CHAPTER14
Hollyleaf whirled around. Behind her, inan arched opening, a tall, well-muscled cat was outlined against the dusk. The white patches on his pelt2 shone very brightly.
“Sol!” Hazeltail’s gasp3 was amazed and terrified all at once.
She really thinks Sol is the killer4!Hollyleaf thought.
She was aware of bristling5 pelts6 and stiff limbs around her. But as soon as she looked into Sol’s glowing amber7 eyes, Hollyleaf felt herself relaxing. How could she have forgotten how wise he was, how calm and certain he was about the future? Nothing troubled him, because he already knew what to expect.
“Greetings, Sol.” Brambleclaw stepped forward. “Yes, we’re looking for you. You need to come back to ThunderClan.”
Sol looked into the eyes of each cat in turn. “Something has happened.”
Hollyleaf felt a jolt9 in her belly10, as if a stone had struck her. What does he know about Ashfur?
“We just need you to come with us,” Brambleclaw meowed. “Firestar wants to talk to you.”
Sol’s eyes narrowed. “Something has happened that you think concerns me. Something bad. You wouldn’t come all this way to thank me.” He paused thoughtfully. “A cat has died….”
Behind Hollyleaf, Birchfall caught his breath.
“No,” Sol corrected himself. “A cat has been killed. And you think I’m responsible.” The tip of his tail twitched11, but he betrayed no other emotion.
I’d be terrified if any cat accused me,Hollyleaf thought, scraping her claws against the cold stone. But Sol just surveyed the patrol calmly and waited for them to speak.
“He must be guilty!” Hazeltail whispered to Hollyleaf. “He didn’t even ask who died!”
“Sol? Is that you?” A frail12 voice broke the silence, and Purdy appeared in the entrance, dragging a scrawny rabbit behind him. He was thinner than when Hollyleaf had last seen him, and his tabby pelt looked messier than ever.
“Look what I got!” Purdy dropped the prey13 and looked up. He blinked in astonishment14 as he recognized the Clan8 cats. “If it ain’t Brambleclaw!” he exclaimed. “And Hollypaw and Lionpaw! I hope you two young ’uns are behaving yourselves.”
“Yes, we are,” Lionblaze replied, padding forward to touch noses with the old loner. “And we’re warriors16 now. Lionblaze and Hollyleaf.”
“Well, who’d have thought it?” Purdy’s eyes gleamed. “Well done, youngsters.”
For a few heartbeats, Hollyleaf felt like an apprentice17 again. She should have been insulted, that Purdy still thought of her and her brother as young cats who were always getting into mischief18. Instead she yearned19 for the days when everything had seemed so simple, and all she had to do was make herself the best warrior15 she could.
“How’s that brother o’ yours?” Purdy asked.
“He’s Jayfeather now,” Hollyleaf replied. “He’s a full medicine cat.”
Purdy shook his head again. “Who’d have thought it?” he repeated.
Brambleclaw padded forward and dipped his head to the old loner. “Greetings, Purdy. It’s good to see you again. Come and meet my other Clanmates. This is Birchfall, and this is Hazeltail and Brackenfur.”
“Good to know you,” Purdy mumbled20, looking a bit embarrassed to be among so many strangers.
“I’m sorry, Purdy.” Sol stepped forward, to stand in front of the old cat. “I have to go.”
Purdy blinked in astonishment. “What? Why?” When Sol didn’t reply, he added, “I know you’ve only been here a couple o’ days, but I reckoned we were getting on fine. This old nest don’t feel half as empty wi’ you around. And look—” He waved his tail toward the rabbit he had dragged in. “I found us some prey. It’s a bit old and scrawny, but it could make a good meal….” His voice trailed off, and he hunched21 his shoulders.
“You enjoy the rabbit, Purdy,” Sol mewed gently, his amber eyes glowing. “I think the ThunderClan cats want to leave at once.”
“What’s all the rush?” Purdy turned to Brambleclaw. “Why do you need Sol to leave with you right now? Couldn’t you all stay here a bit longer? You’d be right welcome.”
Let Sol stay here.Hollyleaf wanted to speak the words aloud. We don’t need to take him back. Purdy needs him more than we do.But she knew that was impossible.
“We’ll stay for the night,” Brambleclaw decided22. “But we’ll have to leave at dawn.”
