Leafpool was sharing a mouse withCloudtail when Jaypaw nosed his way out of the medicine cat den1 and padded to the fresh-kill pile.
There was plenty of prey2 to choose from. Hunting patrols had already stacked it full, and it was hardly sunhigh. As he dragged a shrew from the bottom—so fresh it still felt warm—the image of Cinderpelt starving in the snowy camp flashed in his mind. Was Leafpool thinking of her old mentor4 as she ate her meal?
“Jaypaw!” Graystripe was bounding across the clearing toward him. The warrior5 skidded6 to a halt. “Eat up! We’re going hunting.”
“Me?” Jaypaw’s heart soared.
“Sorreltail, Mousewhisker, and I will be hunting,” Graystripe corrected him. He must have realized Jaypaw’s disappointment. He whisked his tail along Jaypaw’s flank. “You’ve got a more important job. Leafpool wants you to come with us to gather herbs.”
Great.Jaypaw suddenly didn’t feel hungry anymore. He shoved the shrew back under the pile. “I’ll eat when I get back.”
“We’re going down to the lake,” Graystripe went on.
“The lake?” Jaypaw felt a glimmer8 of interest. The notched9 stick was on the shore; it was his link to the ancient cats from the tunnels. Maybe to even greater mysteries, if he could just understand what all the claw marks meant. “I guess it’ll be good to get out of camp and stretch my legs.”
“That’s more like it.” Graystripe turned and headed toward the thorn tunnel. Jaypaw could hear Sorreltail and Mousewhisker pacing there impatiently. He hurried after Graystripe, and together the patrol headed out into the forest.
Mousewhisker—only recently made a warrior—was buzzing with excitement. “I hope I catch something good! Maybe a squirrel.”
Graystripe purred. “Look out, squirrels!”
The woods were drowsy10 with heat, the undergrowth limp and fragrant11 as Jaypaw brushed past it, the air humming with bees. Mousewhisker’s paws thrummed on the leaf-strewn floor as he dashed on ahead. Graystripe hurried after him.
“I wish it could be greenleaf forever.” Sorreltail was padding beside Jaypaw, letting her pelt3 brush his.
“Yeah.” He drew away from her. He knew this part of the forest well enough not to need guiding. Pushing hard against the leafy forest floor, he broke into a run and charged along the familiar track.
“Wait for me!” Sorreltail called in surprise.
They caught up to Graystripe and Mousewhisker at the top of the rise. The trees ended here as the forest turned to grassland12, sloping down to the lake.
Mousewhisker was panting.
“He almost got his squirrel,” Graystripe meowed proudly. “But it scooted up that tree.”
Leaves rustled13 overhead.
“If that dumb blackbird hadn’t called the alarm,” Mousewhisker grumbled14.
“You’ll get the next one,” Graystripe told him encouragingly.
Sorreltail kneaded the ground. “I can’t wait to hunt with my kits15 when they’re warriors16.” Pride warmed her mew. “Honeypaw, Poppypaw, and Cinderpaw will be having their assessment17 any day now.”
Jaypaw tensed. Was Cinderpaw’s leg really strong enough?
“It’ll be great having them in our den,” Mousewhisker put in. “It might stop the old warriors from hogging18 the best nests and stealing all the softest moss19.”
Graystripe purred with amusement. “We oldwarriors need the soft moss for our poor ancient bones.”
“I didn’t mean youtwo!” Mousewhisker mewed, sounding embarrassed.
“I’m sure Thornclaw and Dustpelt will be pleased to hear that,” Sorreltail teased.
“You won’t tell them?” Mousewhisker squeaked20 in alarm.
“Of course not!” Sorreltail called over her shoulder as she darted21 down the slope. “Besides, we’re not old. And once Millie’s kits are born, Graystripe will feel younger than ever.”
Jaypaw hurried after her, enjoying the breeze ruffling22 his fur. It smelled of the lake.
At the shore, Graystripe paused. “Is this a good place for herbs?”
Jaypaw nodded. “I can get mallow down by the water.”
“Mousewhisker can help you,” Sorreltail volunteered her denmate.
