ALLEGIANCES
ALLEGIANCES
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER
BLUESTAR—blue-gray she-cat, tinged with silver around her muzzle.
DEPUTY
TIGERCLAW—big dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws.
MEDICINE CAT
YELLOWFANG—old dark gray she-cat with a broad, flattened face, formerly of ShadowClan.APPRENTICE, CINDERPELT—dark gray she-cat
WARRIORS
(toms and she-cats without kits)
WHITESTORM—big white tom.APPRENTICE, BRIGHTPAW
DARKSTRIPE—sleek black-and-gray tabby tom.
LONGTAIL—pale tabby tom with dark black stripes.APPRENTICE, SWIFTPAW
RUNNINGWIND—swift tabby tom.
WILLOWPELT—very pale gray she-cat with unusual blue eyes.
MOUSEFUR—small dusky brown she-cat.APPRENTICE, THORNPAW
FIREHEART—handsome ginger tom.APPRENTICE, CLOUDPAW
GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired solid gray tom.APPRENTICE, BRACKENPAW
DUSTPELT—dark brown tabby tom.
SANDSTORM—pale ginger she-cat.
APPRENTICES
(more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
SWIFTPAW—black-and-white tom.
BRACKENPAW—golden brown tabby tom.
CLOUDPAW—long-haired white tom.
BRIGHTPAW—she-cat, white with ginger splotches.
THORNPAW—golden brown tabby tom.
QUEENS
(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
FROSTFUR—beautiful white coat and blue eyes.
BRINDLEFACE—pretty tabby.
GOLDENFLOWER—pale ginger coat.
SPECKLETAIL—pale tabby, and the oldest nursery queen.
ELDERS
(former warriors and queens, now retired)
HALFTAIL—big dark brown tabby tom with part of his tail missing.
SMALLEAR—gray tom with very small ears; the oldest tom in ThunderClan.
PATCHPELT—small black-and-white tom.
ONE-EYE—pale gray she-cat; the oldest cat in ThunderClan; virtually blind and deaf.
DAPPLETAIL—once-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with a lovely dappled coat.
BROKENTAIL—long-haired dark brown tabby; blind; formerly ShadowClan leader.
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER
NIGHTSTAR—old black tom.
DEPUTY
CINDERFUR—thin gray tom.
MEDICINE CAT
RUNNINGNOSE—small gray-and-white tom.
WARRIORS
STUMPYTAIL—brown tabby tom.APPRENTICE, BROWNPAW
WETFOOT—gray tabby tom.APPRENTICE, OAKPAW
LITTLECLOUD—very small tabby tom.
QUEENS
DAWNCLOUD—small tabby.
DARKFLOWER—black she-cat.
TALLPOPPY—long-legged light brown tabby she-cat.
WINDCLAN
LEADER
TALLSTAR—black-and-white tom with a very long tail.
DEPUTY
DEADFOOT—black tom with a twisted paw.
MEDICINE CAT
BARKFACE—short-tailed brown tom.
WARRIORS
MUDCLAW—mottled dark brown tom.APPRENTICE, WEBPAW
TORNEAR—tabby tom.APPRENTICE, RUNNINGPAW
ONEWHISKER—young brown tabby tom.APPRENTICE, WHITEPAW
QUEENS
ASHFOOT—gray she-cat.
MORNINGFLOWER—tortoiseshell she-cat.
RIVERCLAN
LEADER
CROOKEDSTAR—huge light-colored tabby with a twisted jaw.
DEPUTY
LEOPARDFUR—unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat.
MEDICINE CAT
MUDFUR—long-haired light brown tom.
WARRIORS
BLACKCLAW—smoky black tom.APPRENTICE, HEAVYPAW
STONEFUR—gray tom with battle-scarred ears.APPRENTICE, SHADEPAW
LOUDBELLY—dark brown tom.APPRENTICE, SILVERPAW
SILVERSTREAM—pretty silver tabby.
QUEENS
MISTYFOOT—dark gray she-cat.
ELDERS
GRAYPOOL—thin gray she-cat with patchy fur and a scarred muzzle.
CATS OUTSIDE CLANS
BARLEY—black-and-white tom who lives on a farm close to the forest.
BLACKFOOT—large white tom with huge jet-black paws, formerly ShadowClan deputy.
BOULDER—silver tabby tom, formerly of ShadowClan.
PRINCESS—light brown tabby with a distinctive white chest and paws—a kittypet.
RAVENPAW—sleek black cat with a white-tipped tail who lives on the farm with Barley.
SMUDGE—plump, friendly black-and-white kitten who lives in a house at the edge of the forest.
文前辅文
文前辅文
雷族
族长
蓝星——灰色的母猫，口鼻部呈银色。
副族长
虎掌——个头高大的深棕色虎斑公猫，两只前爪特别修长。
巫医
黄牙——深灰色老年母猫，面部宽扁，曾经隶属于影族。
黄牙的徒弟是炭爪，灰色母猫。
武士 （公猫和母猫均可成为武士。）
白风——大个头的白色公猫。
白风的徒弟是亮爪。
黑条——处世圆滑的深灰色虎斑公猫，身上长着黢黑的条纹。
长尾——苍白色的虎斑公猫。
长尾的徒弟是迅爪。
奔风——动作迅捷的虎斑公猫。
柳带——灰白色的母猫，长着一对蓝莹莹的眼睛。
鼠毛——个头矮小的深棕色母猫。
鼠毛的徒弟是刺爪。
火心——外表英俊的姜黄色公猫。
火心的徒弟是云爪。
灰条——长毛、纯灰色公猫。
灰条的徒弟是蕨爪。
尘毛——棕色虎斑公猫。
沙风——姜黄色母猫。
学徒 （学徒都是年龄大于六个月，正在进行武士训练课程的猫。）迅爪——黑白相间的公猫。
蕨爪——姜黄色花斑公猫。
云爪——长毛白色公猫。
亮爪——母猫，白色皮毛上长有黄色斑纹。
刺爪——黄色公猫。
猫后 （怀孕或正在哺乳的母猫。）
霜毛——漂亮的白色母猫，眼睛为蓝色。
纹脸——漂亮的母花斑猫。
金花——姜黄色母猫。
纹尾——灰色虎斑猫，是育婴室母猫中年纪最大者。
长老 （从武士岗位上退休的猫。）
半尾——大个头的深棕色虎斑公猫，残缺了一截尾巴。
小耳——灰色公猫，双耳奇小，是雷族公猫中最年长者。
团毛——小个子公猫，毛色黑白相间。
一只眼——灰白色母猫，眼花耳背，是雷族所有的猫中年纪最大者。
斑尾——玳瑁色花斑母猫，曾经是族群里的族花。
断尾——长毛、深棕色虎斑公猫，曾为影族族长。
影族
族长
夜星——上年纪的黑色公猫。
副族长
灰毛——瘦骨嶙峋的灰色公猫。
巫医
奔鼻——小个子公猫，毛色灰白相间。
武士
矮尾——棕色虎斑公猫。
湿脚——灰色虎斑公猫。
小云——个头很小的虎斑公猫。
猫后
曙云——小个子虎斑猫。
风族
族长
高星——黑白相间的公猫，长着一根修长的尾巴。
副族长
坏脚——黑色花斑公猫，一只脚残废了。
巫医
青面——短尾棕色公猫。
武士
泥掌——棕色公猫，身上长有黑斑。
裂耳——虎斑公猫。
一根须——年轻的棕色虎斑公猫。
猫后
灰脚——灰色母猫。
晨花——花斑母猫。
河族
族长
钩星——个头高大的灰白色虎斑猫，下颚扭曲。
副族长
豹毛——身上长有醒目的金黄色斑点的母猫。
巫医
泥毛——长毛、浅棕色公猫。
武士
黑掌——棕黑色虎斑公猫。
石毛——灰色公猫，耳朵在战斗中被撕裂了。
响肚——深棕色公猫。
银溪——容貌美丽、身材苗条的银灰色母猫。
猫后
雾脚——深灰色母猫。
长老
灰池——灰色瘦母猫，皮毛斑驳，口鼻处伤痕累累。
族群以外的猫
巴利——黑白相间的公猫，住在距离森林不远的一处农田里。
黑脚——大个头白色公猫，四爪黢黑，曾为影族族长代表。
石头——灰色公猫。
乌爪——瘦小的黑色公猫，尾巴尖儿是白色的。
公主——浅棕色宠物猫，胸脯和爪子均为白色。
斯玛——体态肥胖、性格宽厚的宠物猫，毛色黑白相间，住在靠近森林的一所房子里。
PROLOGUE
PROLOGUE
Cold gripped the forest, fields, andmoorland like an icy claw. Snow covered everything, glittering faintly under a new moon. Nothing broke the silence in the forest except for the occasional soft rush of snow sliding from the branches of trees and the faint rasping of dried reeds when the wind swept through them. Even the murmur of the river was stilled by the ice that stretched from bank to bank.
There was a flicker of movement at the edge of the river. A large tomcat, his bracken-colored fur fluffed up against the cold, emerged from the reeds. He shook snow impatiently from his paws as he sank into the soft drifts with every step.
In front of him, two tiny kits struggled forward with faint mews of distress. They floundered in the powdery snow, the fur on their legs and belly matted into icy clumps, but every time they tried to stop, the tomcat nudged them on.
The three cats trudged along the river until it widened out, and they drew level with a small island not far from the bank. Thick beds of reeds surrounded it, their dry stems poking up through the ice. Stunted, leafless willow trees concealed the center of the island behind snow-covered boughs.
“Almost there,” the bracken-colored tom meowed encouragingly. “Follow me.”
He slid down the bank into a narrow frozen pathway through the reeds and leaped onto the dry, crisp earth of the island. The bigger of the two kits scrambled after him, but the smaller one collapsed on the ice and crouched there, mewing pitifully. After a moment’s pause the tomcat jumped down beside it and tried to nudge it to its paws, but it was too exhausted to move. The tomcat gave its ears a lick, roughly comforting the helpless scrap, and then picked it up by the scruff of the neck and carried it onto the island.
Beyond the willow trees was a stretch of open ground broken by bushes. Snow covered the earth here, crisscrossed by the pawmarks of many cats. The clearing seemed deserted, but bright eyes gleamed from shelter, watching the tomcat as he led the way to the largest clump of bushes and through the outer wall of tangled branches.
The icy chill of the air outside gave way to the warmth of the nursery and the smell of milk. In a deep nest of moss and heather a gray she-cat was suckling a single tabby kit. She raised her head as the tomcat drew closer and gently set down the kit he was carrying. The second kit staggered into the nursery behind him and tried to scrabble its way into the nest.
“Oakheart?” meowed the she-cat. “What have you got there?”
“Kits, Graypool,” Oakheart replied. “Will you take them? They need a mother to look after them.”
“But…” Graypool’s amber eyes were shocked. “Whose kits are they? They’re not RiverClan’s. Where did you get them?”
“I found them in the forest.” Oakheart did not meet the she-cat’s eyes as he spoke. “They’re lucky a fox didn’t find them first.”
“In the forest?” meowed the queen, her voice rasping with disbelief. “Oakheart, don’t talk to me as if I’m mouse-brained. What cat would abandon her kits in the forest, especially in weather like this?”
Oakheart shrugged. “Rogues, maybe, or Twolegs. How would I know? I couldn’t leave them there, could I?” He nosed the smaller kit, which was lying completely still except for the rapid rise and fall of its tiny ribs as it breathed. “Graypool, please…Your other kits died, and these will die too, unless you help them.”
Graypool’s eyes clouded with pain. She looked down at the two kits. Their tiny mouths gaped pink as they mewed pitifully. “I have plenty of milk,” she murmured, half to herself. “Of course I’ll take them.”
Oakheart puffed out his breath in a sigh of relief. He picked up first one kit and then the other and laid them next to Graypool. She nudged them gently into the curve of her belly next to her own kit, where they began to suckle eagerly.
“I still don’t understand,” Graypool meowed when they were settled. “Why would two kits be alone in the forest in the middle of leaf-bare? Their mother must be frantic.”
The bracken-colored tom prodded a piece of moss with one massive front paw. “I didn’t steal them, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Graypool looked at him for a long moment. “No, I don’t think you did,” she meowed at last. “But you’re not telling me the whole truth, are you?”
“I’ve told you all you need to know.”
“No, you haven’t!” Graypool’s eyes flashed with anger. “What about their mother? I know what it’s like to lose kits, Oakheart. I wouldn’t wish that kind of grief on any cat.”
Oakheart lifted his head and glared at her, a faint growl coming from the depths of his throat. “Their mother is probably some rogue cat. This is not the weather to go looking for her.”
“But Oakheart—”
“Just take care of the kits, please!” The bracken-colored tom sprang to his paws and turned abruptly to push his way out of the nursery. “I’ll bring you some fresh-kill,” he meowed over his shoulder as he left.
When he had gone, Graypool bent her head over the kits, rasping her tongue over their fur to warm them. The melting snow had washed away most of their scent, though Graypool could still make out the odors of the forest, of dead leaves and frostbitten earth. And there was something beneath that, fainter still….
Graypool paused in her licking. Had she really sensed that, or was she imagining things? Dipping her head again, she opened her mouth to breathe in the kits’ scents.
Her eyes grew wider, and she stared unblinking into the dark shadows that edged the nursery. She was not wrong. The fur of these two motherless kits, whose origins Oakheart refused to explain, unmistakably carried the scent of an enemy Clan!
引子
引子
寒气犹如冰冷的爪子紧紧攥住森林大地，茫茫雪原在月光下闪烁着微光。森林中一片沉寂，偶尔有雪块从枝头上滑落。寒风拂过河边芦苇，发出沙沙的声响。小河冰封，再无往日潺潺流动的活泼景象。
岸边芦苇丛里钻出一只个头高大的公猫。地上的积雪很厚，他每走一步便要不耐烦地抖落爪子上的雪。
他的前面是两只幼崽。他们的四肢和肚子都陷进雪里，前进十分困难。每当他们累得想停下脚步歇息的时候，那只公猫便推着他们往前走。
河道越来越宽，距河岸不远处有一个小岛，环抱小岛的河里长着茂盛的芦苇，笔直地伸向已结冰的河面。岛中心是一片光秃秃的柳树林，柳树的枝杈上都覆盖着厚厚的积雪。
那只公猫鼓励两只幼崽说：“就快到了，跟我来。”
他走下河岸来到冰面上，穿过芦苇丛跳上小岛。那只较大的幼崽勉勉强强跟在他后面爬上小岛，较小的幼崽则在冰面上连摔了几个跟头，最后趴在冰上呜呜咽咽，哭得甚是可怜。公猫急忙赶回来想扶他站起来，可是幼崽累得实在是站不起来。公猫舔了舔小家伙的脑袋，低声安慰了几句，然后叼起幼崽颈后的皮毛将他带到了小岛上。
穿过柳树林是一片开阔地面，地面上长着一簇簇的灌木丛。这里也已经被积雪覆盖，雪面上密密匝匝地布满了猫爪印。乍一看这里似乎很荒凉，但是如果你透过灌木丛仔细看，就能看到里面无数双眼睛正盯着走过来的那只公猫。公猫钻进了最大的一簇灌木丛里。
灌木丛里有一个温暖、充满奶香的育婴室，刺骨的寒风随着那只公猫一起灌了进来。
一只灰色的母猫正卧在厚厚的苔藓窝里给一只幼崽喂奶。公猫走过去将嘴里叼着的幼崽轻柔地放在母猫身边。那只较大的幼崽跟在公猫身后也钻进育婴室，一进来就往母猫的窝里拱。
母猫说：“橡心？你带来了什么？”
橡心回答：“是幼崽。你能收养他们吗，灰池？他们需要一位母亲。”
灰池吃惊地说：“但……这是谁家的幼崽啊？他们不是河族的。你从哪里找来的？”
橡心不敢看母猫的眼睛：“我在森林里遇见他们。还好他们没有被狐狸抓走。”
母猫尖叫道：“在森林里？橡心，别以为我是傻瓜。特别是在这种天气里，有谁会把自己的孩子丢弃在森林里？”
橡心耸了耸肩膀说：“也许是流浪猫，或者是两脚兽的宠物猫。我怎么知道？总不能把他们丢在那里不管吧？”他用鼻子触了触那只较小的幼崽，幼崽静静地躺着，腹部随着气喘急速地起伏。“灰池，发发慈悲吧。如果你不帮忙，这两个幼崽也会像你那几个孩子一样死掉的。”
灰池的眼里闪过一抹痛苦的神色。她低头看着两只幼崽，小家伙们张开粉红的小嘴可怜地喵喵叫。她把他们和自己的孩子拢在一起，两个小家伙立刻开始如饥似渴地吮吸奶汁。
安顿好这一切后，灰池说：“我还是不明白。大冬天的，谁会把他们独自丢在森林里呢？他们的妈妈一定急疯了。”
橡心用宽大的前爪挑起一片苔藓，说：“你可别以为他们是我偷来的。”
灰池看着他，半晌后方才说：“不，我想他们不是你偷来的。但是你并没有告诉我全部实情，对吗？”
“我告诉你的都是你需要知道的。”
灰池气愤地说：“不，你没有。他们的妈妈呢？橡心，我知道失去孩子是什么滋味。我不想再让任何母亲遭受这种痛苦。”
橡心抬起头盯着她，沉着嗓子说：“他们的妈妈很可能是一只流浪猫。我不会在这种天气里出去寻找她的。”
“但是橡心……”
“照顾好这两只幼崽，其他的事别管，拜托了。”橡心站起来，猛地转身走到育婴室门口回头说，“我去给你拿些猎物。”
橡心走后，灰池低头去舔那两只幼崽以增加他们的体温。融化的雪水洗去了他们身上大部分的气味，不过她仍能嗅到森林的气味、枯叶的气味和冰冻的泥土气息。而且，在这些气味下还有股微弱的……
灰池一下子不动了。是她的真实嗅觉，还是幻觉？她再次低下头去闻幼崽们身上的气味。
她的眼睛睁得大大的，一眨不眨地盯着育婴室黑暗的角落，愣住了。她猜得没错，在这两个橡心所谓的孤儿身上，分明残留着敌族的气味！
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1
The icy wind whirled snow intoFireheart’s face as he struggled down the ravine toward the ThunderClan camp, the mouse he had just killed gripped firmly in his jaws. The flakes were falling so thickly that he could scarcely see where he was going.
His mouth watered as the prey-scent of mouse filled his nostrils. He hadn’t eaten since the previous night, a grim sign of how scarce prey was in leaf-bare. Hunger clawed at his belly, but Fireheart would not break the warrior code: The Clan must be fed first.
A glow of pride briefly drove off the chill from the snow that matted his flame-colored coat, as Fireheart remembered the battle that had taken place only three days before. He had joined the other ThunderClan warriors to help support WindClan when the moorland cats were attacked by the other two Clans in the forest. Many cats had been injured in that battle, so it was even more important for those who could still hunt to bring home prey.
As Fireheart pushed his way through the gorse tunnel leading into the camp, he dislodged snow from the spiky branches above, and he flicked his ears as the cold lumps fell on his head. The thorn trees around the camp gave some shelter from the wind, but the clearing in the center of the camp was deserted; all the cats preferred to stay in their dens to keep warm when the snow lay this thick. Broken tree stumps and the branches of a fallen tree poked above the covering of snow. A single line of pawprints crossed from the apprentices’ den to the bramble thicket where the kits were cared for. Seeing the trail, Fireheart could not help remembering that he was without an apprentice now, since Cinderpaw had been injured beside the Thunderpath.
Trotting across the snow into the heart of the camp, Fireheart dropped his mouse on the pile of fresh-kill near the bush where the warriors slept. The pile was pitifully small. Such prey as could be found was thin and scrawny, hardly a mouthful for a famished warrior. There would be no more plump mice until newleaf, and that was many moons away.
Fireheart was turning away, ready to go back on hunting duty, when a loud meow sounded behind him. He whirled around.
Shouldering his way out of the warriors’ den was the Clan deputy, Tigerclaw. “Fireheart!”
Fireheart padded through the snow toward him, respectfully lowering his head, but conscious that the huge tabby’s amber eyes burned into him. All his misgivings about Tigerclaw flooded through him again. The deputy was strong, respected, and an outstanding fighter, but Fireheart knew there was darkness in his heart.
“You don’t need to go out hunting again tonight,” Tigerclaw growled as Fireheart approached. “Bluestar has chosen you and Graystripe to go to the Gathering.”
Fireheart’s ears twitched with excitement. It was an honor to accompany the Clan leader to the Gathering, where all four Clans met in peace at full moon.
“You had better eat now,” added the dark-coated deputy. “We leave at moonrise.” He began to stalk across the clearing toward the Highrock, where Bluestar, the Clan leader, had her den; then he paused and swiveled his massive head to look back at Fireheart. “Just make sure you remember which Clan you belong to at the Gathering,” he hissed.
Fireheart felt his fur bristle as anger flared inside him. “What makes you say that?” he demanded boldly. “Do you think I would be disloyal to my own Clan?”
Tigerclaw turned to face him, and Fireheart tried hard not to flinch at the menace in the cat’s tensed shoulders. “I saw you in the last battle.” The deputy’s voice was a low growl, and his ears were flattened against his head as he spat, “I saw you let that RiverClan warrior escape.”
Fireheart winced, his mind flashing back to the battle in the WindClan camp. What Tigerclaw said was true. Fireheart had allowed a RiverClan warrior to flee without a scratch, but not out of cowardice or disloyalty. The warrior had been Silverstream. Unknown to the rest of ThunderClan, Fireheart’s best friend, Graystripe, was in love with her, and Fireheart could not bring himself to wound her.
Fireheart had done his best to talk his friend out of visiting Silverstream—their relationship went against the warrior code and put both of them in grave danger. But Fireheart also knew that he would never betray Graystripe.
Besides, Tigerclaw had no right to accuse any cat of disloyalty. He had stood on the edge of the battle, watching while Fireheart fought for his life against another RiverClan warrior, and turned away instead of helping him. And that was not the worst accusation Fireheart could make against the deputy. He suspected Tigerclaw of murdering the former ThunderClan deputy, Redtail, and even planning to get rid of their leader herself.
“If you think I’m disloyal, tell Bluestar,” he meowed challengingly.
Tigerclaw drew back his lips in a snarl and dropped into a half crouch, sliding out his long claws. “I don’t need to bother Bluestar,” he hissed. “I can deal with a kittypet like you.”
He stared at Fireheart for a moment longer. Fireheart realized with a jolt that there was a trace of fear as well as distrust in the blazing amber eyes. Tigerclaw wonders how much I know, he thought suddenly.
Fireheart’s friend Ravenpaw, Tigerclaw’s own apprentice, had witnessed the murder of Redtail. Tigerclaw had tried to kill him to keep him quiet, so Fireheart had taken him to live with Barley, a loner who lived near a Twoleg farm on the other side of WindClan’s territory. Fireheart had tried to tell Ravenpaw’s story to Bluestar, but the Clan leader refused to believe that her brave deputy could be guilty of such a thing. As he glared at Tigerclaw, Fireheart’s frustration returned; he felt as if a tree had fallen and pinned him to the ground.
Without another word, Tigerclaw swung around and stalked away. As Fireheart watched him go, there was a rustling from inside the warriors’ den, and Graystripe poked his head out through the branches.
“What on earth are you doing?” he meowed. “Picking fights with Tigerclaw like that! He’ll turn you into crowfood!”
“No cat has the right to call me disloyal,” Fireheart argued.
Graystripe bent his head and gave his chest fur a couple of quick licks. “I’m sorry, Fireheart,” he muttered. “I know this is all because of me and Silverstream—”
“No, it isn’t,” Fireheart interrupted, “and you know it. Tigerclaw’s the problem, not you.” He shook himself, scattering snow from his coat. “Come on; let’s eat.”
Graystripe pushed the rest of the way out and bounded toward the pile of fresh-kill. Fireheart followed him, picked out a vole, and carried it back to the warriors’ den to eat. Graystripe crouched beside him, near the outer curtain of branches.
Whitestorm and a couple of other senior warriors were curled up asleep in the center of the bush, but otherwise the den was empty. Their sleeping bodies warmed the air, and barely any snow had penetrated the thick canopy of branches.
Fireheart took a mouthful of vole. The meat was tough and stringy, but he was so hungry that it tasted delicious. It was gone far too quickly, but it was better than nothing, and it would give him the strength he needed to travel to the Gathering.
When Graystripe had finished his meal in a few ravenous gulps, the two cats lay close together, grooming each other’s cold fur. It was a relief to Fireheart to share tongues like this with Graystripe again, after the troubling time when it seemed that Graystripe’s love for Silverstream would destroy his friendship with Fireheart. Even though Fireheart still worried about his friend’s forbidden affair, since the battle he and Graystripe had rekindled their friendship so it was as close as before. They needed to trust each other if they were to survive the long season of leaf-bare, and even more than that, Fireheart knew he needed Graystripe’s support against Tigerclaw’s growing hostility.
“I wonder what news we’ll hear tonight,” he murmured in his friend’s gray ear. “I hope RiverClan and ShadowClan have learned their lesson. WindClan won’t be driven out of their territory again.”
Graystripe shifted uncomfortably. “The battle wasn’t just greed for territory,” he pointed out. “Prey is even scarcer than usual—RiverClan are starving since the Twolegs moved into their territory.”
“I know.” Fireheart flicked his ears in reluctant sympathy, understanding that his friend would want to defend Silverstream’s Clan. “But forcing another Clan out of their territory isn’t the answer.”
Graystripe muttered agreement, and then fell silent. Fireheart knew how he must’ve felt. It was only a few moons since they had crossed the Thunderpath to find WindClan and to bring them home. Yet Graystripe was bound to sympathize with RiverClan too, because of his love for Silverstream. There were no easy answers. The shortage of prey would be a desperate problem for all four Clans, at least until leaf-bare relaxed its cruel grip on the forest.
Growing drowsy under the steady rasp of Graystripe’s tongue, Fireheart jumped at the rustle of branches outside the den. Tigerclaw entered, followed by Darkstripe and Longtail. All three of them glowered at Fireheart as they settled in a huddle closer to the center of the bush. Fireheart watched them through slitted eyes, wishing that he could make out their conversation. It was too easy to imagine they were plotting against him. Fireheart’s muscles tensed as he realized that he would never be safe within his own Clan while Tigerclaw’s treachery remained a secret.
“What’s the matter?” asked Graystripe, lifting his head.
Fireheart stretched, trying to relax again. “I don’t trust them,” he murmured, flicking his ears in the direction of Tigerclaw and the others.
“I don’t blame you,” meowed Graystripe. “If Tigerclaw ever found out about Silverstream…” He shuddered.
Fireheart pressed closer to his side, comforting him, while his ears still strained to catch what Tigerclaw was saying. He thought he heard his own name, and was tempted to creep a little closer, but just then he caught Longtail’s eye.
“What are you staring at, kittypet?” hissed the tabby warrior. “ThunderClan only wants loyal cats.” Deliberately he turned his back on Fireheart.
Fireheart sprang to his paws at once. “And who gave you the right to question our loyalty?” he spat.
Longtail ignored him.
“That does it!” Fireheart mewed in a fierce undertone to Graystripe. “It’s obvious that Tigerclaw is spreading rumors about me.”
“But what can you do?” Graystripe sounded resigned to the deputy’s hostility.
“I want to talk to Ravenpaw again,” Fireheart meowed. “He might remember something else about the battle, something I could use to convince Bluestar.”
“But Ravenpaw lives at the Twoleg farm now. You’d have to go all the way across WindClan territory. How would you explain being out of the camp for so long? It would only make Tigerclaw’s lies seem like the truth.”
Fireheart knew he was willing to take that risk. He had never asked Ravenpaw for any details about how Redtail had died in the battle against RiverClan all those moons ago. At the time it had seemed more important to get the apprentice out of Tigerclaw’s way.
Now he knew that he had to find out exactly what Ravenpaw saw. Because he was becoming more and more certain that his friend must know something that could prove just how dangerous Tigerclaw was to the Clan.
“I’ll go tonight,” Fireheart mewed softly. “After the Gathering, I’m going to slip away. If I bring back fresh-kill, I can say I’ve been hunting.”
“You’re taking a big risk,” mewed Graystripe, giving Fireheart’s ear a quick and affectionate lick. “But Tigerclaw is my problem too. If you’re determined to go, then I’m coming with you.”
The snow had stopped and the clouds had cleared away by the time the ThunderClan cats, Fireheart and Graystripe among them, left the camp and headed through the forest toward Fourtrees. The snow-covered ground seemed to glow in the white light of the full moon, and frost glittered on every twig and stone.
A breeze blew toward them, ruffling the surface of the snow and bearing the scent of many cats. Fireheart shivered with excitement. The territories of all four Clans met in the sacred hollow, and at every full moon a truce was declared for the Clans to gather beneath the four great oaks that stood in the center of the steep-sided clearing.
Fireheart fell in behind Bluestar, who had already dropped into a crouch to creep the last few tail-lengths to the top of the slope and peer down into the glade. A rock reared up in the center of the clearing between the oaks, its jagged outline black against the snow. As Fireheart waited for Bluestar’s signal to move, he watched the other Clan cats greeting one another below. He could not help noticing the glares and raised hackles as WindClan faced the cats of RiverClan and ShadowClan. Clearly none of them had forgotten the recent battle; if it weren’t for the truce, they would be clawing one another’s fur.
Fireheart recognized Tallstar, the leader of WindClan, sitting near the Great Rock, with his deputy, Deadfoot, beside him. Not far away, Runningnose and Mudfur, the medicine cats of ShadowClan and RiverClan, sat side by side, gazing at the other cats with eyes that reflected the moon.
Beside Fireheart, Graystripe’s muscles were tense, and his yellow eyes glowed with excitement as he stared down into the glade. Following his gaze, Fireheart saw Silverstream emerge from the shadow, her beautiful black-and-silver coat rippling in the moonlight.
Fireheart suppressed a sigh. “If you’re going to talk to her, be careful who sees you,” he warned his friend.
“Don’t worry,” Graystripe meowed. His front paws kneaded the hard ground as he waited for the moment when he could be with the RiverClan cat again.
Fireheart glanced at Bluestar, expecting her to give the signal to descend into the clearing, but instead he saw Whitestorm pad up and crouch beside her in the snow. “Bluestar,” Fireheart heard the noble white warrior murmur, “what are you going to say about Brokentail? Will you tell the other Clans that we’re sheltering him?”
Fireheart waited tensely for Bluestar’s answer. Brokentail had once been Brokenstar, leader of ShadowClan. He had murdered his own father, Raggedstar, and stolen kits from ThunderClan. In retaliation, ThunderClan had helped Brokenstar’s own Clan to drive him out into the forest. Not long after, Brokenstar had led a band of rogue cats to attack the ThunderClan camp. In the battle, Yellowfang, the ThunderClan medicine cat, had scratched his eyes, and now Brokentail was a prisoner, blind and defeated. Even though the former leader had been stripped of his StarClan-given name, and was kept under close guard, Fireheart knew that the other Clans would expect ThunderClan to have killed him, or driven him out to die in the forest. They wouldn’t welcome the news that Brokentail was still alive.
Bluestar kept her gaze fixed on the cats in the clearing below. “I will say nothing,” she replied to Whitestorm. “It doesn’t concern the other Clans. Brokentail is ThunderClan’s responsibility now.”
“Brave words,” growled Tigerclaw from where he sat on the other side of Bluestar. “Or are we ashamed to admit what we’ve done?”
“ThunderClan has no need to be ashamed for showing mercy,” Bluestar retorted coolly. “But I see no reason to go looking for trouble.” Before Tigerclaw could protest, she sprang to her paws and faced the rest of the ThunderClan cats. “Listen,” she meowed. “No cat is to talk about the attack by the rogue cats, or mention Brokentail. These are matters for our Clan alone.”
She waited until meows of agreement came from the assembled cats. Then she flicked her tail to signal that the ThunderClan cats could join the other Clans below. She raced down through the bushes, with Tigerclaw just behind her, his huge paws scattering snow.
Fireheart bounded after them. As he slid out of the bushes into the clearing he saw that Tigerclaw had stopped close by, and was giving him a suspicious stare. “Graystripe,” Fireheart hissed quietly over his shoulder, “I don’t think you should go off with Silverstream tonight. Tigerclaw’s already—”
Fireheart suddenly realized that Graystripe was no longer beside him. Looking around, he saw his friend disappearing behind the Great Rock. A heartbeat or two later, Silverstream skirted around a group of ShadowClan cats and followed him.
Fireheart sighed. He glanced at Tigerclaw, wondering if the deputy had seen them go. But Tigerclaw had padded away to join Onewhisker from WindClan, and Fireheart let the fur lie flat on his shoulders again.
Pacing restlessly across the clearing, Fireheart found himself near a group of elders—Patchpelt from ThunderClan, and others he did not know, crouching beneath a glossy-leaved holly bush, where the snow did not lie so thickly. Keeping one eye out for Graystripe, Fireheart settled down to listen to their conversation.
“I remember a leaf-bare even worse than this.” It was an old black tom who spoke, his muzzle turned to silver and his flank scarred from many a fight. He had the scent of WindClan on his short, patchy fur. “The river was frozen for more than three moons.”
“You’re right, Crowfur,” a tabby queen agreed. “And prey was scarcer, too, even for RiverClan.”
For a heartbeat Fireheart felt surprised that two elders from recently hostile Clans could talk calmly without spitting hatred at each other. But then, they were elders, he reflected. They must have seen many battles in their long lives.
“Young warriors today,” the old black cat added with a glance at Fireheart. “They don’t know what hardship is.”
Fireheart scuffled among the dead leaves under the bush and tried to look respectful. Patchpelt, crouched close to him, gave him a friendly flick with his tail.
“That must have been the season when Bluestar lost her kits,” recalled the ThunderClan elder. Fireheart pricked up his ears. He remembered Dappletail saying something once before about Bluestar’s kits, which were born just before she became Clan deputy. But he had never learned how many kits she had had, or how old they were when they died.
“And do you remember the thaw that leaf-bare?” Crowfur interrupted Fireheart’s thoughts, his eyes unfocused as he lost himself to his memories. “The river in the gorge rose nearly as far as the badger sets.”
Patchpelt shivered. “I remember it well. ThunderClan couldn’t cross the stream to come here for the Gathering.”
“Cats were drowned,” the RiverClan queen remembered sadly.
“Prey too,” Crowfur added. “The cats who survived nearly starved.”
“May StarClan grant it’s not so bad this season!” Patchpelt mewed fervently.
Crowfur spat, “These young cats would never cope. We were tougher in those days.”
Fireheart could not help protesting. “We have strong warriors now—”
“Who asked your opinion?” growled the cranky old tom. “You’re hardly more than a kit!”
“But we—” Fireheart broke off as the air was filled with a shrill yowl and all the cats fell silent. He turned his head to see four cats on top of the Great Rock, silhouettes in the silver moonlight.
“Shh!” hissed Patchpelt. “The meeting’s about to start.” He twitched his ears at Fireheart and purred softly, “Take no notice of Crowfur. He’d find fault with StarClan.”
Fireheart gave Patchpelt a grateful look, tucked his paws under him, and settled down to listen.
Tallstar, the WindClan leader, began by announcing how his cats were recovering after the recent battle against RiverClan and ShadowClan. “One of our elders has died,” he meowed, “but all our warriors will live—to fight another day,” he added meaningfully.
Nightstar flattened his ears and narrowed his eyes, while Crookedstar let out a threatening growl from deep in his throat.
Fireheart’s fur prickled. If the leaders started to fight, their cats would fight too. Had it ever happened at a Gathering? he wondered. Surely not even Nightstar, ShadowClan’s bold new leader, would risk the anger of StarClan by breaking the sacred truce!
As Fireheart apprehensively watched the bristling cats, Bluestar stepped forward. “This is good news, Tallstar,” she meowed smoothly. “All of us should rejoice to hear that WindClan grows strong again.”
Her blue eyes glowed in the moonlight as she glanced at the leaders of ShadowClan and RiverClan. Nightstar turned away from her gaze, and Crookedstar dipped his head, his expression unreadable.
It had been ShadowClan, under Brokenstar’s cruel command, who had first driven WindClan away, so that they could extend their own hunting grounds. RiverClan had taken advantage of their exile to hunt in the deserted territory. But after Brokenstar’s exile, Bluestar had convinced the other leaders that the life of the forest depended on all four Clans, and that WindClan should return. Fireheart shivered as he remembered the long and difficult journey he had made with Graystripe to find WindClan and bring them home to their bleak upland territory.
That reminded him of how he meant to cross the uplands again to find Ravenpaw, and he shifted uneasily. He was not looking forward to the journey. At least WindClan are friendly toward ThunderClan, he thought. So we shouldn’t get attacked on the way.
“ThunderClan’s cats are also recovering,” Bluestar went on. “And since the last Gathering two of our apprentices have become warriors. They will now be known as Dustpelt and Sandstorm.”
Yowls of approval came up from the mass of cats below the Great Rock—mostly, Fireheart noticed, from ThunderClan and WindClan. He caught a glimpse of Sandstorm, sitting with her pale ginger head raised proudly.
The Gathering proceeded more peacefully now. Fireheart remembered the previous Gathering, when the leaders had accused one another of hunting outside their own territory, but no cat mentioned this now. A group of rogue cats, led by Brokentail, had been responsible, but the news that these rogues had attacked the ThunderClan camp, and had been soundly defeated, did not seem to have spread. Bluestar’s secret about blind Brokentail was safe.
When the meeting was over, Fireheart looked around for Graystripe. If they were going to see Ravenpaw, they needed to leave soon, while the other ThunderClan cats were still in the hollow, and would not notice which way they went.
Fireheart caught the eye of Swiftpaw, Longtail’s apprentice, sitting in the middle of a group of young cats from ShadowClan. Swiftpaw looked away guiltily. At any other time Fireheart might have called him over and told him to find his mentor for the journey home, but right now all he cared about was finding Graystripe immediately. He forgot Swiftpaw as soon as he saw his friend weaving his way toward him. There was no sign of Silverstream.
“There you are!” Graystripe called, his yellow eyes shining.
Fireheart could see that he had enjoyed the Gathering, though he doubted that his friend had listened to much of the talk. “Are you ready?” he meowed.
“To go and see Ravenpaw, you mean?”
“Not so loud!” Fireheart hissed, anxiously looking around.
“Yes, I’m ready,” Graystripe mewed, more softly. “I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. Still, anything to get Tigerclaw out of my fur—unless you’ve had a better idea?”
Fireheart shook his head. “This is the only way.”
The hollow was still full of cats, preparing to leave in four directions. No cat seemed to pay any attention to Fireheart and Graystripe until they had almost reached the slope that led to WindClan’s upland territory. Then a meow sounded behind them.
“Hey, Fireheart! Where are you going?”
It was Sandstorm.
“Er…” Fireheart shot a desperate glance at Graystripe. “We’re going the long way around,” he improvised quickly. “Mudclaw from WindClan told us about a warren of young rabbits just inside our territory. We thought we’d bring back some fresh-kill.” Suddenly alarmed by the thought that Sandstorm might offer to come with them, he added, “Tell Bluestar, will you, if she asks where we are?”
“Sure.” Sandstorm yawned, showing a mouthful of sharp white teeth. “I’ll think about you, dashing after rabbits, when I’m curled up in a nice warm nest!” She padded off with a flick of her tail.
Fireheart was relieved; he didn’t like lying to her. “Let’s go,” he meowed to Graystripe. “Before any other cat sees us.”
The two young warriors slid into the shelter of the bushes and crept up the slope. At the top, Fireheart paused for a moment, looking back to make sure they had not been followed. Then he and Graystripe bounded over the rim of the hollow and raced toward the moorland and, beyond that, the Twoleg farm.
This is the only way, Fireheart repeated to himself as he ran. He had to find out the truth. Not just for Redtail and Ravenpaw, but for the sake of the whole Clan. Tigerclaw had to be stopped…before he had the chance to kill again.
第一章
第一章
寒风卷着大雪刮在火心的脸上，如同刀割一般。他嘴里叼着捕到的老鼠，吃力地爬下沟向营地走去。漫天飞舞的雪花令他几乎辨认不清东西南北。
嘴里的猎物散发出的香味一阵阵地涌进他的鼻孔，害得他垂涎欲滴。落叶季里猎物特别少，自昨天晚上以来他一口东西都没有吃。虽然火心饥肠辘辘，却不敢违反武士守则：
猎物必须先带回族里。
他回想起三天前发生在风族营地里的那场激战，顿时豪情万丈，一时间连身上的寒冷都忘却了。当居住在高地上的风族被影族和河族联合攻击时，火心和雷族的伙伴们齐心协力支援风族，抗击侵略者。在那次战斗中，许多猫都受了伤，因此，对于那些尚能外出打猎的猫们来说，担子就更重了。
火心穿过金雀花通道走进营地，金雀花上覆盖的积雪被他一撞，簌簌落下。他动了动耳朵，弹去落在头上的雪。会场中央没有树木的遮蔽，寒风呼呼地刮进来。所有的猫都躲进巢穴里取暖，因此会场上的雪积得很厚，只有几个树桩和那根倒在地上的木头露出雪面。在学徒巢穴和育婴室之间有一排脚印，看着这排脚印，火心想起自从炭爪在雷鬼路边遭遇不幸以来，自己还没有收新的徒弟。
火心踏雪走到武士巢穴旁，将捕来的老鼠放在猎物堆里。猎物不但数量少得可怜，而且都骨瘦如柴，对于整日吃不饱肚子的武士们来说连塞牙缝儿都不够。在遥遥无期的落叶季过去之前，想找到肥大的老鼠简直是在做梦。
火心正要再次出去捕猎，这时一个声音叫住了他。他转过身。
虎掌从巢穴里走出来说：“你等一下！”
火心朝他走了过去，虽然他为了表示尊敬而垂下头，但仍然能觉察到虎掌那对琥珀色的眼睛在死死地盯着他。那种对虎掌深深的恐惧感再次涌入他的心中。这位副族长体格强壮，颇受群猫的尊敬，而且武艺高强。但是火心洞察出了他隐藏在内心深处的阴暗。
虎掌大声说：“今晚你不必再出去捕猎了，蓝星让你和灰条参加森林大会。”
火心的耳朵高兴地动了动：陪族长去参加森林大会可是一件光荣的事啊！每逢月圆之夜，森林里的四大族群都要和和气气地坐在一起商讨事情。
虎掌补充说：“现在你最好吃些东西，天一黑我们就走。”说完他朝蓝星的巢穴走去。
走到高岩下时，他扭头对火心低声狠狠地说：“在森林大会上不要忘了自己的身份。”
火心顿时气不打一处来，质问道：“你凭什么说这种话？你以为我会背叛族群吗？”
虎掌转过身正脸看着他，在他蓄势待发的凌厉威慑下，火心竭力不让自己发抖。虎掌两耳贴平，低声吼道：“在上次战斗中，我看见你放走了那个河族武士。”
火心打了个寒战，风族营地里发生的那一幕仿佛又出现在他的眼前。虎掌说得不错。
火心任由一名河族武士毫发无伤地从自己的爪下逃走，但他之所以这么做，既非软弱无能，也非存心背叛，而是因为那名武士是银溪。灰条瞒着大家偷偷与银溪相爱，火心怎能忍心对她施加毒手呢。
火心曾尽了最大的努力来劝说他的好朋友与银溪断绝关系——他们之间的恋情不但违反了武士守则，而且将自身置于极大的危险境地。但火心也知道自己永远都不会出卖灰条。
况且，虎掌根本没有权利指责任何猫不忠诚。在那场战斗中，他眼睁睁地看着火心几乎被敌人杀死却无动于衷。而且据火心所知，这还不是虎掌最恶劣的行为。他怀疑虎掌谋害了雷族的前任副族长红尾，甚至正在计划除掉蓝星。
火心毫不示弱地说：“如果你认为我对族群不忠，那么告诉蓝星好了。”
虎掌面目狰狞，后腿弯曲，几乎要扑过来。他恶狠狠地说：“不必打扰蓝星，对付你这种宠物猫，对我来说简直是不费吹灰之力。”
他瞪着火心，两只猫一时间僵持在那里。火心觉察到在那双琥珀色的眼睛里，除了不信任的目光，还隐藏着一丝恐惧的痕迹。他忽然想到：虎掌肯定是想知道我对他的丑事究竟了解了多少。
虎掌的徒弟乌爪是火心的好朋友，他曾亲眼看到红尾被害的全过程。虎掌想杀他灭口，但火心及时将他带到两脚兽的农场里，让他和巴利生活在一起。火心曾将这件事告诉蓝星，但是蓝星压根儿不相信这位英勇善战的副族长会是凶手。火心看着虎掌，心里越来越泄气，仿佛一棵参天大树轰然倒下，将自己压得再也爬不起来。
虎掌没有再说什么，转身离去。武士巢穴里传来沙沙声，灰条从里面探出头说：“你究竟想干什么？和虎掌决斗？他杀你简直易如反掌！”
火心生气地说：“谁都没有权利说我是叛徒。”
灰条低头舔了两下胸前的毛，小声说：“对不起，火心。我知道这都是因为我和银溪的缘故……”
火心打断他的话：“不是那么回事，你知道原因。虎掌才是问题的关键所在，而不是你。”他将身上的雪抖落，说，“走吧，吃点儿东西去。”
他们来到猎物堆旁，火心选了一只水老鼠。两只猫返回到武士巢穴里，坐在巢穴的门口开始进餐。
白风和其他两名高级武士正躺在巢穴中央睡觉。由于巢穴四壁密不透风，再加上他们身上散发出的热气，因此巢穴里十分温暖。
火心啃了一口水老鼠，鼠肉又糙又硬，但他依然吃得津津有味。虽然不足以填饱肚子，但比起空腹已是强了许多。吃了这顿饭，他就有力气去参加森林大会了。
灰条也是三两口解决掉自己的晚餐，然后两只猫挨在一起，趴在地上开始为对方舔梳皮毛。自打灰条和银溪相爱后，火心和灰条的关系便急转直下，还从来没有像今天这么亲密过。不过在上次战斗之后，他们之间的关系日渐升温。能与灰条重归于好，火心感到十分欣慰。虽然他仍为灰条的违规行为感到担心，但在漫长的落叶季里唯有相互信任才能存活下来，况且火心还有更深一层的考虑：在虎掌日益增长的敌意面前，他需要得到灰条的全力支持。
他伏在灰条的耳边说：“不知道今晚我们会听到什么新闻。经此一役，希望河族和影族能吸取教训，风族再也不会被赶出家园了。”
灰条不自在地说：“这场战役不光是领地之争。猎物越来越稀少——自从两脚兽们搬进河族的领地以来，他们经常吃不饱饭。”
“我知道。”火心知道他的朋友因为银溪的缘故才帮着河族说话。他对河族也感到有些同情：“可是将别的族群赶出家园绝不是解决问题的办法。”
灰条嘟囔几句表示同意，然后就不再吱声。火心清楚灰条内心的感受。仅仅几个月前，他们曾一起穿越雷鬼路寻找风族，并把他们带回家园。尽管灰条爱银溪，可他也同情风族的遭遇。没有什么两全其美的解决办法。对于四大族群来说，猎物的短缺是头等大事，至少在落叶季过去之前可以这么说。
在灰条的舌头不停发出的摩擦声中，火心渐感昏昏欲睡。就在这时，巢穴外响起沙沙声，虎掌、黑条和长尾走了进来。他们对火心怒目而视，三只猫走到巢穴中央聚成一团。
火心眯起眼睛望着他们，特别想听到他们的谈话。这种情形下，火心很容易便联想到他们是在密谋对付自己。他全身上下都绷紧了。虎掌的卑劣行径一日不大白于天下，他火心在族群里便一日没有安全保障。
灰条抬起头问：“怎么了？”
火心舒展开身体，令自己放松下来。他将耳朵朝虎掌他们的方向摆动了一下，小声说：“我不信任他们。”
灰条耸了耸肩膀说：“如果虎掌发现了我和银溪的事情，我不会怪你的。”
火心贴近他小声安慰，双耳仍旧支棱着想听到虎掌的谈话。他依稀听到自己的名字，便想凑近一些，这时他看到长尾在盯着自己。
长尾低嘶着说：“你在看什么，宠物猫？雷族只需要忠贞不贰的猫。”说完他故意转身背对着火心。
火心立刻跳起身怒斥道：“谁给你的权利来质疑我的忠诚？”
长尾没有理睬他。
火心压低声音恨恨地对灰条说：“我猜得没错！虎掌显然是在散播关于我的流言飞语。”
“但你能做些什么呢？”听起来灰条已屈服于虎掌的淫威之下。
火心说：“我想和乌爪再谈一谈。关于那场战斗，他也许会回忆起别的什么，以便使我能说服蓝星。”
“但乌爪现在住在两脚兽的农田里，去那里必须经过风族的领地。而且离开营地这么久，你该怎样向族里解释啊？这么做只会使虎掌的谎言听起来更加真实可信。”
火心很想冒这个风险。他从没有向乌爪询问过红尾遇难事件的细节。那时候，最重要的事是帮助乌爪逃离虎掌的魔爪。
如今，他必须彻底弄清楚乌爪看到的事情。因为他越来越肯定，乌爪掌握的情况能够证明虎掌对族群的危险性。
火心轻声说：“我今晚就去，开完森林大会我便偷偷溜走。我会带些猎物回来，这样我就能说我去打猎了。”
灰条深情地舔了一下火心的脑门儿说：“太冒险了。不过如果你执意要去，我乐意奉陪。”
当火心等离开营地前往“四棵树”时，雪已经停了，天空中也云开雾散。茫茫雪原反射着苍白的月光，每一处的枝头上、石缝间都挂满了冰柱。
寒风迎面吹来，吹皱了地上的雪面，其中夹杂着许多猫的气味。
火心心潮澎湃。每当月圆之夜，森林里四大猫族便会齐聚在“四棵树”下开会。所谓“四棵树”，就是在四大猫族的领地交界处的一个盆地内的四棵巨大的橡树。
在距盆地边缘几步远时，蓝星伏下身子，慢慢爬到坡顶朝盆地内张望。在四棵橡树中间耸立着一块巨大的岩石，这块巨岩通体黢黑，在皑皑白雪中显得格外醒目。河族、影族和风族的猫们均已到达，河、影二族的猫正在相互寒暄，但是他们和风族之间的气氛却很古怪，颇有些剑拔弩张的味道。很明显，大家对不久前刚发生的那场战斗仍记忆犹新，如果不是碍于遵守不得在森林大会上发生冲突的祖训，双方早已大打出手了。
风族的族长高星和他的副族长坏脚肩并肩坐在巨岩旁边。不远处，影族巫医奔鼻和河族巫医泥毛也是并肩坐在一起，月光下两双眼睛目光闪烁。
伏在火心身边的灰条浑身肌肉紧绷，他专注地望着盆地内，目光忽然变得炽热起来。
火心顺着灰条的目光，看见银溪从阴暗处走了出来。在月光映衬下，银溪那身银灰色的皮毛越发显得光彩夺目。
火心暗地里叹了口气，提醒他的朋友说：“你和她说话的时候，小心不要让别的猫看见了。”
灰条说：“放心吧。”他前爪磨蹭着地面，迫不及待地想上前和银溪会面。
火心看了看蓝星，料想她马上就会下达前进的命令。这时，白风走到蓝星身边伏在雪地里，火心听到他小声说：“蓝星，你准备怎样向别的族群说起断尾的事情？告诉他们断尾受到我们的庇护吗？”
这也是火心想问的话。白风所说的断尾便是昔日影族族长断星。他做尽坏事，曾杀害了自己的父亲残星，还偷盗过雷族的幼崽。雷族出于报复，帮助影族将断尾赶下台。事后不久，断尾纠集了一帮泼皮猫袭击了雷族的大本营。在那次战斗中，雷族的医生黄牙抓瞎了断尾的双眼。现在，断尾已经是雷族的阶下囚了。虽然这位昔日的一族之长已被剥夺了星族赐予的名号，而且处于雷族的严密看守中，但是其他族群不会就此善罢甘休的，他们一定会让雷族处死断尾，或者将其流放森林自生自灭。如果他们听到断尾活着的消息，他们的反应可想而知。
蓝星望着坡下空地处的猫群，回答白风：“我什么都不会说。这件事与其他族群无关，断尾如今是雷族的囚犯。”
虎掌大声说：“是豪言壮语呢，还是我们羞于承认自己所做的事情啊？”
蓝星冷冷地说：“好心肠并不是一件羞于启齿的事，不过我看我们没有必要自找麻烦。”不等虎掌说话，她跳起身对大家说：“听着，谁都不许谈及泼皮猫袭击的事情，或者提到断尾的名字。这是我们族里的内部事务。”
看到大家点头同意，她摇晃了一下尾巴，发出前进的命令，当先冲下山坡。虎掌跟在她身后，巨大的爪子踢得积雪飞溅。
火心随着大伙儿走进空地，看到虎掌站在不远处正看着自己，眼里充满了怀疑的神色。他扭头小声说：“灰条，我想今晚你不能见银溪了，虎掌已经……”
火心忽然发现灰条根本不在身边。他急忙四处张望，看到灰条的身影正消失在巨岩后，紧接着，银溪绕开了一群影族的猫，也走到巨岩后面。
火心叹了口气，他瞅了瞅虎掌，怕这位副族长也看到了这一幕。他看见虎掌已经走到一边，和风族的一根须攀谈，这才稍稍安心。
火心脚步不停地走过空地，看到一群老年猫聚在一起——有雷族的团毛，其他则不知是属于哪一族的。他们卧在一簇绿叶光鲜的冬青下，那里的积雪要少一些。火心坐在一旁听他们谈话，时不时瞅一眼灰条。
“我记得有一年冬天比现在还要糟。”说话的是一只黑色老年公猫，他的口鼻部已是花白，脸上布满了大大小小无数次战斗留下的疤痕，一身短毛散发出风族的气味，“河水结冰长达三个月之久。”
一只虎斑母猫同意道：“说得没错，鸦毛。那时，连我们河族都找不到足够的食物。”
火心这才知道这两只猫竟是来自敌对双方。看到他们心平气和地坐在一起侃侃而谈，火心感到很是惊讶。但他随即想到，这些老年猫们这一生必定经历过无数次恶战，打仗对他们来说早已是家常便饭了。
那只叫鸦毛的老猫瞅了一眼火心，说：“今天的这些年轻武士们根本不知道什么叫世事艰难。”
火心心里不以为然，但他仍表现出一副尊敬的样子。坐在他身旁的团毛友善地朝他晃动了一下尾巴。
团毛说：“就是在那年冬天，蓝星失去了她的幼崽。”火心一下子竖起耳朵，他记起斑尾曾经说过，蓝星在当上族长以前生过幼崽。但他既不知道幼崽的数目，也不知道幼崽夭折时的年龄。
“你们还记得那年冰雪融化时的情景吗？河水大涨，几乎将獾的洞穴全部淹没。”鸦毛的话打断了火心的思绪，他的眼神迷失在陈旧的回忆之中。
团毛打了个寒战：“我记得很清楚。雷族过不了溪流，因此没有来这里参加森林大会。”
那只河族母猫痛心地说：“许多猫都被淹死了。”
鸦毛补充道：“猎物们也难逃一劫。侥幸活下来的猫都被饿得半死不活。”
团毛说：“希望星族不会让今年也那么糟糕！”
鸦毛说：“如今这些年轻猫们可应付不了那种场面。我们那时比他们坚强得多。”
火心终于忍不住了：“如今的武士们也很坚强……”
鸦毛脾气暴躁，立刻大声训斥道：“谁让你乱说话了？你这乳臭未干的家伙！”
“但我们……”火心的话被一声清冷的长啸打断，大家顿时安静下来。火心转过头，看见月光之下有四只猫站在巨岩上。
团毛小声说：“嘘——”他向火心动了动耳朵，温和地说，“别理会鸦毛。他一向吹毛求疵，鸡蛋里挑骨头。”
火心感激地看了看他，收拢爪子坐下开始留神倾听。
风族族长高星先向大家介绍了风族在影、河两族联手攻击后恢复生息的情况，最后说道：“我们有一只老年猫在这次战斗中牺牲，但没有武士伤亡——我们仍然能够作战。”语气中充满了威胁的意味。
夜星双耳贴平，眯缝起眼睛。钩星则从喉咙深处发出了一声低吼。
火心变得紧张起来。族长之间的争斗会把整个族群牵扯进来。以往的森林大会上发生过这种事情吗？可以肯定，即使是胆大妄为的影族族长夜星，也不敢冒着触怒星族的风险而破坏森林大会的规矩！
就在这一触即发的紧要关头，蓝星走上前淡淡地说：“高星，这可是好消息。风族得以重新壮大，真是可喜可贺。”
她盯着影族和河族的族长，双眼幽幽地闪着光。夜星避开她的目光，钩星则歪过头去，神色颇难捉摸。
当日影族在断星的领导下，为了满足扩张领地的野心，曾将风族赶出家园。河族也趁火打劫，在风族的领地里捕猎。但在断星被放逐后，蓝星用森林应当由四大猫族共享的大道理极力劝说影族和河族的族长，因此风族得以重回故土。火心和灰条长途跋涉、历尽艰难险阻，才找到风族并将他们带回高地。一想到那段经历，火心至今仍感到心有余悸。
他想起自己还得经过高地去找乌爪，心里很不情愿，实在不想再跑那么远的路。他想：至少风族对雷族还算友好，路经高地的时候，他们应该不会为难我们。
蓝星继续说：“自上次森林大会之后，我们又有两名学徒成了武士，他们的名字是尘毛和沙风。”
巨岩下的猫群中立时响起一片赞叹声——火心注意到这些声音大多来自雷族和风族。
火心瞅了瞅沙风，见她正襟危坐，头高高昂起。
会场气氛缓和了许多。火心回忆起上次森林大会上，各个族长为了偷猎之事相互指责，现在却没有谁再提及此事。偷猎的事情原是断尾领着一群泼皮猫做下的，但那群泼皮猫在袭击雷族营地之战中大败而逃的消息，却尚未传播开来。大家此时还都不知道瞎眼断尾的事情。
眼看森林大会就要结束，火心开始四处寻找灰条，现在正是他们溜出去找乌爪的大好时机。雷族众猫都聚集在盆地里，没有谁会注意到他们的去向。
火心看见长尾的徒弟迅爪坐在一群影族的年轻猫当中。迅爪神色愧疚地避开了他的目光。若在平时，火心也许会把他叫过来，让他跟着师父回家。但此刻，火心满脑子都在想如何尽快找到灰条。他一看到灰条摇摇晃晃地向他走来，便立刻将迅爪抛在脑后。灰条独自走来，银溪则不知去哪里了。
灰条两眼放光，喊道：“你在这里呀！”
看得出，这次森林大会令灰条很开心，但火心怀疑他的朋友到底有几分注意力是放在了族长们的讲话上。他说：“准备好了吗？”
“你是说去找乌爪吗？”
“别那么大声！”火心急忙小声说着，担心地看看四周。
灰条压低嗓门儿：“是的，准备好了。说实话，我真不愿意做这件事，我可不想惹恼虎掌——你还有更好的主意吗？”
火心摇了摇头：“这是唯一的办法。”
这时盆地内的猫们纷纷站起，开始向四个方向散去，没有谁留意到火心和灰条。两只猫朝风族领地走去，正要上坡的时候，听见身后响起说话声。
“喂，火心！你们要去哪里？”
说话的是沙风。
“哦，”火心急忙向灰条递了个眼色，念头飞转，“我们想绕一大圈再回去。风族的泥掌说领地里有许多兔子，我们准备捉一些带回营地。”他生怕沙风主动要求和他们一起去，于是接着说，“蓝星问起我们时，你能告诉她一声吗？”
“没问题。”沙风打了个哈欠，露出一口白牙，“去捉兔子吧，我会躺在温暖的巢穴里想你们的！”说着晃了晃尾巴走开了。
火心松了口气，他内心本不情愿欺瞒沙风。他小声对灰条说：“走吧，别再被发现了。”
两位武士钻进灌木丛顺着坡往上爬。火心爬到坡顶时，停下脚步回头张望，见没有被跟踪，于是和灰条撒开腿便往高地跑去。高地那边，就是两脚兽的农场。
火心边跑边对自己说：这是唯一的办法了。他必须找出真相，不光为红尾和乌爪，也为整个族群。一定要制止虎掌——赶在他找到机会再次作恶之前。
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 2
Fireheart sniffed warily at a pathwhere the snow had been trampled down by Twolegs. Lights shone from the Twoleg nest, and somewhere close by he could hear a dog barking. He remembered Barley telling him that the Twolegs let their dogs off the chains at night. He just hoped that he could locate Ravenpaw before he and Graystripe were noticed.
