Chapter 4
Lionblaze padded through the thorn tunnel into the camp and stood flexing1 his aching muscles. “That was a great training session,” he meowed to Blossomfal as she emerged behind him. “You certainly caught me with that backward leap and twist.”
“Yeah, wil you show me how to do it?” Foxleap asked as he fol owed Blossomfal .
The young she-cat’s eyes glowed at her Clanmates’ praise and she gave her chest fur a couple of embarrassed licks. “It’s not that hard,” she murmured. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, Lionblaze.”
“I’l be fine.” Lionblaze gave her a friendly flick3 over her ear with the tip of his tail. “I should have been a bit quicker.”
Cinderheart padded up, her eyes glimmering4 with amusement as her gaze traveled over Lionblaze’s ruffled5 pelt6. “You look like you’ve been pul ed through the thorn barrier backward,” she mewed.
“I feel like it, too,” Lionblaze replied. “Blossomfal and Foxleap didn’t give me a chance to catch my breath. They’re turning into great fighters.” He was heading toward the fresh-kil pile when a yowl broke out behind him. “Firestar! Firestar!” Whirling around, Lionblaze saw Sorreltail burst into the clearing with Bumblestripe, Berrynose, and Hazeltail hard on her paws. Birchfal and Ivypool fol owed more slowly.
“Great StarClan!” Lionblaze exclaimed, his neck fur rising. “Are we under attack?” While Sorreltail was struggling to get her breath back, Firestar appeared from his den7 on the Highledge, then ran lightly down the tumbled rocks to the floor of the hol ow. Sandstorm leaped down behind him, while Dustpelt and Brackenfur bounded over from the fresh-kil pile.
“What’s going on?” Firestar demanded as he halted in front of Sorreltail’s patrol.
“Trouble on the WindClan border,” Sorreltail explained. “Birchfal and Ivypool got into an argument with some WindClan cats. I think if we hadn’t turned up, there would have been a fight.”
“Is this true?” Firestar asked, fixing his green gaze on Birchfal and Ivypool.
For the first time Lionblaze noticed that Birchfal was looking sulky, while the tip of Ivypool’s tail flicked8 irritably9 to and fro.
“They started it,” Birchfal mewed defensively.
“They didn’t want to let us wash our paws in the stream.”
“We weren’t on their territory,” Ivypool added. “We weren’t doing anything wrong.”
“For StarClan’s sake!” Dustpelt snapped, before Firestar could respond. “Aren’t the tensions high enough between the Clans10, without going out to look for more trouble?”
“We weren’t looking for it!” Ivypool flashed back at him.
As Firestar raised his tail for silence, Brackenfur padded to Sorreltail’s side and touched her ear lightly with his nose. “I hope you haven’t been getting into any skirmishes,” he murmured.
His mate blinked at him affectionately. “No. But it’s no thanks to these mouse-brains.”
“Mouse-brain yourself!” Birchfal retorted.
“Let’s al keep calm,” Firestar meowed, padding into the middle of the hostile group. “No cat is saying you broke the warrior12 code,” he went on to Birchfal and Ivypool, “but washing your paws on the WindClan border wasn’t the most sensible thing you’ve ever done.”
“Yes, what’s wrong with the lake?” Sandstorm put in.
Ivypool opened her jaws13 to reply, but just then excited squealing14 came from the direction of the nursery. Lionblaze glanced over his shoulder to see Molekit and Cherrykit scampering16 up.
“What’s happening?” Cherrykit demanded, her tail straight up in the air with excitement. “Can we help?”
“Tel us what to do!” Molekit puffed17 his chest out importantly. “Who are we going to fight?” Lionblaze felt warmed by the kits18’ enthusiasm.
They were almost six moons old, ready to be apprentices19, and their mother, Poppyfrost, was ready to return to warrior duties. He bent21 his head and touched noses with each kit15 in turn. “Settle down,” he purred. “WindClan isn’t about to attack.
You can put your claws away.”
Straightening up again, he caught Cinderheart’s blue gaze, and saw a flash of pain in her eyes. He understood exactly how she was feeling. We could have kits of our own, as soon as you like, if you could only get past the prophecy. He suppressed a growl22 of frustration23 that the gray she-cat found his destiny such a big obstacle. I didn’t ask to be picked out by StarClan before I was even born!
“Having fun with the kits?” Brightheart asked, padding up with her mate, Cloudtail. “You’l be a great father one day, Lionblaze.”
More cats emerged from the thorn tunnel.
Mousewhisker was in the lead, ahead of Dovewing, Icecloud, and Toadstep. Dovewing held a squirrel clamped in her jaws, while Icecloud was carrying a blackbird. They padded into the center of the clearing, casting curious glances at the group of cats around Firestar, then headed for the fresh-kil pile to deposit their prey26. Most of the other cats drifted after them, the argument about the encounter with WindClan breaking up.
As soon as Dovewing had dropped her squirrel, Purdy padded up to her from the elders’ den. “Hey, young ‘un,” he began, “it was you col ectin’ moss27 this morning, wasn’t it?”
Dovewing tipped her head on one side. “Yes, Whitewing and I fetched it. Is there a problem?”
“It’s real y dry an’ prickly,” Purdy meowed, blinking apologetical y. “I don’t want to fuss, but Mousefur can’t get comfortable.”
Lionblaze glanced across at the elders’ den to see Mousefur crouched28 at the entrance, her head lowered. A pang29 of pity clawed at him; the outspoken30 old she-cat hadn’t been the same since her denmate Longtail was kil ed by the fal ing tree. Lionblaze would have given anything to hear Mousefur complain about her own prickly moss.
“I’m sorry,” Dovewing mewed. “I thought I got al the thorns out. I’l go through the bedding again, if you like.”
“No, that’s going to take forever,” Graystripe put in; he and Mil ie were sharing a vole beside the freshkil pile. “Bumblestripe and Blossomfal can go out and find some feathers. That should be soft enough.”
“That is so not fair!” Blossomfal exclaimed, looking up from choosing a piece of fresh-kil .
“Yes, we always get the boring jobs.” Bumblestripe came to stand beside his sister. “Just because there aren’t any apprentices in the Clan2!
Graystripe narrowed his amber33 eyes. “Maybe when you learn not to answer back to a senior warrior,” he rasped.
Bumblestripe and Blossomfal exchanged mutinous34 glances, but before either of them could reply, Sandstorm padded up to Graystripe and gave him a poke31 in the side. “Come on, Graystripe,” she meowed. “You’re always tougher on your own kits than the rest of the Clan. They have a point. They’re warriors, but they do get stuck with the apprentice tasks. I’l go with you,” she added to the two younger warriors.
“No, I’ve got a better idea.” Firestar bounded over to the rockfal that led up to his den and sprang onto one of the boulders35 at the bottom. “Let al cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” he cal ed.
Most of the cats were already out in the clearing, and they gathered around Firestar with murmurs36 of surprise. Lionblaze headed to sit beside Cinderheart, noticing that Jayfeather had emerged from his den and was crouched beside Briarlight, who had dragged herself to the edge of the bramble screen. Daisy, Poppyfrost, and Ferncloud slipped out of the nursery and sat together at the edge of the crowd.
“Foxleap, Rosepetal, come and stand here with me,” Firestar continued.
Exchanging mystified glances, the two warriors rose to their paws and joined their Clan leader at the foot of the cliff.
“Since the Clan is having problems because of the shortage of apprentices,” Firestar went on, “I think the best solution is to create some more. Molekit and Cherrykit—”
“What?” Molekit exclaimed, springing to his paws with every hair on his pelt fluffed out until he looked twice his size.
“Us?” Cherrykit bounced up and down with excitement. “Oh, cool!”
“Firestar, you can’t!” Poppyfrost leaped up, her paws pattering as she raced across the clearing to her kits. “We’ve had no warning! They’re so untidy—
Molekit, just look at your pelt!”
She flung herself on the little tom, licking frantical y, while Berrynose got up and hurried over to groom37 Cherrykit. Lionblaze thought the warrior looked as proud as if it were his own apprentice ceremony.
Firestar looked on for a moment with a purr of amusement, then beckoned38 the two kits with a wave of his tail. “They’re fine,” he meowed. “Come over here and stand in front of me.”
The two kits obeyed him, their fur stil rumpled39 and sticking up here and there. Firestar reached out with his tail and touched Cherrykit on the shoulder. “From this time forward,” he announced, “this kit wil be known as Cherrypaw. Foxleap, you have shown courage and perseverance40 in serving your Clan, and I trust that you wil pass on these qualities to your apprentice.”
Foxleap’s eyes were shining with pride as he stepped forward and touched noses with Cherrypaw.
She stayed by his side as they returned to the crowd of cats.
But when Firestar turned to Molekit, the little tom took a leap backward, out of reach of the Clan leader’s tail. “I don’t want to be an apprentice,” he squeaked41. “You only want us so we can do al the nasty jobs!”
Gasps42 of astonishment43 came from the assembled cats. Lionblaze saw Cherrypaw gazing wide-eyed with horror at her brother. Berrynose lashed11 his tail, while Poppyfrost shut her eyes and dug her claws into the ground as if she wished she were somewhere else.
But Firestar, far from being angry, was stifling44 a purr of laughter. “Yes, there are duties to be done,” he agreed. “But every single warrior here did them.
And training is just as important. That’s why I’ve chosen Rosepetal to be your mentor45. She’s a skil ed and swift fighter, and I know she’l pass her training on to you.” He beckoned Molekit again.
Molekit stayed where he was, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Can I do some training first?” he checked. “Before I have to search any cat for ticks?”
“That’s up to Rosepetal,” Firestar purred.
Rosepetal’s eyes were sparkling with amusement.
“Even better than training,” she promised. “Today we’l explore the whole territory. Duties start tomorrow.”
At last he padded up to Firestar, who touched him on the shoulder with his tail-tip. “From this time forward, this kit wil be known as Molepaw,” he declared. “Now, go and touch noses with Rosepetal.”
The young tom did as he was told, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“The Clan meeting is over,” Firestar meowed.
But before any cat could move, Brackenfur came bounding over. “Just a moment, Firestar. I have some news to share with the Clan.” Firestar waved his tail, giving the ginger47 warrior permission to speak.
“Sorreltail is having kits again,” Brackenfur announced.
Yowls of congratulation rose up from the Clan.
Lionblaze spotted48 Cinderheart and Poppyfrost, the kits of Sorreltail’s first litter, exchanging a delighted glance.
Sorreltail raised her voice above the noise.
“They’l be born in just under a moon.” Daisy padded over to her and gave her ear a lick, and Ferncloud pressed her muzzle49 into Sorreltail’s shoulder. “It’s great that you’l be moving into the nursery with us,” she mewed.
Listening to them, Lionblaze couldn’t help glancing at Cinderheart, but she had moved away from his side and was talking excitedly to Poppyfrost.
Foxleap and Rosepetal were padding toward the thorn tunnel, their apprentices bouncing alongside them. Molepaw seemed to have forgotten his misgivings50, and looked as excited as his sister.
“They’re so little,” Poppyfrost murmured as they passed her. “I hope they won’t be too tired, walking al the way around the border.”
“Of course they wil ,” Berrynose added, touching52 his nose to his mate’s ear. “Our kits wil be the best apprentices the Clan has ever seen.” Lionblaze turned away, trying to push down his envy. As the Clan meeting broke up, he spotted Ivypool heading for her den, and bounded across to intercept53 her. “What was al that about WindClan?” he asked. “Which warriors were involved?” Ivypool paused as if she was reluctant to answer.
“Heathertail and Breezepelt, and their apprentices,” she mewed at last.
It would be, Lionblaze thought. “They just chal enged you? There wasn’t any actual fighting?” Ivypool shook her head.
“It was fine,” Birchfal meowed, overhearing. “We were never in any danger. Breezepelt wasn’t going to cause trouble. Sorreltail overreacted, that’s al .” Lionblaze studied Birchfal for a heartbeat, surprised at how confident he sounded. Normal y any ThunderClan cat returned from an encounter with Breezepelt ruffled and hissing54. Why had this time been so different? He narrowed his eyes. Was it because Birchfal and Breezepelt had a connection that went beyond a shared border?
“Tel me more about what happened,” he prompted Ivypool as soon as Birchfal was out of earshot again. “Is there something between Birchfal and Breezepelt? Have you seen Birchfal in the Dark Forest?”
“N-no,” Ivypool replied.
Her hesitation55 made Lionblaze suspicious. “But you know he goes there, right?” Frustrated56, he added, “You’re supposed to tel us everything about the Dark Forest! Even if it involves your father. I think you need to consider where your loyalties57 lie.” Fury flared58 in Ivypool’s eyes. “How dare you question my loyalties?” she snarled59. “I risk my life for my Clan every time I go to sleep!”
“What’s going on?” Dovewing’s voice sounded behind Lionblaze, and he turned to see her racing60 up to him. “What are you doing to Ivypool?”
“Nothing,” Lionblaze defended himself.
“So accusing me of being disloyal is nothing, is it?” Ivypool chal enged him, her eyes stil blazing with rage.
“That’s not fair!” Dovewing exclaimed. “Just back off, Lionblaze. If we can’t trust our Clanmates, who can we trust?”
Lionblaze snorted. “I don’t know. I’d trust Ivypool more if she’d give me a straight answer.” Ivypool didn’t answer, just spun61 around and stalked off. Dovewing was about to fol ow when Lionblaze blocked her with his tail.
“Make sure you listen careful y for anything happening on the WindClan border,” he meowed.
To his surprise, Dovewing hung her head and muttered something that Lionblaze couldn’t catch.
“What?” he asked.
Dovewing looked up; Lionblaze felt his pelt prickle with apprehension62 as he saw real fear in her eyes.
“My extra senses haven’t come back after my trip to the mountains,” she confessed. “What if I’ve lost my power?”
Lionblaze stared at her. “But you’re one of the Three.”
Dovewing shook her head. “I don’t know if it’s because I heard and saw too much when I was beyond the ridge63 of hil s, or if I’ve become too good at blocking out far-off sounds. I had to do that when we were traveling, or everything would have overwhelmed me.”
“I’m sure you’l be al right,” Lionblaze soothed64 her instinctively65, remembering the time when she was his apprentice. “You just need to give it time. Your senses wil come back.”
But though he tried to sound confident, inwardly he wasn’t so sure. Anxiety bubbled up inside him. If Dovewing loses her power, does that mean the prophecy is reduced to two?
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1
flexing
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| n.挠曲，可挠性v.屈曲( flex的现在分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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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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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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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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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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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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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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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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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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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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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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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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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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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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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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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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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poke
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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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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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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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rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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41
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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42
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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43
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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46
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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47
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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48
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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49
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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50
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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51
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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52
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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53
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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54
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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55
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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56
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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57
loyalties
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| n.忠诚( loyalty的名词复数 )；忠心；忠于…感情；要忠于…的强烈感情 | |
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58
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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59
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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60
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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61
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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62
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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63
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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64
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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65
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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