Chapter 22
“Hi, Dovewing, Ivypool!” Foxleap called as they emerged from the thorns at the rear of Hol yleaf’s training patrol.
The last streaks1 of scarlet2 were fading from the sky and half the stone hol ow lay in deep shadow.
Most of the other patrols seemed to have returned, too, and almost the whole Clan3 was settling down to eat. Ivypool looked across the camp to see Foxleap sitting beside Bumblestripe near the fresh-kil pile.
“Come and share our squirrel!” Foxleap added.
Ivypool raced across the clearing with Dovewing at her shoulder. She noticed the welcoming purr that Bumblestripe gave her sister, and how he made room for her to sit next to him and eat.
“How was the training?” Foxleap prompted.
Every muscle in Ivypool’s body was aching as she flopped4 down and bit into the prey5. “We learned loads,” she mumbled6 around the mouthful of freshkil .
“Yes, al about how to fight underground,” Dovewing put in. “You have to keep your moves smal , and not bang your paws against the wal s.”
“And Hol yleaf taught us to push off the tunnel wal and leap over our enemies,” Ivypool mewed, swal owing the squirrel. “That’s so you don’t get trapped.”
“Wow, it sounds tough!” Foxleap commented.
“It is,” Dovewing admitted, “but it’s kind of logical, too. You’l see, when it’s your turn.”
“This is a great squirrel,” Ivypool meowed, taking another huge bite. “Who caught it?”
“Actual y, it was me,” Bumblestripe confessed, giving his shoulder an embarrassed lick. “I was lucky to get it.”
“No, it was a bril iant catch,” Foxleap insisted.
“Especial y since you were on your own. Cinderheart was supposed to be in our hunting patrol,” he explained, “but she said she wanted to stay here in the hol ow and help Jayfeather.”
Bumblestripe shrugged8. “Not much. What could he say? He would never chal enge a medicine cat, would he?”
“But is Cinderheart a medicine cat?” Foxleap asked.
Ivypool felt a pang9 of sympathy for Cinderheart; she knew very wel what it was like to have a paw in two worlds. But when the gray she-cat emerged a moment later from Jayfeather’s den10 and padded over to eat with Hol yleaf, she seemed contented11 enough.
Maybe she’s found her destiny after all, Ivypool thought.
A few moments later, Jayfeather emerged from the den and bounded across to the fresh-kil pile, where he chose a mouse for himself.
Cinderheart looked up from the vole she was sharing with Hol yleaf. “Jayfeather, should I sleep in your den from now on?”
Ivypool realized that the gray she-cat wasn’t contented at al . She was trying to put a brave face on her situation, but underneath12 it she seemed confused and unhappy.
“We wanted to talk to you about that,” Brackenfur mewed, padding up to Jayfeather with Sorreltail beside him. “About everything, real y.”
“Yes,” Sorreltail joined in. “What does it al mean, that Cinderheart used to be Cinderpelt? Why has StarClan done this to her?”
Jayfeather shook his head. “I don’t know. It was their decision.”
Sorreltail padded up to her daughter and pressed her muzzle14 comfortingly against Cinderheart’s shoulder. “I love you for who you are,” she murmured.
“And that is Cinderheart.”
Cinderheart looked up at her with pain in her blue eyes. “But I don’t know if I am Cinderheart anymore.
Jayfeather, should I sleep in your den or not?” Jayfeather hesitated. “You don’t have to, but—” Mil ie interrupted by springing to her paws and stalking forward, her tail-tip twitching15. “What about Briarlight?” she demanded. “I don’t want her moved out of the den just to make room for Cinderheart.
What if she stops breathing in the night?”
“I don’t think that’s likely,” Jayfeather responded.
He raised his tail to stop Mil ie as she drew breath for another protest. “But I don’t want Briarlight moved either,” he added. “She’s real y useful where she is.” Briarlight, who was sharing a sparrow with Graystripe, blinked. “I’m fine,” she mewed. “I don’t mind where I am.”
“You’d al be real y squashed.”
“And what if you need space for sick cats?” Leafpool added.