Graystripe slipped through the fence and padded up to him. The icy wind flattened his gray fur against his body. “Smell anything?” he asked.
Fireheart lifted his head to taste the air, and almost at once he caught the scent he was searching for, faint but familiar. Ravenpaw! “This way,” he mewed.
He crept along the path, the hard surface icy under his paws. Cautiously he followed the scent to a gap at the bottom of a barn door where the wood had rotted away.
He sniffed, drinking in the smell of hay and the strong, fresh scent of cats. “Ravenpaw?” he whispered. When there was no reply, he repeated, louder, “Ravenpaw?”
“Fireheart, is that you?” A surprised mew came from the darkness on the other side of the door.
“Ravenpaw!” Fireheart squeezed through the gap, thankful to be out of the wind. The scents of the barn flowed around him, and his mouth began to water as he detected the smell of mouse. The barn was dimly lit by moonlight filtering through a small window high under the roof. As his eyes adjusted, Fireheart saw another cat standing a few tail-lengths away.
His friend looked even sleeker and better fed than when Fireheart had seen him last. Fireheart realized how scrawny and bedraggled he must look in comparison.
Ravenpaw purred happily as he padded over to Fireheart and touched noses with him. “Welcome,” he mewed. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you,” Graystripe meowed, pushing his way through the gap in the door after Fireheart.
“Did you get WindClan back to their camp safely?” Ravenpaw asked. Fireheart and Graystripe had stayed with him during their journey to bring WindClan home.
“Yes,” mewed Fireheart, “but it’s a long story. We can’t—”
“Well, what’s going on here?” Another cat’s meow interrupted them.
Fireheart spun around, flattening his ears, ready to fight if this newcomer was a threat. Then he recognized Barley, the black-and-white loner who had willingly shared his home with Ravenpaw. “Hi, Barley,” Fireheart meowed, calming down. “We need to talk to Ravenpaw.”
“So I see,” Barley mewed. “And it must be important, to bring you across the moors in this weather.”
“Yes, it is,” Fireheart agreed. He glanced at the former ThunderClan apprentice, the urgency of his mission prickling through his fur. “Ravenpaw, we haven’t any time to waste.”
Ravenpaw looked puzzled. “You know you can talk to me as much as you want.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then,” Barley offered. “Feel free to hunt. We’ve plenty of mice here.” He gave a friendly nod to the visiting cats, and squeezed out under the door.
“Hunt? Really?” meowed Graystripe. Fireheart felt sharp pangs of hunger grip his belly.
“Of course,” mewed Ravenpaw. “Look, why don’t you eat first? Then you can tell me why you’re here.”
“I know Tigerclaw killed Redtail,” Ravenpaw insisted. “I was there, and I saw him do it.”
The three cats were crouched in the hayloft of the Twoleg barn. Hunting had not taken very long. After the desparate struggle to find prey in the snow-covered forest, the barn seemed to the hungry ThunderClan warriors to be overflowing with mice. Now Fireheart was warm, and his stomach felt comfortably full. He would have liked to curl up and sleep in the soft, fragrant hay, but he knew that he had to talk to Ravenpaw right away if he and Graystripe were to get back to camp before their absence was noticed. “Tell us everything you remember,” he urged, giving Ravenpaw an encouraging nod.
Ravenpaw stared ahead of him, his eyes dark as he journeyed back in his mind to the battle at the Sunningrocks. Fireheart could see his confidence beginning to ebb. The black cat was losing himself in his memories, reliving the fear and the burden of what he knew.
“I’d been wounded in the shoulder,” he began, “and Redtail—he was our deputy then, as you know—told me to hide in a crack in the rock until it was safe to get away. I was just going to make a dash for it when I saw Redtail attack a RiverClan cat. I think it was that gray warrior called Stonefur. Redtail knocked Stonefur off his paws, and looked as if he was about to sink in his claws for some serious injury.”
“Why didn’t he?” Graystripe put in.
“Oakheart came out of nowhere,” Ravenpaw explained. “He sank his teeth into Redtail’s scruff and pulled him off Stonefur.” His voice shook as the memories flooded through his mind’s eye. “Stonefur ran away.” The cat paused, unconsciously crouching down as if he were scared of something very close by.
“What next?” Fireheart prompted gently.
“Redtail spat at Oakheart. He asked him if RiverClan warriors were unable to fight their own battles. Redtail was brave,” Ravenpaw added. “The RiverClan deputy was twice his size. And then…then Oakheart said a strange thing. He told Redtail, ‘No ThunderClan cat will ever harm that warrior.’”
“What?” Graystripe narrowed his eyes until they were yellow slits. “That doesn’t make sense. Are you sure you heard him right?”
“Positive,” insisted Ravenpaw.
“But the Clans fight all the time,” meowed Fireheart. “What’s so special about Stonefur?”
“I don’t know.” Ravenpaw shrugged, shying away from their searching questions.
“So what did Redtail do after Oakheart said that?” asked Graystripe.
Ravenpaw’s ears pricked up and his eyes widened. “He flew at Oakheart. He bowled him right off his paws and underneath a rocky overhang. I…I couldn’t see them, though I could hear them snarling. And then I heard a rumbling sound, and the rock collapsed on top of them!” He stopped, shivering.
“Please go on,” Fireheart mewed. He hated putting Ravenpaw through this, but he had to know the truth.
“I heard a screech from Oakheart and I saw his tail sticking out from under the rocks.” Ravenpaw closed his eyes, as if he wanted to shut out the sight, and then opened them again. “Just then I heard Tigerclaw behind me. He ordered me to go back to the camp, but I’d only gone a little way when I realized I had no idea if Redtail was okay after the rockfall. So I crept back, past all the RiverClan warriors that were running away. And when I got to the rocks, Redtail was charging out of the dust. His tail was straight up and his fur stood on end, but he was all right, not a scratch on him that I could see. And he ran straight into Tigerclaw, who was in the shadows.”
“And was that when—” Graystripe began.
“Yes.” Ravenpaw’s claws flexed as if he was imagining himself back in the battle. “Tigerclaw grabbed Redtail and pinned him down. Redtail struggled, but he couldn’t break free. And…” Ravenpaw swallowed, and stared at the floor. “Tigerclaw sank his teeth into Redtail’s throat, and it was all over.” He dropped his chin onto his paws.
Fireheart moved closer to him, and pressed his body against Ravenpaw’s flank. “So Oakheart died when the rocks fell on him. It was an accident,” he murmured. “No cat killed him.”
“That still doesn’t prove that Tigerclaw killed Redtail,” Graystripe pointed out. “I don’t see that any of this helps us at all.”
For a heartbeat Fireheart stared at him, discouraged. Then his eyes widened and he sat up, paws tingling with excitement. “Yes, it does. If we can prove the rockfall story, it shows that Tigerclaw was lying when he said Oakheart killed Redtail, and when he claimed to have killed Oakheart in revenge.”
“Just a minute,” Graystripe interrupted. “Ravenpaw, at the Gathering you didn’t say anything about falling rocks. You made it sound as if Redtail killed Oakheart.”
“Did I?” Ravenpaw blinked, and struggled to focus on Graystripe. “I didn’t mean to. This is what really happened, I promise.”
“And that’s why Bluestar wouldn’t listen to us,” Fireheart went on excitedly. “She couldn’t believe that Redtail would have killed another deputy. But Redtail didn’t kill him. Bluestar will have to take us seriously now!”
Fireheart’s brain was whirling with everything they had discovered. He wanted to ask Ravenpaw more questions, but he could smell the fear-scent on his friend, and saw the old haunted look in his eyes, as if telling his story had brought back all his unhappy memories of ThunderClan. “Is there any more you can tell us, Ravenpaw?” he mewed gently.
Ravenpaw shook his head.
“This means so much to the Clan,” Fireheart told him. “Hopefully now we stand a chance of convincing Bluestar that Tigerclaw is dangerous.”
“If she listens,” Graystripe pointed out. “It’s a pity you told her Ravenpaw’s first story,” he added to Fireheart. “Now he’s changed everything, she won’t know what to believe.”
“But he hasn’t changed everything,” Fireheart protested, as Ravenpaw flinched at Graystripe’s irritable tone. “We misunderstood, that’s all. I’ll convince Bluestar somehow,” he added. “At least we know the truth now.”
The black cat looked a little happier, but Fireheart could see that he didn’t want to think about the past anymore. He settled beside Ravenpaw, purring encouragement, and for a short while the three cats shared tongues.
Then Fireheart pushed himself to his paws. “It’s time we were on our way,” he meowed.
“Take care,” Ravenpaw mewed. “And watch out for Tigerclaw.”
“Don’t worry,” Fireheart assured him. “You’ve given us what we need to deal with him.” With Graystripe behind him, he slid under the door and ventured out into the snow.
“It’s freezing out here!” Graystripe grumbled as they bounded down to the fence at the edge of the Twoleg farm. “We should have taken a couple more of those mice to feed the Clan,” he added.
“Yeah, right,” Fireheart retorted. “And what would you tell Tigerclaw when he asked you where you found such fat mice in this weather?”
The moon was close to setting, and soon the sky would begin to pale toward dawn. The chill of the snow soon penetrated Fireheart’s winter-thick fur, even colder after the warmth of the barn. His legs were aching with weariness; it had been a long night, and they still had to cross WindClan’s territory before they could rest in their own camp. Fireheart could not stop thinking about what Ravenpaw had told them. He was sure that his friend was telling the truth, but it would be hard to convince the rest of the Clan. Bluestar had already refused to believe Ravenpaw’s original story.
Yet that was when Fireheart thought Redtail had killed Oakheart. Bluestar could not accept that Redtail would kill another warrior unnecessarily. Now Fireheart understood the real story, that Oakheart had died by accident…. But how could Fireheart accuse Tigerclaw again unless he had something to back up what Ravenpaw had told him?
“The RiverClan cats would know,” he realized aloud, pausing under a rocky outcrop on the moorland slope, where the snow was not so thick.
“What?” meowed Graystripe, padding up to him to share the shelter. “Know what?”
“How Oakheart died,” Fireheart replied. “They must have seen Oakheart’s body. They would be able to tell us whether he died from a rockfall, and not a death blow from a warrior.”
“Yes, the marks on his body would prove it,” agreed Graystripe.
“And they might know what Oakheart meant when he said that no ThunderClan cat should attack Stonefur,” Fireheart added. “We need to speak to a RiverClan warrior who took part in the battle, maybe Stonefur himself.”
“But you can’t just walk into the RiverClan camp and ask,” Graystripe protested. “Think of how tense it was at the Gathering—it’s too soon after the battle.”
“I know one RiverClan warrior who would welcome you,” Fireheart murmured.
“If you mean Silverstream, yes, I could ask her,” Graystripe agreed. “Now, can we please get back to the camp before my paws freeze completely?”
The two cats padded onward, more slowly now as weariness made their limbs heavy. They were within sight of Fourtrees when they spotted three other cats climbing the hillside. The breeze carried the scent of a WindClan patrol to Fireheart. Not wanting to explain their presence in WindClan territory, he looked swiftly around for cover, but the snow stretched smoothly on all sides, with no rocks or bushes nearby. And it was clear that the WindClan cats had already seen them, as they changed direction to meet them.
Fireheart recognized the familiar uneven gait of the Clan deputy, Deadfoot, with the tabby warrior Tornear, and his apprentice, Runningpaw.
“Hello, Fireheart,” called Deadfoot, limping up with a puzzled look in his eyes. “You’re a long way from home.”
“Er…yes,” Fireheart admitted, dipping his head respectfully. “We just…we picked up a ShadowClan scent trail, and it led us up here.”
“ShadowClan on our territory!” Deadfoot’s fur began to bristle.
“I reckon it was an old scent,” Graystripe put in hastily. “Nothing to worry about. We’re sorry we crossed your border.”
“You’re welcome here,” meowed Tornear. “The other Clans would have destroyed us in the last battle if your Clan hadn’t helped. Now we’re sure they’ll keep away. They know they have ThunderClan to reckon with.”
Fireheart felt embarrassed at Tornear’s praise. He and Graystripe had helped the WindClan cats in the past, but this time he was uncomfortable with the thought that any cats from WindClan had seen them on their territory. “We’d best be getting back,” he muttered. “Everything seems quiet enough up here.”
“May StarClan light your path,” meowed Deadfoot gratefully.
The other WindClan cats wished Fireheart and Graystripe good hunting, and went on toward their own camp.
“That was bad luck,” Fireheart growled as he and Graystripe padded down to Fourtrees.
“Why?” asked Graystripe. “The WindClan cats didn’t mind us on their territory. We’re all friends now.”
“Use your brains, Graystripe,” Fireheart mewed. “What if Deadfoot mentions that he saw us to Bluestar at the next Gathering? She’s bound to wonder what we were doing out here!”
Graystripe stopped. “Mousedung!” he spat. “I never thought of that.” His eyes met Fireheart’s, and Fireheart saw his own uneasy feelings reflected there. “Bluestar won’t like it if she finds out we’re sneaking around investigating Tigerclaw.”
Fireheart shrugged. “Let’s just hope we can settle all this before the next Gathering. Now come on; we ought to try to catch something to take back with us.”
He set off again, picking up the pace until the two cats were racing over the snow. As they skirted the hollow at Fourtrees and entered their own forest territory, he relaxed a little, pausing to drink the air in the hope of picking up the scent of prey. Graystripe sniffed hopefully among the roots of a nearby tree, and came back looking disappointed.
“Nothing,” he grumbled. “Not a single mouse—not even a whisker!”
“We haven’t got time to keep looking,” Fireheart decided. He saw that the sky was already growing lighter above the trees. Time was running out, and their absence from camp was more likely to be noticed with every heartbeat.
The dawn light was growing stronger as they reached the ravine. Limbs aching with weariness, muscles stiff with cold, Fireheart led the way silently between the boulders toward the gorse tunnel. Thankful to be home at last, he bounded into the tunnel’s dark mouth. As he emerged into the camp, he skidded to a halt so abruptly that Graystripe cannoned into him from behind.
“Move, you big furball!” Graystripe gave a muffled mew.
Fireheart didn’t reply. Sitting a few tail-lengths away, in the middle of the clearing, was Tigerclaw. His head was sunk below his massive shoulders, and his yellow eyes were gleaming with triumph.
“Maybe you’d like to tell me where you’ve been?” he growled. “And why it took you so long to get back from the Gathering?”
第二章
第二章
道路上的积雪已被两脚兽们清扫干净，远处两脚兽的巢穴内透出点点灯光，附近传来声声犬吠。火心想起乌爪曾经说过，每当夜幕降临时两脚兽便将狗链松开。他们必须赶在被狗发现之前找到乌爪。
灰条钻过篱笆，刺骨的寒风将他的一身灰毛吹得贴在皮上。他问火心：“嗅到什么了吗？”
火心抬起头，立刻嗅到一股他们正在找寻的气味，微弱而熟悉。是乌爪！他说：“这边。”
脚下的路面又冷又硬。他们一直循着气味走到一座谷仓的木门前，木门早已腐烂，门下方裂开一道缝隙。
门内飘出干草气味和浓烈的猫的气味。火心小声唤道：“乌爪？”见没有回应，他提高声音，“乌爪？”
谷仓内一个声音惊奇地问：“火心，是你吗？”
“乌爪！”火心急忙挤进门缝，巴不得早点儿脱离风吹之苦。谷仓内到处飘溢着老鼠的气味，火心顿时垂涎欲滴。月光从仓壁上方的一个小窗照射进来，仓内事物依稀可辨。火心渐渐适应了谷仓内的昏暗，看到两步开外处站着一只猫。
与火心上次见到时相比，乌爪越发健壮，显然衣食不缺。相比之下，火心则瘦骨嶙峋，潦倒不堪。
乌爪欢快地走上前和火心互触了一下鼻子，说：“欢迎欢迎，稀客呀。”
这时灰条也从门缝拱了进来，说：“见到你真高兴。”
乌爪问：“你们带风族回家，途中还顺利吧？”火心和灰条引领风族重返家园的途中曾和乌爪见过面，故此乌爪会这么问。
火心说：“挺顺利，说来话长。我们不能……”
“这里出什么事了？” 火心的话忽然被另一个声音打断。
火心猛地转过身。此时敌我未明，他贴平双耳，准备战斗。接着，他认出说话的猫是和乌爪共同生活在一起的独行者巴利，这才放下心来，招呼道：“嘿，巴利。我们想和乌爪说一会儿话。”
巴利说：“看得出来。这种鬼天气里你们大老远跑过来必定是为了很重要的事吧。”
“没错。”火心瞅了一眼乌爪，焦急地说，“乌爪，我们的时间所剩不多。”
乌爪不解地说：“你知道我们之间是无话不谈的。”
巴利知趣地说：“你们谈吧。这里老鼠多的是，捉些来吃，别客气。”巴利友好地向火心他们点了点头后，从门下钻出谷仓。
灰条说：“捉老鼠？真的？”火心的肚子里顿时咕咕作响。
乌爪说：“当然。你们何不先吃点儿东西呢？吃完后再讲明你们的来意也不迟。”
“就是虎掌杀了红尾，”乌爪一口咬定，“我亲眼看见的。”
填饱肚子后，火心、灰条和乌爪卧在谷仓内的干草垛里。对于雪地里寻食的猫来说，谷仓里简直铺天盖地都是老鼠。吃饱了饭，火心感到浑身暖洋洋的。要在往日，他会蜷在柔软芳香的干草垛里美美睡上一觉。但现在不同往日，他必须马上向乌爪问清楚那件事情，否则，在他们返回到营地前，大家就会发现他们失踪。他急促地说：“把你能回忆起来的全都告诉我们。”说着鼓励似的朝乌爪点点头。
乌爪目光暗淡，凝视着前方，思绪回到发生在太阳石的那场战斗中。火心能够感觉到他方才透出的那股自信开始渐渐消逝。乌爪迷失在自己的回忆中，那件事情带来的沉重负担和恐惧又重新出现在他的心头。
他开口说道：“我的肩膀受了伤。红尾——那时他还是我们的副族长——让我躲在巨石的石缝里见机离开。我正要照他说的做时，看见他向一只河族的猫发起攻击。那只猫的名字好像叫石毛。红尾将他撞翻在地，似乎是要狠狠抓他几下。”
灰条插嘴问：“他为什么没有那么做？”
乌爪解释说：“橡心不知道从哪里冒了出来。他咬住红尾的颈背将其从石毛的身上拖下来。”他目光迷离，声音颤抖，“然后石毛就跑开了。”乌爪顿了顿，下意识地缩了缩身体，似乎身旁有什么事物令他感到十分恐惧。
火心轻声问：“接下来呢？”
“红尾大声喝骂，质问橡心河族的武士们是否没有能力单打独斗。红尾可真勇敢。”乌爪补充说，“那位河族的副族长的个头是他的两倍。然后……然后橡心说了一句非常奇怪的话。他对红尾说，‘只要是雷族的猫，就不能伤害那位武士。’”
灰条的眼睛眯成两道狭窄的缝：“什么？这句话什么意思？你没听错吧？”
乌爪坚持道：“千真万确。”
火心说：“但是各个族群之间从来战争不断。石毛有什么特殊吗？”
乌爪耸了耸肩膀说：“这我就不得而知了。”朋友们的刨根问底令他有些不好意思。
灰条问：“橡心说完那句话后，红尾有什么反应？”
乌爪双耳竖立，眼睛睁得大大的：“他扑到橡心身上，和他一起滚到一块悬在半空的巨石下。我……我看不见他们，只能听到他们的喝骂声。接着，我听到咣当一声，他们头顶上的那块巨石掉落下来！”说到这儿，乌爪止住了话音，身体不住地颤抖。
火心说：“请说下去。”尽管他打心眼儿里不愿意让乌爪再次回忆那段可怕的经历，但他必须弄清楚真相。
“我听到橡心发出一声惨叫，只看见他的尾巴露在巨石下。”乌爪合上双眼，似乎想要切断那一幕场景，然后，他又睁开眼睛，“接着，我听到身后传来虎掌的声音，他命令我返回营地。但是在红尾生死不明的时候，我怎能就此离开。于是，没走多远，我又悄悄溜了回去。这时，四散逃走的河族猫们纷纷从我身边经过。巨石落下后掀起阵阵烟尘，我赶到时，红尾正好从烟尘中走了出来。他翘着尾巴，毛都竖立起来，但却安然无恙，身上没有一处伤口。他撒开腿跑，没想到虎掌就躲在暗处。”
灰条说：“你说过，那时……”
“是的。”乌爪紧紧攥住四爪，似乎重又回到那次战斗中，“虎掌扑出来抓住红尾，将他死死按在地上。红尾拼命挣扎，却于事无补。然后……”乌爪咽了口唾沫，眼睛盯着地上，“虎掌一口咬住红尾的喉咙，结果你们都知道了。”他垂下头将下巴搁在前爪上。
火心凑上前去，身子抵住他的脸颊，小声说：“这么说，是落下的巨石砸死了橡心。他是死于意外，而不是被谁杀死的。”
灰条说：“橡心的死仍不能证明是虎掌杀害了红尾。我看不出来这些情况对我们到底有何帮助。”
一时间，火心也感到非常沮丧。接着，他的眼睛越睁越大，最后站起身，激动之下，四肢都在颤抖。“这些情况大有用处。虎掌曾说，红尾是被橡心杀害的，而他则杀了橡心为红尾报仇。如果我们能够证明橡心的确死于那次意外，就表明虎掌是在撒谎。”
灰条打断他的话说：“等等，乌爪，在森林大会上你并没有提到巨石掉落的事呀。当时听你的口气似乎是红尾杀了橡心。”
“是吗？”乌爪眨了眨眼睛，不敢直视灰条，“那不是有意的。我发誓，我现在所说的句句属实。”
火心兴奋地说：“这就是为什么蓝星不肯听我们说的话了。她不相信红尾会杀害别族的副族长。但如果橡心不是红尾杀的，蓝星就会认真考虑我们的话！”
火心念头飞转，他们发现的种种事情一时间纷至沓来，全涌入他的脑海里。他还想问乌爪一些问题，但他嗅到乌爪的身上散发出恐惧的气味，看到他的眼睛里再次出现那种束手待毙的神色，知道这些事情又将乌爪带回到那段可怕的回忆中。他轻柔地说：“还有什么要说的吗，乌爪？”
乌爪摇了摇头。
火心告诉他：“你说的这些对族群意义深远。希望我们能有机会说服蓝星，使她相信虎掌的阴险狡诈。”
灰条说：“她肯听就好了。不过可惜你已经把乌爪所说的第一个故事告诉了她。现在，乌爪推翻了所有之前说过的话，蓝星将不知道该相信哪一个故事。”
乌爪听见灰条语气不善，心里暗自发虚。火心分辩说：“乌爪没有推翻自己说过的话，那全是误会罢了。至少我们现在知道了真相，我多多少少总会说服她的。”
乌爪的神色缓和了些，但火心知道他不愿再多回忆过去。他坐在乌爪身边低声安慰，三只猫一边相互舔梳，一边有一搭没一搭地聊天。
火心站起身：“我们该上路了。”
乌爪说：“多加保重，小心提防虎掌。”
火心安慰他说：“别担心。知道了你所了解的情况，我们就能够从容不迫地应对他了。”说着，他和灰条先后挤出仓门，踏入茫茫雪原。
两只猫从两脚兽农场边的围栏上跳下，灰条抱怨说：“这里可真冷！我们本该捉两只老鼠再走的。”
火心反唇相讥：“是啊，没错。可如果虎掌问，这种天气你在哪里捉到这么肥大的老鼠，你该怎么回答呢？”
月亮渐渐落下，天边即将泛起鱼肚白。雪地里的寒气迅速穿透火心厚厚的皮毛，在经历过谷仓内的温暖后，更加令他感到冰冷刺骨。他的四肢累得又酸又痛，漫漫长夜过后，他们仍需通过风族的领地才能重返营地。火心一路上都在想乌爪讲的话。虽然他可以肯定乌爪所言句句属实，但要说服族里其他的猫又谈何容易，从一开始蓝星就不相信乌爪讲的故事。
但情况毕竟有所不同了，那时火心以为是红尾杀害了橡心，而蓝星则说什么也不相信红尾会无缘无故杀害一名武士。如今，火心摸清了整个事情的来龙去脉，橡心的死纯属意外。但是，在找到证据证明乌爪的话之前，他该如何再次对虎掌提出责难呢？
火心走到半山腰处的一块岩石下面，忽然停住脚步，出声说：“河族应该也知道。”
灰条走到他身边：“什么？知道什么？”
火心回答：“知道橡心的死因。他们一定看过橡心的尸体，他们应该知道他是被石头砸死的，而不是被武士咬死的。”
灰条同意说：“没错，他尸体上的伤痕能够证明这一点。”
火心补充说：“还有，他们也许知道橡心说的那番雷族猫不能伤害石毛的怪话的真意。
我们需要和曾经参加过那次战斗的河族武士谈谈，也许就是石毛自己。”
灰条说：“但你总不能溜进河族营地去问话吧。想想森林大会上的紧张气氛——我们刚刚打过仗。”
火心小声说：“我知道有一位河族武士不会拒绝你。”
灰条说：“你指银溪吗？好吧，我去问她。现在，我们能否在爪子没有冻僵之前赶快返回营地呢？”
两只猫继续行进，四肢越来越沉重，走得也越来越慢。快到“四棵树”时，他们看到有三只猫沿着山坡爬上来。微风吹过，带来一股风族的气味。火心不愿横生枝节，急忙寻找藏身之地。但在积雪覆盖下，整个山坡一览无余，附近既没有岩石也没有灌木丛。那三只风族猫显然也看到了他们，朝他们走了过来。
火心从跛行的步态上认出了风族的副族长坏脚，一同前来的还有裂耳及其学徒奔爪。
坏脚一瘸一拐地走上来，满脸困惑地招呼说：“你好呀，火心。你们这可算得上是远离家门了。”
“哦，是的。”火心尊敬地低下头去，“我们只是……我们嗅到了影族的气味，一路追寻到这里。”
坏脚的毛一下子竖立起来：“影族在我们的领地里？”
灰条急忙插嘴说：“气味都很陈旧，没什么可紧张的。我们很抱歉走进你们的领地。”
裂耳说：“小事一桩。如果不是雷族援手，我们在上次战斗中难免要全军覆没。影族和河族现在一定不敢再轻易造次，他们不得不掂量一下雷族的分量。”
听了裂耳的赞誉，火心稍感尴尬。虽然他和灰条在过去帮助过风族，但在风族的领地里和风族的猫相遇，让他觉得很不好意思。他小声说：“我们要回去了。这里看起来很平静。”
坏脚感激地说：“愿星族为你们照亮回家的路。”
裂耳和奔爪相继祝福火心和灰条多多捕到猎物后，三只猫径自返回营地。
在继续向“四棵树”前进的路上，火心大声抱怨：“真倒霉！”
灰条问：“为什么这么说？风族不会介意我们进入他们的领地，我们现在是朋友。”
“用用脑子，灰条。如果坏脚在下次森林大会上向蓝星提起这件事怎么办？她会想知道我们到这里做什么！”
灰条停下脚步，骂道：“我真蠢！我没想到这一层。”他直视火心，看得火心颇不自在。
“如果蓝星发现我们在偷偷调查虎掌的底细，她一定会不高兴的。”
火心耸了耸肩膀说：“希望我们在下次森林大会到来前搞定这一切。走吧，我们去捉些猎物带回去。”
两只猫收拾心情继续赶路，他们绕着“四棵树”所在的盆地回到雷族的领地。火心松了口气，停下脚步嗅嗅空气，希望能嗅到猎物的气味。灰条也在附近大树的树根上东嗅西嗅，然后一脸失望地回来。
他抱怨道：“什么都没有。别说老鼠了，就连一根老鼠须子都没有！”
“我们没有时间继续找猎物了。”火心从树枝间望去，看见天空已经渐渐亮了。时间飞逝，大家随时都可能注意到他们的失踪。
当他们赶到营地时，天已大亮。火心累得四肢酸痛，冻得肌肉僵硬。他走在前面，从石缝中寻路向金雀花通道靠近。谢天谢地，终于到家了。他迫不及待地跑进黑黢黢的金雀花通道中。刚一进入营地，火心便来了个急刹车，跟在身后的灰条猝不及防，和他撞个正着。
灰条压低嗓门儿说：“走啊，你这个大毛球！”
火心没有回应。几步开外的空地里，虎掌赫然端居高坐。他夹紧肩膀垂下头，琥珀色的眼睛里闪动着得意的光芒。
虎掌大声道：“也许你该解释一下你们去哪里了？从森林大会上回来为什么花了这么长的时间？”
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 3
“Well?” Tigerclaw challenged.
“We thought we’d hunt.” Fireheart raised his head to hold the deputy’s amber gaze. “The Clan needs fresh-kill.”
“But we couldn’t find anything,” Graystripe added, coming to stand beside Fireheart.
“Was the prey all curled up in their nests, eh?” Tigerclaw hissed. He padded forward until he stood nose to nose with Fireheart, sniffed him, and then did the same to Graystripe. “So how is it the pair of you smell of mouse?”
Fireheart exchanged a glance with Graystripe. It seemed a long time since they had hunted in the Twoleg barn, and he had forgotten that they might still be carrying the scent of the mice they ate.
Graystripe looked back at him helplessly, anxiety making his eyes wide.
“Bluestar should hear about this,” the deputy growled. “Follow me.”
Fireheart and Graystripe had no choice but to obey. Tigerclaw led them across the clearing to Bluestar’s den at the foot of the Highrock. Beyond the curtain of lichen that covered the entrance, Fireheart could see the Clan leader curled up, apparently asleep, but as Tigerclaw shouldered his way into the den she raised her head at once and sat up.
“What is it, Tigerclaw?” she meowed, sounding puzzled.
“These two brave warriors have been out hunting.” Tigerclaw’s voice was thick with contempt. “They’re full-fed, but they haven’t brought home a single piece of fresh-kill for the Clan.”
“Is this true?” Bluestar turned her ice-blue eyes on the young warriors.
“We weren’t on a hunting patrol,” Graystripe mumbled.
That was true, thought Fireheart. Strictly speaking, they hadn’t broken the warrior code by not bringing back any prey, but he knew it was no real excuse.
“We ate the first prey we caught, to keep our strength up,” he meowed. “And then we couldn’t find anything else. We meant to bring back fresh-kill, but our luck was out.”
Tigerclaw gave a snort of disgust, as if he didn’t believe a word Fireheart had said.
“Even so,” Bluestar meowed, “with prey so scarce, every cat should think of the Clan before himself, and share what they have. I’m disappointed in you both.”
Fireheart couldn’t help feeling ashamed. Bluestar had brought him into the Clan when he was a kittypet, and he wanted to show her that he deserved her trust. If he had been alone with Bluestar, he might have tried to explain his real reason for being so late back to camp. But with Tigerclaw glaring at him, it was impossible.
Besides, Fireheart wasn’t ready to tell Bluestar about Ravenpaw’s latest version of the Sunningrocks battle. He wanted to speak to cats from RiverClan first, to confirm how Oakheart had really died.
“I’m sorry, Bluestar,” he murmured.
“‘Sorry’ fills no bellies,” Bluestar warned him. “You must understand that the needs of the Clan come first, especially in leaf-bare. Until next sunrise, you’ll hunt for the Clan, not for yourselves. When the rest of the Clan have eaten, then you can take food for yourself.” Her gaze softened. “You both look exhausted,” she observed. “Go and sleep now. But I shall expect to see you out hunting before sunhigh.”
“Yes, Bluestar.” Fireheart dipped his head and backed out of the den.
Graystripe followed him, his fur fluffed up in a mixture of fear and embarrassment. “I thought she’d have our tails off for sure!” he meowed as the two cats turned toward the warriors’ den.
“Then you should think yourselves lucky.” The low growl came from behind them; Fireheart glanced over his shoulder to see that Tigerclaw was padding after them. “If I were Clan leader, I’d have punished you properly.”
Fireheart felt his fur prickle with anger. His lips drew back in the beginnings of a snarl. Then he heard a warning hiss from Graystripe, and bit back what he wanted to say, turning away from Tigerclaw again.
“That’s right, kittypet,” Tigerclaw jeered. “Slink back to your nest. Bluestar may trust you, but I don’t. I saw you at the WindClan battle, don’t forget.” He bounded past the two younger cats and pushed his way into the warriors’ den ahead of them.
Graystripe let out a long, shivering breath. “Fireheart,” he meowed solemnly, “you’re either the bravest cat in all the Clans, or raving mad! For StarClan’s sake, don’t wind Tigerclaw up any more.”
“I didn’t ask for him to hate me,” Fireheart pointed out angrily. He slid through the branches to see Tigerclaw settling himself into his place near the center. The dark tabby ignored Fireheart, turning himself around two or three times before curling up to sleep.
Fireheart made for his own sleeping place. Nearby, Sandstorm and Dustpelt were stretched out together.
Sandstorm sat up as Fireheart approached. “Tigerclaw has been watching for you ever since we got back from the Gathering,” she whispered. “I gave him your message, but I don’t think he believed me. What did you do to tweak his tail?”
Fireheart felt comforted by the sympathetic look in her eyes, but he couldn’t stop his jaws from gaping in a massive yawn. “I’m sorry, Sandstorm,” he mumbled. “I’ve got to get some sleep. I’ll talk to you later.”
He half expected Sandstorm to be offended, but instead she got up and padded over to him. As he settled into the soft moss that lined the floor of the den she crouched down beside him and pressed her side against his.
Dustpelt opened one eye and glared at Fireheart. He let out a snort and pointedly turned his back.
But Fireheart was too tired to worry about Dustpelt’s jealousy. He was already drifting into sleep. As his eyes closed, his last sensation was of Sandstorm’s fur warm against his flank.
Fireheart paced along the hunting trail. His body felt full of energy, and he opened his jaws to taste the scent of prey. He knew he was dreaming, but he felt his belly growl in anticipation of fresh-kill.
Bracken arched over his head. A bright, pearly light poured down on him, as if the moon was full in a cloudless sky. Every fern frond, every blade of grass glowed, and the pale shapes of primroses, clustering thickly beside the path, seemed to shine with a light of their own. All around him Fireheart could feel the damp warmth of newleaf. The icy, snow-covered camp seemed nine lives away.
As the path began to lead upward, another cat stepped out in front of him. Fireheart halted, his heart thudding as he recognized Spottedleaf. The tortoiseshell cat padded forward until she could touch her soft pink nose to his.
Fireheart rubbed his face against hers, a purr rising from deep inside him. When Fireheart first came to the forest, Spottedleaf had been the ThunderClan medicine cat. She had been killed in cold blood by an invading ShadowClan warrior. Fireheart missed her still, but her spirit had returned to him in dreams more than once.
Spottedleaf took a pace back. “Come, Fireheart,” she mewed. “I want to show you something.” She turned and padded softly away, glancing around from time to time to make sure he was following.
Fireheart bounded after her, admiring the dapple of moonlight on her fur. Soon they came to the top of the hill. Spottedleaf led him out of the bracken tunnel and onto a high, grassy ridge. “Look,” she meowed, raising her muzzle to point.
Fireheart blinked. Instead of the familiar span of trees and fields ahead of him, a shining expanse of water stretched as far as he could see. The reflected light dazzled him, and he closed his eyes. Where had all this water come from? He couldn’t even tell if this was Clan territory—the silver sheen flattened everything and hid the usual landmarks
Spottedleaf’s sweet scent filled the air around him. Her voice sounded close to his ear. “Remember, Fireheart,” she murmured, “water can quench fire.”
Startled, Fireheart opened his eyes again. A chill breeze fluttered the surface of the water, penetrating his fur. Spottedleaf was gone. As Fireheart turned in every direction, searching for her, the light began to fade. The warmth went with it, and the feeling of grass under his paws. In less than a heartbeat he was plunged into cold and darkness.
“Fireheart! Fireheart!”
A cat was nudging him. Fireheart tried to duck away, and heard his name called again. It was Graystripe’s voice. Fireheart forced his eyes open to see the big gray cat crouched anxiously over him.
“Fireheart,” he repeated. “Wake up. It’s nearly sunhigh.”
Grunting with the effort, Fireheart hauled himself out of his nest and sat up. Pale, cold light was filtering through the branches of the den. Willowpelt and Darkstripe still slept closer to the center of the bush, but Sandstorm and Dustpelt had left already.
“You were muttering in your sleep,” Graystripe told him. “Are you okay?”
“What?” Fireheart had not yet shaken off the dream. It was always a bitter waking, to realize that Spottedleaf was dead, and he would never speak to her again except in his dreams.
“It’s nearly sunhigh,” repeated Graystripe. “We should be out hunting.”
“I know,” Fireheart mewed, fighting to wake up properly.
“Hurry up, then.” His friend gave him a final nudge before heading out of the den. “Meet you at the gorse tunnel.”
Fireheart licked one paw and rubbed it over his face. As his head cleared, he suddenly remembered Spottedleaf’s warning: “Water can quench fire.” What was she trying to tell him? Fireheart thought back to Spottedleaf’s earlier prophecy, that fire would save the Clan. As he followed Graystripe out of the den, Fireheart found himself shivering, and not from cold. He could feel trouble gathering like rain-heavy storm clouds. If the water that was coming quenched fire, then what would save the Clan? Did Spottedleaf’s words mean that ThunderClan was doomed?
第三章
第三章
“说啊！”虎掌的语气不善。
火心抬起头直视这位副族长：“我们去捕猎了，族群需要猎物。”
灰条走上前与火心并肩而站：“可我们一无所获。”
虎掌低嘶着说：“猎物都躲进窝里了，嗯？”他上前几步，几乎与火心脸对脸。他先嗅了嗅火心，又嗅了嗅灰条。“那么你们的身上为什么会有老鼠的气味？”
火心和灰条面面相觑。对他们来说，在两脚兽的谷仓里捕食似乎是很久以前的事，以至于忘记了吃东西时难免会带上猎物的气味。
灰条忐忑不安地看着火心，眼里充满了无助的神色。
虎掌喝道：“我们该让蓝星听听这件事。跟我来！”
火心和灰条别无选择，只得依命行事。虎掌押着他们走到高岩下蓝星的巢穴。透过入口处的苔藓，火心看到蓝星正蜷卧而眠。虎掌大大咧咧地走进巢穴，她立刻抬起头坐了起来。
蓝星不解地问：“怎么了，虎掌？”
虎掌语含轻蔑地说：“这两位勇敢的武士一直在外面打猎。他们吃得肚子鼓鼓的，却没有为族群带回来任何猎物。”
蓝星的目光转向火心和灰条：“是真的吗？”
灰条嘟囔着说：“我们又不是捕猎分队。”
的确如此。火心心想。严格意义上讲，虽然他们没有带回来任何猎物，但并不算违反武士守则。不过他心知肚明，这不过是个借口罢了。
火心说：“我们先吃了捕到的猎物，以保存足够的体力。再去捕猎时，却什么都没有发现。我们原想能够带回来些猎物，可运气实在太差了。”
虎掌满脸厌恶，鼻子里发出嗤的一声，压根儿不相信火心的话。
蓝星说：“即使这样，在猎物稀缺的情况下，每只猫首先想到的应该是他的族群。无论他们捕到什么，都应当拿回来与大家共享。你们两个令我很失望。”
火心羞得满脸通红。当他还是宠物猫时，是在蓝星的引介下才加入族群的，因此，他一心想报答她对自己的信任。如果在场的只有蓝星，他也许会和盘托出自己晚归的真正原因。但此刻虎掌在一旁虎视眈眈，他不可能讲真话。
况且，火心尚不打算把乌爪最近说的话告诉蓝星。他想先和河族的猫谈谈，以确认橡心的真正死因。
他小声说：“对不起，蓝星。”
“‘对不起’可不能当饭吃。你必须明白族群最需要什么，特别是在落叶季里。在明天之前，你们去为族群打猎，记住，不是为你们自己。等大家都吃上东西后，你们再吃。”她的目光随即转为柔和，“你们两个都累了，回去休息吧。不过，我希望你们在中午之前就外出打猎。”
“是，蓝星。”火心低下头退出巢穴。
灰条跟着出来，浑身的毛都蓬起来，心里又是害怕又是尴尬，边向武士巢穴走边说：“我原以为她会揪掉我们的尾巴！”
“这么说，你们觉得自己很幸运了。”两只猫身后传来一声低吼，火心扭头看到虎掌朝他们走过来，“如果我是族长，有你们好看的。”
火心勃然大怒，龇牙咧嘴地正要发狠。灰条急忙出言警告，火心定了定神，收回嘴边的话，转身离开了。
虎掌讥笑说：“这就对了，宠物猫，滚回你的窝里。虽然蓝星信任你，我却不会。别忘了，我看到你在支援风族的战斗中做了什么。”他从两位年轻的武士身旁经过，先一步回到武士巢穴。
灰条长长吁了口气，严肃地说：“火心，要么你是真的厉害，要么就是疯了！看在星族的分儿上，别再惹虎掌了。”
火心生气地说：“我并没有惹他。”他走进巢穴，看见虎掌躺在中央瞪着他，辗转翻了两三个身后，蜷成一团睡去。
火心找到自己睡觉的地方，这时沙风和尘毛已经醒了。
沙风坐起来小声说：“从森林大会上回来后，虎掌一直在找你。我向他解释，但他不相信。你做什么了，令他这般异常？”
沙风同情的目光使火心多少感到些安慰。他张开嘴巴打着哈欠说：“对不起，沙风。我要睡一会儿，迟些再告诉你。”
他倒头躺进松软的苔藓窝里，沙风毫不介意，走过来紧贴着卧在他身边。
尘毛睁开一只眼睛瞪着火心，鼻子里发出嗤的一声，翻个身背对着他。
火心太累了，没有理会尘毛的忌妒，他头昏昏沉沉的，在闭上眼睛的那一刻，唯一能感觉到的就是沙风的身体传过来的温暖。
火心精神抖擞，一路上张着嘴搜寻猎物的气味。虽然是在梦里，他的肚子仍饿得咕咕叫。
天空中万里无云，月亮浑圆无缺，走在蕨丛里，明晃晃的月光照射进来，落在火心的身上。每一片香薇叶、每一棵草，还有路边密密匝匝、朦朦胧胧的迎春花，都发出莹润的光辉。这是绿叶季里才有的略带潮湿的温暖，冰雪覆盖的茫茫气象似乎已是陈年旧事。
地势越走越高，路前方站着一只猫。火心停下脚步，当他认出是斑叶时，顿时心跳加速。那只玳瑁色的猫走过来，柔软的粉红色鼻子轻轻触着他的鼻子。
火心和她脸庞轻擦，发出欢快的呜呜声。火心告别宠物生活，进入丛林时，斑叶是雷族的巫医。在一次影族武士的袭击中，她被残忍地杀害了。火心仍对她念念不忘，她的灵魂也不止一次地出现在火心的梦里。
斑叶后退一步，说：“来，火心，我给你看样东西。”她盈盈走开，时不时回过头来确保火心跟上。
火心走在她身后，欣赏她皮毛上的莹莹月光。不久就到了山顶，遍布青草的山脊从蕨丛中显露出来。斑叶仰了仰鼻子，说：“你看。”
火心眨了眨眼睛，展开在眼前的不再是他熟悉的丛林和原野，而是一望无际的水面。
这些水是从哪里来的呢？他甚至分不清眼前所见是否还是四大族群的领地——浩瀚的银波淹没了所有的界标。
此刻，火心鼻子里嗅到的是斑叶的甜甜幽香，耳朵边听到的是她的款款细语：“记住，火心，洪水能浇灭大火。”
火心一惊，睁大了眼睛。水面吹来的冷风穿透了他的皮毛，斑叶不见了。火心急忙四处寻觅她的踪影。月光渐渐褪去，周围那暖洋洋的气息，连同脚下的青草，也都随之消逝。余下的，只有自己在冰冷黑暗中的怦然心跳。
“火心！火心！”
有猫在顶他。火心蠕动着避开，这时听到顶他的猫又在呼唤他的名字。是灰条的声音。火心竭力睁开眼睛，看到灰条焦急地趴在身边。
“火心，快醒醒！就要到中午了。”
火心哼哼唧唧，不情愿地爬出窝坐起来。苍白的日光透过枝叶照进巢穴，柳带和黑条还在酣睡，沙风和尘毛却已不见踪影。
灰条说：“你一直在说梦话。没事吧？”
“什么？”火心头脑昏沉，尚未从梦中回过神。每当他想起斑叶已经死去，只能在梦中和她相见，内心就感到一阵剧痛。
灰条说：“快到中午了，去打猎吧。”
火心说：“知道了。”他努力使自己保持清醒。
“那就快点儿吧。”灰条先走出巢穴，“金雀花通道见。”
火心舔了舔爪子，用爪子在脸上蹭了蹭。头脑刚一清醒，就回忆起斑叶的警示：“洪水能浇灭大火。”她究竟想说什么呢？火心回想她更早的预言，那时她说大火将拯救族群。走出巢穴，他打了个寒战，不是因为天冷，而是觉得困难正像雷雨前的乌云越聚越密。如果洪水浇灭了大火，那么什么东西能拯救族群？斑叶是否在暗示，雷族注定要覆灭？
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4
Fireheart bounded up the ravine, the snowcrisp under his paws. The sun shone in a pale blue sky, and though there was little warmth in its rays the sight of it cheered Fireheart and made him hopeful that newleaf was not far away.
Just behind him, Graystripe echoed Fireheart’s thoughts. “With any luck, the sun will bring some prey out.”
“Not if they hear you stomping along!” Sandstorm teased as she scrambled past him.
Brackenpaw, Graystripe’s apprentice, protested loyally, “He doesn’t stomp!” but Graystripe only responded with a good-natured growl. Fireheart felt new energy flow into his limbs. Even though their duties today were meant as punishment, no cat had told them they had to hunt alone, and it was good to be with friends.
Fireheart winced at the memory of Bluestar’s ice-cold gaze when she had rebuked him and Graystripe for apparently hunting for themselves. He would make up for lying to her by bringing back as much fresh-kill as he could. The Clan needed it badly. By the time he and Graystripe left the den that morning, the store of prey in the camp had almost gone, and most of the cats had already left to hunt. Fireheart had spotted Tigerclaw on his way back down the ravine with the morning patrol. A squirrel was clamped in his jaws, its long tail brushing the snow. The deputy’s eyes narrowed menacingly as he passed Fireheart, but he did not put his prey down to speak.
At the top of the slope, Sandstorm ran on ahead, while Graystripe began showing Brackenpaw where to search for mice among the tree roots. Watching them, Fireheart couldn’t suppress a pang of loss as he thought of Cinderpaw, who had been his own apprentice. She would be with them now if it hadn’t been for her accident. Instead, her crippled leg, the result of an accident on the Thunderpath, kept her in the den with Yellowfang, the ThunderClan medicine cat.
Pushing away these heavy thoughts, he crept forward, his jaws parted as he examined the forest smells. A faint breeze stirred the surface of the snow and brought a familiar scent. Rabbit!
Lifting his head, Fireheart could see the brown-furred creature snuffling under a clump of bracken, where a few green spikes of grass poked through the snow. He dropped into a hunting crouch, and delicately, pawstep by pawstep, drew closer. At the last moment the rabbit sensed him and sprang up, but it was too late. Before it could even squeal, Fireheart pounced.
Triumphantly, Fireheart headed back to the camp, dragging the rabbit along with him. As soon as he entered the clearing, he saw with relief that the pile of fresh-kill was swelling again after the morning patrols. Bluestar was standing beside it. “Well done, Fireheart,” she meowed as he brought the rabbit to the pile. “Will you take that straight to Yellowfang in her den?”
Warmed by his leader’s approval, Fireheart hauled the rabbit across the clearing. A tunnel of ferns, brown and brittle now, led to the secluded corner of the camp where the ThunderClan medicine cat had her den inside a split rock.
