Lionpaw stared in disbelief. Stoneteller didn’twant them here? Was he completely mouse-brained?
The Tribe’s leader whipped around to face Talon1 and Night. “What have you done?” he spat2.
Lionpaw saw Talon swallow. “We…we went to find the Clans4,” he stammered5, one paw raking nervously6 at the cave floor. “We’ve brought help….”
“We thought it was best,” Night added.
“You thought wrong!” Stoneteller’s voice was soft, vibrating with fury. “You abandoned your Tribemates when we needed you to hunt for food. You told the Clans of our weakness. And you have brought all these extra mouths to feed. How dare you set paw in our cave? None of you is welcome here.”
Stormfur and Brook7, who had followed Lionpaw and the other apprentices9 into the cave, padded forward until they stood in front of Stoneteller. The old cat’s eyes narrowed. “Youare dead!”
Stormfur didn’t flinch10. “No, we are not. And we are still loyal to the Tribe of Rushing Water, whatever you might think.”
“We haveto help you,” Brook pleaded.
But Stoneteller’s eyes were cold as the stone around him. “I banished11 you from the mountains with good reason. Do you think I did it lightly? No. But our ancestors willed it so.”
“Then our ancestors were wrong.” Brook’s amber13 eyes glowed. “The Tribe is suffering even more than when we left. The trespassers are even more arrogant14. We met a group of them on our way here. They behaved as if the mountains were their territory and they could drive us off if they wanted.”
“We have come to help,” Stormfur insisted. “You need us.”
“Need you!” Stoneteller echoed scornfully. “What do you think you can do? Too many lives have been lost already, too much blood spilled—and that was your doing. You told us we needed a show of strength to defend our territory, but it didn’t work.”
“But there was no territory,” Brambleclaw pointed15 out, taking a pace forward to stand beside Stormfur. “You need to mark your borders.”
“We have never done that!” Stoneteller snapped. “That is not the way of the Tribe, and Stormfur knows it.”
Stormfur bowed his head. Lionpaw exchanged a glance with Hollypaw, seeing his own anger reflected in his sister’s eyes. How stupid could this old cat be, not only to banish12 Stormfur from the Tribe but then to refuse the help he offered when he came back?
“Stormfur did what he thought was best,” Squirrelflight broke in, her green gaze sparkling with annoyance16. “So did Talon and Night. There’s nothing to be ashamed of in asking for help. Or would you rather let the Tribe die because you were too proud?”
Stoneteller took a pace toward the ginger17 she-cat, his neck fur bristling18. Lionpaw tensed his muscles to spring if the Tribe’s leader tried to attack his mother.
Then the old cat’s tail drooped19 and the fur on his shoulders began to lie flat again. “The Tribe of Endless Hunting has sent me no signs about accepting help from the Clans.” Turning to Brambleclaw, he added, “I mean no disrespect to you or your Clanmates. I know how much we owed you in the past, and I believe you mean well now.”
Brambleclaw opened his jaws20 to speak, but Stoneteller raised his tail for silence. “You should not have come,” he continued. “This is not your battle. You may stay here for tonight, but in the morning you will be escorted to the edge of the mountains, and you must not return.”
“And how do you mean to stop us?” Breezepaw growled21 from just behind Lionpaw.
For once, Lionpaw agreed with the WindClan apprentice8. The Tribe didn’t have the strength to back up Stoneteller’s orders. But he guessed that Brambleclaw wouldn’t stay where the Clans weren’t wanted.
“And what about us?” Brook demanded.
Stoneteller turned his amber gaze on her. “We cannot feed two more hungry bellies23.”
Is that it?Shock froze Lionpaw’s paws in place and shivered through every hair on his pelt24. Do we just turn around and go home without lifting a claw to help?He opened his jaws to protest, only to close them again when he caught Brambleclaw’s warning glance.
“We’re guests of the Tribe.” Brambleclaw padded over and fixed25 all four apprentices with a stern gaze. “We mustn’t cause trouble.”
“Not even when that stupid—”
“No.”Brambleclaw sighed. “I’m as disappointed as you are, but we mustn’t make things worse. Do you all understand that?”
“If you say so…” Lionpaw mewed reluctantly. Hollypaw and Jaypaw nodded agreement, and even Breezepaw growled, “Suppose so.”
A gray-brown Tribe she-cat trotted26 across the cave toward them. “Hi, Brambleclaw,” she greeted him. “Remember me?”
Brambleclaw put his head on one side. “Bird That Rides the Wind. You were with Talon when we first met.”
“That’s right,” Bird purred. “It’s good to see you again. Stoneteller asked me to find you somewhere to sleep for the night. You and your warriors27 can come with me to the cave-guards’ place”—she flicked28 her tail toward one side of the cave—“and your apprentices can sleep with our to-bes.”
