CHAPTER 23
Dovewing swerved1, feeling the patrol turnwith her, and began to head up the slope, treading lightly, moving slick as a weasel through the thick undergrowth.
“My paw’s caught.” A bramble was looped around it.
“Let me help.” He pressed closer.
Dovewing could feel him trembling. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” He swallowed. “I never… I never expected this.” He grabbed the bramble in his jaws4. Twisting, he loosened its grip on her leg.
“What do you mean?” She pulled her paw free.
“Being attacked by dead cats.”
Dovewing suddenly remembered that Cloudtail didn’t believe in StarClan. It was the only part of his kittypet birth that he carried with him. “I don’t think any cat expected this,” she meowed.
“It’s okay! We’re comin—” Dovewing froze as she recognized the black-and-silver pelt9 of Darkstripe from her vision of the Dark Forest. “Look out!” She screeched10 a warning to Cloudtail, but the white warrior11 was already on his hind12 legs, claws flashing.
Muscle thumped13 against muscle as the toms crashed together. Cloudtail staggered backward but stayed on his paws. “Darkstripe! I’m not surprised to see you’re with the Dark Forest traitors,” he snarled16.
“So you believe in StarClan now?” Darkstripe challenged.
“I believe in evil!”
“At least you believe in something, kittypet!”
“I’ve always believed in the warrior code and I always will.” Flattening17 his ears, Cloudtail swiped at Darkstripe. Blood spattered the brambles as he sliced the tom’s nose. Darkstripe growled19 and charged Cloudtail like a badger20, knocking him backward and leaping onto his exposed belly21. Cloudtail struggled to find his paws. Dovewing sprang forward, hooking her claws into Darkstripe’s pelt. Grunting22 with the effort, she heaved him off Cloudtail.
“Brave little warrior!” Darkstripe hissed23 and thrust out his hind legs. He pushed himself backward with such speed that he sent Dovewing flying. She landed, winded, and Darkstripe found his paws first. Flying at her, he caught her muzzle24 with a vicious kick.
Half-blind with pain, she glimpsed Cloudtail beside her. The white warrior bushed25 out his fur and curled his lip at Darkstripe. Darkstripe’s pelt didn’t even ripple26. Smooth as a snake, he darted27 at Cloudtail, slithering beneath him and raking the warrior’s belly. Blood sprayed the forest floor.
“Get off him!” Dovewing staggered to her paws and hurled28 herself at Darkstripe, throwing her paws around his shoulders and clinging on desperately29. As he tried to shake her off, she hooked a hind paw beneath his and toppled him. Together they rolled down the slope till brambles snagged them.
Teeth ripped into her shoulder. Shocked, she let go and dragged herself free, digging her claws into the earth to stop herself from falling. Darkstripe slashed31 her cheek with a blow that sent her reeling. She staggered, looking for Cloudtail. She would never be able to beat this warrior single-pawed.
“Bad luck, mouse-heart.” Darkstripe glanced up the slope. With a gasp33, Dovewing saw Cloudtail shrieking35 with fury as a tabby held him fast, churning his hind paws against his spine36. “Sparrowfeather’s finishing him off.” Darkstripe curled his lip. “Which means I get to kill you all by myself.”
Warriors37 don’t kill!Rage roared through Dovewing. Fight like rogues39!Firestar’s order rang in her head and she launched herself at Darkstripe. Snapping her jaws, she sunk her teeth into his foreleg. He yowled and tried to shake her off but she crunched40 harder, feeling bone. Guard your throat!She remembered Ivypool’s training as teeth clamped her neck. Frantic41 with terror, she flipped42 her hind legs around and managed to gouge43 Darkstripe’s belly. He let go with a snarl15 and Dovewing ducked away, brambles scraping her ears.
A yowl split her ear fur and she turned just in time to catch a mighty44 swipe from Sparrowfeather. Reeling, she fell and landed hard. Paws thumped into her flank as Sparrowfeather leaped on top of her. Digging his claws deep into her pelt, he held her down and raked her with his hind paws. Dovewing struggled for breath, the wind knocked from her. Terror flooded her as she tried to fight her way free. The Dark Forest tom raked harder and a yowl of agony rose in her throat.
