Chapter 21
Hollyleaf led the way out of the camp and up the steep path that brought the group to the top of the hol ow. Pushing through the undergrowth, she halted beside an outcrop of stones.
“This is near the place where I found those marigold plants in water up a tree,” Ivypool told Dovewing. With a gasp1 she swung around and faced Hol yleaf. “Wait—was that you?”
Hol yleaf nodded.
“And the yarrow?” Brightheart asked.
Dovewing could tel that Hol yleaf was uncomfortable with the attention of al the cats fixed2 on her. “I trained as a medicine cat first, remember,” she muttered. “I knew that I could help, so I did.”
“So you were watching us al the time?” Brightheart murmured
“I wasn’t accusing you of spying.” Brightheart reached out with her tail to rest it on Hol yleaf’s shoulder. “It’s just good to know that you didn’t forget about us.”
Fol owing her, Dovewing saw the gaping6 hole in the ground where she and Ivypool had ventured before, fol owing Sol into the tunnels.
“You mean we’re going down there?” Thornclaw asked, his whiskers twitching8 nervously9. “It’s not natural. We’re not moles10 or foxes! Cats shouldn’t be trapped down a hole!”
Toadstep shoved him to one side. “We won’t be trapped, mouse-brain! Let’s go!”
Before he could plunge11 into the darkness, Brackenfur stopped him with his tail across the entrance. “Hold on a moment. You can’t just go rushing into danger.” He sniffed12 warily14 at the stones that surrounded the hole. “These might fal and block us in.”
“You’re right, Brackenfur,” Hol yleaf agreed, “but if they did, it wouldn’t be a disaster. There are plenty of other ways out. Don’t forget that I know these tunnels.” Stepping back, she gestured with her tail.
“Al of you, have a good sniff13. We’re not going anywhere until every cat is ready.” While the other cats crowded around the hole, Toadstep glanced at Dovewing and Ivypool. “You two aren’t saying much,” he remarked.
He doesn’t know we’ve already been down there, Dovewing thought. And he’d better not find out. If Firestar knew we entered the tunnels on our own, we would be back on apprentice15 duties before you could say mouse.
Aloud she mewed, “We’re just looking forward to learning how to move through the tunnels.” Ivypool nodded. “Right.”
“Right,” Hol yleaf went on when every cat had taken a good look at the entrance. “We’l go in now.
Fol ow me, and don’t even think about trying to explore on your own.” She gave Toadstep a hard look.
“Okay,” he muttered.
Hol yleaf led the way into the tunnels fol owed by Brackenfur and then Brightheart. Dovewing hung back to take the last place, guessing that she might be able to use her senses to guard their rear, in case any WindClan warriors16 were lurking18 in the tunnels. Thornclaw was hanging back, too; Dovewing could see how reluctant he was to go down into the darkness.
“It’l be fine,” she mewed as he hesitated at the entrance.
Thornclaw shot her a glare and plunged19 into the tunnel; Dovewing could guess how much he must hate being reassured20 by a much younger Clanmate, especial y when he didn’t know that she had experience of being underground.
The light from the tunnel entrance soon died away behind them. Dovewing padded along in darkness, adjusting her senses to the unfamiliar21 surroundings and remembering how freaked out she had been when she first fol owed this path with Ivypool. Now the damp earth beneath her paws and the sensation of her fur brushing the wal s of the tunnel didn’t bother her nearly so much. It was better because they had a confident leader in Hol yleaf. Now and again her voice would echo back along the tunnel.
“It’s a tight squeeze just here, but it doesn’t last long.”
As the floor began to slant23 more steeply downward, Dovewing became aware of Thornclaw in front of her; he was breathing hard and once or twice his tail lashed24 across her face.
He’s getting scared. I know how he feels.
In the next heartbeat she col ided with Thornclaw’s hindquarters and realized he was trying to back away. “I’ve got to get out of here,” he muttered.
“No—you can’t!”
The tunnel was so narrow that Dovewing was blocking Thornclaw’s retreat. Panting, he started to claw at her. “Let me out!” he gasped25.
“Hol yleaf!” Dovewing cal ed. “Thornclaw needs help.”
“Okay, I’m coming!”
In the blackness Dovewing couldn’t see a thing, but she could hear grunts26 and hisses27 from the other cats as Hol yleaf squeezed her way past them until she reached Thornclaw.
