CHAPTER16

CHAPTER16
Jaypaw pressed his nose to Sorreltail’spaw. Leafpool had swathed it in damp comfrey leaves, and it seemed cooler already. “How does it feel?”
Sorreltail lifted it. “Much better.” She glanced toward the barrier. “I should get back to the fighting.”
“No.” Leafpool was cleaning up Mousewhisker’s eye beside them, soaking away the blood with wet moss¹. “ShadowClan are helping³ us now and, by the sound of it, there are going to be enough injuries to treat without you getting another.”
“But the fighting’s getting closer,” Sorreltail argued.
Leafpool shook water from the moss. “In that case we might need you here.”
Although the camp felt empty, the forest rang with the chilling sounds of battle. Jaypaw pricked⁴ his ears to listen more closely. Firestar’s patrol was fighting WindClan just above the hollow. Had they really been driven back that far?
“Shouldn’t we take the injured cats into the den⁵?” he prompted. Spiderleg was already resting there, calmed by poppy seeds, his bleeding stanched⁶ by cobwebs. “It’ll be safer.”
If the camp is overrun.
“The light’s better out here now that the sun’s up,” Leafpool meowed. “Besides, I think theylike to see us.”
He knew she meant Daisy and the kits⁷. Millie was organizing them on Highledge.
“Now, who can remember what we do if strangers come into the camp?” Millie prompted.
“Take Millie’s kits to the back of Firestar’s cave,” Rosekit squeaked⁸.
“Then what?” Millie was drilling them carefully.
“We stay with them inside in case strangers come in,” Toadkit mewed.
“Where will I be?”
“Just outside the cave, keeping guard with Daisy,” Rosekit mewed.
Mousefur’s pelt⁹ brushed the rock beside Millie. “Longtail and I will be defending the top of the rocks, to stop any cat from getting onto Highledge.”
“And I’ll be at the bottom!” Brightheart called up from the clearing.
Graystripe and Whitewing were still on guard outside the thorn tunnel. Icepaw had come inside the camp to practice battle moves with Cinderpaw and Ferncloud.
“You will be careful of your leg, won’t you?” Leafpool warned Cinderpaw. “No heroics.”
“No heroics,” Cinderpaw promised. “But if we’re invaded, I’m not hiding inside the medicine den!”
Fear flashed from Leafpool’s pelt. “We won’t be invaded, I’m sure.”
Would the ThunderClan patrols really be able to hold WindClan and RiverClan at bay?
“Don’t forget ShadowClan are helping us now!” Mousewhisker meowed. “I was fighting beside one of their apprentices¹⁰ when Tawnypelt dragged me away. They’re pretty good fighters. We were about to overpower a WindClan warrior¹¹.” His tail swished over the ground.
“Sit still,” Leafpool chided.
Mousewhisker was obviously itching¹² to get back into battle. Didn’t he understand how serious this was? All four Clans¹³ fighting. No warning from StarClan. No clear reason for the battle.
Jaypaw headed for the medicine cats’ den to soak more leaves for Sorreltail’s dressing¹⁴, but as he neared the entrance, the air grew chilly¹⁵ around him. His fur fluffed, prickling along his spine¹⁶.
“Why is it getting dark?” Rosekit’s mew echoed around the hollow from above his head.
Was a storm coming?
Graystripe and Whitewing were hurrying through the tunnel.
“What’s happening?” Graystripe called.
“Why’s the camp getting dark?” Daisy’s mew trembled. “The sky’s still light.”
“The sun’s disappearing!” Brightheart’s terrified wail¹⁷ made Jaypaw stiffen¹⁸. This couldn’t just be a cloud passing over the sun. The birds in the forest had fallen silent. Even the fighting had stopped. What was going on?
He darted¹⁹ back to Leafpool. “What does she mean?”
“Something’s swallowing the sun!” Leafpool whispered.
Millie’s kits started mewling, their cries muffled²⁰ as their mother gathered them to her.
Leafpool pressed against Jaypaw. “We have to stay calm.” Her body was shaking but her mew was steady. “It’s probably a message from StarClan. It will pass.”
“What message?” Ferncloud demanded.
Graystripe leaned closer. “Are they trying to stop us from fighting?”
“I-I don’t know,” Leafpool stammered²¹. “They’ve never hidden the sun, only the moon.”
Why send a message now?They hadn’t given any warning before.
Jaypaw’s blood turned to ice.
This was nothing to do with StarClan. It was Solwho had warned them about this. Solwho had told them a darkness was coming, a darkness that was beyond the control of StarClan, beyond even their powers of sight. Sol had tried to warn them that the sun would disappear, but they hadn’t listened to him.
Wailing²² swept down toward the camp, and paws thundered near the barrier.
Were they being attacked?
Graystripe’s claws sprayed earth as he dashed to the camp entrance. Brightheart hurtled after him.
Jaypaw held his breath as the thorn barrier rattled²³ and cats exploded into the clearing.
ThunderClan.
Jaypaw smelled the raw fear-scent of his Clanmates returning from battle, along with the stench of blood. Wounded cats, too scared to worry about their injuries.
“Why is this happening?”
“Where’s the sun gone?”
“Has StarClan abandoned us?”
Terror pulsed from every pelt.
“Can we hide in the nursery?” Icepaw begged Ferncloud.
Lionpaw tore through the thorn tunnel and skidded²⁴ to a halt beside Jaypaw. Hollypaw was at his heels.
Jaypaw sniffed²⁵ them quickly, relieved to find they weren’t badly wounded. “Has the sun really gone out?”
“Yes.” Lionpaw kneaded the ground.
“Is it dark like nighttime?”
“More like dusk.” Hollypaw weaved around him, her fur bristling²⁶.
“But the sun’s really gone?”
Lionpaw brushed his tail against Jaypaw’s shoulder. “There’s a thin circle of flame in the sky, where it used to be. But the rest of the sun has been covered up.”
Why can’t I see?
“Is everyone safe?” Firestar demanded.
“As safe as any cat,” Graystripe growled²⁷. “Where are the other Clans?”
“Fled back to their territories,” Brambleclaw called from the barrier.
Whimpers and yowls rippled²⁸ through the Clan².
“Ferncloud!” Icepaw mewled. “Where are you? I can hardly see!”
“Everybody keep calm!” Firestar ordered. “I don’t know what’s happening. But we are warriors²⁹, and we must face it with courage.”
Slowly the Clan began to quiet.
He padded toward Leafpool. “Can you tell us what is happening?”
Will she mention Sol’s warning?
“StarClan hasn’t spoken to me directly,” she mewed.
Jaypaw flexed³⁰ his claws. Because they didn’t know….
“This must be an omen,” Leafpool continued. “To stop the battle.”
“But the battle wasn’t our fault!” Hazeltail wailed³¹.
“WindClan started it,” hissed³² Whitewing.
“Why do wehave to suffer?” Ferncloud yowled.
Leafpool’s tail stirred the air. “But it hasended the battle. That must be what StarClan intended.”
“Are we going to live in darkness from now on?” Thornclaw sounded more outraged³³ than scared.
“Wait!” Leafpool called. “It’s getting lighter³⁴. The sun’s coming back!”