“But what about my—”
“Your squirrel can wait,” Graystripe meowed.
“I guess so.” Mousewhisker swished his tail. “Besides, if we’re going down to the water, I might catch a fish!”
Unlikely, unless you’ve had a RiverClan mentor as well. Jaypaw picked his way down onto the shingle24. It shifted satisfyingly beneath his paws.
Mousewhisker padded after him. “The lake’s as smooth as a laurel leaf.”
Jaypaw had guessed that already. He could hear the sound of lazy ripples25 lapping the shore.
“What does mallow look like?” Mousewhisker asked.
Jaypaw shrugged26. “Never seen any.”
Mousewhisker squeaked in dismay. “Sorry!”
“Forget it.” It was just a dumb slip. “It feelssoft and kind of furry27. The leaves are big.” Jaypaw sniffed28 the air. He remembered gathering29 mallow here before. Sure enough, a sweet smell filled his nose. Jaypaw flicked30 his tail toward the water’s edge. “See that plant over there? That’s mallow.”
“Really?” Mousewhisker sounded impressed.
Jaypaw didn’t bother to reply. His paws had started to tingle31. The stick must be just along the shore. “Would you go and gather some leaves?” Jaypaw asked. “There’s something farther up the shore I want to check.”
“Okay.” Mousewhisker began to hurry down to the water. “How much do you want?”
“As much as you can carry!” Jaypaw veered32 away, heading along the beach. He padded to the tree line, where twisting roots spilled over onto the pebbles33, and sniffed around the gnarled bark until he scented35 the stick. It was still where he had wedged it, beneath the root of a rowan, safe from the pull of the lake.
He dragged it out, relief flooding his paws as they felt the smoothness of the exposed wood. This was definitely the right stick. Running his pads along its length he felt the familiar scratches. He knew so much more about what they meant than when he had first found it: They marked the successes and failures of countless36 cats—of Fallen Leaves and his Clanmates. And yet there was so much more to know; this stick only hinted at the lives of the cats who came before him. He wondered about the Clan23 who had used the tunnels as the test of a warrior. And the Tribe. Were they somehow linked? Were all Clans37, Tribes, whatever, however different, somehow connected?
Mousewhisker was splashing toward him, reeking38 of mallow. Jaypaw, clumsy with haste, shoved the stick back behind the tree root. The shingle crunched40 as the warrior climbed the beach.
“What are you doing?” Mousewhisker’s mew was muffled41 by mallow leaves.
“Just checking something.”
Mousewhisker spat42 the leaves onto the shore. “A stick?”
“It’s not important,” Jaypaw lied. “It’s medicine cat stuff, nothing you’d understand.” He braced43 himself for a flurry of questions.
But Mousewhisker simply began scraping the mallow leaves into a pile. “Whatever you say. I’m not an apprentice44 anymore,” he meowed. “I’m a warrior—I hunt and fight. I’ll leave the weird45 medicine stuff up to you.” His mew grew muffled again as he began to gather up the leaves. “I’m just glad I don’t have to remember everything you do.”
You don’t know the half of it….
Graystripe’s mew sounded from up on the bank. “Did you catch your fish, Mousewhisker?”
“No, but I caught some mallow!”
Leaves sprayed Jaypaw as Mousewhisker answered. Jaypaw stifled46 a frustrated47 hiss48 and collected the dropped leaves in his mouth. Then he followed Mousewhisker onto the bank, where Graystripe and Sorreltail were waiting. From the smell of it they’d caught mice. Jaypaw’s belly49 grumbled, and he wished he’d eaten when he’d had the chance.
“Let’s get these back to camp,” Sorreltail meowed. “It sounds like someone’s hungry.” She turned and darted up the grassy50 hillside, back toward the forest.
As they topped the ridge51 and began to head home, Jaypaw halted.
“What is it?” Graystripe asked.
“A patrol, heading this way.” The air was filled with their scent34. A moment later Jaypaw heard Thornclaw and his apprentice, Poppypaw, crashing through the undergrowth. Brightheart and Birchfall were close behind. Excitement pulsed from them.