Lionpaw stiffened29, wondering if Stoneteller wanted to split up the Clan3 cats so they could be attacked more easily. But Brambleclaw agreed calmly, and common sense told Lionpaw that the Clans would have done exactly the same if a large group of cats had arrived to stay in their camps.
As Bird led the apprentices farther into the cave, Lionpaw craned his neck to look around. By now night had fallen and the moon had risen, turning the waterfall to a sheet of tumbling silver and shedding a soft, wavering light throughout the cave. He could see scattered30 rocks around the edges of the cave, and here and there cracks in the walls that led up to narrow ledges31. From the roof, high above his head, talons32 of stone pointed down to the cave floor.
His belly33 rumbled35 as the scent36 of fresh-kill tickled37 his nostrils38. At one side of the cave, Gray and his hunting party had brought in their eagle and were tearing it apart. I hope they give us some, Lionpaw thought. His last meal had been in the forest, which seemed like seasons ago now. There wasn’t much else on the fresh-kill pile: a couple of mice and a rabbit. No wonder they’re all so skinny!
Bird took them to the back of the cave, where a pair of tunnels led off into darkness. A few tail-lengths away two young cats were wrestling while three or four others looked on.
“These are our to-bes,” Bird announced.
The wrestling cats broke apart and sat up to stare at the newcomers. “Who are they?” a pale gray she-cat asked. “Are they prisoners?”
“No, Pebble39, they’re guests,” Bird replied. “They’ll be staying with us tonight. Look after them and find them somewhere to sleep.”
“What, all four of them?” a black tom exclaimed. “There isn’t room.”
The gray she-cat gave him a hefty shove. “Don’t be so rude!” To the Clan apprentices she added, “Don’t pay any attention to Screech40. He’s beetle-brained.”
“Beetle-brained yourself!” Screech muttered.
“You’ll be fine for one night,” Bird mewed briskly. With a friendly nod to the Clan cats she bounded back across the cave to where Brambleclaw and the others were waiting for her.
Lionpaw felt embarrassed as the to-bes crowded around him and the others, sniffing41 at them curiously42. “I’m Lionpaw,” he meowed, trying to sound confident. “This is my sister, Hollypaw, and my brother, Jaypaw, and that’s Breezepaw.”
The gray she-cat dipped her head and stretched out one paw. The gesture surprised Lionpaw, though he had to admit it looked polite. “I am Pebble That Rolls Down Mountain,” she told them, “and this annoying furball is my brother, Screech of Angry Owl22.”
Screech curled his lip at his sister, before extending his paw in the same polite gesture. Lionpaw dipped his head in return, hoping the Tribe to-bes wouldn’t think he and the others hadn’t been mentored43 properly.
“I’m Splash When Fish Leaps,” a small tabby she-cat added, bouncing up with her stubby tail sticking straight up. The other to-bes hung back, giving the newcomers doubtful looks.
“You’ve come a long way,” Pebble commented. “I’ve never scented44 cats like you before.”
Hollypaw began to tell the story of how Talon and Night had come to fetch them, but before she had reached the start of their journey she was interrupted by the prey45-hunters, who padded over carrying pieces of the eagle in their jaws.
“There.” Gray dropped his prey in front of the to-bes. “Plenty for all of you.”
“Thanks.” Screech swiped his tongue around his lips. “This’ll be the first decent meal we’ve had in ages,” he added quietly to the visitors.
“The intruders take all our prey,” Pebble explained sadly. “They watched us to see how we hunt, and now they’ve learned to do it themselves. There aren’t enough eagles to go around.”
“Wait till I’m a prey-hunter,” Screech boasted. “I’ll soon find enough prey to feed all the Tribe.”
“Yes, when eagles learn to talk!” his sister snapped.
Lionpaw was afraid they would all have to wait to eat until the brother and sister had finished arguing. “It seems really strange to us,” he began, hoping to distract them. “We don’t split up the duties like that. We all hunt andfight.”
“It can’t come naturally to you,” Splash mewed. “Learning all that must be really tough.”
“It is,” Hollypaw agreed, to Lionpaw’s surprise. “But it’s fun, too.”
“Stoneteller chooses what we’ll be,” Pebble told her. “Kits who look big and strong get to be cave-guards, and ones that look like they’ll run fast and leap high become prey-hunters. I’m going to be a cave-guard.”
Yes, fine, but when do we get to eat?Lionpaw’s belly was yowling in protest. He knew all this stuff anyway, from what Brook had told them back in ThunderClan territory.
To his relief, Pebble and the other to-bes began dividing up the fresh-kill. The Tribe to-bes split into pairs; each cat took a bite out of its own piece of prey, then exchanged the food with its partner.
“Maybe we’d better do that,” Hollypaw whispered. “Or they’ll think we’re really rude.”