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 pricked   

刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。

5 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。

6 stanched   

v.使（伤口）止血( stanch的过去式 )；止（血）；使不漏；使不流失

参考例句：

• Sophia stanched the blood with a cloth. 索菲亚用一布块止住了血。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Results 26 patients were all stanched by the way above-mentioned. 结果26例患者经上述治疗后全部止血。 来自互联网

7 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。

8 squeaked   

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

参考例句：

• The radio squeaked five. 收音机里嘟嘟地发出五点钟报时讯号。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Amy's shoes squeaked on the tiles as she walked down the corridor. 埃米走过走廊时，鞋子踩在地砖上嘎吱作响。 来自辞典例句

9 pelt   

v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火

参考例句：

• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
• Crowds started to pelt police cars with stones.人群开始向警车扔石块。

10 apprentices   

学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were mere apprentices to piracy. 他们干海盗仅仅是嫩角儿。
• He has two good apprentices working with him. 他身边有两个好徒弟。

11 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

12 itching   

adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The itching was almost more than he could stand. 他痒得几乎忍不住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My nose is itching. 我的鼻子发痒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 clans   

宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派

参考例句：

• There are many clans in European countries. 欧洲国家有很多党派。
• The women were the great power among the clans [gentes], as everywhere else. 妇女在克兰〈氏族〉里，乃至一般在任何地方，都有很大的势力。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

14 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

15 chilly   

adj.凉快的，寒冷的

参考例句：

• I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
• I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

16 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

17 wail   

vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸

参考例句：

• Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里，一位老太太伤心地哭起来。
• One of the small children began to wail with terror.小孩中的一个吓得大哭起来。

18 stiffen   

v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬

参考例句：

• The blood supply to the skin is reduced when muscles stiffen.当肌肉变得僵硬时，皮肤的供血量就减少了。
• I was breathing hard,and my legs were beginning to stiffen.这时我却气吁喘喘地开始感到脚有点僵硬。

19 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 muffled   

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）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

22 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

23 rattled   

慌乱的，恼火的

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里，窗户都格格作响。

24 skidded   

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

参考例句：

• The car skidded and hit a lamp post. 那辆汽车打滑撞上了路灯杆。
• The car skidded and overturned. 汽车打滑翻倒了。

25 sniffed   

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

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 bristling   

a.竖立的

参考例句：

• "Don't you question Miz Wilkes' word,'said Archie, his beard bristling. "威尔克斯太太的话，你就不必怀疑了。 "阿尔奇说。他的胡子也翘了起来。
• You were bristling just now. 你刚才在发毛。

27 growled   

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

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

28 rippled   

使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The lake rippled gently. 湖面轻轻地泛起涟漪。
• The wind rippled the surface of the cornfield. 微风吹过麦田，泛起一片麦浪。

29 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

30 flexed   

adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌

参考例句：

• He stretched and flexed his knees to relax himself. 他伸屈膝关节使自己放松一下。 来自辞典例句
• He flexed his long stringy muscles manfully. 他孔武有力地弯起膀子，显露出细长条的肌肉。 来自辞典例句

31 wailed   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句

32 hissed   

发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对

参考例句：

• Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过？
• The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。

33 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

34 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。