They burst out of the bushes onto the ridge.
“WindClan have crossed the border!” Brightheart burst out.
Graystripe dropped his mouse. “Are they in ThunderClan territory now?”
“No,” Thornclaw growled52. “But the scents53 are fresh. It looks like they didn’t listen to Firestar’s last warning, and they’ve been hunting in our territory again.”
“Have you remarked the borders?” Graystripe asked.
“We did it straightaway.” Birchfall was pacing agitatedly54 around his Clanmates.
“Good.” Graystripe’s claws scraped the ground. “We must report this to Firestar at once.”
The camp was wrapped in the same greenleaf sleepiness as the forest, and hardly any cat stirred as the patrol rushed into the clearing.
“Brightheart?” Cloudtail’s dozy55 mew sounded from outside the warriors’ den. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back,” Brightheart promised as she scrambled56 up to Highledge after Thornclaw.
Mousewhisker dropped his mouthful of mallow leaves beside Jaypaw. “Can you manage these?” he asked. “I want to go tell Berrynose and Hazeltail what’s happened.”
This was the first crisis since Mousewhisker had been made a warrior. Jaypaw didn’t begrudge57 him his excitement. “No problem.”
As Mousewhisker hurried away, Jaypaw dropped his own mouthful of leaves onto the pile and began to bundle them together, ready to take to the medicine cat den.
“Can I help?” Hollypaw was padding toward him.
“Yes, please.” Jaypaw was sick of the taste of mallow.
“What’s all the fuss about?” Hollypaw pawed some leaves into a pile of her own.
“WindClan have crossed the border again.”
Hollypaw’s pelt bristled58. “I would have thought after last time…”
Jaypaw shrugged. Clearly, rescuing WindClan kits wasn’t enough to appease59 their increasingly hostile neighbors. He braced himself for an indignant speech about how true warriors respected borders, and was surprised to find something else was on Hollypaw’s mind.
“Cinderpaw just told me her assessment’s tomorrow,” she mewed.
Jaypaw stiffened60. So soon?“Has Cinderpaw ever complained about her leg hurting?” he asked quietly.
“What?” Hollypaw leaned in closer. “Why? What’s the matter? She’s better, isn’t she?”
Jaypaw nodded. “Leafpool says she is.”
“Well, there’s nothing to worry about then.” Hollypaw sighed. “I wish I could watch.”
“Cinderpaw’s assessment?” An idea sparked in Jaypaw’s mind.
“Of course!”
Jaypaw thought fast. He could keep an eye on her while she was tested. Check that everything was really all right. “Why don’t we?”
“Watch her assessment?” Hollypaw gasped61. “But that’s not allowed, surely?”
“Is that part of the warrior code?”
“What are you two talking about?” Lionpaw padded up behind Hollypaw.
“We were thinking about watching Cinderpaw’s assessment tomorrow,” Hollypaw explained.
“Is that allowed?” Lionpaw echoed his sister.
“I doubt it,” Jaypaw mewed. “But we weren’t planning on announcing it from Highledge.”
“Let’s do it!” Lionpaw decided62.
“If anyone catches us,” Hollypaw mewed, “we can say we were just trying to get some tips before our own assessment. No warrior could object to that.”
Birds chittering in the trees above the hollow woke Jaypaw. Dawn.He stretched and climbed out of his nest, shivering. Early morning had brought a chill to the hollow, reminding him that leaf-fall would soon be here. He gave his paws and face a quick wash. The assessment would start early, and he had promised to meet Lionpaw and Hollypaw outside the camp.
“Where are you going?” Leafpool’s mew startled him as he headed for the den entrance.
“I left some leaves behind,” he lied.
“Will you be able to find them by yourself?”
“I was only there yesterday,” he snapped. “I know exactly where to find them. I’m not a mouse-brain.” He figured Leafpool would be too worried about offending him to ask him any more questions.
He padded out of the den and through the thorn tunnel.
Brightheart was guarding the entrance. “You’re out early.”
“I’m fetching herbs for Leafpool.”
“Do you need an escort?”
“No,” Jaypaw mewed quickly. “Thanks.”
“The dawn patrol’s out,” Brightheart informed him. “And the assessment’s going to start soon. So there’ll be plenty of your Clanmates around if you need help.”
“I won’t,” he assured her.
He padded away, relieved that he knew this part of the forest so well. He didn’t want Brightheart to see him fall flat on his nose. He headed up the track until he was sure he was out of sight, then ducked into the bushes. Lionpaw had said to meet by the oak where the mushrooms grew. It would be easy to find; this time of year the mushrooms were strong enough for even a sighted cat to smell. He could detect their musty odor from here, and, treading carefully through the undergrowth, he followed his nose until he felt the peaty soil of the mushroom bed beneath his paws.
There was no sign of Lionpaw and Hollypaw.
Then the stench of dirtplace hit his nose. The bushes rustled beside him.
“Sorry we’re late,” Hollypaw panted.
“We couldn’t think of an excuse for leaving the camp,” Lionpaw added. “So we sneaked64 out through the dirtplace tunnel.”
Jaypaw wrinkled his nose. “I can tell.” They smelled stronger than the mushrooms budding around them.
“And I’ve got prickers in my fur,” Hollypaw complained.
“Try rolling in the soil here,” Jaypaw suggested. “It’ll get rid of the smell and the prickers.”
“Good idea!”
Jaypaw leaped backward as Hollypaw sent gritty earth spraying up into his face. “Thanks!” he muttered.
“It was your idea,” she retorted, scrambling65 to her paws. She sniffed loudly at her fur. “It worked!”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” Jaypaw mewed.
“Let me try.” Lionpaw copied his sister.
“Now you smell like a couple of mushrooms,” Jaypaw complained.
“It’ll be good camouflage,” Hollypaw pointed66 out.
“Poor Cinderpaw’ll think she’s being stalked by toadstools,” Lionpaw mewed.
Jaypaw pricked67 his ears. “Shh!” He could hear the undergrowth rustling68 in the distance. The scents of Sandstorm, Cloudtail, and Thornclaw drifted on the early-morning breeze. “Follow me, and keep quiet.”
He began to creep forward as though stalking prey, but a tree root snagged his paw and he stumbled.
“I’ll lead,” Lionpaw whispered. “Tell me which way to go.”
“Straight ahead,” Jaypaw muttered, letting Lionpaw slide past him. “Thornclaw and the others are right in front of us.”
After crawling a few tail-lengths through the undergrowth, Hollypaw tugged69 on Jaypaw’s tail. “I can hear them,” she hissed70.
Jaypaw had already heard Thornclaw’s deep mew. “I hope you’re ready,” he was telling Poppypaw.
“There’s a bramble bush here,” Lionpaw warned. “Stay close behind me and keep low.”
Ducking, Jaypaw crawled after his brother, feeling the barbs71 scrape his pelt.
Cloudtail’s voice was clear now. “I know you will all do your best. But remember, you are not competing against one another, only yourselves.”
“You can’t help one another, either,” Sandstorm warned. “This is a test of your solo hunting skills.”
“And we shall be watching you, though you may not see us,” Thornclaw meowed.
Lionpaw halted, and Jaypaw wriggled72 alongside him, feeling the brambles pressing down on his back. Hollypaw pushed in as well. “This is so exciting!”
“Shh!” Lionpaw hissed.
From the sound of it, the warriors and their apprentices73 were only a foxtail ahead of them. Jaypaw trusted that Lionpaw had chosen a spot where they were still well hidden, and hoped the mushroom dirt was enough to hide their scents. The air pricked with the excitement of the three apprentices waiting to begin their assessment.
“Cinderpaw can hardly sit still,” Hollypaw commented.
“Poor Honeypaw looks petrified,” Lionpaw whispered. “But Poppypaw looks as calm as a vixen.”
“Nothing fazes Poppypaw,” Hollypaw mewed.
Hopefulness and determination mingled74 in the air like meadow scent.
“Good luck,” Thornclaw meowed.
The three warriors melted into the forest, leaving the apprentices alone.
“Where shall I hunt?” Honeypaw mewed nervously75.