Ivypool felt her head start to spin as more cats joined in to add their opinions, and she couldn’t fol ow the argument anymore. A flash of flame caught her eye and she spotted17 Firestar bounding down from the Highledge.
“Brackenfur, Dustpelt,” the Clan leader meowed as he approached the fresh-kil pile, flicking18 his tail to summon the two toms. “Do you think that we could make more space in the medicine cat’s den, along with the warriors’ den?”
Dustpelt and Brackenfur turned to eye the fal en tree.
“It might work,” Dustpelt murmured, tilting20 his head to one side. “What do you think, Brackenfur? If we could move that branch there, and pack the space with brambles . . .”
Ivypool was distracted from the warriors’ plans when Hol yleaf padded across to her and Dovewing.
“Are you stil okay with me sharing your den?” she meowed.
“Of course,” Ivypool replied at once. Now that she was over the shock of Hol yleaf’s reappearance, she thought that the black warrior19 was one of the most intriguing21 cats she had ever met. She wanted to know her better. “You can stay as long as you want.”
“What was it like, living in the tunnels for such a long time?” Dovewing asked curiously22; Ivypool thought that she looked more confident around Hol yleaf since their training session underground.
Hol yleaf shrugged. “Dark. Cold.”
“Did you real y not see any other cats?” Dovewing persisted
“And what did you do al day?” Bumblestripe added; he was stil sitting close beside Dovewing and the remains23 of the squirrel.
“No, I didn’t see any others,” Hol yleaf meowed.
“As for what I did . . . stalked prey, explored the woods just outside the territory . . .” Ivypool could tel that she real y didn’t want to talk about her exile from the Clan. She must have been so lonely . . . and felt so guilty about Ashfur, without any other cat to talk to. . . .
Suddenly Hol yleaf let out a smal mrrow of amusement. “Did Lionblaze ever tel you about the time he and I went hunting mice on the way to the mountains? We were only apprentices25.”
“No—tel us!” Ivypool urged her.
“We were passing a farm,” Hol yleaf went on, tucking her paws under her chest. “The scent26 of mouse was so strong, and we were so hungry! So we sneaked27 away while the others were having a rest. Breezepelt was with us, too.”
“Breezepelt!” Ivypool exclaimed, feeling her neck fur begin to fluff up.
“Yes, he was there on the journey,” Hol yleaf told her. “Even though he is a pain in the tail, we had to let him come.”
“What happened?” Dovewing prompted.
“We got trapped in a barn by some dogs. I was scared out of my fur! Breezepelt nearly lost his tail, they got so close.”
Ivypool leaned in. “How did you escape?”
“Purdy rescued us,” Hol yleaf meowed.
“Purdy!” Dovewing’s eyes stretched wide. “Purdy was there?”
“Yes, we met him on the way.”
“ThunderClan has good reason to be grateful to Purdy,” Squirrelflight purred, padding over to listen.
“That wasn’t the first time he helped us. And it was more than you mouse-brains deserved.”
“True,” Hol yleaf agreed. “We would have been crow-food without him.”
“You almost were crow-food, once we found out what you’d done,” Squirrelflight added. “Walking straight into danger like that!”
“And we never even got a taste of mouse!” Hol yleaf finished.
“Maybe you should tel them about some of the mischief28 you got into when you were kits29,” Sandstorm put in; she had been grooming30 herself on the edge of the group while Hol yleaf told her story. “I never thought the three of you would survive to be apprentices!”
Hol yleaf glanced at the orange she-cat, then gave her chest fur a couple of licks. “That was a long time ago,” she murmured. Memories flickered31 in Hol yleaf’s eyes like minnows in a stream, but she said nothing more, to Ivypool’s disappointment.
The discussion about Cinderheart was stil going on around the fresh-kil pile. Ivypool glanced across as Firestar rose to his paws.
“That’s settled then,” the Clan leader meowed.
“Cinderheart wil sleep in the warriors’ den for now, but she wil be relieved of al warrior duties. That is what you want, Cinderheart?”
The gray she-cat nodded. “Yes, that’s what I want, Firestar.”