Ducking under the ferns, Fireheart saw Yellowfang lying in the mouth of her den with her paws tucked under her chest. Cinderpaw sat in front of her, her smoky gray fur fluffed up and her blue eyes focused on the medicine cat’s broad face.
“Now, Cinderpaw,” came the old cat’s rasping mew. “One-eye’s paw pads are cracked because of the cold. What are we going to do for her?”
“Marigold leaves in case of infection,” Cinderpaw replied promptly. “Ointment of yarrow to soften the pads and help them heal. Poppy seed if she’s in pain.”
“Well done,” purred Yellowfang.
Cinderpaw sat up even straighter, and her eyes shone with pride. As Fireheart knew only too well, the medicine cat didn’t give praise lightly.
“Right, you can take her the leaves and the ointment,” meowed Yellowfang. “She won’t need the poppy seed unless the cuts get worse.”
Cinderpaw stood up and was on her way into the den when she caught sight of Fireheart standing by the tunnel. Mewing in delight, she hurried over to him with an awkward, lurching gait
Regret stabbed at Fireheart, sharp as a claw. Cinderpaw had been a ceaseless bundle of energy before the Thunderpath accident that crushed her leg. Now she would never run properly again, and had had to give up her dreams of becoming a ThunderClan warrior.
But the Thunderpath monster had not crushed her bright spirit. Her eyes were dancing as she reached Fireheart. “Fresh-kill!” she exclaimed. “Is that for us? Great!”
“About time too!” grumbled Yellowfang, still sitting inside her den. “Mind you, the rabbit’s very welcome,” she added. “We’ve had half the Clan in here since sunrise, complaining about some ache or other.”
Fireheart carried the rabbit across the clearing and dropped it in front of the medicine cat.
Yellowfang poked it with one paw. “It might have a bit of flesh on its bones for once,” she remarked grudgingly. “All right, Cinderpaw, take the marigold leaves and the yarrow to One-eye, and hurry back. If you’re quick there might be some rabbit left.”
Cinderpaw purred and brushed Yellowfang’s shoulder with the tip of her tail as she went past her into the den.
Softly, Fireheart mewed, “How’s she doing? Is she settling down?”
“She’s fine,” snapped Yellowfang. “Stop worrying about her.”
Fireheart wished he could. Cinderpaw had been his apprentice. He could not help feeling that he had been partly responsible for her accident. He should have stopped her from going to the Thunderpath alone.
Then he brought himself up short, remembering exactly how the accident had happened. Tigerclaw had asked Bluestar to meet him by the Thunderpath, but Bluestar had been too ill to go. Few warriors were in the camp; Fireheart himself had been about to leave on an urgent mission for catnip to treat Bluestar’s greencough. He had told Cinderpaw not to go meet Tigerclaw instead of him, but Cinderpaw had ignored his order. The accident had happened because Tigerclaw had placed his scent marker too close to the edge of the Thunderpath. Fireheart suspected that it was meant as a trap for Bluestar, and Tigerclaw was responsible.
As Fireheart said good-bye to Yellowfang and went back to hunting, he felt a new surge of determination to bring Tigerclaw’s guilt into the open. For the sake of Redtail, murdered; for Ravenpaw, driven from the Clan; for Cinderpaw, crippled. And for all the Clan cats, both now and to come, who were in danger from Tigerclaw’s greed for power.
It was the day after their hunting punishment. Fireheart had decided there was no time to lose before visiting RiverClan territory, to discover how Oakheart had really died. He crouched at the edge of the forest and looked out toward the frozen river. The wind made a rustling sound in the dry reeds that poked up through the ice and snow.
Beside him, Graystripe sniffed the breeze, alert for the scent of other cats. “I can smell RiverClan cats,” he whispered. “But the scent’s old. I think we can cross safely.”
Fireheart realized he was more worried about cats from his own Clan seeing them than meeting an enemy patrol. Already Tigerclaw suspected him of treachery. If the deputy found out what they were doing now, they’d be crowfood. “All right,” he whispered back. “Let’s go.”
Graystripe led the way confidently across the ice, keeping his weight low over his paws so that he didn’t slip. At first Fireheart was impressed; then he realized that Graystripe had been crossing the river secretly for moons now, to go and meet Silverstream. He followed more cautiously, half expecting the ice to crack under his weight and plunge him into the freezing dark water below. Here, downstream of the Sunningrocks, the river itself was the boundary between the two Clans. Fireheart’s fur prickled as he crossed, and he kept glancing back to make sure that no cat from his Clan was watching.
Once they reached the far bank, they crept into the shelter of a reed bed and sniffed the air again for signs of RiverClan cats. Fireheart was conscious of Graystripe’s unspoken fear; every muscle of the gray warrior’s body was tense as he peered through the reed stems. “We must both be mad,” he hissed to Fireheart. “You made me promise to meet Silverstream at Fourtrees whenever I wanted to see her, and now here we are, in RiverClan territory again.”
“I know,” Fireheart answered. “But there’s no other way. We need to talk to a RiverClan cat, and Silverstream’s more likely to help us than any of the others.”
He was just as apprehensive as his friend. They were surrounded by scents of RiverClan, though none of them were fresh. To Fireheart, it felt as if he were a kittypet in the forest for the first time again, lost in a frightening and unfamiliar place.
Using the reeds for cover, the two cats began to work their way upstream. Fireheart tried to step lightly, as if he were stalking prey, his belly skimming the snow. He was uncomfortably aware of how his flame-colored coat stood out against the white surface. The scent of RiverClan cats was growing more powerful, and he guessed the camp must be nearby. “How much farther?” he mewed softly to Graystripe.
“Not far. See that island up ahead?”
They had come to a place where the river curved away from ThunderClan territory and grew wider. Not far ahead a small island surrounded by reed beds showed above the frozen surface. Willow trees stooped low from the banks of the island, the tips of their overhanging branches trapped in the ice.
“An island?” Fireheart echoed in amazement. “But what happens when the river isn’t frozen? Do they swim across?”
“Silverstream says the water’s very shallow there,” Graystripe explained. “But I’ve never been right into the camp myself.”
Beside them, the ground sloped gently upward, away from the reedy shore. At the top, gorse and hawthorn grew thickly, with the occasional holly showing green and shiny under its coating of snow. But there was a bare expanse of shore between the reeds and the sheltering bushes, with no cover for prey or cats.
Graystripe had been moving forward in a low crouch; now he lifted his head, scenting the air and looking warily around. Then, without warning, he sprang away from the reeds and dashed up the slope.
Fireheart raced after him, his paws skidding in the snow. Reaching the bushes, they plunged between the branches and stopped, gasping for breath. Fireheart listened for the yowling of an alerted patrol, but no sound came up from the camp. He flopped down on the dead leaves and puffed out a sigh of relief.
“We can see the entrance of the camp from here,” Graystripe told him. “I used to wait here for Silverstream.”
Fireheart hoped she would come soon. Every moment they spent here increased their chances of discovery. Shifting his position so he had a good view of the slope and the island camp, he could just make out the silhouettes of cats moving around. He was so intent on trying to peer into the thick bushes that screened the island that he didn’t see the tabby who was padding past their hiding place until she was barely a tail-length away. She carried a small squirrel in her jaws, and her gaze was fixed on the frozen ground.
Fireheart froze into a crouch, ready to spring out if the cat spotted them, and tracked her with his gaze as she passed. Luckily, he thought, the scent of the prey she was carrying must have masked the scent of ThunderClan intruders. Suddenly he realized that a group of four cats, led by Leopardfur, the RiverClan deputy, had emerged from the camp. Leopardfur was fiercely hostile toward ThunderClan, ever since her patrol had come upon Fireheart and Graystripe trespassing on RiverClan territory as they returned from bringing WindClan home. A RiverClan cat had died in the ensuing fight, and Leopardfur did not forgive easily. If she discovered Fireheart and Graystripe now, she wouldn’t even give them a chance to explain what they were doing on this side of the river.
To Fireheart’s relief, the patrol didn’t come their way. Instead they set off across the frozen river toward the Sunningrocks—off to patrol the border, Fireheart guessed.
At last a familiar silver-gray shape appeared.
“Silverstream!” purred Graystripe.
Fireheart watched the RiverClan she-cat stepping delicately across the ice toward the bank. She was certainly beautiful, he realized, with a finely shaped head and thick, sleek fur. No wonder Graystripe was captivated by her.
Graystripe rose to his paws, ready to call out to her, when two other cats emerged from the camp and ran to catch up with Silverstream. One of them was the smoky black warrior Blackclaw, recognizable from Gatherings by his long legs and lean body, and a smaller cat Fireheart guessed must have been Blackclaw’s apprentice.
“Hunting patrol,” Graystripe murmured.
All three cats began to climb the slope. Fireheart let out a hiss, half impatience, half fear. He had hoped they would be able to speak to Silverstream alone. How could they separate her from her companions? What if Blackclaw scented the intruders? After all, he wasn’t carrying a helpful mouthful of prey to block his scent glands.
Blackclaw took the lead with his apprentice, and Silverstream followed a tail-length or two behind. As the patrol reached the bushes, Silverstream paused, her ears pricked warily as if she had detected a familiar but unexpected scent. Graystripe let out a short, sharp hiss, and Silverstream’s ears swiveled toward the sound.
“Silverstream!” Graystripe mewed softly.
The she-cat flicked her ears, and Fireheart let out the breath he had been holding. She had heard.
“Blackclaw!” she called to the warrior ahead of her. “I’ll try for a mouse in the bushes here. Don’t wait for me.”
Fireheart heard an answering mew from Blackclaw. Moments later Silverstream slipped through the branches until she reached the space where the young ThunderClan warriors were crouching. She pressed herself against Graystripe, purring loudly, and the two cats rubbed their faces together with obvious delight.
“I thought you only wanted us to meet at Fourtrees,” Silverstream meowed when the two cats had finished greeting each other. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought Fireheart to see you,” Graystripe explained. “He needs to ask you something.”
Fireheart had not spoken to Silverstream since he had let her escape in the battle. He guessed she was remembering that, too, for she dipped her head graciously toward him, with no trace of the defensive hostility she had shown when he had tried to discourage her from seeing Graystripe at the start of their relationship. “Yes, Fireheart?”
“What do you know about the battle at the Sunningrocks, where Oakheart died?” Fireheart launched straight in. “Were you there?”
“No,” Silverstream replied. She looked thoughtful. “Is it very important?”
“Yes, it is. Could you ask some cat who was? I need—”
“I’ll do better than that,” Silverstream interrupted him. “I’ll bring Mistyfoot to talk to you herself.”
Fireheart exchanged a glance with Graystripe. Was that a good idea?
“It’s okay,” meowed Silverstream, as if she guessed what was worrying him. “Mistyfoot knows about me and Graystripe. She doesn’t like it, but she won’t give me away. She’ll come now if I ask her.”
Fireheart hesitated, then dipped his head in assent. “All right. Thanks.”
He had hardly finished speaking before Silverstream turned and slid out of the bushes again. Fireheart watched her bounding through the snow toward the camp.
“Isn’t she great?” Graystripe murmured.
Fireheart said nothing, but settled down to wait. He was getting more nervous with every moment that passed. If he and Graystripe stayed in RiverClan territory for much longer, some of the RiverClan cats were bound to find them. They would be lucky to escape with their fur intact. “Graystripe,” he began. “If Silverstream can’t—”
Just then he saw the silver-gray tabby crossing the ice from the camp again, with another cat behind her. They raced up the slope, and Silverstream led the way into the bushes. The cat she brought with her was a slender queen with thick gray fur and blue eyes. For a heartbeat, Fireheart thought she seemed familiar. He decided he must have seen her at a Gathering.
When the queen saw Fireheart and Graystripe she stopped dead. Her fur began to rise suspiciously and she flattened her ears against her head.
“Mistyfoot,” meowed Silverstream quietly, “these are—”
“ThunderClan cats!” hissed Mistyfoot. “What are they doing here? This is RiverClan territory!”
“Mistyfoot, listen…” Silverstream went over to her friend, and tried to nudge her toward Fireheart and Graystripe.
Mistyfoot stood her ground; Fireheart couldn’t help feeling daunted by the look of blank hostility in her eyes. Had he been stupid to think that RiverClan would help him?
“I kept your secret about him,” Mistyfoot reminded Silverstream, jerking her chin at Graystripe. “But I’m not going to keep quiet if you start bringing the whole of ThunderClan here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Silverstream retorted.
“It’s all right, Mistyfoot,” Fireheart put in quickly. “We haven’t taken any of your prey, and we’re not here to spy. We need to speak to a cat who fought in the battle at Sunningrocks, where Oakheart died.”
“Why?” Mistyfoot narrowed her eyes.
“It’s…hard to explain,” Fireheart mewed. “But it’s nothing that could harm RiverClan. I swear that by StarClan,” he added.
The young queen seemed to relax, and this time she let Silverstream urge her forward until she was sitting beside Fireheart.
Graystripe stood up, ducking his head to avoid the low-hanging branches. “If you two are going to talk, Silverstream and I will leave you to it.”
Fireheart opened his mouth to protest, alarmed at the idea of being left alone in enemy territory. But Graystripe and Silverstream were already slipping out of the bushes.
Just before they vanished among the tough hawthorn branches, Graystripe looked back. “Oh, Fireheart,” he meowed quietly, “before you go back, make sure you roll in something strong, to hide the RiverClan scent.” He blinked in embarrassment. “Fox dung is good.”
“Wait, Graystripe—” Fireheart jumped to his paws. But it was no use. Graystripe and Silverstream were gone.
“Don’t worry,” meowed Mistyfoot behind him. “I won’t eat you. You’d give me bellyache.” Fireheart turned back to see her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “You’re Fireheart, aren’t you?” she went on. “I’ve seen you at Gatherings. They say you used to be a kittypet.” Her voice was cool, with thinly veiled suspicion.
“That’s true,” Fireheart admitted heavily, feeling the familiar sting at the contempt of Clanborn cats for his past. “But I’m a warrior now.”
Mistyfoot licked her paw and drew it slowly over one ear, keeping her eyes fixed on his face. “All right,” she meowed at last. “I fought in the battle. What do you want to know?”
Fireheart paused for a moment, putting his thoughts in order. He would have only one chance to find out the truth; he mustn’t make any mistakes.
“Get on with it,” growled Mistyfoot. “I’ve left my kits to come and talk to you.”
“It won’t take long,” Fireheart promised. “What can you tell me about the way Oakheart died?”
“Oakheart?” Mistyfoot looked down at her paws. After a deep breath, she lifted her eyes to Fireheart again. “Oakheart was my father; did you know that?”
“No, I didn’t,” mewed Fireheart. “I’m sorry. I never met him, but they say he was a brave warrior.”
“He was the best and the bravest,” Mistyfoot agreed. “And he should never have died. It was an accident.”
Fireheart felt his heart begin to race. This was exactly what he needed to know! “Are you sure?” he asked. “No cat killed him?”
“He was wounded in the battle, but not enough to kill him,” meowed Mistyfoot. “Afterward, we found his body under some fallen rocks. Our medicine cat said that was what killed him.”
“So no cat was responsible…” Fireheart muttered. “Ravenpaw was right.”
“What?” The blue-gray queen frowned.
“Nothing,” Fireheart meowed hastily. “Nothing important. Thank you, Mistyfoot. That’s just what I wanted to know.”
“Then if that’s all—”
“No, Mistyfoot, wait! There’s one more thing. In the battle, one of our cats heard Oakheart say that no ThunderClan cat should harm Stonefur. Do you know what he meant by that?”
The RiverClan queen was silent for a while, her blue eyes gazing into the distance. Then she shook her head firmly, as if she were flicking water off it. “Stonefur is my brother,” she mewed.
“Then Oakheart was his father, too,” Fireheart realized. “Is that why he wanted to protect him from ThunderClan cats?”
“No!” Mistyfoot’s eyes flashed blue fire. “Oakheart never tried to protect either of us. He wanted us to be warriors like him, and bring honor to the Clan.”
“Then why…?”
“I don’t know.” She sounded as if she was genuinely puzzled.
Fireheart tried not to feel disappointed. At least he knew for certain now how Oakheart had died. But he couldn’t shake off the feeling that what Oakheart had said about Stonefur was important, if only he could understand it.
“My mother might know,” Mistyfoot meowed unexpectedly. Fireheart turned back to her, his ears pricked. “Graypool,” she added. “If she can’t explain it, no cat can.”
“Could you ask her?”
“Maybe…” Mistyfoot’s expression was still guarded, but Fireheart guessed that she was as curious about the meaning of Oakheart’s words as he was himself. “But it might be better for you to speak to her yourself.”
Fireheart blinked in surprise that Mistyfoot should suggest such a thing, when she had seemed so hostile at first. “Can I?” he asked. “Now?”
“No,” Mistyfoot decided after a pause. “It’s too risky for you to stay here any longer. Leopardfur’s patrol will be back soon. Besides, Graypool is an elder now, and hardly ever leaves the camp. She’ll take some persuading before she’ll come out. But don’t worry; I’ll think of a reason.”
Fireheart bowed his head in reluctant agreement. Part of him was wildly impatient to hear what Graypool had to say, but the rest of him knew that Mistyfoot was right. “How will I know where to meet her?”
“I’ll send a message with Silverstream,” Mistyfoot promised. “Now go. If Leopardfur finds you here, I won’t be able to help you.”
Fireheart blinked at her. He would have liked to give the young queen a lick of gratitude, but he was afraid of getting a clawed ear in return. Mistyfoot seemed to have gotten over the worst of her hostility, but she wasn’t going to let him forget that they came from two different Clans.
“Thank you, Mistyfoot,” he meowed. “I won’t forget this. And if ever I can do anything for you—”
“Just go!” Mistyfoot hissed. As Fireheart slipped past her toward the gap in the bushes, she added with a purr of amusement, “And don’t forget the fox dung.”
第四章
第四章
火心跳出沟，积雪在脚下咯吱作响。天空灰蒙蒙的一片，虽然冬日惨白，但那点儿余晖带来的温暖仍使他精神振作，充满希望，觉得绿叶季不久即将到来。
身后的灰条像是知道他的心思一样，说：“运气还不坏，天气暖和了，猎物就会出来。”
沙风调侃说：“除非他们没有听见你的跺脚声！”
忠厚老实的蕨爪为师父辩护：“他没有跺脚！”灰条嘻嘻一笑，毫不介意。火心感到四肢间又充满了力量。虽然他们今天被罚出来打猎，但并不是孤身作战，和朋友们一同打猎总归是一件愉快的事。
火心回想起因为他和灰条私自吃掉猎物、蓝星双眼流露出的冷冰冰的目光时，仍感到不寒而栗。他只有尽可能多地捕回猎物，方能弥补对蓝星撒谎的罪过。族群太需要食物了。今早，营地里的食物储备几乎消耗殆尽，大伙儿倾巢而出捕猎。火心出来时，正好看见虎掌带领着一支狩猎队伍回来，他嘴里叼着一只松鼠，松鼠的长尾巴拖在雪地里。从火心身边走过时，虎掌阴森森地眯缝起眼睛，但没有放下猎物和他讲话。
沙风当先冲上山坡，灰条则开始教导蕨爪如何在树根间搜寻猎物。看着这一幕，火心想起自己的徒弟炭爪，心里感到一阵失落。如果不是那次意外，此刻炭爪也会和他们在一起。雷鬼路上的那次意外使她断了一条腿，如今，她只能乖乖地和黄牙留在巫医巢穴里。
他努力不去想这些沉重的往事，集中注意力搜寻猎物的气味。雪地里微风拂过，夹杂着一股熟悉的气味。是兔子！
火心抬起头，看见一只灰不溜秋的兔子正在蕨丛里大口喘气。蕨丛里有几株青草钻出雪地，那只兔子大概就是被这些青草吸引过来的。火心迅速进入捕猎姿态，小心翼翼地一步步接近。兔子感觉到了什么，急忙跳起逃窜，但为时已晚。兔子还没来得及发出尖叫，火心已扑了过去。
火心拖着兔子胜利而归。进入营地，他看到经过大家的努力，猎物堆又高高地堆了起来，心里松了口气。蓝星坐在猎物堆旁，看见火心捉回来一只兔子，对他说：“干得漂亮，火心。你能把它直接送到黄牙的巫医巢穴去吗？”
族长的称赞使火心心里暖洋洋的，他拖着兔子走过会场。一条由光秃秃的棕色香薇丛组成的通道，通向营地一个孤零零的角落，那里岩石的石缝中便是巫医巢穴。
走在香薇通道中，火心瞅见黄牙四爪垫在胸下趴在巫医巢穴里。炭爪坐在前面，一身灰毛蓬蓬松松，两只蓝眼睛盯着黄牙的脸庞。
只听黄牙沙哑的声音说道：“炭爪，一只眼的脚掌被冻裂了，我们该怎么治呢？”
炭爪急忙回答：“用金盏花叶子防止感染，用蓍草涂抹脚掌，应该会有疗效。如果疼痛难忍，可用一些罂粟籽。”
黄牙高兴地说：“答得好。”
炭爪神情得意，坐得更加笔直。就火心所知，黄牙从不轻易出言夸赞。
黄牙说：“你给她拿去些金盏花叶子和蓍草。除非伤口恶化，不要给她罂粟籽。”
炭爪应声站起，一抬眼看见火心站在香薇通道出口处，立刻欢呼雀跃着向火心奔来。
火心见她一瘸一拐，步态难看，心里像被针扎一样难过。在雷鬼路上的那次意外之前，炭爪一直精力充沛，活泼好动。现在，她再也不能像往常一样奔跑，不得不放弃成为一名武士的梦想。
雷鬼路上的怪物碾断了她的一条腿，不过却未碾断她的精神。她眼波灵动，欢叫道：“猎物！是给我们的吗？太棒了！”
坐在巫医巢穴里的黄牙说：“真是雪中送炭啊！不瞒你说，我们正需要兔子。天一亮，族群里一半的猫来过这里，不是这儿疼那儿疼，就是有地方不舒服。”
火心将兔子放在黄牙面前。
黄牙用爪子捅了捅它，不满意地说：“这只兔子瘦得只剩下一把骨头了。炭爪，去给一只眼送药吧，快点儿回来。行动够快的话，还可能赶上吃点儿兔子肉。”
炭爪应了一声走出巫医巢穴，经过黄牙身边时尾巴尖儿轻轻擦了一下她的肩膀。
火心轻声问：“她怎么样？情绪还低落吗？”
黄牙不客气地说：“她很好，别替她瞎操心。”
火心也不想操这份心，可炭爪毕竟曾是他的徒弟。他觉得自己或多或少应当为那次事故负责，自己本应阻止她独自前往雷鬼路。
他回想那次事故的前前后后。虎掌要和蓝星在雷鬼路附近会面，但蓝星病得很重，无法前往。当时营地内的武士很少，火心又要急着外出寻找猫薄荷，治疗蓝星的绿咳症。他告诉炭爪不要擅自去见虎掌，但炭爪没有听。事故之所以会发生，是因为虎掌将他的气味标记留在距离雷鬼路极近的地方。火心怀疑那是虎掌为了谋害蓝星而故意设下的圈套，因而虎掌应当为此负责任。
与黄牙道别后，火心外出继续打猎。此时，他感到当务之急是要尽快将虎掌的罪行公布于众。这是为了被杀害的红尾，为了被迫离开族群的乌爪，为了跛脚的炭爪，也为了所有受到虎掌贪婪的权力欲望威胁的同胞。
第二天，火心决定即刻拜访河族，确认橡心的真正死因。他和灰条来到森林边，俯下身子，向那条封冻的小河望去。寒风凛冽，吹过冰雪上的芦苇丛时发出沙沙的声响。
灰条嗅着吹过的风，格外留意其中是否有猫的气味，小声说：“我闻到河族猫的气味，不过很陈旧。此时过河大概没有问题。”
其实火心最担心的是被本族的猫发现，对于敌族的巡逻队，反倒不是很在意。虎掌已经对他有所怀疑，如果他们现在做的事情被他发现，他们会死得很难看。火心小声说：“好的，走吧。”
灰条当先领路走上小河的冰面，一副轻车熟路的样子。他将重心放在四肢上，这样就不会滑倒。起先火心微感惊叹，随即想到近几个月来，灰条一定是经常过河去私会银溪，心里顿时释然。他小心翼翼，生怕冰面断裂，将他掀入下面冰冷漆黑的河水里。自太阳石以下，这条小河便是雷、河两族的分界线。火心毛发立，时不时回过头去看有没有本族的猫在监视他们。
到达对岸后，两只猫便立即钻进芦苇丛里，搜索空气中河族的气味。虽然嘴上不说，但灰条心里着实害怕，他透过芦苇秆望向外面，每一条肌肉都绷得紧紧的。他小声对火心说：“我们都疯了。以前你还要我保证要见银溪只能是在‘四棵树’，现在我们却双双来到河族的领地里。”
火心回答：“我知道，但除此之外我们没有别的办法和河族的猫谈话，况且银溪是最有可能帮助我们的猫了。”
周围环绕的河族气味，使火心也和灰条一样忐忑不安。他像往日捕捉猎物般，每一步都轻提轻落，以至于肚腹贴在雪地上。姜黄色的皮毛在皑皑白雪中格外醒目，令他感到十分不安。河族的气味越来越浓烈，河族营地显然就在附近。他悄声问灰条：“还有多远？”
“不远了。看到前面那个小岛了吗？”
在他们站立之处，小河远离雷族领地，河面逐渐宽阔。不远处长满芦苇的小河中，有一座小岛。岛的四周垂柳依依，细长的枝条垂下，枝头被冰封进小河里。
火心惊讶地说：“小岛？河水解冻了怎么办？他们进出都要游泳吗？”
灰条解释说：“银溪说这里的水很浅。我也从没来过这里。”
小岛的河岸是个大大的斜坡，坡下是芦苇丛生的河滨，坡上密密麻麻地长满了金雀花和山楂树，冰雪覆盖之下偶见绿色。不过，在岸边的芦苇丛和灌木丛之间却寸草不生，一览无余，无处藏身。
灰条一直俯低身子走在前面，这时他抬着头嗅着空气，警惕地环顾四周，然后嗖的一下从芦苇丛蹿出，直奔坡上。
火心急忙跟上，脚步时而在雪地上打滑。奔到坡上，他们一头扎进灌木丛里，停下脚步大口喘气。火心竖耳倾听，没有听到营地内传出报警的吆喝声。他一屁股坐在枯叶堆里，长长地吁了口气。
灰条说：“从这里能看到营地的出口，我常常在这里等候银溪。”
火心巴不得她早点儿来。在这里每多停留一会儿，便多一分被发现的危险。他换个位置，以便能更好地观察斜坡和营地，只见前方影影绰绰地有无数只猫在活动。他只顾察看，丝毫没有看见一只母虎斑猫正朝他们这边走来。等到发觉时，那只母猫距他们只有两三步远了。她嘴里叼着一只小松鼠，眼睛只顾盯着地面。
火心趴在那里一动也不敢动，瞅着她从面前经过，心想一旦被发现便溜之大吉。幸好那只母猫嘴里叼着的松鼠掩盖住了他和灰条的气味。这时，他看见河族副族长豹毛带领着四只猫从营地内走了出来。豹毛一向对雷族怀有很深的敌意。上次火心和灰条奉命引领风族回归家园，任务完成后途经河族的领地回家，正巧被豹毛率领的巡逻队逮个正着。豹毛对那件事一直耿耿于怀，如果现在她发现了火心和灰条，绝不会给他们任何解释机会的。
万幸的是，那支巡逻队并没有向他们这边走过来，而是渡过河朝太阳石方向走去——大概是去巡逻边界了。
期盼已久的银灰色身影终于出现了。
灰条低喊了一声：“是银溪！”
火心看到银溪姿态娴雅地向河岸走去，寻思：她长得真好看，面容娇好，毛厚而光滑，难怪灰条对她倾心不已。
灰条抬起爪子正要出声招呼，这时有两只猫从营地里出来追上了银溪。其中有一名四肢修长、身材瘦削的黑毛武士，火心曾在森林大会上见过他，知道他叫黑掌，另外一只大概是黑掌的徒弟。
灰条小声说：“他们去打猎。”
眼睁睁看着三只猫爬上坡来，火心发出一声低嘶，既感害怕又不耐烦。他本想和银溪单独谈谈。这么一来，他们怎么才能令银溪和她的两个同伴分开呢？如果黑掌嗅到他们的气味怎么办？他的嘴里可没有叼着猎物，嗅觉不会受到任何干扰。
黑掌带着徒弟走在前面，银溪和他们稍稍保持了一段距离。走过灌木丛时，银溪停下脚步，双耳紧张地竖立起来，似乎嗅到了意想不到却熟悉的气味。灰条嘘了一声，银溪的耳朵立刻扭向他们的藏身处。
灰条轻声道：“银溪！”
银溪竖起双耳，显然听到了他的召唤。火心憋闷已久的一口气终于呼了出来。
“黑掌！”银溪对前面的那名黑毛武士喊道，“这里有一只老鼠，交给我吧，不用等我了。”
黑掌应了一声。不多时，银溪穿过灌木丛，来到火心和灰条面前。她身子紧贴灰条，嘴里发出呜呜声，两只猫神情喜悦，相互摩擦着脸颊。
一阵亲热过后，银溪说：“我以为你只在‘四棵树’和我见面呢，你来这里做什么？”
灰条解释说：“我带火心来找你，他想问你些事情。”
火心自上次战斗中放走银溪后，再也没有见过她。银溪显然很领他的情，感激地向他低了一下头，不再像那次火心劝她和灰条分手时，眼里都是敌意。“什么事，火心？”银溪问道。
火心开门见山地说：“你知道发生在太阳石的那场战斗吗？就是橡心牺牲的那次战斗，你当时在场吗？”
“不在。”银溪想了想问，“这很重要吗？”
“是的。你能问一下当时在场的猫吗？我需要……”
银溪截断他的话说：“我有更好的主意。我把雾脚叫过来，你问她好了。”
火心和灰条面面相觑，心想：这个主意可行吗？
银溪像是看破了他们的心思，说：“放心吧。雾脚知道我和灰条的事情，虽然她不赞成，但也没把这件事捅出去。如果我叫她，她会来的。”
火心犹豫半晌，然后点头说：“好吧，有劳了。”
话音未落，银溪已转身冲出灌木丛。火心看着她向营地跑去。
灰条小声说：“她很棒，不是吗？”
火心没有吱声，只是坐下静静等候。时间一分分地过去，他的紧张情绪也一分分地增加。过久停留在河族的领地里，他和灰条终会被发现，那时要想全身而退简直就是天方夜谭了。他开口说：“灰条，如果银溪不能……”
就在这时，他看到银溪带着一只猫从营地内走出来。她们跑上坡，银溪当先钻进灌木丛里。和她同来的是一只灰毛蓝眼的母猫。刚一见面，火心就觉得她十分眼熟，心想自己一定在森林大会上见过她。
看到火心和灰条，那只母猫立刻僵住身子。她惊疑不定，身上的毛竖立起来，双耳贴在脑门儿上。
银溪平静地说：“雾脚，他们是……”
“雷族的猫！”雾脚低嘶着，“他们来这里干什么？这里是河族的领地！”
“雾脚，听我说……”银溪走过去想把她推到火心和灰条面前。
雾脚站在原地不动。火心被她那充满敌意的目光盯得心里发虚：自己是否愚蠢到以为河族会帮助他们的地步呢？
雾脚朝灰条仰了仰下巴，然后对银溪说：“我一直没有把你和他的事情泄露出去。但如果你把整个雷族都带到这里来，我可不能再保持沉默了。”
银溪生气地说：“别开玩笑了。”
火心急忙插嘴说：“放心吧，雾脚。我们没有侵占你们的猎物，也不是来这里刺探你们的情报。我们只想和参加过太阳石战斗的猫谈谈。”
雾脚眯缝起眼睛：“为什么？”
火心说：“这……很难解释。但我们对河族没有恶意，我以星族的名义发誓。”
听了他的话，雾脚不再那么紧张了。这次银溪推她的时候，她顺势便坐到火心身边。
灰条站起身，避过低悬的树枝：“你们两个谈吧，我和银溪离开一下。”
想到自己单独留在敌人的领地里，火心心里很急。他张嘴正要反对，灰条和银溪已钻出灌木丛。
“哦，火心，返回营地前，记得在一些气味浓烈的东西上打几个滚，这样就能掩盖河族的气味了。”在消失于山楂树丛之前，灰条回过头，然后神情尴尬地眨了眨眼睛，“狐狸粪便的效果不错。”
“等等，灰条……”火心跳起身，但灰条和银溪早已不见踪影了。
雾脚站在他身后说：“别担心，我又不会吃了你。吃了你会闹肚子的。”火心回头看了看，见她蓝色的眼睛里蕴涵笑意。雾脚继续说：“你叫火心，是吗？我在森林大会上见过你。他们说你曾经是一只宠物猫。”她语气平淡，不经意中略带怀疑。
“他们说得没错。”族生猫对他出身的蔑视使他心里产生一种久违了的刺痛，“但我现在是一名武士。”
雾脚抬起一只爪子舔了舔，轻轻放在耳朵上，眼睛盯着他的脸庞，开口说：“好吧。那次战斗我也参加了，你想知道什么？”
火心顿了顿，整理了一下思路。这是他找出真相的唯一机会，他不能有任何疏忽。
雾脚大声说：“快说！我是把孩子们丢在营地里来和你说话的。”
火心说：“我不会占用你太多时间。你能告诉我橡心是怎么死的吗？”
“橡心？”雾脚低头看着爪子，重重地呼了一口气，抬起眼睛看火心，“橡心是我的父亲，你知道吗？”
火心说：“不知道。对不起，我从未见过他，听说他是一位勇敢的武士。”
雾脚同意说：“他曾是最优秀、最勇敢的武士。他本不会死的，都是那场意外害了他。”
火心心跳加速。这正是他想知道的！他问：“你确定吗？没有猫杀害他？”
雾脚说：“他在战斗中负了伤，但那并不足以致命。战斗结束后，我们在几块掉落的石头下找到了他的尸体。族里的巫医说他是被那些石头砸死的。”
“这么说没有猫该负责……”火心喃喃道，“乌爪说得没错。”
雾脚皱起眉头：“什么？”
火心急忙说：“没什么，小事而已。谢谢你，雾脚，你说的这些正是我想知道的。”
“既然话已说完……”
“不，雾脚，等一下！还有一件重要的事。在战斗中，我们的一只猫听到橡心说，雷族的猫都不得伤害石毛。你知道这是什么意思吗？”
雾脚沉默了一会儿，眼睛望着远方。然后，她坚定地摇了摇头，似乎是在甩去头上的水。她说：“石毛是我的兄弟。”
火心恍然大悟：“这么说，橡心也是他的父亲。他那么说是不想让雷族的猫伤害石毛吗？”
“不！”雾脚的眼里闪着怒火，“橡心从没有保护过我们。他希望我们能像他一样成为真正的武士，受到全族的尊敬。”
“那他为什么说那句话？”
“我不知道。”她的声音听起来也相当困惑。
火心强抑住心中的失望。至少他现在能肯定橡心的死因了。但他潜意识里觉得橡心说的那番关于石毛的话非常重要，只是他还没弄明白。
雾脚突然说：“我的母亲也许知道。”火心转过头注视着她，竖起耳朵静等下文。雾脚说：“我母亲叫灰池。如果她也不能解释，其他的猫就更不用说了。”
“你能问问她吗？”
“也许吧。”雾脚神色犹豫，但火心知道她也像自己一样，渴望知道橡心的话的真正含义，“但如果你亲自和她谈谈，效果也许会更好些。”
火心吃惊地眨了眨眼睛。起先雾脚敌意十足，没想到她会提出这样的想法。他问：“我行吗？现在？”
雾脚想了一会儿，说：“现在不行，你留在这里太危险。豹毛的巡逻队很快就要回来了。况且，灰池年事已高，很少离开营地。要想让她外出，我得花一番工夫。别担心，我想到了一个借口。”
火心不情愿地点了点头。一方面，他急切地想知道灰池将会说些什么，另一方面，他知道雾脚说的也是实情。“我怎么知道在哪里和她见面呢？”
雾脚说：“我会让银溪传话的。你走吧，如果被豹毛发现，我可帮不了你。”
火心朝她眨了眨眼睛，很想上前舔舔她以示感激，但又怕耳朵被扯烂。虽然雾脚已显得不再那么敌视他，但她不会忘记他们是来自不同的族群的。
他说：“谢谢你，雾脚。我不会忘了这些的，如果能为你做些什么……”
雾脚低嘶着说：“快走吧！”当火心与她擦肩而过向灌木丛外走时，她半开玩笑说，“别忘了在狐狸粪便上打滚。”
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 5
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Fireheartmuttered as he pushed through the gorse tunnel into his own camp.
He had found some fresh fox dung in the forest, and rolled in it until he reeked. No cat would ever guess he had been into RiverClan territory now. Whether they would let him into the warriors’ den was another matter. At least he had managed to catch a squirrel on his way back, so he wasn’t returning empty-pawed.
As he emerged from the gorse tunnel, Fireheart saw Bluestar standing on top of the Highrock. He realized he had just missed hearing her call the Clan together, because other cats were appearing from their dens to gather below her.
Fireheart left his squirrel on the pile of fresh-kill and padded over to join them. Across the clearing, Brindleface’s kits tumbled out of the nursery, followed by Brindleface herself. Fireheart could easily pick out his sister’s son, Cloudkit, by his gleaming white fur. Princess, Fireheart’s sister who still lived in Twolegplace, had no wish to leave the comfortable life of a kittypet, but Fireheart’s tales of Clan life had captivated her, and she had given her eldest son to the Clan.
So far the Clan cats were finding it hard to accept another kittypet among them even though Brindleface treated him like one of her own kits. Fireheart knew from experience how much determination Cloudkit would need to make a place for himself.
As he drew closer, Fireheart heard the white kit complaining loudly to Brindleface. “Why can’t I be an apprentice? I’m nearly as big as that dumb ginger kit of Frostfur’s!”
Fireheart’s interest quickened. Bluestar must be about to perform the apprentice-naming ceremony for Frostfur’s two remaining kits. Their brother and sister, Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw, had been named apprentices a few moons ago, and Fireheart could guess that these two must be desperate for their own naming. He was glad that he had returned in time to witness it.
“Shh!” Brindleface whispered to Cloudkit, as she gathered her kits around her and found them a place to sit. “You can’t be an apprentice until you’re six moons old.”
“But I want to be an apprentice now!”
Fireheart left Brindleface trying to explain Clan customs to the insistent Cloudkit and went to sit near the front of the gathering, next to Sandstorm.
Her head whipped around in alarm as he took his place. “Fireheart! Where have you been? You smell like a fox that’s been dead for a moon!”
“Sorry,” Fireheart mumbled. “It was an accident.” He hated the stench as much as any cat, and he didn’t like having to lie to Sandstorm about how he came to smell like that.
“Well, stay away from me till it wears off!” Though Sandstorm’s words were firm, there was laughter in her eyes as she shifted a tail-length away from him.
“And clean yourself up before you come into the den,” growled a familiar voice. Fireheart turned to see Tigerclaw standing behind him. “I’m not going to sleep with that stink in my nose!”
Fireheart dipped his head in embarrassment as Tigerclaw stalked away, then looked up as Bluestar began to speak.
“We are gathered here to give two Clan kits their apprentice names.” She glanced down to where Frostfur was sitting proudly, with her tail curled neatly over her paws. The two kits sat one on each side of her, and as Bluestar spoke, the bigger of them, a ginger kit like his brother Brackenpaw, sprang impatiently to his paws.
“Yes, come forward, both of you,” Bluestar invited warmly.
The ginger kit dashed forward and skidded to a stop at the foot of the Highrock. His sister followed more sedately. She was white like her mother, except for ginger patches along her back, and a ginger tail.
Fireheart closed his eyes for a moment. Not long ago, he had been given Cinderpaw as his apprentice. He half wished that he could be mentor to one of these kits, but he knew that if Bluestar had chosen him for this honor, she would have already told him to expect it.
Perhaps she would never choose him again, he thought with a pang that chilled his heart, after he had failed Cinderpaw so badly.
“Mousefur,” meowed Bluestar, “you have told me that you are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Thornpaw.”
Fireheart watched as Mousefur, a wiry, compact she-cat with brown fur, stepped forward and went to stand beside the ginger kit, who scampered up to meet her.
“Mousefur,” Bluestar went on, “you have shown yourself a brave and intelligent warrior. See that you pass on your courage and wisdom to your new apprentice.”
While Bluestar spoke, Mousefur looked just as proud as the newly named Thornpaw. The two of them touched noses and withdrew to the edge of the clearing. Fireheart could hear Thornpaw meowing eagerly, as if he was already plying his mentor with questions.
The ginger-and-white kit was still standing beneath the Highrock, looking up at Bluestar. Fireheart was close enough to see her whiskers quivering with anticipation.
“Whitestorm,” Bluestar announced, “you are free to take a new apprentice now that Sandstorm has become a warrior. You will be mentor to Brightpaw.”
The big white cat, who had been stretched out at the front of the gathering, stood up and padded over to Brightpaw. She waited for him with her eyes shining.
“Whitestorm,” meowed Bluestar, “you are a warrior of great skill and experience. I know that you will pass on all you know to this young apprentice.”
“Certainly,” Whitestorm purred. “Welcome, Brightpaw.” He bent to touch noses with her, and escorted her back to the assembled cats.
The other cats began to gather around, congratulating the two new apprentices and calling them by their new names. As he went to join them, Fireheart caught sight of Graystripe at the back of the crowd, beside the tunnel. His friend must have returned to camp unseen while the rest of the Clan were listening to Bluestar.
“It’s all arranged,” Graystripe mewed softly, padding over to Fireheart. “If it’s sunny tomorrow, Silverstream and Mistyfoot will persuade Graypool to leave the camp for some exercise. They’ll meet us at sunhigh.”
“Where?” Fireheart asked, not sure that he wanted to go far into RiverClan territory two days running. It was dangerous to leave so much fresh ThunderClan scent there.
“There’s a quiet glade just over the border, not far from the Twoleg bridge,” Graystripe explained. “Silverstream and I used to meet there, before, you know…”
Fireheart understood. Graystripe had been keeping his promise about meeting Silverstream only at Fourtrees, and it was only because of his desire to find out about the Sunningrocks battle that they were taking an extra risk. “Thank you,” he murmured sincerely.
As he padded over to the pile of fresh-kill to choose a piece for himself, his paws twitched in anticipation of the next sunhigh, when he would discover what Graypool knew of this mystery.
“This is the place,” Graystripe whispered.
He and Fireheart were only a few rabbit-hops over the RiverClan border, on their own side of the river. The ground gave way to a deep hollow, sheltered by thornbushes. Snow had drifted there, and a tiny stream, frozen now into icicles, carved a deep channel between two rocks. Fireheart guessed that when newleaf came and the snow melted, this would be a beautiful and well-hidden place.
The two cats squeezed under one of the thornbushes and scrabbled among the dead leaves to make comfortable nests while they waited. Fireheart had caught a mouse on the way and brought it as a gift for Graypool. He dropped it where the leaves were driest, trying to forget his own hunger, and settled down with his paws tucked under him. He knew he was putting himself and his friends in danger with this meeting, not to mention the fact that he was breaking the warrior code and lying to his Clan—yet he believed that this was all for the sake of his Clan. Fireheart only wished he could be sure that the path he had chosen was the right one.
The weak leaf-bare sunlight glittered on the snow in the hollow. Sunhigh had come and gone, and Fireheart was beginning to think the other cats weren’t coming when he caught a RiverClan scent and heard a thin, elderly voice raised in complaint from the direction of the river.
“This is too far for my old bones. I’m going to freeze to death.”
“Nonsense, Graypool, it’s a beautiful day.” That was Silverstream. “The exercise will do you good.”
Fireheart heard a snort of contempt in response. Three cats came into view, picking their way down the side of the hollow. Two of them were Silverstream and Mistyfoot. The third was an elder he had never seen before, a skinny she-cat with patchy fur and a scarred muzzle turning white with age.
Halfway down the hollow she paused, stiffening as she sniffed the air. “There are ThunderClan cats here!” she hissed.
Fireheart saw Silverstream and Mistyfoot exchange a worried glance. “Yes, I know,” Mistyfoot soothed the elderly she-cat. “It’s all right.”
Graypool gave her a suspicious look. “What do you mean, all right? What are they doing here?”
“They just want to talk to you,” Mistyfoot said gently. “Trust me.”
For a heartbeat Fireheart was afraid the elder would turn back, yowling, to raise the alarm, but to his relief Graypool’s curiosity was too much for her. She padded after Mistyfoot, shaking her paws with disgust as they sank into the soft snow.
“Graystripe?” Silverstream mewed warily.
Graystripe stuck his head out of the bush. “We’re here.”
The three RiverClan cats pushed their way into the prickly shelter. Graypool tensed as she came face to face with Fireheart and Graystripe, and her yellow eyes flared with hostility.
“This is Fireheart, and this is Graystripe,” meowed Silverstream. “They—”
“Two of them,” Graypool interrupted. “There had better be a good explanation for this.”
“There is,” Mistyfoot assured her. “They’re decent cats—for ThunderClan, anyway. Give them a chance to explain.”
Both she and Silverstream looked expectantly at Fireheart.
“We need to talk to you,” Fireheart began, feeling his whiskers twitch nervously. He pushed the piece of fresh-kill toward her with one paw. “Here, I brought you this.”
Graypool eyed the mouse. “Well, at least you remember your manners, ThunderClan or not.” She crouched down and began to crunch the fresh-kill, showing teeth broken with age. “Stringy, but it’ll do,” she rasped, gulping.
While she was still eating, Fireheart tried to find the right words for what he needed to say. “I want to ask you about something Oakheart said before he died,” he ventured.
Graypool’s ears twitched.
“I heard what happened in the battle at the Sunningrocks,” Fireheart continued. “Before he died, Oakheart told one of our warriors that no ThunderClan cat should ever harm Stonefur. Do you know what he might have meant?”
Graypool did not reply until she had swallowed the last morsel of mouse and swiped a remarkably pink tongue around her muzzle. Then she sat up and curled her tail around her paws. She fixed a thoughtful gaze on Fireheart for several long moments, until he felt that she could see everything that was in his mind.
“I think you should go,” she mewed at last to the two young RiverClan cats. “Go on, out. You too,” she added to Graystripe. “I’ll talk to Fireheart alone. I can see he’s the one who needs to know.”
Fireheart bit back a protest. If he insisted that Graystripe should stay, the RiverClan elder might refuse to talk at all. He looked at his friend and saw his own puzzled expression reflected in Graystripe’s yellow eyes. What did Graypool have to say that she didn’t want her own Clan to hear? Fireheart shivered, and not from the cold. Some instinct told him there was a secret here, dark as the shadow of a crow’s wing. But if it was a RiverClan secret, he couldn’t imagine what it could have to do with ThunderClan.
From the glances they exchanged, Silverstream and Mistyfoot were just as confused, but they started to back out from the bush without protest.
“We’ll wait for you near the Twoleg bridge,” Silverstream mewed.
“There’s no need,” Graypool hissed impatiently. “I may be old, but I’m not helpless. I’ll find my own way back.”
Silverstream shrugged and the two RiverClan cats withdrew, with Graystripe following them.
Graypool sat in silence until the scents of the cats who had left began to fade. “Now,” she began, “Mistyfoot has told you that I’m her mother, and Stonefur’s?”
“Yes.” Fireheart’s initial nervousness was ebbing away, to be replaced with respect for this ancient enemy queen, as he sensed the wisdom beneath her apparent short temper.
“Well,” growled the old cat, “I’m not.” As Fireheart opened his mouth to speak, she went on. “I brought the pair of them up as kits, but I didn’t give birth to them. Oakheart brought them to me in the middle of leaf-bare, when they were just a few days old.”
“But where did Oakheart get the kits?” Fireheart blurted out.
Graypool’s eyes narrowed. “He told me he found them in the forest, as if they’d been abandoned by rogue cats or Twolegs,” she meowed. “But I’m not stupid, and my nose has always worked just fine. The kits smelled of the forest all right, but there was another scent underneath. The scent of ThunderClan.”
第五章
第五章
火心穿过金雀花通道走进营地，嘴里喃喃道：“真不敢相信我会做这种事。”
他在森林里找到一些狐狸粪便，在上面来回打滚直到身上臭气熏天。不会再有谁能猜出他去过河族领地了。不过他是否被允许进入武士巢穴是另一回事。至少他在回来的路上捉了一只松鼠，不至于空手而归吧。
刚一进营地，他便看见蓝星赫然站在高岩上。大概蓝星正在召集族群大会，众猫纷纷从各自的巢穴里走出来，聚集在高岩下。
火心将松鼠放在猎物堆里，向高岩走过去。经过会场时，纹脸的幼崽们从育婴室里跌跌撞撞地爬了出来，纹脸跟在身后。由于姐姐的儿子云崽长了一身扎眼的白毛，火心能轻易认出他来。火心的姐姐公主仍同两脚兽生活在一起，她不愿放弃舒适的宠物猫生活，但火心讲述的族群生活打动了她，于是她将自己的大儿子送到雷族。
尽管纹脸对待云崽视同己出，但许多猫至今还难以接受生活中又多了一只宠物猫。云崽要想在族群中站稳脚跟，还需要付出相当大的努力，对此火心深有体会。
离得近些了，火心听到云崽在大声地抱怨：“我们为什么不能成为一名学徒呢？我和霜毛那个姜黄色的蠢笨的孩子个头一般大了。”
火心顿时来了兴趣。蓝星一定是在为霜毛剩余的两只幼崽举行学徒命名大会。他们的哥哥和姐姐——蕨爪和炭爪，在几个月前就已成为学徒，这两只幼崽一定对此期盼已久。
能够及时赶回来参加这次盛会，火心感到十分高兴。
“嘘！”纹脸小声对云崽说，然后将幼崽们聚到身边，为他们找了一片坐的地方，“只有长到六个月大才能成为学徒。”
“但我现在就想当学徒！”
火心转身离去，那边纹脸仍然在努力向固执己见的云崽解释族群的习俗。火心走到群猫前方，挨着沙风坐下。
沙风警觉地扭过头：“火心，你去哪里了？你闻起来就像是死了一个月的狐狸。”
火心嘟囔着说：“对不起，完全是意外罢了。”他也不愿闻这股臭味，更不想撒谎欺骗沙风说自己是如何惹上这股气味的。
沙风斩钉截铁地说：“好吧，在臭味消失前离我远点儿！”说着站开一步，但眼里却含着笑意。
一个熟悉的声音喝道：“进巢穴前把自己清理干净。”火心回头看见虎掌站在身后。“我在睡觉的时候可不想闻到这么臭的气味！”
火心尴尬地低下头，等虎掌离开后，方才抬头看正要开口讲话的蓝星。
“我们聚在这里是为了给两名幼崽起学徒名字。”她低头看了一眼霜毛，后者昂首挺胸，尾巴卷过来盖住爪子。两只幼崽分坐两旁，大的那个长着和哥哥蕨爪一样的黄毛，不耐烦地站起身。
蓝星温和地说：“对，你们两个都走到前面来。”
那只黄毛崽直冲到高岩下方才停下脚步，他的妹妹跟在后面，动作斯文得多。她长了一身像妈妈一样的白毛，背上有黄色的条纹，尾巴也呈黄色。
火心合上双眼。不久前，他收了炭爪为徒。他心里还存有一丝侥幸，希望蓝星能够让他做其中一个的老师。但他清楚，如果蓝星有此打算，会预先告知他的。
炭爪被他教得一塌糊涂，也许蓝星再也不会让他收徒弟了。一想到这里，他就感到心里泛起一丝寒意。
蓝星说：“鼠毛，你对我说你已经准备好收徒弟了，就由你来做刺爪的老师吧。”
结实瘦小、长着一身棕毛的鼠毛上前几步，走到那只黄毛崽的身边，后者蹦蹦跳跳地站起来迎接她。
蓝星继续说：“鼠毛，你用行动证明了自己是一位勇敢机智的武士，希望你能把勇气和智慧传授给你的徒弟。”
鼠毛听着蓝星的话，和徒弟刺爪一样感到骄傲自豪。两只猫对触了一下鼻子，退到会场边缘。火心听到刺爪语气急促地说些什么，似乎早已窝了一大堆问题等着发问。
另一个幼崽仍坐在高岩下，抬头望着蓝星。火心站得近，能看到她的须子在期盼中颤动。
蓝星宣布道：“白风，自从沙风成为武士后，你一直没有徒弟，就由你来做亮爪的老师吧。”
白风本已坐在群猫之首，此时站起身向亮爪走去。亮爪眼里闪着光芒。
蓝星说：“白风，你身怀绝技，经验丰富。我知道你会把所有的技艺都传授给这位年轻的学徒的。”
白风说：“我一定尽心尽力。欢迎你，亮爪。”他弯下脖子和亮爪对触了一下鼻子，带着她回到猫群中。
大伙儿围上来，纷纷向两位新学徒表示祝贺，嘴里呼喊着他们的新名字。火心正要走过去，一瞥眼看见灰条站在猫群后方。他一定是趁着大家都在倾听蓝星讲话时偷偷溜进来的。
灰条走过来小声对火心说：“全都安排好了。如果明天是晴天，银溪和雾脚会劝说灰池走出营地散散心。我们在中午会面。”
火心问：“在哪里？”他不情愿接连两天都进入河族领地，在河族领地里留下过多雷族的气味是一件非常危险的事。
灰条解释说：“在边界处树林间的一片空地，距离两脚兽的桥不远。银溪和我经常在那里约会，直到……你知道的……”
火心恍然大悟。灰条一直遵守诺言，只在“四棵树”和银溪私会。只因为火心执意要找出发生在太阳石战斗中的故事，他们才又冒险定在那里会面。火心郑重地小声说：“谢谢你。”
他走向猎物堆挑了一只猎物，由于太期待第二天的到来，四肢都有些抽搐了。明天，灰池将为他揭开谜底。
灰条小声说：“就是这里。”
他和火心站在小河的雷族领地一侧，这里距河族边界仅有咫尺之遥。地面下陷形成一个深坑，覆盖着荆棘丛。坑里积着厚厚的雪，里面的一条溪水已冻成冰块，在两块岩石中裂成一道深沟。如果绿叶季到来，冰雪融化，这里大概会变成一个风景亮丽且易于隐蔽的地方。
两只猫钻进一簇荆棘丛，将枯叶收集起来聚成一个窝，以便在等待时能够舒舒服服地躺着。火心在来的路上捉到了一只老鼠，准备送给灰池当见面礼。他将老鼠放在最干燥的叶子上，爪子垫在身下趴在窝里，尽力不去想自己还饿着肚子。他知道这次会面令他和灰条处于危险境地，更何况他破坏了武士守则，还欺瞒族群——但是他坚信这么做全都是为了族群的利益。他只希望自己选择的道路是正确的。
阳光无力地照在坑里的积雪上。日头偏西，火心觉得不会再有猫来了。这时，他忽然嗅到一股河族的气味，接着听到小河的方向传来沉闷、苍老的声音。
“对于我这把老骨头来说，今天可走得太远了。我都快要冻死了。”
“别瞎说，灰池，今天的天气不错。”是银溪的声音，“锻炼身体对你有好处。”
灰池鼻子里发出嗤的一声。三只猫顺着坡走进大坑，出现在火心的视野里。其中两个是银溪和雾脚，第三个是一只陌生的老猫，骨瘦如柴，毛发凌乱，布满伤痕的口鼻已变为花白。
走到半路，灰池停下脚步，嗅了嗅空气，身体一下子变得僵硬。她低嘶着说：“这里有雷族的猫！”
火心看见银溪和雾脚担忧地对视了一眼。雾脚安慰道：“没错，我知道，没事的。”
灰池疑惑地瞅了她一眼，问：“你说的‘没事’是什么意思？他们在这里干什么？”
雾脚柔声道：“他们只想和你谈谈，相信我吧。”
那一瞬间，火心生怕那只老猫大声喊叫着逃走。不过还好，灰池的好奇心也很大。她跟在雾脚后面，走在松软的雪地里，不停地甩着四肢，一脸厌恶的神色。
银溪小心谨慎地说：“灰条？”
灰条从荆棘丛里探出头：“我们在这里。”
河族的三只猫走进来。面对着火心和灰条，灰池显得十分紧张，黄色的双眼里充满了敌意。
银溪说：“他叫火心，这是灰条。他们……”
灰池插嘴说：“是他们两个呀。这一切最好能有个合理的解释。”
雾脚说：“会有的。不管怎么说，相比雷族其他的猫来说，他们两个还算是彬彬有礼的。给他们一个解释的机会吧。”
说完，她和银溪都一脸期待地望着火心。
火心说：“我们想和你谈谈。”他感觉到自己紧张得须子都在颤抖。他将老鼠推到灰池面前：“看，这是我为你准备的。”
灰池看着老鼠：“嗯，至少你还知道些礼数，对于雷族的猫来说，这可难得得很哪。”她蹲下身子开始享用美味，露出一口因年长而残破不全的牙齿。她一边大口吞咽，一边喘着气说：“不容易嚼烂，不过凑合啦。”
趁着灰池吃饭的机会，火心字斟句酌地试探着说：“我想和你谈谈橡心在死前说过的话。”
灰池的耳朵抽搐了一下。
火心继续说：“发生在太阳石的那场战斗我已经听说了。在橡心牺牲之前，他曾对我们的一个武士说雷族的猫不得伤害石毛。你知道他这话是什么意思吗？”
灰池没有回答，而是吞下最后一片鼠肉，伸出粉红色的舌头仔仔细细地舔干净自己的口鼻，然后直起身，卷过尾巴盖住爪子。她若有所思地凝视着火心，似乎他心里所有的念头都瞒不过她。
最后，她对那两只年轻的河族猫说：“我想你们该走了。”对灰条补充了一句：“你也出去，我要和火心单独谈话。看得出来，他才是想知道答案的猫。”
火心不敢出声反对，如果他坚持要灰条留下，可能这只河族老猫什么都不会说。他瞅了一眼灰条，看到他也是一脸的困惑。灰池会说些什么，以至于连本族的猫都不能听到呢？火心感到有些不寒而栗。他隐隐觉得里头一定有什么秘密。不过，如果这是河族的秘密，他想不出会和雷族有什么关联。
银溪和雾脚面面相觑，也同样是一头雾水。但她们没有出声反对，而是乖乖地站起身往外走。
银溪说：“我们在两脚兽的桥边等你。”
灰池不耐烦地说：“没有必要，我还不至于老得找不到回家的路。”
银溪耸了耸肩膀，和雾脚走开了，灰条跟在后面。
灰池静静地坐着，直到他们的气味渐渐变得微弱，方才开口说道：“想必雾脚已经告诉你，我是她和石毛的妈妈了。”
火心不再像一开始那么紧张，说：“是的。”他能感觉到灰池表面上脾气暴躁，实际却充满智慧，不由得对她产生了深深的敬意。
老灰池大声说：“嘿，其实我不是他们的妈妈。”火心惊讶得嘴巴都合不拢。她继续说：“在他们很小的时候我收养了他们，但我并不是他们的亲妈。在一个深冬季节，橡心将他们带回来，那时他们还很小。”
火心脱口而出：“但橡心从哪里找到这两只幼崽的？”
灰池眯缝起眼睛：“他说是在森林里找到的，好像他们是被泼皮猫或者两脚兽抛弃在那里了。但我可不蠢，鼻子也很灵。这两个幼崽身上携带的是森林里的气味没错，但在森林气味之下还隐藏着另一股气味，是雷族的气味。”
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 6
“What?” Fireheart was so astonished hecould hardly speak. “Are you saying that Mistyfoot and Stonefur came from ThunderClan?”
“Yes.” Graypool gave her chest fur a couple of licks. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
Fireheart was stunned. “Did Oakheart steal them?” he asked.
Graypool’s fur bristled, and she drew her lips back in a snarl. “Oakheart was a noble warrior. He would never stoop to stealing kits!”
“I’m sorry.” Alarmed, Fireheart crouched and flattened his ears. “I didn’t mean…It’s just so hard to believe!”
Graypool sniffed, and her fur gradually lay flat again. Fireheart was still struggling with what she had just told him. If Oakheart hadn’t stolen the kits, perhaps rogue cats had taken them from the ThunderClan camp—but why? And why abandon them so quickly, when the scent of their Clan was still on their fur?
“Then…if they were ThunderClan kits, why did you look after them?” he stammered. What Clan would willingly take in enemy kits, and in a season when prey was already scarce?
Graypool shrugged. “Because Oakheart asked me to. He may not have been deputy back then, but he was a fine young warrior. I’d recently given birth to kits of my own, but all except one died in the bitter cold. I had plenty of milk to spare, and the poor little scraps would never have lived to see the sunrise if some cat hadn’t cared for them. Their ThunderClan scent soon faded,” she went on. “And even if Oakheart hadn’t told the truth about where they came from, I respected him enough not to ask any more questions. Thanks to Oakheart, and to me, they grew into strong kits, and now they’re good warriors—a credit to their Clan.”
“Do Mistyfoot and Stonefur know all this?” Fireheart asked.
“Now listen to me,” rasped Graypool. “Mistyfoot and Stonefur know nothing, and if you tell them what I’ve just told you, I’ll rip your liver out and feed it to the crows.” She thrust her head forward and drew her lips back as she spoke, baring her teeth. In spite of her age, Fireheart flinched.
“They never doubted that I’m their real mother,” Graypool growled. “I like to think they even look a bit like me.”
As she spoke, Fireheart felt something stir in his mind, like the twitch of a fallen leaf that betrayed the mouse sheltering beneath it. He thought that what Graypool had just said should mean something to him, but when he tried to capture the thought it scuttled away.
“They have always been loyal to RiverClan,” Graypool insisted. “I don’t want that loyalty to be divided now. I’ve heard the gossip about you, Fireheart—I know you were once a kittypet—so you should understand more than any cat what it means to have a paw in two places.”
Fireheart knew he would never make any cat go through the uncertainties that he suffered himself about not fully belonging to his Clan. “I promise I’ll never tell them,” he meowed solemnly. “I swear it by StarClan.”
The old cat relaxed and stretched, her front paws extended and her rump in the air. “I accept your word, Fireheart,” she replied. “I don’t know if this has helped you at all. But it might explain why Oakheart would never let a ThunderClan cat harm Mistyfoot or Stonefur. Even if he claimed to know nothing about where they came from, he would have smelled the ThunderClan scent on them as clearly as I did. As far as they’re concerned, they are loyal only to RiverClan, but it would seem that Oakheart’s loyalties were divided on their behalf.”
“I’m very grateful to you,” Fireheart purred, trying to sound as respectful as he could. “I don’t know what this means in relation to what I have to find out, but I really think it’s important, for both our Clans.”
“That’s as may be,” mewed Graypool. She frowned. “But now that I’ve told you everything, you must leave our territory.”
“Of course,” Fireheart meowed. “You won’t even know I’ve been here. And Graypool…” He paused before thrusting his way out of the bush and held her pale yellow gaze for a moment. “Thank you.”
Fireheart’s mind was spinning as he returned to the camp. Mistyfoot and Stonefur had ThunderClan blood! But they belonged entirely to RiverClan now, with no idea of their divided heritage. Blood loyalty and Clan loyalty were not always the same, Fireheart reflected. His own kittypet roots did not make his commitment to ThunderClan any less strong.
And perhaps now that Mistyfoot had confirmed how Oakheart had died, Bluestar would be willing to accept that Tigerclaw had killed Redtail. Fireheart decided to ask her about Graypool’s latest revelation too; Bluestar might be able to tell him if a pair of kits had ever been stolen from the ThunderClan camp.
When he reached the clearing, Fireheart made straight for the Highrock. As he approached Bluestar’s den, he heard two cats meowing together, and picked up Tigerclaw’s scent along with Bluestar’s. Quickly he pressed himself against the rock, hoping to stay out of sight, as the deputy shouldered his way out past the curtain of lichen that screened the mouth of the den.
“I’ll try a hunting patrol toward the Snakerocks,” the dark tabby called over his shoulder. “No cat has hunted there for a few days.”
“Good idea,” agreed Bluestar, following him out. “Prey is still scarce. May StarClan grant the thaw comes soon.”
Tigerclaw grunted agreement and loped off toward the warriors’ den, not noticing Fireheart where he crouched by the rock.
When he had gone, Fireheart padded up to the mouth of the den. “Bluestar,” he called, as the Clan leader turned to go back inside. “I’d like to talk to you.”
“Very well,” Bluestar meowed calmly. “Come in.”
Fireheart followed her into the den. The curtain of lichen swung back into place, cutting off the bright snow-light. In the dim interior, Bluestar sat facing him. “What is it?” she asked.
Fireheart took a deep breath. “You remember the story that Ravenpaw told, that Redtail killed Oakheart at the battle of the Sunningrocks?”
Bluestar stiffened. “Fireheart, that is over,” she growled. “I told you before, I have reasons enough to be satisfied that this isn’t true.”
“I know.” Fireheart bowed his head respectfully. “But I’ve found out something new.”
Bluestar waited in silence. Fireheart couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “No cat killed Oakheart—not Redtail, not Tigerclaw,” he went on, nervously aware that it was too late now to change his mind. “Oakheart died when a rock collapsed on top of him.”
Bluestar frowned. “How do you know this?”
“I…I went to see Ravenpaw again,” Fireheart admitted. “After the last Gathering.” He was ready for anger as he made his confession, but the Clan leader remained calm.
“So that’s why you were late,” she observed.
“I had to find out the truth,” Fireheart meowed quickly. “And I—”
“Wait a moment,” Bluestar interrupted. “Ravenpaw told you at first that Redtail killed Oakheart. Is he changing his story now?”
“No, not at all,” Fireheart promised. “I misunderstood him. Redtail was partly responsible for Oakheart’s death, because he drove him under the overhanging rock that collapsed on top of him. But he didn’t mean to kill him. And that’s what you couldn’t believe,” he reminded Bluestar. “That Redtail would deliberately kill another cat. Besides…”
“Well?” Bluestar sounded as calm as ever.
“I went across the river and spoke to a RiverClan cat,” Fireheart confessed. “Just to be sure. She told me that it’s true: Oakheart died from the rockfall.” He looked at his paws, bracing himself for Bluestar’s fury that he had been trespassing on enemy territory, but when he looked up again, there was nothing in the leader’s eyes except for intense interest.
She gave him a slight nod, and Fireheart went on. “So we know for a fact that Tigerclaw was lying about how Oakheart died—he didn’t kill him himself, in revenge for Redtail. The rockfall killed him. Isn’t it possible that he is lying about Redtail’s death as well?”
As he spoke, Bluestar began to look troubled, narrowing her eyes so that only the faintest sliver of blue showed in the dim light of the den. She let out a long sigh. “Tigerclaw is a fine deputy,” she murmured. “And these are serious charges.”
“I know,” Fireheart agreed quietly. “But can’t you see, Bluestar, how dangerous he is?”
Bluestar sank her head onto her chest. She was silent for so long that Fireheart wondered if he should leave, but she had not dismissed him.
“There’s something else,” he ventured. “Something strange about two of the RiverClan warriors.”
Bluestar looked up at that; her ears flicked forward. For a heartbeat Fireheart hesitated to spread the rumors of a temperamental RiverClan elder, but his need to know the truth gave him the courage to go on. “Ravenpaw told me that in the Sunningrocks battle Oakheart stopped Redtail from attacking a warrior named Stonefur. Oakheart said that no ThunderClan cat should ever harm Stonefur. I…I had the chance to speak to one of the RiverClan elders. She told me that Oakheart brought Mistyfoot and Stonefur to her when they were tiny kits. It was leaf-bare, and she said that the kits would have died with no one to take care of them. Graypool—the elder—suckled them. She said that…that they had the scent of ThunderClan kits. Could that be true? Were kits ever stolen from our camp?”
For a few heartbeats he thought Bluestar had not heard him, she was so still. Then she rose to her paws and padded forward a couple of paces until she stood almost nose to nose with him. “And you listened to this nonsense?” she hissed.
“I just thought I should—”
“This isn’t what I expect from you, Fireheart,” Bluestar growled. Her eyes glittered like ice, and her hackles were raised. “To go into enemy territory and listen to idle gossip? To believe what a RiverClan cat tells you? You would do better to think about your own duties than to come here telling tales about Tigerclaw.” She studied him for a long moment. “Maybe Tigerclaw is right to doubt your loyalty.”
“I—I’m sorry,” Fireheart stammered. “But I thought Graypool was telling the truth.”
Bluestar let out a long breath. All the interest she had shown before had vanished, leaving her expression cold and remote. “Go,” she ordered. “Find yourself something useful to do—something that befits a warrior. And never—never—mention this to me again. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Bluestar.” Fireheart began backing out of the den. “But what about Tigerclaw? He—”
“Go!” Bluestar spat the command.
Fireheart’s paws scrabbled in the sand in his haste to obey. Once out of the den he turned and hurtled across the clearing, only coming to rest when he had put several fox-lengths between himself and Bluestar. He felt utterly bewildered. At first Bluestar had seemed prepared to listen to him, but as soon as he mentioned the stolen ThunderClan kits, she had refused to hear any more.
A sudden chill swept through Fireheart. What if Bluestar began to wonder how he had managed to speak with the RiverClan cats? What if she found out about Graystripe and Silverstream? And what about Tigerclaw? For a short time, Fireheart had let himself hope that he could make Bluestar understand how dangerous the deputy was.
Thistles and thorns, he thought. Now she won’t hear another word against Tigerclaw. I blew it!
第六章
第六章
“什么？”火心大吃一惊，几乎说不出话来，“你是说，雾脚和石毛全都来自雷族？”
灰池舔了两下胸脯，说：“是的，我说的就是这些。”
火心感到有些头晕目眩，问：“他们是被橡心偷出来的吗？”
灰池的毛腾地竖立起来，龇牙咧嘴厉声道：“橡心是一位品格高尚的武士，他不会做如此卑鄙下流的事！”
火心俯首帖耳，紧张地说：“对不起，我不是有意的，只是这太难以置信了！”
灰池嗅了嗅空气，身上的毛渐渐回落。她的话令火心脑子里乱成一团。如果橡心没有偷那两只幼崽，也许他们是被泼皮猫从营地里偷出来的——但为什么？偷幼崽的猫为什么在他们身上还存留有族群气味的时候，就急着抛弃他们呢？
他结结巴巴地说：“那么……如果他们是雷族的幼崽，你为什么肯照料他们呢？”在猎物匮乏的季节里，一个族群怎么会收养敌族的幼崽呢？
灰池耸了耸肩膀，说：“因为橡心要我这么做。虽然那时他还不是副族长，但已经是一位优秀的年轻武士了。我刚刚分娩完，不过几乎所有的幼崽都被冻死了，仅存活下一只，因此奶水充足。如果不能得到及时喂养，那两只可怜的小家伙绝对活不到天亮。他们身上的雷族气味很快便消失了。虽然橡心不肯说出他们来历的真相，但我很尊重他，因此没有再多问。多亏了橡心和我，他们才能够茁壮成长，成为优秀的武士——他们是河族的骄傲。”
火心问：“雾脚和石毛知道这些吗？”
灰池喘着气说：“雾脚和石毛对此事一无所知，如果你胆敢将我说的话告诉他们，我就把你的心肝掏出来喂乌鸦。”她探出头，咧开双唇露出利齿。虽然她年老体弱，但依然威风凛凛，火心倒着实有些胆怯。
灰池大声说：“他们从不怀疑我是他们的亲妈妈，他们的样貌甚至还有些像我。”
火心心乱如麻。他觉得灰池透露的情况似乎对他意义重大，但具体是什么却总在脑海中一闪而过，令他怎么也捕捉不着。
灰池坚持说：“他们向来对河族忠心耿耿，我不想让他们存有二心。我听说过你的事情，火心——知道你曾经是一只宠物猫——因此，你应当清楚脚踩两只船是什么滋味。”
每次想到自己并不完全属于族群，火心便感到茫然失措。他知道其他猫无论如何都不可能理解这种感受。他郑重地说：“我以星族的名义起誓，保证永远也不会告诉他们。”
灰池松了口气，伸展前腿，撅着屁股伸了个懒腰，回答说：“我相信你的话，火心。不知道我说的这些情况对你是否有帮助，不过，它也许能解释橡心为什么不让雷族的猫伤害雾脚和石毛。虽然他矢口否认知道他们的来历，但他应该能像我一样嗅到他们身上的雷族气味。就如我们所期望的，他们只忠于河族。不过，在这件事上，橡心表现得似乎不怎么忠诚。”
火心尽量保持尊重的口吻，说：“我很感激你。虽然我不知道这件事和我要查找的事情存在何种关联，不过我想你所说的话对我们两个族群来说都十分重要。”
灰池皱起眉头，说：“也许吧。现在我已将知道的全都告诉你了，你必须马上离开我们的领地。”
火心说：“当然，灰池。”他顿了顿，看着她浅黄色的双眼，说，“谢谢你。”然后扭头钻出灌木丛。
在返回营地的路上，火心思绪起伏，久久不能平静。雾脚和石毛的血管里流淌着雷族的血液！但是他们如今完全属于河族，对他们的身世一无所知。有时，对于血统的忠诚与对于族群的忠诚并不完全一致。火心想起自己，虽然他出身于宠物猫，但他对雷族绝对忠贞不贰。
既然雾脚现在确认了橡心的死因，也许蓝星会接受虎掌杀害红尾的事实。火心决定向她一并询问灰池最后揭示的秘密，蓝星也许能告诉他这两只幼崽是否是从雷族营地里被偷走的。
回到营地，火心直奔高岩。走近蓝星的巢穴时，他听到里面有两只猫在说话，接着鼻子嗅到虎掌和蓝星的气味。他急忙躲在门口，身体紧贴岩壁。这时虎掌顶开苔藓帘子从里面出来。
这位虎斑猫武士扭头说：“我会派一支狩猎队前往蛇岩。最近几天，没有猫去那里打过猎。”
蓝星随他一同走出巢穴，同意说：“这是个好主意。猎物仍然匮乏。愿星族保佑，能让冰雪早些融化。”
虎掌嘟囔了一声，表示同意。他迈开大步向武士巢穴走去，没有注意到火心就躲在高岩边。
等虎掌离开，蓝星正要反身进入巢穴时，火心急忙上前说：“蓝星，我想和你谈谈。”
蓝星淡淡地说：“好吧，进来吧。”
火心走进巢穴。苔藓帘子荡了回去，遮住雪地反射进来的亮光，巢穴里光线昏暗。蓝星面对着他坐下，问：“什么事？”
火心深吸了口气，说：“你还记得乌爪讲的那个故事吧，就是在太阳石战斗中红尾杀死橡心的那个？”
蓝星的身体一下子变得僵硬，厉声喝道：“火心，我告诉过你，这件事就此作罢。我是绝不会相信的。”
火心尊敬地低下头，说：“我知道。但我发现了一些新情况。”
蓝星没有反应，火心猜不透她在想什么。此时已骑虎难下，他只有硬着头皮继续说：“没有谁杀了橡心——不是红尾，也不是虎掌。橡心是被头顶掉落的石块砸死的。”
蓝星皱起眉头问：“你怎么知道这些的？”
火心如实说道：“我……我又去见乌爪了，就在开完森林大会以后。”他等着蓝星的训斥，谁知她却没有发火。
蓝星说：“这就是你那次迟到的原因了。”
火心急忙说：“我必须找出真相。而且我……”
蓝星打断他的话，说：“等一等。起先乌爪告诉你说红尾杀了橡心，他现在改变说法了？”
火心分辩说：“不，不是那么回事，是我误会了他的话。红尾对橡心的死只负有部分责任，因为橡心是被他逼到悬在半空的石块下方的。但红尾并不是存心要他的命。你原来就不相信红尾会故意杀害橡心，而且……”
“嗯？”蓝星的声音如往常般平静。
火心坦白说：“为了确证此事，我越过河去找一只河族猫谈过。她告诉我实情就是如此，橡心是被石块砸死的。”他低头看着爪子，生怕偷越边界的事会引发蓝星的雷霆大怒。
不过，当他抬起头时，却看不到族长的眼睛里有丝毫怒意，只有浓厚的兴趣。
见她轻轻点头，火心继续往下说：“所以我们知道虎掌在橡心遇难的事上撒了谎——他根本没有为红尾复仇而杀了橡心，是石块砸死了橡心。那么，虎掌是否有可能在红尾的死因上也撒了谎呢？”
蓝星面色一沉，眯缝起双眼，昏暗之中只看到两道微弱的蓝光。她喃喃道：“虎掌是一位优秀的副族长。你说的这些话太重了。”
火心轻声同意说：“我知道。但是，难道你看不出他有多么危险吗？”
蓝星将头埋进胸口，半晌不说话。火心不知道是否应该离去，族长没有发话，他留下也不是，走也不是。
他小心翼翼地说：“还有一些别的情况，有两名河族武士很奇怪。”
蓝星一下子抬起头，双耳朝前竖立。一时间，火心犹豫着，不知是不是该说出灰池讲的那件事。不过，对于真相的探求令他鼓足勇气继续说下去：“乌爪告诉我，在太阳石战斗中橡心阻止红尾攻击一名叫石毛的河族武士。橡心说雷族的猫决不能伤害石毛。我……我找了个机会和一只河族老年猫谈了这件事。她告诉我说，雾脚和石毛刚出生没多久，橡心就把他们带到她的身边。那是在落叶季，她说如果没有猫照顾那两只幼崽，他们会死的。
灰池——就是那只老猫——做了他们的乳娘。她还说，他们……他们身上带有雷族的气味。这件事是真的吗？我们营地里是否丢失过幼崽呢？”
蓝星恍若不闻，只是静静地坐着一动不动。过了好一会儿，她站起身上前几步，几乎与火心鼻子贴着鼻子，低声说：“你听信了这些无稽之谈？”
“我只是想我该……”
“这不是我期望你做的事，火心。”蓝星厉声喝道，她颈毛竖立，目光冷如坚冰，“溜进敌人的领地里听这些荒谬的流言飞语吗？去相信一只河族猫对你说的话？你该干好自己的本职工作，而不是到我这里数落虎掌的不是。”她盯着火心，半晌后方才说，“虎掌始终怀疑你的忠诚，也许他是对的。”
火心结结巴巴地说：“对……对不起。但我认为灰池没有骗我。”
蓝星粗重地呼出一口气。她面如严霜，神情冷漠，原先表现出来的那点儿兴趣早已消失得无影无踪，她下命令说：“去吧，找些有用的事来做——一些符合武士身份的事。还有，永远——永远——再也不要提起这件事。听清楚了吗？”
“是，蓝星。”火心开始退出巢穴，“但关于虎掌的事？他……”
蓝星的牙缝里吐出命令：“走！”
火心手忙脚乱，狼狈地走出巢穴。走到巢穴外，他立即没命地跑了起来，直到距离蓝星很远了，才停下脚步。他一头雾水。刚开始蓝星还准备听他讲话，但当他提及那两只雷族丢失的幼崽时，她立刻便拒绝再听下去。
忽然，火心心头泛起一丝寒意。如果蓝星想知道他是怎样和河族猫联络上的怎么办？
如果虎掌知道此事怎么办？此时，火心只希望能够让蓝星明白虎掌的危险。
真是举步维艰啊！现在她再也不会听关于虎掌的任何坏话了，我把这件事办砸了！
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 7
Confused and unhappy, Fireheart made forthe warriors’ den. Before he reached it he hesitated. He did not want to risk meeting Tigerclaw, and he wasn’t in the mood for sharing tongues with his friends.
Instead, almost unconsciously, he headed for the tunnel of ferns that led to Yellowfang’s den. Cinderpaw limped out and almost collided with him. Fireheart fell back on his haunches with a thump, and Cinderpaw skidded to a halt, spraying him with snow.
“Sorry, Fireheart,” she puffed. “I didn’t see you there.”
Fireheart shook the snow off his coat. His heart felt suddenly lighter at the sight of Cinderpaw, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief, and fur sticking out in all directions. This was how she used to look, when she was his apprentice; for a while, after the accident, Fireheart had been afraid that this Cinderpaw had vanished forever. “What’s the hurry?” he asked.
“I’m going out to look for herbs for Yellowfang,” Cinderpaw explained. “So many cats have been ill, what with all this snow, that her stocks are getting very low. I want to find as much as I can before it gets dark.”
“I’ll come and help you,” Fireheart offered. Bluestar had told him to do something useful, and not even Tigerclaw could find fault if he went to collect herbs for the medicine cat.
“Great!” Cinderpaw meowed happily.
Side by side, they headed across the clearing toward the gorse tunnel. Fireheart had to slow his pace to match Cinderpaw’s, but if she was aware of it she didn’t seem to mind.
Just before they reached the tunnel, Fireheart heard the shrill voices of kits. He turned and stared at the branches of a fallen tree, close to the elders’ den. A group of kits had surrounded Brokentail, who had been given a nest among the branches.
Ever since Bluestar had offered shelter to Brokentail, he had lived alone in his den, with warriors to guard him. Not many cats passed that way, and the kits had no reason to be anywhere near him.
“Rogue! Traitor!” That was Cloudkit’s voice raised in a jeering meow. Fireheart watched in alarm as the white kit darted forward, jabbed Brokentail in the ribs with one paw, and scrambled back out of range. One of the other kits copied him, squealing, “Can’t catch me!”
Darkstripe, whose turn it was to guard the blind cat, made no attempt to send the kits away. He sat a fox-length away, watching with his paws tucked under him and a gleam of amusement in his eyes.
Brokentail swung his head from side to side in frustration, but with his cloudy, unseeing eyes he could not retaliate. His dark tabby fur looked dull and patchy, and his broad face was scored with scars, some of them from the clawing that had ruined his eyes. There was no trace of the former arrogant and bloodthirsty leader now.
Fireheart exchanged a worried glance with Cinderpaw. Many cats, he knew, thought Brokentail deserved to suffer, but seeing the former leader so old and helpless, he could not help feeling a scrap of pity. Anger began to burn inside him as the taunting went on. “Wait for me,” he mewed to Cinderpaw, and hurried over toward the edge of the clearing.
He saw Cloudkit pounce on the blind tom’s tail, worrying it with needle-sharp teeth. Brokentail scrabbled away from him on unsteady legs and swiped one paw in his direction.
In an instant, Darkstripe jumped to his paws, hissing, “Touch that kit, traitor, and I’ll flay your skin in strips!”
Fireheart was too angry to speak. Leaping toward Cloudkit, he grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and swung him around, away from Brokentail.
Cloudkit wailed in protest. “Stop it! That hurts!”
Fireheart dropped him roughly into the snow and let out a low growl through bared teeth. “Go home!” he ordered the other kits. “Go home to your mothers. Now!”
The kits stared at him, wide-eyed with fear, and then scuttled off, to disappear into the nursery.
“As for you—” Fireheart hissed to Cloudkit.
“Leave the kit alone,” Darkstripe interrupted, padding up to stand beside Cloudkit. “He’s not doing any harm.”
“Keep out of this, Darkstripe,” growled Fireheart.
Darkstripe shouldered past him, almost knocking him over, before stalking back to his prisoner. “Kittypet!” he sneered over his shoulder.
Fireheart’s muscles tensed. He wanted to leap at Darkstripe and force the insult back down his throat, but he stopped himself. This was no time for Clan warriors to start fighting each other. Besides, he had to deal with Cloudkit.
“Did you hear that?” he demanded, glaring down at the white kit. “Kittypet?”
“So?” Cloudkit muttered mutinously. “What’s a kittypet?”
Fireheart gulped as he realized that Cloudkit had not yet learned what his origins meant to the Clan. “Well, a kittypet is a cat who lives with Twolegs,” he began carefully. “Some Clan cats don’t believe that a cat who’s born a kittypet will ever make a good warrior. And that includes me, because like you, I was born in Twolegplace.”
As Fireheart spoke, Cloudkit’s eyes grew wider and wider. “What do you mean?” he meowed. “I was born here!”
Fireheart stared at him. “No, you weren’t,” he meowed. “Your mother is my sister, Princess. She lives in a Twoleg nest. She gave you to the Clan when you were very young, so you could be a warrior.”
For a few moments Cloudkit stood rigid, as if he were a kit made of snow and ice. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded.
“I’m sorry,” Fireheart meowed. “I…I thought you knew. I thought Brindleface would have told you.”
Cloudkit backed away a couple of tail-lengths. The shock in his blue eyes was slowly replaced with cold understanding. “So that’s why the other cats hate me,” he spat. “They think I’ll never be any good because I wasn’t born in this dump of a forest. It’s stupid!”
Fireheart struggled to find the right words to reassure him. He couldn’t help remembering how excited Princess had been when she gave her son to the Clan, and how he had promised her that Cloudkit would have a wonderful life ahead of him. Now he was forcing Cloudkit to think about his past, and the difficulties he would have before being accepted by the Clan. What if the kit began to think that Fireheart and Princess had made the wrong decision?
Fireheart sighed. “It may be stupid, but that’s the way it is. I should know. Listen,” he explained patiently. “Warriors like Darkstripe think being a kittypet is something bad. It just means we have to work twice as hard to make them see that kittypet blood is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Cloudkit straightened up. “I don’t care!” he mewed. “I’m going to be the best warrior in the Clan. I’ll fight any cat who says I’m not. I’ll be brave enough to kill outlaws like old Brokentail.”
Fireheart was relieved to see Cloudkit’s spirit overcoming the shock of his discovery. But he wasn’t sure that the kit really understood the meaning of the warrior code. “There’s more to being a warrior than killing,” he warned Cloudkit. “A true warrior—the best warrior—isn’t cruel or mean. He doesn’t claw an enemy who can’t fight back. Where’s the honor in that?”
Cloudkit ducked his head, not meeting Fireheart’s eyes. Fireheart hoped he had said the right thing. Looking around for Cinderpaw, he saw that she had gone up to Brokentail and was checking his tail where Cloudkit had worried it. “There’s no damage,” she mewed to the blinded tom.
Brokentail crouched motionless, his ruined eyes fixed on his paws, and did not respond. Reluctantly Fireheart went over and nudged the old cat to his paws. “Come on,” he meowed. “Let’s get you back to your den.”
Brokentail turned in silence and let Fireheart guide him back to the leaf-lined hollow under the dead branches. Darkstripe watched them shuffle past with a contemptuous flick of his tail.
“Right, Cinderpaw,” Fireheart meowed when Brokentail was settled. “Let’s go and find those herbs.”
“Where are you going?” Cloudkit piped up, bouncing over to them with all his energy restored. “Can I come?”
When Fireheart hesitated, Cinderpaw mewed, “Oh, let him come, Fireheart. He only gets into trouble because he’s bored. And we could do with some more help.”
Cloudkit’s eyes gleamed with pleasure, and a loud purr rose from his throat, an enormous sound to come from his small, fluffy body.
Fireheart shrugged. “All right. But put one paw wrong, and you’ll be back in the nursery before you can say ‘mouse’!”
Limping steadily, Cinderpaw led the way along the ravine to the hollow where the apprentices had their training sessions. Already the sun was beginning to go down, casting long blue shadows across the snow. Cloudkit scampered ahead of them, peering into holes in the rock and stalking imaginary prey.
“How can you find herbs with snow on the ground?” Fireheart asked. “Won’t everything be frozen?”
“There’ll still be berries,” Cinderpaw pointed out. “Yellowfang told me to look for juniper—that’s good for coughs and bellyaches—and broom to make poultices for broken legs and wounds. Oh, and alder bark for toothache.”
“Berries!” Cloudkit skittered sideways toward them. “I’ll find lots for you!” He dashed away again in the direction of a clump of bushes growing up the side of the hollow.
Cinderpaw flicked her tail in amusement. “He’s keen,” she remarked. “Once he’s apprenticed, he’ll learn quickly.”
Fireheart made a noncommittal noise in his throat. Cloudkit’s energy reminded him of Cinderpaw when she was first made apprentice. Except Cinderpaw would never have taunted a helpless cat like blind Brokentail.
“Well, if he’s my apprentice, he’d better start listening to me,” he muttered.
“Oh, yes?” Cinderpaw gave Fireheart a teasing look. “You’re a really tough mentor—all your apprentices will be trembling in their fur!”
Fireheart met her laughing eyes and felt himself relaxing. As usual, being with Cinderpaw was lifting his spirits. He would stop worrying about Cloudkit and get on with the job they had come to do.
“Cinderpaw!” Cloudkit called from farther along the hollow. “There are berries here—come and look!”
Fireheart craned his neck and saw the white kit crouching beneath a small, dark-leaved bush that pushed its way up between two rocks. Bright scarlet berries grew close to the stems.
“They look tasty,” Cloudkit mewed as the two cats drew nearer. He stretched his jaws wide to take a hungry mouthful.
At the same moment a gasp came from Cinderpaw. To Fireheart’s amazement she shot forward, propelling herself over the snow as fast as her injured leg would allow. “No, Cloudkit!” she yowled.
She barreled into the kit, bowling him over. Cloudkit squealed in shock and the two cats scuffled together on the ground. Fireheart bounded over, anxious that Cloudkit might hurt the injured Cinderpaw, but as he reached them she pushed the kit off her and sat up, panting. “Did you touch one?” she demanded.
“N-No,” Cloudkit stammered, puzzled. “I was only—”
“Look.” Cinderpaw shoved him around until his nose was a mouse-length from the bush. Fireheart had never heard her sound so fierce. “Look but don’t touch. That’s yew. The berries are so poisonous they are called deathberries. Even one could kill you.”
Cloudkit’s eyes were round as the full moon. Speechless for once, he gazed, horrified, at Cinderpaw.
“All right,” she mewed more gently, giving his shoulder a couple of comforting licks. “It didn’t happen this time. But take a good look now, so you don’t make that mistake again. And never—do you hear me, never—eat anything if you don’t know what it is.”
“Yes, Cinderpaw,” Cloudkit promised.
“Go on looking for berries, then.” Cinderpaw nudged the kit to his paws. “And call me as soon as you find anything.”
Cloudkit padded off, glancing back over his shoulder once or twice as he went. Fireheart couldn’t remember seeing him so subdued. Bold as the kit was, he had received a real shock. “It’s a good thing you were here, Cinderpaw,” he meowed, feeling a pang of guilt that he hadn’t known enough to warn Cloudkit. “You’ve learned such a lot from Yellowfang.”
“She’s a good teacher,” Cinderpaw replied. She shook several clumps of snow off her fur and began padding up the hollow after Cloudkit. Fireheart walked beside her, once more slowing his pace to match hers.
This time Cinderpaw noticed. “You know, my leg has healed as much as it ever will,” she meowed quietly. “I’ll be sorry to leave Yellowfang’s den, but I can’t stay there forever.” She turned to look at Fireheart. All the mischief had faded from her eyes; instead, there was pain and uncertainty in the blue depths. “I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Fireheart stretched over to her and rubbed his face comfortingly against hers. “Bluestar will know.”
“Maybe.” Cinderpaw shrugged. “Ever since I was a tiny kit, I wanted to be just like Bluestar. She’s so noble, and she’s given her whole life to the Clan. But Fireheart, what can I give now?”
“I don’t know,” Fireheart admitted.
The life of a cat could be followed clearly through the Clan, from kit to apprentice to warrior, sometimes to queen, and then retired to an honorable old age among the elders. Fireheart had no idea what happened to a cat who was injured too badly for the warrior life, for the long patrols, the hunting and fighting that were required of a warrior. Even the queens who cared for the kits in the nursery had all been warriors once, with skills that enabled them to feed and defend their little ones.
Cinderpaw was brave and intelligent, and before her accident she had shown endless energy and commitment to the Clan. Surely that couldn’t all be thrown away? This is Tigerclaw’s fault, Fireheart thought darkly. He laid the trail that led to her accident. “You should go to Bluestar,” he suggested out loud. “Ask her what she thinks.”
“Perhaps I will.” Cinderpaw shrugged.
“Cinderpaw!” A shrill meow from Cloudkit interrupted them. “Come and see what I’ve found!”
“Coming, Cloudkit!” Cinderpaw limped away, mewing good-humoredly to Fireheart as she went, “Maybe it’s deadly nightshade this time.”
Fireheart watched her go. He hoped that Bluestar would be able to find a way to give Cinderpaw a worthwhile life within the Clan. Cinderpaw was right: Bluestar was a great leader, and not just in battle. She truly cared for all her cats.
Knowing that, Fireheart felt even more confused when he remembered her reaction to Graypool’s news. Why had Bluestar acted so strangely when he told her that two RiverClan warriors had been ThunderClan kits? The story had outraged her so much that she was closing her eyes to the danger from Tigerclaw.
Fireheart shook his head as he padded slowly after Cinderpaw. There was a deeply buried mystery surrounding those cats, and he was beginning to feel that it might be beyond his power to ever understand it.
第七章
第七章
带着迷惘和不快，火心向武士巢穴走去。走到门口，他犹豫起来。他既不想面对虎掌，也没心情和朋友们聊天舔梳。
他下意识地向巫医巢穴的香薇通道走去，恰逢炭爪一瘸一拐地往外走，和他撞了个满怀。火心砰的一下坐倒在地，屁股几乎摔成两半。炭爪急忙刹住脚步，溅了火心一身雪。
她喘着气说：“对不起，火心。我没看见你在这里。”
火心抖去身上的雪。炭爪的出现忽然令他的心情变得好起来。她身上的毛乱蓬蓬的，眼里闪着恶作剧的光，俨然一副当学徒时的调皮模样。自从那次意外之后，火心曾一度以为再也看不到往日的炭爪了。他问：“什么事这么急？”
炭爪解释说：“我出去帮黄牙采些草药。这场大雪令许多猫都病了，她的药材储备所剩无几。我想在天黑之前尽可能多采些回来。”
火心自告奋勇说：“我来帮助你吧。”蓝星让他做些有益的事，他帮医生采药，就算是虎掌看到了也说不出什么的。
炭爪高兴地说：“太棒了！”
两只猫肩并肩向金雀花通道走去。火心不得不放慢步伐，以免炭爪跟不上。不过，就算炭爪知道，想来她也不会介意。
走到半路，火心听到一阵幼崽们的欢声笑语。他转过头朝老年猫巢穴附近的那棵倒在地上的大树看去，那里是断尾的居住地。此时，他正被一群幼崽们围着。
自打蓝星收留断尾以来，他便独居一处，由武士们轮流看守。平时，大家很少从那里经过，今天不知为什么，这群幼崽会去骚扰他。
“泼皮猫！败类！”云崽的声音最响亮。火心紧张地看见云崽冲到前面，捅捅断尾的肋骨，然后急忙后撤。另一只幼崽一边学他的样儿，一边尖叫着：“抓不着我吧！”
看守断尾的黑条坐在一旁，丝毫没有阻止幼崽们的意思。他将四肢垫在身子底下，饶有兴趣地看着这一幕。
断尾的头摆来摆去，但双目失明的他终归无可奈何。他身上的毛色泽黯淡，脸上布满伤痕，其中一些是眼睛被抓瞎时留下的，再也没有当日凶狠残忍的族长威风了。
火心和炭爪对视了一眼，暗暗担忧。虽然断尾沦落到如此地步纯属咎由自取，但看到这位前族长这副落魄样子，他仍觉得有些同情。辱骂戏谑仍在进行，火心渐渐生气。他对炭爪说：“稍等片刻。”说完跑了过去。
这时云崽跳到断尾的尾巴上一口咬住。断尾急忙摇摇晃晃地站起来，向他挥出爪子。
黑条立刻跳起身，低嘶着说：“如果你敢动那只幼崽的一根汗毛，我就把你撕成碎片！”
火心气得说不出话来。他跳到云崽身边，咬住他的脖子，将他从断尾身上拖开。
云崽一边反抗一边大声嚷嚷：“快住手！你弄疼我了！”
火心将他重重地放在雪地里，龇牙咧嘴地说：“快回家去！”又命令其他的幼崽：“回家找你们的妈妈去，快走！”
幼崽们眼睛睁得大大的，惊惧地看着他，接着一窝蜂似的消失在育婴室里。
火心低头对云崽说：“至于你……”
黑条走过来，插嘴说：“别管这只幼崽，他又没做坏事。”
火心喝道：“别插手这件事，黑条。”
黑条用肩膀撞了他一下，几乎将他撞翻，然后朝断尾走去。他扭头讥讽说：“宠物猫！”
火心勃然大怒，差点儿就要扑过去好好教训他一顿。但此时族群里不能起内讧，况且，他还要处理云崽的事情。
他低头盯着云崽说：“你听到了吗？宠物猫？”
云崽不服气地嘟囔：“那又怎样？宠物猫是什么？”
火心吸了口气，这才明白云崽仍旧对自己的出身一无所知。他谨慎地说：“嗯，宠物猫就是和两脚兽们生活在一起的猫。一些族生猫不相信宠物猫出身的猫能够成为优秀的武士。我和你，我们都出生在两脚兽的家里。”
云崽的眼睛越睁越大，说：“你这话什么意思？我是在这里出生的！”
火心凝视着他，说：“不，这里不是你的出生地。你的母亲是我的姐姐，名字叫公主，她生活在两脚兽的家里。在你很小的时候，她便将你送到族群里来，希望你能够成为一名武士。”
云崽僵坐不动，就像一只用冰雪雕刻成的小猫，良久才问：“你为什么不早点儿告诉我？”
火心说：“对不起。我……我以为你知道的，我以为纹脸已经告诉你了。”
云崽退后两步，惊讶的神情渐渐消失，目光转冷。他恨恨地说：“这就是那些猫对我不好的原因！他们认为我不是在这片森林里出生的，因而永远也成为不了一名武士。太荒唐了！”
火心想找些话来安慰他，却又不知该说什么好。他不由得想起往事，公主将她的儿子送给族群时，她是多么兴奋啊！而他又如何信誓旦旦，向她保证云崽未来的生活将会多么美好。现在，他强迫云崽开始思考自己的出身，思考他在被族群接受前将要面临的苦难。
如果这只幼崽认为他和公主做出的决定是错误的怎么办？
火心叹了口气，耐心地解释：“这也许很荒唐，但事实就是如此。黑条这样的武士并不认可宠物猫。这意味着我们需要加倍努力来证明给他们看，宠物猫的血统没什么可丢脸的。”
云崽坐直身体说：“我才不在乎！我要成为族里最优秀的武士。谁敢小看我，我就打谁。我会很勇敢，杀掉所有像老断尾这种违反武士守则的猫。”
看到云崽斗志昂扬，火心感到很安慰，但他不知道这只幼崽是否真正理解武士守则的真意。他提醒说：“武士可不单单只会杀戮。一名真正的武士——最优秀的武士——既不残忍也不卑鄙，他不会欺负任何一个没有还手之力的敌人，这么做有什么值得骄傲的呢？”
云崽低下头，不敢看火心的眼睛。火心希望他没有白说。扭头寻找炭爪时，看到她正在为断尾检查尾巴。她对瞎眼断尾说：“尾巴没受伤。”
断尾趴着一动不动，低着头没有反应。火心不情愿地走过去，扶起断尾，说：“走吧，回巢穴里去。”
断尾默不做声，任由火心带着他回到那个树枝为顶、枯叶为墙的巢穴。黑条看着他们从身旁经过，轻蔑地摇晃着尾巴。
安顿好断尾后，火心说：“好了，炭爪，我们去采草药吧。”
云崽立刻来了精神，跑过来问：“你们要去哪里？我能去吗？”
火心犹豫了一下，炭爪说：“哦，带他去吧，火心。经你这么一吓，他不敢再惹麻烦了。我们也可能需要个帮手。”
云崽的双眼闪着兴奋的光芒，喉咙间发出响亮的呜呜声。别看他个头小，声音可着实不低。
火心耸了耸肩膀，说：“好吧。不过一旦再犯一丁点儿错，你就得立即回来，不许顶嘴！”
炭爪领路，一瘸一拐地沿着沟边向学徒们训练用的沙坑走去。太阳渐渐西沉，雪地上他们的身影被拖得长长的。云崽蹦蹦跳跳跑在最前面，不停地朝石洞里瞅，装作捕猎的样子。
火心问：“大雪覆盖之下，你怎么找草药？所有的东西不都结冰了吗？”
炭爪解释说：“仍有些浆果会保留下来。黄牙要我找些杜松——能缓解感冒和肚子痛——还有止痛的罂粟籽。哦，还有治疗牙疼的赤杨皮。”
“浆果！”云崽一溜烟又往前跑，“我会为你们找到一大把浆果！”说着，他朝沙坑边的一簇灌木丛奔去。
炭爪被逗得哈哈大笑，尾巴直颤，说：“他可真是热心肠。他日成了学徒，他会学得很快的。”
火心哼了一声。云崽的精神头儿使他想起炭爪当学徒时的情景。不过，炭爪那时绝不会欺负瞎眼断尾。
火心嘟囔着说：“嘿，如果他是我的徒弟，最好学会听话。”
“噢，是吗？”炭爪取笑地看了他一眼，“你的确是非常严厉的老师——所有的徒弟见了你都簌簌发抖！”
火心看着她含笑的眼神，心里感到很轻松。和炭爪在一起他总是感到精神饱满。不该再替云崽担忧，帮炭爪找草药才是正事。
“炭爪！”沙坑边传来云崽的呼喊，“这里有浆果——快来看哪！”
火心伸长了脖子，看到云崽趴在生长在石缝间的一簇叶子发黑的矮小灌木丛下，灌木的枝头上长满了鲜艳的猩红色浆果。
云崽对走近的炭爪和火心说：“它们看起来很好吃啊。”说着，张大了嘴巴，整个儿一副馋相。
炭爪忽然倒吸口凉气，猛然间冲了过去，吓了火心一大跳。炭爪拖着瘸腿在雪地里边奔跑边喊道：“别吃，云崽！”
她飞奔至云崽身边，将他撞在一旁。云崽一声惊叫，两只猫翻滚在地。火心急忙跑过来，生怕云崽撞伤了瘸腿的炭爪。炭爪将云崽从身上推开，站起身喘着气问：“你触碰那些浆果了吗？”
云崽不明所以，结结巴巴地说：“没……没有。我只是……”
“听着！”炭爪将他推到灌木丛前，用以前火心从未听过的严厉的口气说，“别伸爪触摸，只用眼睛看。这种灌木叫紫杉，它们长出的浆果有毒，因此名叫死亡浆果。吃下一枚就能要你的小命。”
云崽的眼睛睁得浑圆，大气不敢出一口，惊骇地望着炭爪。
她的语气转为柔和，舔了舔云崽的肩膀安慰他说：“放心吧，这次你死不了。仔细看看，记在心里，下次就不会再犯这种错误了。记住，永远——认真听了吗，是永远——不要吃你不认得的东西。”
云崽说：“是，炭爪。”
炭爪推着他站起来，说：“继续找浆果吧，发现异常情况后及时通知我。”
云崽一步两回头地走开了。火心看着他，强忍着没笑出来。虽然云崽一贯胆大妄为，但这次显然被吓得不轻。火心因为没有辨认出毒浆果而心中有愧，说：“炭爪，幸亏你在这里。看来你从黄牙那里学了不少知识。”
炭爪回答：“她是位好老师。”她抖掉身上的雪块，走出沙坑。火心走在旁边，为了与她保持一致，步伐放得更慢了。
这次炭爪注意到火心的异常，淡淡地说：“我的腿也只能好到这个程度。可惜就要离开巫医巢穴了，不过，我也总不能一辈子住在那里。”她扭头望着火心，眼里顽皮的目光渐渐淡去，取而代之的是痛苦和迷惘，“我不知道以后该怎么办。”
火心伸长脖子，贴着她的面颊安慰道：“蓝星会做安排的。”
炭爪耸了耸肩膀，说：“也许吧。自打小时候起，我就盼望能够成为像蓝星那样的猫。
她品格高尚，为了族群鞠躬尽瘁。可是火心，我现在能为族群做些什么呢？”
火心承认说：“我不知道。”
在族群中，猫的一生都是按部就班的：幼崽，学徒，然后成为武士，而后母猫则生养小猫，最后成为老猫，养尊处优，安享晚年。火心不知道，如果一只猫严重受伤，以至于不能再捕猎或者战斗，其下场将会怎样。即使是在育婴室里照料幼崽的母猫，也都曾是武士，她们都各怀本领，能够养活和保卫幼崽。
炭爪有勇有谋，在遭遇不幸前，她精力旺盛，对待族群的事务兢兢业业。那些时光真的就一去不复返了吗？火心恨恨地想：“都是虎掌的错，是他留下的气味踪迹导致了那次事故。”他建议说，“你该去找蓝星，问她是怎么想的。”
炭爪耸了耸肩膀说：“也许吧。”
云崽欢快的声音打断了他们的谈话：“炭爪！快来看我找到了什么！”
“来了，云崽！”炭爪一瘸一拐地走开，微笑着对火心说，“这次也许是颠茄吧。”（颠茄是一种有毒茄科植物，原产于欧洲和亚洲西部。）火心看着她离去，心中希望蓝星能够为她找到一种有价值的生活。炭爪说得没错：蓝星是一位伟大的族长，她不仅骁勇善战，而且善良宽容。
火心想起蓝星听到灰池的那番话后的反应，更是百思不得其解。当她得知那两名河族武士乃是雷族血统时，为何表现得那么奇怪呢？那个故事令她如此动怒，以至于浑然忘却了来自虎掌的危险。
火心摇了摇头，缓慢地跟在炭爪后面。他越来越感到，在这些猫当中埋藏了一个极大的秘密，他也许永远都没有能力去揭示它。
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8
Fireheart crouched in the nursery, watchinga litter of kits suckling their mother. For a moment he was filled with excitement to see the tiny creatures who were the future of the Clan.
Then something stirred in his mind. ThunderClan had no kits as young as these. Where had they come from? He let his gaze travel from the kits to their mother, and saw nothing but a rippling pelt of silver-gray. The queen had no face.
Fireheart choked back a cry of horror. As he stared, the silvery shape of the queen began to fade, leaving nothing but darkness. The kits squirmed and let out squeals of terror and loss. A bitterly cold wind rose and swept away the warm scents of the nursery. Fireheart leaped to his paws and tried to follow the sound of the helpless kits, lost in the windblown darkness. “I can’t find you!” he wailed. “Where are you?”
Then a light appeared, soft and golden. Fireheart could see another cat sitting in front of him with the tiny kits sheltered between her paws. It was Spottedleaf.
Fireheart opened his mouth to speak to her. She gave him a look of infinite kindness before the image vanished, and Fireheart found himself scrabbling among the mossy bedding in the warriors’ den.
“Do you have to make so much racket?” Dustpelt was grumbling. “No cat can get a wink of sleep.”
Fireheart sat up. “Sorry,” he mumbled. He couldn’t help glancing toward the center of the den, where Tigerclaw slept. The deputy had complained before about the noise Fireheart made when he was dreaming.
To his relief, Tigerclaw wasn’t there. Fireheart could see from the light that filtered through the branches that the sun was already above the trees. He gave himself a quick wash, trying to hide from Dustpelt how much the dream had shaken him. Frightened, lonely kits…kits whose mother faded away. Was it a prophecy? And if so, what could it mean? There were no kits that young in the Clan now. Or was it about the former ThunderClan kits—Mistyfoot and Stonefur? Had their real mother disappeared somehow?
While he was washing, Dustpelt gave him a final glare and pushed his way out through the branches, leaving Fireheart alone except for Longtail and Runningwind, sleeping in their usual places.
There was no sign of Graystripe, Fireheart noticed, and his bedding was cold, as if he had been out since dawn. Gone to meet Silverstream, he guessed. He tried to understand his friend’s strength of feeling, but he couldn’t help worrying, and longing for the old uncomplicated days when they were apprentices together. Fireheart poked his head out of the branches to see the snow-covered camp glittering under the cold winter sun. No sign of a thaw yet.
Beside the nettle patch, Sandstorm was crouching over a piece of fresh-kill. “Good morning, Fireheart,” she greeted him cheerfully. “If you want to eat, you’d better do it quickly, while there’s still some prey left.”
Fireheart realized that his belly was aching with hunger. It felt as if he hadn’t eaten for a moon. He bounded over to the pile of fresh-kill and saw that Sandstorm was right. Only a few pieces remained. He chose a starling and took it back to the nettle patch to eat with Sandstorm. “We’ll have to hunt today,” he meowed between mouthfuls.
“Whitestorm and Mousefur have already gone out with their new apprentices,” Sandstorm told him. “Brightpaw and Thornpaw couldn’t wait!”
