Jaypaw touched his nose to Tawnypelt’spad. It felt hot and fat. “Swollen,” he pronounced. “The skin’s grazed but not bleeding. But you already know that.” He could hear Hollypaw’s and Lionpaw’s faint mews as they headed away to find prey2. Were they talking about the prophecy?
Tawnypelt pulled her paw from under his muzzle3. “I knew I couldn’t taste blood, but I wasn’t sure if a stone had worked its way in.” She licked it. “My pads have grown so hard from the mountains, I can’t tell calluses from cuts anymore.”
“No stones,” Jaypaw reassured4 her. He nodded toward the sound of water babbling5 over rocks nearby. “That stream doesn’t sound too deep. Go stand in it. The water should ease the swelling6.”
He padded after her and heard the splash as she leaped into the water.
She gasped7. “It’s cold!”
“Good,” he mewed. “It’ll take down the swelling quicker.” He pricked9 his ears. Hollypaw’s and Lionpaw’s voices had faded into the distance. At last he had shared with them the secret he had kept to himself for so long. Telling it had felt like walking through unknown territory, each word falling like a paw step on uncertain ground. Lionpaw had accepted it as though something that had been confusing him had finally been explained. Hollypaw’s reaction had been more frustrating10: She only seemed concerned about how they could use their powers to help ThunderClan, and kept fretting12 about the warrior13 code. Didn’t she understand that the prophecy meant more than that? They had been given a power that stretched far beyond the boundaries set by ordinary cats.
Tawnypelt’s mew interrupted his thoughts. “This water’s verycold.”
“It’s mountain water.”
“I can tell,” Tawnypelt meowed urgently. “My paws have gone numb14!”
“Well, get out then.”
With a gasp8 of relief, she landed beside him and began shaking the water from her paws, scattering15 icy drops on his fur.
Jaypaw shivered and moved away; mountain winds and cold water were a bad mix. “Does your paw still hurt?”
“I can’t feel it at all,” Tawnypelt replied. She paused. “Actually, I can’t feel any of my paws.”
Squirrelflight was padding toward them. “Any better?”
“I think so,” Tawnypelt meowed.
Jaypaw felt his mother’s tongue lap his ear. “Are you okay, little one?” she asked gently.
He ducked away, scowling16. “Why shouldn’t I be?”
“It’s okay to be tired.” Squirrelflight sat down. “It’s been a hard journey.”
“I’m fine,” Jaypaw snapped. His mother’s tail was twitching17, brushing against the gritty rock. He waited for her to make some comment about how much harder the journey must have been for him, being blind and all, and then add some mouse-brained comment about how well he had coped with the unfamiliar18 territory.
“All three of you have been quiet since the battle,” she ventured.
She’s worried aboutall of us!Jaypaw’s anger melted. He wished he could put her mind at rest, but there was no way he could tell her the huge secret that was occupying their thoughts. “I guess we just want to get home,” he offered.
“We all do.” Squirrelflight rested her chin on top of Jaypaw’s head, and he pressed against her, suddenly feeling like a kit19 again, grateful for her warmth.
“They’re back!”
At Tawnypelt’s call, Squirrelflight jerked away.
Jaypaw lifted his nose and smelled Hollypaw and Lionpaw. He heard claws scrabbling over rock as Breezepaw arrived. The hunters had returned.
“Let’s see what they’ve caught!” Tawnypelt hurried to greet the apprentices20.
Jaypaw already knew what they’d caught. His belly22 rumbled23 as he padded after her, the mouthwatering smells of squirrel, rabbit, and pigeon filling his nose. If only it weren’t going to be given to the Tribe.
Crowfeather and Brambleclaw were already clustered around the makeshift fresh-kill pile. Stormfur and Brook24 hung back as though embarrassed by the gift.
“This rabbit’s so fat it’ll feed all the to-bes,” Squirrelflight mewed admiringly.
“Well caught, Breezepaw,” Tawnypelt purred.
Jaypaw waited for the WindClan apprentice21’s pelt1 to flash with pride, but instead he sensed anxiety claw at Breezepaw.
He’s waiting for his father to praise him.
“Nice pigeon,” Crowfeather mewed to Lionpaw.
Breezepaw stiffened25 with anger.
“And look at the squirrel I caught!” Hollypaw chipped in. “Did you ever see such a juicy one?”
“Come see!” Tawnypelt called to Stormfur and Brook.
The two warriors26 padded over.
“This will be very welcome,” Stormfur meowed formally.
“The Tribe thanks you.” Brook’s mew was taut27.
Jaypaw understood their unease. By accepting fresh-kill, they were openly admitting their weakness. Hunting was poor in the mountains now that two groups of cats were sharing the territory. And yet Jaypaw could feel fierce pride pulsing from Stormfur. The mountain breeze stirs his heart as well as his pelt.There was a core of strength within him, a resolve that Jaypaw had not sensed before, as though he were more rooted in the crags and ravines than he ever had been beside the lake. He truly believes that this is his destiny.The Tribe were Stormfur’s Clan11 now. He had been born RiverClan, and lived with ThunderClan, but now it seemed that he had found his true home.
Jaypaw shivered. The wind had been sharpened by a late-afternoon chill.
A howl echoed from the slopes far above.
Brook bristled28. “Wolves.”
“We’ll get this prey home safely,” Stormfur reassured her. “The wolves are too clumsy to follow our mountain paths.”
“But there’s a lot of open territory before you reach them,” Brambleclaw urged. “You should go.”
“We should all head home,” Crowfeather advised. “The smell of this fresh-kill will be attracting all the prey-eaters around here.”
