CHAPTER7
Jayfeather stood in the clearing afterthe Sol patrol had left, sniffing1 the tang of snow on the dawn wind. He could hear rustling2 as several cats pushed their way through the branches of the warriors4’ den5. There was a strange sense of tension among his Clanmates.
“Dawn patrol.” Graystripe’s voice came from close by Jayfeather. “Sandstorm, you can lead. Take Foxpaw and Squirrelflight with you. And take care along the WindClan border.”
“Do I have to go with them?” Jayfeather heard the dismayed voice of Foxpaw. “I don’t like WindClan.”
“Shh.” Ferncloud sounded shocked. “You know there’s nothing to be frightened of anymore.”
Jayfeather winced7; it sounded as if most of the Clan6 believed that Sol was the murderer, and there was nothing more to worry about. But they’re wrong! They’re completely wrong!
“Foxpaw, you’re my apprentice8,” Squirrelflight meowed with an edge of annoyance9 in her voice. “Of course you come with me. Or if you’d rather, you can go and search the elders for ticks.”
“Uh…no, I guess I’ll come.”
“You’ll be fine,” Firestar assured the apprentice; Jayfeather hadn’t heard him come down from the Highledge. “Who have we got for hunting patrols, Graystripe?”
“I thought I’d lead one,” the gray warrior3 meowed. “I’ll take Sorreltail and Mousewhisker.” In a lower voice he added to Firestar, “If you or I do the border patrols, every cat will think there’s something to be scared of.”
“Good thinking,” Firestar agreed.
“Dustpelt, will you lead another hunting patrol,” Graystripe went on more loudly. “Cloudtail and Brightheart can go with you. Try the ShadowClan border, but remember what Brambleclaw said about being careful not to cross it.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, thanks,” Dustpelt snapped, irritation11 sparking from him.
“Should we take Icepaw?” Brightheart asked. “She doesn’t get out much, now that Whitewing is in the nursery.”
“Sure,” Graystripe meowed. “Icepaw! Stop batting that bark around and come over here.”
Jayfeather heard the scampering12 of paws and excited mews as the other apprentice bounded up. “You’re going hunting with Dustpelt, Cloudtail, and Brightheart,” Graystripe told them. “We’re counting on you to bring back a lot of fresh-kill.”
“I’m sure you will,” Firestar assured her. “You’re doing so well.”
Jayfeather could feel the apprentice’s happy pride as she padded over to join the senior warriors.
“It won’t be long before we’ll be holding another warrior ceremony,” Firestar remarked to Graystripe.
Although his words sounded cheerful, Jayfeather picked up the doubt buzzing beneath them. He knew that his Clan leader’s thoughts were with the patrol of Clanmates who were heading off to find Sol.
Did Sol really kill Ashfur? Was I right to send so many warriors to look for him? Will my Clan be vulnerable without them?Jayfeather could hear his leader’s thoughts as clearly as if Firestar had spoken them aloud. To his surprise, he realized that Firestar still felt weak after the attack of greencough that had taken one of his nine lives. Lurking14 in his mind was the fear that the sickness would return.
And maybe he’s right,Jayfeather thought. He could hear Spiderleg wheezing15 over by the nursery, as his kits16 tumbled all over him.
“That’s right,” their mother, Daisy, meowed. “You can practice your fighting moves with your father. Spiderleg, can’t you be a scarier badger17 than that?”
“Badgers…don’t”—Spiderleg was finding it hard to catch his breath—“get…greencough,” he finished painfully.
Nearby Millie was grooming18 her three kits, breaking off every now and then to cough. “Don’t stay out if it gets too cold,” Graystripe warned her, bounding over to her side. “And you three kits—don’t play too rough with your mother.”
Jayfeather heard Blossomkit’s high-pitched mew. “We won’t.”
“Right, the patrols can go now,” Graystripe announced as he returned. “Keep a good lookout19, and report anything you see that’s at all strange.”
The stone hollow was quiet after all the patrols had left; the remaining warriors returned to their den to get out of the cold. Daisy and Millie rounded up the kits.
“It’s time for some exercise,” Daisy meowed. “Running around will keep you warm. Who can fetch me a twig20 from the thorn barrier and get back here first?”
“I can!” all the kits yowled together, and they pelted21 across the clearing. Jayfeather jumped back to avoid being knocked over and retreated into his den.
As soon as he set paw behind the bramble screen, the dust from churned-up moss22 and bracken hit him in the nose. “What’s going on?” he asked, stifling23 a sneeze.
“I’m changing the bedding,” Leafpool explained. “Can you come over here and roll up this moss, please?”
Jayfeather padded over, his paws sinking into the heaps of moss and bracken that Leafpool had already clawed together. “I think it’s going to snow,” he pointed24 out. “All the fresh stuff will be soaked with it.”
“We can squeeze the water out,” Leafpool replied. “This old bedding is disgusting. How can we ask sick cats to sleep in it?”