Ivypool thought that Firestar looked surprised and disappointed to hear the certainty in Cinderheart’s voice, but he didn’t argue with her.
The Clan is losing a valuable warrior, Ivypool thought sadly. I know it’s useful to have another medicine cat, but . . . She shook her head. This is too weird32.
Murmurs33 of agreement had greeted Firestar’s announcement, although Ivypool noticed that Lionblaze was gazing forlornly at Cinderheart.
Why would he be upset that she’s not a warrior anymore? Ivypool wondered. Oh . . . maybe he wanted to be her mate. Wow, that’s really bad luck.
Cinderheart’s decision was causing ripples34 right across the Clan, like a stone thrown into the lake.
Ivypool slid softly through the undergrowth on the way to the ShadowClan border. The sky was clear and sunlight slanted36 down through the branches, but a brisk wind was fluttering the leaves and rustling37 the cats’ fur.
Ivypool was pleased to have been chosen for Hol yleaf’s patrol, padding close behind her with Brackenfur and Berrynose bringing up the rear. As sunrise fol owed sunrise since Hol yleaf’s return, she had gained more and more respect for the black she-cat’s courage and her occasional sharp tongue.
She knows how tough life can be, and she still keeps going.
“Hol yleaf is doing everything she can to fit into the Clan again.” Ivypool’s ears swiveled back to pick up Brackenfur’s low-voiced remark.
“Yeah, she even takes on the worst chores to help the apprentices,” Berrynose murmured.
Ivypool thought how unusual it was to hear Berrynose praising another cat, then remembered that it was Hol yleaf who had saved his kits from the fox.
Brackenfur let out a faint mrrow of amusement.
“Yes, to go on this patrol Brambleclaw had to drag her away from searching for the elders’ ticks!” Hol yleaf glanced back. “Less noise,” she ordered.
“We’re getting close to the border.” Tasting the air, Ivypool picked up the reek38 of the ShadowClan scent markers, mingled39 with the scent of Twolegs. Emerging from the trees at the edge of the clearing, she saw that it was ful of Twoleg pelt13-dens, with Twolegs sitting or lying on the grass, or jumping up and down tossing brightly colored objects at one another.
“What in StarClan’s name are they doing?” she muttered.
Hol yleaf shrugged. “Maybe it’s a training exercise.”
From farther downstream, Ivypool could hear the happy yowling of Twoleg kits as they splashed around at the edge of the lake. I wonder if they’re fishing, or just cooling their paws. They’ll scare all the fish away with that racket!
Silently, swiftly, the four cats slipped across the clearing, avoiding the Twolegs. Ivypool wondered if Hol yleaf was tempted40 to set the markers at the ThunderClan side of the clearing, and leave the open grass to ShadowClan.
“I can’t believe ShadowClan fought so hard to keep this useless bit of territory,” Brackenfur muttered.
I can’t believe we fought so hard to win it, Ivypool thought. A sharp pang of guilt24 pierced her as she remembered how it had been her fault that ThunderClan had gone into battle. But now that it’s ours, we’re stuck with it. We have to set these wretched markers every day.
Al her fur stood up as she dodged41 around the pelt-dens; she hated being in the open like this, so close to Twolegs. And she couldn’t relax when they reached the opposite side, because now the scent of ShadowClan was al around them.
“Okay,” Hol yleaf meowed as they reached the border. “Let’s split up. Brackenfur, you and Berrynose go upstream and renew our markers there. Ivypool, you and I wil go downstream.” Brackenfur gave her a brisk nod and headed off with Berrynose beside him. “Go straight back to camp when you’ve finished,” Hol yleaf cal ed after them.
Hol yleaf set the first marker; by the time she had finished the two toms were out of sight. Ivypool padded at her shoulder as she turned toward the lake. Pausing to set another marker, Ivypool picked up more ShadowClan scent, strong and fresh.
“A patrol!” she whispered.
As she spoke42 the ferns on the other side of the border were thrust aside and three cats emerged into the open. Dawnpelt was in the lead; with her were Redwil ow and Scorchfur.