“Trust your instinct,” Poppypaw advised. “I’m heading this way.”
Jaypaw heard Poppypaw’s paw steps heading toward the bramble where he and his littermates hid. Not daring to back away in case he set the bush shivering, he flattened76 himself against the ground. Lionpaw and Hollypaw tensed beside him, holding their breath as Poppypaw’s pelt brushed the leaves of the bush.
Don’t let her see us!
Hollypaw dug her claws into the soft earth.
Shh!Jaypaw stiffened. Then he let out a relieved sigh as the apprentice’s paw steps scuffed77 away up the slope.
“She’s heading to the shore,” Hollypaw guessed.
“Honeypaw’s going the other way,” Lionpaw mewed.
“What about Cinderpaw?” Jaypaw asked.
“She’s tasting the air.” Hollypaw’s breath tickled78 Jaypaw’s ear fur. “She must have caught a scent. She’s on the move.”
“Come on,” Lionpaw hissed. “Let’s follow her.” He began crawling out from under the bush.
Jaypaw followed, his brother’s tail brushing his nose. Out in the open, he soon recognized the ground beneath his paws; they were following the bottom of the slope. Keeping close to Lionpaw’s tail, and with Hollypaw’s fur brushing his flank, he found it easy to keep up with Cinderpaw as she began to pick up speed.
“She looks confident!” Hollypaw mewed. “Her tail is up.”
Lionpaw stopped without warning. “She’s turning around!” he hissed.
Jaypaw skidded to a halt just before he crashed into his brother. He felt Hollypaw’s teeth grasp his tail and drag him backward; then Lionpaw bundled him sideways and the three of them tumbled through a wall of ferns in time to hear Cinderpaw’s paw steps thrumming past.
“That was close!” Lionpaw panted.
In the distance, a screech79 split the air and Jaypaw heard the fluttering of wings.
“Mouse dung!” An angry mew rang through the trees.
“Sounds like Honeypaw’s missed her first catch,” Lionpaw guessed.
“Never mind Honeypaw,” Hollypaw mewed. “Cinderpaw’s getting away!” She pushed her way out of the ferns and began to give chase. Lionpaw nudged Jaypaw after her, and they were once more hurrying through the forest after the apprentice.
Jaypaw recognized a scent. “Squirrel!”
Cinderpaw’s footsteps grew quicker.
“She’s following it,” Lionpaw mewed.
“I can see her!” Hollypaw whispered. “She’s definitely stalking it. She’s keeping lower than a snake.”
“Has the squirrel seen her?” Jaypaw asked.
“It’s fleeing,” Lionpaw answered. “But it’s still on the ground. I think it knows something’s up, but it’s not climbing yet.”
“It’s trying to escape,” Hollypaw hissed to Jaypaw. “Cinderpaw’s going to have to make her move soon.”
“It’s running along a fallen tree,” Lionpaw mewed, “heading for an oak. Cinderpaw’s got to attack now or she’ll lose it.”
“There she goes!” Hollypaw mewed triumphantly80. “What a leap—” Her voice broke off.
“What’s the matter?” Jaypaw felt a flash of alarm. Through the bushes, he heard a scraping sound, followed by a dull thud.
“She mistimed the jump!” Lionpaw gasped.
“She’s crashed on top of the fallen tree!” Hollypaw yelped81
The air was suddenly thick with pain.
“She’s hurt!” Hollypaw screeched82. But Jaypaw was already racing83 for Cinderpaw, praying nothing would trip him up.
Hollypaw pelted84 past him and leaped up to her friend, who was helpless and moaning with pain on the trunk. Jaypaw clawed his way up the trunk, the rotting bark splintering beneath his paws. Panting, he crouched85 beside Cinderpaw.
Cloudtail exploded from the bushes. “Is she hurt?”
Waves of agony flooded from Cinderpaw’s injured leg. Jaypaw pressed his cheek to it. It was swelling86 already, hot and trembling. “It’s her bad leg!” he called.
Cinderpaw’s breathing was sharp and shallow. “It just buckled87 as I jumped,” she croaked88.