I’d rather sleep in it,Jayfeather thought, than go outside to get freezing cold and wet.
He was starting to push the piles together, half burying himself in dried fronds25 of fern and clumps26 of moss, when he heard a cat brush past the brambles. He picked up Firestar’s scent28 above the dusty smell of the bedding.
“How are you, Leafpool?” Firestar meowed.
“Fine, thanks.” Leafpool’s tone was brisk, and she didn’t stop raking out the remains29 of the bedding.
“There’s something I want to ask you….” Firestar’s voice trailed off, and Jayfeather picked up strong waves of anxiety coming from him. He crouched30 among the ferns, trying not to sneeze again and hoping that whatever Firestar had to say didn’t need to be said in private.
“Well?” Leafpool prompted.
“It’s just—” Firestar broke off again.
Spit it out!Jayfeather urged him silently.
“I know it’s not my place to tell a medicine cat how to speak with StarClan,” Firestar meowed, sounding more awkward with every word. “But I wondered…have you thought of finding Ashfur in StarClan and asking him who killed him?”
What?Jayfeather nearly choked on a piece of moss.
For a long moment Leafpool was silent; when she spoke13 at last, her voice was as icy as leaf-bare snow. “It’s not my choice whom I meet in StarClan. Our ancestors approach me; I cannot search them out. If Ashfur comes to me and wishes to talk, then I will listen.”
It wasn’t only shock and anger she felt as she answered Firestar, Jayfeather realized. There was something else behind that: Could it be…fear?
“I’m sorry,” Firestar apologized. “I didn’t think…”
“I’ll do all I can, I promise,” Leafpool added more gently. “I want to know who killed Ashfur as much as you do.”
So why am I finding it hard to believe her?Jayfeather asked himself.
Later that day, after Jayfeather had cleared out all the old bedding and delivered tansy to the cats still suffering from the after-effects of greencough, he padded over to the fresh-kill pile and chose a vole. A thick flurry of snow had swept across the clearing earlier, but now a weak ray of sunlight warmed his fur.
While he was eating, he scented31 Leafpool emerging from the elders’ den with Mousefur and Longtail padding behind her.
“Jayfeather?” Leafpool called to him. “When you’ve finished there I want you to go out for a stroll with Mousefur and Longtail. It’ll be the first time they’ve been out of the camp since the greencough.”
Jayfeather gulped32 down a mouthful of vole. “Okay.”
“We’re not kits, you know,” Mousefur grumbled33. “We can be trusted to get to the lake and back without some cat guiding our paws.”
“I know,” Leafpool replied patiently. “But I want Jayfeather to look for herbs. We’re getting very low on tansy. We could do with chervil and yarrow, too. There might still be something growing under the trees near the lake.”
Mousefur’s only response was an exaggerated sigh; Jayfeather pictured the skinny brown elder rolling her eyes.
Leafpool padded up to Jayfeather, close enough to brush his pelt10. “I want you to take special care of Mousefur,” she whispered. “Make sure she doesn’t go too far, and check her breathing.” More loudly she added, “Mousefur, maybe you and Longtail could help Jayfeather carry back any herbs he finds.”
“I think we might just about manage that,” Mousefur growled35
Jayfeather swallowed the last of his vole and led the way across the clearing and through the thorn tunnel. Mousefur followed him, guiding Longtail. The forest seemed very quiet now that most of the leaves had fallen from the trees. Jayfeather had to push his way through mounds36 of dead leaves on the ground and keep alert to avoid drifts of snow that still remained under the trees. The air tingled37 with frost.
The scent of water led him toward the lake. He kept one ear pricked38 for Mousefur and Longtail, who padded beside him, and sensed before Mousefur the branch that had fallen across their path.
“This way,” he mewed to Longtail, laying his tail over the blind tabby’s shoulders to guide him around the obstacle. “It’s okay, you won’t get your paws tangled39.”
“I think you see better than any of us.” Mousefur didn’t sound as grouchy40 as usual; she almost seemed impressed.
I wish I did,Jayfeather thought. Right now I can’t see far enough.He wanted to know what had happened to the prophecy, and whether Rock knew anything about the secret Squirrelflight had revealed. Most of all, he wanted to know who his real parents were.
The trees thinned out and cold wind hit Jayfeather in the face as the three cats neared the lake.
“You go off and do whatever you have to,” Mousefur meowed. “Longtail and I are going to find a nice patch of sun to snooze in.”
“Yes, there should be plenty of herbs—”
“Look,” the skinny brown elder interrupted, “I know Leafpool only sent you along with us to be sure we made it to the lake without keeling over. You’ll be lucky to find enough herbs to fill your own mouth this far into leaf-bare!”
“It’s not like that,” Jayfeather protested.
“Go on, we’ll be fine,” Longtail insisted.