Dawnpelt drew her lips back in a snarl43 as she spotted the ThunderClan cats. Ivypool felt her neck fur beginning to rise at the naked hostility44 in the cream-furred she-cat’s gaze.
“Set one paw across—” Dawnpelt began, then broke off as she noticed Hol yleaf. “You!” she exclaimed. “I thought you’d left the Clans45.” Hol yleaf shrugged. “I came back.” For a few heartbeats Dawnpelt’s hostility faded, to be replaced by a look of interest. But Ivypool hoped that she wouldn’t want to stand around and chat. I’ve got nothing to say to that flea-pelt. I don’t trust her one bit. Before we know it, she’ll be accusing Hollyleaf of murdering Flametail, too.
“We’re not doing any harm,” Ivypool meowed.
“Just setting markers.”
Dawnpelt snorted disbelievingly. “I’d better check where you’re putting them,” she hissed46, padding forward and craning her neck to sniff47 the marker Ivypool had just placed. “I’l tel Blackstar if any of them are a leaf’s depth out of place.”
“Feel free,” Hol yleaf retorted. “If you can find anything wrong, I’l tel Blackstar myself.” Dawnpelt’s only reply was a snarl. Ivypool knew that she was spoiling for a fight and didn’t much care how she provoked one. Does she think she can make two Clans go into battle just because she wants to? Ivypool remembered Tigerheart’s warning to Dovewing at the Gathering48, but she found it hard to take Dawnpelt’s threats seriously. Tigerheart probably just wanted an excuse to talk to Dovewing.
“Dawnpelt, stop fussing,” Redwil ow meowed, stepping forward. “The ThunderClan scent marks are fine.”
Ivypool was reassured49 by the brown-and-ginger tom’s brisk tone, but her bel y churned a moment later when she caught Redwil ow’s eye and he gave her a nod.
He’s on my side because we’re Dark Forest Clanmates, Ivypool thought, wincing50. No! I’m loyal to my own Clan. And he should be loyal to his!
“Come on, Hol yleaf,” she urged. “Let’s keep moving.”
Hol yleaf nodded, leading the way along the border, past the ShadowClan patrol. Dawnpelt let out a loud yowl behind them, as if she’d won some kind of victory.
“Great StarClan!” Hol yleaf meowed when they were out of earshot. “Who made dirt in Dawnpelt’s fresh-kil ? Or has she got a furbal stuck somewhere?”
“She’s a pain in the tail,” Ivypool agreed.
“And what’s the deal with Redwil ow?” Hol yleaf went on, glancing at Ivypool with narrowed eyes. “He seemed to know you better than I’d expect from a ShadowClan cat.”
She has eyes like a hawk51! Ivypool thought, startled. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled aloud. “We’ve talked once or twice at Gatherings52, that’s al .” Hol yleaf paused, fixing Ivypool with an intense look. “Becoming too close to a cat from another Clan is the worst act of disloyalty,” she mewed. “No cat is
—”
Hol yleaf ignored her protest. “No cat is worth breaking the warrior code for in that way,” she insisted. “It only leads to unhappiness.” Without waiting for Ivypool’s reply she strode on down the border, disapproval54 quivering in every hair on her pelt.
“I don’t know what got into her,” Ivypool meowed to Dovewing when the sisters met beside the fresh-kil pile later that day. “You don’t think she suspects I’m in the Dark Forest with Redwil ow, do you?” Dovewing rol ed her eyes. “Oh, please! It’s hard when my only sister is such a mouse-brain. The Dark Forest is the last thing Hol yleaf would be worried about. Just think of who her parents are! She’s half-Clan, remember?”
“Oh.” Embarrassment55 flooded over Ivypool. “I hadn’t thought of that. Wel , she needn’t be afraid that I’l take up with Redwil ow, or any cat from another Clan.”
And it looks as if Dovewing’s sights are set on Bumblestripe now, she told herself with satisfaction.
That’s much better than mangy Tigerheart!
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1
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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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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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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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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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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intriguing
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| adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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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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sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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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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grooming
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| n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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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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ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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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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reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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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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46
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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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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48
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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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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wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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51
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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52
gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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53
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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54
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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55
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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