Alarm flashed from every pelt as Jaypaw detected a strange tang on the breeze. It was the first wolf scent29 he’d smelled. It reminded him of the dogs around the Twoleg farm, but there was a rawness to it, a scent of blood and flesh that the dogs did not carry. He was thankful it was faint. “They’re a long way off,” he murmured.
“But they travel fast,” Brook warned. The rabbit’s fur brushed the ground as she picked it up.
“We’re going to miss you,” Squirrelflight meowed. Her voice was thick with sadness.
Brook laid the rabbit down again, a purr rising in her throat. Her pelt brushed Squirrelflight’s. “Thank you for taking us in and showing us such kindness.”
“ThunderClan is grateful for your loyalty30 and courage,” Brambleclaw meowed.
“We’ll see you again, though, won’t we?” Hollypaw mewed hopefully.
Jaypaw wondered if he would ever return to the mountains. Would he meet the Tribe of Endless Hunting again? He had followed Stoneteller into his dreams and been led by the Tribe-healer’s ancestor to the hollow where ranks of starry31 cats encircled a shimmering32 pool. He shivered as he recalled their words: You have come.They had been expecting him, and they had known about the prophecy! Yet again, Jaypaw wondered where the prophecy had come from, and how the Tribe of Endless Hunting were connected to his own ancestors.
“There’s no more time for good-byes!” Crowfeather’s mew was impatient.
“Take care, little one.” Brook’s cheek brushed Jaypaw’s before she turned to say good-bye to Hollypaw.
Stormfur licked his ear. “Look after your brother and sister,” he murmured.
“Bye, Stormfur.” Jaypaw’s throat tightened33. “Good-bye, Brook.” He remembered the times when Brook had comforted and encouraged him. She had always seemed to understand what it felt like to be different. And Stormfur had never patronized him, but treated him with the same warmth and strictness as he had the other apprentices. He would miss them.
Lionpaw pushed in front of him. “Good-bye, Stormfur. Show those invaders34 that a Clan cat is never beaten.”
“Good-bye, Lionpaw,” Stormfur meowed. “Remember that even though our experiences change us, we have to carry on.”
A rush of warmth seemed to flood between the warrior and apprentice, and Jaypaw realized with surprise that his brother shared a special bond with Stormfur, one he had not detected before. He stood wondering about it as his Clanmates began to head off down the slope, not moving when Stormfur picked up the freshly caught prey and started uphill after his mate.
“Stop dawdling35!” Crowfeather nudged Jaypaw with his nose, steering36 him down a smooth rocky slope onto the grassy37 hillside.
Jaypaw bristled. “I don’t need help!”
“Please yourself,” Crowfeather hissed38. “But don’t blame me if you get left behind.” He pounded ahead, his paws thrumming on the ground.
Imagine having such a sour-tongued warrior for a father. I’m glad I’m not Breezepaw!
“Hurry up, Jaypaw!” Lionpaw was calling.
Jaypaw sniffed39 the air. On this exposed slope it was easy to tell where the other cats were. Brambleclaw led the way downhill, Breezepaw at his heels, while Crowfeather had already caught up and was flanking Tawnypelt, keeping to the outside of the group. Squirrelflight padded alone, while Hollypaw and Lionpaw trotted40 behind.
Jaypaw raced after them. The grass was smooth and soft beneath his paws. “It feels strange leaving them behind,” he panted.
“They chose to stay,” Crowfeather pointed41 out.
“Do you think we’ll ever see them or the Tribe again?” Tawnypelt wondered.
“I hope not,” Crowfeather answered. “I don’t want to see those mountains once more as long as I live.”
“They might visit the lake,” Hollypaw suggested.
A howl echoed eerily42 around the crags far behind them.
“They have to get home safely first,” Lionpaw murmured.
“They will,” Brambleclaw assured him. “They know their territory as well as any other Tribe cat.”
Padding beside his littermates, Jaypaw caught the musty scent of forest ahead. Before long the ground beneath his paws turned from grass to crushed leaves. The wind ceased tugging43 at his fur as trees shielded him on every side. Hollypaw hurried ahead as though she already scented44 the lake beyond, but for a moment Jaypaw wished he were back on the open slopes of the foothills. At least there, scents45 and sounds were not muffled46 by the enclosing trees, and there was no undergrowth to trip him up. He felt blinder here in this unfamiliar forest than he ever had.
“Watch out!” Lionpaw’s warning came too late, and Jaypaw found his paws tangled47 in a bramble.
“Mouse dung!” He fought to free himself, but the bramble seemed to twist around his legs as if it meant to ensnare him.
“Stand still!” Hollypaw was racing48 back to help. Jaypaw froze, swallowing his frustration49, and allowed Lionpaw to drag the tendrils from around his paws while Hollypaw gently guided him away from the prickly bush.
“Dumb brambles!” Jaypaw lifted his chin and padded forward, more unsure than ever of the terrain50 but trying desperately51 not to show it.
Wordlessly, Hollypaw and Lionpaw fell into step on either side of him. With the lightest touch of her whiskers Hollypaw guided him around a clump52 of nettles53 and, when a fallen tree blocked their path, Lionpaw warned him with a flick54 of his tail to stop and wait while he led the way up and over the trunk.
As Jaypaw scrabbled over the crumbling55 bark he couldn’t help wondering: Is the prophecy really meant for a cat who can’t see?
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1
pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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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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frustrating
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| adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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15
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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16
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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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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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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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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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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24
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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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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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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28
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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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34
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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35
dawdling
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| adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 ) | |
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36
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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38
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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39
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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40
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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41
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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42
eerily
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| adv.引起神秘感或害怕地 | |
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43
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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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
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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46
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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47
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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49
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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50
terrain
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| n.地面，地形，地图 | |
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51
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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52
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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53
nettles
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| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
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54
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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55
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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