Fireheart wondered if Graystripe had taken his apprentice out, too, but a moment later Brackenpaw emerged alone from the apprentices’ den. The light brown tabby looked around before trotting over to Fireheart.
“Have you seen Graystripe?” he called.
“Sorry.” Fireheart shrugged. “He was gone when I woke up.”
“He’s never here,” Brackenpaw mewed sadly. “If this goes on, Swiftpaw will be a warrior before me—Brightpaw and Thornpaw too.”
“Rubbish,” Fireheart meowed. He suddenly felt angry with Graystripe and his obsession with the RiverClan she-cat. No warrior had the right to neglect his apprentice like this. “You’re doing fine, Brackenpaw. You can come out hunting with me, if you like.”
“Thanks,” purred Brackenpaw, beginning to look happier.
“I’ll come too,” offered Sandstorm, gulping down the last of her meal and running her tongue around her jaws. She took the lead as the three cats made their way along the gorse tunnel.
“Now, Brackenpaw,” Fireheart meowed when they had reached the edge of the training hollow. “Where’s a good place to look for prey?”
“Under the trees,” replied Brackenpaw, pointing with a flick of his tail. “That’s where mice and squirrels come for nuts and seeds.”
“Good,” meowed Fireheart. “Let’s see if you’re right.”
They headed farther around the hollow; on the way they passed Brindleface, watching fondly as her kits scrambled about in the snow. “They needed to stretch their legs,” she explained. “All this snow has made them restless.”
Cloudkit was sitting under the yew bush with a couple of his littermates, explaining importantly that those were deathberries, and they must never, never eat them. Feeling amused by the young kit’s seriousness, Fireheart meowed a greeting as he went by.
Beneath the trees at the top of the hollow the snow was not so thick, and streaks of brown earth showed amid the white. As the three cats crept forward, Fireheart heard the scuttering of tiny paws, and scented mouse. Automatically he dropped into a hunting crouch and slid forward, barely putting any weight on his paws so as not to alarm his prey. The mouse remained unaware of the danger, its back to him as it nibbled on a fallen seed. When Fireheart was a tail-length away, he sprang, and turned back triumphantly to his friends with the prey in his jaws.
“Good catch,” called Sandstorm.
Fireheart scraped earth over his kill so he could collect it later. “The next one’s yours, Brackenpaw,” he meowed.
Brackenpaw raised his head proudly and began to stalk forward, his eyes darting from side to side. Fireheart spotted a blackbird pecking among the berries at the foot of a holly bush, but this time he held back.
The apprentice noticed the bird almost as soon as Fireheart did. Stealthily, paw by paw, he crept up on it. His haunches rocked from side to side as he readied himself to pounce. Watching, Fireheart thought he held back a heartbeat too long. The blackbird sensed him and fluttered upward, but Brackenpaw hurled himself after it with a mighty leap and batted it out of the air.
Keeping one paw on his prey, he turned to look at Fireheart. “I got the timing wrong,” he admitted. “I waited too long, didn’t I?”
“Maybe,” Fireheart replied. “But don’t look so upset. You caught it, and that’s what counts.”
“When you get back, you can take it to the elders,” meowed Sandstorm.
Brackenpaw brightened up at that. “Yes, I—” he began. He was interrupted by a shrill, terrified wailing that came from the direction of the hollow.
Fireheart spun around. “That sounds like a kit!”
With Sandstorm and Brackenpaw at his side, he raced toward the sound. Bursting out of the trees, he launched himself toward the crest of the hollow and looked down.
“Great StarClan!” Sandstorm gasped.
Just below the three cats loomed a bulky black-and-white animal; Fireheart picked up the rank scent of a badger. He had never seen one out in the open before, although he had often heard them shuffling noisily in the bushes. With one massive, hook-clawed paw, it was reaching into a gap between two rocks, where Cloudkit was cowering.
“Fireheart!” he wailed. “Help me!”
Fireheart felt as if every hair on his body was bristling. He launched himself down into the hollow, his front paws outstretched for the attack. He was dimly aware of Sandstorm and Brackenpaw at his heels. Fireheart raked his claws down the badger’s side, and the huge beast rounded on him with a roar, jaws snapping. It was fast; it might even have caught Fireheart if Brackenpaw hadn’t leaped from the side, clawing for its eyes.
The badger whipped its head around to where Sandstorm had sunk her teeth into one of its back legs. Kicking out strongly, it threw her off, and she rolled into the snow.
Fireheart dashed in again to claw the badger’s flank. Drops of scarlet blood fell onto the snow. The badger growled, but it was backing away now, and as Sandstorm got to her paws and advanced, spitting, it turned and lumbered off up the ravine.
Fireheart spun around to Cloudkit. “Are you hurt?”
Cloudkit crept out from the cleft in the rock, trembling uncontrollably. “N-No.”
Fireheart felt shaky with relief. “What happened? Where’s Brindleface?”
“I don’t know. We were all playing, and then I turned around and I couldn’t see any of the others. I thought I’d come and find you, and then there was the badger….” He let out a terrified mew, and crouched down with his head on his paws.
Fireheart was stretching his neck to give him a comforting lick when he heard Sandstorm say, “Fireheart, look.”
Fireheart turned. Brackenpaw was lying on his side, blood seeping from his hind leg into the snow.
“It’s nothing,” he grunted, bravely trying to get to his paws.
“Stay still while we look,” Sandstorm ordered.
Fireheart rushed over and examined the wound. To his relief, the slash on Brackenpaw’s leg was long but not deep, and the bleeding had nearly stopped. “You were lucky, thank StarClan,” he meowed. “And you saved me from a nasty bite. It was a brave thing to do, Brackenpaw.”
The apprentice’s eyes shone at Fireheart’s praise. “It wasn’t really brave,” he mewed shakily. “I didn’t have time to think.”
“A warrior couldn’t have done better,” meowed Sandstorm. “But what’s a badger doing out in daylight? They always hunt by night.”
“It must be hungry, like us,” Fireheart guessed. “Otherwise it wouldn’t attack something as big as Cloudkit.” He turned back to the kit and nudged him gently to his paws. “Come on; let’s get you back to camp.”
Sandstorm helped Brackenpaw to get up and padded beside him as he limped to the top of the hollow and toward the ravine. Fireheart followed with Cloudkit, who kept very close to him.
As they reached the ravine, Brindleface burst out of it, frantically calling Cloudkit’s name. Other cats came hurrying behind her, drawn out of the camp by her panic-stricken wailing. Fireheart spotted Runningwind and Dustpelt; then his heart sank as Tigerclaw followed them out of the tunnel.
Brindleface sprang at Cloudkit and covered him with anxious licks. “Where have you been?” she scolded. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere! You shouldn’t run away like that.”
“I didn’t!” Cloudkit protested.
“What’s going on?” Tigerclaw shouldered his way to the front of the group of cats.
Fireheart explained, while Brindleface continued to smooth down Cloudkit’s ruffled fur. “We drove the badger off,” he told the deputy. “Brackenpaw was very brave.”
All the while he was speaking, Tigerclaw stared at him with fierce amber eyes, but Fireheart held his head high; this time he had no reason to feel guilty.
“You’d better go to Yellowfang and have that leg seen to,” the deputy grunted to Brackenpaw. “As for you…” He swung around and loomed threateningly over Cloudkit. “What were you doing, putting yourself in danger like that? Do you think that warriors have nothing better to do than rescue you?”
Cloudkit flattened his ears. “I’m sorry, Tigerclaw. I didn’t mean to get into danger.”
“Didn’t mean to! Has no cat taught you any better than to go wandering away like that?”
“He’s only a kit,” Brindleface protested mildly, turning her gentle green gaze on the deputy.
Tigerclaw drew his lips back in a snarl. “He’s caused more trouble already than all the rest of the kits put together,” he growled. “It’s time he learned a lesson. He can do some real work for a change.”
Fireheart opened his mouth to object. For once Cloudkit hadn’t meant to cause trouble; his bad fright had been punishment enough for straying away from Brindleface.
But Tigerclaw was still talking. “You can go and look after the elders,” he ordered. “Clear out their dirty bedding and fetch clean moss. Make sure they have enough fresh-kill, and go over their coats for ticks.”
“Ticks!” exclaimed Cloudkit, losing the last of his fear in outrage. “I’m not doing that! Why can’t they see to their own ticks?”
“Because they’re elders,” Tigerclaw hissed. “You need to start understanding a lot more about the ways of the Clan, if you ever want to be an apprentice.” He glared at Cloudkit. “Go on. And keep at it until I tell you to stop.”
Cloudkit looked mutinous for a moment longer, but not even he would defy Tigerclaw twice. He met the deputy’s glare with hot blue eyes, and then ran off toward the tunnel. Brindleface let out a mew of distress and followed him.
“I always said bringing kittypets into the Clan was a bad idea,” Tigerclaw growled to Dustpelt. He glared at Fireheart as he spoke, as if he was daring the young warrior to protest.
Fireheart looked away. “Come on, Brackenpaw,” he mewed, swallowing his anger. There was no point getting into a fight. “Let’s get you to Yellowfang.”
“I’ll go back and see if I can find our prey,” offered Sandstorm. “We don’t want that badger to get it!” She started to scramble back up the ravine. Fireheart meowed his thanks after her and set off for the camp with Brackenpaw. The apprentice was limping quite badly, and looked tired.
As they approached the gorse tunnel, Fireheart was surprised to see Brokentail stumbling out with Yellowfang at his side. Two guards, Darkstripe and Longtail, followed closely.
“We must be mad, taking him out like this,” Longtail grumbled. “What if he runs off?”
“Runs off?” rasped Yellowfang. “And I suppose you think hedgehogs can fly? He’s not running anywhere, you stupid furball.” Carefully she cleared the snow from a smooth rock and guided Brokentail to it. He settled down with his blind face raised to the sun and sniffed the air.
“It’s a fine day,” Yellowfang murmured, curling her scrawny gray body close to his. Fireheart had never heard her sound so gentle. “Soon the snow will melt, and new-leaf will be here. Prey will be good and fat. You’ll feel better then.”
Listening, Fireheart recalled what no other cat knew—that Yellowfang was Brokentail’s mother. Even Brokentail himself didn’t know, and now he gave no sign that he had heard Yellowfang’s kind words. Fireheart winced at the pain in the medicine cat’s eyes. She had been forced to give Brokentail up when he was born because medicine cats were forbidden to have kits. And later she had blinded him to save her adopted Clan from the rogue cats’ attack.
But she still loved him, although she meant no more to him than any other cat in ThunderClan. Fireheart could almost have yowled in sympathy with her.
“I’ll have to tell Tigerclaw about this,” Darkstripe meowed fussily, pacing at the foot of the rock where the cats sat. “He didn’t give any orders to let the prisoner leave the camp.”
Stalking up to him, Fireheart pushed his muzzle into Darkstripe’s face. “Bluestar was Clan leader last time I looked,” he spat. “And who do you think she’s going to listen to—you or the medicine cat?”
Darkstripe reared up on his back legs, his lips drawn back to show his fangs. Behind him, Fireheart heard Brackenpaw hiss in alarm. He tensed, ready for the older warrior to strike, but before a fight could break out Yellowfang interrupted them with a furious growl.
“Stop this nonsense! What’s happened to Brackenpaw?” Her flattened face appeared over the edge of the rock, creased with worry.
“He was clawed by a badger,” Fireheart told her, with a last glare at Darkstripe.
The old medicine cat jumped down stiffly and inspected Brackenpaw’s leg, sniffing all along the wound. “You’ll live,” she grunted. “Go to my den. Cinderpaw’s there, and she’ll give you some herbs to press on that.”
“Thank you, Yellowfang,” Brackenpaw meowed, and limped off.
Fireheart followed, but before he entered the gorse tunnel he looked back. Yellowfang had climbed back onto the rock and was sitting with her flank pressed close against Brokentail, gently licking his fur. Fireheart could just hear her rasping the soft noises that a queen would make to her kits.
But Brokentail was as unresponsive as ever. He would not even turn to the she-cat and share tongues with her.
Sadly, Fireheart padded into the tunnel. There were few bonds stronger than the one between a mother and her kits. Yellowfang clearly still felt that bond, even after all the grief that Brokentail had caused—killing his father, destroying his own Clan with his bloodthirsty leadership, attacking ThunderClan with a band of rogue cats. But in one part of Yellowfang’s mind, he was still her kit.
So how, Fireheart wondered, had Mistyfoot and Stonefur been separated from their mother? Why had Oakheart brought them to RiverClan? And most of all, why had no ThunderClan cats tried to find them?
第八章
第八章
火心卧在育婴室里看着一堆正在吃奶的幼崽，想到这些小家伙们肩负着族群的未来，火心的心情激荡不已。
忽然，他心中一动。雷族并没有这么年幼的幼崽，他们是从哪里来的？他的目光从幼崽们的身上移向他们的妈妈，他们的妈妈面目模糊，只能看到一团银灰色的毛。
一阵恐怖的哭声把火心吓了一跳。他急忙看去，那只银灰色的母猫渐渐消失，只余下无尽的黑暗。幼崽们挤作一团，发出惊心动魄的哭闹声。一阵寒风吹来，育婴室里的温暖气息顿时荡然无存。幼崽们无助的哭声越来越弱，最后消失在寒风凛冽的黑夜中。火心跳起身，大声喊道：“我看不见你们，你们在哪里？”
接着，眼前出现一抹柔和的金光，火心看见面前站着一只猫，那些幼崽正偎依在她的身下。是斑叶！
火心张开嘴想要说话，却见她投来一瞥充满无限慈爱的目光，然后就不见了。火心猛地一惊，忽然发现自己躺在武士巢穴里四肢挥舞。
尘毛嘟囔说：“你非得闹出这么大的动静吗？所有的猫都被你搅得睡不着觉。”
火心坐起身，喃喃着说：“很抱歉。”他忍不住向巢穴中央虎掌睡觉的地方瞥了一眼。
以往火心做梦闹出动静时，虎掌也常口出怨言。
幸好虎掌不在，这让火心多少松了口气。太阳已高高升起来，阳光透过枝叶间的缝隙照射进来。火心急忙对自己进行舔梳，不想让尘毛看出自己被刚才的梦境吓着了。孤独、惊惧的幼崽，他们的妈妈渐渐消失，这是个预兆吗？如果是，那会是什么意思呢？现在族群里并没有幼崽。难道是雷族原来的幼崽——雾脚和石毛？他们的妈妈不见了吗？
就在他梳理的时候，尘毛瞅了他一眼，走出巢穴。巢穴内剩下火心，还有尚在酣睡的长尾和奔风。
灰条已不知去向。他的窝是凉的，应该是在黎明前出去的。火心寻思：又去和银溪会面了。他知道激情的力量，但仍为灰条担忧，同时又怀念往昔一起当学徒时的那段无忧无虑的时光。火心从巢穴里探出头，看见外面白茫茫的一片，没有任何冰消雪融的迹象。
沙风卧在荨麻丛旁正在吃饭。她高兴地招呼说：“早上好，火心。趁现在还有些猎物，想吃饭的话，就得抓紧些。”
火心正饿得心慌，就像一个月没有吃饭似的，急忙赶到猎物堆前。正如沙风所说，剩余的猎物寥寥可数。他拣了一只老鼠，回到荨麻丛旁和沙风一道进餐，边吃边说：“我们今天得打猎了。”
沙风说：“白风和鼠毛已经带着他们的徒弟走了。亮爪和刺爪简直一刻都不能等！”
火心不知道灰条是否也带着徒弟去了，但不一会儿，蕨爪便独自出现在学徒巢穴的门口。只见他四下里望了望，然后朝火心走了过来。
他问：“你们看见灰条了吗？”
火心耸了耸肩膀说：“对不起，我醒来时他就已经不见了。”
蕨爪沮丧地说：“他总是不在。如果一直这样，迅爪就要赶在我前面成为武士了——也许亮爪和刺爪也会先我而成为武士。”
火心说：“胡说。”灰条不顾大局，私自与银溪会面的事情令他感到十分生气，谁都没有权利像他这样误人子弟。“别担心，蕨爪。如果愿意，你能和我一同外出打猎。”
蕨爪说：“谢谢你。”看起来他情绪好了些。
沙风说：“我也去。”她咽下最后一口食物，伸舌头舔净下巴，当先领路向金雀花通道走去。
来到训练沙坑边上，火心说：“蕨爪，哪里是寻找猎物的最佳地点？”
蕨爪翘起尾巴指了指，回答说：“在树丛里。老鼠和松鼠都会去那里找坚果和树种吃。”
火心说：“很好，让我们看看你说得对不对。”
他们绕开沙坑向前走去，半路上遇到了纹脸，她正温柔地看着在雪地里撒泼打欢的孩子们。纹脸解释说：“他们需要舒展腿脚。”
云崽坐在紫杉下，郑重其事地向弟弟妹妹们介绍那些死亡浆果，告诫他们永远、永远不要去吃它们。火心朝他打了个招呼，心里暗暗觉得好笑。
树林里的积雪没有那么厚，棕色的土地斑驳陆离地点缀于茫茫白雪之中。前进过程中，火心听到爪子摩擦地面发出的沙沙声响，接着嗅到一股老鼠的气味。他没多想，立刻俯下身子摆出捕猎姿势向前靠近，落地时悄无声息，以免惊动猎物。那只老鼠对即将到来的横祸浑然不觉，背对着火心正在啃一粒树种。火心匍匐至咫尺之外时纵身跳起，两三个回合之后，带着猎物胜利回到伙伴身边。
沙风称赞说：“干得真漂亮。”
火心刨了些土盖住猎物，等回来时再取走。他说：“蕨爪，下面要看你的了。”
蕨爪自信满满地仰起头朝前走去，目光巡视左右。火心看见一片光秃秃的灌木丛中有一只黑鸟正在啄食浆果，不过这次他没有急于出手。
蕨爪几乎同时发现了那只黑鸟，于是悄悄接近猎物。他的屁股左右挪动调整姿态，准备跃起。火心在旁边观看，觉得他有些贻误战机。黑鸟有所察觉，振翅急飞。蕨爪奋力跃起，从半空中将它击落。
他一爪按住黑鸟，扭头望着火心，问道：“我算错了时间，等得过久了，是吗？”
火心回答说：“也许吧。不过别难过，你捉住它了，这才是最重要的。”
沙风说：“回去后，你可以把它送给老年猫们。”
蕨爪一听便高兴起来，说：“好的，我……”就在这时，沙坑方向传来凄惨的尖叫声。
火心急忙转身：“好像是幼崽的声音！”
三只猫朝着声音传来的方向一阵疾奔。冲出树林后，火心跑到沙坑边向下看。
沙风倒吸了口凉气：“我的天啊！”
在他们下方，赫然站着一只体态庞大的黑白相间的动物，火心嗅到一股獾的气味。在此之前，他虽然经常听到灌木丛里獾发出的沙沙声，但从未亲眼见过。此刻，它正伸出一只巨大的利爪往一道石缝中掏摸，云崽就躲在里面。
只听云崽惊声尖叫：“火心！救救我！”
火心热血上涌，朝坑内扑去，身体尤在半空，前爪便已张开。沙风和蕨爪紧随其后。
火心利爪起落，从獾的腹侧抓过，獾发出一声怒吼，转身反击。就在它将要咬住火心的一刹那间，蕨爪跳上獾背，抓伤了它的双眼。
此时，沙风也上前咬住了獾的后腿，獾顾不上火心和蕨爪，转过身一脚将沙风踢飞，踢得她在雪地里连打几个滚。
火心冲上前再次攻击獾的腹侧，只见血溅四处。獾连连发出怒吼，沙风站起身又要助阵，那只獾终究寡不敌众，只得转身逃走。
火心急忙探望云崽：“你受伤了吗？”
云崽浑身颤抖着从石缝中爬出，说：“没……没有。”
火心稍稍松了口气：“发生什么事了？纹脸在哪里？”
云崽趴在地上，头枕着爪子，惊魂未定地说：“不知道。我们原本在玩耍，转眼之间就看不到他们了。我想来找你们，然后那只獾……”
火心伸长脖子，舔了舔他以示安慰。沙风说：“火心，你看。”
火心扭过头，看见蕨爪侧躺在地上，后腿上有血汩汩冒出。
蕨爪强撑着站起来，说：“没什么事。”
沙风制止他说：“待在那里别动，我们看一看。”
火心跑过去检查伤口。令他欣慰的是，蕨爪腿上的伤口虽然很长但不深，血也渐渐止住。于是他说：“谢天谢地，你真幸运。是你将我从獾的利齿下救出，你表现得很勇敢，蕨爪。”
听了火心的夸赞，蕨爪双目放光，声音虚弱地说：“我并不是真的勇敢，当时没容我多想。”
沙风说：“即使是一名武士，也只能做到这样了。不过，大白天的，怎么会有一只獾跑出来呢？它们不是总是在夜间狩猎吗？”
火心猜测：“它们一定是像我们一样，饿得不行了。否则，它不会攻击像云崽这么大的猎物的。”他转过身，轻轻扶起云崽，说，“走吧，我们送你回营地。”
蕨爪被沙风扶着站起，在她的陪护下一瘸一拐地爬出沙坑，向营地走去。火心和云崽并肩走在后面。
一行猫走到营地外时，就看见纹脸冲了出来，发疯似的喊着云崽的名字。其他猫听见她撕心裂肺的呼号，纷纷跑了出来。火心一眼便看见了奔风和尘毛，接着，他看见虎掌也在迎出来的猫群中，心里一沉。
纹脸三步并作两步地跑到云崽身边，劈头盖脸地一阵舔舐，责备说：“你到哪里去了？
我到处在找你！你不该背着我偷偷溜走。”
云崽分辩说：“我没有！”
虎掌分开猫群走上前，问：“这是怎么回事？”
见到纹脸还在舔梳云崽蓬乱成一团的毛，火心只好将事情原委解释了一遍，最后说：“我们将那只獾赶走了，蕨爪表现得非常勇敢。”
自始至终，虎掌那双凶狠的眼睛都在瞪着他，但火心并不害怕，这次他没有理由感到心虚。
“蕨爪，你现在最好去黄牙那里让她检查一下腿。至于你——”虎掌转身逼视着云崽，“你在做什么，将自己置于那么危险的境地！你是不是以为除了营救你之外，武士们全都无事可做了？”
云崽乖乖地说：“对不起，虎掌。我不是故意的。”
“不是故意的！有谁教过你能不告而别吗？”
纹脸慈爱地看着云崽，目光转向虎掌，温和地替他分辩说：“他还是个孩子。”
虎掌怒容满面，大声吼道：“他闯的祸，比其他所有幼崽加起来的都多。应该教训教训他，好叫他以后能痛改前非，做些有用的事。”
火心心中不服，这件事根本不能怪云崽，他已经被吓坏了，这对他来说也算是个惩罚了。
虎掌继续说：“你可以去照顾那些老年猫们，清扫他们的脏窝，换些干净的苔藓，不许让他们饿着，还有，帮他们捉虱子。”
“虱子！”云崽愤怒地说，最后的一点儿恐惧也被抛到九霄云外，“我不干！他们为什么不自己捉虱子？”
虎掌瞪着他说：“因为他们都上了年纪。如果你还想成为学徒的话，你需要更多地了解族群的生活方式。马上行动，没有我的命令不许停下。”
云崽的双目简直要冒出火来，瞪着虎掌，一脸顽固不化的样子。但他没有再次出言顶撞，过了良久，方才转身朝金雀花通道走去。纹脸吁了口气，跟在他的身后。
“我总说，让宠物猫进入族群是个馊主意。”虎掌一边大声对尘毛说着，一边看着火心，似乎在故意激怒他。
火心不想再做无谓争执，移开目光，强抑住怒火，说：“走吧，蕨爪。我带你去找黄牙。”
沙风说：“我回去看看是否还能找到我们的猎物。我可不想让獾取走了！”说完，蹦蹦跳跳地跑上沟。火心远远道了声谢，带着蕨爪返回营地。蕨爪跛得厉害，已是疲惫不堪。
走近金雀花通道，火心惊讶地看见断尾在黄牙的陪伴下踉踉跄跄地走着。黑条和长尾在一旁监视着。
只听长尾抱怨说：“把他带出来，我们一定是疯了。如果他跑了怎么办？”
黄牙厉声说：“跑？我猜你大概以为刺猬还会飞吧？他哪儿都跑不了，你这蠢货。”她小心翼翼地拂去一块石头上的积雪，引着断尾走过去。断尾坐上岩石，仰脸对着太阳，嗅了嗅空气。
黄牙喃喃说：“天气不赖啊。”卷起身体卧在断尾旁边。火心从没有听过她那么轻柔的语气。“雪很快就要化啦，绿叶季就要到了，猎物会又肥又美，那时你会感觉好些。”
火心在一旁听着，忽然想起别的猫都不知道的事情——黄牙是断尾的母亲，即使是断尾也不知道这件事。因此，尽管黄牙语气温和，断尾却充耳不闻。黄牙神色痛苦。她生下断尾后，不得不将他抛弃，因为巫医是被禁止生育的。后来，她弄瞎了断尾的眼睛，从而使雷族免遭泼皮猫们的侵犯。
尽管黄牙一视同仁地对待断尾，但却仍深爱着这个儿子。火心不由得对她产生了深深的同情。
黑条在岩石下走来走去，大惊小怪地说：“我要把这件事向虎掌汇报，他没有下达任何命令允许这个囚犯走出营地。”
火心走上前，和他面贴面地说：“据我所知，蓝星才是族群的领导。你认为她是听你的话呢，还是会听巫医的话？”
黑条弯曲后腿，咧开嘴唇露出锋利的牙齿。火心听到身后传来蕨爪警惕的低嘶声。他全身戒备，等待这位资深武士发起攻击。就在双方一触即发的紧要关头，黄牙一声断喝。
“别干傻事了！蕨爪怎么了？”她从岩石上露出脸，担忧地皱紧眉头。
火心瞟了一眼黑条，告诉黄牙说：“他被一只獾抓伤了。”
黄牙急忙跳下岩石，将伤口从头到尾嗅了一遍，嘟囔着说：“放心吧，死不了。去巫医巢穴，炭爪在那里，她会给你些草药敷在上面。”
“谢谢你，黄牙。”蕨爪说着，一瘸一拐地走开了。
火心跟在后面，进入金雀花通道前，又回头瞅了一眼。只见黄牙回到岩石上，挨着断尾坐下，温柔地舔梳他身上的毛，嘴里发出母亲对孩子才有的那种软声细语。
不过断尾对此却无动于衷，甚至没有回过头帮助黄牙舔梳。
火心心情沉重地走进通道。再没有哪种关系能比母子之间的关系更加紧密了。虽然断尾丧心病狂——杀害亲生父亲，用残暴的统治毁了自己的族群，带领泼皮猫袭击雷族，但黄牙仍能感觉到那种母子间的亲情。在黄牙的心里，他仍旧是她的儿子。
火心暗想：既然这样，雾脚和石毛怎么会离开母亲呢？橡心为什么要将他们带回河族？最重要的是，为什么没有雷族的猫去寻找他们？
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 9
In Yellowfang’s den, Fireheart explained whathad happened while Cinderpaw inspected the gash on Brackenpaw’s leg and brought him a poultice to put on it.
“You’d better rest here tonight,” the gray she-cat told the apprentice. “But I’m pretty sure your leg will be good as new in a day or two.” She spoke cheerfully, without any bitterness that her own leg would never recover so well. Turning to Fireheart, she added, “I just had Cloudkit in here. He told me he had to go over the elders’ coats for ticks, so I gave him some mouse bile.”
“What’s that for?” asked Brackenpaw.
“If you put some on the ticks, they soon drop off,” Cinderpaw told him. Her blue eyes glimmered with amusement. “But don’t lick your paws afterward. It’s foul stuff.”
“I’m sure Cloudkit will enjoy doing that.” Fireheart grimaced. “It’s a pity that Tigerclaw had to punish him, though, because I don’t think it was his fault that the badger attacked him.”
Cinderpaw shrugged. “There’s no arguing with Tigerclaw.”
“That’s true,” Fireheart agreed. “Anyway, I think I’ll go and make sure that Cloudkit’s okay.”
As soon as he set paw in the elders’ den, his nose wrinkled against the reek of the mouse bile. Smallear was lying on one side while Cloudkit searched his gray fur for ticks. The elder twitched as Cloudkit dabbed some of the bile inside his hind leg. “Watch it, young kit! Keep your claws sheathed.”
“They are sheathed,” muttered Cloudkit, his face screwed up with disgust. “There, that’s got it. You’re done, Smallear.”
Dappletail, who had been watching intently, glanced around at Fireheart. “Your kin is very efficient, Fireheart,” she rasped. “No, Cloudkit,” she added as the kit started toward her, carrying the bile-soaked moss. “I’m sure I’ve no ticks. And I wouldn’t wake One-eye if I were you.” She nodded to where the old cat was sleeping, curled up beside the trunk of the fallen tree. “She won’t thank you for disturbing her.”
Cloudkit looked around hopefully. None of the other elders was there. “Can I go then?” he asked.
“You can see to One-eye later,” Fireheart meowed. “Meanwhile, you’d better get the dirty bedding out of here. Come on; I’ll help you.”
“And make sure the new lot’s dry!” growled Smallear.
Together Fireheart and Cloudkit raked out the old moss and heather and made several trips to carry it out of the camp. Fireheart showed Cloudkit how to clean the mouse bile from his paws by rubbing them in the snow. “Now we’ll go and fetch some fresh moss,” he meowed. “Come on. I know a good place.”
“I’m tired,” Cloudkit complained as he trailed after Fireheart. “I don’t want to do this.”
“Well, too bad, you have to,” Fireheart retorted. “Cheer up; it could be worse. Did I tell you that when I was an apprentice I had to look after Yellowfang all on my own?”
“Yellowfang!” Cloudkit’s eyes widened. “Phew, I bet she was a grump! Did she claw you?”
“Only with her tongue,” Fireheart replied. “And that’s sharp enough!”
Cloudkit let out a short purr of laughter. To Fireheart’s relief, he stopped complaining, and when they came to the patch of deep moss he did his share of digging it out of the snow, and copied Fireheart as he showed him how to shake the worst of the moisture off
They were returning to the camp, their jaws laden with moss, when Fireheart saw a cat slip out of the gorse tunnel and bound up the side of the ravine. The massive body and striped pelt were unmistakable. It was Tigerclaw.
Fireheart narrowed his eyes. The deputy had looked almost furtive, peering around before he left the tunnel and disappearing over the lip of the ravine as fast as possible. Fireheart felt uneasy. Something wasn’t quite right.
“Cloudkit,” he meowed, dropping his wad of moss on the ground, “take your load of bedding in to the elders, and then come back for mine. There’s something I’ve got to do.”
Cloudkit mewed in agreement through his mouthful of moss and carried on toward the tunnel. Fireheart turned and raced back up the slope to the place where Tigerclaw had disappeared.
The Clan deputy was out of sight, but between his scent trail and the massive pawprints in the snow, Fireheart had no difficulty following him. He took care not to catch up, in case Tigerclaw saw or smelled him.
The trail led unwaveringly through Tallpines, past Treecutplace. Fireheart realized with a jolt that Tigerclaw had to be heading for Twolegplace. His heart lurched with fear. Was the deputy on his way to find Princess, Fireheart’s sister? Maybe he was so angry with Cloudkit that he wanted to hurt the kit’s mother. Fireheart had never told the Clan exactly where Princess lived, but it wouldn’t be impossible for Tigerclaw to pick up her scent from his knowledge of Cloudkit’s. He kept low, careful to move silently. As the trail wound through a clump of gorse, movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was a mouse, scuffling under one of the bushes.
Fireheart did not want to stop and hunt, but this mouse was practically begging to be caught. Instinctively his body dropped into a hunting crouch as he crept up on the prey. His pounce landed him squarely on top of it, and he took a moment longer to bury it in the snow before he began to follow Tigerclaw again. Fireheart moved more quickly now, afraid of what the deputy might have done in the time he had delayed.
As he rounded the stump of a fallen tree, he practically collided with Tigerclaw himself, loping along in the opposite direction.
The deputy reared back in surprise. “Mouse-brain!” he hissed. “What are you doing here?”
Fireheart’s first reaction was one of relief. Tigerclaw hadn’t possibly had time to reach Twolegplace and harm Princess already. Then he realized that the deputy was glaring at him with a look of deep suspicion in his amber eyes. He mustn’t know I was following him, Fireheart thought desperately.
“I…I came out to show Cloudkit a good place to find bedding,” he stammered. “And then I thought I might as well hunt for a bit.”
“I don’t see any prey,” growled Tigerclaw.
“It’s buried just back there.” Fireheart jerked his head in the direction he had come.
The warrior narrowed his eyes. “Show me.”
Furious that Tigerclaw didn’t believe him, but also deeply relieved at the luck that had led him to catch prey, Fireheart led the way back along the trail and scraped the snow away from the mouse he had just buried. “Satisfied?”
The Clan deputy frowned at him. Fireheart could almost read his thoughts; he was dying to blame Fireheart for something, but couldn’t manage it this time.
At last he grunted, “Get on with it, then.” He dipped his head to pick up Fireheart’s mouse and marched off in the direction of the camp.
Fireheart watched him go, and then started running along the trail again, toward Twolegplace. He could at least find out where Tigerclaw had been. He swiveled his ears backward from time to time; he wouldn’t put it past Tigerclaw to turn back and follow him, but he heard nothing, and gradually he began to relax.
Tigerclaw’s scent trail came to an end near the fences that enclosed the Twoleg territory. Fireheart walked back and forth under the trees, studying the ground. The snow was churned up by the marks of many paws—too many for him to read. There were many strange scents, too. Several cats had been here, and recently.
Fireheart wrinkled his nose in disgust. The cat scents were muddled up with those of long-dead prey and the stink of Twoleg rubbish. Except for Tigerclaw’s own scent, it was impossible to identify any of them. Thinking deeply, Fireheart sat washing his paws. There was no way of telling whether Tigerclaw had met these unknown cats, or whether he had just crossed their trail. He was about to set off for camp again when he heard a meow from behind him.
“Fireheart! Fireheart!”
Springing to his paws, he whirled around. Sitting on the fence at the end of her Twoleg garden was his sister, Princess. Instantly Fireheart raced across to the fence and leaped up beside her.
Princess broke into a deep, throaty purr and rubbed the side of her face against his. “Fireheart, you’re so thin!” she exclaimed, pulling away from him. “Are you getting enough to eat?”
“No, nor is any cat in the Clan,” Fireheart admitted. “Prey is scarce in this weather.”
“Are you hungry now?” his sister asked. “There’s a bowl of food in my Twolegs’ nest. You can have it if you like.”
For a couple of heartbeats Fireheart was tempted. His mouth watered at the thought of filling his belly with food he hadn’t had to catch first. But common sense won. He couldn’t possibly return to camp with Twoleg scents all over him, and the warrior code forbade him to eat before feeding the rest of the Clan. “Thanks, Princess, but I can’t,” he meowed.
“I hope you’re feeding Cloudkit,” Princess mewed anxiously. “I’ve been watching for you for days, so you can tell me how he is.”
“He’s doing well,” Fireheart replied. “He’ll be made an apprentice soon.”
Princess’s eyes shone with pride, and Fireheart felt a prickle of uncertainty in his fur. He knew how much it meant to his sister to have given her firstborn to the Clan. There was no way he could let her have any doubts about how the kit was settling into Clan life. “Cloudkit’s strong and brave,” he told her. “And intelligent.” And nosey, spoiled, disrespectful, he added to himself. But surely Cloudkit would learn soon enough, when he grew used to Clan ways. “I’m sure he’ll make a fine warrior,” he meowed.
Princess purred. “Of course he will, with you to teach him.”
Fireheart’s ears twitched with embarrassment. Princess thought he found it easy being a warrior. She didn’t know the problems he had inside the Clan, or how difficult it was to decide what was the right thing to do when he discovered things that affected the Clan.
“I’d better go,” he mewed. “I’ll come to visit you again soon. And when newleaf comes, I’ll bring Cloudkit with me.” He gave Princess an affectionate lick in farewell and left her purring even harder at the thought of seeing her beloved kit again.
Fireheart padded back along Tigerclaw’s scent trail, keeping a lookout for prey as he went. After telling Tigerclaw he was hunting, he knew he had better return to camp with a respectable catch. Gradually he became aware of an unfamiliar sound. He had to pause and think before he realized what it was. Somewhere, water was dripping. Glancing around, he saw a silver globule bulging at the end of a thorn twig. The droplet swelled and glittered in the sunlight before falling to melt a tiny hole in the snow.
Fireheart raised his head. The patter of water was all around him now, and a warm breeze ruffled his fur. With a surge of joy he realized that the harsh season of leaf-bare was drawing to an end. Soon newleaf would come, and prey would be plentiful again. The thaw had begun!
第九章
第九章
在巫医巢穴里，火心将事情的经过娓娓道来，炭爪一边听着，一边检查蕨爪的腿伤，用蛛丝填充伤口。
她高兴地对蕨爪说：“今晚你最好就在这里休息。我敢保证，你的腿在一两天之后就能恢复得完好如初。”她丝毫没有因为自己的腿再也不能完全恢复而感到难过。她转头对火心说：“刚才云崽来过，告诉我他要帮老年猫们捉虱子，我给了他一些老鼠胆汁。”
蕨爪问：“那是做什么用的？”
炭爪眼里蕴涵着笑意，告诉他：“滴一些老鼠胆汁，虱子们就会从身上掉落下来。但完事后不要舔爪子，会很臭的。”
火心做了个鬼脸，说：“云崽一定乐此不疲。不过，可惜的是他受到了虎掌的惩罚，这件事并不是他的错。”
炭爪耸了耸肩膀说：“没必要和虎掌争论。”
火心同意道：“那倒是。不管怎么说，我得去看看云崽怎么样了。”
刚一踏进老年猫巢穴，扑面而来的一股老鼠胆汁的恶臭，令火心几欲窒息。云崽正在小耳的灰毛里扒拉着找虱子，他将老鼠胆汁涂在小耳的后腿上，小耳回头呵斥：“小心点儿，小家伙！别伸出爪子。”
云崽的脸因为恶心而皱成一团，嘟囔说：“收着爪子呢，不信你看！搞定了，小耳。”
一直在旁边饶有兴趣地观看的斑尾见火心进来了，用她那苍老的声音说：“你的外甥办事效率很高，火心。”云崽带着蘸满老鼠胆汁的苔藓正要过来帮她捉虱子，她急忙说：“不用了，云崽，我没有虱子。而且，如果我是你，就不会去打扰一只眼的好梦。她可不会为此领你的情。”说完，她的目光瞄向正倒头酣睡的一只眼。
云崽怀着希望环顾了一下四周：这里没有别的猫了。他问：“既然如此，我可以走了吗？”
火心说：“你可以迟些时候再来照顾一只眼。现在，你最好把这些脏窝挪出去。开始吧，我帮你。”
小耳大声说：“新换的苔藓务必要干燥！”
火心和云崽一道将旧苔藓和干草挪出巢穴，捆成小捆后带出营地。火心教云崽如何在雪地里蹭爪子以清除爪子上的老鼠胆汁。他说：“我们现在去找些新苔藓吧。跟我来，我知道有个好地方。”
跟随在火心身后的云崽抱怨说：“我累了，不想干。”
火心说：“是吗？很不幸，你必须做。打起精神，否则更不愿意做了。我告诉过你没有，当我还是学徒时，我曾独自照顾过黄牙。”
云崽的眼睛一下子睁大了：“黄牙！哇呜，我打赌她的脾气一定很坏！你没有挨揍吧？”
火心回答说：“她只动嘴不动爪，不过，骂我的话很难听！”
云崽哈哈大笑。看到他不再抱怨，火心松了口气。两只猫来到被积雪覆盖的苔藓堆，火心扒开积雪，拽了一把苔藓出来。云崽学着他的样子，将潮湿的部分从中抖落。
两只猫衔着苔藓返回营地，这时，火心看到一个猫影在金雀花通道入口处一闪，转眼便跳上了沟。那只猫体态雄壮，身上有条纹。是虎掌！
火心眯起眼睛。虎掌的样子鬼鬼祟祟，四处望了望，没有发现任何动静后，方才以最快的速度消失在沟外。火心疑心大起，总感觉有些不对劲。
他放下口中的苔藓，说：“云崽，把你的带回到老年猫巢穴，然后回来取我的这些。我还有些事要做。”
云崽含着苔藓应了一声，继续向金雀花通道走去。火心转过身，朝虎掌消失的方向奔了过去。
虎掌已不见踪影，但有气味留存，雪地里也留下了他宽大的脚印，因此跟踪起来并不是件难事。火心小心翼翼，不敢过于靠近，以免被虎掌看见或嗅到气味。
虎掌的踪迹径直穿过木料场和松林。令火心震惊的是，虎掌竟然是往两脚兽的地盘而去。他隐隐感到害怕：虎掌是去找自己的姐姐公主吗？也许是因为他痛恨云崽，因而迁怒于云崽的妈妈。虽然火心从未向族群透露过公主的住处，但对于虎掌来说，通过云崽身上的气味找到公主的踪迹并不是件不可能的事。火心压低身体，行走时更加谨慎。他跟踪虎掌的行迹穿过一片金雀花时，感到有什么东西在动，抬眼一看，原来是一只老鼠。
火心本不想节外生枝，但这只老鼠实在是送到嘴边的美味，于是，他不由自主地俯下身子向老鼠匍匐过去，弹跳之间已是胜券在握。他花了些时间将老鼠埋在雪里，料理停当后方才继续上路。经过这次耽搁，火心加快脚步，生怕虎掌在这段时间里已然得手。
他绕过一棵倒在地上的大树桩时，冷不丁和反向归来的虎掌撞了个满怀。
虎掌吓了一跳，后腿站立，低嘶着说：“蠢货！你在这里干什么？”
火心的第一反应是松了口气：虎掌不可能在这么短的时间内到达两脚兽的地盘伤害公主，然后打个来回。接着，他意识到这位副族长正盯着自己，眼里充满怀疑的目光。火心想：他一定不知道我在跟踪他。
于是他结结巴巴地说：“我……我带云崽去一个能找到苔藓的地方。事后，我想应该再捉些猎物回去。”
虎掌说：“我没有看见任何猎物。”
火心朝来的方向探了探头，说：“猎物就埋在那里。”
虎掌眯缝起眼睛：“让我看一下。”
虽然火心对虎掌不信任自己而感到生气，但同时他又为早先埋下的伏笔而暗自庆幸。
火心回到老路，扒开堆在那只老鼠身上的积雪说：“满意了吗？”
虎掌皱起了眉头。火心清楚他此刻在想些什么：他本想找火心的碴儿，但这次未能如愿。
最后虎掌嘟囔了一句：“既然这样，你就继续捕猎吧。”说完，低下头衔起老鼠朝营地走去。
火心目送他离开后，方才循着踪迹又向两脚兽的地盘跑去。至少他能发现虎掌到底去了哪里。他时不时扭过耳朵，几经确认虎掌没有转回跟踪时，才渐渐放下心来。
虎掌的气味一直通向环抱两脚兽地盘的围篱处。火心来回巡查，琢磨着这块地方。这里的雪地上到处是猫的爪印——爪印太多以致无法辨认。空气中还弥漫着许多猫的气味。
显然，不久之前一些猫曾在此地停留过。
火心皱起鼻子，感觉有些恶心。这些猫的气味中夹杂着猎物的腐臭味和两脚兽丢弃的垃圾的刺鼻气味。除了虎掌的气味，根本无法辨认出这些气味究竟属于谁。他心事重重地坐下舔爪子，想不透虎掌是来这里会见这群陌生的猫呢，还是仅仅路过而已。他正要返回营地，突然身后传来声音。
“火心！火心！”
火心跳起来转身看去，看见他的姐姐公主赫然坐在两脚兽花园尽头处的围栏上。他急忙跑过去跳上围栏。
公主蹭着他的面颊，嘴里发出高兴的呜呜声。一番亲密过后，公主退后两步，惊叫道：“火心，你怎么变得这么瘦了！是不是吃不饱饭呀？”
火心承认说：“是的，大伙儿都吃不饱肚子。这种天气里，猎物很稀少。”
公主问：“你现在饿吗？我家里还有食物，想吃的话我给你拿过来。”
火心有些心动。想到不必捕食就能填饱肚子，他的口水差点儿流了出来。但理智终归战胜了欲望。他决不能带着一身两脚兽的气味回到营地去，而且，先于大家偷食也是武士守则所禁止的。于是他说：“谢谢你，公主。不过我不能吃。”
公主担心地说：“希望你别让云崽饿着。这些天我一直在等你，快告诉我他现在的情况如何。”
火心回答说：“他表现得很好，很快就能成为学徒了。”
公主的眼里立刻充满了骄傲的眼神，火心则感到有些不安。他知道，姐姐将长子送进族群，对他抱有很高的期望。因此，他决不能让姐姐对云崽的族群生活产生疑虑。他说：“云崽长得很结实，而且智勇双全。”暗自想：而且还吵闹不休，破坏东西，目无尊长。不过，云崽一旦适应了族群生活，绝对学得很快。他说：“我敢肯定，他必将成为一名优秀的武士。”
公主乐呵呵地说：“当然了，有你在教导他嘛。”
火心的双耳尴尬地扭了扭。公主以为他这个武士当得很惬意，却不知道他在族群内所面临的问题，也不知道当他发现那些对族群影响深远的事情后，要想做出正确的决定是多么的困难。
他说：“我得走了，很快我会再来看你。到了绿叶季，我就带云崽一起来。”他深情地舔了一下公主的肩膀，公主想到即将见到爱子，更是心情欢愉。
火心循着虎掌的气味原路返回，路上不停地寻找猎物。既然告诉虎掌出来打猎，回到营地时就得带上像样的猎物才行。不知不觉中，一种陌生的声音越来越响。他停下脚步，想了片刻后才意识到这是什么声音。是水滴滴落的声音。环顾四周，一根荆棘的枝头末端悬着一颗晶莹透亮的水珠。水珠在阳光下闪耀着七色光彩，越来越饱满，最后掉落在雪地里，和着冰雪融化成一个小洞。
火心抬起头。四周到处都悬挂着这种水珠，这时，一股暖风扑面而来。他内心充满了喜悦。冰雪已经开始消融！艰苦的落叶季即将过去，绿叶季正在拉开序幕，猎物会再次丰富起来。
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 10
Back in the camp, Fireheart spottedBluestar leaving the nursery. Quickly he dropped his catch on the pile of fresh-kill and padded over to her.
“Yes, Fireheart, what is it?” the leader asked. Her voice was calm, but with a sinking feeling, Fireheart knew that the lack of warmth meant she had not forgiven him for asking about the missing ThunderClan kits.
He lowered his head respectfully. “Bluestar, I was hunting near Twolegplace, and—”
“Why there?” Bluestar interrupted. “Sometimes I think you spend too much time near Twolegplace, Fireheart.”
“I—I just thought there might be prey there,” Fireheart stammered. “Anyway, while I was there, I smelled some strange cats.”
At once Bluestar was alert; her ears flicked up and she fixed her eyes intently on Fireheart. “How many cats? What Clan were they from?”
“I’m not sure how many,” Fireheart admitted. “Five or six at least. But they didn’t have the scent of any Clan.” He wrinkled his nose as he remembered. “They smelled of crowfood, which made me sure they weren’t kittypets.”
Bluestar looked thoughtful, and to Fireheart’s relief her hostility toward him seemed to ebb away. “How recent was the scent?” she asked.
“Quite recent. But I didn’t see any cats there.” Except Tigerclaw, he added silently. But Fireheart decided not to tell Bluestar that part of the story. The leader was in no mood to listen to any more accusations against her deputy, and he had no evidence anyway that Tigerclaw had had anything to do with the unknown cats.
“Rogues from the Twolegplace, perhaps?” Bluestar guessed. “Thank you, Fireheart. I’ll tell the patrols to keep a lookout when they go that way. I don’t suppose they’re any threat to ThunderClan, but we can’t be too careful.”
Fireheart padded toward the camp with a vole clamped firmly in his jaws. The sun shone from a brilliantly blue sky, and already, two days after his meeting with Princess, most of the snow was gone. Buds were swelling and a mist of tiny green leaves was beginning to cover the trees. More important, prey was reappearing in the forest. Already it was easier to replenish the pile of fresh-kill, and for the first time in moons the Clan was full-fed.
Fireheart arrived in the clearing to find the queens raking old bedding out of the nursery. When he had dropped his prey on the pile of fresh-kill, he went across to give them a hand, pleased to see that Cloudkit was helping too.
“I’m going to show the other kits the good moss place!” the kit mewed proudly as he staggered past with a load of bedding.
“Good idea,” Fireheart agreed. He’d noticed that even after Tigerclaw relieved him of his duties with the elders, Cloudkit had gone on helping. Maybe at last the kit was feeling some spark of loyalty toward his adopted Clan. “Watch out for badgers, though!”
Just then he saw Goldenflower emerge from the nursery, pushing a ball of soiled moss in front of her. Her belly was round with the weight of the kits she was carrying.
“Hello, Fireheart,” she meowed. “Isn’t it great to see the sun again?”
Fireheart gave the queen’s shoulder a friendly lick. “Soon it’ll be newleaf,” he mewed. “Just in time for your kits. If you—” He broke off and spun around as he heard Tigerclaw’s voice behind him, speaking his name.
“Fireheart, if you’ve nothing better to do than stand gossiping with the queens, I have a job for you.”
Fireheart bit back an angry response. He’d been hunting all morning, and paused for only a few moments to talk to Goldenflower.
“I want you to take a patrol along the border of RiverClan,” the deputy went on. “No cat has been that way for a few days, and now the snow has gone we need to renew the scent markings. And make sure no RiverClan cats are hunting in our territory. If they are, you know what to do!”
“Yes, Tigerclaw,” Fireheart mewed. Hedgehogs must be growing wings, he thought, if Tigerclaw had chosen him to lead a patrol! Then he realized that Tigerclaw was too clever to behave hostilely toward him in public. The deputy would be careful to treat him just the same as any other Clan warrior, in case Bluestar noticed.
But I still don’t trust you! Fireheart thought. Aloud he meowed, “Whom shall I take with me?”
“Any cat you like. Or do you need me to hold your paw?” Tigerclaw added with a sneer.
“No, Tigerclaw.” By now Fireheart could barely keep his tongue curbed; he would have loved to swipe a claw over the deputy’s scarred muzzle. He mewed a hasty good-bye to Goldenflower, and headed for the warriors’ den. Sandstorm was there, lying on her side and energetically washing, while Graystripe and Runningwind shared tongues nearby.
“Who’s up for a patrol?” Fireheart called. “Tigerclaw wants us to check the RiverClan border.”
Graystripe scrambled to his paws right away at the mention of RiverClan, while Runningwind got up more slowly. Sandstorm paused in her washing and looked up at Fireheart. “Just when I was hoping for a bit of peace,” she complained. “I’ve been hunting since dawn.” But her tone was good-humored, not remotely as unfriendly as she was when he had first arrived in the Clan, Fireheart thought, and almost at once she got up and shook herself. “All right,” she mewed. “Lead on.”
“What about Brackenpaw?” Fireheart asked Graystripe. “Do you want to bring him along?”
“Whitestorm and Mousefur took the apprentices out,” Runningwind explained. “All of the apprentices—more fool them! They’re hunting fresh-kill for the elders.”
Fireheart led the way out of the camp, feeling a tingle in his paws as he leaped up the side of the ravine. It felt like moons since he’d had a good run without snow to freeze his paws off, and he wanted to stretch his muscles. “We’ll head for the Sunningrocks,” he meowed, “and then follow the border up to Fourtrees.”
He set a brisk pace through the trees, but not so fast that he failed to notice the brilliant green fronds of new bracken beginning to unfurl, or the first pale buds of primroses pushing out of their green coverings. Birdsong filled the air, and the fresh scent of growing things.
He slowed down to a walk as the patrol approached the edge of the forest. Ahead of him he could hear the sound of the river, free at last from its bonds of ice. “We’re almost at the border,” he meowed quietly. “From here on we have to keep alert. There may be RiverClan cats about.”
Graystripe stopped and opened his jaws to drink in scent from the breeze. “I can’t smell any,” he reported. Fireheart wondered if he was disappointed that Silverstream wasn’t nearby. “Besides, they’ll have plenty of prey now that the river’s unfrozen,” Graystripe added. “Why should they come and steal ours?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past RiverClan,” growled Runningwind. “They’d steal the fur off your back if you didn’t keep an eye on them.”
Fireheart saw Graystripe beginning to bristle. “Come on, then,” he meowed hastily, trying to distract his friend before he said something that gave away his divided loyalties. “Let’s go.” He raced away through the last of the trees and burst out onto open ground. What he saw there brought him skidding to a halt, and the memory of his dream crashed into his mind like a thunderclap.
In front of the cats, the land sloped gently down to the river—or what had been the river. Swelled by the melting snow, the fast-flowing water had burst the banks and risen until it lapped the grass barely a rabbit-length from Fireheart’s paws. The tips of reeds just showed above it; farther upstream, the Sunningrocks were gray islands in the midst of a shimmering silver lake.
The thaw had certainly come, but now the river was in full flood.