“Fine!” Purdy’s ears perked23 up. “Have some o’ this rabbit,” he invited proudly.
“Thank you,” Brambleclaw replied, his voice gentle, “but we can catch our own to add to your fresh-kill pile.”
“I brought you a mouse,” Hollyleaf added, snatching up her prey and dropping it at Purdy’s paws.
The old tabby’s eyes shone. “That’s right kind of you.” He crouched24 down and tucked in.
The Clan cats headed for the entrance to the den25. Brackenfur glanced back at Sol, who was still standing26 in the middle of the den.
“Don’t worry,” Sol meowed. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
Brackenfur still looked uncertain; as they padded through the entrance, Brambleclaw shouldered his way toward him and murmured into his ear. “Stay on guard. But keep out of sight.”
Brackenfur gave him a relieved nod and crept underneath27 the low-growing branches of a nearby bush, where he crouched with his gaze firmly fixed28 on the den.
Darkness had fallen while the cats were inside. The harsh orange light of the Twolegplace covered the sky, blotting29 out the stars. Hollyleaf wished she could have seen the spirits of the Clan’s warrior ancestors, to know that they were still watching over her.
Once outside, she headed for the thicket30 of shiny green leaves where she had caught her mice. Hazeltail padded along beside her.
“I’m so glad we found Sol,” she murmured. “Now we can go home.”
Hollyleaf nodded. “I feel bad about taking Sol away from Purdy,” she confessed.
“But Sol is a murderer!” Hazeltail halted, her eyes wide with shock. “What if he kills Purdy, too?”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Hollyleaf replied.
“How do you know?” Hazeltail persisted. “We need to get him back to the camp fast, before he does any more damage. Firestar will know what to do with him.”
Hollyleaf shook her head helplessly. There was no way to reply to Hazeltail’s questions. Besides, if Sol didn’t come back to ThunderClan with them, what would happen in the hunt for Ashfur’s killer? Would Firestar be forced to look closer to home? Hollyleaf’s belly felt cold at the thought of accusations31 flying around her Clan.
She plunged32 into the thicket to hunt, but this time prey didn’t come so easily to her paws. In the end she had to be content with a single shrew; she padded back to Purdy’s den feeling embarrassed, but the rest of the patrol had only found thin pickings, too.
“Prey’s pretty scarce ’round here,” Purdy admitted as they crouched down to eat. “But I can find enough to feed me and Sol through leaf-bare. I ain’t never starved before!”
He must be so lonely if he’s willing to share this much prey with a stranger,Hollyleaf thought sadly, swallowing her morsel33 of shrew.
Once she had eaten, she settled down to sleep. The stone floor of the den was damp and cold, and wind whistled through the gaps in the walls. Huddling34 next to Lionblaze for warmth, Hollyleaf wished for the thick moss35 and bracken of her nest in the camp, and for the sheltering branches of the warriors’ den.
Hollyleaf slept fitfully, and woke to see the cold light of a leaf-bare dawn angling across the floor. Brambleclaw and Brackenfur were already on their paws; Hazeltail and Birchfall were stirring drowsily36, while Purdy slept in a rumpled37 heap in the opposite corner.
Sol was curled up in a sheltered niche38 where a couple of stones had fallen from one of the inner walls of the den. Brambleclaw padded over and prodded39 him awake.
“It’s time to leave,” he meowed.
Sol lifted his head, his amber eyes blinking, then rose to his paws. “If you wish.”
“He creeps me out,” a voice whispered in Hollyleaf’s ear.
Hollyleaf started and turned to see Birchfall. “Don’t sneak40 up on me like that!” she snapped, annoyed with herself because Sol was spooking her, too. “He’s just a cat.”
As she finished speaking, Sol padded past her toward the entrance to the den. “I told you I would come back,” he murmured, quietly enough that she was the only cat to hear.
Struggling to shrug41 off her feelings of uneasiness, Hollyleaf roused Lionblaze, and the sound of voices woke Purdy, who stumbled sleepily over to the remains42 of the rabbit. “You got to eat something before you go,” he meowed.
“But you need it more than we do,” Brackenfur protested.
“I can catch another,” Purdy retorted, his neck fur beginning to bristle43. “You need to keep your strength up if you’re goin’ on a long journey.”