“And if youneed ourhelp, just call,” Mousefur added. “I might be a bit unsteady on my feet, but there’s nothing wrong with my ears.”
“Fine.” Relieved to be free of his duty, Jayfeather pelted along the lakeshore until he reached the twisted tree roots where he had hidden the stick. The cold wind from the lake blew his fur the wrong way as he tugged41 it out and dragged it under an elder bush. Then he lay down with his paws resting on the scratches.
Come on, Rock. I need to talk to you.
Alarm trickled42 down his spine43 as he realized he might find himself back with the Ancient Clan. Something inside him was drawing him back—desire to see the friends he had made there, curiosity about how they had coped on the journey to the mountains—but he had to fight against it. He knew that the Ancient Clan sharpclaws couldn’t help him now.
Jayfeather concentrated as hard as he could, trying to picture the underground cave where Rock waited, but he could still feel grass under his belly44 and a twig tickling45 his ear.
“There’s no need for that,” a voice behind him rumbled34. “The stick isn’t the answer to everything.”
Jayfeather’s eyes flew open, and he realized that he could see. He was still under the elder bush; turning, he saw Rock standing46 behind him, almost transparent47 against the grass and trees. Rock crept under the bush to join Jayfeather, his hairless body smelling of stone and the endless dark of the tunnels.
Jayfeather suppressed a shiver. “Did you know all along that Squirrelflight was lying to us?” he demanded.
Rock’s bulging48, sightless eyes turned toward him. “The answers lie within your own Clan,” he replied, “if you can find them.”
“That’s no answer,” Jayfeather mewed irritably49. “I need your help!”
“I cannot give the kind of help you want,” Rock warned him.
“Then what about the prophecy? If we’re not Firestar’s kin—”
“Make your own future, Jayfeather,” the spirit-cat interrupted. “Don’t expect it to be dropped at your paws like a piece of fresh-kill.”
Every hair on Jayfeather’s pelt prickled with annoyance. How was he supposed to make his own future if no cat would tellhim anything? He dug his claws into the earth.
“Jayfeather!” Mousefur’s voice came from the edge of the lake. “Jayfeather!”
Darkness slammed down over Jayfeather’s vision. The scent of Rock vanished.
“Jayfeather, where are you?”
He crawled out from under the elder bush, kicking dead leaves and debris50 over the stick. He would have to come back later and hide it properly.
“What are you doing under there?” Mousefur asked, padding up to him. “We’re ready to go back now. We wondered if you have any herbs for us to carry.”
“Er…no, I haven’t found any,” Jayfeather stammered51.
Mousefur sighed. “Maybe you’re not looking in the right place. Last I heard, herbs don’t grow well under elder bushes. There’s a huge clump27 of tansy just behind you,” she added.
Jayfeather’s pelt grew hot with embarrassment52. He should have taken time to grab a few herbs before he tried to speak with Rock. He had been so intent on finding the spirit-cat that he hadn’t even noticed the sharp scent of the tansy.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
He was aware of Mousefur’s irritation as he and the skinny elder picked the herbs together. There wasn’t enough for Jayfeather to need help carrying it, and he scented no other herbs as all three cats headed back toward the camp.
“Is that all?” Leafpool asked; she was waiting outside the den when Jayfeather arrived with the tansy. “What about the yarrow and chervil I asked for?”
“I couldn’t find any,” Jayfeather mumbled53 around the bunch of stems.
Leafpool snorted. “Didn’t look, more likely. Jayfeather, I didn’t send you out there to waste time. You have to do what you’re supposed to!” Her voice deepened to a snarl54. “If every cat did that, there wouldn’t be any problems.”
Who put ants in her fur?Jayfeather wondered. It wasn’t like Leafpool to be so short-tempered. For once he didn’t want to argue with her, so he just headed for the den to put the tansy away.
Leafpool brushed past him. “Leave that! I’ll do it.” She almost snatched the herbs out of his jaws55; fury rolled off her as she carried them into the cave.
Jayfeather backed out of the den and padded across to the fresh-kill pile. But he had eaten earlier, and even a freshly caught mouse couldn’t tempt56 him. There were pangs57 in his belly sharper than hunger: Already he missed Lionblaze and Hollyleaf more than he would have thought possible. They had never been separated for this long before.
In the dream Midnight had said that the patrol was chasing wild geese and Rock had told him that the answers lay inside ThunderClan itself. But Jayfeather didn’t know how he was going to find them on his own. What kind of power was it, to walk in other cats’ dreams, when you woke up still blind? There was no way he was going to find out anything when he was trapped in darkness at every step.
收听单词发音 |
1
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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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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wheezing
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| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
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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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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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grooming
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| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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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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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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fronds
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| n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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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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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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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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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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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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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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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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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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mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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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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grouchy
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| adj.好抱怨的；愠怒的 | |
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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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42
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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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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tickling
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| 反馈，回授，自旋挠痒法 | |
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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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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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48
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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51
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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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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53
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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