stop you.”
Oh, no?Hollypaw thought. Their approach had been aggressive, bounding over the rocks with lashing23 tails and pelts24 fluffed out, until they realized that they had encountered too many cats to fight with any hope of winning. They could pretend all they liked, but she knew they would have attacked if they had met the Tribe cats on their own.
Brambleclaw dipped his head with cold politeness and led his group onward25 up the valley. The intruders watched them go, mockery in the eyes of the two toms. For a heartbeat Hollypaw met the gaze of the young tortoiseshell, who had waited a little way behind the others, watching but not speaking. If she had been a Clan cat, she would have been an apprentice26. She might have been my friend
Breezepaw was clearly seeing nothing but enemies. As he stalked past the intruders he lashed27 his tail, letting out a furious spit.
Instantly his father nudged his haunches, thrusting him ahead. “Are you mouse-brained? Do you wantto cause a fight?”
“They’re asking for it,” Breezepaw mumbled28.
Hollypaw noticed that Lionpaw still had his claws unsheathed, as if for a couple of mouse tails he would have sprung at the newcomers, but he didn’t make his hostility29 as obvious as Breezepaw.
All the way up the valley Hollypaw felt the eyes of the intruders boring into her back. She let out a sigh of relief when she rounded a jutting30 spur of rock and they were left behind. Around her she could feel the other cats beginning to relax, too.
“This is dreadful!” Brook31 exclaimed. “Do these cats think they can tell you where you can go? Are the Tribe cats prisoners in their own cave?”
“It’s not quite as bad as that,” Night replied.
“But they thought they could order us around! Can you still get out to hunt?”
Talon padded up to Brook’s side. “It’s true, the intruders are getting more and more confident. They come right up to the waterfall to take prey now.”
“They know we can’t stop them,” Night added bitterly.
“What does Stoneteller think?” Brook asked.
Talon shrugged32. “He says we shouldn’t challenge them, for our own safety.”
What good is that?Hollypaw wondered. Stoneteller is the Tribe’s leader. He shoulddo something!
Brook shook her head, dropping back a few paces so that she could brush pelts with Stormfur as they continued up the valley. The gray warrior had been silent through the encounter with the intruders. His eyes were full of sorrow; Hollypaw guessed he was remembering the battle he had led the Tribe into, and the cats who had lost their lives.
Scarlet33 streaked34 the sky as the sun went down. The jutting mountain peaks cast deep shadows; in the open the rocks looked as if they were bathed with blood. Hollypaw shivered, imagining she could hear the shrieks35 of cats dying in battle.
A ridge36 of broken rock blocked the entrance to the valley. Hollypaw reached the top after a hard scramble37 and stood looking out across a range of bare rock and plunging38 precipices39, as far as she could see in all directions. A stiff breeze ruffled40 her fur, and she tried to dig her claws into the rock to keep her balance. She couldn’t imagine where cats might live in this stony41 wilderness42.
Talon padded toward one end of the ridge, overlooking a shelf of flat rock. “This way,” he called.
The other cats began to follow him, except for Breezepaw, who bounded off to one side. “This way looks quicker!”
Hollypaw rolled her eyes. You don’t know where you’re going, mouse-brain!
Almost at once a terrified yowl burst from the WindClan apprentice. He was sliding forward, scrabbling frantically43 to stop himself. Hollypaw saw that a chasm44 split the top of the ridge, hidden from sight in the shadows.
She darted45 across to help Breezepaw, but Crowfeather raced past her. He fastened his teeth in Breezepaw’s tail and dragged him backward until he could stand safely on the flat top of the ridge.
Breezepaw let out a screech46 of pain. “My sore tail!”
“Tough,” Crowfeather snarled47. “Next time, think before you start showing off, and do what the Tribe cats tell you.”
Breezepaw glared at his father, then padded after the others with his head and tail drooping48.
“Pity,” Lionpaw commented as the WindClan apprentice caught up to him. “I was looking forward to seeing you bounce all the way to the bottom of the mountain.”
“Shut up, stupid furball!”
“That’s enough.” Tawnypelt thrust her way between the two apprentices49. “For StarClan’s sake, stop bickering50.”
Lionpaw muttered, “Sorry,” and gave his chest fur a couple of embarrassed licks, while Breezepaw just ignored her. They were all tired and hungry, Hollypaw thought, and more tempers were likely to snap if they didn’t reach the Tribe’s home soon.
Talon led the cats to the far end of the ridge where a narrow trail led downward, only wide enough for one cat to follow at a time. As Hollypaw waited for her turn she heard the beating of wings overhead. A black shadow passed over her. With a startled yowl she flattened51 herself against the rock. She saw her mother throw herself on top of Jaypaw.
Daring to lift her head, Hollypaw saw an enormous brown bird with its wings spread wide as it skimmed the ridge and headed for the rocks below. Cruel, hooked talons52 stretched to seize the body of a mouse that lay a few tail-lengths farther down. Hollypaw’s belly53 rumbled54. Though Clan cats didn’t eat crow-food, she was so hungry that she wouldn’t have said no to that mouse.
As the eagle’s talons closed around the limp body, four cats erupted from the shadows among the rocks. Hollypaw’s jaws gaped55 and her eyes stretched wide with amazement56 as they seized the huge bird. It let out a harsh screech and its wings beat frantically as it tried to take off. It managed to rise a tail-length above the ground, but the weight of cats dragging it down was too much. It flopped57 back onto the rock in a flurry of wings. The thin, gray-brown cats swarmed58 all over it. One of them pounced59 on its neck and bit down. There was a last spasm60 of struggling and then the eagle went limp.
“Great catch!” Talon yowled.
All four cats froze, looking upward. One of them called out, “Talon!” They sounded astonished, staring at one another and the group of cats on the ridge.
Stormfur came to stand beside Hollypaw. “Welcome to the Tribe of Rushing Water,” he meowed.
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1
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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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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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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12
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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talon
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| n.爪；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物 | |
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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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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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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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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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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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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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23
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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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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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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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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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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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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30
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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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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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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35
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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36
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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38
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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40
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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41
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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44
chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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45
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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46
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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47
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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48
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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50
bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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51
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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52
talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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53
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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54
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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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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58
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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59
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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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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