The ThunderClan cats exchanged glances; clearly Purdy would be insulted if they refused, so they crowded around the last of the prey and forced down a few gristly scraps44. Purdy watched them, while Sol just waited in the entrance, his gaze lifted to the sky.
“Don’t go near them monsters,” Purdy instructed. “They’ll flatten45 you as soon as look at you. And there’s dogs give trouble sometimes. They know not to mess wi’ me, but youngsters like you…”
“We met the dogs, Purdy,” Hazeltail told him. “You’re right, they are dangerous. We’ll be careful.”
The old tabby tom gave his chest fur a lick, as if he was pleased to have been helpful. Every mouthful of prey felt like dust to Hollyleaf. She wished there was something they could do, so that Purdy wouldn’t be left alone.
When all the cats had finished eating, Hollyleaf said good-bye to Purdy. The old cat was still trying to stay cheerful, but Hollyleaf could see the loneliness and fear in his eyes. She touched noses with him gently. “May StarClan be with you, Purdy,” she murmured. “I hope we’ll meet again.”
“Mebbe we will.” But Hollyleaf could tell Purdy didn’t believe they would. “You take care now, you hear?”
Brambleclaw led the way to the entrance of the den. Sol rose to his paws and fell in beside the Clan deputy as the cats emerged into the garden. By this time the sun was up; the sky was the clear, pale blue of leaf-bare, and a faint breeze rustled46 the leaves on the bushes.
Halfway47 to the fence, Brambleclaw stopped and looked back at Purdy, who stood watching them from the nearest gap in the wall.
“Come with us, Purdy,” he meowed urgently. “There’s room for you in the elders’ den. Firestar will welcome you.”
Purdy stared at him. “Well, I…I dunno what to say.”
As sorry as she felt for the old cat, Hollyleaf felt herself bristling inside. This can’t be right! Purdy isn’t a Clan cat. What will the other Clans48 say?Then she suppressed a shiver. I might not be a Clan cat, either. Does that mean I should live alone, without any friends to help me hunt?
Sol was looking on expressionlessly. Does he care about Purdy at all?Hollyleaf wondered.
“Well?” Brambleclaw prompted the old cat.
“No, I’ll be fine.” Purdy gave his rumpled pelt a shake. “There ain’t no need to feel sorry for me. I’ve survived more than one leaf-bare on my own.”
“We’d appreciate your help getting around this Twolegplace, you know,” Brackenfur meowed, padding back toward the den. “You know the area far better than we do.”
“And once we’re back in the camp, you’d have a lot to teach our apprentices,” Brambleclaw put in. “I don’t suppose Hollyleaf and Lionblaze have forgotten how you saved them from the dogs.”
Lionblaze nodded, while Hollyleaf suppressed a shudder49 at the memory of the dogs who had trapped them in a barn on their way to the mountains. Without Purdy’s quick thinking, she and her brother and Breezepelt would all have been torn to pieces.
“Elders have a lot of influence in the way the Clan is run,” Brambleclaw went on. “It would be an honor to have you live with us, with all your experience, and all you know about Twolegs—I mean, Upwalkers.”
Hollyleaf dug her claws into the earth. She knew that the two senior warriors were lying. Bringing another loner into the Clan wouldn’t be easy, and they didn’t need to know about living among Twolegs, because there were so few of them by the lake. Why not leave Purdy where he is, if he’s happy? Why do Clan cats always think they know best?
“Well, okay.” Purdy scrambled50 through the gap in the wall and padded over to join the patrol. “I’ll come along as far as the edge of Twolegplace, at least. Reckon you might need a bit o’ help findin’ your way.” Turning to Sol, he added, “I never finished tellin’ you that story about the fox….”
Brambleclaw led the way to the gap in the fence where the patrol had entered the night before. Here he paused, his head raised and his ears pricked53, while he tasted the air. The rest of the patrol waited in silence; Hollyleaf closed her eyes, concentrating until she felt the tug54 at her paws that told her the direction of the lake.
“Do you know which way to go?” Hazeltail fretted55, obviously not trusting her own inner guide.
Brambleclaw nodded. “I think so. I’m trying to remember what we saw from that rooftop.”
“I’m not going up there again!” Birchfall wailed56.
“No, there’s no need,” Brambleclaw assured him. “But one of us can climb a tree soon to check whether we’re going the right way. Let’s get moving.”
