CHAPTER 10
Bright flowers nodded around the apprenticeas she weaved, slender as a pine martin, through the grass. She sneezed as pollen2 dusted her soft muzzle3. Then, relishing4 the sun on her back, she lifted her forepaws and peered over the curving stems. Wide-eyed, she gazed at the broad green pasture and breathed the soft scent5 of the shimmering6 grass.
A huge gray mare7 ambled8 past, its wide hooves thumping9 the earth and tearing trails through the grass. The she-cat scooted backward and sheltered beneath the lush leaves of a dock. Butterflies whirled up as the horse sauntered away. The apprentice1 scampered10 and leaped after them, swiping the air as they jerked on the breeze and scattered11 like windblown petals12 into the blue sky.
The air was heavy with greenleaf scent and, as the cat tasted the breeze, she caught the musky tang of prey14. Nostrils15 flaring16, she followed the scent, tail down, ears flat. She tracked it through dark green clover and around a clump17 of bobbing white flowers before catching18 sight of a tiny flicker20 of movement.
Mouse!
Nibbling21 at the juicy roots of a cowslip, it didn’t even flinch22 as she began to wiggle her hindquarters. Confident, she pounced25, but as her front paws left the ground, her back brushed against a thick poppy stem. Red petals flashed and the mouse whisked into the clover, diving under cover so thick that the cat lost sight of its tiny brown body. She plunged28 in her paws, patting the ground crossly, claws plucking but finding nothing but earth and roots.
Mouse dung!
“Bad luck.”
The apprentice spun29 around as a deep mew sounded behind her. She blinked at the broad-shouldered tom gazing at her. His muzzle was scarred, and when he lifted a paw to flick19 away a fly, his long, hooked claws glinted in the sun.
“I visit here, just as you do,” the tom replied. He rested his paw on the ground and cocked his head.
“This is the first time I’ve been here,” she admitted.
“Well, I’m glad you’ve come,” purred the tom. “It gets lonely sometimes.”
“Do you live nearby?”
The tom didn’t answer, but nodded toward the patch of clover where the mouse had disappeared. “Too bad you lost it,” he commented. “I could show you how to pounce26 without arching your back, if you like.”
She nodded shyly. This tom didn’t smell like a Clan31 cat, though he was as smooth pelted33 and tightly muscled as any warrior34. His scent was strange and reminded her of walking in the forest at night.
“Watch this.” Crouching36, the tom leaped forward, skimming the ground, keeping his back smooth and straight as he landed so that only his flank grazed the overhanging stems without disturbing them.
The apprentice watched wide-eyed.
The she-cat nodded and squatted38 down, ready to pounce. Wriggling39 her hindquarters, she bunched her muscles and sprang, but she skimmed the ground too closely and came to a skidding40 halt before her front paws reached the moss.
Again the apprentice pounced, this time keeping farther off the ground, but when she tried to flatten42 her spine43 she lost her balance and landed clumsily, stumbling to one side and sending shivers through the grass.
“Again,” came the quiet encouragement.
Thinking hard this time, the apprentice backed up, stared at the moss, and let awareness44 of every muscle spread through her body. Then she jumped, raking the ground, curving her body to weave around the stems before landing perfectly45, the ball of moss falling between her paws as naturally as if StarClan had placed it for her.
“Wow!” She sat up, pleased with herself. “I’ll show my sister that move.”
The tom looked around. “Is she here?”
The apprentice shook her head. “It’s just me.” She frowned, aware how strange it felt to be here alone, without the company of her littermate. “Maybe I can bring her next time.”
The tom looked quizzical. “Don’t you like to do things by yourself?”
The apprentice shook her head. “It’s much more fun with two.”
“Well, there are two of us.” His blue gaze reached intently into hers. “Is that okay?”
She nodded.
“I could show you a stalking technique, if you like,” the tom offered.
“I know all the basic ones,” the she-cat told him.
“I bet you haven’t seen this one.” He crouched46 down and began to draw himself forward, chin stretched out, whiskers drawn47 back so that he weaved through the grass like a snake. Suddenly his muzzle darted48 forward, and he grasped a flower stem in his jaws49 so quickly that the apprentice gasped50.
“That was so fast!”
“Good for catching fish.”
“Fish?”
“Mice too,” the tom added. “Any prey that’s quick.”
“Can I try?”
“Of course.”
“What’s your sister like?” he asked.
