CHAPTER14
As soon as the thorn barrierstopped quivering after Brambleclaw, Lionblaze, and Dovepaw pushed their way out of the hollow, Jayfeather turned and headed back to his den1. Every hair on his pelt2 was tingling3 with doubt. Eight cats are setting out on a quest based on what Dovepaw thinks she can see, hear, sense, or whatever, up a dried-out stream. It’s hardly a prophecy from StarClan
What really bothered Jayfeather was that their warrior5 ancestors had said nothing to him about the quest, or about the brown animals that were blocking the stream. At the last meeting at the Moonpool, none of the other medicine cats had mentioned it, either. Is StarClan waiting to see if the prophecy of the Three will save us? It’s greater than them, after all. Halting, Jayfeather lifted his nose to the sky he couldn’t see. Are any of our warrior ancestors watching us now?he wondered.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Ivypaw’s voice was raised in protest.
What now?Jayfeather asked himself, sighing.
“Well, stop being so grumpy,” Briarpaw retorted. “No cat put ants in your pelt.”
“You’d be grumpy if your littermates went off to save the Clans7,” Ivypaw snarled8, “and left you doing stupid dumb training!”
Jayfeather heard the sound of a pebble10 being kicked, followed by an indignant yowl from Mousefur. “Watch it! Can’t a cat go to make dirt anymore without being pelted11 with rocks?”
“Sor-ree…” Ivypaw muttered.
Jayfeather heard the elder padding away, annoyance12 buzzing out of her like bees from a hollow tree. He couldn’t help feeling some sympathy with Ivypaw. I’ve been left behind, too
“Ivypaw, control that bad temper right now!” Cinderheart came bounding up. “You should show respect to our elders.”
“I should think so. Later on we’ll find a really good piece of fresh-kill for Mousefur, and you can take it to her. But not yet,” Cinderheart continued, “because all of you are going to do battle training this morning.”
“Oh, big deal!” Ivypaw wasn’t impressed.
“No, it’s great.” Briarpaw sounded excited. “I’ll help you, Ivypaw. I’ll be doing my final assessment14 soon.”
“Hey, slow down.” Thornclaw padded up behind his apprentice15. “Your assessment isn’t for a couple of moons yet. Ivypaw’s mentor16 will do her training. Youneed to concentrate on that leap and twist I showed you last time. You haven’t got it quite right yet.”
Hazeltail and Mousewhisker came up to join Blossompaw and Bumblepaw, and the whole crowd of mentors18 and apprentices19 headed out of camp, with plenty of pushing and excited squealing20 from the young cats.
Jayfeather sighed. Sometimes I feel as old as Rock
The hollow felt very empty once the cats had gone. Jayfeather stood still for a moment longer, listening to the faint creak of branches above his head, then gave his pelt a shake. Striding forward, he crossed the clearing and followed Mousefur into the elders’ den. Longtail was curled up asleep, his breath whistling through his nose, while Mousefur was settling into her nest with a crackle of dried bracken.
Purdy sat beside her. “I was just rememberin’ the time when a couple o’ rats tried to move into my Upwalker’s den,” he began. “I reckon you’d like to hear about that, so—”
“Hang on a moment, Purdy,” Jayfeather interrupted. “I need to have a word with Mousefur.”
“What now?” the old she-cat demanded. She still sounded annoyed; either she hadn’t got over being hit by the pebble, or maybe it was the thought of listening to one of Purdy’s interminable stories.
“I just need to check where the stone hit you,” Jayfeather explained.
Mousefur let out a sigh. “I’ll be fine, Jayfeather. There’s no need to fuss.”
“I’m only doing my job, Mousefur.”
Another long sigh. “All right.” Jayfeather heard the rustle21 of bracken as Mousefur stretched out in her nest. “It was just there, at the top of my leg.”
Jayfeather padded forward and sniffed22 carefully. To his relief, he couldn’t find any trace of a wound; Mousefur’s skin hadn’t even been broken. “I think you’re fine,” he mewed.
