CHAPTER9
Jayfeather woke when a cold breezeruffled his fur. “We need more bedding in here,” he grumbled1 to himself as he scrambled2 out of his bare nest. “It’s as drafty as sleeping on top of the ridge3 in WindClan territory!”
He lifted his head to sniff5 the scents6 of early morning. There was a strong tang of herbs in the air; as Jayfeather bent8 his head to give his pelt9 a quick grooming10, he located Leafpool in front of the storage cave. She was making up leaf wraps of tansy, and beside her there was a fresh mixture of juniper berries and daisy leaves to ease the pain of Mousefur’s aching joints11.
“Should I take those for you?” Jayfeather offered, padding up behind his mentor12.
Leafpool jumped. “Don’t creep up on me like that! You frightened me out of my fur.” She carefully patted the herbs together, then added, “No, I can manage. I want you to go over to the nursery and check every cat there, and the bedding, for fleas14. I spotted15 Briarkit scratching yesterday.”
Jayfeather turned away, resentment17 seething18 beneath his skin. “Am I a medicine cat or an apprentice19?” he muttered, loud enough for Leafpool to hear, but the she-cat did not respond.
He called a greeting as he pushed through the brambles into the nursery, and then he started to check for fleas.
“Oh, thank you, Jayfeather,” Millie meowed. “I’m sure I’ve a couple in my pelt somewhere. It’ll be such a relief to get rid of them.”
“You need a change of bedding,” Jayfeather told her, tracking down a flea13 in Briarkit’s neck fur and spearing it with a claw. “I’ll get Foxpaw and Icepaw to deal with it.” Unless Leafpool expects me to do that as well,he added grumpily to himself.
“Right, you’re done,” he told Briarkit. “Blossomkit, I’ll—”
He broke off with a startled yelp20 as claws stabbed into his tail. Wrenching21 it free, he spun22 around and picked up the scent7 of Toadkit.
“I pretended your tail was a mouse,” the little tom told him proudly. “I caught it, too!”
Jayfeather bared his teeth. “Just keep your claws to yourself!”
“There’s no need for that,” Daisy protested. “He was only playing.”
Jayfeather bit back a sharp retort and went to check Blossomkit and Bumblekit for fleas. Toadkit wriggled23 away from Daisy and bounced up to him, interest sparking from him as Jayfeather parted Blossomkit’s pelt.
“Can you eat fleas?” he mewed. “Do they taste yucky?”
“Why don’t you try one and find out?” Jayfeather suggested
“You be a flea and I’ll eat you!” Blossomkit squeaked24, pulling away from Jayfeather and leaping on top of Toadkit. Jayfeather staggered as the two wrestling kits25 piled into him.
“Stop that!” he snarled26. “Blossomkit, do you want your fleas fixed27 or don’t you?”
The little tortoiseshell kit16 instantly broke away from the play fight and stood quietly in front of Jayfeather again. Toadkit pushed up close to them; Jayfeather could feel the kit’s breath on his ear.
“Do you like being a medicine cat?” Toadkit asked. “I wouldn’t want to do it if you only get to look for fleas.”
StarClan, give me patience!“That’s not all medicine cats do,” Jayfeather replied through clenched28 teeth. “We have to know about herbs and—”
“Do you think I’d be a good medicine cat?” Toadkit persisted. “I’d be good at finding herbs. I can scent out anything. Can I be a medicine cat? Can I?”
“You’ll be lucky to make warrior29 if you don’t shut up,” Jayfeather muttered.
“Daisy!” Toadkit let out a wail30 as he scampered31 away through the bracken that covered the floor of the nursery. “Daisy, Jayfeather was mean to me!”
“Honestly, Jayfeather!” Daisy’s irritated voice came from the other side of the den32. “I think you’ve got ants in your fur this morning. You should go away and come back later when you can be more pleasant.”
