CHAPTER 10
Ivypool shuddered1. Mist swirled2 around herpaws. The Dark Forest seemed colder than ever. Was it leaf-bare here, too? She glanced up at the trees, searching for browning leaves, but darkness swallowed their branches.
“Tonight will change everything.”
Tigerstar’s growl3 yanked her back to the present. The dark warrior4 stood on a fallen tree, his claws curling into the slimy moss5. Shredtail, Hawkfrost, and Darkstripe stared up at him while Mapleshade hung back in the shadows with Sparrowfeather. Thistleclaw and Brokenstar watched through slitted eyes. Applefur, Hollowflight, and Redwillow clustered together, their fur spiked6 with excitement. Birchfall and Beetlewhisker were there too, as well as Tigerheart and Furzepelt. How could so many cats have fallen for Tigerstar’s lies?
Tigerstar’s eyes gleamed. “This mission will be the first of many.”
Ivypool leaned closer to Blossomfall. “The first of many whats?” She hadn’t been listening.
Blossomfall stuck her muzzle8 in Ivypool’s ear. “Special patrols. Tigerstar’s going to start taking us into Clan9 territories.”
Ivypool met his eyes, chin high, and held it as he went on.
“Knowledge of your battle territory will give you the greatest advantage imaginable because it will be the last thing your enemies expect. Most of you are unfamiliar14 with the territories beside the lake, so I will be taking you to visit each Clan—without them realizing, of course—and you can learn the best places to fight.”
Redwillow stepped forward. “Where to lie in wait!”
Hollowflight clawed the earth. “Where to corner your enemy.”
Blossomfall’s breath stirred her ear. “Four Clans17 will unite as one when it matters most.”She was quoting Tigerstar! “We’ll be able to fight for whichever Clan needs our help.”
Ivypool jerked her head around and stared at her Clanmate. How can you be so dumb?She turned back to Tigerstar. “Which territory will we start with?” she called.
“I’dlike to see that.” Mapleshade shambled forward.
“Me too!” Sparrowfeather bounded to the fading warrior’s side.
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “Any other volunteers?”
Tigerheart and Furzepelt shouldered their way to the front.
Tigerstar nodded. “And from RiverClan?” His gaze stopped at Beetlewhisker. “You’ll do. And Hollowflight.”
Ivypool stared straight at Tigerstar. Was he only going to show ThunderClan’s territory to the other Clans? She stepped forward. “What about myapprentices?” she challenged. “Birchfall and Redwillow deserve to go.” Ivypool tipped her head toward Blossomfall. “And her.” Go on! Refuse!If Tigerstar only showed ThunderClan territory to their enemies, someonemust work out that he wasn’t doing it for the good of the Clans but for his own twisted reasons. She willed Tigerstar to give himself away.
Tigerstar dipped his head. “Very well, Ivypool. They can come too.”
“And me?” She stepped closer.
Tigerstar showed his teeth. “Of course,” he murmured smoothly20. “You can be our guide.” The dark warrior nodded to Brokenstar. “I’ll report back when we return.” He leaped from the log and padded between the trees, signaling with his tail
As Ivypool followed the patrol, she glanced over her shoulder, then scanned the trees and bushes they passed. If this route led from the Dark Forest to the lake territories, she wanted to remember it. They walked through gloomy glades21, past foul-smelling bogs22 and across streams that were no more than muddy trickles23. The earth beneath Ivypool’s paws, at first slippery with moss, suddenly softened24 into grass. Ivypool looked up. She could see the branches of the trees above her head. The shadows had lifted and beyond them the moon shone in a wide, starry25 sky.
We’ve crossed over!She didn’t recognize the slope that rose ahead of them. But as they climbed, brambles began to crowd the trail. The trunks of the trees suddenly became familiar, and the ferns spilling across their path were rich with ThunderClan scents27.
Hollowflight wrinkled his nose. “How can you live with this stench?” he murmured to Ivypool.
Ivypool flicked28 the RiverClan warrior’s ear with her tail. “If you put up with our scent26, then I’ll put up with yours when we visit RiverClan’s territory,” she teased.
Redwillow fell in beside them. “Thanks for getting me on the patrol,” he whispered. “The more I learn, the sooner I’ll be like a real Dark Forest warrior.”
“A realDark Forest warrior?” Ivypool jerked her head around and stared at him. “Don’t you just want to be the best ShadowClan warrior you can be?”
“Dark Forest warriors are waystronger.” Hollowflight nudged her. “And they don’t worry about rules.”
Redwillow nodded. “I feel like I’m training with kittypets when I’m with my Clanmates.”
“It should be like that in the Clans,” Redwillow added.
Ivypool stared at him. “Would you let your Clanmates die if they were weak?”
Alarm sparked in Redwillow’s eyes as though he realized he’d revealed too much. “O-of course not.” His gaze flashed to Hollowflight. “We were just saying that we’ve got a lot to learn from the Dark Forest warriors, that’s all. So we can be true warriors.”
“Yeah.” Ivypool kept walking, trying to stop her fur spiking30 in horror. “I guess that’s what we’re training for.”
Tigerstar halted at the top of the slope, the trees behind him framing the lake below. “See how thick the tree trunks are.” He nodded toward a sturdy beech31. “That’s why we teach you to climb in the Dark Forest. Here in ThunderClan territory you have to be prepared to fight in trees.” His gaze sought out Blossomfall’s. “Why don’t you explain?”
Blossomfall pushed her way to the head of the patrol, her chest puffed32 out. “All ThunderClan cats are taught to climb so we can drop on enemies from above, and we can move through the forest by jumping from branch to branch without touching33 the ground.”
“Like squirrels,” Redwillow muttered.
Blossomfall flicked her tail. “We move like squirrels, but we fight like foxes!”
Ivypool’s fur lifted along her spine34. Blossomfall was giving away all of ThunderClan’s secrets! “We hardly bother with tree-fighting now,” she lied quickly.
Ivypool caught Birchfall’s gaze, relieved to see that his eyes were glittering with worry. He understands the danger!
“They don’t have to know everything, Blossomfall,” Birchfall cautioned.
Tigerstar shifted his paws. “Don’t worry, Birchfall,” he meowed. “We’re among friends.” He gazed around the patrol. “We’re Clanmates now. Secrets aren’t necessary.”
Mapleshade padded heavily up the slope and stopped beside Tigerstar. “Perhaps Birchfall doesn’t feel part of our Clan.” There was menace in her mew.
“Of course he does!” Ivypool growled, stepping in front of her father.
“Then why doesn’t hetell us something about ThunderClan territory?” Tigerstar invited.
“I-it’s all woods,” Birchfall began. Ivypool could tell he was feeling uncomfortable from the way the tip of his tail quivered. “Except for the slopes down to the shore and to the WindClan border.”
“And is it better to fight in woodland or the open?” Tigerstar pressed.
Birchfall’s gaze darted36 nervously37 toward Furzepelt. “ThunderClan fights better in the woods, I guess,” he admitted. “We can use the undergrowth to trap our enemies.”
We’re giving everything away!Ivypool padded to the top of the slope and stared across the lake toward RiverClan. “Why don’t you tell us about your territory, Beetlewhisker?”
Beetlewhisker lifted his tail. “We have pine trees, not oaks,” he began.
Brambles swished at the bottom of the slope. Ivypool stiffened38. “Someone’s coming!” Spiderleg’s pelt7 was moving through the undergrowth below them. Brambleclaw was following him.
“Are you sure you heard voices?” Brambleclaw asked.
“I was guarding the entrance and I heard paw steps.” Spiderleg faltered39. “I wasn’t sure at first if they werepaw steps, to be honest. I thought I’d imagined them. But then I heard voices coming from this direction.”