“I told you that,” Mousefur snapped. “Young cats, thinking they know everything.”
“Even so, if you feel any pain or start limping, let me know right away. Okay?”
“I’ll see she does,” Purdy put in. “Don’t you worry none.”
“Thanks, Purdy.” Jayfeather headed out of the den, but before he could leave, the old loner spoke23 again.
“Don’t dash off like that, young ’un. You’ll enjoy hearin’ this story as well. There were these rats, see…”
Jayfeather stood fidgeting impatiently near the entrance to the den. As soon as he heard movement in the clearing, he broke into Purdy’s rambling24 tale. “Sorry. Gotta go. Could be an emergency.” Without waiting for an answer, he squeezed under the branches of the elder bush and padded into the hollow.
Brambleclaw had returned from seeing off the questing cats; as Jayfeather drew nearer, he heard Firestar leaping down the tumbled rocks to join his deputy in the center of the camp.
“Fine,” Brambleclaw replied. “All four Clans sent their cats, and they all set off upstream.”
“Which cats have been chosen?”
“Toadfoot and Tigerheart from ShadowClan,” Brambleclaw began. “Sedgewhisker and Whitetail from WindClan, and Rippletail and Petalfur from RiverClan.”
Jayfeather’s ears flicked25 up in surprise. That doesn’t sound as if Leopardstar sent her strongest warriors26. Doesn’t she realize what dangers they’ll be facing?
If Firestar thought the same, he gave no sign of it. “I hope they can all get on together,” he commented.
“They will,” Brambleclaw promised. “They’ll learn to rely on one another, and they’ll come back stronger cats for the experience.”
“We can only pray to StarClan that they come back at all,” Firestar meowed. “And that they find out what happened to the water.” He sighed, then went on in a brisker tone, “Meanwhile, we’d better start with the patrols before the day gets too hot. I’ll lead a hunting patrol; can you organize the rest?”
“Sure, Firestar.”
Jayfeather heard both cats pad away and begin calling to others inside the warriors’ den. He listened briefly27 as his Clanmates pushed their way out through the branches, yawning and stretching, and then he turned away toward his den. Before he reached it, Firestar led his hunting patrol past him. Dustpelt brought up the rear; as he brushed past, Jayfeather felt a stab of pain at the base of the tabby warrior’s spine28. Pricking29 his ears toward the patrol, he detected a slight unevenness30 in Dustpelt’s paw steps.
“Hey, Dustpelt!” he called. “Hang on a moment!”
“What?” Dustpelt sounded even more crabby than usual as he retraced31 his steps. “I’m supposed to be hunting with Firestar, so make it quick.”
“Have you hurt your back?” Jayfeather asked.
The brown tabby tom hesitated. “What makes you think that?”
“I’m a medicine cat,” Jayfeather retorted drily. “If you’re hurt, I’ve got some herbs that will help you.”
“I don’t need herbs,” Dustpelt retorted; Jayfeather pictured his neck fur bristling32 up. “Save them for cats who are really ill.”
“I’ve got plenty of what you need,” Jayfeather assured him. He wasn’t going to let Dustpelt deprive himself of medicine out of misplaced selflessness. His back would only get worse, and then he wouldn’t be able to hunt at all. “Come see me when you get back.”
“Okay, I will.” Jayfeather thought he could sense relief behind Dustpelt’s brusque tone. Quietly he added, “Thanks, Jayfeather.”
“Make sure you don’t forget!” Jayfeather called as Dustpelt bounded away to catch up to Firestar and the rest of the patrol. He reminded himself to have a word with Ferncloud if her mate didn’t turn up for the herbs. Heading for his den once again, Jayfeather became aware of a cat’s warm gaze resting on him. Leafpool!He could sense his mother’s pride in him, for the way he had detected Dustpelt’s injury and avoided wounding the warrior’s dignity or sense of duty when offering him the herbs.
I don’t want your pride, Jayfeather thought.
Suddenly the hollow felt as if it were closing in on him. He couldn’t stay here a moment longer with the stone cliffs pressing around him, trapping him beneath watchful33 eyes. He spun34 around and raced across the clearing, pushing through the thorn tunnel in the wake of the patrols. Once in the forest, he headed for the lake, missing the scents35 of cool, damp air that always drifted to meet him when he took this path. Now the forest felt strange and restless, crackling in the hot, dry breeze.
When he emerged on the bank of the lake, a tail-length from where the water used to lap against the shore, an unfamiliar36 emptiness stretched in front of him. He was used to sensing the cold, wet weight of the lake on his fur when he took a breath, but now there was nothing except dust. Pausing at the edge of the trees, Jayfeather located patrols from ThunderClan and WindClan heading for the lake. They must have come for the water. Farther out, he could hear a ShadowClan patrol arguing with the RiverClan warriors who were guarding the shrinking lake.
“You don’t own the water,” Russetfur snapped. “Every cat has the right to drink.”
“And we have the right to the fish,” Graymist retorted. “Touch so much as a single scale, and I’ll claw your ears off.” In spite of her threats, the RiverClan she-cat’s voice was dull and fretful, as if she had little strength left.
It can’t be much fun, stuck out here with no shade or rest, Jayfeather thought. He padded out onto the dried-up bed of the lake, feeling the pebbles37 rolling underneath38 his paws. Somewhere nearby, he knew, must be the opening from the tunnels where the underground river had washed them into the lake. But no cat had mentioned finding a hole in the lakebed; perhaps it had been filled up by one of the many mudslides, like the one Rainstorm had fallen into.
Jayfeather shivered in spite of the heat, remembering the mudslide that had trapped his sister, Hollyleaf, when the roof of the tunnel had fallen in. For a heartbeat he was standing39 there again in the rain-battered forest, desperately40 calling out to her. Then he shook himself, pulling himself away from the terrible memory.
“Hey, Poppyfrost!” Icecloud’s cheerful voice brought him back to the scorched41 lake. The ThunderClan water patrol had arrived, Berrynose and Brightheart padding along with her.
There were more paw steps behind him, and Jayfeather realized that Poppyfrost had ventured out onto the lake bottom as well; she trotted42 up to the patrol, her steps sounding slow and heavy with the weight of her kits43.
“Hi,” she panted. “Isn’t it hot? The lake is—”
“Shouldn’t you be in the nursery?” Berrynose interrupted before his mate had the chance to mew more than a few words.
Jayfeather sensed that Poppyfrost was taken aback. “I just wanted to stretch my legs,” she explained, “and see if the lake has shrunk any more.”
“You’re supposed to be resting,” Berrynose pointed44 out with an edge to his voice. “What about our kits?”
“But I want a drink,” Poppyfrost protested.
“Icecloud will bring you some water,” Berrynose meowed, before padding on toward the distant lake.
Brightheart’s and Icecloud’s embarrassment45 was so strong that Jayfeather could almost taste it. “Sure, Poppyfrost,” Icecloud mumbled46. “I’ll bring you some moss47.”
She trudged49 away from the patrol, following Berrynose, but not trying to catch up to him. When she passed Jayfeather, she halted. “It’s okay for me to leave the nursery, isn’t it?”
“Of course,” Jayfeather replied. “Your kits aren’t due for another moon.”
“I thought so,” Poppyfrost mewed. “Daisy said I wouldn’t do them any harm if I took a walk.” She let out a weary sigh. “Berrynose seems to want me to stay in the nursery forever! He says there isn’t enough room for me in the warriors’ den now.”
Poppyfrost didn’t reply; she just let out a disbelieving snort and headed for the water.
Putting the tension out of his mind, Jayfeather returned to the shore and located his stick, carefully wedged under some elder roots a tail-length or so from the bank. Settling down in the shade of the elder bush, he ran his paw along the scratch marks. Faint whispers wreathed around his ears, and he recognized some of the voices from the time he spent with the ancient clan. He strained to hear what they were saying, but they were too quiet. A pang51 of sadness pierced him, like a thorn, that he had left them behind. They had been his friends, once—and he had helped to send them away from the lake forever. The spirits of the ancient cats seemed to be all around him now, brushing their tails along his pelt, mingling52 their scents with that of the dry lake.