Hollyleaf squeezed through the gap in the fence, hard on the Clan deputy’s paws, and found herself on a grass shoulder beside a Thunderpath. They had crossed here the night before, when all was dark and quiet. Now monsters were rushing up and down. Their bright colors dazzled Hollyleaf’s eyes; the air was filled with their growling57 and their acrid58 stink59.
“I hate this,” she muttered to Lionblaze. “I don’t care how many times we’ve done it, I’m still afraid some cat will get squashed.”
Brambleclaw padded up to the very edge of the Thunderpath until his fur was ruffled60 by the wind of passing monsters. “When I say run, run as if a whole pack of dogs were behind you.”
Lionblaze sighed. “Well, we’ve had plenty of practice.”
Hollyleaf noticed that Brackenfur had positioned himself next to Purdy, as if he intended to keep an eye on the old cat when the time came to cross. Sol stood on Purdy’s other side, his gaze fixed on the opposite side of the Thunderpath.
A huge monster swept by, the rumbling61 from its belly louder than a whole Clan of cats growling at once. As it faded into silence, Brambleclaw glanced sharply up and down the Thunderpath. “Now! Run!”
Hollyleaf leaped forward, aware of Lionblaze on one side of her and Birchfall on the other. The surface of the Thunderpath was hard under her flying paws. Then she was across, stumbling thankfully onto the grass on the other side.
Turning, she saw that all the cats had crossed safely, except for Purdy, who was weaving erratically62 across the middle of the Thunderpath, and Brackenfur, who padded beside him, trying to urge him on.
“Take it easy, youngster,” Purdy meowed. “There ain’t no monsters coming.”
“But—” Brackenfur began desperately63.
He broke off at the sound of a monster approaching. As it roared into sight around the corner, he gave Purdy a massive shove from behind. The old tabby stumbled forward with a startled yowl and flopped64 safely onto the grass as the monster swept past, snarling65, barely a mouse-length away. Brackenfur had sprung to safety beside him with a heartbeat to spare.
“Purdy, never scare us like that again!” Brambleclaw hissed66 in exasperation67.
The old cat picked himself up, blinking. “What? There weren’t no problem. And there weren’t no need to go pushin’ me around,” he added to Brackenfur in an injured tone.
Brackenfur sighed. “Sorry.”
“Always panickin’, you young cats,” Purdy muttered.
Hollyleaf rolled her eyes. “This journey is going to be interesting,” she whispered to Lionblaze.
Brambleclaw gathered the patrol together with a wave of his tail and set off along the edge of the Thunderpath. Soon Hollyleaf picked up the sound of many Twoleg kits69, their voices shrill70 in the crisp morning air. “What’s that?” she asked, her paws tingling71 with suspicion.
“Nothin’ to worry about,” Purdy reassured72 her. “You’ll see.”
Hollyleaf wasn’t sure she could trust the old cat’s judgment73. Rounding the next corner, she saw a huge Twoleg nest with a wide expanse of stone on the ground all around it. A fence of narrow, shiny trees cut it off from the Thunderpath. Crowds of Twoleg kits—more Twolegs than she had ever seen together at one time—were running and yowling and throwing things at one another.
“What is this place?” she meowed curiously74.
Purdy shrugged75. “Dunno. They come here most days.”
Hollyleaf’s belly clenched76 with shock as the old cat trotted77 up to the fence and stuck his nose through a gap. At once several of the Twoleg kits ran up to him, stretching out their hands.
“What’s he doing?” Brackenfur muttered. “Purdy!”
Purdy took no notice. The Twoleg kits were reaching through the fence to stroke him; his purr was loud enough to reach the rest of the patrol where they stood a few tail-lengths away.
“Remember, he used to be a kittypet,” Birchfall murmured. “It must make him act weird78 sometimes.”
Brambleclaw said nothing, just twitched his tail to guide the patrol past the shiny fence at a safe distance. They waited for Purdy a few fox-lengths down, alongside the Thunderpath. As they padded past, Hollyleaf noticed one of the kits pull something out of its pelt and hold it out to Purdy, who licked it up enthusiastically.
Has heno sense?
Eventually a harsh clanging sounded from inside the Twoleg den, and all the kits ran over toward it and stood in a line to go through the entrance. Purdy turned away and came bounding up to the patrol.