Cloudtail scrabbled onto the trunk, pushing Hollypaw to one side. “I knew she wasn’t ready!”
“We need to get her back to camp,” Jaypaw told him. “Hollypaw, you go on ahead and warn Leafpool.”
Hollypaw hesitated, not wanting to leave her friend.
“Go on!” Jaypaw ordered.
Hollypaw scrambled away, the undergrowth rustling as she disappeared into the forest.
“It’s okay, Cinderpaw,” Cloudtail soothed89. “We’ll get you home.” He called to Lionpaw, who was still on the forest floor. “I’m going to hold her by her scruff and jump down. I need you to make sure her injured leg doesn’t hit anything, or touch the ground. Do you think you can do that?”
“Yes.”
Cinderpaw moaned as Cloudtail lifted her carefully by the loose fur at the back of her neck.
Lionpaw’s hind39 paws stumped90 heavily on the forest floor as he reached up to help. Jaypaw leaped down beside him, his pelt brushing Cinderpaw’s as she dangled91 in midair. Carefully, Cloudtail slid down from the tree. Cinderpaw wailed92 as they landed and Cloudtail laid her on the ground.
Jaypaw pressed his cheek to her trembling flank. Her heart was steady and strong. “Can you walk on three legs?”
“I think so,” she groaned93.
“We’ll help you,” Lionpaw promised.
Fur scraped the leafy floor as Cinderpaw dragged herself onto three paws. Jaypaw scuttled94 out of the way to let Lionpaw and Cloudtail press against either side of her. Slowly, the injured apprentice limped forward, her paws thudding unevenly95 on the ground.
Every step stabbed Jaypaw like a thorn. “Can’t you carry her?” He bristled with frustration96. “Leafpool needs to check her over.” What if she goes into shock?
“Steady, there.” Cloudtail wouldn’t let him hurry them. “We could damage her leg more.”
At last they reached the thorn barrier and made the final snail-slow steps through the tunnel.
Hollypaw was waiting for them inside, her pelt bristling97 with worry. “She’s walking!”
“Not exactly,” Cinderpaw grunted98.
“How bad is it?” Graystripe called across the clearing.
Daisy was at the nursery entrance. “Is it broken again?”
“We don’t know yet.” Jaypaw circled his patient anxiously as Lionpaw and Cloudtail helped her to hobble across the clearing. Hollypaw held the brambles to one side as they reached Leafpool’s den.
“Lie down here,” Leafpool told Cinderpaw as soon as they entered. From the smell of it she had already prepared a bed of fresh moss in a quiet corner of the cave.
Cinderpaw grunted with pain as her fur brushed the moss.
“Outside, please.” Leafpool shooed Hollypaw and Lionpaw away.
Hollypaw objected. “But I want to stay with Cinderpaw!”
“You can visit her later.” Leafpool was adamant99. The two apprentices were bundled out of the entrance. “What happened?” Leafpool’s mew was brittle100 as she turned to Cloudtail.
The warrior began to explain. “She was jumping over a fallen tree—”
Cinderpaw butted101 in. “My stupid leg gave way! And now I’ve failed my assessment!”
“It doesn’t matter,” Cloudtail tried to reassure102 her, but Cinderpaw was pulsing with anger.
“Of course it matters!” she snapped. “I don’t want Honeypaw and Poppypaw to move to the warriors’ den without me. I wanted to sit the warriors’ vigil with them, not on my own!”
“I know you’re upset,” Leafpool soothed. “Let’s just see if we can make you more comfortable.” Her mew was calm, but Jaypaw could sense distress103 crackling beneath her pelt as she began to run her pads over Cinderpaw’s leg. “Nothing broken,” she mewed. “It’s not as bad as before.”
“Feels like it’s worse,” Cinderpaw grumbled.
“You’ve just wrenched104 the muscles,” Leafpool assured her. “They’ll heal with rest.”
“But why did it give way?”
Leafpool didn’t answer but spoke105 instead to Cloudtail. “Leave her to me,” she mewed softly. “I’ll let you know how she is as soon as I’ve finished treating her.”
Jaypaw ducked out of the way to let Cloudtail pass as the warrior padded out of the den. He wondered whether he should offer to help, but Leafpool seemed so caught up in Cinderpaw’s injury that he remained quiet, crouching106 near the entrance, ready if she needed him.
“Why did it give way?” Cinderpaw repeated her question more fiercely. “Didn’t it heal properly last time? Will it always be weak? What if I can never be a warrior?”
Jaypaw felt Leafpool’s rush of panic like a hot wind flattening107 his pelt.
“You’ll be fine,” Leafpool soothed. “I’ve made a poultice.” She padded to the back of the den. Jaypaw smelled the tang of nettle108 and comfrey in the ointment7 she brought back and began smoothing over Cinderpaw’s leg. “Take these poppy seeds,” Leafpool advised. “They’ll help you to rest.”
Jaypaw listened as Cinderpaw’s breathing slowed and deepened. Leafpool sat motionless beside her, and only when Cinderpaw finally drifted into sleep did she turn away.
Surprise pricked from her when she saw Jaypaw. “Are you still here?”
Jaypaw sat up, stiff from crouching so long. “I wouldn’t leave while we had a patient.”
“I thought you’d gone out with the others,” Leafpool murmured absently.
“You shouldn’t have told Cloudtail she was ready for her assessment.”
“That’s not for you to judge.” Leafpool’s voice quavered.
“You didn’t even watch a training session to make sure she was fully63 fit.”
“You don’t understand!”
“I do,” Jaypaw answered quietly. He nodded toward the cave entrance, beckoning109 Leafpool outside. She followed him to the bramble patch. No one would overhear them there.
Jaypaw took a deep breath. “I know that you want Cinderpaw to become a warrior as soon as possible. You don’t want her to suffer the same fate as Cinderpelt.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Leafpool demanded. “Not being able to become a warrior broke Cinderpelt’s heart.”
There are worse fates.“You’re obsessed110 with the past,” Jaypaw warned her. “You want to make sure everything turns out the way you think it should.”
“I just want to do what’s right.”
“You can’t always do the right thing. No matter how much you want to.”
“I know.” Grief pulsed from his mentor, sharper and deeper than Jaypaw expected. “But I’ll always try.”
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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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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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ointment
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| n.药膏，油膏，软膏 | |
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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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notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
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drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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grassland
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| n.牧场，草地，草原 | |
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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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14
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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15
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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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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17
assessment
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| n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额 | |
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18
hogging
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| n.弯[翘]曲，挠度，扭曲；拱曲 | |
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19
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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20
squeaked
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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21
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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22
ruffling
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| 弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱 | |
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23
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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24
shingle
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| n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短 | |
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ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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26
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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27
furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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28
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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29
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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30
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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31
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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32
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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33
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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34
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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35
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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36
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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37
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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38
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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39
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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40
crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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41
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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42
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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43
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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44
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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45
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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46
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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47
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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48
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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49
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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50
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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51
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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52
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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53
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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54
agitatedly
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| 动摇，兴奋； 勃然 | |
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55
dozy
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| adj.困倦的；愚笨的 | |
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56
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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57
begrudge
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| vt.吝啬，羡慕 | |
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58
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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59
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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60
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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61
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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62
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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63
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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64
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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65
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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66
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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67
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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68
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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69
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
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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71
barbs
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| n.（箭头、鱼钩等的）倒钩( barb的名词复数 )；带刺的话；毕露的锋芒；钩状毛 | |
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72
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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73
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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74
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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75
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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76
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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77
scuffed
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| v.使磨损( scuff的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚走 | |
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78
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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79
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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80
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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81
yelped
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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83
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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84
pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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85
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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87
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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88
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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89
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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90
stumped
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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91
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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92
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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94
scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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95
unevenly
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| adv.不均匀的 | |
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96
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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97
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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98
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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99
adamant
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| adj.坚硬的，固执的 | |
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100
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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101
butted
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| 对接的 | |
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102
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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103
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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104
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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105
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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106
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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107
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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108
nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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109
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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110
obsessed
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| adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
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