What do you want?Jayfeather asked, sensing their anxiety.
But there was no reply.
Yowls from the edge of the water distracted him. Shoving the stick back under the roots, he crawled out from under the elder bush and rose to his paws.
“This is WindClan’s part of the lake!” Jayfeather stiffened53 as he recognized Breezepelt’s voice. “Get back to your own side.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Icecloud protested. “Our territories end three tail-lengths from the shore.”
“The shore is where the water starts,” Breezepelt growled54. “And that makes this part of the lake WindClan territory. So get your tails out of here!”
“Do you want to make us?” That was Berrynose’s voice; Jayfeather could imagine the cream-colored warrior squaring up for a fight, his fur bristling and his teeth bared in a snarl9.
A fight is the last thing we need!Jayfeather bounded forward, his belly55 fur brushing the dust and loose pebbles of the dry lakebed. “Stop!” he yowled, thrusting himself between the two warriors. “What value does the lakebed have to any Clan?”
He heard an enraged56 snarl and scented57 Breezepelt nose to nose with him. “You would say that, half-Clan cat!”
Jayfeather was jolted58 by the wave of hatred59 coming from the WindClan warrior. He took a step back, his nostrils60 flaring61. “What has that got to do with—” he began.
Breezepelt pushed his face even closer to Jayfeather’s. “Your mother betrayed my father as well as her Clan,” he hissed62. “You have no right to be a medicine cat. No right even to live among the Clans. I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done! Never!”
Jayfeather was too stunned63 to reply. He was aware of Berrynose bristling next to him. “I’ll claw him for you if you want, Jayfeather!” the young warrior growled.
Jayfeather shook his head. What would that change? He heard paw steps approaching and scented Ashfoot, the WindClan deputy
“What’s going on here?” she demanded.
“Nothing,” Breezepelt replied. “Just a misunderstanding about getting to the water.”
Ashfoot turned to Jayfeather. “You should advise your warriors to keep to your own side of the lake,” she warned. “To avoid future misunderstandings.”
Jayfeather wasn’t about to quarrel, not with Breezepelt breathing venom64 at him. “Very well,” he mewed, dipping his head to the deputy. Anger rose inside him as he picked up the smug feelings of triumph radiating from Breezepelt. “Come on,” he added to the ThunderClan patrol. “We’re doing no good here.”
He could feel the fury of the ThunderClan cats as they padded beside him toward their own territory.
“I can’t believe that mangy WindClan cat!” Icecloud spat65. “How dare he tell us where we can and can’t go?”
“You should have let me get him!” Berrynose snarled.
“There was no call for what he said to you.” Brightheart’s mew was quieter, but Jayfeather could sense her shock.
He shrugged66, not wanting to discuss the accusations67 Breezepelt had hurled68 at him, and to his relief Brightheart said nothing more. Leaving the patrol to head for the distant water, Jayfeather turned toward the shore, the hot wind ruffling69 his pelt. In spite of the heat, cold struck through him, bone-deep, and he felt the ancient cats wreathing around him once more
Beware, Jay’s Wing, one of them whispered. Stormclouds are gathering on a dark breeze
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1
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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clans
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| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
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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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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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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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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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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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assessment
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| n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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mentors
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| n.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的名词复数 )v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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23
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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rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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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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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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unevenness
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| n. 不平坦，不平衡，不匀性 | |
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retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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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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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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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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40
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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41
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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42
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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43
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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44
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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46
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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47
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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48
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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49
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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50
scuffed
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| v.使磨损( scuff的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚走 | |
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51
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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52
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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53
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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54
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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55
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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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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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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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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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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60
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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61
flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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62
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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63
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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64
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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65
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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66
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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67
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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68
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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ruffling
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| 弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱 | |
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