Jayfeather ignored her, and went on searching for fleas in gloomy silence. He wanted Hollyleaf and Lionblaze to come back. They belonged together—especially now, when they had no idea where they had been born, who their parents were, or why Squirrelflight had lied to them for so long.
When Jayfeather finally left the nursery, he paused for a few heartbeats, letting out a long sigh as the weak rays of the leaf-bare sun soaked into his fur. A paw step behind him and the scent of his Clan4 leader made him turn.
“Good morning, Jayfeather,” Firestar meowed. There was concern in his voice. “Are you okay? Any problems?”
“I’m fine.” Jayfeather dipped his head awkwardly. He didn’t want to tell his leader that all his problems came from his Clanmates. After all, Firestar had never lied to him, as far as he knew.
He felt a pang33 of regret that he didn’t share his Clan leader’s blood after all. His respect for the flame-colored tom had nothing to do with the prophecy, and everything to do with the way Firestar led his Clan, even losing a life to greencough for their sake.
“Good,” Firestar murmured. Jayfeather sensed that the Clan leader didn’t entirely34 believe him. “You know, you can always tell me if there’s anything bothering you.”
“Yes…fine.” Jayfeather felt even more uncomfortable. Firestar, you don’t want to know the things I could tell you!
To his relief, Firestar padded off toward the fresh-kill pile. Left alone at the edge of the hollow, Jayfeather scanned the clearing. He located Mousefur and Longtail sharing tongues outside their den, and heard the skinny brown elder complain, “Leaf-bare was never as cold as this in the old forest.”
Outside the apprentice den, Foxpaw and Icepaw were trying out a new fighting move; Jayfeather reminded himself to tell them about the nursery bedding. Cloudtail and Brightheart were padding toward the thorn tunnel. “I think we should try for prey35 near the old Twoleg nest,” Cloudtail suggested.
“Stupid furball!” Brightheart’s voice was full of affection. “We scared off all the prey when the cats with greencough stayed there.”
“There’s been time for them to come back….” Their friendly bickering36 died away as they left the camp.
In spite of the feeble warmth of the sun, cold pierced Jayfeather through and through. He had never felt so alone. Rock had told him that the answers lay with his Clanmates. But what if I don’t have Clanmates?
“Do I have to do this?” Jayfeather protested as he emerged from the trees into the mossy clearing where the apprentices38 trained. “It’s a waste of time when we have to look for herbs.”
“The herbs won’t run away,” Leafpool responded tartly39. “You know as well as I do that everycat gets basic fight training, even medicine cats.”
Jayfeather bit back another complaint. He hated learning to fight, because he knew he would never be any good at it. But there was no point in arguing with Leafpool; she always seemed to be in a bad mood these days.
“Right,” Leafpool began, leading the way into the center of the clearing. “Let’s start with some defensive40 moves. I’m going to attack you, and I want you to dodge41 to one side and get a blow in as I pass you.”
“Okay,” Jayfeather muttered. “The sooner we start, the—ow!”
While he was speaking, Leafpool leaped past him and landed a stinging blow on his ear.
“I wasn’t ready!” he yowled.
“You think a ShadowClan warrior is going to give you any warning? You have to be alert all the time, Jayfeather.”
On the last words, Leafpool sprang at him again. This time Jayfeather was more prepared; he jumped to one side and swiped at where he thought his mentor was, but his paw barely grazed her pelt.
“Better,” Leafpool admitted. “But not good enough. Let’s do it again.”
Jayfeather managed to land a blow or two, but his paws felt heavy and clumsy, and his senses weren’t as sharp as usual. Even though his mentor kept her blows light and her claws sheathed42, he began to feel battered43 and exhausted44. Finally, as he leaped aside, he lost his balance on a rough patch of ground and collapsed45, paws flailing46, without touching47 Leafpool at all.
“I’m over here, Jayfeather.” Leafpool’s voice came from the opposite side of the clearing. “Honestly, you’ve got no more fighting sense than a baby rabbit! I don’t think you’re trying at all.”
“I know what your problem is.” His mentor’s voice was cold. “You expect Lionblaze and Hollyleaf to protect you, so you can’t be bothered to learn to defend yourself.”
“That’s not true!”
“I think it is. But Lionblaze and Hollyleaf won’t always be around. They’re not around now. You need to be able to look after yourself.”
Jayfeather didn’t reply. She doesn’t understand,he thought mutinously49, as he scrambled up and tried to shake the moss37 out of his pelt. It’s not the same for her and Squirrelflight. If they were so close, she’d know Squirrelflight lied about us being her kits. Leafpool would never have let her do something like that. I wonder what she’d do if she knew what her sister was really like?
Jayfeather limped back to the medicine cats’ den through the damp scents of twilight50. His legs ached and his head throbbed51 where he had grazed it colliding with a tree. He was too exhausted to look for any herbs to treat himself. “I hope Leafpool’s happy,” he grumbled as he curled up in his nest. “I’ll probably be too stiff to do anything tomorrow.”
He closed his eyes—and then opened them a heartbeat later to find himself in deep, lush forest, with starlight dancing on the leaves. His aches and pains had vanished and a warm, scent-laden breeze soothed52 his fur. Leaf-bare in the waking forest was only a distant memory.
A narrow path wound ahead of him through arching clumps53 of fern. Jayfeather began to follow it, ears pricked54 as he glanced around for any familiar cats. He could hear rustling55 in the undergrowth on either side and he caught glimpses of furry56 pelts57, as if there were cats all around him, but none of them emerged to greet him.
“Who’s there?” he called out. “Yellowfang? Bluestar? Can any cat hear me?”
There was no reply. Becoming more frustrated58 with every paw step, Jayfeather followed the track until it reached a clearing covered with soft grass. A small pool was at the center, reflecting the stars. There were still no cats in sight.
“Where are you?” Jayfeather wailed59, stepping out into the open. “Why won’t you talk to me?”
Fronds60 of bracken dipped and rustled61 at the opposite side of the clearing, and Spottedleaf appeared. Jayfeather’s rush of relief died when he saw how warily62 she was regarding him, her tail kinked high over her back.
“Spottedleaf…?” he began uncertainly.
“We can’t give you the answers you’re seeking,” the tortoiseshell she-cat interrupted. “Go back to your Clan. That is where the truth lies.”
“But—you musttell me more than that!” Jayfeather begged. “Did StarClan know all along that Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw weren’t our parents?”
Anger flared63 in Spottedleaf’s green eyes. “When will you realize that StarClan doesn’t know everything?” she snarled, lashing64 her tail. “Sometimes we have questions, too! Sometimes we’re just cats, like you!”
Without giving Jayfeather a chance to reply, she whipped around and vanished into the ferns.
Jayfeather sprang forward to pursue her, only to feel the ground give way beneath his paws. He jolted65 awake in his own den, opening his eyes onto darkness. He stretched his jaws66 wide, longing67 to wail like a kit abandoned by its mother.
They’ve all left me: Hollyleaf and Lionblaze, all the rest of my Clanmates, and now StarClan as well. I’m completely alone
Even his belief in the prophecy, which had once seemed to promise so much, had been built on a lie.
I may as well be blind in my sleep, tooWhat am I going to do now?
收听单词发音 |
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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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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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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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grooming
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| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
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joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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flea
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| n.跳蚤 | |
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fleas
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| n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求） | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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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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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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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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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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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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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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41
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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42
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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43
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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44
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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46
flailing
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| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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48
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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49
mutinously
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| adv.反抗地，叛变地 | |
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50
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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51
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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52
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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53
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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54
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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55
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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pelts
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| n. 皮毛，投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛，（连续）投掷 vi. 猛击，大步走 | |
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58
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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wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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61
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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62
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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63
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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64
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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65
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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