“Come on, Sparrowfeather! Darkstripe!” A new voice sounded on the slope beside them. A Dark Forest warrior was charging past. “Those two are beaten. Leave them to bleed to death. We’re attacking the camp.”
Dovewing felt Sparrowfeather’s claws rip free as he let go and raced after his Clanmates.
“Cloudtail?” Dovewing struggled to her paws, fighting for breath.
Cloudtail lay a few tail-lengths up the slope, his pelt slick with blood. She raced to him and crouched down, wincing45 with pain. “Cloudtail!”
He lifted his head, eyes dull.
“They’re attacking the camp!”
Cloudtail hauled himself to his paws. “Come on!” he croaked46. “We’ve got to stop them.” He plunged47 down the slope, his front leg buckling48 beneath him.
“I have to be!” Cloudtail straightened up and pushed on.
Outside camp, Squirrelflight and Sandstorm were side by side, matching their blows as a patrol of Dark Forest warriors snapped at them like foxes. Sparrowfeather and Darkstripe barged through and joined the attack.
“We need backup!” Squirrelflight yowled.
Brambleclaw, Leafpool, Cinderheart, and Dustpelt raced from the entrance, but more ragged30 pelts50 swarmed51 from the trees and began to drive the Clan6 cats back against the thorn barrier. The ferns shivered on the far slope and Firestar and Lionblaze crashed out. Paw steps skidded behind Dovewing and she turned to see Snowbird and Graystripe race past her and leap into battle. Shaking the blood from his eyes, Cloudtail followed them.
Dovewing plunged in after him. She spotted52 Darkstripe’s pelt and slashed at it. Fight like a rogue38.She dropped the skillful swipes she’d been taught as an apprentice53 and instead dug her claws into whatever flesh she could reach. She spun54 around, raking warrior after warrior, pelts blurring55 before her eyes.
“Watch out!” Squirrelflight yelped beside her. Dovewing had accidentally scraped her Clanmate’s flank.
“Sorry.” Quickly, she turned back, aiming for a darker pelt, relieved as she sunk her teeth into foul-smelling flesh.
“They’re in the camp!” Lionblaze’s yowl split the air.
Dark pelts were streaming through the thorns, turning the narrow entrance into a ragged hole. Lionblaze flashed in after them.
“Cinderheart! Dustpelt! Graystripe! Go with Lionblaze and drive them out!” Firestar sent a Dark Forest warrior flying with a backward kick. “We’ll hold the rest off here.”
Dovewing heard Ferncloud shriek34. The kits56!She raced for the thorns but long claws hauled her back and sent her flying. She landed with a thump14. Struggling to her paws, she suddenly spotted familiar pelts on the slope above camp. Warriors from RiverClan and WindClan had arrived. Dovewing just hoped they were on the right side.
The patrols thundered down the slope and Troutstream, Pebblefoot, and Mintfur hurled themselves into battle beside Dovewing. She watched them closely for a moment, then breathed out in relief when she realized they were aiming only for Dark Forest cats.
“There’s more in camp!” Firestar screeched, batting away Darkstripe.
“We’ll deal with them.” Owlwhisker disappeared through the barrier with Whitetail and Boulderfur on his tail.
As screams sounded from the hollow, the RiverClan warriors turned tail-to-tail and began driving the Dark Forest warriors apart. Dovewing dived into a gap between two tabbies and, with whirling paws, began pushing them farther away. Within moments, the Dark Forest throng57 was split into much smaller groups.
Firestar lined up beside Bumblestripe and Poppyfrost and began herding58 a knot of warriors toward the trees. Dovewing joined Millie and Squirrelflight to push back another cluster. She reared and dived, sure of her movements, knowing exactly where to aim. She nipped at a tabby’s hind legs while Millie batted his muzzle. Squirrelflight tripped another and Dovewing sliced his ear. The Dark Forest warriors jerked around, looking at their scattered59 allies with dismay before turning and running for the trees.
Dovewing spun around. Lionblaze was chasing a tabby up the slope. Leafpool sent a black tom staggering backward. The Dark Forest cats had thinned to a few stragglers.
Firestar stood stiff-legged in front of them. “You can run or you can die,” he offered in a low growl18.
“Cowards!” Ferncloud hissed from the entrance to the hollow
Pebblefoot and Sandstorm exploded out from behind her, driving the last few Dark Forest warriors out of camp. As they hurtled past, Dovewing pricked61 her ears and followed the sound of their wailing62 back into the Dark Forest. Excitement rose in her chest. We survived!
Then she froze.
Beyond the wailing she heard fiercer yowls. Battle cries. Paws slapped against slimy earth. Not fleeing, but marching—heading this way. “There’s more coming,” she whispered.
“Cloudtail! Pebblefoot! Dustpelt!” The ThunderClan leader called to the bloodiest63 cats. “Medicine den5! Now!”
“Is anyone else badly hurt?” Firestar scanned the patrol. Millie rubbed at a torn ear. Graystripe pressed against her, his eye swollen65. Poppyfrost licked a wrenched66 claw. Mintfur sniffed67 a scratch on Troutstream’s flank while Smokefoot shook out his ragged pelt.
Leafpool wove between them, checking wounds. “Nothing dangerous,” she meowed.
Brambleclaw ducked out of camp. “All clear,” he reported. “The kits are safe.”
“For now,” Firestar answered darkly.
Cloudtail arched his back. “Who is it?”
A young ShadowClan cat appeared at the top of the slope.
“Stoatpaw?” Brambleclaw padded forward. “How’s ShadowClan?”
“Blackstar’s losing a life!” Stoatpaw raced toward them, eyes wide. “We’ve been overrun! We need help!”
Smokefoot darted forward to meet the apprentice. Oakfur and Snowbird watched their Clanmates, panic lighting69 their eyes.
“Have you seen Cherrypaw?” Poppyfrost asked.
Stoatpaw blinked. “Isn’t she here?”
Poppyfrost stiffened.
“Perhaps she’s gone to WindClan to find Molepaw.” Leafpool pressed against the tortoiseshell warrior. “Or she might be lying low until it’s safe to travel.”
Firestar looked at Dovewing. “How near is the next Dark Forest patrol?”
Dovewing listened, relieved to find that their paw steps were still muffled70 by Dark Forest mist. “They haven’t broken through yet.”
The ThunderClan leader lashed32 his tail. “Lionblaze, go to ShadowClan. You go too, Graystripe. We can manage here without you.”
Can we?Dovewing trembled. The paw steps might still be far away, but they were approaching steadily71, relentless72 as storm clouds.
“Smokefoot!” Firestar called to the ShadowClan warrior. “Take your patrol home. Your Clanmates need you more than we do.”
As Smokefoot nodded, Brambleclaw weaved around Lionblaze. “Save them, Lionblaze.” He touched his muzzle to the golden warrior’s cheek as though they were still father and son. “I know you can.”
Lionblaze gazed for a moment into Brambleclaw’s eyes, then pulled away and raced into the forest. Graystripe and the ShadowClan patrol hurtled after him, Stoatpaw trailing behind on tired legs.
Dovewing’s belly felt hollow as they disappeared. She glanced around at her Clanmates. Fear sparked in their eyes.
“The camp’s been destroyed,” Ferncloud growled.
“We’ve rebuilt it before.” Firestar turned and headed through the ragged barrier. “We can rebuild it again.”
Dovewing tried to block out the distant thrum of approaching paws. Only if we survive the next attack.
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1
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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yelped
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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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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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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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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8
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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pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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15
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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16
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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17
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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18
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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19
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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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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21
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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22
grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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23
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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24
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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25
bushed
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| adj.疲倦的 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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27
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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28
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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32
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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33
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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34
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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36
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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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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38
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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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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40
crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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41
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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42
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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43
gouge
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| v.凿；挖出；n.半圆凿；凿孔；欺诈 | |
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44
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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45
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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46
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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47
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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48
buckling
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| 扣住 | |
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49
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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50
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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51
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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52
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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53
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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54
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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55
blurring
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| n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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56
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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57
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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58
herding
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| 中畜群 | |
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59
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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60
pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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61
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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62
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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63
bloodiest
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| adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
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64
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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65
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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66
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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67
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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68
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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69
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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70
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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71
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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