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” she told Thornclaw calmly. “The dark can’t hurt you, just because you can’t see. And you have other senses, remember?”
Her words seemed to soothe28 Thornclaw; at least, he stopped struggling, though Dovewing was close enough to feel him trembling. “I’l walk with you,” Hol yleaf went on. “I’ve lived for moons down here, and nothing bad has happened to me.” Thornclaw took a deep breath. “Okay,” he whispered. “Sorry.”
“Brackenfur!” Hol yleaf raised her voice. “Wil you take the lead? Just keep on going straight, and ignore any side turns.”
“Right.” Brackenfur’s voice echoed back.
Thornclaw’s brief panic had unsettled Dovewing, and she began to feel uncomfortable, acutely aware of the contrast between bright, warm daylight and this cold blackness. She managed to slide forward past the others until she could pad between Brackenfur and Ivypool, feeling reassured by their closeness. Brackenfur especial y was a solid and calm presence, apparently29 too curious about the tunnels to feel any fear.
“What keeps the roof up?” he asked, sounding impressed. “And what made the tunnels in the first place?”
“Water,” Hol yleaf replied from farther back.
“There’s a river, and when it floods the tunnels fil .”
“Not a chance,” Hol yleaf told him. “There has to be real y heavy rain for a long time before that happens.
Run your paw along the stone,” she added, “and you can feel ridges31 like ripples32 in a windblown lake.
That’s from when the tunnels were first worn away by water.”
Reaching out to feel the tiny furrows33, Dovewing felt strangely comforted. Hollyleaf is really at home down here, she thought. She knows every mouse-length of these tunnels!
“I thought we were down here to learn about fighting?” Toadstep remarked as they padded on.
“You are,” Hol yleaf countered. “But you wouldn’t be able to fight a beetle34 in these narrow tunnels.
When it comes to a battle, we’l have to confront our enemies in larger spaces. The tunnels are useful to flee or pursue, but not for combat. If you try, you’re more likely to hit the wal s than your opponent.”
“Sorry I asked,” Toadstep muttered.
As the tunnel grew slightly wider Hol yleaf took the lead again and headed along a twisting side passage. At last Dove-wing realized that she could see, very dimly, the shapes of the cats in front of her.
The sound of running water came from up ahead; her pelt prickled at the thought of a flood rising to engulf35 them.
Moments later the cats emerged into an underground cave. A crack in the roof, high above their heads, gave them enough light to see one another. A river ran across the center of the cavern36; Hol yleaf flicked37 her tail at it.
“See? It’s greenleaf now, so the water level is very low. Nothing at al to worry about.” She seemed hesitant as the cats gathered around her. “I wonder what’s best . . .” she murmured, half to herself.
“Don’t you even know that?” Thornclaw snapped.
“What did you get us down here for?” Toadstep shot Thornclaw a sharp look, though he said nothing.
“I didn’t spend my time down here fighting,” Hol yleaf retorted. “I had no enemies because I saw no other cats.”
That must have been so lonely, Dovewing thought, with a sympathetic glance at the black she-cat.
“But you know more than any of us about moving around in darkness and confined spaces,” Brackenfur meowed. “That’s what wil be helpful.
Hol yleaf gave him a brief nod. “Right,” she began.
“You need to remember that the space is smal , so you have to change your fighting moves. Keep your blows short and tight, otherwise you risk knocking your paws against the wal s.”
Toadstep reared up on his hindpaws, keeping his forelegs tucked into his body while extending his claws against an imaginary enemy. “Like this?”
“Very good,” Hol yleaf mewed. “But don’t rear up unless you know there’s enough space above your head. Braining yourself on the tunnel roof would be a bad idea.”
Dovewing stifled40 a mrrow of amusement. “Is it better to fight in the light or the dark?” she asked.
Hol yleaf paused for a moment. “It depends,” she replied. “If you think you can beat your opponent, lead them away from the light so you can take advantage of the darkness. But if not, keep them close to the light so you can aim your blows accurately41.”
Dovewing glanced around the cavern, suppressing a shiver as she imagined it ful of clawing, screeching42 cats. The advice Hol yleaf was giving suddenly made the coming battle seem closer.
“Right,” Hol yleaf mewed briskly. “Let’s practice.