“What’re you all starin’ at?” he demanded, puffing79.
“Purdy, was that a good idea?” Brambleclaw asked. Hollyleaf could tell he was trying to keep irritation80 out of his voice. “What did that kit68 feed you?”
“Dunno.” Purdy’s eyes gleamed as he swiped his tongue around his jaws81. “It was real tasty, though.”
Brambleclaw sighed. “Right, let’s go.”
A little farther on, the Twoleg dens82 became more widely spaced; then they stopped altogether as woodland took over on either side of the Thunderpath. Relief flooded through Hollyleaf from ears to tail-tip as Brambleclaw veered83 away from the Thunderpath to pad under the trees. Before they had ventured more than a couple of tail-lengths into the wood, he halted.
“This would be a good place to check our direction,” he meowed. “Who feels like climbing a tree?”
“I will!” Lionblaze offered instantly.
“No, I will,” Hazeltail argued. “I’m lighter84. I can get up higher.”
Brambleclaw nodded. “Okay, Hazeltail.”
Lionblaze looked disgruntled while Hazeltail leaped up the trunk of the nearest tree, digging her claws into the bark. Hollyleaf’s heart thumped85 as she watched her friend clambering through the leafless branches, higher and higher, until she reached the top of the tree and clung there, swaying in the breeze. Hollyleaf couldn’t stop thinking about how Cinderheart had fallen, back in the forest, and injured her leg.
What do we do if Hazeltail is hurt, when we have so far to go?
But a few heartbeats later, Hazeltail began to scramble51 down; soon she reached the lowest branch and jumped down beside her Clanmates.
“I could see so far!” she exclaimed.
“Are we on the right track?” Brambleclaw asked.
“Yes!” Hazeltail’s fur was fluffed up with excitement. “I couldn’t see the lake, but I could tell where it is, behind WindClan’s ridge86. We need to go this way”—she gestured with her tail into the trees—“and we’ll get there without going through any more Twolegplaces.”
“That’s great news.” Brambleclaw gave the younger warrior an approving nod. “Well done, Hazeltail.”
Hazeltail’s eyes shone with pride as the patrol set off again. Now that the path was wider, Hollyleaf noticed that Brackenfur and Birchfall were walking one on each side of Sol.
The loner glanced at each of them, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. “You don’t need to put me under guard, you know,” he mewed. “I’m not going to run away.”
Purdy halted, staring at Sol with a baffled look. “Under guard? What’s all that about?”
Brambleclaw was forced to halt, too; his whiskers twitched with irritation as he glanced back. “It doesn’t matter. We have to keep moving.”
“ThunderClan thinks I’ve done something,” Sol replied to Purdy, ignoring Brambleclaw. “That’s why they want me to go back with them.”
“Wha’?” Purdy gaped87. “That’s fluff-brained!” Turning to Brambleclaw, he added, “You’re wrong, you know. Sol’s a decent cat. He wouldn’t do nothin’ bad.”
Brambleclaw didn’t try to explain. He just waved his tail, signaling for the patrol to continue, and almost immediately disturbed a pheasant, which came scrambling88 out of a clump89 of bracken with a raucous90 alarm call. At the same moment a squirrel, obviously spooked by the pheasant, dashed out of cover and raced for the nearest tree. Springing forward, Hollyleaf intercepted91 it and brought it down with a swift blow of her paw.
“Neat catch!” Birchfall called.
All the patrol gathered to share the unexpected prey, and Purdy’s awkward questions were pushed to the back of every cat’s mind. But Hollyleaf knew he would ask again. And which one of us is going to tell him the truth?
The patrol headed on through the forest, but not long after sunhigh Hollyleaf noticed that Purdy was getting tired, stumbling and blundering into bracken or brambles. She padded beside him, trying to guide him with her tail, but it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to keep going until nightfall.
Sprinting92 ahead, Hollyleaf caught up to Brambleclaw. “It’s Purdy,” she mewed. “He’s so tired. What are we going to do?”
Brambleclaw glanced back. “Mouse dung! We can’t just leave him here.” Clearly the Clan deputy was regretting that he had asked Purdy to join them. “Okay, we’ll stop soon,” he decided. “Do what you can to help him, Hollyleaf.”