“Okay,” Lionpaw mewed. “You share with Jaypaw, I’ll have Breezepaw’s piece.”
“Do what?” Jaypaw asked irritably46. “Prey’s prey. Let’s eat.”
Hollypaw crouched47 close to Jaypaw’s ear to explain to him what was happening, while Lionpaw tried not to make a face at the thought of eating prey that Breezepaw had bitten into.
“Why’s she telling your brother what to do?” Pebble asked, raising her head from the fresh-kill she was devouring48. “Why can’t he just copy us?”
Lionpaw glanced uneasily at his brother, knowing how much Jaypaw hated it when cats talked about him as if he weren’t there. “Well, because he’s blind.”
Pebble’s eyes stretched wide. “Wow, that’s really weird49.”
“How does he manage?” Screech asked curiously. “Do you have to lead him around by the tail?”
Lionpaw saw his brother’s ears flatten50. His jaws opened for a stinging retort, but Hollypaw slapped her tail across his muzzle51. Jaypaw furiously spat out a mouthful of fur.
“He may be blind, but he’s not deaf,” Lionpaw meowed, feeling annoyed for his brother but not wanting to start a quarrel. “And he manages just fine. Haven’t you ever seen a blind cat before?”
“No,” Pebble replied, as if Lionpaw was foolish even to ask. “How can your Clan ever let him out on his own?”
Lionpaw saw what she meant and shuddered52. A blind cat wouldn’t last long in this rocky place. Even if it managed to avoid an eagle’s talons, it would probably fall over a precipice53
“Jaypaw’s training to be a medicine cat,” Hollypaw put in, a touch of defensiveness54 in her tone.
Pebble looked even more astonished at that, and most of the other to-bes pricked55 up their ears to listen.
“That’s impossible!” Splash exclaimed. “How could a blind cat lead your Clan?”
What?Lionpaw exchanged a glance with Hollypaw. “He won’t be leader.”
“But you…oh, I see!” The puzzled look in Pebble’s eyes cleared. “In the Tribe Stoneteller is our Healer. And he picks out the cat who will be Healer after him. But I suppose you do things differently.”
“We have a leader anda medicine cat,” Breezepaw explained, in a superior tone.
“Weird…” murmured Screech.
Privately56 Lionpaw thought the Tribe’s way was even more weird. How could Stoneteller make good decisions when he didn’t have a medicine cat to advise him? It didn’t look as if he even had a deputy. Maybe the Tribe could have come up with a solution to the problem of the intruders if every cat wasn’t so convinced that they had to do exactly what Stoneteller told them.
“Hi. How are you getting on?”
Lionpaw jumped when he heard Squirrelflight’s voice; she had padded up unseen behind him. “Fine, thanks.” He tried to sound convincing.
“Great. But I think it’s time you settled down to get a good night’s sleep. It looks like we’ll have a long journey tomorrow.”
Lionpaw gulped57 his last bite of eagle and glanced up at his mother. She didn’t look like her normal cheerful self; her tail trailed on the ground and her eyes were anxious. He guessed she felt they had made a huge mistake by coming so far, only to be turned away. Reaching up to brush his muzzle against hers, he wished he could comfort her and tell her that these stupid Tribe cats should be glad of their help, but it was impossible in front of all the to-bes.
“Okay,” he meowed. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
Squirrelflight brushed his shoulder with her tail, bent58 over to give Hollypaw and Jaypaw a swift lick around the ear, and padded softly away. Lionpaw’s gaze followed her as she headed across the cave to the other warriors, wishing he could be with them instead of a bunch of strange to-bes.
“Come on,” Pebble mewed, flicking59 his ear with her tail. “I’ll show you where to sleep.”
She led the apprentices to a place where several shallow dips had been scooped60 out of the cave floor. They were warmly lined with moss61 and feathers.
“Choose any,” Pebble invited them.
Lionpaw curled up in one of the larger hollows with Hollypaw and Jaypaw. At least the sleeping place was comfortable; for a moment he could almost believe they were back in the ThunderClan nursery. But in the nursery he had never had so many worries to keep him awake.
He lay with his eyes slitted, watching the constantly changing light flickering62 over the cave walls and listening to the endless rumble34 of the waterfall. So much for standing63 on the hill overlooking the lake and feeling as if he could do anything. Their journey had come to nothing; these strange, proud cats were turning them away without even giving them the chance to help.
Lionpaw let out a sigh. He had been desperate to make this journey for so long, to see the mountains for himself, and now that he was here, he just wanted to go home.
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收听单词发音
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1
talon
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| n.爪；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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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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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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bellies
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| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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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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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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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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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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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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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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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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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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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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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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mentored
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| v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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45
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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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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49
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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50
flatten
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| v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽 | |
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51
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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52
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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53
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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54
defensiveness
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| 防御性 | |
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55
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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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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59
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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60
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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61
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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62
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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63
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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