The apprentice was focusing on a long blade of grass a tail-length ahead. “She’s clever,” she mewed, pulling herself slowly forward. “And funny.” She crept closer to the grass. “And the bravest cat I know.” With a lunge, she snapped at the grass stem, grabbing it in her jaws before spitting it out, coughing. “Yuck! Bitter!”
The tom purred. “I suppose you mean the grass, not your sister.”
“Of course!”
A faint yowl drifted across the meadow. A cat was calling
The she-cat turned her head. “I’ve got to go now.” She started to pad toward the voice, the grass stroking her back.
The tom called after her, “Don’t you want to know my name?”
The apprentice turned, blinking.
“I’m Hawkfrost.”
“Good-bye, Hawkfrost.” The name felt strange on her tongue.
“Aren’t you going to tell me yours?”
“Oh, yes. It’s Ivypaw.”
Ivypaw shook herself awake, surprised to feel chilly52 air around her muzzle after the warmth of her dream. Cinderheart was peering through the den24 entrance. “Ivypaw!” she hissed53.
Dovepaw was still asleep, tired after the Gathering54, and Cinderheart was clearly trying not to wake her. But Blossompaw’s, Briarpaw’s, and Bumblepaw’s nests were all empty.
Dazed from her dream, Ivypaw hauled herself to her paws. “Coming!” She picked her way on half-numb legs past Dovepaw’s nest and padded out into the damp dawn air. Briarpaw and her littermates were pacing the clearing, Blossompaw mumbling55 under her breath as though running through answers while Bumblepaw kept stopping to crouch35 and pounce.
Ivypaw remembered through the haze56 of her dream that today was their final assessment57. Mist hung in the camp, shrouding58 the dens59 so they looked eerie60 and far away. The dawn sky was obscured by thick, dark clouds.
Ivypaw shivered. “What did you want?” she asked Cinderheart.
Her mentor61 was already halfway62 across the clearing, heading to where Hazeltail, Mousewhisker, and Thornclaw sat like stones, eyeing their apprentices63 with anxious interest
Ivypaw glanced up, past the rocky walls of the hollow and the trees crowding the rim64. The clouds were darker than ever. There would be rain before long. Ivypaw shuddered65. Why couldn’t she have lingered longer in her dream meadow with Hawkfrost?
“The assessment will be carried out in pairs this time,” Cinderheart told Ivypaw. “We need you to pair up with Blossompaw.”
“No way!” Blossompaw’s horrified66 mew took Ivypaw by surprise. “She’s not properly trained! Can’t I have Dovepaw? At least she can hunt.”
Ivypaw glared at the tortoiseshell-and-white cat. “I know how to hunt!” Hawkfrost had just taught her two new moves!
“You’ve hardly caught more than a mouse!” Blossompaw complained. “Dovepaw’s brilliant! She can hear prey anywhere!”
Self-conscious and disappointed, Ivypaw felt her shoulders begin to sink.
You’re just as good as your sister.
The words rang in her head. Another voice, not here, though she couldn’t place it. She straightened up and lifted her chin. “I’ll do my best,” she promised. “Besides, you’re the one being assessed, not me.”
“Well said, Ivypaw.” Hazeltail padded through the mist and stood beside her apprentice. “Ivypaw is doing you a favor,” she scolded Blossompaw. “Youshould be doing the work, not her.”
The warriors67’ den rustled68 as Dustpelt and Spiderleg padded out. “Are we ready to go?” Spiderleg asked, yawning.
Cinderheart nodded. “You’ll be assessing Bumblepaw with Hazeltail,” she informed him. “I’ll help Mousewhisker with Briarpaw. Dustpelt, you and Thornclaw can assess Blossompaw.”
Hazeltail looked surprised. “So we’re not assessing our own apprentices?”
“Firestar wants us to try a different way,” Cinderheart reminded the small gray-and-white she-cat.
“Firestar has a new training technique every moon these days,” Thornclaw muttered, padding toward the entrance. “This is pointless,” he growled69. “By the time we’ve figured out this way of training, Firestar will have come up with something else.” He disappeared through the tunnel, the mist closing after him.
“Come on,” Cinderheart urged.
Ivypaw hurried after Blossompaw and her littermates as they pushed their way out of the camp.
“You two will hunt by the lake,” Cinderheart announced. She signaled to Briarpaw and Bumblepaw with her tail and the apprentices darted away, heading for the shore. Cinderheart looked at Ivypaw. “Be careful,” she warned. “Don’t forget you’re just helping70. You’ve got nothing to prove.”
Except that I’m as good a hunter as my sister. Wait till they see what I learned in my dream!
Ivypaw dug her claws into the soft, damp earth as she watched Cinderheart trot71 toward the lake with Mousewhisker, Hazeltail, and Spiderleg, quickening their pace as their apprentices hared off, clearly keen to make their first catch.
“Where are we hunting?” Blossompaw asked Dustpelt.
Dustpelt glanced questioningly at Thornclaw. “The abandoned Twolegplace?”
The golden brown warrior nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
Blossompaw flicked72 Ivypaw’s flank with her tail-tip. “Come on.” She pelted into the trees and Ivypaw raced after her, wishing she had longer legs as the older apprentice gathered speed and leaped the ruts and gullies in easy strides.
She was panting by the time she spotted73 the cracked stones of the abandoned Twolegplace. Blossompaw was waiting on the wall surrounding the tumbledown nest. “You can’t even keep up,” she scoffed74.
“We’re supposed to be showing them we can work together,” Ivypaw snapped.
“Like I’m going to give you the chance to hold me back.” Blossompaw jumped down from the wall and headed past the plants Jayfeather had carefully nurtured75. The scent of them made Ivypaw’s mouth water, but she knew the warning given to every Clan cat: Stay away from the catmint. It was the only cure for greencough, and more precious than poppy seeds.
As she disappeared around the corner of the wall, Blossompaw called over her shoulder, “Just stay out of my way!”
Ivypaw’s heart quickened with rage. How come everyone thought Dovepaw was so great and she was just a mouse-brain? I’ll show them!
She padded past the wall and ducked into the echoing Twoleg den. A jagged stone slope rose up to a hole in the roof and she scooted up it and peeked76 through a gap in the wall at the top. Blossompaw was tracking something in the unkempt grass below. Ivypaw couldn’t see what, but the tortoiseshell apprentice was moving intently through the tangled77 weeds.
Suddenly Ivypaw spotted movement at the bottom of the wall. Peering to see what it was, she pushed away a wave of dizziness, then turned and pelted down the jagged slope, the neatly78 cornered stones a blur79 beneath her paws. Treading lightly but fast, she nipped out of the nest and darted around the corner. There it was! A squirrel, rummaging80 in the plants at the bottom of the wall.
Remembering Hawkfrost’s instructions, she crouched down, keeping her back low so that it didn’t brush the branches arching from the rocks.
The squirrel was busy feasting on seeds it had shaken from a clump of dried-up flowers. Ivypaw slowed, preparing, letting awareness spread through her muscles, then sprang, flattening81 her back as she swerved82 around the plants. Her paws reached the squirrel with a curling swipe before it could see her and she grasped it and nipped it with a single killing83 bite.
Thanks, Hawkfrost!
“Impressive!” Thornclaw’s mew startled her and she swung around, the squirrel dangling84 from her jaws. The warrior was trotting85 toward her with Dustpelt on his tail.
“Where did you learn thatmove?” Dustpelt asked, his eyes wide. “You looked like you were hooking a fish out of water!”
Ivypaw gazed back innocently. There was no reason she had to give away her secret. “I guess it was just…instinct.”
The tall weeds beside them swished and Blossompaw came stomping86 out. “What’s all the noise about?” she spat87. “I was stalking a rat and you scared it away!”
Dustpelt tipped his head to one side. “Weren’t you helping to catch this squirrel?”
“I thought you were working in pairs,” Thornclaw added.
You told me to stay out of the way!Ivypaw glared at her denmate but kept her mouth shut.
“Then why was she herewhile you were trawling through the undergrowth?” Dustpelt queried89. “You’re supposed to be organizing a hunting pair. You should have told her where you wanted her.”
“Okay,” Blossompaw huffed. She flicked her tail at Ivypaw. “Come with me.” Turning, she pushed her way back into the jungle of weeds.
Ivypaw dropped the squirrel and flashed a rueful glance at the two warriors before following.
“What did you have to show me up for?” Blossompaw hissed as soon as they were out of earshot. “This is myassessment, remember?”
“Okay, then.” Ivypaw was still feeling pleased from her catch. “What do you want me to do?”
Blossompaw nodded toward the pine trees on the far side of the abandoned Twoleg nest. “We’ll hunt in there.”
They padded between the trunks. The crowded trees blocked the daylight, which was dull anyway. Ivypaw could taste the coming rain. Wisps of mist still lingered, but little undergrowth thrived here and it was easy to spot prey.
“There!” Blossompaw hissed.
A blackbird was rooting along the needle-strewn floor. There was no cover to hide their approach, but if they worked as a team, they might be able to trap it between them.
“Perfect,” Blossompaw murmured. “You head that way; I’ll come at it from the other side.” She nodded Ivypaw away, adding, “Keep low, and don’t drag your paws.”
Before Blossompaw could give her any more obvious instructions, she crept fast between the trees, keeping down but not letting her belly91 or tail brush the floor. She fixed92 her eyes on the blackbird, not allowing her gaze to stray even when trees passed between her and their quarry93. It had hold of a worm and was struggling to drag it out of the ground.
Blossompaw’s pelt32 flashed at the edge of Ivypaw’s vision. She ignored it, padding closer and closer until she was only a few tail-lengths from the bird. Then she halted.This is Blossompaw’s assessment,she reminded herself, fighting the urge to pounce. She knew she could get it, with Hawkfrost’s lesson still fresh in her mind.
Where was Blossompaw? The blackbird was winning the struggle with the worm. It would fly away any moment. Ivypaw narrowed her eyes. Perhaps she should catch it, just to make sure. She began to waggle her haunches, ready to leap.
A flash of tortoiseshell fur made her freeze as Blossompaw flew at the bird, paws outstretched, hind23 legs hitting the ground a moment too early. She managed to clasp the blackbird in her forepaws but there was no grace in the catch. The blackbird struggled, frantic94 wings battering95 the earth and sending pine needles flying while Blossompaw regained96 her balance enough to make the killing bite.
Hawkfrost would have sneered97 at such a clumsy catch. For a moment the scent of night washed over Ivypaw’s tongue, bringing a vivid image of the warrior tom to her mind and the dark forest musk13 that clung to his thick pelt.
Was he a StarClan cat? Had he come especially to teach her?
Dovepaw has never been visited by StarClan!Ivypaw felt a prick98 of satisfaction. She would have told me.
Rain began to patter on the canopy99 high overhead as Dustpelt and Thornclaw caught up. Dustpelt was carrying Ivypaw’s squirrel. He dropped it and nodded toward the blackbird. “Nicely caught.”
Thornclaw shrugged100. “Whatever Firestar says, I don’t see the point of hunting in pairs. Blossompaw would have caught it if Ivypaw were somewhere else catching her own prey.” He snorted. “Seems like a waste of warriors.” He glanced up as the rain grew heavier and began to drip through the branches. It splashed on his nose, making him sneeze.
“Come on,” he meowed, shaking his head. “I think we’ve seen enough. Let’s get back to camp before the downpour starts.”
The rain began to pound through the trees until the pine needles bounced on the forest floor.
“We’ve seen enough,” Thornclaw repeated. He flicked his tail toward the squirrel. “You may as well carry your own catch,” he told Ivypaw.
Pleased at the thought of walking into camp carrying such a fat piece of prey, Ivypaw grasped the squirrel in her jaws and began to head through the trees.
By the time they reached the thorn barrier, the forest was drenched101. Ivypaw could hardly see her Clanmates through the fog of rain. Her paws squelched102 on the muddy forest floor, each sucking pawstep filling with water behind her. After so many moons of drought, the elders couldn’t complain now. There was enough water to fill the lake even if every stream dried up.
Blossompaw trotted103 past Ivypaw, quickening her pace to enter camp first, and tripped on the wing of the blackbird. “Fox dung!” She cursed through her mouthful of feathers. “One wretched bird while you have to catch a squirrel!” She glared at Ivypaw. “If I fail this assessment, it’s all your fault.”
She ducked into the tunnel, leaving Ivypaw startled. At the start of the morning Blossompaw had been complaining that she’d be no help. Now she was upset because Ivypaw had been too much help.
Ivypaw dragged the squirrel through the thorn tunnel. Whitewing and Millie hurried to greet them.
“You’re the first back,” Millie meowed.
Whitewing’s eyes glowed with pride as she gazed at the squirrel hanging in her daughter’s jaws. “Well done!”
Millie glanced at Blossompaw’s blackbird. “You two obviously work well together.”
Yeah, right!
Ivypaw lifted her chin to keep the squirrel out of the mud as she carried it to the fresh-kill pile.
Dovepaw ducked out from the apprentices’ den, her shoulders hunched104 against the battering rain. “Great catch!” she called. “It’s nearly as big as you!”
“Thanks.” Pride rushed through Ivypaw as she dropped the squirrel beside Blossompaw’s blackbird. She wanted to tell Dovepaw about Hawkfrost. She glanced around the clearing. Millie and Graystripe were crowding around Blossompaw to find out how the assessment had gone, while Thornclaw and Dustpelt sheltered beneath Highledge, conferring with Firestar.
“Why?” Dovepaw sounded puzzled as she hurried after her. “What’s going on?”
Wait till she hears how a StarClan cat taught me how to hunt!
Ivypaw was bubbling with excitement. She slid through the tunnel and waited in the clearing outside, pummeling the muddy earth impatiently till Dovepaw caught up.
“What is it?” Dovepaw’s eyes were wide.
Ivypaw glanced around, making sure no cat was listening. “A StarClan cat came to see me,” she breathed.
“When?” Dovepaw blinked away raindrops.
“In my dream!” Ivypaw explained. “He was teaching me how to hunt!”
Dovepaw leaned closer. “Tell me more.”
Suddenly Ivypaw felt self-conscious. Did Dovepaw believe her or was she humoring her? Perhaps it had just been an ordinary dream. “This cat…” She fumbled106 for words. “He taught me some new hunting moves….”
Dovepaw was staring at her. “Who was it?”
“It was…”
The undergrowth shivered. “What are you doing out here?” Brightheart burst from a clump of ferns, panting. She was clearly racing107 for the shelter of the hollow. “You’ll catch your death!” She circled them, pressing them toward the thorn tunnel. “Inside, both of you! What would Whitewing say? Or Jayfeather? We don’t want to start leaf-bare with a medicine den full of sneezing apprentices!”
Sparking with frustration108, Ivypaw allowed herself to be herded109 into camp. Praying the apprentices’ den would be empty, she headed straight for it, beckoning110 to Dovepaw. Her sister kept close as they slipped into the dry den and shook the rain from their fur.
Ivypaw turned and started to explain about Hawkfrost. “He was a warrior….”
“Dovepaw!” Lionblaze was calling through the den wall.
Ivypaw unsheathed her claws. Can’t he wait?
“Sorry.” Dovepaw looked apologetic as she backed outside. Ivypaw ripped a pawful of bracken from her nest and flung it down. Dovepaw was always racing off to talk to warriors without her. Didn’t she care about her? And since when did the least experienced cats run the Clan? Couldn’t Lionblaze manage a few moments without his precious apprentice?
The yew111 bush shivered as Blossompaw, Briarpaw, and Bumblepaw came bouncing in, water spraying from their pelts112. “We passed! We passed!”
“Great!” Ivypaw slunk into her nest. “Congratulations!” She closed her eyes, blocking her ears to the mews of excitement as her denmates congratulated one another. If she went to sleep, Hawkfrost might teach her some more hunting moves until she wasn’t just as good as her sister—she was better. Then the Clan might start paying some attention to her as well.
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1
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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pollen
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| n.[植]花粉 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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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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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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ambled
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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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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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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musk
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| n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫 | |
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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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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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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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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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nibbling
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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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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pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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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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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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36
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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37
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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38
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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39
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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40
skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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41
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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42
flatten
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| v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽 | |
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43
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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44
awareness
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| n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智 | |
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45
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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46
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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48
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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49
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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50
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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51
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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52
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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53
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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54
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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55
mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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56
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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57
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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58
shrouding
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| n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 )；保密 | |
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dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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60
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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61
mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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62
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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63
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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64
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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65
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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66
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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67
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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68
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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69
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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70
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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71
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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72
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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73
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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76
peeked
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| v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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77
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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79
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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80
rummaging
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的现在分词 )； 海关检查 | |
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81
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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82
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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84
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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85
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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86
stomping
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的现在分词 ) | |
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87
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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88
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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89
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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90
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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91
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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92
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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93
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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94
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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95
battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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96
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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97
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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99
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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100
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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101
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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102
squelched
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| v.发吧唧声，发扑哧声( squelch的过去式和过去分词 )；制止；压制；遏制 | |
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103
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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104
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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105
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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106
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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107
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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108
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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109
herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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110
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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111
yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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112
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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