第十章
第十章
回到营地时，火心看见蓝星正从育婴室里往外走。他急忙将猎物放在猎物堆上，三步并作两步赶了过去。
蓝星见状问他：“火心，有事吗？”声音平静，却很冷淡。火心知道她还在为自己询问那两只雷族幼崽的事情而生气。
他尊敬地低下头，说：“蓝星，我刚才在两脚兽地盘的附近打猎……”
蓝星截断他的话头，说：“为什么去那里？有时我觉得你在两脚兽的地盘里花的时间过多了，火心。”
火心结结巴巴地说：“我……我只是认为那里猎物可能会多些。总而言之，当我到那里的时候，嗅到了一些陌生猫的气味。”
蓝星一下子警觉了起来，两耳竖立，眼睛死死盯着火心：“猫数多少？哪个族的？”
火心老老实实地说：“我不知道具体数量，至少有五六只吧。不过，他们的气味不是四大猫族的。”他皱着鼻子回忆说，“那是一种腐肉的气味，因此我敢肯定，他们也不是宠物猫。”
蓝星陷入了沉思。令火心感到安慰的是，她的敌意渐渐消退。蓝星问：“气味的新旧程度如何？”
“很新。但我没有见到他们。”他心里暗想，除了见到虎掌以外。但他决定不把这些情况向蓝星和盘托出，蓝星不想听到任何对她的副族长不利的消息，而且他也没有任何证据证明虎掌和这件事有关。
蓝星说：“也许是些两脚兽地盘里的流浪猫吧！谢谢你，火心。我会让巡逻队对此事留个心眼儿的。不过，我们也不必对此过于在意，我想他们还不会对族群形成什么威胁。”
火心叼着一只水老鼠返回营地。艳阳高照，碧空万里。自从和公主会面以来，已经两天过去了，大部分的积雪均已融化，万物复苏，枝头吐出新芽，绿意渐浓。更重要的是，猎物重又出现在丛林里，要堆满猎物堆已不是难事。数月以来，族群头一次不再为能不能吃饱的事犯愁。
火心来到会场时，看见母猫们正忙着将旧的垫草推出育婴室。他将猎物放在猎物堆上后，过去相助，此时竟然看到云崽也在帮忙，这让他很高兴。
云崽摇摇晃晃正在往外推一堆垫草，见到火心立刻骄傲地说：“我正要指点其他的幼崽们去那个有许多苔藓的地方！”
火心赞同说：“好主意。”虽然虎掌已经免除了云崽照顾老年猫的任务，但他仍坚持帮忙。也许这个小家伙终于对忠诚二字有所领悟。火心说：“留神有獾！”
这时，金花出现在育婴室门口，正往外推一团污秽的苔藓。她怀有身孕，腹部鼓鼓囊囊的。
她说：“你好，火心。又见到太阳真好，不是吗？”
火心友好地舔了一下她的肩膀说：“绿叶季就快要到了，你也快要生了。如果……”这时他听到虎掌在身后喊他的名字。
“火心，如果你无所事事，只会站在那里扯闲话的话，我倒有一个任务交给你。”
火心立刻起了无名火。整整一早上，他都在打猎，此时才刚有些喘息的时间和金花聊聊天。
虎掌继续说：“我要你带领一支巡逻队沿着河族边界巡视。最近几天，还没有猫去过那里。如今雪化了，我们需要重新标出气味标记，顺便看看有没有河族猫来我们领地里捕猎。如果发现他们，你知道该怎么做！”
火心说：“是，虎掌。”暗想，虎掌竟然让他领队，太阳真是从西边出来了！随即他意识到，不在公开场合显露敌意，正是虎掌的聪明之处。他精心安排，对待火心和族里其他的猫一样，以防被蓝星察觉出异常。
火心想：不过我仍然不信任你！他大声说：“那么，我都带谁去？”
“随你的便。”虎掌接着讥笑了一声，“你不是想让我对你指手画脚吧？”
“不，虎掌。”火心竭力抑制住冲动，他真想在虎掌布满爪痕的口鼻部再添上那么一道。和金花道了声再见，他便赶往武士巢穴。沙风正躺在里面，精神十足地为自己舔梳，灰条和奔风则在一旁相互舔梳。
火心喊道：“谁想外出巡逻？虎掌要我们巡查河族边界。”
提到河族，灰条爬起来，奔风也慢腾腾地站起来。沙风停住嘴下的活儿，抬头看着火心说：“就不能让我安静一会儿，早上起来后我一直在打猎。”虽然口中抱怨，语气却很友善，远不是火心初来乍到那会儿受到的那种无礼对待。她站起来，抖了抖身体，说：“好了，领路吧。”
火心问灰条：“蕨爪能去吗？你要带他出去吗？”
奔风解释说：“白风和鼠毛带领学徒们出去了，是所有的学徒——他们更傻！出去为老年猫们捕猎。”
火心带着巡逻队出发了。跳上沟时，地面有些扎脚。积雪融化之后，脚步不再打滑，奔跑起来十分畅快，可以好好活动一下久困的肌肉了。火心说：“我们先去太阳石，然后顺着边界到‘四棵树’。”
一行猫在丛林间疾行。蕨木新枝上的绿叶已经舒展开来，迎春花吐出的灰芽也泛出片片绿意，小鸟在欢歌，万物生发，春意盎然。
行进至丛林边缘时，火心减慢步伐。前方传来潺潺流水声，原来河水已经冲破了坚冰的禁锢。火心小声说：“快到边界了。从现在开始我们要保持高度警惕，附近也许有河族猫。”
灰条停下脚步，张开嘴嗅了嗅空气，报告说：“我没有嗅到任何河族的气味。”火心怀疑他是否因银溪不在附近而有些失望。灰条继续说：“况且，附近河流解冻，他们有了足够的猎物，为什么还来偷猎我们的？”
奔风大声说：“对于河族的作风我可不敢恭维。如果你不留神，他们连你身上的皮毛都会偷走。”
灰条勃然变色。火心见状生怕灰条在情急之下出言不逊，令别的猫察觉出他怀有二心，急忙岔开话题说：“好了，我们赶路吧。”他奔出树林来到开阔地面。眼前的情形令他大吃一惊，他急忙刹住脚步。梦里的景象犹如一道霹雳闪过，刹那间浮现在他的心头。
众猫面前的地面缓缓沉降入河。冰雪消融致使河水大涨，湍急的河流漫过两岸，拍打着高度没膝的草地。河里的芦苇才刚好能露出水面。上游处，太阳石变成了一块被银光闪耀的河面环抱的灰色小岛。
冰雪确实融化了，但河流也因此形成了洪水。
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 11
“Great StarClan!” breathed Sandstorm.
The other two cats grunted in agreement, but Fireheart was speechless with horror. He had instantly recognized the shining expanse of water, and now he recalled Spottedleaf’s ominous words: “Water can quench fire.”
Fear chilled him as he struggled to understand how this flood could threaten his Clan, so that he was hardly aware of Graystripe trying to attract his attention until the big gray cat pressed up close to his side. Panic flared in Graystripe’s amber eyes, and Fireheart didn’t need to ask why. His friend was afraid for Silverstream.
The land was lower on the RiverClan bank, so the floodwaters could spread much farther. As for the camp on the island…Fireheart wondered how much of that was underwater. He had grown to like Silverstream in spite of his concerns, and he felt a grudging respect for Mistyfoot and Graypool, too. He didn’t want to imagine them driven out of their camp, or worse, drowned.
Runningwind had padded right to the water’s edge and was gazing out across the river. “RiverClan isn’t going to like this,” he remarked. “And a good thing, too. It’ll keep them off our territory.”
Fireheart felt Graystripe tense at the note of satisfaction in Runningwind’s voice. He shot his friend a warning glance. “Well, we can’t patrol the border now,” he pointed out. “We’d better get back to camp and report this. Come on, Graystripe,” he added firmly, seeing the warrior look once more with anguish across the swollen river.
As soon as Bluestar heard the news she leaped to the top of the Highrock and gave the familiar call: “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting.”
At once cats began to pour out of their dens and into the clearing. Fireheart took his place at the front of the crowd, noticing with a prickle of annoyance that Cloudkit had come bouncing along after Brindleface, although he was too young to attend the meeting. He saw Yellowfang and Cinderpaw listening from the mouth of the fern tunnel. Even Brokentail emerged from his den, nudged along by Mousefur.
The bright morning was coming to an end. Clouds were massing to cover the face of the sun, and the gentle breeze had strengthened until a stiff wind blew across the clearing, flattening the fur of the cats who crouched around the Highrock. Fireheart shivered, and didn’t know whether it was from cold or apprehension.
“Cats of ThunderClan,” meowed Bluestar. “Our camp may be in danger. The snow has gone, but the river has burst its banks. Part of our territory is already flooded.”
A chorus of dismay rose from the Clan, but Bluestar raised her voice above the yowls. “Fireheart, tell the Clan what you have seen.”
Fireheart stood up and described how the river had overflowed near the Sunningrocks.
“It doesn’t sound that dangerous to us,” meowed Darkstripe when he had finished. “We have plenty of territory left for prey. Let RiverClan worry about the floods.”
A murmur of approval broke out, although Fireheart noticed that Tigerclaw stayed silent. He sat at the base of the Highrock, motionless except for the twitching tip of his tail.
“Silence!” spat Bluestar. “The water could spread here before we know it. Something like this is bigger than Clan rivalry. I don’t want to hear that any RiverClan cats have died from these floods.”
Fireheart noticed a hot glow in her eyes as she spoke, as if her words meant more than she had said. Puzzled, he remembered how angry Bluestar had been with him for speaking to RiverClan warriors; yet now her strength of feeling suggested a current of sympathy running deep within her.
Patchpelt spoke up from among the elders. “I remember the last time the river overflowed, many moons ago. Cats from all Clans drowned. Prey drowned, too, and we went hungry even though our paws stayed dry. This is not just RiverClan’s problem.”
“Well said, Patchpelt,” meowed Bluestar. “I remember those days, too, and I hoped I would never have to see such times again. But since it has happened, these are my orders: No cat is to go out alone. Kits and apprentices must not leave the camp without at least one warrior. Patrols will go out to discover how far the floods reach—Tigerclaw, see to it.”
“Yes, Bluestar,” meowed the deputy. “I’ll send out hunting patrols, too. We must build up a stock of prey before the water rises any farther.”
“Good idea,” agreed Bluestar. She raised her voice again to address the whole Clan. “The meeting is over. Go to your duties.” She leaped down lightly from the Highrock and padded across to talk with Patchpelt and the other elders.
Fireheart was waiting to see if Tigerclaw would choose him for a patrol when he noticed Graystripe edging away from the circle of cats. Fireheart headed after him, and caught up just as he broke for the gorse tunnel. “Where do you think you’re going?” he hissed in the gray warrior’s ear. “Bluestar just said that no cat should go out alone.”
Graystripe turned a panicky look on him. “Fireheart, I have to see Silverstream,” he protested. “I have to be sure she’s okay.”
Fireheart let out a long sigh of exasperation. He understood how his friend was feeling, but he could hardly have chosen a worse time to go visiting his mate. “How will you get across the river?” he asked.
“I’ll manage,” Graystripe promised grimly. “It’s only water.”
“Don’t be such a mouse-brain!” Fireheart spat, remembering the time Graystripe had fallen through the ice, when Silverstream had rescued him. “You nearly drowned once before. Wasn’t that enough for you?”
Graystripe didn’t answer; he just swung around and made for the tunnel again.
Fireheart glanced over his shoulder. The other cats in the clearing were breaking up into small groups under Tigerclaw’s direction, ready to go out on patrol. “Stop, Graystripe!” he hissed, halting his friend at the entrance to the tunnel. “Wait there.”
Once he was sure Graystripe had done as he asked, he bounded across the clearing toward the deputy. “Hey, Tigerclaw,” he meowed. “Graystripe and I are ready to go. We’ll check the RiverClan boundary downstream of the Sunningrocks, all right?”
Tigerclaw narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased that Fireheart had taken it upon himself to choose which area he was going to patrol. But he had no reason to refuse, especially with Bluestar in earshot. “All right,” he growled. “Try to bring some prey back, as well.”
“Yes, Tigerclaw,” Fireheart replied, dipping his head before turning to race back to Graystripe. “Okay,” he panted. “We’re on patrol, so at least no cat will wonder where we’ve gone.”
“But you—” Graystripe began to protest.
“I know you have to go,” Fireheart meowed. “But I’m coming with you.”
He felt a prickle of guilt as he spoke. Even on patrol, he and Graystripe wouldn’t be expected to cross Clan boundaries. Bluestar would be furious if she knew that two of her warriors were risking their lives to go into enemy territory when their own Clan needed them so badly. But Fireheart couldn’t just stand there and let Graystripe go alone. His friend could be swept away in the floods and never return.
“Thanks, Fireheart,” murmured Graystripe as they left the tunnel. “I won’t forget this.”
Side by side, the two warriors scrambled up the steep, rocky slope. As they headed into the forest, retracing the steps of their earlier patrol, Fireheart noticed how muddy the ground was underpaw. The melted snow had soaked the earth like the heaviest rainfall, even without the deadly spread of floodwater from the river.
When they reached the edge of the trees Fireheart realized that the water had risen even farther. The Sunningrocks were almost submerged now, and the current swirled around them in tight circles. “We’ll never make it across there,” he meowed.
“Let’s head downstream,” Graystripe suggested. “We might be able to use the stepping stones.”
“We can try,” Fireheart mewed uncertainly. He was about to follow his friend when he thought he heard something—a thin, wailing sound, above the wind and the rushing of the torrent. “Wait,” he called. “Did you hear that?”
Graystripe looked back, and both cats stood, ears pricked, straining to catch the sound. Then Fireheart heard it again—the panic-stricken mewing of kits in distress.
“Where are they?” he meowed, looking all around and up into the trees. “I can’t see them!”
“There.” Graystripe flicked his tail in the direction of the Sunningrocks. “Fireheart, they’ll drown!”
Fireheart saw that the current had driven a mat of twigs and debris up against the Sunningrocks. Two kits balanced precariously on it, their tiny mouths stretched wide as they wailed for help. Even as Fireheart watched, the current tugged at the mat, threatening to sweep it away. “Come on,” he yowled to Graystripe. “We’ve got to reach them somehow.”
Taking a deep breath, he waded into the flood. The water soaked into his fur at once, and a paralyzing, icy chill crept up his legs. The tug of the current made it harder to stay on his paws with every step he took.
Graystripe splashed in behind him, but when the water reached his belly fur he stopped. “Fireheart…” he choked out.
Fireheart twisted around to give him a comforting nod. He could understand how the river might terrify Graystripe, after his near-drowning a few moons ago. “Stay there,” he meowed. “I’ll try to push the mat over to you.”
Graystripe nodded, trembling too violently to speak. Fireheart waded forward a few more paces, then launched himself into the current and began to swim, thrashing his legs instinctively to push himself through the black water. They were upstream of the Sunningrocks; if StarClan was kind, he should be carried down toward the kits.
For a moment he lost sight of them in the wind-ruffled waves, though he could still hear their terrified cries. Then the smooth gray bulk of a Sunningrock loomed up beside him. He kicked out strongly, fearing for one panic-stricken heartbeat that he would be swept right past.
The current swirled; Fireheart’s paws worked furiously, and the river tossed him against the rock, driving the breath out of his body. He scrabbled at the rough surface, bracing himself against the rushing water, and found himself face-to-face with the two kits.
They were both very small—still suckling from their mother, Fireheart guessed. One was black and one gray, their fur plastered against their tiny bodies, and their brilliant blue eyes wide with terror. They were crouched on a tangled mat of twigs, leaves, and Twoleg rubbish, but when they saw Fireheart they started to scramble toward him. The mat lurched and their wails grew louder as river water sloshed over them.
“Keep still!” Fireheart gasped, paddling madly against the current. Briefly he wondered if he could climb onto the rock and haul the kits up with him, but he was not sure how long it would be before the Sunningrocks were completely submerged. His best plan was still to push the mat over to Graystripe. Looking back, he saw that his friend had already moved downstream, into a good position to catch the mat as it was swept toward him.
“Here we go,” Fireheart muttered. “StarClan help us!” He pushed himself off from the rock, thrusting at the mat with his muzzle to guide it into the current. The two kits whimpered and flattened themselves against the twigs.
Fireheart put every last scrap of energy into pushing the mat ahead of him with his nose and paws. He could feel exhaustion draining the strength from his limbs. His fur was soaked, and he was so cold he could hardly breathe. Raising his head and blinking water out of his eyes, he realized with horror that he had lost sight of Graystripe and the bank. It seemed as if there was nothing in the world but the churning water, the fragile mat of twigs, and the two terrified kits.
Then he heard Graystripe’s voice, sounding close by. “Fireheart! Fireheart, here!”
Fireheart thrust again at the mat, trying to propel it toward the voice. It spun away from him, and his head went under. Coughing and choking, he clawed his way back to the surface, to see Graystripe pacing on dry land just a few tail-lengths away.
For a heartbeat Fireheart felt relief that he was nearly there. Then he focused his blurred eyes on the kits again, and fear pulsed through him. The mat was beginning to break up.
Fireheart watched helplessly as the twigs underneath the gray kit gave way and the tiny creature was plunged into the torrent.
第十一章
第十一章
沙风惊叹道：“我的天啊！”
灰条和奔风也都附和着，火心则心中惊骇，说不出话来。看到眼前波光粼粼的大水，此刻他回想起斑叶的预言：“水能灭火。”
他心里泛起阵阵寒意，竭力想弄明白这场洪水如何能威胁到他们的族群。凝神专注之时，火心连灰条什么时候走到他身边都不知道。灰条满眼惊惧，不用问火心也知道他是害怕银溪出事。
河族一边的河岸地势较低，因此洪水漫得更远。至于岛上的营地，火心不知道会被淹没多少。尽管对河族心存疑虑，但火心对银溪的好感仍是与日俱增，而且他对雾脚和灰池也怀有敬意。他不敢想象她们被迫离开营地，或者更糟——被淹死的情景。
奔风走到水边，朝对岸望去，说：“河族这下可倒大霉了。不过也好，他们游不过来了。”
火心感觉到奔风的幸灾乐祸勾起了灰条的怒火，急忙给灰条使了个眼色，说：“哦，我们现在不能巡视边界了。我们要立即赶回去把这里的情况向蓝星汇报。”看到灰条一脸痛苦地望着河对岸，他坚决地说，“走吧，灰条。”
蓝星听到这个消息立即跳上高岩，如往常般喊道：“所有达到年龄的猫带上自己的猎物到高岩下开会。”
众猫从巢穴里鱼贯而出进入会场。火心在群猫前面选了个位置坐下，一瞥眼看见云崽跟在纹脸身后蹦蹦跳跳地来到会场，心里暗自愠怒——云崽年龄太小，根本没有资格参加大会。他看到黄牙和炭爪远远站在香薇通道入口处。即使是断尾，也在鼠毛的推搡下从巢穴里走出来。
上午的明媚阳光渐近尾声，密云积聚，遮天蔽日。柔和的轻风渐渐强劲，一阵刺骨的寒风刮过会场，将围坐在高岩下的群猫的毛吹得贴在身上。火心打了个寒战，不知是因为寒冷，还是出于忧虑。
蓝星说：“雷族的同胞们，我们的营地正处在危难之中。雪融化了，但河水却冲上了岸。我们领土的一部分已被洪水淹没。”
众猫齐声愕然惊叹。蓝星提高声音说：“火心，把你看到的情况给大家说一下。”
火心站起身，将河水淹及太阳石的事情原原本本地给众猫讲了一遍。
听完后，黑条说：“这听起来对我们没什么威胁，我们仍有很多领土可以捕猎。让河族去为这场洪水操心吧。”
猫群中发出一片赞同声，虎掌则一言不发，纹丝不动地坐在高岩下，只是偶尔晃动两下尾巴。
蓝星大喊道：“安静！洪水有可能淹到这里，那时行动就晚了。有些事情是超越了族群间的对抗的。我不想听到任何有关河族猫在这次洪水中遇难的消息。”
火心注意到蓝星说话时，眼里的目光非常炙热，似乎话里有话。他感到十分困惑，记得当初谈及河族武士时，蓝星表现得很暴躁。此刻，她神情激动，将心里涌动的同情表露无遗。
团毛说：“我记得上次河水大涨，那是很久以前的事了，四大族群的猫被淹死不少，猎物也都在劫难逃。因此，即使幸存下来的猫，也是饿得半死不活。这不仅仅是河族自己的事务。”
蓝星说：“说得好，团毛。对于那段日子，我也是记忆犹新。我永远都不希望那幕惨剧再度上演，但既然事情已经发生，我命令：所有的猫都不得单独外出，幼崽和学徒至少在一名武士陪同下方能离开营地。巡逻队负责探察洪水的涨幅——虎掌，你来抓这件事。”
虎掌说：“是，蓝星。我还要派出捕猎队，我们必须在大水漫涨之前储备充足的猎物。”
蓝星赞同道：“好主意。”随后提高声音对全族说：“会议到此结束，大家回到自己的工作岗位。”她从高岩上跳下，轻轻落地，走过去和团毛等老年猫们谈话。
火心正等待虎掌派自己外出巡逻，忽然看见灰条正从猫群外围偷偷溜走。他急忙走过去，赶在灰条进入金雀花通道前撵上，附在他耳边小声说：“你要去哪里？蓝星刚说过不许单独外出。”
灰条惊惧地瞅了他一眼，说：“火心，我必须去见银溪。我得知道她是否平安。”
火心叹了口气，他理解灰条的感受。但此时去见银溪实在不是明智之举。他问：“你怎样渡河呢？”
灰条倔犟地说：“我会想办法的，不过是些水罢了。”
火心想起上次灰条掉进冰窟窿里，还是银溪出手相救，于是骂道：“拜托，别那么愚蠢！你以前差点儿淹死，还想再来一次吗？”
灰条没有搭话，只是转过身又往通道外走。
火心扭过头，看见大伙儿在虎掌的指挥下正分成若干小队准备外出巡逻。他低声唤住灰条：“站住，灰条！”
看到灰条停下脚步，他跑到虎掌身边说：“虎掌，灰条和我从太阳石沿着河族边界巡视，如何？”
虎掌眯缝起眼睛，对火心的自作主张甚为不满。但他没有理由拒绝，特别是当着蓝星的面，于是他大声说：“好吧，顺便捉些猎物带回来。”
火心恭敬地回答：“是，虎掌。”然后转身回到灰条身边，说：“搞定了。我们去巡逻，这样一来，谁都不会再怀疑我们的行踪。”
“但是你……”灰条刚要反对。
火心说：“我知道你非去不可，但我要和你一同去。”
说话时，他感到心里有一丝愧疚。即使是执行巡逻任务，他和灰条也不该越界。如果让蓝星得知她的两名武士在族群最需要的时候，居然冒着生命危险溜进敌人的领地，她一定会大发雷霆。但火心不能无动于衷地眼看着灰条孤身犯险。一旦灰条被洪水冲走，就再也回不来了。
来到营地外，灰条小声说：“谢谢你，火心。我会记住这些的。”
两位武士肩并肩爬上碎石遍布的陡坡，进入丛林。路依旧是老路，路面上却多了遍地的稀泥。虽然洪水尚未淹至此处，但融化了的雪水渗入土地，犹如下了场倾盆大雨，路面变得泥泞不堪。
行至丛林边，他们发现河水的涨势更加凶猛。太阳石几乎全部被淹没在水下，只留下一个小角，四周便是打着旋涡的急流。火心说：“我们过不去的。”
灰条说：“去下游看看，也许那里能踩着石头过河。”
火心拿不定主意：“试试吧。”刚刚迈开脚步，忽然听到什么声音——在风和水的激荡声中，夹杂着若隐若现的尖叫声。火心喊道：“等一下，你听到那个声音了吗？”
灰条回过头，两只猫都站在原地，竖着耳朵仔细听。不一会儿，那个声音再度响起——是幼崽凄凉的惊叫。
火心来回巡视，问：“他们在哪里？我看不见！”
灰条的尾巴朝太阳石的方向晃动了一下，说：“在那儿！火心，他们快要落水了！”
火心看见河面上有一团由枯枝和垃圾碎片聚成的浮筏正顺流而下，被太阳石挡住了去路，上面有两只幼崽高呼救命，局势危如累卵。就在火心观察情势的当口，水流疯狂地拉扯着浮筏，就要将它冲走。火心朝灰条喊道：“快，无论如何也要救出他们。”
说完，他深吸了一口气，进水里。河水立刻浸入毛内，刺骨的冰冷顺着四肢传了上来。水流湍急，每前进一步都比平日要困难许多。
灰条跟随他跳进水里，但当水漫至肚腹时，他停下脚步。“火心……”他说不出话来。
火心扭头朝他点了点头。他能理解数月前差点儿被淹死后，河水给灰条带来的恐惧。
于是他说：“留在岸上，等着我把浮筏推过来。”
灰条点点头，身体剧烈颤抖以致不能应声。火心又向前吃力地走了几步，然后蹬腿离地开始游泳。他本能地划动四肢，在冰冷的河水中游进。他是从太阳石的上游处下水的，如果星族开眼，他就能顺着水流到达那两只幼崽身边。
大风掀起阵阵浪涛，挡住了火心的视线，一时间他只能听到幼崽的惊叫，却看不到他们。他顺流向下漂游，渐渐靠近太阳石。火心急忙用力蹬腿，唯恐被水流从太阳石边冲走。
河流翻卷，火心疯狂地划动四肢，身体重重地撞在太阳石上，撞得他几乎窒息。他紧紧抓住太阳石，这时发现那两只幼崽就在面前。
他们的个头都很小——估计尚未断奶，一只黑色，一只灰色，毛被水浸湿贴在身上，亮晶晶的蓝眼睛因恐惧而睁得浑圆。他们原本趴在由细枝、落叶和两脚兽垃圾聚成的浮筏上，此时看到火心，便向他爬过来。浮筏剧烈晃动，河水泼溅在他们身上，他们叫得更加大声。
“别动！”火心吸了口气，在水下奋力蹬腿。一刹那间，他甚至怀疑自己能否攀上太阳石将幼崽拉过来。而且就算他能做到这些，谁又知道太阳石被完全淹没还有多长时间呢。
最好的办法还是得把浮筏推给灰条。火心回头望了望，看见灰条已走到下游，选了个好位置等着接浮筏。
火心喃喃说：“开始吧，愿星族保佑我们！”他后腿一蹬，离开太阳石，用口鼻将浮筏顶入激流。两只幼崽呜咽着紧紧贴在浮筏上。火心顶着浮筏，四肢一起用力。他感到力气渐渐被抽干耗尽，身子又湿又冷，呼吸困难。他仰着头，不停地眨眼，以免水进入眼睛。
在湍急的河水里，他既看不见灰条，也看不到河岸，眼前除了翻腾的水流、脆弱的浮筏和两只被吓坏的幼崽，似乎再无别物，恐惧渐渐袭上他的心头。
忽然，火心听到附近传来灰条的声音：“火心！火心，这里！”
火心又推了一下浮筏，想将它推到声音传来的地方。浮筏打了个旋，离他而去。他的头沉到水里，呛了口水。火心急忙划动四肢，头又浮出水面，看到灰条正在咫尺之外沿着河岸走。
他刚松了口气，却发现浮筏开始断裂，他的心一下子又提到了嗓子眼儿。
火心眼睁睁地瞅着那只灰色幼崽身下的浮筏散开，小家伙一下子掉进汹涌的激流中。
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 12
“No!” Graystripe yowled, launching himself afterthe drowning kit.
Fireheart lost sight of them. The kit left on the mat squealed desperately, trying to cling to the twigs as they were split apart by the current. With the last of his strength Fireheart drove himself forward, sank his teeth into the little creature’s scruff, and kicked out for dry ground.
Within moments he felt stones under his paws and managed to stand. Stone-limbed with weariness, he staggered out and dropped the black kit on the grass at the edge of the flood. Its eyes were closed; he was not sure if it was still alive.
Glancing downstream, he saw Graystripe splashing out of the shallows, with the gray kit gripped firmly in his teeth. He padded up to Fireheart and set it gently on the ground.
Fireheart nosed both kits. They were lying very still, but when Fireheart looked closer he could see the faint rise and fall of their flanks as they breathed. “Thank StarClan,” he muttered. He began to lick the black kit as he had seen the queens in the nursery do to their little ones, rasping his tongue against the lie of the fur to rouse the kit and warm it. Graystripe crouched beside him and did the same for the gray kit.
Soon the black kit twitched and coughed up a mouthful of river water. It took longer for the gray kit to respond, but at last it too coughed up water and opened its eyes.
“They’re alive!” exclaimed Graystripe, his voice filled with relief.
“Yes, but they won’t live long without their mother,” Fireheart pointed out. He sniffed the black kit carefully. The river water had washed off much of the Clan scent, but he could still detect a faint trace. “RiverClan,” he mewed, unsurprised. “We’ll have to take them home.”
Fireheart’s courage almost deserted him for good at the thought of crossing the swollen river. He had almost drowned rescuing the kits, and he felt exhausted. His limbs were cold and stiff, and his fur was soaked. He wanted nothing more than to creep into his own den and sleep for a moon.
Graystripe, still crouched over the gray kit, looked as if he felt the same. His thick gray fur was flattened against his body, and his amber eyes were wide with anxiety. “Do you think we can get across?” he meowed.
“We’ve got to, or the kits will die.” Forcing himself to his paws, Fireheart picked up the black kit again by its scruff and headed downstream. “Let’s see if we can cross by the stepping-stones, like you said.” Graystripe padded after him, carrying the gray kit through the wet grass at the edge of the floodwater.
When the river was at its usual level, the stepping-stones were an easy route across for RiverClan cats. The longest leap from rock to rock was no more than a tail-length, and RiverClan controlled the territory here on both sides of the river.
Now floodwater completely covered the stones. But where they had once broken the surface, a dead tree, its bark stripped away, lay across the river. Fireheart guessed that some of its branches had been caught on the submerged stepping-stones. “Thank StarClan!” he exclaimed. “We can use the tree to cross.” He adjusted his grip on the kit and waded out into the flood toward the splintered end of the tree trunk. The kit, seeing the churning water barely a mouse-length below its nose, began to mewl and struggle feebly.
“Keep still, both of you,” growled Graystripe gently, as he set down the gray kit for a moment to adjust his grip. “We’re going to find your mother.”
Fireheart wasn’t sure if his terrified kit was even old enough to understand, but at least it went limp again so it was easier to carry. He had to lift his head high to keep the tiny creature clear of the water as he floundered toward the tree. He reached it without needing to swim and sprang upward, clawing for a grip on the soft, rotting wood. Once he had pulled himself up, his main concern was keeping a pawhold on the smooth, slippery trunk. Gingerly placing each of his paws in a straight line, Fireheart padded toward the opposite bank with the river churning beneath him, sucking at the tree as if it wanted to sweep it, and its burden of cats, away downstream. Fireheart glanced back to see Graystripe following with the gray kit, his face creased with determination.
At the far end the trunk divided into a tangle of broken branches. Fireheart ducked down to squeeze through them, being careful not to let the kit’s fur catch on the splinters. It was harder to find a pawhold as the branches tapered, and he ran out of anything that might bear his weight when there was still a gap of a couple of fox-lengths separating him from the far side of the river. Fireheart took a deep breath, flexed his hindlegs, and leaped. His front paws hit the bank while his hind paws kicked madly in the rushing current. As water splashed up, the kit started to struggle again. Fireheart kept his teeth clenched in its neck fur as he sank his front claws into the soft earth and scrabbled upward until he stood safely on the bank. He lurched forward a few paces and set the kit down gently.
Glancing around, he saw Graystripe pulling himself out of the water a little way downstream. He lowered the gray kit to the ground and shook himself. “The river water tastes foul,” he spat.
“Look on the bright side,” Fireheart suggested. “At least it should disguise your scent. The RiverClan cats won’t know that you’re the warrior who’s been trespassing on their territory. If they ever found out—”
He broke off as three cats crashed out of the bushes just beyond Graystripe. Fireheart braced himself as he recognized Leopardfur, the RiverClan deputy, and the warriors Blackclaw and Stonefur. Forcing his tired legs to move, he picked up the black kit and padded along the bank to stand beside Graystripe. The gray warrior hauled himself to his paws, and the two cats set down their burdens and faced their enemies together.
Fireheart wondered if the RiverClan cats had overheard what he was saying to Graystripe. He knew that he and Graystripe were too exhausted to stand up to a patrol of strong, fresh warriors, and his head spun as he tried to summon enough energy for a fight into his frozen paws. But to his relief, the RiverClan cats halted a few tail-lengths away.
“What’s this?” growled Leopardfur. Her golden-spotted fur bristled, and her ears were flattened against her head.
Beside her, Blackclaw stood with his lips drawn back in a snarl. “Why are you trespassing on our territory?” he demanded.
“We’re not trespassing,” Fireheart meowed quietly. “We pulled two of your kits out of the river and wanted to bring them home.”
“Do you think we nearly drowned ourselves just for fun?” Graystripe blurted out.
Stonefur paced forward until he was close enough to sniff the two kits. “It’s true!” His blue eyes widened. “They’re Mistyfoot’s missing kits!”
Fireheart stiffened in amazement. He knew that Mistyfoot had recently had kits, but hadn’t realized that the kits they had rescued were hers. He was even more thankful now that they had been able to save the kits’ lives, but he knew they mustn’t let any of these cats know that Mistyfoot had friends in ThunderClan.
Leopardfur did not relax the fur on her shoulders. “How do we know you saved the kits?” she snarled. “You might have been trying to steal them.”
Fireheart stared at her. After risking their lives in the floodwater, he couldn’t believe that they were actually being accused of stealing the kits. “Don’t be such a mouse-brain!” he spat. “No cat from ThunderClan tried to steal your kits when we could walk across the river on the ice. Why do you think we’d try it now? We nearly drowned!”
Leopardfur looked thoughtful, but Blackclaw stalked up and thrust his head aggressively into Fireheart’s face. Fireheart snarled, ready to counter a blow.
“Blackclaw!” Leopardfur meowed sharply. “Back off! We’ll let these cats explain themselves to Crookedstar, and see if he believes them.”
Fireheart opened his mouth to protest, but left the words unspoken. They would have to go with the RiverClan cats; in their exhausted state he and Graystripe had no hope of winning a fight. At least Graystripe would be able to check on Silverstream. “All right,” Fireheart meowed. “I just hope your Clan leader can see the truth when it’s in front of his nose.”
Leopardfur led the way along the bank, while Blackclaw picked up one kit and stalked threateningly alongside Fireheart and Graystripe. Stonefur brought up the rear, carrying the other kit.
When they reached the island where the RiverClan cats had their camp, Fireheart saw that a wide channel of racing water separated it from the ridge of dry ground, wrenching at the overhanging boughs of the willow trees. No cats were visible through the reeds, and Fireheart could see silver water lapping among the bushes that concealed the camp.
Leopardfur paused, her eyes widening with alarm. “The water has risen since we left camp,” she meowed.
As she spoke, a yowl came from behind them at the top of the slope, where Fireheart and Graystripe had hidden to talk to Silverstream. “Leopardfur! Up here!”
Fireheart turned to see the RiverClan leader, Crookedstar, emerging from the shelter of the bushes. His pale tabby coat was soaked, fur sticking out in all directions, and his twisted jaw made him look as if he were mocking the patrol and their prisoners.
“What happened?” Leopardfur demanded as she reached her leader.
“The camp is flooded,” Crookedstar replied. His voice was flat with defeat. “We’ve had to move up here.”
As he spoke, two or three other cats emerged cautiously from the bushes. Fireheart noticed Graystripe brighten when he saw one of them was Silverstream.
“And what have you brought us?” Crookedstar went on. He narrowed his eyes at Fireheart and Graystripe. “ThunderClan spies? As if we didn’t have enough trouble!”
“They found Mistyfoot’s kits,” Leopardfur told him, nodding to Stonefur and Blackclaw to bring forward the kits. “They claim they pulled them out of the river.”
“I don’t believe a word of it!” spat Blackclaw, setting down the kit he carried. “You can’t trust a ThunderClan cat.”
At the mention of the kit, Silverstream had turned and disappeared rapidly under the bushes again. Crookedstar padded forward and sniffed the pathetic bundles. By now they had begun to recover from their ordeal and were trying to sit up, though they still looked completely waterlogged.
“Mistyfoot’s kits went missing when the camp flooded,” Crookedstar remarked, turning his cold green gaze on Fireheart and Graystripe. “How do you come to have them?”
Fireheart exchanged an exasperated glance with Graystripe, exhaustion making him short-tempered. “We flew across the river,” he mewed sarcastically.
A loud yowling interrupted him. Mistyfoot broke out of the bushes and came racing over to them. “My kits! Where are my kits?” She crouched over the tiny scraps of fur, staring wildly around as if she thought the other cats would try to take them away from her. Then she began licking them furiously, trying to comfort both of them at once. Stonefur pressed up close against her and mewed comfortingly into her ear.
Silverstream followed more slowly and stood beside her father, Crookedstar, eyeing the ThunderClan cats. Fireheart was relieved to see her gaze pass with apparent indifference over Graystripe. She would not give them away, he was sure.
More cats emerged after her and gathered curiously around. Fireheart recognized Graypool, who gave no sign that she had ever seen him before, and Mudfur, the RiverClan medicine cat, who crouched beside Mistyfoot to examine the kits.
All of the RiverClan cats were wet through, and the fur clinging to their bodies showed they were skinnier than ever. Fireheart had always thought of RiverClan cats as plump and sleek, wellfed on fish from the river. That was until Silverstream told him that Twolegs had stayed by the river during greenleaf and stolen or scared away most of their prey. The Twolegs had left the forest now, during leaf-bare, but RiverClan had been unable to hunt when the river froze. And instead of bringing much-needed food, the thaw had driven them out of their camp completely.
In spite of his pang of pity, Fireheart could also see the unfriendliness in their eyes, the hostility in their flattened ears and twitching tail tips. Fireheart knew he and Graystripe would have to work hard to convince Crookedstar that they had really saved the kits.
The Clan leader was at least prepared to give them a chance to explain. “Tell us what happened,” Crookedstar ordered.
Fireheart began at the point when he had heard the kits wailing and seen them stranded on the mat of debris in the river.
“Since when have ThunderClan cats risked their lives for us?” Blackclaw broke in contemptuously as Fireheart described how he had pushed the kits through the torrent to the riverbank.
Fireheart bit back an angry retort, and Crookedstar hissed at the warrior, “Quiet, Blackclaw! Let him speak. If he’s lying, we’ll find out soon enough.”
“He’s not lying.” Mistyfoot looked up from where she was still nuzzling her kits. “Why should ThunderClan steal kits when all the Clans are finding it hard to feed themselves?”
“Fireheart’s story makes sense,” Silverstream observed calmly. “We had to abandon the camp and shelter in these bushes when the water started to rise again,” she explained to Fireheart. “When we came to move Mistyfoot’s kits, we could find only two of them. The other two were missing. The whole nursery floor had been washed away. They must have been swept along the river to where you found them.”
Crookedstar nodded slowly, and Fireheart realized that the hostility of the RiverClan cats was fading—all except for Blackclaw, who turned his back on the ThunderClan warriors with a snort of disgust.
“In that case, we’re grateful to you,” meowed Crookedstar, though he sounded grudging, as if he could hardly bear to be in debt to a pair of ThunderClan cats.
“Yes,” mewed Mistyfoot. She looked up again, her eyes glowing softly with gratitude. “Without you, my kits would have died.”
Fireheart dipped his head in acknowledgment. Impulsively, he asked, “Is there anything we can do for you? If you can’t go back to your camp, and if prey’s scarce because of the flood—”
“We need no help from ThunderClan,” growled Crookedstar. “RiverClan cats can look after themselves.”
“Don’t be such a fool.” It was Graypool who spoke, with a glare at her leader. Fireheart felt a new surge of respect for her; he guessed that not many cats would dare to take that tone with Crookedstar. “You’re too proud for your own good,” the elder rasped. “How can we feed ourselves, even with the thaw? There are no fish to eat. The river’s practically poisoned; you know it is.”
“What?” Graystripe exclaimed; Fireheart was too shocked to say anything.
“It’s all the fault of the Twolegs,” Graypool explained to them. “Last newleaf, the river was clean and full of fish. Now it’s filthy with Twoleg rubbish from their camp.”
“And the fish are poisoned,” Mudfur added. “Cats who eat them fall ill. I’ve treated more cats for bellyache this leaf-bare than in all the time since I’ve been the medicine cat.”
Fireheart stared at Graystripe, and then back at the hungry RiverClan cats. Most of them couldn’t meet his eyes, as if they were ashamed that a cat of another Clan should know about their troubles. “Then let us help,” he urged them all. “We’ll catch prey for you in our territory and bring it to you, until the floods have gone and the river is clean.”
Even as he made the offer, he knew that he was breaking the warrior code that demanded loyalty to his own Clan alone. Bluestar would be furious with him if she found out he was prepared to share ThunderClan’s precious prey like this. But Fireheart couldn’t bring himself to abandon another Clan in their need. Bluestar herself said our welfare depends on having four Clans in the forest, he reminded himself. Surely it’s the will of StarClan.
“Would you really do this for us?” asked Crookedstar slowly, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“Yes,” Fireheart meowed.
“And I’ll help too,” promised Graystripe, with a glance at Silverstream.
“Then the Clan thanks you,” grunted Crookedstar. “None of my cats will challenge you in our territory until the floods go down and we can return to our camp. But after that, we will fend for ourselves again.” He turned and led the way back to the bushes. His subdued cats followed him, casting glances back at Fireheart and Graystripe as they went. Not all of them, Fireheart could see, trusted them or believed in their offer of help.
Last to go was Mistyfoot, nudging her kits to their paws and guiding them up the slope. “Thank you both,” she murmured. “I won’t forget this.”
Fireheart and Graystripe were left alone as the RiverClan cats disappeared into the bushes. As they picked their way down the slope again toward the river, Graystripe shook his head in disbelief. “Hunting for another Clan? We must be mad.”
“What else could we do?” Fireheart retorted. “Let them starve?”
“No! But we’ll have to be careful. We’ll be crowfood if Bluestar finds out.”
Or Tigerclaw, Fireheart added silently. He already suspects Graystripe and I have friends in RiverClan. And we could be about to prove him right.
第十二章
第十二章
“不！”灰条大叫一声，向落水的幼崽扑了过去。
转眼间他们便没了踪影。浮筏上的那只黑色幼崽叫声凄厉，死死抓住被水流冲开的树枝。火心使出最后一点儿力气向前移动，咬住小家伙颈背的皮毛，奋力朝陆地游去。
不一会儿，他的脚便踩住了水底的石头。他的腿如同灌了铅似的沉重，摇摇晃晃地将幼崽拖到河边的草地上。幼崽双目紧闭，也不知是否还活着。
往下游望去，他看见灰条叼着那只灰色幼崽已经扑腾上岸。灰条走过来将幼崽轻轻放在地上。
火心用鼻子顶了顶两只幼崽，他们都没有动。火心凑近仔细看，发现他们尚有微弱的呼吸，于是他喃喃道：“感谢星族。”他曾在育婴室里见过母猫舔孩子，于是他也开始舔那只黑色的幼崽，这样既能帮幼崽祛寒，又能唤醒他。卧在一旁的灰条学着他的样子舔那只灰色的幼崽。
很快，黑色的幼崽便有了动静，剧烈地咳出了一口河水。那只灰色的幼崽花的时间长些，但最终也吐出了肚子里的河水，睁开了双眼。
灰条欢叫道：“他们活过来了！”
火心说：“活是活了，可没有妈妈在身边，他们也撑不了多久。”他仔细嗅了嗅那只黑色幼崽，河水已冲洗掉许多气味，但仍存留下些微痕迹。火心毫不意外地说：“是河族。我们必须把他们带回家。”
想到要渡过汹涌的河水，火心几乎丧失了勇气。刚才为了救幼崽，他差点儿淹死。此时他筋疲力尽，四肢冰凉僵硬，浑身湿漉漉的，只想钻进窝里美美睡上一觉。
灰条趴在那只灰色幼崽旁边，看样子也好不到哪里去。他灰色的厚毛贴在身上，两只琥珀色的眼睛睁得大大的，焦急地问：“我们还能渡过河去吗？”
“我们必须过河，不然这两只幼崽就活不成了。”火心勉强站了起来，叼起那只黑色幼崽朝下游走去。灰条跟在他身后，叼着那只灰色幼崽。
倘若在平日，河族的猫们踩着河里的石头很容易就能渡过河。石头与石头间的距离不过一尺长，因此这里河的两岸都属于河族的领地范围。
如今洪水淹没了石头，不过还好，河上居然横着一棵大树。大概树枝被河里的石头绊住了，因此没有顺水漂走。火心叫道：“谢天谢地！我们能从树上过河。”他调整了一下姿势，叼起幼崽踏进洪水，朝那棵大树走去。幼崽吊着脑袋看见鼻子下面就是激流，吓得喵喵直叫，无力地挣扎着。
灰条放下那只灰色幼崽稍事休整，温言呵责道：“你们两个保持安静，我们去找你们的妈妈。”
也不知幼崽是否能听懂话，不过至少他们安静下来了，这样叼起他们来就更加省力。
为了不使幼崽沉入水里，火心不得不努力昂头，吃力地走向横在河上的大树。他既没有游泳也没有跳跃便到了那里，一下抓住树干。树干表面光滑，爬上去后就得注意抓牢了。河水汹涌澎湃，似乎要将这根树干连同上面的猫们一起顺流冲走。火心小心翼翼，每一步都轻提轻放，走成直线。火心回头望了望跟在身后的灰条，见他神色极度紧张。
河岸这边的树干乱糟糟地形成若干分枝。火心低下身子踩在树枝上，动作谨慎，以免幼崽的皮毛被乱枝刮伤。树枝越来越细，想要落脚愈加困难。最后，终于再也没有可以承载他的重量的枝段了，而此时距岸边尚有两三尺。火心深吸口气，弯曲后腿，然后纵身一跃。落地时他的前爪扒住了河岸，但后腿却掉在河里。河水泼溅，幼崽又开始挣扎。火心牢牢咬住幼崽颈背的皮毛，前爪深陷在岸边松软的泥土里，一通乱扒终于上了岸。他摇摇晃晃地向前走了几步，才将幼崽轻轻放下。
回过头，他看见灰条从下游不远处的河里爬上了岸，将那只灰色幼崽放在地上，然后抖掉身上的水，嘴里骂道：“这河水真臭！”
火心说：“从好的一面来看，至少它能掩盖住你的气味。河族的猫们就认不出你就是那个经常偷越边界的武士。如果他们发现……”
他的声音戛然而止，只见有三只猫从距灰条不远处的树丛里冲了出来。火心强打精神，因为他认出他们是河族副族长豹毛和武士黑掌、石毛。火心拖着疲惫的四肢，叼着那只黑色的幼崽沿河岸走到灰条身边。灰条挣扎着站起来，两只猫放下幼崽，共同面对强敌。
火心不知河族的猫们是否偷听到他和灰条的对话。他和灰条都极度疲乏，根本打不过面前这三位生龙活虎的武士。他头脑微晃，尽量凝聚些力气以备作战。不过，河族三只猫走到两尺开外便停下脚步，令火心暗暗松了口气。
豹毛厉声喝道：“这是怎么回事？”她金黄色的花斑毛竖了起来，双耳紧贴脑门儿。
黑掌站在她旁边，面目狰狞地问：“你们为什么擅自闯入我们的领地？”
火心淡淡地说：“我们没有擅自闯入。我们从河里救出你们的两只幼崽，想把他们送回来。”
灰条冲口而出：“你以为我们冒着差点儿被淹死的危险，只是为了好玩吗？”
石毛上前几步，嗅了嗅那两只幼崽，一下子睁大眼睛，说：“没错！他们是雾脚失散的孩子！”
火心吃了一惊。虽然他知道雾脚即将分娩，但没想到他们救起的正是她的孩子。他甚至为能救下这两条小生命而感到庆幸，不过他明白决不能让任何猫知道雾脚在雷族里还有朋友。
豹毛敌意不减，喝道：“我们怎么知道你们是在救这些幼崽？也许你们只是企图偷走他们罢了。”
火心瞪着她。他们从洪水中冒死救出这两只幼崽，真不敢相信自己竟然会被当做偷窃幼崽的小偷。火心不客气地说：“别犯蠢了！早先雷族能通过冰面过河时，尚且没有偷你们的幼崽，为什么我们要等到现在？我们几乎被淹死了！”
豹毛还在深思，黑掌却已走上前，用头撞了一下火心的脸。火心一声怒吼，当时便要发作。
豹毛厉声道：“黑掌！退后！让他们向钩星解释去，看看他是否相信他们。”
火心张嘴想要反对，话到嘴边却又咽了回去。敌我力量悬殊，眼下只能乖乖就范，以他和灰条的状态，根本没有胜算。跟他们回去，至少灰条能够确知银溪是否平安。于是火心说：“好吧，希望你们的族长能搞清楚在他鼻子底下发生的事实。”
豹毛沿着河岸在前头领路，黑掌叼起一只幼崽，满怀敌意地走在火心和灰条旁边，石毛叼着另一只幼崽压后。
当他们来到河族营地所在的小岛时，火心看见小岛已被洪水分隔为两半。水流湍急，柳树垂下的柳条被冲得直打转。透过芦苇丛，看不到任何猫的影子，只见激流不停拍打着遮蔽河族营地的灌木丛。
豹毛停下脚步，睁大眼睛紧张地说：“我们离开后，水位又涨了。”
话音未落，他们身后的斜坡上传出一声呼叫：“豹毛！上这里来！”火心和灰条就曾藏在那个斜坡上等候和银溪会面。
火心转身看见河族族长钩星从灌木丛下走了出来，他身上湿乎乎的，灰白色的毛很蓬乱，咧着嘴巴。
豹毛走到钩星身边问：“出什么事了？”
“营地被冲毁了。”钩星回答，声音有些沮丧，“我们不得不移居这里。”
就在他说话的当口，又有两三只猫谨慎地从灌木丛里走出来，其中便有银溪。灰条顿时两眼放光。
钩星说：“你为我们带回了什么？”他眯着眼睛打量火心和灰条，“雷族的奸细？你似乎还嫌我们的麻烦不够多！”
“他们找到了雾脚的幼崽。”豹毛说着，点头示意石毛和黑掌将那两只幼崽带上来，“他们声称从河里救出了幼崽。”
豹毛一提到幼崽，银溪便立刻转身消失在灌木丛里。钩星走上前嗅了嗅那两个受到惊吓的毛球。两个小家伙浑身都是水，历尽艰险磨难，此时才恢复过来，挣扎着想要站起来。
钩星说：“营地被冲毁时雾脚的幼崽就不见了。”他冰冷的目光转向火心和灰条，问，“你们是怎样带着他们来到这里的？”
火心和灰条对视了一眼，均感恼怒。火心没好气地说：“我们从河上飞过来的。”
这时响起一阵呼喊声。雾脚风风火火地从灌木丛里冲了出来：“我的孩子们！我的孩子们在哪儿？”她跑过来俯下身子护住那两只幼崽，目光散乱地环顾周围，似乎生怕其他的猫将她的孩子从身边带走。石毛挨着她，附在她耳边低声安慰。
银溪慢悠悠地回到父亲钩星身边，拿眼瞅着这两位雷族的武士。当她的目光经过灰条身上时，显出一副漠不关心的样子。火心看在眼里，暗松了口气，知道她不会将他们知道的秘密泄露出去。
越来越多的猫好奇地走过来聚在周围。火心认出了灰池，从她脸上看不到任何能表明他们相识的迹象。河族巫医泥毛趴在雾脚身边为幼崽们检查身体。
所有的河族猫都是湿乎乎的，毛贴在身上，他们比任何时候都要瘦。在火心的印象中，河族猫都是丰满矫健的，因为他们能从河里捕到丰盛的猎物。后来银溪告诉他，每逢绿叶季，两脚兽就要住在河边捕鱼，即使有漏网之鱼，也都被吓跑了。虽然落叶季里两脚兽们离开森林，但河水封冻，河族根本捕不到鱼。如今冰消雪融，谁知带来的却不是解救燃眉之急的食物，而是整个营地的灭顶之灾。
同情之余，火心也能看到周围尽是一双双不友善的眼睛，那些紧贴脑门儿的双耳和微微晃动的尾巴将敌意表露无遗。他知道要想让钩星相信他们确实救了这两只幼崽并非易事。
终于，这位河族族长肯给他们一个解释的机会。钩星命令说：“把事情经过告诉我们。”
火心就从他和灰条听见幼崽的惊叫声，看到他们被困于河中的浮筏上开始说起。
当火心讲到他如何将幼崽们从急流中推向河岸时，黑掌插嘴说：“雷族从什么时候开始愿意为了我们而冒生命危险了？”
火心怒目以对，钩星呵斥说：“安静，黑掌！让他说完。如果他说谎，我们一听便知。”
正在抚慰孩子们的雾脚抬起头说：“他没有说谎。如今各个族群连自己都养活不了，雷族为什么要偷窃幼崽呢？”
银溪平静地说：“火心讲的故事合情合理。”她向火心解释说，“河水再次上涨后，我们不得不放弃营地来到这些灌木丛里避难。当我们正要移送雾脚的幼崽时，仅仅找到了两只，其余两只不见了。整个育婴室都被洪水冲走了。他们一定是顺水而下，漂到你们当初遇见他们的地方。”
钩星缓缓点头，河族众猫们的敌意渐渐消退——除了黑掌以外，他一脸厌恶，鼻子里发出嗤的一声，转过身背对着火心和灰条。
钩星说：“这么说，我们还要感激你们喽。”他的语气十分勉强，似乎领这两只雷族猫的情令他很不舒服。
雾脚说：“是的。”她再次抬起头，目光柔和地看着火心和灰条，其中充满了感激，“如果不是你们，我的孩子们就活不下来。”
火心低头致意。冲动之下，他问：“我们还能为你们做些什么？你们不能回到营地，如果因为洪水而致使食物短缺……”
钩星大声说：“我们不需要雷族的帮助，河族能够照顾好自己。”
“别像个傻瓜一样。”说话的是灰池，她瞪了钩星一眼。火心不由得对她产生敬意，据他猜测，大概敢以这种口气同钩星讲话的猫并不多。灰池苍老的声音说道：“你太自以为是了。如今冰消雪融，洪水泛滥，我们靠什么来养活自己？河水里有毒，没有鱼吃，你是知道的。”
灰条惊叫道：“什么？”火心也惊讶得说不出话来。
灰池向他们解释说：“还不都是两脚兽们干的好事。在 以往，河水清澈，鱼儿丰富。
如今，河里到处漂着两脚兽们丢弃的垃圾。”
火心看了灰条一眼，然后目光移向饥肠辘辘的河族群猫。他们大多不敢看他的目光，似乎被外族的猫知道他们所面临的麻烦是一件丢脸的事。火心说：“那就让我来帮助你们吧。我可以在自己的领地里打猎，然后将猎物带过来，直到洪水退去，河水变清。”
火心嘴上这么说，心里却知道这违反了武士守则，是对族群的不忠。如果让蓝星知道他把雷族珍贵的食物拿出来和别的族群分享，一定会大发雷霆。但面对着这些需要帮助的猫，他实在不能无动于衷。他想：蓝星自己说过，我们的福祉在于四大族群共同生活在丛林中。这么做当然符合星族的意愿。
钩星眯缝着眼睛，将信将疑地问：“你真的会为我们这么做？”
火心说：“是的。”
灰条说：“也算我一个。”说着，他瞟了一眼银溪。
钩星嘟囔着说：“既然这样，我代表族群谢谢你们了。在洪水退去、我们返回营地之前，我们不会在这里为难你们。但此事过后，你们可不许再擅自进入我们的领地了。”说完，他转身回到灌木丛里。其他的猫顺从地跟在他身后，边走边不时回头瞅一眼火心和灰条。看得出来，并不是所有的猫都相信他们能够提供帮助。
最后离去的是雾脚，她用爪子推着两只幼崽走上斜坡，小声说：“谢谢你们，我不会忘记的。”
河族的猫们都消失在灌木丛里，只剩下火心和灰条。两只猫寻路下坡向河边走去。灰条摇了摇头，难以置信地说：“为另一个族群捕猎？我们一定是疯了。”
火心分辩说：“除此之外我们还能做什么呢？看着他们活活饿死？”
“不！但是我们必须小心行事。如果被蓝星知道，我们就死定了。”
火心默想：想置我们于死地的是虎掌吧。他一直怀疑灰条和我与河族暗中往来，这么做正好给他提供了口实。
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 13
It was a cold, gray morning. Fireheartdragged himself reluctantly out of his warm nest, and padded over to nudge Graystripe.
“Wha…?” Graystripe twitched and settled down again with his tail wrapped over his nose. “Go away, Fireheart.”
Fireheart lowered his head and butted the broad gray shoulder. “Come on, Graystripe,” he whispered into his friend’s ear. “We’ve got to hunt for RiverClan.”
At that, Graystripe levered himself upright and parted his jaws in an enormous yawn. Fireheart felt just as tired as his friend; supplying RiverClan with fresh-kill as well as keeping up with their duties in ThunderClan was taking up all their time and energy. They had crossed the river with prey several times, and so far their luck had held. No ThunderClan cat had found out what they were doing.
Stretching, Fireheart glanced cautiously around the den. Most of the warriors were curled among the moss, too sound asleep to ask awkward questions. Tigerclaw was just a mound of dark tabby fur in his nest.
Fireheart slipped out between the branches of the den. At first he thought that all the other cats were asleep; then he saw Brindleface appear at the entrance to the nursery and lift her face to sniff the air. As if she didn’t like the raw, damp wind that greeted her, she retreated almost at once.
Fireheart looked back at Graystripe, who was shaking scraps of moss off his coat. “Okay,” he meowed. “We can go now.”
The two cats bounded across the clearing toward the gorse tunnel. Just as they reached it, a familiar voice behind them called out, “Fireheart! Fireheart!”
Fireheart froze and turned around. Cloudkit was scampering toward him, yowling, “Fireheart! Wait for me!”
“Fireheart,” growled Graystripe, “why does your kin always turn up at the most awkward moment?”
“StarClan knows.” Fireheart sighed.
“Where are you going?” Cloudkit panted excitedly as he skidded to a stop in front of the warriors. “Can I come with you?”
“No,” Graystripe told him. “Only apprentices can go out with warriors.”
Cloudkit shot Graystripe a look of dislike. “But I’ll be an apprentice soon. Won’t I, Fireheart?”
“‘Soon’ isn’t ‘now,’” Fireheart reminded him, struggling to keep calm. If they hung around much longer, the whole Clan would be awake and wanting to know where they were going. “You can’t come this time, Cloudkit. We’re going out on a special warrior mission.”
Cloudkit’s blue eyes grew round with wonder. “Is it a secret?”
“Yes,” hissed Graystripe. “Especially from nosey kits.”
“I wouldn’t tell any cat,” Cloudkit promised eagerly. “Fireheart, please let me come.”
“No.” Fireheart exchanged an exasperated glance with Graystripe. “Look, Cloudkit, go back to the nursery now, and maybe I’ll take you out later for some hunting practice. Okay?”
“Okay…I suppose.” Cloudkit looked sulky, but he turned around and trailed off in the direction of the nursery.
Fireheart watched him until he reached the entrance, and then slipped into the mouth of the tunnel. Moments later he was racing up the ravine with Graystripe at his side.
“I just hope Cloudkit doesn’t tell the whole Clan we went out early on a special mission,” puffed Graystripe.
“We’ll worry about that later,” Fireheart panted.
The two warriors headed for the stepping-stones. The fallen tree was still there to help them cross the river, and hunting close by meant they had less distance to carry the fresh-kill, and were less likely to be spotted.
By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the daylight had grown stronger, but the sunrise was hidden behind a mass of gray cloud. There was a spatter of rain in the wind. Fireheart couldn’t help feeling that all sensible prey would be curled up in their holes. He raised his head and sniffed. The breeze carried the scent of squirrel, fresh and not far away. Cautiously he began to stalk through the trees. Soon he caught sight of his prey searching among the debris at the foot of an oak tree. As he watched, it sat up and began to nibble on an acorn held between its front paws.
“If it knows we’re here,” Graystripe breathed in his ear, “it’ll be up that tree in a flash.”
Fireheart nodded. “Circle around,” he murmured. “Come at it from that side.”
Graystripe slid away from him, a silent gray shape in the shadows of the trees. Fireheart flattened himself into the hunter’s crouch with the ease of long practice, and began to creep up on the squirrel. He saw its ears prick, and its head swiveled around as if something had alarmed it; perhaps it had seen a flicker of movement from Graystripe, or caught his scent.
While it was distracted, Fireheart hurled himself across the open ground. His claws pinned the squirrel to the forest floor, and Graystripe ran forward to finish the struggle.
“Well done,” Fireheart grunted.
Graystripe spat out a mouthful of fur. “It’s a bit old and stringy, but it’ll do.”
The two warriors continued their hunt until they had killed a rabbit and a couple of mice. By then, although he could not see the sun, Fireheart knew it must be near sunhigh. “We’d better take this to RiverClan,” he meowed. “They’re bound to miss us back at the camp soon.”
Stumbling slightly under the weight of the squirrel and one of the mice, he led the way to the fallen tree. To his relief, the water was no higher, and the crossing seemed easier now that he had done it several times. All the same, Fireheart felt uneasy as he scrambled through the branches, knowing that he was in full view of any ThunderClan cat who happened to be patrolling the forest’s edge.
He and Graystripe swam the last couple of fox-lengths and pulled themselves out of the river on the RiverClan side. When they had shaken the water out of their fur they slunk quickly toward the bushes where RiverClan had made their temporary camp.
A cat must have been on watch, because as they approached, Leopardfur emerged from the bushes. “Welcome,” she meowed, sounding a lot friendlier than she had when she first came upon them with the two kits they had rescued.
Fireheart followed her into the shelter of the hawthorn branches, remembering how he and Graystripe had hidden there to wait for Silverstream. The RiverClan cats had worked hard since the floods forced them out of their camp, bringing moss for bedding and scraping out a place beside the roots of a large bush where fresh-kill could be stored. Today this was little more than a pitiful collection of a few mice and a couple of blackbirds, which made the ThunderClan warriors’ contribution all the more necessary. Fireheart dropped his prey onto the pile, and Graystripe did the same.
“Is that more fresh-kill?” Stonefur appeared with Silverstream just behind him. “Great!”
“We have to feed the elders and the nursing queens first,” Leopardfur reminded him.
“I’ll take something for the elders,” Silverstream offered. She turned a long look on Graystripe and meowed, “You can help me. Fetch that rabbit, will you?”
Fireheart felt a sudden jolt of alarm. Surely Silverstream wouldn’t risk spending time alone with Graystripe in the middle of her own camp? On their earlier visits, she had kept her distance
Graystripe didn’t need another invitation. “Sure,” he mewed, grabbing the rabbit and following Silverstream out of the bushes.
“They’ve got the right idea,” meowed Stonefur. “Fireheart, do you want to bring the squirrel to the nursing queens? Then they can thank you themselves.”
Feeling somewhat dazed, Fireheart agreed. Following Stonefur, he reflected again on how strange it was to look at the RiverClan warrior and know that he was half ThunderClan, especially since Stonefur himself didn’t share that knowledge.
In the makeshift nursery, Fireheart was pleased to see Mistyfoot again, stretched out on her side while her kits suckled contentedly. But he couldn’t help worrying about Graystripe. Once he had greeted the queens, and helped them divide up the squirrel, he murmured to Stonefur, “Can you show me where Graystripe went? We ought to be getting back, before any cat notices we’re missing.”
“Sure, this way,” meowed Stonefur. He led Fireheart to a spot farther along the ridge where three or four elders were crouched on a bed of heather and bracken, tucking into the fresh-kill. Already not much was left of the rabbit except a few scraps of fur.
Graystripe and Silverstream were watching in silence, sitting side by side but not quite touching, with their tails wrapped around their paws. As soon as they saw Fireheart they sprang up and padded over to him.
Graystripe’s yellow eyes blazed with a mixture of excitement and fear. “Fireheart!” he blurted out. “You won’t believe what Silverstream’s just told me!”
Fireheart glanced behind him, but Stonefur was already disappearing off into the bushes. The elders, having just eaten, looked sleepy, and none of them was paying any attention to Graystripe.
“Okay, what?” Fireheart mewed, his fur starting to prickle with unease. “But keep your voice down.”
Graystripe looked ready to burst out of his skin. “Fireheart,” he whispered, “Silverstream is going to have my kits!”
第十三章
第十三章
早晨的天空灰蒙蒙的，火心不情愿地从窝里爬出来，走过去顶了顶灰条。
“干什么？”灰条抽动了一下，用尾巴盖住鼻子，“走开，火心。”
火心低头撞灰条的肩膀，附在他耳边说：“起来，灰条。我们去给河族捕猎。”
话音未落，灰条立刻便坐了起来，嘴张得大大的，打了个哈欠。火心和他一样感到困乏，族群派下的任务几乎耗尽了他们所有的时间和精力，在这种情况下，却还要为河族提供食物。他们已经给河族带过好几次猎物了，老天还算开恩，所做的这一切并没有被本族的猫发现。
火心探着身子谨慎地在巢穴内环顾了一圈。大部分武士都在睡觉，没有谁会来问令他们尴尬的问题。虎掌也在自己的窝内酣睡。
火心溜出巢穴。他原以为所有的猫都还未醒，谁知一抬眼看见纹脸从育婴室里走了出来，她仰起脸嗅了嗅空气，立刻便转身折了回去，似乎是不喜欢外面阴冷潮湿的风。
火心回头看了看正抖去沾在身上的苔藓的灰条，说：“好了，现在可以走了。”
两只猫急急忙忙穿过会场往金雀花通道走去，就在快到金雀花通道的时候，身后传来熟悉的声音：“火心！火心！”
火心顿时僵在那里，转过身子，看见云崽蹦蹦跳跳正朝这边跑来，嘴里还喊着：“火心！等我一下！”
灰条低声吼道：“火心，你的外甥为什么总在不该出现的时候出现呢？”
火心叹了口气，说：“鬼才知道。”
云崽精神焕发地跑到两位武士面前刹住脚步，气喘吁吁地问：“你们要去哪里？我能和你们一同去吗？”
灰条说：“不能，武士们外出时只带学徒。”
云崽不满地瞥了灰条一眼，说：“但我就快要成为学徒了。是不是，火心？”
火心纠正他说：“‘快要’不等于‘已经’。” 他竭力保持镇静，如果逗留时间过长，整个族群都会醒来，问他们要去哪里。于是他说：“这次你不能来，云崽。我们要外出执行一项特殊任务。”
云崽好奇地睁大眼睛，问：“需要保密吗？”
灰条低声说：“需要，特别不能告诉那些吵吵闹闹的幼崽。”
云崽保证说：“我不会告诉任何猫的。火心，求求你，让我去吧。”
火心和灰条面面相觑，均感恼火。火心说：“不行。听着，云崽，马上回育婴室去，乖乖听话，也许迟些时候我会带你做些捕猎训练。怎么样？”
“好吧，一定不能骗我。”云崽绷着脸，转身向育婴室走去。
火心看着他回到育婴室门口，方才溜进金雀花通道。片刻之后，他和灰条就已并肩跑到沟外。
灰条喘着气说：“希望云崽不会把我们一早外出执行特殊任务的事情传得沸沸扬扬。”
火心也是气喘吁吁地说：“我们迟些再担心这件事吧。”
两只猫径直朝过河石头那里走去。那棵大树依旧横在两岸，可以借助它来渡河。他们就在附近打猎，这样，打完了猎物便能直接渡河，花的时间越少，被发现的可能性就越小。
来到森林边缘时，天色大亮，不过日头仍躲在厚厚的云层后面，风中夹带着少量雨滴，估计所有精明的猎物都会躲进自己的洞里。火心抬起头嗅了嗅，微风中有一股松鼠的气味，很新鲜，距离不远。他小心翼翼地移动身体，很快便发现在一棵橡树下，一只松鼠正在枯枝败叶间找东西吃。就在火心观察的时候，它坐起来，前爪捧着一颗橡子啃了起来。
灰条在火心耳边悄声说：“如果它发现我们，就会一溜烟爬上树去。”
火心点点头，悄声说：“咱们两边包抄。你从那一边向它接近。”
只见树荫暗处灰影闪动，灰条已潜行离去。火心俯下身子拉开捕猎的架势，向那只松鼠匍匐过去。经过长期练习，这一套对他来说早已是驾轻就熟。他看见松鼠竖起耳朵，小头来回扭动，似乎察觉到有什么事不对劲，也许它听见了灰条的动静，要不就是嗅到他的气味了。
趁着松鼠分心的时候，火心疾扑而上，一爪将松鼠按在地上，这时灰条也赶过来帮忙杀死松鼠。
火心说：“干得漂亮。”
灰条嘴里喷着毛说：“这只松鼠又老又韧，不过还凑合啦。”
两只猫继续捕猎，又捉到了一只兔子和两只老鼠。这时已是日近中天了。火心说：“把猎物给河族拿过去吧。大伙儿不久就会发现我们不在营地了。”
火心拖着松鼠和一只老鼠向那棵横在河上的大树走去。还好，河水没有再涨。有了前几次的经验，从树干上渡河已不是什么难事。不过，沿着树干走到尽头处的分枝时得格外留神。此时，倘若恰好有雷族的猫巡逻至森林边缘，他和灰条就会被逮个正着。
走到树干尽头，两只猫跳下河游了两三尺爬上岸来。他们匆匆抖去身上的水后，朝河族的临时营地赶去。
想必河族设置了岗哨，他们就要到达时，豹毛从灌木丛里走了出来。她说：“欢迎你们。”相比头一回他们带着两只幼崽来时，豹毛的语气友善了许多。
火心随着她走进灌木丛里，记得当初，为了同银溪见面，他和灰条就是在这里等候的。自从河族被迫离开营地以来，就一直在辛勤工作，此刻有的猫在找苔藓搭窝，有的猫正在一棵灌木下刨出一块地方以存放猎物。河族今天捕到的猎物少得可怜，猎物堆上只有一只小老鼠和两只画眉鸟。因此，火心和灰条的到来无疑是雪中送炭。两只猫将猎物放在猎物堆里。
石毛和银溪走过来，石毛说：“新打来的猎物吗？太棒了！”
豹毛警告说：“我们必须先拿给老年猫和母猫们吃。”
银溪自告奋勇说：“我给老年猫们送去。”她转头看了一眼灰条，说，“你来帮把手，拿那只兔子，好吗？”
火心心里一颤。银溪不会要冒这么大的风险，在众目睽睽之下和灰条约会吧？
灰条正巴不得呢，他说：“没问题。”叼起兔子随银溪走出灌木丛。
石毛说：“他们做得对。火心，你能把松鼠给正在哺乳的母猫们送去吗？这样她们就能亲口向你道谢。”
火心有些受宠若惊。他走在石毛身后，看着面前的这位河族武士。石毛身上具有雷族的一半血统，而他自己却还被蒙在鼓里。一想到这些，火心就觉得怪怪的。
走进临时育婴室，火心高兴地看见雾脚也在里面，她正展开身体让幼崽们大口吮吸乳汁呢。火心心里记挂着灰条，向母猫们打过招呼，帮助她们剖开松鼠后，就小声问石毛：“你能带我去找灰条吗？我们该回去了，要不然族里就会发现我们不在了。”
石毛说：“当然，走这边。”他领着火心沿着坡脊来到老年猫的住处，那里有三四只老猫正卧在窝里吃食，那只兔子除了几块皮毛外都已被他们吃掉了。
灰条和银溪肩并肩坐着默默对视，但身体没有接触。看到火心走近，他们立刻起身相迎。
灰条眼睛睁得大大的，里面充满了兴奋和害怕。他冲口而出说：“火心！你绝对猜不到银溪刚才告诉我的话！”
火心扭头瞅了一眼，见石毛已消失在灌木丛里。那几只老年猫吃饱了饭，正在犯困，没有谁会注意到灰条说的话。
火心不安地说：“哦，是什么？声音低一些。”
灰条看起来像是欢喜得要炸开似的，小声说：“火心，银溪怀了我的孩子！”
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 14
His heart thudding, Fireheart looked fromGraystripe to Silverstream. She quivered with happiness, her green eyes glowing with pride. “Your kits?” he echoed in alarm. “Are you both out of your minds? This is disastrous!”
Graystripe blinked and would not meet his friend’s eyes. “Not…not necessarily. I mean, these kits will join us together forever.”
“But you come from different Clans!” Fireheart protested. From the uneasiness in Graystripe’s expression, he guessed that his friend knew very well what difficulties the kits would cause. “You can’t ever claim these kits as your own, Graystripe. And Silverstream,” he added, turning toward the RiverClan cat, “you won’t be able to tell anyone in your Clan who the father is.”
“I don’t care,” Silverstream insisted, giving her chest fur a quick lick. “I’ll know. That’s all that matters.”
Graystripe looked as if he wasn’t too sure of that. “It’s stupid that they can’t know,” he muttered. “We haven’t done anything to be ashamed of.” He pressed himself against Silverstream’s flank and shot Fireheart a helpless glance.
“I know that’s what you feel,” Fireheart agreed heavily. “But it’s no good, Graystripe; you know it isn’t. These will be RiverClan kits.” His heart sank at the thought of the trouble this could cause in the future. When these kits grew to be warriors, Graystripe might have to fight against them! He would be torn between loyalty to his blood kin, and loyalty to his Clan and the warrior code. Fireheart could not see any way for him to keep faith with both.
Had it been the same with Mistyfoot and Stonefur? he wondered. Had their ThunderClan parents ever had to fight against them? He remembered Oakheart, trying to defend them from ThunderClan attack; how had the RiverClan warrior explained that to them? It was an impossible situation, and now it would all begin again with a new set of kits.
But Fireheart knew it was pointless to say this now. Glancing up and down the line of bushes in case any cat was approaching, he meowed, “It’s time we were going. It must be sunhigh. They’ll miss us back at camp.”
Graystripe touched his nose gently to Silverstream’s. “Fireheart’s right,” he murmured. “We must go. And don’t worry,” he added. “They’ll be the most beautiful kits in the forest.”
Silverstream’s eyes narrowed with affection, and her voice came in a deep purr. “I know. We’ll find a way to get through this.” She stood watching as Fireheart and Graystripe left the bushes and padded down the slope toward the flooded river. Graystripe kept looking back, as if he could hardly bear to leave her.
Fireheart felt as if he were carrying a cold, heavy stone in his chest. How long can this go on, he wondered, before some cat finds out?
He was still feeling weighed down with anxiety as they crossed the tree trunk and went back into ThunderClan territory, though he tried hard to push the problem out of his mind. Right now it was more important to decide what to say if any cat had noticed their absence.
“I think we should hunt for a bit,” he told Graystripe. “Then at least—”
An excited meow from the edge of the forest interrupted him. “Fireheart! Fireheart!”
Fireheart stared in disbelief as a small white body crashed out of the bracken at the edge of the trees. Cloudkit!
“Oh, mousedung!” muttered Graystripe.
Fireheart padded across the grass, his heart sinking. “Cloudkit, what are you doing here?” he demanded. “I told you to stay in the nursery.”
“I tracked you,” Cloudkit announced proudly. “All the way from camp.”
As he looked at the kit’s shining blue eyes, Fireheart felt sick with apprehension. Their chances of slipping back into camp with a story of early hunting had just vanished. Cloudkit must have seen them crossing the river.
“I followed your scent trail right up to the stepping-stones,” Cloudkit went on. “Fireheart, what were you and Graystripe doing in RiverClan territory?”
Before Fireheart could think of a reply, another voice broke in—a low, menacing growl. “Yes, that’s what I would like to know, too.”
Fireheart felt the strength drain out of his paws as he looked up to see Tigerclaw shouldering his way through the crisp brown bracken.
“Fireheart’s really brave!” mewed Cloudkit, while Fireheart stood with his mouth half-open, panic turning his brain to feathers. “He went out on a special warrior mission—he told me so.”
“Did he now?” hissed Tigerclaw, an interested gleam in his eyes. “And did he tell you what this special warrior mission was?”
“No, but I can guess.” Cloudkit trembled with excitement. “He’s been with Graystripe to spy on RiverClan. Fireheart, did you—”
“Quiet, kit,” snapped Tigerclaw. “Well?” he challenged Fireheart. “Is that true?”
Fireheart glanced at Graystripe. His friend was frozen, his yellow eyes staring in horror at the deputy; obviously there would be no helpful suggestions from him.
“We wanted to see how far the floods went,” Fireheart meowed. That was not exactly a lie.
“Oh?” Tigerclaw paused while he looked deliberately in all directions and then asked, “What happened to the rest of your patrol? And some cat must have sent you,” he added, before Fireheart could reply. “It wasn’t me, even though I sent out all the other patrols.”
“We just thought…” Graystripe began feebly.
Tigerclaw ignored him. He thrust his huge head so close to Fireheart that he could smell the deputy’s hot, rancid breath. “If you ask me, kittypet, you’re far too friendly with RiverClan. You might have been over there to spy—or you might be spying for them. Which side are you on?”
“You’ve no right to accuse me!” Anger made Fireheart’s fur bristle. “I’m loyal to ThunderClan.”
A deep growl came from Tigerclaw’s throat. “Then you won’t mind if we tell Bluestar about this expedition of yours. And we’ll see if she thinks you’re so loyal. As for you…” He glared down at Cloudkit, who tried to meet his amber gaze boldly, but couldn’t help retreating a pace or two. “Bluestar ordered that no kits were to leave camp alone. Or do you think Clan orders don’t apply to you, like your kittypet kin?”
For once, Cloudkit didn’t reply; his blue eyes looked scared.
Tigerclaw swung around and stalked back toward the trees. “Come on; we’re wasting time. Follow me, all of you,” he snarled.
When they reached the camp, Fireheart saw Bluestar standing at the foot of the Highrock. A patrol made up of Whitestorm, Longtail, and Mousefur was reporting to her.
“The stream is flooded as far as the Thunderpath,” Fireheart heard Whitestorm say. “If the water doesn’t go down, we won’t be able to make it to the next Gathering.”
“There’s still time before—” Bluestar broke off when she saw Tigerclaw approach her. “Yes, what is it?”
“I’ve brought these cats to you,” the deputy growled. “One disobedient kit, and two traitors.”
“Traitors!” echoed Longtail. His eyes met Fireheart’s with an unpleasant gleam. “Just what I’d expect of a kittypet,” he sneered.
“That’s enough,” Bluestar ordered, with the faintest hint of a snarl in her voice. She dipped her head toward the cats in the patrol. “You may go, all of you.” She turned back to Tigerclaw as they moved away. “Tell me what happened.”
“I saw this kit leaving camp,” Tigerclaw began, flicking his tail toward Cloudkit, “after you ordered that no kits or apprentices should go out without a warrior. I went to fetch him back, but when I got into the ravine, I realized he was following a scent trail.” He paused, and glared challengingly at Fireheart and Graystripe. “The trail led to the stepping-stones downstream from the Sunningrocks. And what should I see there but these two brave warriors”—he spat the words out—“crossing back from RiverClan territory. When I asked them what they were doing, they gave me some fish-and-mouse story about checking to see how far the floods stretched.”
Fireheart braced himself for Bluestar’s anger, but the Clan leader remained calm. “Is this true?” she asked.
During the journey back from the stepping-stones, Fireheart had had time to think. He couldn’t imagine the trouble he would be in if he tried to lie to Bluestar again. Now, seeing the wisdom in her face and the penetrating look in her blue eyes, he knew he had to tell her the truth. “Yes,” he admitted. “We can explain, but…” He shot a glance at Tigerclaw.
Bluestar closed her eyes for a long moment. When she opened them again, her expression was as unreadable as ever. “Tigerclaw, I’ll deal with this. You may go.”
The deputy looked as if he was going to object, but under Bluestar’s clear gaze he kept silent. He gave her a curt nod and marched off toward the pile of fresh-kill.
“Now, Cloudkit,” meowed Bluestar, turning to the white kit. “Do you know why I ordered kits and apprentices not to go out alone?”
“Because the floods are dangerous,” replied Cloudkit sullenly. “But I—”
“You disobeyed me and you must be punished. That is the Clan law.”
For a moment Fireheart thought that Cloudkit was about to protest, but to his relief the kit just dipped his head and mewed, “Yes, Bluestar.”
“Tigerclaw got you to help the elders for a few days recently, didn’t he? Very well, you can continue with those duties. It is an honor to serve the other cats in the Clan, and you must learn that it is an honor to obey Clan orders, too. Go now, and see if they have any jobs for you.”
Cloudkit bowed his head again and scampered off across the clearing, his tail held high. Fireheart suspected he quite enjoyed looking after the elders, and that his punishment wasn’t as bad as it might have been. He couldn’t help worrying that Cloudkit still hadn’t learned his lesson about respecting the ways of the Clan.
Bluestar settled down on the ground with her paws tucked under her. “Tell me what happened,” she invited the warriors.
Taking a deep breath, Fireheart explained how he and Graystripe had rescued the RiverClan kits, and been taken to the camp by RiverClan warriors.
“Except we couldn’t go into their camp,” he meowed. “It’s underwater. They’re staying in the bushes on higher ground for now.”
“I see…” murmured Bluestar.
“They haven’t much shelter,” Fireheart went on. “And they’re finding it hard to catch prey. They told us that the Twolegs have poisoned the river. Cats get ill if they eat the fish.”
As he spoke he caught a worried look from Graystripe, as if his friend thought it was dangerous to reveal so many of RiverClan’s weaknesses. Some cats, Fireheart knew, would see this as a good chance to attack RiverClan. But he believed Bluestar was not like that. She would never try to take advantage of another cat’s troubles, especially not in leaf-bare.
“So we felt we had to do something,” he finished. “We…we offered to catch prey for RiverClan in our territory, and we’ve been taking fresh-kill across the river to them. Today Tigerclaw saw us coming back.”
“We’re not traitors,” Graystripe put in. “We only wanted to help.”
Bluestar turned to him, then back to Fireheart again. She looked stern, but there was a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. “I understand,” she murmured. “I even respect your good intentions. All cats have the right to survive, whatever their Clan. But you know perfectly well that you can’t take matters into your own paws like that. You acted deceitfully in slipping away on your own. You lied to Tigerclaw—or at least you didn’t tell him all the truth,” she added, before Fireheart could protest. “And you hunted for another Clan before your own. This is not how warriors behave.”
Fireheart swallowed uncomfortably and looked sideways at Graystripe. His friend’s head was bowed and he was staring at his paws in shame.
“We know all that,” Fireheart admitted. “We’re sorry.”
“Feeling sorry isn’t always enough,” Bluestar meowed, with an edge to her voice. “You will have to be punished. And since you haven’t acted like warriors, we’ll see if you can remember what it’s like to be apprentices. From now on, you can hunt for the elders and see to their needs. And when you hunt, you’ll have another warrior to supervise you.”
“What?” Fireheart couldn’t help the word escaping in a mew of outrage.
“You have broken the warrior code,” Bluestar reminded him. “Since you can’t be trusted, you’ll go with someone who can. There must be no more visits to RiverClan.”
“But…we won’t be apprentices again, will we?” Graystripe meowed anxiously.
“No.” Bluestar allowed a gleam of amusement to soften her eyes. “You are still warriors. A leaf cannot return to the bud. But you will live as apprentices until I think you have learned your lesson.”
Fireheart forced himself to breathe evenly. He was so proud to be a warrior of ThunderClan, and shame overwhelmed him at the thought of losing his warrior’s privileges. But he knew there was no use arguing with Bluestar, and deep inside he admitted the punishment was fair. He bowed his head respectfully. “Very well, Bluestar.”
“And we really are sorry,” Graystripe added.
“I know.” Bluestar nodded to him. “You may go, Graystripe. Fireheart, stay a moment.”
Surprised, Fireheart waited a little nervously to find out what Bluestar wanted.
The Clan leader waited until Graystripe was out of earshot. Then she asked, “Tell me, Fireheart, have any RiverClan cats died in the floods?” She sounded distracted, and for once she didn’t meet Fireheart’s eyes. “Any warriors?”
“Not that I know of,” Fireheart admitted. “Crookedstar didn’t say that any cat had drowned.”
Bluestar frowned, but she didn’t ask any more. She gave a tiny nod, as if to herself. Then, after a brief hesitation, she dismissed Fireheart. “Find Graystripe and tell him you may both eat,” she ordered, her voice expressionless and firm again. “And send Tigerclaw to me.”
Fireheart bowed his head and stood up to leave. On his way across the clearing, he glanced back at Bluestar. The gray she-cat was still crouched at the foot of the rock, her eyes staring into the far distance. He couldn’t help feeling puzzled by his leader’s urgent questions.
Why should she be so worried about RiverClan warriors? he wondered.
第十四章
第十四章
火心的心猛地一跳，看了看灰条，又看了看银溪。银溪的身体幸福地发颤，眼里发出骄傲的光芒。火心说：“你的孩子？你们两个都疯了吗？这可是闯大祸了！”
灰条眨眨眼睛，不敢看火心的目光：“那……那也说不准。我是说，孩子们能永远和我们生活在一起。”
火心分辩说：“可是你们属于不同族群呀！”从灰条不安的表情上看，他显然十分清楚孩子将会给他们带来的麻烦。火心说：“灰条，你永远不要让别的猫知道你就是这几个幼崽的父亲。”他扭头对银溪说：“还有你，银溪，千万别告诉你的族群这些幼崽的父亲是谁。”
“我不在乎。”银溪固执地说，她舔了一下胸前的毛，“只要我知道他们的父亲是谁就行了。”
灰条看起来似乎拿不定主意，小声嘟囔说：“为什么不能让他们知道？我们相爱又没有妨碍任何猫。”他贴着银溪的脸颊，无助地瞅了火心一眼。
火心心情沉重地说：“我明白你的感受。但这不是好事，灰条，你知道的。这几个幼崽将会属于河族。”想到未来可能出现的麻烦，他心里一沉。当这些幼崽长大成为武士后，灰条也许会和他们拳脚相见！他将处于或者顾念亲情，或者忠于族群、忠于武士守则的两难境地。火心看不出他能有什么两全其美的法子。
他暗自寻思：雾脚和石毛也是这样吗？他们的雷族父母曾不得不和自己的孩子作战吗？他想起橡心曾极力阻挠雷族攻击雾脚和石毛。这种事太匪夷所思了，如今却又发生在这几只还未出生的幼崽身上。
不过火心知道现在说这些没什么意义。他仰起头向灌木丛上方望了望，然后又低下头瞅了瞅，见没有其他的猫走过来，说道：“现在已经是中午，我们该走了。族里的猫们会惦记我们的。”
灰条轻轻地触了一下银溪的鼻子，小声说：“火心说得没错，我们是该走了。别担心，我们的孩子将会是世界上最漂亮的。”
银溪温柔地眯缝起眼睛：“我知道，我们会找到解决办法的。”火心和灰条离开灌木丛，下坡向河边走去。灰条恋恋不舍，一步三回头。
火心的心里则像压了一块冰冷、沉重的大石头，暗自寻思：不知道这种情况在被别的猫发现之前还能持续多久。
两只猫踩着横在河上的大树回到雷族领地，尽管火心竭力不去想这些事，但仍旧感到心情沉重。此时此刻，燃眉之急是有猫问起他们的去向时该如何交代。
他对灰条说：“我们应该捕一点儿猎物，那么至少……”
他的话被森林边传出的兴高采烈的声音打断了：“火心！火心！”
只见有一小团白色的绒球从森林边的灌木丛里冲了出来。火心简直不敢相信自己的眼睛，是云崽！
灰条嘟囔说：“噢，见鬼！”
火心的心一个劲儿地往下沉，迎上去问：“云崽，你在这里干什么？我让你待在育婴室的。”
云崽自豪地说：“我从营地出来后，一路循着你们的踪迹来到这里。”
火心看着小家伙闪亮的蓝眼睛，心里暗暗叫苦。他们原本想溜回营地，随便编个捕猎的谎话，这下可好，全泡汤了。云崽肯定看见他们是从河对岸过来的。
云崽继续说道：“我沿着你们的气味一直走到河边。火心，你和灰条去河族领地里干什么？”
没等火心回答，另一个低沉的声音阴森森地插进来说：“是啊，这也是我想知道的。”
只见虎掌分开灌木丛从里面走了出来，火心顿时四肢发软，几乎瘫倒在地上。
就在火心半张着嘴巴，从骨头里泛出阵阵寒意时，云崽说：“火心真勇敢！他外出执行一项特殊任务——是他告诉我的。”
虎掌眼里充满了嘲弄，低嘶着说：“是吗？他有没有告诉你这项特殊任务是什么呀？”
云崽兴奋得身子发颤：“没有，不过我能猜出来。他和灰条去刺探河族的情报。火心，你……”
虎掌恶狠狠地说：“安静，小子。”然后对火心说：“嗯？是这样吗？”
火心瞥了眼灰条，见他呆呆地看着虎掌，眼里充满了恐惧。很显然，灰条是指望不上了。
火心说：“我们想看看洪水蔓延了多远。”这倒不完全是谎话。
“噢？”虎掌不慌不忙地瞅了瞅四周，然后故意问，“巡逻队的其他成员呢？这项任务一定是别的猫委派给你的吧。”没等火心回答，虎掌便说，“虽然所有的巡逻队都是我派出去的，但我没有委派这项任务。”
灰条无力地说：“我们只想……”
虎掌没有理会他。他伸长脖子凑近火心，以至于嘴里那腐臭的热气喷到火心的脸上：“如果你问我，宠物猫，我认为你和河族来往过密了。也许你是去那里刺探河族的情报——要么就是为河族刺探情报。你究竟是站在哪一边呢？”
火心勃然变色：“你没有权利这样说我。我对雷族忠心耿耿！”
“这么说，你不会介意我把这件事告诉蓝星吧？看看她是否相信你的忠心。至于你——”虎掌低头瞪着云崽，后者想直视他的目光，却终究不由得退后两步，“蓝星严令所有的幼崽不得独自外出。或许你认为自己可以凌驾于族长的命令之上，就像你那个宠物猫舅舅一样？”
云崽没有回答，看起来他被吓得不轻。
虎掌转身走回森林，恶狠狠地说：“走吧，我们在浪费时间。你们全都跟我来。”
回到营地时，火心看见蓝星正坐在高岩下，白风、长尾和鼠毛正在向她做汇报。
火心听见白风说：“溪水一直涨到雷鬼路。如果水势不回落，我们就不能参加下一次森林大会了。”
“还有时间……”蓝星看见虎掌走过来，止住这个话题，问，“有事吗？”
虎掌大声说：“我给你带来了这几只猫——一只不听话的幼崽，两个叛徒！”
长尾重复了一句：“叛徒？”眼睛死死盯着火心，讥笑说：“我早就料到宠物猫会成为叛徒。”
“够了。”蓝星的语气中隐隐透着不快。她对白风等猫说：“你们可以走了。”等白风、长尾离去，她转身对虎掌说：“告诉我发生了什么事。”
“我看到这只幼崽离开营地。”虎掌的尾巴朝云崽晃了一下，“而你曾命令所有的幼崽或者学徒没有武士的陪伴不得外出，所以我想把他追回来。谁知出了营门，我发现他在追踪某个踪迹。”他顿了顿，不怀好意地看了一眼火心和灰条：“这道踪迹从太阳石沿河一直到过河石头那里。在那里我看见这两位勇敢的武士——”他逐字从牙齿间往外蹦，“正从河族的领地回来。我问他们在做什么时，他们居然说什么去查探洪水蔓延了多远。”
火心硬着头皮等蓝星发火，谁知她只是淡淡地问：“虎掌说的是真的吗？”
在回来的路上，火心一直在思索。他想象不出假如再次对蓝星说谎，会给他们带来什么样的麻烦。现在，面对着她睿智的面孔，能够看透一切的目光，他知道自己不得不说实话。于是他承认说：“是真的。我们能解释这一切，不过……”他瞟了一眼虎掌。
蓝星合上双眼，过了半晌，她睁开眼睛，表情像往常一样不可捉摸：“虎掌，我会处理这件事的。你可以走了。”
虎掌虽不情愿，却不敢出言顶撞，只好点了点头，转身离开。
蓝星对云崽说：“云崽，你知道我为什么要下令不许幼崽或者学徒单独外出吗？”
云崽回答说：“因为洪水很危险。但是我……”
“依照族里的规矩，你不听从我的号令，就要受到处罚。”
火心以为云崽会为自己分辩几句，还好他只是低下头说：“是，蓝星。”
“最近几天，虎掌让你帮助老年猫，是吗？嗯，接着干吧。为族群里的猫服务是一种光荣，而且，你能从中学到遵守族规也是一种光荣。去吧，看看他们有什么活儿需要你干。”
云崽再次低下头，转过身翘着小尾巴蹦蹦跳跳地跑了。火心怀疑照顾老年猫对云崽来说也许是一件乐事，如此一来，这种处罚只怕像上次一样不起什么作用。他忍不住担忧云崽仍没有吸取不遵守族规的教训。
蓝星趴下来，头枕在前爪上：“告诉我发生什么事了。”
火心深吸了口气，将他和灰条如何救河族的幼崽，如何被河族武士押进营地的事一五一十地说了出来。
他说：“不过我们没能进入他们原来的营地里，因为营地被水淹了。如今他们住在一片地势较高的灌木丛里。”
蓝星喃喃道：“我知道。”
火心继续说：“他们住得十分拥挤，而且找不到足够的食物。他们说两脚兽们往河水里下了毒，吃了河里的鱼的猫都生病了。”
灰条担心地瞅了他一眼，似乎觉得暴露河族这么多的弱点对他们十分危险。火心知道，一些猫也许会将此作为攻击河族的良机，但他相信蓝星不会这么做。她永远也不会在别的族群遭遇不幸时落井下石。
火心说：“因此我们觉得有必要帮他们一把。我们……我们在领地里捉到猎物，然后渡过河给河族送过去。可是，今天返回的时候被虎掌撞见了。”
灰条插嘴说：“我们不是叛徒，我们只想帮帮他们。”
蓝星看了看他，又看了看火心。她绷着脸，但眼里闪过一丝理解的目光。她说：“我明白，我甚至对你们的乐善好施表示敬佩。不论是哪一族，所有的猫都有生存的权利。但你们很清楚，你们不可能照顾到方方面面。你们欺上瞒下，偷偷溜出营地。你们对虎掌说了谎——至少你们没有告诉他全部真相吧。而且你们在自己族群还没有得到足够猎物的时候，去为别的族群捕猎，这并不是武士的作风。”
火心不自在地咽了口唾沫，偷偷瞟了一眼灰条，见他只顾低头看自己的爪子，一副难为情的样子。
火心承认说：“我们知道，对不起。”
蓝星面露愠色：“仅说对不起是不够的，你们必须受到处罚。既然你们做起事来不像个武士的样子，那就看看你们是不是还记得当学徒是什么滋味。从今天开始，你们为老年猫捕猎，听候他们吩咐。还有，捕猎时，必须有一名武士负责监管你们。”
火心忍不住生气地说：“什么？”
蓝星说：“你们违反了武士守则。既然你们不可靠，就该找个可靠的猫和你们在一起。
绝对不能再去河族了！”
灰条说：“但……我们不会重又变回学徒吧，是吗？”
“不会。”蓝星莞尔一笑，目光柔和下来，“你们仍然是武士。但是在我认为你们已经吸取教训前，你们必须依照学徒的方式生活。”
火心竭力使自己保持平静。他十分看重自己作为雷族武士的身份，一想到要失去武士待遇，他就感到无地自容。但他清楚和蓝星争论毫无益处，况且打心底里他承认这个处罚还算公平，于是尊敬地低下头说：“遵命，蓝星。”
灰条说：“我们真的很抱歉。”
蓝星向他点了点头，说：“我了解。你可以走了，灰条。火心留一会儿。”
火心吃了一惊，不知道蓝星还有什么要说，心里稍稍感到紧张。
等灰条走远，蓝星方才问道：“给我说说，火心，河族里有多少只猫在这次洪水中丧生了？”她的语气听起来有些心烦意乱，也不敢瞅火心的眼睛，“有武士丧生吗？”
火心承认说：“我不知道。钩星没说有谁淹死了。”
蓝星眉头紧蹙，没有接着再问。她轻微点了下头，似乎是冲着自己。然后，她迟疑了一下，对火心说：“去找灰条吧，告诉他，你们两个可以吃饭。”她的声音重新变得冷淡和坚定，“把虎掌给我叫来。”
火心低下头起身离开。走过会场时，他回头瞅了眼蓝星，蓝星仍卧在高岩下，眼睛凝望着远方。蓝星迫切地问的那些问题，令他感到困惑不解。
火心暗想：她为什么那么担心河族的武士呢？
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 15
“Well, if it isn’t our newestapprentice, Firepaw!”
Fireheart looked up from his vole to see Longtail swaggering toward him, his tail waving in the air. “Ready for a training session?” the warrior sneered. “Tigerclaw sent me to be your mentor.”
Taking his time, Fireheart swallowed the last of the vole and rose to his paws. He could guess what had happened. Bluestar had told Tigerclaw about the punishment, and Tigerclaw had wasted no time in organizing the first patrol. Naturally he would choose the cat who disliked Fireheart the most to supervise his hunting.
Beside him, Graystripe jumped up and took a pace toward Longtail. “Watch what you say,” he snarled. “We’re not apprentices!”
“That’s not the way I heard it,” replied Longtail, swiping his tongue appreciatively over his jaws as if he had just swallowed a tasty morsel.
“Then we’d better put you right,” Fireheart hissed, beginning to lash his tail. “Do you want me to tear your other ear?”
Longtail took a step back. He was clearly remembering Fireheart’s arrival in the camp. He had fought Longtail fiercely, showing no fear in spite of the warrior’s “kittypet” taunts. Fireheart knew that even if the other cats let Longtail forget his defeat, his torn ear would remind him forever.
“You’d better watch it,” the warrior blustered. “Tigerclaw’ll have your tails off if you touch me.”
“It would be worth it,” Fireheart retorted. “Call me Firepaw once more, and you’ll find out.”
Longtail said nothing, only turning his head aside to lick his pale fur. Fireheart relaxed his threatening stance. “Come on, then,” he grunted. “If we’re going to hunt, let’s get on with it.”
He and Graystripe led the way out of the gorse tunnel and up the side of the ravine. Longtail followed, loudly suggesting where to hunt as if he were in charge, but once they were in the forest Fireheart and Graystripe did their best to ignore him.
The day was cold and gray, and a thin rain had begun to fall. Prey was hard to find. Graystripe caught sight of movement in some bracken fronds and went to investigate, but Fireheart was almost ready to give up by the time he saw a chaffinch pecking around the roots of a hazel bush. He dropped into a crouch, creeping forward paw by paw while the bird pecked on unawares.
He was preparing to pounce, his haunches rocking from side to side, when Longtail jeered, “Call that a crouch? I’ve seen better on a three-legged rabbit!” As soon as he spoke the chaffinch fluttered away in a panic, letting out a loud alarm call.
Fireheart whirled around furiously. “That was your fault!” he snarled. “As soon as it heard you—”
“Rubbish,” meowed Longtail. “Don’t make excuses. You couldn’t catch a mouse if it sat between your paws.”
Fireheart flattened his ears and bared his teeth, but as he braced himself for a fight, he suddenly wondered if Longtail was deliberately provoking him. Longtail would have a fine story to tell Tigerclaw if Fireheart attacked him.
“Fine,” Fireheart growled through his teeth. “If you’re so good, show us how it’s done.”
“As if there’ll be any prey left, after the racket that bird made when you scared it,” Longtail sneered.
“Now who’s making excuses?” Fireheart spat back.
Before Longtail could reply, Graystripe emerged from the bracken with a vole in his jaws. He dropped it beside Fireheart and began to kick earth over it to bury it until they were ready to return to camp.
Longtail used the interruption to turn away and stalk toward the tunnel Graystripe had made in the bracken.
Graystripe watched him go. “What’s the matter with him? He looks as if he’s swallowed mouse bile.”
Fireheart shrugged. “Nothing. Come on, let’s keep going.”
After that, Longtail left them alone, and by sunset the two young warriors had collected a respectable pile of fresh-kill to carry back to the camp.
“You take some to the elders,” Fireheart suggested to Graystripe as they dragged the last pieces in. “I’ll see to Yellowfang and Cinderpaw.” He chose a squirrel and headed toward the medicine cat’s den. Yellowfang was standing outside the cleft in the rock, with Cinderpaw sitting in front of her. Fireheart’s former apprentice looked happy and alert. She was sitting very straight, with her tail wrapped around her paws, and her blue eyes were fixed on Yellowfang as she listened to the old cat.
“We can chew up ragwort leaves and mix them with crushed juniper berries,” rasped Yellowfang. “It makes a good poultice for aching joints. Do you want to try doing it?”
“Okay!” Cinderpaw mewed enthusiastically. She sprang up and sniffed the heap of herbs Yellowfang had laid on the ground. “Does it taste bad?”
“No,” answered Yellowfang, “but try not to swallow it. A bit won’t hurt you, but too much will give you a bellyache. Yes, Fireheart, what do you want?”
Fireheart crossed the clearing, dragging the squirrel between his front paws. Cinderpaw was already crouching in front of the ragwort, chewing vigorously, but she flicked her tail at Fireheart in greeting.
“This is for you,” Fireheart mewed as he dropped the squirrel beside Yellowfang.
“Oh, yes, Runningwind told me you were back on apprentice duties,” Yellowfang growled. “Mouse-brain! You might have known some cat would find out you were helping RiverClan.”
“Well, it’s done now.” Fireheart didn’t want to talk about his punishment.
To his relief, Yellowfang seemed happy to change the subject. “I’m glad you’ve come,” she meowed, “because I want a word with you. You see that poultice?” She lifted her muzzle toward the green mash of chewed leaves Cinderpaw was making.
“Yes.”
“It’s for Smallear. He’s in my den now, with the worst case of stiff joints I’ve seen in moons. He can hardly move. And if you ask me, it’s all because his nest was recently lined with damp moss.” Her tone was mild, but her yellow eyes burned into Fireheart’s.
Fireheart felt his heart sink. “This is about Cloudkit, isn’t it?”
“I think so,” mewed Yellowfang. “He’s been careless about the bedding he’s brought in. If you ask me, he hasn’t bothered to shake the water off.”
“But I showed him how—” Fireheart broke off. He had troubles enough of his own, he thought; it wasn’t fair that he had to keep sorting out Cloudkit as well. He took a deep breath. “I’ll have a word with him,” he promised.
“Do that,” grunted Yellowfang.
Cinderpaw sat up, spitting out scraps of ragwort. “Is that chewed enough?”
Yellowfang inspected her work. “Excellent,” she meowed.
Cinderpaw’s blue eyes glowed with the praise, while Fireheart glanced appreciatively at the old medicine cat. It gave him a warm glow to see how Yellowfang made Cinderpaw feel useful and needed.
“Now you can fetch the juniper berries,” Yellowfang went on. “Let’s see…three should be enough. You know where I keep them?”
“Yes, Yellowfang.” Cinderpaw headed for the split in the rock, bouncing in spite of her limp, her tail lifted high. At the mouth of the den she looked back. “Thanks for the squirrel, Fireheart,” she meowed, before she disappeared.
Yellowfang looked after her approvingly and let out a rusty purr. “Now there’s a cat who knows what she’s doing,” she murmured.
Fireheart agreed. He wished he could say the same about his own kin. “I’ll go and find Cloudkit right now.” He sighed, touching his nose to Yellowfang’s flank before padding out of her den.
The white kit was not in the nursery, so Fireheart tried the elders’ den. As he entered, he heard Halftail’s voice. “So the leader of TigerClan stalked the fox for a night and a day, and on the second night—Hello, there, Fireheart. Come to listen to the story?”
Fireheart glanced around. Halftail was curled up in the moss with Patchpelt and Dappletail nearby. Cloudkit was crouched in the shelter of the big tabby’s body, his blue eyes wide with wonder as he pictured the mighty black-striped cats of TigerClan. A few scraps of fresh-kill lay on the floor of the den, and from the smell of mouse that clung to Cloudkit’s fur, Fireheart guessed that the elders had let him share.
“No, thanks, Halftail,” he meowed. “I can’t stay. I just wanted to talk to Cloudkit. Yellowfang says he’s been bringing in damp bedding.”
Dappletail let out a snort. “What nonsense!”
“She’s been listening to Smallear,” meowed Patchpelt. “He’d complain if StarClan descended from Silverpelt themselves to bring his bedding.”
Fireheart’s fur prickled with embarrassment. He hadn’t expected to find the elders making excuses for Cloudkit. “Well, have you or haven’t you?” he demanded, glaring at the kit.
Cloudkit blinked up at him. “I tried to get it right, Fireheart.”
“He’s only a kit,” Dappletail pointed out fondly.
“Yes, well…” Fireheart scraped his paws on the floor of the den. “Smallear has got aching joints.”
“Smallear has had aching joints for seasons,” meowed Halftail. “Since well before this kit was littered. You mind your own business, Fireheart, and let us mind ours.”
“Sorry,” Fireheart muttered. “I’ll go, then. Cloudkit, just make sure you’re extra careful about damp moss in the future, okay?”
He started backing out of the den. As he left, he heard Cloudkit meow, “Go on, Halftail. What did TigerClan’s leader do then?”
Fireheart was glad to escape into the clearing. He couldn’t help thinking that Cloudkit probably had been careless over the moss, but it looked like the rest of the elders wouldn’t have a word said against him. Free to take fresh-kill for himself now that he had hunted for the elders, Fireheart was trotting over to the heap when he noticed Brokentail lying outside his den. Tigerclaw was beside him, and the two cats were sharing tongues like old friends.
Unexpectedly moved by the sight, Fireheart paused. Was this Tigerclaw’s merciful side making a rare appearance? He could just hear the rumble of Tigerclaw’s voice, though he was too far away to make out the words. Brokentail replied briefly, looking much more relaxed, as if he was responding to the deputy’s friendliness.
Suddenly all of Fireheart’s old doubts about bringing Tigerclaw to justice welled up inside him. Every cat knew that Tigerclaw was a fierce and courageous fighter, and that he handled the responsibilities of a deputy with effortless confidence. Fireheart had never seen anything to show that he had the compassion of a true leader, until now, with Brokentail….
Fireheart’s mind whirled. Perhaps Bluestar had been right, that Tigerclaw was innocent of Redtail’s death. Perhaps Cinderpaw’s accident had been just that, instead of a trap. What if you’ve been wrong all along? Fireheart thought. Suppose Tigerclaw is just what he seems to be: a loyal and efficient deputy?
But he couldn’t make himself believe it. And as Fireheart padded more slowly over to the pile of fresh-kill, he wished to the tips of his claws that he could be freed from the burden of what he knew.