“Sure.” Hollyleaf waited for Purdy to stagger up to her, then padded beside him again. “Do you want to lean on my shoulder?” she offered.
Purdy glared at her. “You think I can’t manage on my own? Jumped-up young whippersnapper!”
“Sorry.” Hollyleaf guessed he was angry because he knew he needed help, but pride wouldn’t let him accept it. She fell back a couple of paw steps so she could keep an eye on him, and was relieved when Brambleclaw called a halt.
“So soon?” Lionblaze asked, gazing up at where the sun still angled through the trees. “We could go a lot farther before it gets dark.”
“I know,” Brambleclaw meowed, with a glance at Purdy. “But we all had a tough time in the Twolegplace, and we need to hunt and rest. There should be plenty of prey here.”
The place Brambleclaw had chosen to stop was a small clearing among huge oak trees. Dead leaves covered the ground. At one side, a tiny spring trickled93 between moss-covered stones into a pool. Purdy stumbled over to it, took a few laps of water, and flopped down in a rumpled heap. Heartbeats later, loud snores came from him.
Sol padded across to a sunny patch of ground and sat down with his tail curled around his front paws. His amber eyes glowed in the golden light. He clearly had no intention of hunting for himself.
Hollyleaf headed into the undergrowth. The scents95 were strong, and she soon caught a mouse and a thrush. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to stop early,she thought as she kicked earth over her fresh-kill. It’s warmer now, so the prey is out and about
When she had added another mouse to her catch she hurried back to the clearing to find that her Clanmates were already building a fresh-kill pile near the pool.
Birchfall dragged up a huge rabbit, his tail raised proudly. “There are more over there.” He gestured with his tail. “We’ll eat well tonight.”
Dropping a mouse and the thrush onto the pile, Hollyleaf took the other mouse over to Purdy and prodded him awake.
The old tabby gave a startled snort, looking around wildly. “What is it? Foxes? Let me get at ’em!”
“It’s okay, Purdy.” Hollyleaf rested her tail on his shoulder. “I brought you a mouse.”
Purdy blinked. “That’s right good of you.” He began devouring96 the mouse in famished97 gulps98, then stopped and moved back awkwardly. “Here—you have some, too.”
“No, it’s for you,” Hollyleaf mewed. How long has it been since Purdy had a decent meal?“There’s plenty more.”
When all the cats had eaten—Brambleclaw made sure Sol was given a share of the catch—they settled down to sleep among the trees. By now the sun had gone and twilight99 was gathering100. A cold breeze clattered101 the bare branches.
Hollyleaf noticed that Purdy was shivering. She beckoned102 Hazeltail over with a wave of her tail. “Purdy really can’t look after himself,” she murmured into her Clanmate’s ear. “Let’s sleep beside him and keep him warm.”
“Okay,” Hazeltail mewed, though she looked doubtful. “I hope he hasn’t got fleas103.”
I’m sure he’s got fleas,Hollyleaf thought, as she and Hazeltail clawed together a heap of dry leaves to make a nest. And ticks. We’ll have to give him a good going-over with mouse bile before we let him go anywhere near Mousefur!
When Hollyleaf woke, it was still dark. She could just make out the trace of bare branches against the sky, but stars still glittered overhead. Purdy was snoring louder than ever, and Hazeltail was curled up beside him with her tail wrapped over her ears.
Hollyleaf knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. Very quietly, so as not to disturb any cat, she rose to her paws and peered around, blinking to clear her bleary eyes. Brambleclaw, Brackenfur, and Birchfall had all made nests close together on the other side of the pool. All three of them were sleeping peacefully; Birchfall’s tail twitched as if he was dreaming.
Three cats…not four…Sol’s gone!Hollyleaf swept her gaze around the clearing, but there was no sign of the distinctive104 tortoiseshell-and-white pelt. Tasting the air, she picked up his scent94; it was still fresh, but faint.
Hollyleaf’s first impulse was to wake Brambleclaw. But some inner command sent her paws in the other direction, following the wispy105 thread of Sol’s scent. She padded as silently as she could through the trees, flinching106 as her paws crunched107 in the brittle108 leaves. She soon began to hear the sound of running water. It grew louder until she came to a spot where the trees thinned out a little, and the ground fell away to where a stream gurgled along over stones. Sol was sitting at the top of the slope, his back to her, his gaze fixed on the paling stars.