Toadstep, you seem keen, so you can be a ThunderClan warrior17. Dove-wing, you be the WindClan warrior that’s attacking him.”
“Come and get me, WindClan scum!”
“Scum yourself!” Dovewing retorted.
She leaped at Toadstep, but forgot what Hol yleaf had said about keeping moves smal and tight. As Toadstep dodged45 aside, her leap took her too far, and she narrowly missed charging into the cave wal .
Her paws skidded46, while Toadstep took the chance to deliver a couple of hard blows to her hindquarters.
“Wel done!” Hol yleaf cal ed.
Dovewing gritted47 her teeth. Turning tightly, she reared up as Toadstep came in for the attack, and used the backflip she had learned in the training session with Bumblestripe. Toadstep saw the move coming, but too late, and lost his balance. Dovewing leaped on top of him, battering48 at him with her forepaws.
But as Toadstep rol ed over, wriggling49 to free himself, one of Dovewing’s flailing50 paws hit the wal .
She let out a yowl of pain. Taking advantage of her brief distraction51, Toadstep threw her off and wrapped his forepaws around her neck. However hard she struggled, Dovewing couldn’t dislodge him.
Their fight had taken them right up against the cave wal . Heaving Toadstep around, Dovewing managed to trap him in a corner. Though he was stil clinging to her neck, he had no way of escaping when she raked at his bel y with her hindpaws.
“That’l do.” Hol yleaf came to separate them.
“Very good, both of you. Dovewing, that was a good move, to keep him pressed up against the wal like that. Do you know what you could have done?” she asked Toadstep.
“I’l show you. Brackenfur, come over here and shove me into the corner.”
As the ginger53 warrior charged at her, Hol yleaf sprang up against the wal and pushed off in an enormous leap that carried her right over Brackenfur’s head. She landed lightly and spun54 around, ready to attack.
“Bril iant!” Dovewing exclaimed.
“You need space, of course,” Hol yleaf meowed, dipping her head. “And you have to be careful not to scrape your pads. The wal s aren’t always smooth.
Why don’t you al pair up and practice that?” she suggested.
Within a few heartbeats the cave was ful of leaping cats. Dovewing took Ivypool as her partner. It took a few tries before either of them could do the move effectively.
“This is hard!” Ivypool panted. “But it might come in handy you-know-where,” she added in a lower voice.
“Okay,” Hol yleaf cal ed. “Now I want to try something else. Brightheart, you’ve developed new fighting moves to take advantage of your blind side.
Is there anything you can tel us that would help us here?”
Brightheart dipped her head, clearly pleased at being invited to contribute. “I’m used to darkness on one side,” she began, “so the darkness down here doesn’t bother me al that much. You need to make sure you’re using your whiskers and your tail-tip.
They’l help you judge how far away you are from the tunnel wal s.”
Hol yleaf nodded. “Let’s try a practice round to show us how that works. Ivypool, come and fight with her.”
Ivypool leaped forward and tried to trap Brightheart against the cave wal . But Brightheart seemed to know exactly where she was without needing to look behind her. She slid to one side and raked her paw down Ivypool’s flank.
“Great!” Ivypool wheezed57, struggling to get her breath back. “If your claws were out, I’d be crow-food.”
Brightheart repeated the sequence, but this time slowed down her moves so that every cat could see how she used her tail and whiskers. “Don’t forget you can’t always see your enemy down here,” she added. “You’l need to use hearing and scent58 much more than you do when you’re fighting out in the open.”
“Good point,” Hol yleaf meowed. “We’l do an exercise now to practice that. I’m going to take you into the tunnels one by one, and leave you there. You have to find your way back to us by listening and smel ing.”
“Then I’l come and get you, mouse-brain,” Hol yleaf retorted. “Come on, you can be first.
Meanwhile, the rest of you can practice Brightheart’s moves.”
She disappeared into a nearby tunnel, with Thornclaw trailing reluctantly after her. Dovewing was surprised when the tabby warrior returned soon after Hol yleaf, giving himself a couple of complacent59 licks as he emerged into the cave again.
“Good,” Hol yleaf mewed. “Now you, Dovewing.” Hol yleaf led the way down a series of tunnels that twisted and branched so that Dovewing knew she would never have found the way out again without something to guide her.
