CHAPTER 2
“Ouch!” Jayfeather staggered sideways as apain, sharp as a hawk’s talon1, stabbed his side. He licked at it furiously, anticipating the tang of blood. But his pelt2 was unharmed.
Puzzled, he sniffed3 the air, tasting the herbs laid out before him on the floor of the medicine cave. Reaching tentatively forward, he felt the space around him for any brambles.
Nothing.
Then what had stabbed him?
He must have imagined it. Maybe the death of Leopardstar had pierced the air as StarClan mourned. Maybe Mistyfoot’s naming ceremony had somehow touched him—the shock of new lives carried from her mind to his. He frowned. A change in a Clan4’s leadership wasan important event; perhaps it was inevitable5 that it would affect him somehow.
He padded along the row of herbs once more, the pain in his side easing to a dull ache. The leaves were drying nicely in the breeze that filtered through the brambles trailing at the den6 entrance, and there was enough sunshine striking into the hollow to warm the air. There was nothing left to do but wait. Enough time to check on Poppyfrost and her kits7.
Springing over the leaves, Jayfeather pushed his way through the entrance, the brambles stroking satisfyingly over his spine9 as he headed out of the den.
Firestar was dozing10 on Highledge, his breath clouding in the cool morning air as he rested his chin over the edge of the jagged rock. Sandstorm lay beside him. Jayfeather could hear their fur brushing as their flanks gently rose and fell. They must have been night hunting again. Jayfeather knew that the ThunderClan leader and his mate sometimes liked to slip out of camp while their Clanmates slept and run through the woods. Images of their hunt filled Firestar’s dreams now, and Jayfeather sensed joy as the ThunderClan leader relished11 the freedom of the forest, his mate at his side, the worries of the Clan left behind at the barrier of thorns.
Jayfeather pulled his mind away, always uncomfortable at intruding13 on the thoughts of his Clanmates, though the temptation was never far away.
“Come on, Blossompaw!” Graystripe called to the apprentice14. “You’re supposed to be helping15, not playing.”
Blossompaw froze, her tail sweeping16 to a halt, leaves drifting from the stale-smelling bundle that she clutched between her paws.
“Ha!” Briarpaw’s pads brushed the earth as she skipped out of the way, and Jayfeather pictured the scene: Blossompaw had been about to send a shower of leaves over her littermate and had been caught in the act by Graystripe.
“Sorry.” Blossompaw swept her leaves toward Graystripe with her tail, and the gray warrior17 focused on his task once more; Jayfeather could hear his fur snagging against the prickles. “There are more holes in here than in a rabbit warren,” he fretted18. “I want them stuffed with leaves before the wind turns cold.”
Berrynose was picking through the brambles on the other side of the nursery. “It’s just as bad over here,” he reported. The cream-colored tom began crunching19 pawfuls of leaves in between the branches. It was his kits, after all, who were in the nursery along with his mate, Poppyfrost.
Jayfeather was concentrating so hard on the two warriors20 working on the nursery walls that the flailing21, fluffy22 bundle rolling into his paws made him jump.
“Sorry, Jayfeather!” Cherrykit scrambled23 back toward her mother, who was basking24 on the sandy earth outside the nursery.
“Watch where you’re going,” Poppyfrost chided.
Jayfeather felt Poppyfrost tense at her kit’s tactless words; he flicked26 his tail to let her know he wasn’t offended. He liked the way kits didn’t trip over themselves trying not to say the wrong thing to him. “Show me,” he prompted Molekit.
A scuffle of paws and a sudden “Oof!” were followed by purrs of amusement from Cherrykit.
“You do better, then!” Molekit challenged.
Jayfeather heard her short, stumpy tail brush the ground as she crouched29 and prepared for her jump. As she leaped forward, a falling leaf brushed her pelt. Her paws skidded30 clumsily as surprise flashed through her.
Molekit yowled with amusement. “Nice landing!”
“Shut up!” Cherrykit huffed.
“You’re scared of a leaf!”
“Am not!”
“Are so!”
“Molekit!” Poppyfrost’s mew was stern. “Cherrykit’s your sister. You must encourage her, not tease! True warriors help their Clanmates.”
The nursery entrance trembled as Ferncloud slid out. Though she had no kits of her own, she preferred to stay in the nursery, along with Daisy, helping the queens as they came and went with the seasons. The two she-cats had helped raise so many kits that, these days, cats were as likely to see young apprentices32 visit the nursery for advice as the elders’ den. Especially now that Purdy had moved into the honeysuckle bush. Once the old loner started one of his stories, it could be sunset before a young cat got a word in edgewise.
“How are you feeling?” Jayfeather asked Poppyfrost. He sensed the queen’s weariness and felt a pang33 of sympathy. “The kits are doing well.” He could hear Molekit scampering34 after Cherrykit.
Poppyfrost purred. Jayfeather stifled35 an urge to ask exactly what it was about squirming, querulous, hungry kits that made queens so forgiving of the exhaustion36, the endless demands, and the squabbles that flared37 up with every second heartbeat.
“Are you eating and drinking plenty?” he checked.
“I’m fine,” Poppyfrost assured him.
He could smell moss38 soaked in water lying beside Poppyfrost. It carried Berrynose’s scent39. Her mate was obviously making sure she had everything she needed. And judging from the contented40 aura swirling41 around the tortoiseshell queen, all the fears she’d had that Berrynose still pined for her sister, Honeyfern, had disappeared.
The memory of Honeyfern, killed by an adder42, was still strong in the Clan. Jayfeather sensed it like a lingering scent. But life moved on and Berrynose seemed happy with his new mate. Indeed, the whole Clan seemed content, the camp buzzing with soft mews. It was almost as though the drought had never happened.
Leafpool and Squirrelflight padded through the camp entrance, the fragrant43 scent of prey44 clouding around them. Jayfeather snorted, fury rushing anew through his paws. Some things could never be forgotten. Or forgiven. The lies and betrayals that his mother and her littermate had woven around his and Lionblaze’s birth left a taste foul45 as crow-food in his mouth. If they hadn’t hidden the truth, conspiring46 like vixens, his sister, Hollyleaf, might never have disappeared behind the mudslide that blocked the tunnels.
Bitterness rose in Jayfeather’s throat. Despite what he and his littermates had been raised to believe, Crowfeather was their father, not Brambleclaw. And it was Leafpool who had kitted them. Squirrelflight had never been their mother.
Mother!As far as Jayfeather was concerned, he had no mother now.
The second hunting patrol returned just before sunhigh. Sorreltail, dozing below Highledge, scrambled to her paws as Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Whitewing dropped their catches on the fresh-kill pile. Thornclaw stretched beside her, purring hungrily at the scent of fresh prey.
But it was a different scent that brought Jayfeather from his den. He’d been half expecting it all morning, ever since Dovepaw had woken him with the news about Mistyfoot
“RiverClan!” Ferncloud’s alarm set the whole camp stirring, and Firestar bounded down from Highledge as Mistyfoot padded through the thorn tunnel with Mothwing at her heels.
Jayfeather heard Ferncloud’s tail swish the earth as she shooed Molekit and Cherrykit back toward their mother. Hostility47 prickled from Thornclaw and Dustpelt. Graystripe stopped work on the nursery wall and dropped onto four paws, curiosity pulsing from his pelt.
Firestar crossed the clearing to greet the RiverClan cats. “Is everything all right?”
Mistyfoot halted. “Leopardstar’s dead.”
Jayfeather found himself caught in a flood of memories swirling through Firestar’s mind: a forest fire; a kit rescued from a river; mountains, snowcapped and scented48 with danger; courage and stubbornness flashing in Leopardstar’s amber49 gaze. Jayfeather caught his breath as the ThunderClan leader’s grief pierced his own heart.
Mothwing sighed. “We’ve just come from the Moonpool,” she murmured. “Mistystar has received her nine lives.”
Firestar’s whiskers brushed the ground as he dipped his head low. “Mistystar,” he greeted the new RiverClan leader.
“Mistystar,” Graystripe echoed the name respectfully.
“Mistystar, Mistystar.” The RiverClan leader’s new name rippled50 through the watching Clan. Hostility faded like the morning dew.
Firestar touched noses with the gray she-cat. “How’s RiverClan?” he asked.
“Greenleaf was harsh,” Mistystar admitted. “We rely too much on the lake to survive without it.”
Longtail padded stiffly from the elders’ den, his whiskers twitching51 with curiosity. Mousefur’s tail rested on his shoulder, guiding him forward as Mistystar went on.
“We lost three elders from thirst and hunger.”
Mousefur tensed. “Who?”
“Blackclaw, Voletooth, and Dawnflower.”
Jayfeather heard Mousefur’s pelt brush Longtail’s as the old she-cat pressed closer to her denmate.
Firestar sat beside Mistystar. “Take some strengthening herbs with you,” he offered.
“Thank you, we will, if you can spare them.”
Jayfeather wondered if Leopardstar would have accepted help so easily.
“Mothwing.” Firestar addressed the RiverClan medicine cat. “Go with Jayfeather. He’ll give you the herbs.”
Jayfeather beckoned52 Mothwing with his tail. He relished the chance to be alone with her, intrigued53 about how she had managed Mistystar’s naming ceremony when she didn’t believe in StarClan. He held aside the brambles at the entrance to the den, unable to resist probing Mothwing’s thoughts as she passed. But her mind was empty of everything except the ache in her paws.
“Rest there.” Jayfeather slipped into the medicine store and bundled together some of the newly dried leaves. Carrying the wad in his jaws54, he placed it gently at her paws. “I can give you some ointment55 to soothe56 your pads,” he offered.
“No, thank you.” Mothwing shifted her weight. “It’s not much farther.”
“I’ll treat my paws when I get home,” Mothwing insisted. “I’m already depriving you of enough supplies.”
“We can spare them.” But only just.The parched58 forest had yielded few herbs over greenleaf, and leaf-bare waited like a fox in the shadows.
“Longtail seems to be stiffer than ever,” Mothwing observed. “Have you tried crushing poppy seed and combining it with marigold and comfrey in a poultice?”
Jayfeather looked at her in surprise. Why had he never thought of that? The poppy seed would reduce the pain at once while the comfrey and marigold worked on the inflammation. “That’s a great idea!”
“It used to work on Voletooth’s shoulder.”
“Thanks.” He spread the herbs in front of her. “There’s tansy, watermint, and feverfew here.” His mind was fizzing with curiosity. How had she felt overseeing Mistystar’s receiving her nine lives? Did she finally believe in StarClan now that she’d seen it for herself?
As Mothwing bundled the herbs back into a wad she could carry in her jaws, Jayfeather gave his tail a casual flick25. “How was Mistystar’s ceremony?”
“Fine,” Mothwing mewed levelly. “She’s going to be a great leader. Have you got a blade of grass I can tie this bundle with?”
The RiverClan medicine cat wasn’t giving anything away.
Jayfeather padded to the side of the cave and plucked a long stalk of grass poking59 from the base of the rock wall. As he carried it back to Mothwing, he took a deep breath and probed her recent memories.
Pale sunlight washed the Moonpool, reflecting the clear dawn sky. Jayfeather flinched60 at the bright images shimmering61 in Mothwing’s mind. He was used to the night shadows of the Moonpool. Mistystar must have been in a hurry to receive her nine lives.
Mothwing was watching Mistystar. Jayfeather could sense the grief and disquiet62 of the Clan they’d left behind as the RiverClan deputy crouched at the pool, her paws tucked beneath her, nose tip dabbing63 the water.
Jayfeather cocked his head. Mothwing’s sense of separation from her Clanmate felt strange. Her bond to her Clanmate was as strong as those Jayfeather felt for his own, and yet she was observing the ceremony like an outsider.
Mistystar suddenly flinched in her sleep with a cry of pain. Mothwing jumped, anxiety jabbing her. Does it hurt?The shocked thought echoed in her mind.
As Mistystar fell still once more, Mothwing fought the urge to creep forward and check that the RiverClan deputy was all right.
Was something realhappening to her Clanmate?
No.Mothwing pushed away the thought.
Yes!Jayfeather willed her to accept it. How could she not believe? She was so stubborn. And yet Jayfeather was impressed by her determination.
They have not visited me; how can they be real?The thought burned like lightning in her mind.
Mistystar was stirring and Mothwing approached. “Are you all right?”
“You weren’t there!”
Mothwing stiffened64; then calmness flooded her. The discovery of her secret seemed to bring her relief. “No.” She shook her head, meeting her leader’s gaze without guilt65 or worry. “You will always visit StarClan alone. They don’t exist for me in the way that they do for you.”
“You…you don’t believe in StarClan?” Mistystar’s pelt rippled with shock. “But you’ve been our medicine cat for so long! Have you never walked with StarClan in your dreams?”
Mothwing felt the stone, cool beneath her pads, weathered by countless66 moons. “You have your beliefs; I have mine. The cats you see in your dreams guide you and protect you in ways that I have lived without so far. I am a good medicine cat and that has been enough to serve my Clan.”
Mistystar gazed at her medicine cat a moment longer, then dipped her head.
He could feel her gaze like a breeze stirring his pelt. She was watching him curiously68; she had known all along that he was inside her memories, reliving the scene at the Moonpool. “You know I have no connection with them,” she reminded him. Her tail brushed the earth. “It doesn’t make me any less of a medicine cat.” She tied the grass around the bundle. “You need to understand that.” She picked up the herbs, her jaws releasing their fragrance69 as they closed softly around the leaves. Then she turned and padded from the den.
Jayfeather listened to the bramble swish behind her, his paws tingling70. Even without StarClan to guide and strengthen her, Mothwing was formidable. Instinctively71 he dipped his head to her, just as Mistystar had done. StarClan had made a wise choice after all.
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1
talon
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| n.爪；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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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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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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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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dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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relished
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| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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crunching
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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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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21
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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fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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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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24
basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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25
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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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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pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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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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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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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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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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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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35
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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36
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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37
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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38
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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39
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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40
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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41
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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42
adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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43
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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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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45
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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46
conspiring
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| 密谋( conspire的现在分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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47
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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48
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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49
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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51
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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52
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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54
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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ointment
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| n.药膏，油膏，软膏 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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57
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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58
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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59
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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60
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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62
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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63
dabbing
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| 石面凿毛，灰泥抛毛 | |
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64
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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65
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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66
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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67
engulfing
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| adj.吞噬的v.吞没，包住( engulf的现在分词 ) | |
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68
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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70
tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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71
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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