“It’d better not be another WindClan invasion.” Brambleclaw growled. “We should check the tunnel entrances.”
“But the voices came from here.” Spiderleg’s pelt disappeared under ferns as he headed up the slope.
“You can’t!” Fear shot through Ivypool. “Take us back now!”
They mustn’t find out I’m visiting the Dark Forest!The brambles shivered below them. Ivypool felt panic rising. “If they find us here,” she whispered, “they’ll start sending out night patrols.” Hope flickered42 in her belly43 as Tigerstar’s ear twitched. “And when the final battle comes, we’ll have lost the advantage of surprise.”
Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. “Very well.”
Relief rushed through Ivypool as the dark warrior signaled with his tail and led the patrol quickly and silently along the crest44 of the slope. Swallowed by brambles and creeping juniper, Ivypool kept low and followed Tigerstar, checking behind to see that the rest of the patrol was keeping up. The undergrowth grew darker and when she looked up, the moon had disappeared. The ground turned slimy once more beneath her paws and ferns gave way to tangled45 thorn bushes. Ivypool wrinkled her nose as the air soured with the stench of decay. They were back in the Dark Forest.
Mapleshade paced around him. “Why didn’t we stay and fight?”
Blossomfall lifted her muzzle. “We went there to learn, not to fight.”
Redwillow sat down. “I’ve never been so deep into ThunderClan territory.” He ran a paw over his whiskers. “Wait till you see ShadowClan’s forests. They’re totally different.”
“So is RiverClan territory,” Hollowflight chimed in. “The reed beds make great places for ambushes47.”
Why can’t they see the menace in his eyes?As Ivypool glanced nervously at the Dark Forest warrior, claws pierced her shoulder.
“Don’t ever challenge me like that again.” Tigerstar thrust her to the ground, eyes blazing.
Birchfall’s eyes widened with alarm. Be careful! Ivypool stiffened as Birchfall padded toward Tigerstar. Don’t defend me!You’ll make it worse for both of us.
Birchfall faced Tigerstar. “What exactly was the point of visiting the lake?”
He’s trying to distract him.Ivypool felt a flood of relief and gratitude50. She winced51 as Tigerstar’s claws sunk deeper into her shoulder. “Why don’t you explain it to your Clanmate, Ivypool?” the old warrior snarled52.
Tigerstar loosened his grip.
“We all follow the warrior code,” Ivypool continued. She wriggled54 away from Tigerstar and stood beside her father. “Knowing all the territories like they are our own will help us to help one another.” She hated lying to defend Tigerstar but there was no other way to hide her treachery against the Dark Forest.
A growl sounded behind Tigerstar. “How did it go?” Brokenstar padded into the clearing. Behind him, Dark Forest warriors swarmed55 like rats, their eyes bright with curiosity.
“What was it like?” Shredtail growled.
“Did you see the stars?”Darkstripe snarled mockingly.
Ivypool gazed around the ranks of scarred, scowling56 faces and thought of her Clanmates sleeping peacefully back in the hollow. They have no idea of the danger they’re in.Her heart ached with pity. But I promise I’ll protect you, right to my very last breath
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1
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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spiked
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| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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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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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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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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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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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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bogs
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| n.沼泽，泥塘( bog的名词复数 )；厕所v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的第三人称单数 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
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trickles
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| n.细流( trickle的名词复数 )；稀稀疏疏缓慢来往的东西v.滴( trickle的第三人称单数 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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24
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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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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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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29
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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spiking
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| n.尖峰形成v.加烈酒于( spike的现在分词 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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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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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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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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35
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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38
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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39
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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40
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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41
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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42
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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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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44
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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45
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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46
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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47
ambushes
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| 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 | |
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48
flexed
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| adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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49
buckling
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| 扣住 | |
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50
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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51
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
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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53
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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54
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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55
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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56
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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