“Al right, this’l do,” Hol yleaf told her as they reached a dead end. “Wait for as long as it takes to eat a mouse, and then fol ow me back.” Dovewing waited much longer than that. Thanks to her special senses she could pick up the sounds of the cats in the cavern and knew exactly where she had to go. She didn’t want to give her powers away, so she tried to judge how long she should have taken before she rejoined them. From the moderate praise Hol yleaf gave her, Dovewing guessed her calculations had been right.
Toadstep was the last cat to go. Growing tired, the rest of the cats had stopped practicing and waited in the cave as the moments dragged out and he didn’t reappear.
“Hol yleaf, do you think—” Brightheart began.
A panic-stricken yowl interrupted her, seeming to come from right inside the wal s of the cave. “I’m lost!
I can’t get out!”
“It’s okay!” Hol yleaf cal ed back. “We can hear you. You can’t be far away.”
“But I can’t find the right tunnel!”
“Just keep calm,” Hol yleaf instructed him. “Let your senses go stil before you try again. Now taste the air for scent. Is it stronger in one direction?” There was a pause before Toadstep answered,
“I . . . I think so.”
“Okay, try that.”
A few heartbeats’ silence passed before Toadstep popped out of the tunnel entrance again.
“Thank StarClan!” he exclaimed.
“If you get lost down here,” Hol yleaf addressed the whole group of cats, “it’s vital not to panic. There’s always something that wil tel you the right way. Pay attention to the direction of the airflow. And if the air feels damp and heavy, that means the tunnel wil go deeper.”
“And head for the light, right?” Ivypool added.
Hol yleaf hesitated. “Mostly . . . but don’t forget that some cracks reach far, far down into the rock. They don’t necessarily offer a way out. Like that one,” she added, gesturing with her tail toward the gap in the cave roof.
“What next?” Toadstep asked.
“Next we go back to camp,” Hol yleaf replied. “It’s been a real y good session, but we’re al tired now.”
“We’ve learned a lot,” Dovewing meowed.
“Thanks, Hol yleaf.”
Murmurs60 of agreement came from the other cats as Hol yleaf led them back through the tunnels. The sun was setting by the time they emerged, and shadows lay thick under the trees as they padded back through the twilit forest.
“Hol yleaf’s training wil be real y useful for night fighting, too,” Brackenfur remarked.
“Yeah, we could practice that,” Toadstep agreed eagerly. “I’ve got another idea, too. Down in the tunnels, we could think of ways of getting our enemies lost.”
Ivypool nodded. “Maybe work out a system of signs so that we know where we are but the WindClan cats don’t?”
“Or we could work on ways of luring61 them into an ambush,” Dovewing added, her pads tingling62 with excitement. “WindClan won’t know what hit them!” As the entrance to the hol ow came into sight, Toadstep halted and gazed through the shadowy trees toward the WindClan border. “Let them come!” he yowled, his neck fur bristling63 and his tail lashing.
“We are ready!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
stiffened
|
|
| 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
pelt
|
|
| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
twitch
|
|
| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
moles
|
|
| 防波堤( mole的名词复数 )； 鼹鼠； 痣； 间谍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
sniffed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
sniff
|
|
| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
warily
|
|
| adv.留心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
apprentice
|
|
| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
reassured
|
|
| 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) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
unfamiliar
|
|
| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
uneven
|
|
| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
slant
|
|
| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
lashed
|
|
| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
grunts
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
hisses
|
|
| 嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
fretted
|
|
| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
ridges
|
|
| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
ripples
|
|
| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
furrows
|
|
| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
beetle
|
|
| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
engulf
|
|
| vt.吞没，吞食 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
cavern
|
|
| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
flicked
|
|
| （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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
ambushes
|
|
| n.埋伏( ambush的名词复数 )；伏击；埋伏着的人；设埋伏点v.埋伏( ambush的第三人称单数 )；埋伏着 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
stifled
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
accurately
|
|
| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
screeching
|
|
| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
lashing
|
|
| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
dodged
|
|
| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
skidded
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
gritted
|
|
| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
battering
|
|
| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
wriggling
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
flailing
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
distraction
|
|
| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
bruises
|
|
| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
ginger
|
|
| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
appreciation
|
|
| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
pouncing
|
|
| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
wheezed
|
|
| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
complacent
|
|
| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
murmurs
|
|
| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
luring
|
|
| 吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
tingling
|
|
| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
bristling
|
|
| a.竖立的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |