CHAPTER 20
Lionblaze followed Firestar into camp, breathlessafter the race from the island. A cold wind had whipped them all the way home. He ducked through the thorn tunnel, Dovewing and Jayfeather on his tail.
Brambleclaw jerked around. Daisy thrust her head out of the nursery. “Battle?”
The ThunderClan leader leaped onto Highledge. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey4 gather to hear my words.”
The Clan1 was already flooding the clearing, pelts5 pricking7. Molepaw and Cherrypaw pressed together, their eyes round as they stared up at Firestar. Poppyfrost shuffled8 closer to Berrynose.
Cloudtail hurried to the nursery to find Brightheart. “Stay inside,” he ordered his kits9 as they peered out like tiny owlets.
Lilykit popped her head out beside them. “I’ll make sure they stay in their nests,” she promised earnestly.
The brambles at the entrance to the medicine den rustled11 as Briarlight thrust out her muzzle12. Jayfeather hurried toward her, Millie on his tail, while Blossomfall and Birchfall lingered at the edge of the crowd, glancing nervously13 at Mousewhisker as he settled beside them.
“Clanmates, we face an enemy stronger than we have ever known!” Firestar yowled. “The danger comes from dead cats as well as living. The Dark Forest has sworn to destroy the Clans14.”
Firestar looked steadily16 at the elder. “The warriors17 in the Place of No Stars have found a way to cross into Clan territory.”
“That’s impossible!” Cloudtail growled.
“Oh, StarClan,” Blossomfall whimpered to Birchfall.
He met her gaze, frozen until Mousewhisker murmured in his ear. Birchfall shook the young warrior18 away, eyes narrowing in disgust as though Mousewhisker had asked him to eat crow-food. Lionblaze watched Mousewhisker shrink away. What could the young warrior have said?
Firestar leaned over the lip of Highledge. “You’ve all smelled the scents21 and seen the paw prints in the forest.”
Dustpelt stared at him. “I … I thought I imagined it.”
Firestar went on. “A battle is coming that we have to win, for the sake of every warrior that ever lived. We must fight alongside the other Clans, because this enemy threatens us all. ShadowClan, WindClan, and RiverClan will each send three warriors here at dusk to join our patrols. We will send three warriors to their camps.” He glanced down at his deputy. “Brambleclaw, you choose who will go.”
Thornclaw’s tail brushed the earth. “Won’t ShadowClan just take advantage of this to steal our territory?”
“If they do, all will be lost,” Firestar muttered darkly.
Cloudtail pressed against her. “I won’t let anything harm them!”
Sorreltail lifted her chin. “No one will hurt ThunderClan kits.”
Ivypool walked to the front and turned to face her Clan. Lionblaze saw her take a breath and steady her trembling paws. “I know how they fight. I can teach their moves to the Clan.”
“I sent her to spy.” Firestar leaped down the rock tumble and stood beside Ivypool. “She knows more about our enemy than any cat. Learn from her.”
Cherrypaw’s eyes grew as round as moons. “You’re so brave!”
Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. Had Firestar asked Ivypool who else had been training in the Dark Forest? He glanced around his Clanmates, searching faces for a glimmer29 of guilt30. Some of them must have visited the Place of No Stars with Ivypool, trapped by Tigerstar’s lies and Brokenstar’s false promises. His claws sank into the wet ground and he felt the fur rise along his spine31.
Firestar lashed his tail. “We will win this battle because we are fighting for our lives and the lives of our Clanmates. Our enemies are already dead. They fight only out of hate and that will be their weakness.”
“We’ll beat them!” Cloudtail yowled.
Molepaw reared up and raked the air with unsheathed claws. “I’ll shred32 any Dark Forest warrior I lay my paws on!”
Firestar nodded. “Then let’s start training. For victory!”
The Clan broke into clusters, murmuring like anxious pigeons. “We need to teach the elders and queens some defensive33 moves,” Lionblaze told Brambleclaw. “I’ve already thought of some tactics Daisy can use even though she’s never had warrior training.”
“Good.” Brambleclaw scanned the Clan. “Spiderleg can train Mousefur and Purdy. He’s known them longest. They won’t mind taking orders from him.”
Spiderleg was huddled deep in conversation with Brackenfur. Lionblaze noticed for the first time that his black muzzle was flecked with gray. He’ll be moving into the elders’ den before long.His pelt6 pricked34. If there’s a den left.
“We have to learn to fight as viciously as Dark Forest warriors.” Lionblaze swallowed the anger rising in his throat. “They’re forcing us to break the warrior code.”
“Defend your Clan above all things,”Brambleclaw reminded him. “If that means fighting like rogues, then we must fight like rogues.”
“I’ll fight like Brokenstar if it means protecting the Clan.”
“You may have to.” Brambleclaw turned his dark gaze toward Spiderleg and called to the warrior. “I want you to teach Mousefur and Purdy some moves.”
“Okay.” Spiderleg headed for the elders’ den.
“Hollyleaf!” Brambleclaw meowed. “Take Molepaw, Rosepetal, and Whitewing out of camp and practice every battle move you know. Ivypool will come and train with you next.”
Sorreltail bounded toward the ThunderClan deputy. “Let me train with Ivypool first,” she begged.
“If she shows us the Dark Forest’s most deadly moves, we can figure out how to defend ourselves,” Dustpelt added.
While Brambleclaw divided the Clan into training patrols, Lionblaze headed for the nursery. He padded past Daisy and stuck his head inside.
“My poor kits!” Brightheart was in her nest, curled around three squirming scraps36 of fur. Cloudtail crouched37 beside her, his pelt ruffled38. Lilykit and Seedkit sat on the edge of their nest, chins high.
“We’ll protect them,” Seedkit declared.
“You’llstay hidden in your nests,” Lionblaze ordered. He turned to Cloudtail. “Join your Clanmates. I’ll teach Brightheart how to defend Snowkit, Amberkit, and Dewkit.”
“What do you want me to do?” Daisy heaved her soft body inside. “I don’t know any warrior moves.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Lionblaze told her. “You and Brightheart are going to work together. You’ve got five kits to protect. Sorreltail will be needed on battle patrol so I’m relying on you to help defend the nursery. There is no cat more dangerous than a queen!” He flicked40 his nose toward Brightheart. “Stand up!”
Brightheart pushed herself to her paws. Lionblaze lunged toward her kits, teeth bared. Hissing41, Brightheart lashed out as fast as lightning, her claws raking his nose.
Lionblaze pulled away. “See? All her instincts will protect her kits.”
Daisy glared at Lionblaze. “How dareyou attack her like that?”
“It’s okay.” Brightheart met Lionblaze’s gaze, excited. “Let me practice another move.”
Lionblaze flicked his tail toward Daisy. “You can learn this one, too.” He moved backward, focusing on an imaginary attacker, then jabbed a forepaw high and swung his other one low. “It’s easy to do and confuses your attacker.”
“Let me try it on you!” Brightheart balanced on the edge of her nest. “Come at me.”
Daisy hesitated, then darted42 toward Brightheart. Brightheart swiped high and Daisy instinctively43 looked at her paw. As she did, Brightheart used her other paw to scoop44 Daisy’s forelegs out from under her. Daisy stumbled forward and bumped her muzzle on the den floor.
“If you work together, one can trip an enemy while the other attacks.” He was relieved to see that the fear had faded from Brightheart’s gaze. “Just make sure you always keep one eye on your kits.” Dewkit, Amberkit, and Snowkit were clambering up the side of their nest, staring at their suddenly ferocious45 mother. “You three, stay in the nest. Right at the bottom,” Lionblaze ordered.
He turned back to Daisy and Brightheart. “Working together will make you as strong as the fittest warrior.” He felt a rush of satisfaction. For the first time in a long while, he felt as if he was doing exactly what he should. He’d spent too much time worrying these past moons. Now he was ready to fight like the warrior he was born to be. Midnight’s words echoed in his ears. The journey you make is your choice.
My choice!He froze, his heart leaping. It’s all my choice!
“Can I leave you to practice?” he asked Brightheart.
“Can we work out some moves of our own?” she asked.
“Sure.” Lionblaze stuck his head through the wall of the nursery and scanned the clearing. “I’ll be back soon to watch them.”
Where is she?He tasted the air and finally detected Cinderheart’s scent mingled47 with Icecloud’s and Leafpool’s. He followed it across the clearing and out of the camp, breaking into a run as he headed up the slope. Leafpool and Icecloud were batting each other with their forepaws, practicing swipes while Cinderheart watched.
“You need to be quicker,” Cinderheart told Icecloud. “Try using shorter blows.”
“Cinderheart!” Lionblaze called from the bank.
She turned, ears pricked. “Lionblaze? What are you doing here?”
“I have to talk to you!”
She must have detected the urgency in his mew because she nodded to her Clanmates and hurried toward him. “What’s the matter?” Worry pricked her gaze.
Cinderheart stared at him. “Is something wrong?”
Lionblaze took a deep breath. “You have a destiny,” he began. “Just like every cat. But you also have a choice.” StarClan, let her understand!“And so do I.” Cinderheart leaned forward, opening her mouth, but before she could interrupt, he pressed on. “Our destinies guide our paws, but they don’t shape every step. That’s up to us. We walk the path we choose.”
Cinderheart said nothing. Lionblaze persisted. “Whatever our destiny says, we still have to choose our own path, don’t you see? We can walk side by side if we wish.”
Lionblaze padded after her. “It is!”
“My head is so full of memories!” Cinderheart wailed. “I feel as though there are two lives inside me, not one. How can it be my choice to make? Doesn’t Cinderpelt have a choice? I can’t make her be a warrior! She was a medicine cat!”
Lionblaze pressed his muzzle closer. “She chose you,” he murmured. “She gave youthe choice.”
Cinderheart began to tremble. Lionblaze could sense her mind whirling. “You can only live one life, Cinderheart. It’s your choice! This is yourdestiny, not Cinderpelt’s. She lived her own life.”
Cinderheart gasped. Then her pelt smoothed. She lifted her chin. “Then I choose the life of a warrior.” Her blue eyes shone. “And I choose you.”
A breeze stirred the ferns. Lionblaze glimpsed a pale gray shape appear like a shadow beside Cinderheart. Stepping back in surprise, he saw it peel away from her and drift up like a cobweb carried by the wind. A soft voice whispered, Thank you.
Lionblaze’s fur stood on end. “Did you see that?”
Cinderheart was watching the shadow disappear into the trees. “It was Cinderpelt,” she breathed. “I’ve set her free.”
Lionblaze purred loudly. “Will you fight alongside me?”
Cinderheart pressed her muzzle fiercely against his. “Always.”
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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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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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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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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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pelts
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| n. 皮毛，投掷, 疾行 vt. 剥去皮毛，（连续）投掷 vi. 猛击，大步走 | |
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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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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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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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11
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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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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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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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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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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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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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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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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rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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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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wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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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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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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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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shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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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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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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39
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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40
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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41
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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42
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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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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44
scoop
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| n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出 | |
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45
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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46
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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47
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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48
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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49
beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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ruffling
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| 弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱 | |
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