CHAPTER 5
Dovewing watched Jayfeather pad away.
There’s a fourth cat.Her paws trembled. Aren’t I good enough?Perhaps StarClan had hoped for more when they made her the third cat in the prophecy. So what if she could hear the Dark Forest warriors2 coming? It didn’t mean she could defeat them.
She glanced at Lionblaze. “Are we going to hunt?”
“Go ahead without me.”
Dovewing shifted her paws. Lionblaze had been her mentor4. He was one of the strongest, bravest warriors in ThunderClan. Why did he seem so lost? “I’ll see you later, then?”
“Okay.” Lionblaze didn’t look at her.
She trotted5 into the trees, snatching a glance over her shoulder, wishing he’d follow. But he stayed where he was.
She leaped a small stream and pushed deeper into the forest, soothed6 by the shade and relishing7 the musty scents9 of nettle10 and fern. The first fallen leaves of the season specked the forest floor. Surely Ivypool was the fourth cat? She risked her life every night fighting with the Dark Forest warriors. She deservedto be the fourth cat.
“Ow!” Dovewing squeaked11 as a thorn speared her pad. She’d been so lost in thought she’d stepped into a trailing bramble.
ShadowClan stench flooded Dovewing’s nose. I’m at the border!She’d wandered up to the scent8 line like a mouse in a daze13. She froze, ducking beside the bramble that spilled over the boundary. Holding her breath, she listened to the ShadowClan warriors prowling behind on the other side.
“Don’t worry, Dovewing.” A hiss14 sounded through the branches. “I’ll get rid of them. Just stay still.”
Tigerheart!
“It was just a rabbit,” Tigerheart called to his Clanmates. “It’s escaped into ThunderClan territory.”
“I don’t smell rabbit.”
Dovewing recognized the growl of Ratscar. The bush rustled15 as he snuffled his way into the brambles. She caught sight of his fox-red pelt16 through the leaves. StarClan, help me!Her lungs ached for air but she didn’t dare breathe.
“Come on!” Rowanclaw called to his warriors. “Blackstar wants us at the shore. A dog’s running loose there. We need to scare it off before it decides to head into the forest.”
Dovewing heard Ratscar give a dissatisfied growl. “But I can smell ThunderClan.”
“I’ll stay and check it out,” Tigerheart offered.
“Okay, but stay this side of the border,” Rowanclaw warned.
Ratscar growled17 again. “Let me stay too. If ThunderClan cats are sniffing18 about I want to make sure they know—”
“Tigerheart can check it out.” Rowanclaw cut the warrior3 off. “We need to meet Blackstar. You can lead a patrol back here later to re-mark the borders.”
Dovewing drew in a long, deep breath as the ShadowClan patrol pounded away toward the lake.
“Dovewing?” Tigerheart whispered through the thorns. “Were you looking for me?”
“Of course not!” Relief flared19 to fury. He must think she was a wide-eyed kit20! And a traitor21! “I heard you accuse Jayfeather of murder, don’t forget!”
Tigerheart crawled out from underneath22 the bush. “I had to support Dawnpelt.” He stared at her imploringly23.
“She’s my littermate.” Tigerheart blinked at her. “And my Clanmate. What did you expect me to do?”
Tigerheart’s ears twitched26. “I couldn’t let her stand up alone. Not when she was making such a serious accusation27.” He moved closer, eyes round. “You’d have done the same for Ivypool, wouldn’t you?”
“Not if I didn’t think she was telling the truth.”
Tigerheart narrowed his eyes. “And what if Ivypool had done something terrible? Would you abandon her?”
Dovewing’s fur prickled. “Ivypool couldn’tdo anything terrible!” Tigerheart’s tone unnerved her. “She wouldn’t!”
“Really?” His eyes gleamed with a hint of a challenge.
“What do you mean?” she demanded. Dovewing knew he and Ivypool both trained in the Dark Forest. Had something happened there, something Ivypool had kept secret?
Tigerheart dropped his gaze. “Nothing.”
Dovewing lifted her chin. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Ivypool. This is about Dawnpelt’s dumb lie!”
“Dawnpelt believes what she said.”
“Do you?” Dovewing arched her back.
“Why can’t we meet like we used to?” He sliced a bramble leaf with his claw and watched it flutter to the ground. “When it’s just the two of us, everything’s so much simpler.”
Dovewing opened her mouth to argue. They were from different Clans30. She shouldn’t even be thinking about him, let alone talking to him. Not like this. “I—I don’t know,” she stammered31.
“You do know!” He took a step forward until their muzzles32 were almost touching33. “You feel the same way as I do. I can tell.”
He trains in the Dark Forest!Dovewing tried to back away but his strength and warmth pulled her closer. For the first time in moons she felt safe, as though she could melt into him and never be afraid again. Ivypool trains there too,she reminded herself. Perhaps Tigerheart is spying for his Clan1, like she is.
His breath was soft on her cheek. Just like it had been when they’d sat together in the old Twoleg place, away from Clan territory, alone beneath the moon.
“Tigerheart!” Ratscar’s yowl made her jerk away. The ShadowClan warrior was on the other side of the brambles.
“Coming!” Tigerheart scrambled34 under the bush. “Meet me tonight!” he hissed at Dovewing. “I’ll wait for you here.”
Trembling, Dovewing turned and ran. I can’t meet him!Her thoughts raced with her paws as she skimmed the drooping35 grass clumped36 between trees.
But why not? I’ll just meet him once. If it still feels wrong I won’t meet him again.
An orange pelt flashed in front of her. Skidding37, Dovewing stumbled to a halt, missing Firestar by a whisker.
He reared back, surprised. “Dovewing!” Finding his paws, he stared at her. “Sorry. I was thinking about something. I didn’t even hear you coming.”
“I should have been looking where I was going.”
He gazed at her sympathetically. “Were you worrying, too?”
Yes. About Tigerheart.“I w-was just…” As she stammered guiltily, Firestar interrupted.
“… listening for danger?”
The ThunderClan leader shook his head. “It’s hard knowing, isn’t it?”
Dovewing frowned. “You mean, knowing about the Dark Forest?”
“Yes.” Firestar stared deep into the forest. “The Clan feels it too, even if they don’t know what the danger is. They know something’s wrong. I ordered them to increase patrols and reinforce the dens39. They’re not mouse-brains. They sense danger.” He suddenly turned toward her. “Are youokay?” His gaze was as green as the forest. “You’re young to have so much responsibility.”
Dovewing straightened. “I can handle it.”
“I know.” Firestar tipped his head. “But make sure you’re getting enough prey40 and rest, and remember…” He paused, glancing into the trees once more. “…the final responsibility is mine. You don’t hold the whole Clan in your paws. I just need you to do what you can.” He lifted his chin. “I’ll take care of the rest.”
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1
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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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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6
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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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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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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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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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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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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sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；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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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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kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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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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25
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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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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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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clumped
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| adj.[医]成群的v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的过去式和过去分词 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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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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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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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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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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