“Do you still think they hold all the answers, Hollyleaf?” he asked without turning his head.
Every hair on Hollyleaf’s pelt rose, until she realized that she was standing upwind of the stream and Sol must have scented109 her approach. “I…I don’t know,” she replied. “I don’t know anything anymore.”
Now Sol turned to her, his amber eyes blinking sympathetically. “Why is that?”
Hollyleaf sighed. “Everything was so much easier when I could trust what other cats said.” Even as she spoke110, she couldn’t believe she was telling this to any cat. She hadn’t even shared her doubts with her littermates.
“You must learn to trust yourself, Hollyleaf,” Sol meowed, in the deep, rich voice that seemed to inspire confidence. “Only you know what is right.”
“I get so confused sometimes.” Hollyleaf’s voice shook. “I don’t want to have to decide everything on my own.”
“It gets easier, little one.” Sol rose to his paws. “Come on, let’s go back to the others.”
Hollyleaf’s belly churned as she followed Sol back to the clearing. He almost destroyed ShadowClan! Every cat thinks he killed Ashfur! So why do I feel that I can trust him with my life?
When they reached the clearing, the rest of the patrol were stirring. Brambleclaw looked up from grooming111 his pelt, a surprised expression in his amber eyes. But all he said was, “I wondered where you’d got to,” as he padded over to check on Purdy.
The old tabby heaved himself out of his nest. “I’m fit as a squirrel,” he insisted, shaking dead leaves from his back. “No need for you youngsters to be fussin’.”
After they had finished up the previous night’s fresh-kill, the cats set out again. Passing the place where she had met Sol, Hollyleaf realized they were coming to the edge of the woods. Soon they stood beneath the forest’s outermost112 trees, gazing across fields dotted with gray-white puffs113 that Hollyleaf realized were sheep.
“I don’t like this,” Purdy grumbled114 as they crossed the fields, giving the sheep a suspicious glance. “What are them creatures, anyway?”
“Sheep, Purdy,” Hollyleaf replied, padding beside him. “Didn’t they have any on that farm where we met you last time?”
Purdy sniffed115. “Never seen ’em before.” He jumped, fur fluffing up, as one of the sheep ambled52 away from the others and trotted closer to the cats. “Quick—run!”
“It’s okay,” Hollyleaf mewed; the sheep halted and began to crop a new patch of grass. “They’re not taking any notice of us.”
“There’s too much…space around here,” Purdy complained, flattening116 himself to the ground. “No trees. No Upwalkers—Twolegs, you call ’em.”
“You mean you wantTwolegs?” Hollyleaf’s exasperation spilled over like rain from a leaf. “That won’t do if you’re going to live in ThunderClan.”
“Hey, take it easy.” Lionblaze veered over and rested his tail on Purdy’s shoulders for a heartbeat. “Purdy can’t help not being a Clan cat.”
Nor can we!Hollyleaf almost flashed the words back at her brother, but stopped herself in time. How long before one of us gives away the secret?
With a massive effort she made herself relax. “I know. Sorry, Purdy.”
By sunhigh, Hollyleaf could see that the old cat was tiring again, and soon Brambleclaw called a halt in the shelter of some trees surrounded by gorse bushes. Purdy collapsed117 on his side, breathing hard. Sol padded away a few paw steps and sat down, peering out over the field.
“Hey, look at this!” Hazeltail was sniffing118 at a clump of something that looked like thistledown stuck on one of the gorse bushes. “What is it?”
Hollyleaf padded up to look. Birchfall followed curiously. “It smells of sheep,” Hollyleaf meowed. Glancing around, she spotted119 more of the clumps120 on other bushes. “Their pelts must get snagged on the thorns when they brush past.”
“It’s very soft.” Hazeltail tugged121 at the clump with her teeth and came away with a mouthful of it. “I’m going to take some back for the nursery.”
Birchfall suppressed a mrrowof laughter. “You look as if you’ve swallowed a thistle!” He ducked as Hazeltail swatted at him with her tail. “It’s a good idea,” he added hastily. “I’ll collect some, too, for my kits.”
Hollyleaf left them pulling the sheep pelt off the bushes, and padded back to Purdy. The old cat was reviving, and looked calmer now that the sheep were a safe distance away.
“Do we have we time to hunt?” she asked Brambleclaw.
The Clan deputy’s ears twitched in surprise. “Are you hungry already?”
“No,” Hollyleaf replied, lowering her voice. “I just want one mouse, for the mouse bile. We’ll never hear the last of it if we let Purdy into the camp with all his fleas and ticks.” Raising a hind1 paw to scratch her side, she added, “I think I might have picked something up from him already.”
“Okay.” There was a glint of amusement in Brambleclaw’s eyes. “But don’t be long. I want to keep going. We’re not far from the lake now. I can feel it in my paws.”
Dusk was falling as the patrol left the fields behind and came to a small Thunderpath. Tasting the air, Hollyleaf breathed in the scent of horses. “The horseplace!” she exclaimed. “We’re nearly home!”
Brambleclaw led the way, slipping under the shining fence and across the expanse of whitish stone, past the Twoleg nest and the horse nests. As they emerged into the field, Hollyleaf looked around for the horses, but there was no sign of them. “They must be shut up in their wooden nests,” she murmured to Lionblaze.
She couldn’t see Smoky or Floss, either, though she picked up their scents. Her paws prickled with urgency; she wanted to be back in the warm familiarity of the stone hollow, and yet she knew that there was no real safety there.
Or anywhere else,she reflected sadly. Where will all the lies and betrayal end?
收听单词发音 |
1
hind
|
|
| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
pelt
|
|
| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
killer
|
|
| n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
bristling
|
|
| a.竖立的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
pelts
|
|
| n. 皮毛，投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛，（连续）投掷 vi. 猛击，大步走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
amber
|
|
| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
clan
|
|
| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
jolt
|
|
| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
belly
|
|
| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
apprentice
|
|
| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
yearned
|
|
| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
mumbled
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
hunched
|
|
| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
perked
|
|
| （使）活跃( perk的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）增值； 使更有趣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
den
|
|
| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
blotting
|
|
| 吸墨水纸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
accusations
|
|
| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
huddling
|
|
| n. 杂乱一团, 混乱, 拥挤 v. 推挤, 乱堆, 草率了事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
moss
|
|
| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
drowsily
|
|
| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
rumpled
|
|
| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
niche
|
|
| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
prodded
|
|
| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
shrug
|
|
| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
bristle
|
|
| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
scraps
|
|
| 油渣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
flatten
|
|
| v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
rustled
|
|
| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
clans
|
|
| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
shudder
|
|
| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
scrambled
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
scramble
|
|
| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
ambled
|
|
| v.（马）缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
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： |
|
|
|
|
54
tug
|
|
| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
fretted
|
|
| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
wailed
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
growling
|
|
| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
acrid
|
|
| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
stink
|
|
| vi.发出恶臭；糟透，招人厌恶；n.恶臭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
ruffled
|
|
| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
rumbling
|
|
| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
erratically
|
|
| adv.不规律地，不定地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
flopped
|
|
| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
snarling
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
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： |
|
|
|
|
67
exasperation
|
|
| n.愤慨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
kit
|
|
| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
kits
|
|
| 衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
tingling
|
|
| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
reassured
|
|
| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
trotted
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
puffing
|
|
| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
irritation
|
|
| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
dens
|
|
| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
veered
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
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： |
|
|
|
|
85
thumped
|
|
| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
gaped
|
|
| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
scrambling
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
clump
|
|
| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
raucous
|
|
| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
intercepted
|
|
| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
sprinting
|
|
| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
trickled
|
|
| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
scents
|
|
| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
devouring
|
|
| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
famished
|
|
| adj.饥饿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
gulps
|
|
| n.一大口（尤指液体）( gulp的名词复数 )v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的第三人称单数 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
clattered
|
|
| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
beckoned
|
|
| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
fleas
|
|
| n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
distinctive
|
|
| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
wispy
|
|
| adj.模糊的；纤细的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
flinching
|
|
| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
crunched
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
brittle
|
|
| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
scented
|
|
| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
grooming
|
|
| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
outermost
|
|
| adj.最外面的，远离中心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
puffs
|
|
| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
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： |
|
|
|
|
116
flattening
|
|
| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
collapsed
|
|
| adj.倒塌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
sniffing
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
clumps
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
tugged
|
|
| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |