Chapter 3
“It’s nice and dry,” Whitewing commented. “That should please Mousefur and Purdy.” She paused, then added hesitantly, “Dovewing, I’m worried about these bad dreams you’re having. I—”
“I’l be fine, honestly,” Dovewing interrupted, wishing she hadn’t said anything about the dreams in which she saw Swoop2, over and over again, carried away by the eagle, the Tribe cat’s heartrending cries shattering the air. Avoiding her mother’s gaze, Dovewing bent3 her head over the growing pile of moss, checking it for thorns. “The dreams wil go away eventual4 y.”
Whitewing shook her head. “It’s been a whole moon since you got back, and you’re stil having them.” She pul ed off another clump5 of moss, raking her claws down the oak root. “I blame myself for letting you go to the mountains. You’re too young, and you haven’t got enough warrior6 experience to travel so far.”
“You can’t say that!” Dovewing protested, looking up from the moss. “You didn’t let me go. Firestar chose me.”
I wish I could tell you why he made that decision, but I can’t, Dove-wing thought. “Don’t forget I led the expedition to find the beavers8,” she reminded her mother. “I got lots of experience there.”
“I know.” Whitewing stil looked anxious. “StarClan shouldn’t have sent the dream about the beavers to an apprentice9. It was far too much responsibility.” Except they didn’t send a dream. . . . Dovewing bent even more busily over the moss to hide her expression. Whitewing would never sleep again if she knew how much responsibility I was born with, thanks to the prophecy.
“I’l get over it, I real y wil ,” she reassured10 her mother. “And it’s not al bad. I’m lucky to have traveled such a long way beyond the Clan. There’s so much out there to see!”
“Yes, yes, I know there is . . . oh, there’s a huge thorn!” Dovewing exclaimed, snagging it in one claw and tossing it aside. “It’s a good thing that didn’t end up in Mousefur’s pelt13.”
For a few heartbeats Dovewing and Whitewing worked side by side, clawing more moss off the oak roots. Laying a particularly thick clump on the pile, Whitewing paused. “I was talking to Bumblestripe earlier,” she remarked. “He’s a nice young warrior—
so polite! He likes you a lot, you know.” Dovewing began to feel hot and uncomfortable in her pelt. “I know,” she muttered, squirming with embarrassment14.
“There’s plenty of time,” Dovewing meowed. Will the prophecy allow me to have a mate? How can I have kits16 if I might be called on to save the Clan at any moment? An image of Tigerheart flashed into her mind, his eyes sparkling as if he were going to spring at her and rol her over in a play fight.
Tigerheart would understand. . . .
Dovewing thrust the thought away. “This is plenty of moss,” she announced. “Let’s get it back to camp.”
Whitewing rol ed the moss into two bal s and the she-cats picked them up to carry back to the stone hol ow. Now that Whitewing wasn’t fussing anymore, Dovewing enjoyed being with her; it wasn’t often that she and her mother could work together without any other cats. In spite of her disturbed night, she began to feel better. But her ears were ful of weird17 buzzing noises, and she stil couldn’t reach out with her senses.
What if my powers have gone forever? she wondered, a cold trickle18 of fear passing through her from ears to tail-tip. No, she told herself. I’m not going to think about that.
As she passed a thick bank of ferns not far from the entrance to the camp, there was a sudden flash of gray-and-white fur, and Mousewhisker leaped out of the undergrowth in front of her. Dovewing let out a startled squeak19 and jumped back, dropping the bal of moss.
“Got you!” Mousewhisker exclaimed with a mrrow of laughter. “I’ve never seen you jump like that. Have you got moss in your ears, Dovewing? Usual y no cat manages to sneak20 up on you.”
Dovewing batted at him with one paw, trying not to feel annoyed. If I’d had my proper senses, I’d have heard you stomping21 along like a fox in a fit!
“Do you want to come hunting?” Mousewhisker went on. “The border patrol heard squirrels fighting in the grass clearing near the ShadowClan border. And tired, injured squirrels make easy prey22!” Icecloud and Toadstep emerged from the ferns behind Mousewhisker.
“Yes, come,” Icecloud mewed. “It’l be fun!” Dovewing glanced at her mother. “I’m supposed to take this moss back. . . .”
“I can do that,” Whitewing meowed cheerful y. “You go and hunt.”
“Thanks!”
While Whitewing gathered the moss bal s together, Dovewing joined Mousewhisker and the others, heading into the forest. Mousewhisker picked up the pace until they were running ful -pelt through the trees. Dovewing felt her night fears and exhaustion23 melt away as she bunched and stretched her muscles, her paws skimming the ground.
“Bet I can jump higher than any cat!” Toadstep announced.
“Bet you can’t!” Icecloud retorted, leaping over a fal en tree trunk to show off her skil s.
Toadstep sprang over the trunk after the white she-cat and landed hard on top of her.
“Oof! Get off!” Icecloud spluttered, shoving Toadstep away and jumping to her paws. “You’re as heavy as a badger24.”
“Let’s race,” Mousewhisker suggested. “Last cat to reach the dead tree is a mouse!” He streaked25 off before he had finished speaking, leaving the other three to scramble26 after him
Toadstep overtook her and Mousewhisker, but Dovewing gradual y drew ahead of Icecloud.
It’s easier to run fast and dodge28 trees when I can’t hear everything from far away, she realized in surprise. There’s nothing to distract me. This is what it must be like for other cats!
She passed Mousewhisker as they skirted a bramble thicket29 so that only Toadstep was in front of her, his black-and-white shape pelting30 easily along.
Dovewing gathered herself and put on a spurt31, her paws barely touching32 the ground with each bound.
The dead tree was within sight when she came up alongside her Clanmate, glimpsing his astonished look as she scampered33 past him and hurled34 herself at the tree, scoring her claws down the trunk.
“I win!” she yowled.
Toadstep ran up after her, fol owed by Mousewhisker and last of al a panting Icecloud.
“Okay, I’m a mouse.” The white she-cat let herself flop35 to the ground. “Dovewing, that was a great race!”
“Yes, you even beat Toadstep,” Mousewhisker meowed. “And he’s fast!”
Toadstep gave her an approving nod. “Wel done.” When al the cats had caught their breath, Mousewhisker rose to his paws. “It’s time to start looking for those squirrels. We’d better be quiet now; we’re pretty close to the clearing.” He took the lead; Dovewing and the others fol owed him, brushing through the undergrowth on stealthy paws. At the edge of the clearing Dovewing peered out of a clump of long grass to see that Twolegs were already starting to build their green pelt-dens there.
“Mouse dung!” she muttered as three Twoleg kits ran across the open space, yowling and tossing something red from paw to paw. “They’l scare away al the prey from here to the lake.” Mousewhisker led his patrol around the edge of the clearing, slinking through the shadows so that the Twolegs wouldn’t notice them. Dovewing shivered to the tips of her claws as she crossed the old ShadowClan boundary. There were stil traces of ShadowClan scent36, and she half-expected to hear the chal enge of a ShadowClan patrol.
That’s the bush where I first met Tigerheart, she thought as she passed it. Everything was so different back then. . . .
At the other side of the clearing the patrol scattered37, tasting the air to pick up the scent of squirrel.
“Over here,” Icecloud cal ed in a low voice. She was standing38 at the foot of a tree, gazing up into the branches. “There’s a squirrel up there. I think it’s injured.”
Mousewhisker bounded over. “You’re right. You climb this side, and I’l take the other.” Dovewing and Toadstep watched as their Clanmates clawed their way up the tree. But as they reached the lowest branches there was a rustling39 among the leaves and the squirrel leaped out, skimming the top of Icecloud’s head, and sprang to the ground, streaking40 straight past Dovewing and Toadstep. Dovewing whirled and gave chase with Toadstep beside her. The squirrel made a dash for the clearing
She and Toadstep gained on the squirrel as it raced across the open space. They swerved42 past the pelt-dens, their paws splashing briefly43 in the stream. Dovewing drew ahead; the squirrel was so close that she was bunching her muscles for a leap when the reek44 of ShadowClan scent brought her skidding45 to a halt.
Great StarClan! I nearly crossed the border.
The squirrel bounded ahead and disappeared up a nearby ash tree with a flick46 of its tail. Dovewing glanced around as she stood panting at the edge of her territory, but she couldn’t see Toadstep or the rest of the patrol.
“You stopped this time.”
Dovewing’s heart thumped47 in her chest at the sound of the voice. She spun48 around to see Tigerheart padding out from a thicket of brambles.
He paced up to his own side of the border and dipped his head
“I haven’t set paw on your territory!” Dovewing meowed defensively, her neck fur beginning to fluff up with anger. I wish the others would get here, she thought.
“Relax. I’m alone,” Tigerheart responded. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Actual y, I was hoping to see you.”
Dovewing narrowed her eyes. “I told you, we can’t talk like this anymore. It’s . . . it’s over.” Tigerheart blinked. “No, there’s something else.” He hesitated and added reluctantly, “It’s about Dawnpelt.”
Dovewing’s fur began to lie flat as curiosity overtook her nervousness.
“She’s been acting49 weird ever since Flametail’s death,” the tabby tom went on. “She . . . she thinks it was Jayfeather’s fault that he drowned.”
Tigerheart sighed. “He probably was. But I guess it’s hard to know the truth, and Dawnpelt wants revenge.”
Dovewing stared at him, carried back in her mind to the terrible day when the young ShadowClan medicine cat, Tigerheart’s and Dawnpelt’s littermate, had fal en through the ice on the frozen lake and drowned.
“You know the medicine cats have been acting strange,” Tigerheart went on. “Not going to the Moonpool at the half-moon, that kind of thing.
Dawnpelt thinks that Jayfeather had a quarrel with Flametail, and then murdered him when he fel through the ice.”
“That’s nonsense!” Dovewing’s claws tore at the grass in front of her. “Dawnpelt needs to grow up.
Jayfeather would never do anything like that—he was devastated52 that he couldn’t save Flametail. I can’t believe you’d listen to that kind of rumor53!”
“I’m not tel ing you because I think it’s true.” Tigerheart’s voice rose. “I’m trying to warn you. I think Dawnpelt might do something to hurt ThunderClan in revenge.” His voice dropped and he shook his head.
“She’s acting real y weird.”
Dovewing couldn’t feel sympathetic. “I think we can handle Dawnpelt losing her temper, thanks,” she snapped. “Please don’t talk to me again. We’l both be in trouble if we get caught.” She turned, poised54 to run into the woods on the other side of the clearing.
“I was just trying to help.” There was anger and sorrow in Tigerheart’s voice. “I want to prove to you that we don’t have to be enemies.”
“It’s too late for that,” Dovewing mewed.
Without looking at Tigerheart again she headed for the trees. Before she reached them, the squirrel shot past her, and Dovewing let out a hiss50 of irritation55. I know Tigerheart chased it back onto our territory. Doesn’t he think I can hunt on my own?
But at the same time her paws carried her swiftly after her prey, and she kil ed it with a neat blow to the spine56. Picking it up, she plunged57 into the shelter of the trees, spotting Mousewhisker and the rest of the patrol a few tail-lengths away.
“Great catch!” Toadstep exclaimed as she bounded up to them
“Yeah, you’re real y fast on your paws,” Mousewhisker added, while Icecloud gave the freshkil an admiring sniff12.
As the patrol headed back toward the camp, Dovewing cast a final glance back across the clearing. Tigerheart had vanished. Is what he told me true? she wondered. Is Dawnpelt planning revenge for a murder that never happened?
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1
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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eventual
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| adj.最后的，结局的，最终的 | |
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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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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reassured
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| 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) | |
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11
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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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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19
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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stomping
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的现在分词 ) | |
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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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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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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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sprinted
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| v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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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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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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flop
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| n.失败(者)，扑通一声；vi.笨重地行动，沉重地落下 | |
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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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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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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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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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40
streaking
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| n.裸奔（指在公共场所裸体飞跑）v.快速移动( streak的现在分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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41
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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42
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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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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45
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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46
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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47
thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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50
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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51
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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52
devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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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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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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