CHAPTER 15
Jayfeather wrinkled his nose as heswallowed a mouthful of herbs. The tansy tasted bitter and would sit like nettles1 in his belly2 till sunhigh, but he was determined3 not to catch any of the coughs and sneezes spreading through the Clan4 like fleas5. He sniffed6 Briarlight. The tang of green leaves was fresh on her breath. “Have you eaten all of them?”
“Yes.” Her fur brushed the floor as she crossed the medicine den7 and Jayfeather heard her lapping from the pool. “Why do herbs have to taste so bitter?” she complained.
“It stops the rabbits and mice from eating them,” Jayfeather replied.
The days of rain since the Gathering8—nearly a quarter moon ago—had brought with them the first real chill of leaf-fall. The Clan had been sheltering in their dens9 when they weren’t patrolling, and every sniffle had been passed from nest to nest. Nothing serious, but the sound of coughing and wheezing10 made Jayfeather edgy11.
He had turned Millie away yesterday when she’d come to visit Briarlight. “No cat is allowed in the medicine den except me.”
Millie had tensed, her tail twitching12 with annoyance14, but she hadn’t argued. Jayfeather sensed worry pricking15 beneath her pelt16. Millie wanted to keep Briarlight safe from infection as much as he did. Although Briarlight’s forepaws were strong enough to haul herself onto the fallen beech17 now, Jayfeather couldn’t predict how well she would fight sickness. The daily ritual of swallowing herbs was the best way he could think of for keeping them both safe from infection.
He pawed through the leaves he’d lined up outside the store. The stock of tansy was lower than he’d hoped. He reached instead for mallow. It should work just as well on Purdy’s cough. He grabbed a wad of leaves between his jaws18 and headed for the entrance. “Stay in the den,” he ordered Briarlight through clenched19 teeth. “And no visitors.”
“What if Millie comes?” Briarlight asked hopefully.
“I’ve told her to stay away.” As Jayfeather nosed his way through the trailing brambles, drizzle20 washed his face. He flattened21 his ears against it and headed toward the honeysuckle bush. Murmuring sounded from the dens, muffled22 by leaves that had been pawed into the woven walls to keep out the wind. Jayfeather ducked into the elders’ den. The warm scents23 of Mousefur and Purdy filled his nose. Purdy was damp and the musky odor of fresh mouse hung in the air.
Jayfeather dropped the mallow beside Purdy’s nest. “Have you been hunting?”
“Mousefur was hungry,” Purdy rasped.
“Don’t use me as an excuse!” Mousefur snapped. “He wanted to hunt,” she told Jayfeather.
“We’ve been stuck inside for days,” Purdy complained. “I needed to get out for a while.”
Mousefur shifted in her nest. “Bored of my company?”
Jayfeather picked up a few mallow leaves and dropped them beside the cantankerous27 elder. “Perhaps you could spend more time with Lilykit and Seedkit. They’re getting to that restless age.”
“Brightheart’s kits28 are due soon,” he added. “You’ll be busy enough once they’re bouncing around the clearing looking for trouble.”
“I suppose.” Mousefur sniffed. “No doubt it’ll be up to me to teach them manners. Kits nowadays don’t know how to show any respect.”
“Don’t you believe it,” Purdy whispered. “She was teaching Lilykit and Seedkit how to reach under the wall of the warriors30’ den and catch stray tails yesterday.”
“I heard that!” Mousefur snapped.
Jayfeather left the two old cats bickering32 and pushed through the honeysuckle into the rain. The nursery rustled33 on the other side of the clearing. Fur scraped thorns and Jayfeather smelled the scent24 of Cinderheart. She was squeezing into the bramble bush.
Brightheart shifted in her nest. “Ferncloud’s under the weather,” she puffed35. Her belly was so round with kits that even sitting up to talk was an effort.
“She’s got a bellyache.” Cinderheart’s mew sounded beside Ferncloud’s nest. “I thought I’d check on her. You’ve got plenty to do.”
Jayfeather hesitated, uncertain as usual whether he should let Cinderheart act as medicine cat or tell her to go back to her warrior31 duties. But it was a decision she needed to make for herself. “If you need herbs, let me know,” he told her. “I’ll leave them outside the medicine den for you.”
Jayfeather withdrew, turning toward the apprentices’ den, where he could hear Molepaw coughing.
“Cough again, Molepaw.” Leafpool’s mew surprised Jayfeather. She was already inside the den. Molepaw forced out a cough and Leafpool sat up. “It’s not bubbling in his chest. Perhaps some honey will soothe36 his throat?” Jayfeather felt her gaze flit toward him.
There are more medicine cats than sick cats!Ruffled37, Jayfeather pushed past Leafpool and listened to Molepaw’s chest. She was right. It sounded clear. “I’ll wrap some honey in a leaf and leave it outside my den.” He turned and stomped38 from the den.
“That was quick.” Briarlight greeted him as he pushed his way through the brambles and shook the rain from his pelt.
“Cinderheart and Leafpool are helping,” Jayfeather muttered. He padded to the store, hauled out a lump of honeycomb, and folded it in a laurel leaf. Then he picked a few chervil roots for Ferncloud’s bellyache. Grasping them between his jaws, he carried them to the den entrance, thrust his head out, and dropped them on the ground.
A familiar scent surprised him. RiverClan.As he slid out into the clearing, he tasted the air. Poppyfrost and Brackenfur were padding from the thorn tunnel. The two warriors smelled fresh from the forest. And there was a third cat behind them, walking into the clearing with hesitant steps. Mothwing?
Poppyfrost called to him. “Mothwing wants to speak with you.”
“Why’s she here?” Seedkit bounced after her sister.
Jayfeather waved them away with his tail and hurried to greet the RiverClan medicine cat. Nodding to Poppyfrost and Brackenfur, he steered40 Mothwing to the edge of the clearing.
Behind them, Spiderleg grumbled41, “Why is she allowed to tramp across our territory when our medicine cat isn’t even allowed at the Gathering?”
Jayfeather ignored him. “What is it?”
“You have to come with me,” Mothwing told him.
Stones clattered42 as Firestar bounded down from his den. He skidded43 to a halt beside Mothwing. “Is anything wrong?”
“No,” Mothwing meowed evenly. “There’s just something I need to show Jayfeather.”
Firestar shifted his paws. “Jayfeather can’t leave ThunderClan territory.”
Mothwing’s pelt brushed Jayfeather’s. “He can for this.”
“Something only Jayfeather will understand.” Mothwing headed away. “Are you coming?” she called to Jayfeather.
“I’d better go with her,” Jayfeather meowed apologetically to Firestar. He ran after Mothwing as she vanished into the thorns. What was so important that she’d overrule a Clan leader?
Excitement sparked from Mothwing’s pelt as she headed onto the narrow beach and followed the edge of the lake, crossing the WindClan border without even pausing to taste the air. Jayfeather followed, his pads pricking with curiosity. He hardly noticed the rain battering45 his face. Had Mothwing discovered proof she was the fourth cat? Hope flared46 in his chest.
A shout from the hillside made him jump. Crowfeather.The WindClan warrior was pelting48 toward them, yowling.
“He’s leading a patrol,” Mothwing warned. She shoved Jayfeather behind her and waited as the WindClan cats swished through the heather.
“What are you doing here?”
Jayfeather flinched49 as Crowfeather slowed to a halt in front of them. He tasted the scents of Whitetail and Owlwhisker as they joined their Clanmate.
Mothwing didn’t move. “This is not your territory. We’re within a tail-length of the water.”
Jayfeather dug his claws into the pebbles54. He couldn’t believe this bad-tempered55 warrior was his father.
“We’re medicine cats,” Mothwing meowed calmly.
Crowfeather padded closer. “He’s not.”
Owlwhisker growled, “Let’s escort him back to his border.”
Whitetail shifted her paws. “He’s not doing any harm,” she meowed.
“Do you believe everythingShadowClan says?” Whitetail snapped at her Clanmate.
Stones rattled58 beneath Mothwing’s feet as she stepped closer to the WindClan patrol. “Let us pass,” she insisted.
“Do you want to fight me?” Mothwing challenged. “Because you’ll have to if you lay a claw on him.” There was a growl51 in her mew. “Would StarClan approve of you harming a medicine cat?”
Jayfeather felt frustration61 flare47 from Crowfeather’s pelt. “You can pass.” He leaned closer to Jayfeather. “But this is the second time we’ve caught you trespassing on our territory.” His breath smelled of rabbit. “Make it the last.”
Mothwing’s tail flicked62 past Jayfeather’s nose. “He’ll have to travel back,” she pointed63 out. “Will I need to escort him? Does WindClan take pride in attacking blind cats?”
Jayfeather swallowed a hiss56. He hated his blindness being used as an excuse, but this was no time to let pride get in the way.
“Very well.” Crowfeather backed away, his Clanmates retreating with him.
Shaking raindrops from her whiskers, Mothwing headed along the shore. Jayfeather trotted64 after her, impressed by her courage. “You should have been a warrior,” he meowed as the WindClan patrol faded from earshot.
“Maybe, but I am a medicine cat,” Mothwing replied in a tone that didn’t invite further questions. She led him across the RiverClan border and into the reed beds. The ground grew boggy65 underpaw and marsh66 grass brushed Jayfeather’s pelt as he followed the medicine cat along a twisting path.
“That’s what we’re going to see.” Mothwing kept going and Jayfeather hurried after her. “Duck,” she warned as the marsh grass thickened.
Dripping fronds68 trailed over Jayfeather’s nose, filling his muzzle with wet seeds that made him sneeze. Spluttering, he padded after Mothwing until suddenly she halted, and Jayfeather lost his footing in the mud as he tried to avoid crashing into her.
“Here,” Mothwing announced.
The smell of smoke was even stronger. Why had she led him to a fire? “What is it?” he asked.
“One reed is smoldering69,” she told him. “It’s been smoldering for days.”
“In this rain?”
“The rest of the reed bed is soaked, but this one keeps burning,” Mothwing explained. “It doesn’t burn completely. The tip just glows with a tiny flame.”
Jayfeather leaned close, the smoke making his eyes sting. Pain stung his nose as it touched the smoldering reed. He stepped backward. “How long has it been like this?”
“Three sunrises,” Mothwing told him. “Ever since the Gathering.”
“It’s a sign!” Jayfeather turned to Mothwing. “You know it’s a sign, don’t you?”
She sat down. “For me, it’s a trick of the marshes,” she meowed. “But I knew you’d find an omen70 in it. That’s why I showed you.”
“Has Willowshine seen it?” Surely Mothwing would show it to her own Clanmate first?
“Willowshine isn’t looking for signs,” Mothwing told him. “Not like you.”
Jayfeather leaned closer to the tiny flame. As its heat touched his nose again a vision flared in his mind. Fire shot like a stalk in front of him, spearing up toward the sky, glowing orange like a… Jayfeather’s mind whirled … like a tail!
Flametail!StarClan was sending him a sign. Find Flametail!
He’d already been to the Moonpool in his search for the dead ShadowClan cat. But that time he hadn’t even made it to StarClan’s hunting grounds. Maybe StarClan was ready now.
“Thank you!” Jayfeather ran his tail gratefully over Mothwing’s flank. Was he right about her being the fourth cat? Maybeit’s Flametail.This sign changed everything! If he could talk to Flametail and persuade him to tell Littlecloud he drowned accidentally, the medicine cats could unite once more. And with the medicine cats working together, the Clans71 might join forces in time to face the Dark Forest.
“I have to get back.”
Mothwing stilled him with a paw. “Do you know what it means?”
“I think so.” It would take too long to tell her everything. Jayfeather wanted to get home, curl into his nest, and dream his way to StarClan’s hunting grounds. “It means I can find Flametail now.”
“But he’s dead, right?” Mothwing asked uneasily.
“Not to me!”
Jayfeather felt sorrow flood Mothwing. “I envy your faith,” she murmured. “You can always find hope, even in the darkest moments.”
Jayfeather tipped his head. “If only that were true.” A few sunrises ago he’d given up all trust in the prophecy and his power to fulfill72 his destiny. Now there seemed a tiny chink of light, but the darkness still loomed73 on every side.
“I’ll always be here if you need me,” Mothwing told him. “I may not share your faith, but I will always help you fight for what you believe in.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Mothwing offered as he headed back along the trail.
“I’ll be okay!” Running, he followed his own scent along the narrow path until he burst out onto the shore.
Mothwing’s mew sounded from the reeds behind him. “I’ll keep watching the flame!” she yowled. “If it goes out, I’ll know you’ve found what you’re looking for!”
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1
nettles
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| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
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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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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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fleas
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| n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求） | |
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sniffed
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| 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 | |
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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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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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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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wheezing
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| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
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edgy
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| adj.不安的；易怒的 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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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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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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23
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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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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cantankerous
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| adj.爱争吵的，脾气不好的 | |
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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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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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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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bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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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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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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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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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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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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stomped
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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40
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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41
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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42
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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43
skidded
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| 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 | |
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44
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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46
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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flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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48
pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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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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50
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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51
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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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
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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54
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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bad-tempered
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| adj.脾气坏的 | |
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56
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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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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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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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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trespassing
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| [法]非法入侵 | |
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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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65
boggy
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| adj.沼泽多的 | |
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66
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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68
fronds
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| n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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69
smoldering
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 ) | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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71
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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72
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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