第十五章
第十五章
“嘿嘿，那不是我们的新学徒火爪吗？”
火心抬起头，看见长尾晃着尾巴大摇大摆地走过来。长尾讥笑说：“准备好上课了吗？
虎掌派我来当你们的老师。”
火心不慌不忙地咽下最后一口水老鼠肉，站起身来。不用问他也知道发生什么事了，虎掌一从蓝星那里得知对火心和灰条的处罚，便迫不及待地组织起第一支捕猎队。自然，他要选一个和火心关系最不好的猫来负责监管。
灰条上前一步吼道：“注意你的措辞，我们可不是学徒！”
长尾说：“这和我听说的可不一致呀。”他心满意足地舔着嘴巴，似乎刚刚咽下一口美味佳肴。
火心低嘶着说：“那就让我们来纠正你吧。你想让我撕裂你的另一只耳朵吗？”
长尾后退一步，清晰地回忆起火心初到营地时的那一幕。当时，长尾蔑称他“宠物猫”，于是他恶狠狠地和长尾打了一架，没有表现出丝毫畏惧。火心知道，即使别的猫不提，那只被撕裂的耳朵也会时时提醒长尾昔日之耻。
长尾恼羞成怒：“你最好小心点儿 ，如果你敢碰我一根汗毛，虎掌会扯掉你们的尾巴。”
火心反唇相讥：“那也值了。再叫我一声火爪试试看！”
长尾没有吱声，只是扭脸舔他的毛。火心不再相迫，嘟囔说：“嘿，既然去捕猎，现在就走吧。”
天又阴又冷，一场小雨在所难免，在这种天气里很难捉到猎物。灰条发现一些蕨木的叶子在轻微晃动，于是过去察看。火心则对此行不抱什么希望，这时，他发现有一只燕雀正在一簇榛木丛下东啄西啄找食吃。火心俯下身子，一步一步匍匐过去，那只燕雀只顾低头啄食，毫无察觉。
他调整了一下臀部的姿势，正要跳起。长尾冷不防出言讥笑道：“那也叫俯卧？我看一只三腿兔子都比你做得好！”那只燕雀闻声惊鸣，扑棱扑棱飞走了。
火心怒气冲冲地转过身，呵斥说：“都怪你！它一听到你的声音……”
长尾说：“笨蛋！别找借口。就算将一只老鼠放在你的爪子前面你也捉不住它。”
火心贴平双耳，忍不住就要发作。忽然，他念头一闪，怀疑长尾是在故意激怒他。如果火心动手打他，他就能在虎掌面前告状了。
火心咬着牙大声说：“哼，如果你那么行，就给我们演示一下啊。”
长尾讥讽说：“你把鸟惊跑了，哪里还会有鸟留下？”
火心反唇相讥：“现在是谁在找借口？”
长尾未及回答，灰条从蕨木丛里跑了出来，嘴里叼着一只水老鼠。他将水老鼠放在火心身旁，刨了些土盖在上面。
长尾趁机转身离开，走进灰条在蕨木丛中顶开的通道。
灰条看着他走远，说：“他出什么事了？他的样子看起来就好像吞了老鼠胆汁一样。”
火心耸了耸肩膀，说：“没什么。好了，我们继续捕猎吧。”
长尾再也没有来打搅他们。到了太阳落山的时候，两位年轻的武士带着丰盛的猎物满载而归。
两只猫把最后一批猎物拖进营地，火心对灰条说：“你给老年猫们送去些，我去看看黄牙和炭爪。”他挑了一只松鼠朝巫医巢穴走去。黄牙站在巫医巢穴门前，与炭爪面对面坐着。看样子炭爪心情不错，她全神贯注，身子坐得笔直，尾巴卷过来盖在爪子上，一双蓝眼睛盯着黄牙，似乎在听黄牙说什么。
只听黄牙那苍老的声音说：“我们把狗舌草叶子和杜松果嚼在一起，制成的药糊对关节炎非常有效。你想试试吗？”
炭爪欢快地说：“好的！”她跳起身，在黄牙放在地上的一堆草药上嗅了嗅，说，“它的味道难吃吗？”
黄牙回答：“不难吃，不过别往下咽。一点点没有事，但吃得太多就会引起肚子疼。
喂，火心，有什么事吗？”
火心前爪拽着松鼠走过去。炭爪趴在狗舌草前正嚼着，看见火心，朝他晃了下尾巴打个招呼。
火心把松鼠放在黄牙旁边，说：“给你的。”
黄牙大声说：“哦，奔风说你和灰条又开始干学徒们干的活儿了。笨蛋！你本该知道你们帮助河族的事迟早会被发现。”
“嗯，事情都过去了。”火心不想谈论他受到的处罚。
黄牙换了个话题，说：“很高兴你能过来，我正好有些话想和你谈谈。你看见那些药糊了吗？”她朝炭爪正在嚼出的一坨叶子糊仰了仰鼻子。
“看见了。”
“那是给小耳用的。他现在在巫医巢穴里，我已经有好几个月没有见过这么严重的关节炎了，他几乎走不了路。如果你问我怎么回事，那是因为他的新窝是用潮湿的苔藓铺成的。”
火心心里一沉：“是云崽做的好事，是吗？”
黄牙说：“我想是的。他对找来的铺垫一直马马虎虎。如果你问我，我想是他嫌麻烦，没有抖掉铺垫上的水。”
“但我给他演示过……”火心的话戛然而止。他觉得自己的麻烦已经够多了，还要负责管好云崽，实在是太不公平了。他深吸了口气，说：“我会和他谈谈的。”
黄牙嘟囔说：“那就好。”
炭爪站起来，吐出嘴里的狗舌草问：“嚼得够了吗？”
黄牙检查了一下，说：“非常好。”
听到赞扬，炭爪顿时变得神采飞扬。火心感激地看了一眼黄牙。看到黄牙令炭爪感到自己还有价值，火心觉得心里暖洋洋的。
黄牙说：“现在你去拿一些杜松果。让我看看，三个就够了。你知道我把它们放在哪里了吗？”
“知道，黄牙。”炭爪翘着尾巴，一瘸一拐地向巫医巢穴走去，走到门口时回过头说，“谢谢你带来了松鼠，火心。”
黄牙赞许地看着她，小声说：“她如今知道自己在做什么了。”
火心深有同感，他希望自己的外甥也知道该做什么。他叹了口气说：“我这就去找云崽。”说完和黄牙对触了一下鼻子，离开了。
云崽不在育婴室里，于是火心去老年猫的巢穴那边碰碰运气。刚一进门，就听见半尾的声音：“于是，虎族族长追那只狐狸追了一夜又一天，在第二天晚上——喂，火心，来听故事的吗？”
火心瞅了瞅，看见半尾、团毛和斑尾蜷成一团卧在窝里。云崽依偎在半尾身边，一双蓝眼睛睁得圆圆的，正在想象那些身着黑色条纹的虎族祖先高大威猛的模样。地上有几块猎物，云崽身上仍残留有老鼠的气味，估计老年猫们给他开了小灶。
火心说：“不了，谢谢，半尾。我还有事，我来是想和云崽说句话。黄牙说他拿来的铺垫很潮湿。”
斑尾讥笑了一声：“真是无稽之谈！”
团毛说：“她是听小耳这么说的。就算星族从天上给他拿来铺垫，他也会挑出毛病。”
火心十分尴尬，没有料到老年猫们竟然还为云崽开脱。他瞅着小家伙问：“嗯，你到底有没有做？”
云崽冲他眨眨眼睛，说：“我尽力而为了，火心。”
斑尾慈祥地说：“他还只是个孩子。”
“是的，哦——”火心的爪子扒拉着地面，“小耳的关节很痛。”
半尾说：“小耳的关节痛了有几年了，云崽还没出生就开始痛了。你忙你的去吧，火心，咱们各干各的。”
火心说：“打扰了，我这就走。云崽，将来一定要对潮湿的苔藓多加注意，好吗？”
他走出巢穴门口时，听到云崽说：“往下讲，半尾。虎族族长接下来做什么了？”
火心走进会场，吁了口气。他觉得云崽也许确实对苔藓的事情漫不经心，不过除了小耳以外，其他的老年猫似乎对此并没有苛求。为老年猫们捕完猎，现在能吃饭了。火心朝猎物堆走去，一瞥眼看见断尾正躺在巢穴外边，和虎掌彼此边舔梳边聊天，神态亲密，就像一对多年老友。
这一幕太出乎意料了，火心停下脚步。难道这就是虎掌不常显露的慈善的一面吗？他能听到虎掌在说话，不过距离太远他听不清楚。看样子断尾比虎掌还要惬意，似乎是为了报答虎掌的友善，他回答问题时十分干脆利索。
对虎掌的疑虑忽然又浮现在火心的心头。众所周知，虎掌是一位凶狠勇猛的武士，因此对他当选副族长，大家毫无异议。火心从没有见过他表现出一位真正的领导者所应具有的同情怜悯，不过现在他对断尾倒是个例外。
一时之间火心的各种念头纷至沓来。也许蓝星是对的，对于红尾的死，虎掌是无辜的。也许炭爪的不幸遭遇纯属意外，而不是设计好的陷阱。火心暗想：万一一直以来我都想错了怎么办？假如虎掌真的表里如一，是一位忠诚可信、办事干练的副族长怎么办？
但火心无法说服自己。他迟缓地走向猎物堆，从心底希望自己不用再为这些沉重的负担所累。
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 16
Fireheart stepped out of the fernsthat enclosed the apprentices’ den and stretched out his front paws. It was just after sunrise, and the sky was already a pale eggshell blue, promising fine weather after days of cloud and rain.
In Fireheart’s opinion, sleeping in the apprentice den was the worst part of his punishment. Every time he went in there, Thornpaw and Brightpaw stared at him with huge eyes, as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Brackenpaw just looked acutely embarrassed, while Swiftpaw—encouraged by his mentor, Longtail, Fireheart guessed—openly sneered. Fireheart found it hard to relax, and his sleep was broken by dreams in which Spottedleaf bounded toward him, meowing a warning that he could never remember when he woke
Now Fireheart stretched his jaws in a massive yawn and settled down to give himself a thorough wash. Graystripe was still sleeping; soon Fireheart would have to wake him and find a warrior to supervise them on yet another hunting patrol.
As Fireheart washed, he saw Bluestar and Tigerclaw sitting at the foot of the Highrock, deep in conversation. Idly he wondered what they were talking about. Then Bluestar gave a flick of her tail to summon him. Fireheart sprang up at once and bounded across the camp.
“Fireheart,” Bluestar meowed as he approached, “Tigerclaw and I think you’ve been punished enough. You and Graystripe can be full warriors again.”
Fireheart felt almost giddy with relief. “Thank you, Bluestar!” he meowed.
“Let’s hope it’s taught you a lesson,” growled Tigerclaw.
“Tigerclaw is going to lead a patrol up to Fourtrees,” Bluestar went on before Fireheart could respond. “In two nights the moon will be full, and we need to know if we can make it to the Gathering. Tigerclaw, will you take Fireheart with you?”
Fireheart couldn’t interpret the gleam in the deputy’s amber eyes. He didn’t look pleased—Tigerclaw never did—but there was a certain dark satisfaction, as if he would enjoy putting Fireheart through his paces. Fireheart didn’t care. He was thrilled that Bluestar was trusting him with a real warriors’ mission again.
“He can come,” Tigerclaw meowed. “But if he puts a paw wrong, I’ll want to know the reason why.” His dark coat rippled as he heaved himself to his paws. “I’ll find another cat to go with us.”
Fireheart watched him as he strode across the clearing and disappeared into the warriors’ den.
“This will be an important Gathering,” murmured Bluestar beside him. “We need to find out how the other Clans are coping with the floods. It’s important for our Clan to be there.”
“We’ll find a way, Bluestar,” Fireheart assured her.
But his confidence drained rapidly away a moment later when he saw Tigerclaw reappear from the den. The cat who followed him out was Longtail. It looked as if Tigerclaw had chosen the third member of the patrol deliberately to disadvantage Fireheart.
Fireheart felt a hard lump of apprehension in his stomach. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to go out alone with Tigerclaw and Longtail. The memory of the battle with RiverClan was still too fresh, when Tigerclaw had watched him struggling with a fierce warrior and made no move to help him. And Longtail had been his enemy ever since he had set paw in the camp.
For a moment, fearful pictures of the two cats turning on him in the depths of the forest and murdering him whirled through Fireheart’s mind. Then he shook himself. He was scaring himself like a kit listening to some elder’s tale. No doubt Tigerclaw would make unreasonable demands of him, and Longtail would enjoy every moment, but Fireheart wasn’t afraid of being challenged. He’d show them that he was a warrior equal to them in every way that mattered!
Saying a respectful good-bye to Bluestar, he raced across the clearing and followed Tigerclaw and Longtail out of the camp.
The sun rose higher, and the sky turned to a deep blue as the cats journeyed through the forest toward Fourtrees. The ferns were weighted with glittering drops of dew that clung to Fireheart’s fur as he brushed past. Birds sang, and branches rustled with freshly opened leaves. Newleaf had really come at last.
As he padded after Tigerclaw, Fireheart was distracted by tempting movements in the undergrowth as prey scurried to and fro. After a while the deputy let them stop and hunt for themselves. He was in an unusually good mood, Fireheart thought, relaxing enough to praise the flame-pelted warrior as he pounced on a particularly speedy vole. Even Longtail kept his unfriendly comments to himself.
When they went on, Fireheart’s stomach was warm and full from the vole he had eaten. His uneasy feelings vanished. On a day like this he couldn’t help feeling optimistic, sure that they would soon have good news to take back to Bluestar.
Then they reached the top of a slope and looked down toward the stream that crossed ThunderClan territory, separating them from Fourtrees. Tigerclaw let out a long, soft hiss, and Longtail yowled in dismay.
Fireheart shared their exasperation. Usually the stream was shallow enough for cats to cross easily, keeping their paws dry by leaping from rock to rock. Now the water had spread into a glistening sheet on either side, while the current churned swiftly along the original course of the stream.
“Fancy crossing that?” spat Longtail. “I don’t.”
Without a word, Tigerclaw began padding upstream, following the edge of the floodwater toward the Thunderpath. The land sloped gently upward, and before long, Fireheart could see that the shining surface was broken by tussocks of grass and clumps of bracken poking above the water.
“This isn’t as deep as when Whitestorm last reported,” Tigerclaw meowed. “We’ll try to cross here.”
Fireheart had his doubts that the water would be shallow enough, but he kept them to himself. He knew if he objected, he would just get the usual sneers about his soft kittypet background. Instead he quietly followed Tigerclaw, who was already wading into the flood. He couldn’t help noticing that Longtail’s ears twitched nervously as he splashed in beside him.
The water felt cold as it lapped at Fireheart’s legs. He picked his way carefully, tracing a zigzag course toward the nearest bank of the stream by springing from one clump of grass to the next. Drops of water glittered in the sunlight as he splashed forward. Once a frog wriggled out from under his paws, almost making him lose his balance, but he righted himself by sinking his claws heavily into a waterlogged tussock.
In front of him, the current was brown where it had stirred up mud from the streambed. It was much too wide for a cat to leap, and the stepping-stones were completely submerged. I hope Tigerclaw doesn’t expect us to swim, Fireheart thought with a wince.
Even as the words went through his mind, he heard Tigerclaw’s yowl from farther upstream. “Come here! Look at this!”
Fireheart splashed toward him. The deputy, with Longtail beside him, was standing at the edge of the stream. A branch was lodged in front of them, swept into place by the current so that it stretched from one bank to the other.
“Just what we need,” Tigerclaw grunted in satisfaction. “Fireheart, check that it’s safe, will you?”
Fireheart gazed doubtfully at the branch. It was much thinner than the fallen tree that he had used to cross to RiverClan’s territory. Twigs poked out in all directions, still with dead leaves dangling from them. Every few moments the whole branch gave a slight jerk, as if the current wanted to sweep it away again.
With any other senior warrior, or even Bluestar, Fireheart would have discussed how safe the branch was before he set paw on it. But no cat questioned an order from Tigerclaw.
“Scared, kittypet?” Longtail taunted him.
Determination burned in Fireheart’s belly. He would not show fear in front of these cats and let them have the pleasure of reporting it to the rest of the Clan. Gritting his teeth, he stepped onto the end of the branch.
Immediately it sagged under his paws, and he dug his claws in hard, fighting for balance. He could see brown water racing a mouse-length below, and for a few heartbeats he thought he would plunge straight into it.
Then he steadied himself. He began to move forward cautiously, placing his paws in a straight line one after the other. The slender branch bounced under his weight with every step. Twigs caught in his fur, threatening his balance. We’ll never get to the Gathering like this, Fireheart thought.
Gradually he drew closer to the middle of the stream, where the current was strongest. The branch tapered until it was barely as thick as his tail, making it harder to find a pawhold. Pausing, Fireheart measured the distance left; was he close enough to leap safely yet?
Then the branch lurched under him. Instinctively he gripped tighter with his claws. He heard Tigerclaw yowl, “Fireheart! Get back!”
For a heartbeat Fireheart swayed precariously. Then the branch lurched again and suddenly it was free, racing along with the surging water. Fireheart slipped sideways, and thought he heard Tigerclaw yowl once more as the waves closed over his head.
第十六章
第十六章
火心从学徒巢穴里走了出来，长长地伸了个懒腰。此时是清晨时分，天空刚现鱼肚白，过去几天又是刮风又是下雨的，可算来了个好天气。
在火心看来，这次处罚最为难熬的一部分，要数在学徒巢穴里睡觉。每次踏进巢穴，刺爪和亮爪都睁着大眼睛看着他，仿佛不敢相信自己的眼睛，蕨爪则是一脸尴尬神色，而迅爪则对他们进行公开的嘲弄，估计是受到他师父长尾的教唆。这些天火心一直没有休息好，时常从梦中惊醒，他梦见斑叶跑过来向自己发出警示，但醒来后却什么也不记得。
火心张开嘴打了个哈欠，躺下来给自己好好梳理一番。灰条还在睡，过一会儿火心就要叫醒他一起外出打猎，当然了，还得请一位武士进行监管。
火心正在梳理，一抬眼瞅见蓝星和虎掌正坐在高岩下说话。他闲得发慌，于是便猜测他们在谈论什么。这时，蓝星朝他晃了下尾巴叫他过去，火心立刻跳起身跑了过去。
蓝星对他说：“火心，虎掌和我认为你已经受到了应有的处罚。你和灰条可以做回武士了。”
火心大喜过望，说：“谢谢你，蓝星。”
虎掌喝道：“希望你能从中吸取教训。”
没等火心做出反应，蓝星继续说：“虎掌将要带领一支队伍前往‘四棵树’，再过两晚就是森林大会的会期了，我们需要弄清楚是否能如期参加大会。虎掌，你带火心去吗？”
火心看不透这位副族长眼里的目光。虎掌看起来不太高兴——他一向如此——但又隐含着一种满足，似乎能将火心置于股掌之间令他十分高兴。火心没有在意。蓝星能委派自己执行一项武士任务，是对他的信任，他感到非常激动。
“他能去。不过无论大事小事都要征求我的同意。”说着，虎掌站起身，“我另外再找一只猫一同去。”
火心目送他穿过会场走进武士巢穴。
蓝星喃喃地说：“这次森林大会非常重要，我们需要知道其他族群是如何看待这场洪水的。搞清楚这些事情对我们族群很重要。”
火心向她保证说：“我们一定能找到一条去‘四棵树’的路。”
可不久后当他看到虎掌从武士巢穴里走出来时，立刻便泄了气。随虎掌走出巢穴的不是别的猫，正是长尾。看来虎掌存心要找一只最能恶心火心的猫加入巡逻队。
火心忧心忡忡，胃里如翻江倒海一般。他实在不想和虎掌、长尾之辈一同外出。在风族营地里发生的那一幕令火心刻骨铭心。当时他们与风族一起对抗河族和影族。在那次战斗中，虎掌眼睁睁看着火心在一名河族武士的凶猛攻击下毫无还手之力，却硬是不上前帮忙。而长尾则从火心加入雷族开始便对他不怀好意。
此时此刻，火心眼前浮现出一幅可怕的场景：这两只猫将他诱入森林深处，然后将他杀死。他抖了抖身体，觉得自己就像小猫听故事时常做的那样在吓唬自己。虽然虎掌必定会刁难他，长尾也会乐此不疲，但火心并不害怕他们。因为他早已证明了，与他们相比，无论方方面面自己都毫不逊色。
同蓝星道了声别，火心跑过去跟着虎掌和长尾朝营地外走去。
三只猫穿越森林向“四棵树”挺进，太阳高高升起，天空变得湛蓝。香薇丛处处挂着晶莹剔透的露珠，害得火心走过时沾了一身水。小鸟在欢唱，新叶嫩枝在沙沙作响，好一派春意盎然的景象。
猎物在矮树丛里来回奔走，勾起火心无限的遐想。走到半路上，虎掌下令休息，并允许捕食猎物，他的心情似乎出奇的好。当火心跃起捉住一只行动敏捷的水老鼠时，虎掌甚至夸赞了火心几句，就连长尾也管好了自己的嘴巴，不再对他出言不逊。
填饱了肚子，大家继续上路。火心原先那种不安的心情渐渐淡去。今天他过得很舒畅，因此他确信他们很快就能把好消息给蓝星带回去。
他们到达一处斜坡顶，从坡上向下望那条穿过雷族领地的小溪。只有越过小溪，才能到达“四棵树”。只听虎掌重重地叹了口气，长尾则大声地发了几句牢骚。
火心理解他们这么做的理由。倘若在往日，这条小溪的溪水很浅，踩着溪里的石头就能过去，连爪子都不会被打湿。可如今，溪水大涨，漫过了溪岸形成浅滩，溪流非常湍急。
长尾吐了口唾沫，说：“还心存幻想能渡过去吗？我可不敢。”
虎掌一声不吭，沿着小溪顺流向雷鬼路的方向走去。地势越来越高，片刻之后，火心看到波光粼粼的浅滩处，一簇簇的草丛和蕨木从水下长了出来。
虎掌说：“这里并不像白风上次汇报时所说的那么深，我们可以从这里试试看能不能渡过溪水。”
火心虽然怀疑这里的溪水不至于那么浅，但他把这些疑问闷在心里。他清楚，如果自己提出异议，只会招来诸如“软弱的宠物猫”之类的嘲讽。于是他静静地跟着虎掌进浅滩。
当长尾扑啦扑啦踏进水里时，火心发现他的耳朵在紧张地抽搐。
冰冷的溪水拍打着火心的四肢。他步步留心，从一块草丛跳到另一块草丛上，呈“Z”字形线路，逐渐接近溪岸。飞溅的水珠在太阳光芒的反射下十分晃眼。有一次，他一脚踩到一只青蛙身上，那只青蛙扑通一声跳进水里躲开了，要不是他及时抓住草根，很可能要摔个跟头。
前方激流汹涌，连溪底的泥浆都被翻腾上来，使溪水浑浊不堪。这里的石头完全被溪水淹没，想要跳到对岸根本是痴人说梦。火心有些害怕，心想：希望虎掌不要让我游到对岸去。
念头还在转动，就听上游处传来虎掌的呼喊：“来这里！看这个！”
火心着水过去，看见虎掌和长尾正坐在溪边。在他们面前横亘着一根树干，树干被溪流冲进水里，刚好卡在两岸。
虎掌满意地嘟囔：“真是雪中送炭呀。火心，过来检查一下这根树干的安全性，好吗？”
火心瞅着这根树干，心里着实没底。这根树干与他渡河进入河族领地时利用的那根相比，细得不是一丁半点儿，而且树干上细枝横生，仍旧挂着败叶。随着溪流的冲击，树干时不时摆动一下，仿佛随时都可能被冲走。
如果面对的是其他武士，哪怕是蓝星，火心都要与之商讨一下树干的安全程度，然后再举步踩上去，可是，从来没有哪只猫敢对虎掌的命令提出质疑。
长尾奚落道：“害怕了，宠物猫？”
火心咬紧牙关。他决不能在这两只猫面前表现出任何怯懦，否则他们会将此事传得沸沸扬扬。于是他硬着头皮，踩上树干的末端。
爪下的树干一动，火心急忙抓紧，竭力保持平衡。下方不到一尺处就是汹涌奔腾的急流，那一瞬间，他觉得自己好像就要落入水中了。
他定了定神，小心翼翼地向前移动，步与步之间始终保持直线。每落下一步，这根纤细的树干就要上下弹动几下。树干上的细枝挂住他的毛，令他维持平衡更加艰难。火心暗想：如果都像这样，我们可别想去参加森林大会。
他渐渐逼近溪流中心，此处的水流最为湍急。越往前走，树干越细，最后只和火心的尾巴一般粗细，根本无法找到落脚的地方。火心停下脚步，估量了一下剩余的距离，他能够跳到对岸吗？
忽然，树干剧烈地摇晃了一下，他本能地死死抓住。这时他听见虎掌大声吼道：“火心！后退！”
火心站在树干上摇摇晃晃，接着树干又晃了一下，突然滚入奔腾的溪流中。火心一个趔趄掉进水里，溪水立刻没过头顶，隐隐约约只听得虎掌的呼喊声传来。
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 17
As he plunged into the streamFireheart managed to keep one clawhold on the branch. He felt as if he were fighting a spiky wooden enemy, twigs that lashed at him and raked through his fur while his breath bubbled into the dark water. His head broke the surface briefly, but before he could gasp in air the branch twisted and rolled him under again.
Terror made him strangely calm, as if time had slowed down. Part of Fireheart’s mind told him to let go of the branch and fight his way to the surface, but he knew that if he did that he would risk his life; the current was far too strong for him to swim. The force of the water meant there was nothing he could do but dig his claws in and endure. StarClan help me! he thought frantically.
His senses were just beginning to ebb into a tempting darkness when the branch rolled over again and brought him back to the surface. Choking and spitting he clung to it, with water churning along on either side of him. He could not see the bank. He tried to haul himself farther out of the water, but his sodden fur was too heavy and his limbs were growing stiff with cold. He did not know how long he could hold on.
Just as he felt that he was about to let go, something brought the branch to a jarring stop. It shuddered along its whole length, almost throwing Fireheart off. As he clung on desperately, he heard a cat screech his name. Twisting his head, he saw that the other end of the branch was jammed against a rock that jutted out into the stream.
Longtail was crouched on the rock, leaning down toward him. “Move, kittypet!” he growled.
With his last drop of energy, Fireheart scrambled along the length of the branch. Twigs whipped across his face. He felt the branch lurch again and flung himself at the rock, his front paws scraping at it while his hind legs thrust through the water. His paws had barely touched stone when the branch was swept away from underneath him.
For a heartbeat Fireheart thought he would follow it. The rock was smooth; there was no purchase for his paws. Then Longtail reached down and Fireheart felt his teeth meet in the scruff of his neck. With the other cat’s help he managed to claw his way upward until he was crouching on the top of the rock. Shivering, he coughed up several mouthfuls of stream water before he looked up. “Thanks, Longtail,” he gasped.
The warrior’s face was expressionless. “It was nothing.”
Tigerclaw padded up from behind the rock. “Are you hurt?” he demanded. “Can you walk?”
Shakily, Fireheart pushed himself to his paws. Water streamed off his coat as he shook himself. “I-I’m fine, Tigerclaw,” he stammered.
Tigerclaw stepped backward to avoid the spinning droplets from Fireheart’s fur. “Watch it; we’re all wet enough already.” Approaching Fireheart again he gave a rapid sniff down the length of his body. “Back to camp for you,” he ordered. “In fact, we’ll all go back. No cat can get across that water; you’ve proved that, if nothing else.”
Fireheart nodded and wordlessly followed the deputy back into the forest. Colder and more tired than he could ever remember being before, he wanted nothing more than to curl up and sleep in a patch of sunlight.
But while his limbs felt like waterlogged stone, his mind was a whirlpool of fear and suspicion. Tigerclaw had sent him out onto the branch, when any cat could see it was dangerous. Fireheart couldn’t help wondering if Tigerclaw had deliberately dislodged it, to make sure that he was flung into the swollen stream.
Not if Longtail was watching, he decided. After all, Longtail had rescued him; much as Fireheart disliked Longtail, he had to admit that the pale tabby would stick rigidly to the Clan code when another warrior needed his help.
Even so, Tigerclaw could have shifted the branch without letting Longtail see, or perhaps Longtail hadn’t understood what was happening. Fireheart would have liked to ask him, but he knew that if he did the question would be reported to Tigerclaw.
Then he glanced at Tigerclaw, and saw the deputy glaring at him with unmasked hatred. As Fireheart met the amber stare, he saw Tigerclaw’s eyes narrow as if with an unspoken threat. And in that moment Fireheart knew that somehow Tigerclaw had tried to murder him. This time he had failed. But what about next time? Fireheart’s tired brain shied away from what was all too obvious. Next time, Tigerclaw would make sure he did not fail.
By the time he reached the camp, the warm newleaf sun had dried Fireheart’s fur, but he was so exhausted he could scarcely put one paw in front of another.
Sandstorm, who was sunning herself outside the warriors’ den, sprang up as soon as she saw him and bounded over to his side. “Fireheart!” she exclaimed. “You look awful! What happened?”
“Nothing much,” Fireheart mumbled. “I was—”
“Fireheart went for a swim, that’s all,” Tigerclaw interrupted. He looked down at the young warrior. “Come on. We need to report to Bluestar.” He strode across to the Highrock with Longtail at his heels. As Fireheart staggered after them, Sandstorm padded close beside him, pressing her warm body against his for support.
“Well?” Bluestar asked when the cats stood in front of her. “Did you find somewhere to cross?”
Tigerclaw shook his massive head. “It’s impossible. The water’s too high.”
“But every Clan should attend the Gathering,” Bluestar pointed out. “StarClan will be angry if we don’t try to find a dry route. Tigerclaw, tell me exactly where you went.”
Tigerclaw began to describe the events of the morning in more detail, including Fireheart’s attempt to cross by the branch. “It was brave but foolish,” he growled. “I thought he’d paid with his life.”
Sandstorm looked around, impressed, but Fireheart knew as well as Tigerclaw that he had had no choice about getting onto the branch.
“Be more careful in the future, Fireheart,” Bluestar warned. “You’d better see Yellowfang in case you’ve caught a chill.”
“I’m fine,” Fireheart told her. “I just need to sleep, that’s all.”
Bluestar’s eyes narrowed. “That was an order, Fireheart.”
Stifling a yawn, Fireheart bowed his head respectfully. “Yes, Bluestar.”
“Come to the den when you’ve finished,” meowed Sandstorm, giving him a lick. “I’ll fetch you some fresh-kill.”
Fireheart mewed his thanks and stumbled unsteadily to Yellowfang’s den. The clearing was empty, but when he called Yellowfang’s name the old medicine cat poked her head out of the gap in the rock.
“Fireheart? Great StarClan, you look like a squirrel that’s fallen out of its tree! What happened to you?”
She padded toward him as he explained. Cinderpaw limped out behind her and sat beside Fireheart, her blue eyes wide as she heard how he had nearly drowned.
Seeing her, Fireheart could not help remembering how she had been injured beside the Thunderpath—another accident arranged by Tigerclaw? Not to mention the cold-blooded murder of Redtail. His head spinning with fatigue, Fireheart wondered how he could possibly stop Tigerclaw before another cat died for the deputy’s ruthless ambition.
“Right,” rasped Yellowfang, interrupting his troubled thoughts. “You’re a strong cat, and you probably haven’t taken a chill, but we’ll check you to make sure. Cinderpaw, what should we look for when a cat gets a soaking?”
Cinderpaw sat up straight with her tail wrapped around her paws. Eyes fixed on Yellowfang, she recited, “Poor breathing, sickness, leeches in his fur.”
“Good,” grunted Yellowfang. “Off you go, then.”
Very carefully, Cinderpaw sniffed along the length of Fireheart’s body, parting his fur with one paw to make sure that no leeches had fastened themselves onto his skin. “Breathing okay, Fireheart?” she asked gently. “Do you feel sick?”
“No, everything’s fine,” Fireheart mewed. “I just want to sleep for a moon.”
“I think he’s all right, Yellowfang,” Cinderpaw reported. She pressed her cheek against Fireheart’s and gave him a couple of quick licks. “Just don’t go jumping in any more rivers, eh?”
Yellowfang let out a throaty purr. “All right, Fireheart, you can go and sleep now.”
Cinderpaw flicked up her ears in surprise. “Aren’t you going to check him as well? What if I’ve missed something?”
“No need,” meowed Yellowfang. “I trust you, Cinderpaw.” The old cat stretched, arching her skinny back, and then relaxed. “I’ve been meaning to say something to you for a while,” she went on. “I see so many mouse-brained cats around here that it’s a real joy to find one with some sense. You’ve learned quickly, and you’re good with sick cats.”
“Thank you, Yellowfang!” Cinderpaw burst out, her eyes round with surprise at Yellowfang’s praise.
“Be quiet, I haven’t finished. I’m getting old now, and it’s time I started to think about finding an apprentice. Cinderpaw, how would you feel about becoming ThunderClan’s next medicine cat?”
Cinderpaw leaped to her paws. Her eyes were sparkling and she quivered with excitement. “Do you really mean it?” she whispered.
“Of course I mean it,” Yellowfang growled. “I don’t talk for the pleasure of hearing my own voice, unlike some cats.”
“In that case, yes,” Cinderpaw murmured, lifting her head with dignity. “I’d like that better than anything in the whole world!”
Fireheart felt his heart begin to beat faster with happiness. He had worried so much for Cinderpaw, at first when he thought she might die, then when it became clear that her injured leg would stop her from becoming a warrior. He remembered how she had wondered desperately what she could make of her life. And now it looked as if Yellowfang had found the perfect solution. Seeing the young she-cat so happy and excited about the future was more than Fireheart had ever hoped for.
Fireheart went back to the warriors’ den on lighter paws to share fresh-kill with Sandstorm and then to sleep. When he awoke, the light in the den was red from the rays of the setting sun.
Graystripe was nudging him. “Wake up,” his friend meowed. “Bluestar has just called a meeting.”
Fireheart left the den to find Bluestar already standing on the top of the Highrock. Yellowfang was beside her, and when all the cats were assembled it was the old medicine cat who spoke first.
“Cats of ThunderClan,” she rasped, “I have an announcement to make. As you know, I am not a young cat. It’s time I took an apprentice. So I’ve chosen the only cat I can put up with.” Yellowfang let out an amused purr. “And the only cat who can put up with me. Your next medicine cat will be Cinderpaw.”
A chorus of pleased meows broke out. Cinderpaw sat at the foot of the rock, her eyes shining and her fur sleekly groomed. She lowered her head shyly as the Clan congratulated her.
“Cinderpaw.” Bluestar made herself heard above the noise. “Do you accept the post of apprentice to Yellowfang?”
Cinderpaw lifted her head to look up at her leader. “Yes, Bluestar.”
“Then at the half moon you must travel to Mothermouth, to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats. The good wishes of all ThunderClan will go with you.”
Yellowfang half jumped, half slithered down from the rock, and padded up to Cinderpaw to touch noses with her. Then the rest of the Clan gathered around the new apprentice. Fireheart caught sight of Brackenpaw pressing close to his sister, his eyes glowing with pride, and even Tigerclaw went up to her and meowed a few words. It was clear that Cinderpaw was a popular choice for this important position.
As he waited to give Cinderpaw his congratulations, Fireheart could not help wishing that all his own problems could be solved as smoothly.
第十七章
第十七章
火心落进水里，一只爪子死死抓住树干。树干上的细枝抽打在身上，撕扯着他的皮毛，似乎他正在对付一名浑身长刺的敌人一样，呼出的气变成水泡从他的口内不断涌出。
他好不容易将头抬出水面，还没来得及吸气，树干在水中一滚，立刻又把他翻到水面下。
极度的恐惧反而带来一种奇特的平静，似乎时间在这一刻突然慢了下来。尽管火心的脑海中有一个声音不停地对他说，放开树干游上水面，但他清楚这样做是在冒生命风险，水流这么急，根本无法游泳。在这股巨大的冲击力面前，他除了屏住呼吸紧紧抓住树干外，没有其他的办法。他疯了一般地祷告：“星族，请救救我！”
一种极具诱惑的黑暗渐渐袭来，火心的意识开始变得模糊，就在这时，树干又是一滚，一下子把他翻到水面上。身边的水流在剧烈翻腾，令他几乎快要窒息。他抓牢树干，不断地吐出涌进口中的水。由于趴在树干上，他看不见溪岸，但身上的毛浸水之后变得异常沉重，而且四肢冻得发硬，使他撑不起身子来观望周围的情况。他不知道自己还能坚持多久。
就在他想要放弃的时候，忽然，不知被什么东西绊住了，树枝咔嚓一声猛地一震，停了下来。火心猝不及防，几乎被甩飞。一时间，他不知道该怎么办才好。这时，他听到有一只猫在呼喊他的名字。他扭过头，看见树干的另一端恰好卡在岸边的大石头上。
长尾爬上那块大石头，趴在上面探出身子喊道：“快过来，宠物猫！”
火心使出最后一分力气，抓着树干爬过去。细枝划过他的脸颊，树干忽然一歪，将他送到大石头边。火心急忙扒住大石头，后腿用力在水中划拉。就在这个危急时刻，树干从大石头边滑落，又向下游漂走。
大石头的表面十分光滑，根本没有可供抓扒之处。眼看火心就要顺水漂走，长尾及时探下身子，张口咬住了火心颈背处的皮毛。在长尾的帮助下，火心连扒带蹬，终于爬上了那块大石头。他浑身颤抖，大口大口地往外吐水，半晌后方才抬起头气喘吁吁地说：“谢谢你，长尾。”
长尾面无表情地说：“这没什么。”
虎掌从大石头后绕过来，问：“你受伤了吗？还能不能走路？”
火心摇摇晃晃着站了起来，抖去身上的水，结结巴巴地说：“我……我没事，虎掌。”
虎掌后退两步避开飞溅的水滴，说：“看着点儿，我们已经够湿的了。”又上前两步嗅了一下火心，命令说，“你回营地吧。其实，我们都得回去。如果没有奇迹发生，没有谁能渡过这条溪流，你已经证明了这一点。”
火心点了点头，默不做声地跟随这位副族长返回森林。他从来没有像今天这样又冷又累过，眼下最大的愿望就是晒着太阳美美地睡上一觉。
虽然四肢像僵硬的石头冰冷麻木，但他的心里却不平静，充满了恐惧和疑惑。任何猫都能看出走上树干是非常危险的事，虎掌为何还要派他去做？他怀疑是虎掌为了让他落水，故意将那根树干推进水里。
他想：要是没有长尾在旁边看着，后果简直不堪设想。毕竟，是长尾救了他。尽管火心讨厌长尾，不过他不得不承认，在自己身处危难时，长尾严格地遵守了武士守则。
既然如此，虎掌有可能是趁着长尾不注意，偷偷将树干推入溪中，或者说长尾根本就没弄明白发生的这一切事情。火心很想问问长尾当时的情况，不过他知道自己问过之后，长尾会马上报告给虎掌的。
他瞟了一眼虎掌，看见虎掌正盯着自己，脸上流露出不加掩饰的憎恨。当他们目光对视时，虎掌的眼睛眯缝起来，似乎是在冲他发出威胁。火心立刻肯定了虎掌一定是企图谋杀自己。这次他没有得逞，但是下一次呢？一切都显而易见，这使火心感到心力交瘁，只想逃避开。下一次，虎掌一定不会失手。
当火心回到营地时，温暖的阳光已经晒干了他身上的毛，他累得几乎抬不动脚步。
正在武士巢穴晒太阳的沙风看到他回来，立刻朝他跑过来，惊叫道：“火心！你看起来真狼狈！出什么事了？”
火心说：“没什么大不了的。我……”
“火心只是游了个泳罢了。”虎掌插言道，他低头盯着火心，“走吧，我们向蓝星汇报去。”说完，他踱着步子往高岩走去，长尾跟在后面。火心脚步蹒跚地走在最后，沙风用她温暖的身体扶住他。
蓝星对前来汇报的众猫说：“怎么样？你们找到渡溪的路了吗？”
虎掌摇了摇头说：“水势太大，我们不可能过去。”
蓝星说：“但是所有族群都必须到会。如果我们不能找出一条渡溪的路线，星族会发怒的。虎掌，把你们途经的地方详详细细叙述一遍。”
虎掌把事情的经过滴水不漏地讲述了一遍，这一次添加了许多细节，就连火心想踩着树干渡溪的事也讲了。最后他大声说道：“这种行为虽然很勇敢但却愚蠢，我觉得他是在拿自己的生命开玩笑。”
沙风嗔怪地瞅了火心一眼，但在当时那种情形下他别无选择，对于这一点，他知道，虎掌也知道。
蓝星说：“以后要小心行事，火心。你最好去找黄牙，别冻感冒了。”
火心说：“我没事，休息一下就好了。”
蓝星眯缝起眼睛，说：“火心，这是命令。”
火心强忍着没有打出哈欠，低下头尊敬地说：“是，蓝星。”
沙风舔了他一下，说：“事情办完后来巢穴，我给你拿些猎物吃。”
火心道了声谢，头重脚轻地向巫医巢穴走去。巫医巢穴门前空荡荡的，火心叫了声黄牙，黄牙立刻从巫医巢穴里探出头。
“是火心吗？天啊，你看起来就像是一只从树上掉下来的松鼠！出什么事了？”
炭爪跟在黄牙后面走出巫医巢穴，坐在火心身边听他讲述事情发生的经过。当她听到火心几乎被淹死时，吓得眼睛都睁大了。
火心看着她吃惊害怕的样子，不由得回想起她在雷鬼路边受伤的事情——难道那也是一场虎掌精心策划的事故吗？红尾的死则更是毋庸置疑。火心的脑子在疲惫不堪的状态下仍在不停转动，他不知道在虎掌为了满足自己的野心而再次作恶之前，该如何去阻止他。
黄牙的声音打断了他的思路：“好吧。你长得很结实，可能不会着凉，不过我们要检查一下才能确诊。炭爪，当一只猫被水打湿后，我们该对哪方面进行检查？”
炭爪将尾巴卷过来盖住爪子，身体坐得笔直，眼睛盯着黄牙回答：“呼吸是否微弱，有没有生病，皮肤上有没有水蛭。”
黄牙说：“回答正确。你来检查一下。”
炭爪认认真真地把火心的身体从头到尾嗅了一遍，然后用爪子拨开他的毛，检查是否有水蛭附着在皮肤上。她轻声问：“呼吸正常吗，火心？你有没有觉得哪儿不舒服？”
火心说：“没有哪里不舒服，我只想躺下睡上一个月。”
炭爪汇报说：“黄牙，我认为他没有生病。”她贴着火心的脸颊，舔了他两下，说：“别再往河里跳了，嗯？”
黄牙吁了口气，说：“好了，火心，你可以去睡觉了。”
炭爪竖起双耳，惊讶地说：“你不亲自检查一下吗？如果我漏诊了怎么办？”
“没有必要。我相信你的医术，炭爪。”黄牙说着伸了个懒腰，“一直以来我都有句话想对你说。在这里我看到那么多的蠢猫，最后可算让我找到了一只还有些脑子的。你学得很快，治起病来也有一套。”
黄牙的赞赏令炭爪激动不已，她动情地说：“谢谢你，黄牙！”
“别说话，我还没有说完。我的年纪大了，是到考虑收一名弟子的时候了。炭爪，你对成为雷族的下一位巫医有何感想？”
炭爪一下子跳起来，两眼放光，身体兴奋得直发抖，小声说：“你是认真的？”
黄牙喝道：“当然是认真的。我可不像别的猫，没事就爱瞎嚷嚷。”
炭爪严肃地抬起头，轻声说：“既然这样，我想说的是，对于我来说，那是最大的梦想。”
火心也是喜出望外，心怦怦直跳。炭爪一直是他的一块心病，起初他以为她活不下来，后来她虽然捡了条命，但折了一条腿，再也不能成为一名武士了。变幻莫测的前途对于炭爪来说是多么残酷啊。幸好黄牙现在圆满地解决了这个难题。不过，火心倒是没有料到炭爪这么兴奋。
火心卸下了心里的一个大包袱，觉得脚步轻快了许多。他回到巢穴和沙风一起共享美食后倒头便睡，一觉醒来后，巢穴内已是涂上了一片夕阳红。
灰条顶了顶他说：“醒醒，蓝星正在召集开会。”
火心走出巢穴，发现蓝星已经坐在高岩上，黄牙坐在她旁边。等大家到齐后，黄牙首先发言。
“雷族的同胞们，我有一件事情要向大家宣布。众所周知，我现在已经步入暮年。因此，我想收一名弟子。我找来找去，终于找到一只和我能处得来的猫。”她半开玩笑地说，“而且她是唯一的一只。你们下一任的巫医就是炭爪。”
猫群中响起一片欢呼。炭爪就坐在高岩下，她今天梳理打扮得甚是光鲜，顾盼生姿。
当大家热烈地向她表示祝贺时，她不好意思地低下头去。
蓝星高声道：“炭爪，你愿意成为黄牙的弟子吗？”
炭爪抬起头，凝视着蓝星：“我愿意。”
“既然如此，月半的当晚，你必须去‘母亲嘴’，赶在其他族的巫医之前接受星族的授权，之后你将改名为炭毛。我代表整个雷族祝你一路顺风。”
黄牙半跳半滑溜着从高岩上下来，走过去和炭爪对触鼻子。接着，大伙儿都围了上来。火心瞅见蕨爪一脸神气地挨着姐姐，就连虎掌也走过去说了几句祝贺的话。炭爪得到这个重要的位置显然是众望所归。
火心等待机会上前表示祝贺，暗暗希望自己的问题也能像这件事一样迎刃而解。
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 18
The sun began to set forthe third time since Fireheart had almost drowned. The young warrior was washing himself outside his den, scraping his tongue across his fur. He kept imagining that he could still taste the muddy water. As he twisted his head to wash his back, he heard the pad of approaching paws, and looked up to see Tigerclaw looming over him.
“Bluestar wants you to go to the Gathering,” the deputy growled. “Meet her outside her den—and bring Sandstorm and Graystripe.” He stalked away before Fireheart could reply.
Fireheart got up and stretched. Glancing around, he spotted Graystripe and Sandstorm eating beside the patch of nettles, and hurried over to join them. “Bluestar has chosen us to go to the Gathering,” he announced.
Sandstorm finished off her blackbird and swiped a pink tongue around her jaws. “But can we get to the Gathering?” she meowed, sounding puzzled. “I thought the stream was impossible to cross.”
“Bluestar said StarClan would be angry if we didn’t try,” Fireheart mewed. “She wants to talk to us now—maybe she has a plan.”
Graystripe spoke through a mouthful of vole. “I just hope she doesn’t expect us to swim.” In spite of his words, his eyes shone with excitement as he gulped the rest of the fresh-kill and sprang to his paws. Fireheart knew he must be looking forward to a chance to see Silverstream, and he wondered if they had managed to meet in the time since he and Graystripe had been caught crossing the river after their ill-fated hunting mission for RiverClan.
Fireheart thought of Silverstream’s kits, and he wondered how Graystripe would be able to bear seeing them grow up in another Clan. Would Silverstream ever be able to tell them that Graystripe, the ThunderClan warrior, was their father? Fireheart tried to put the questions out of his mind as he and his friends crossed the clearing to the Highrock. Bluestar was sitting outside her den, with Whitestorm, Mousefur, and Willowpelt already by her side. A moment later Tigerclaw and Darkstripe joined them.
“As you know, the moon is full tonight,” Bluestar began when all the cats were gathered around her. “It will be hard to get to Fourtrees, but StarClan would expect us to do all we can to find a dry route. So I’ve chosen warriors only—this will be no journey for elders or apprentices, or queens expecting kits. Darkstripe, you led a patrol to examine the stream this morning. Report what you found.”
“The water’s going down,” meowed Darkstripe. “But not fast enough. We patrolled as far as the Thunderpath, and there’s nowhere a cat could cross without swimming.”
“The stream’s narrower up there,” mewed Willowpelt. “Could we jump across?”
“Maybe, if you grew wings,” Darkstripe replied. “If all you’ve got is your own paws…”
“But that has to be the best place to try,” insisted Whitestorm.
Bluestar nodded. “We’ll start there,” she decided. “Maybe StarClan will lead us to a safe place.” She rose to her paws and led her cats quietly out of the camp.
The sun had gone down, and twilight blurred the shapes of the forest. In the distance an owl hooted, and Fireheart could hear the rustle of prey in the undergrowth, but the warriors were too intent on their journey to hunt. Bluestar took them straight through the trees to the place where the stream emerged from a hard stone tunnel underneath the Thunderpath. Their usual route to Fourtrees did not pass this close to the Thunderpath, and Fireheart wondered what his leader was planning to do. When they reached the tunnel, he saw that floodwater spread out on either side, reflecting the pale light of the rising moon. Water covered the Thunderpath as well, and as the cats watched they saw a monster pass by, moving slowly, throwing up a filthy wave from its round black paws.
Once the monster had disappeared into the distance, Bluestar led her cats to the water’s edge on the hard surface of the Thunderpath. She sniffed the water, wrinkling her nose at the stench, and cautiously put one paw into the flood. “It’s shallow enough here,” she meowed. “We can walk up the Thunderpath until we’re on the other side of the stream, and get to Fourtrees along the border with ShadowClan.”
Walk up the Thunderpath! Fireheart felt his coat begin to prickle with fear at the thought of deliberately following the tracks of the monsters. Cinderpaw’s accident had shown him what they could do to a cat, and she had only been at the edge.
“What if another monster comes?” asked Graystripe, voicing Fireheart’s fear.
“We will keep to the side,” Bluestar replied calmly. “You saw how slowly that monster was moving. Maybe they don’t like getting their paws wet.”
Fireheart saw that Graystripe still looked doubtful. He shared his friend’s worries, but there was no point in protesting any more. Tigerclaw would just berate them for being cowards.
“Bluestar, wait,” called Whitestorm as the Clan leader waded into the water. “Remember how low our territory is on the other side of this stream? I can’t help thinking it will be flooded there, too. I don’t think we’ll get to Fourtrees without going onto ShadowClan territory, which is higher.”
A cat close to Fireheart let out a faint hiss, and Fireheart felt another pang of fear. A band of warriors setting paw across the border of a Clan with which they had recently battled? If a patrol caught them, they would think it was an invasion.
Bluestar paused with water lapping over her paws, and looked back at Whitestorm. “Maybe,” she acknowledged, “but we’ll have to risk it, if it’s the only way.”
She set off again without giving her cats any time to protest. There was nothing to do but follow. Fireheart splashed along the edge of the Thunderpath just behind Whitestorm. Tigerclaw brought up the rear to keep a lookout for monsters coming up from behind.
At first everything was quiet, except for a single monster traveling in the other direction on the opposite side of the Thunderpath. Then Fireheart heard the familiar growling and the splash of an approaching monster.
“Look out!” Tigerclaw yowled from the end of the line.
Fireheart froze, pressing himself against the low wall that edged the Thunderpath as it crossed the stream. Darkstripe scrambled on top of it and crouched there, baring his teeth at the monster as it passed. For a moment its strange, glittering colors were reflected in the stinking water, and a wave washed out from it, soaking Fireheart as far as his belly fur.
Then it was gone, and Fireheart could breathe again.
As they reached the other side of the stream Fireheart could see that Whitestorm was right. The low-lying land on the ThunderClan side was covered with water. There was nothing to do but continue along the edge of the Thunderpath until the land rose and was dry enough to walk on.
Stepping thankfully off the paw-achingly hard Thunderpath, Fireheart raised his head and opened his jaws. A strong, rank stench filled his scent glands—the scent of ShadowClan! They had followed the Thunderpath out of ThunderClan territory, and now a swath of ShadowClan land lay between them and the Gathering at Fourtrees.
“We shouldn’t be here,” Willowpelt murmured uneasily.
If Bluestar heard the comment, she ignored it, quickening the pace until they were racing across the sodden turf. There were few trees here, and the close-cropped grass offered no cover for trespassing cats. Fireheart’s heart was beating fast, and not only from the speed of their journey. If ShadowClan cats caught them, they would be in trouble, but Fourtrees was not far away, and their luck might hold.
Then he caught sight of a dark shadow streaking over the ground ahead of them, on a course to intercept Bluestar at the head of her patrol. More shadows followed, and a furious yowling split the quiet of the night.
For a heartbeat Bluestar quickened her pace, as if she thought she could outrun the challengers. Then she slowed to a stop. Her warriors did the same. Fireheart stood panting; the shadows drew closer, and he saw that they were ShadowClan cats, headed by their leader, Nightstar.
“Bluestar!” he spat as he halted in front of the ThunderClan leader. “Why have you brought your cats onto ShadowClan land?”
“In these floods, it was the only way to reach Fourtrees,” Bluestar replied, her voice low and steady. “We mean no harm, Nightstar. You know there’s a truce for the Gathering.”
Nightstar hissed, his ears flattened against his head and his fur bristling. “The truce holds at Fourtrees,” he snarled. “There is no truce here.”
Instinctively, Fireheart dropped into a defensive crouch. The ShadowClan cats—apprentices and elders as well as warriors—slipped silently into a semicircle around the smaller band from ThunderClan. Like Nightstar, their coats were bristling and their tails lashed in anger. Their hostile eyes reflected the cold light of the moon. Fireheart knew that if it came to a fight, ThunderClan was hopelessly outnumbered.
“Nightstar, I’m sorry,” meowed Bluestar. “We would never trespass on your territory without good reason. Please let us pass.”
Her words did nothing to appease the ShadowClan cats. Cinderfur, the ShadowClan deputy, moved up beside his leader, a dim shape in the moonlight. “I think they’re here to spy,” he growled softly.
“Spy?” Tigerclaw shouldered his way forward to stand next to Bluestar, his head thrust out toward Cinderfur until their noses were less than a mouse-length apart. “What can we spy on here? We’re nowhere near your camp.”
Cinderfur curled back his lip to reveal thorn-sharp teeth. “Give us the word, Nightstar, and we’ll tear them apart.”
“You can try,” growled Tigerclaw.
For a few heartbeats Nightstar was silent. Fireheart’s muscles tensed. Beside him, Graystripe growled low in his throat. Mousefur bared her teeth at the nearest ShadowClan warrior, and Sandstorm’s pale golden eyes shone with readiness to fight.
“Keep back,” Nightstar grunted at last to his warriors. “We’ll let them pass. I want ThunderClan cats at the Gathering.” Though his words were friendly, he hissed them through bared teeth. Suddenly suspicious, Fireheart whispered to Graystripe, “What does he mean by that?”
Graystripe shrugged. “Dunno. We’ve seen nothing of ShadowClan since the floods started. Who knows what they’re up to?”
“We’ll even give you an escort,” Nightstar went on, narrowing his eyes. “Just to make sure you get to Fourtrees safely. We wouldn’t want ThunderClan to be scared off by an angry mouse, would we?”
A murmur of agreement rose from the ShadowClan warriors. They shifted so that they surrounded the ThunderClan cats on all sides. With a faint nod, Nightstar set off beside Bluestar. The other cats followed, the ShadowClan patrol matching ThunderClan step for step.
ThunderClan headed for the Gathering completely encircled by their enemies.
The moon was at its height as Fireheart and the other ThunderClan cats were herded into the hollow beneath the four oak trees. A fierce, cold light poured down over the members of RiverClan and WindClan who were already assembled. All of them turned to stare curiously at the group descending the slope. Fireheart knew that he and the rest of his Clan must look like prisoners. He stalked along proudly, head and tail held high, defying any cat to say that they had been beaten.
To his relief, the ShadowClan cats slipped away into the shadows as soon as they reached the hollow. Bluestar headed straight for the Great Rock with Tigerclaw at her side. Fireheart looked around for Graystripe, and found that his friend had already disappeared; a moment later he caught sight of him approaching Silverstream, but the silver tabby was surrounded by other RiverClan cats, and Graystripe could only hover nearby, looking frustrated.
Fireheart suppressed a sigh. He knew how much Graystripe must be longing to see Silverstream again, especially now she was expecting kits, but there was a huge risk in meeting at a Gathering, where any cat could catch them together.
“What’s up with you?” Mousefur made him jump. “You look as if you’ve got something on your mind.”
Fireheart stared at the brown warrior. “I…I was thinking about what Nightstar said,” he improvised rapidly. “Why did he say he wants ThunderClan cats here?”
“Well, I’m sure of one thing. He’s not being kind and helpful,” Sandstorm mewed, coming up with Willowpelt beside her. She licked one paw and drew it over her ear. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
“Trouble’s coming,” Willowpelt meowed over one shoulder as she went to join a group of WindClan queens. “I can feel it in my paws.”
Uneasier than ever, Fireheart padded back and forth under the trees, listening with one ear to the cats around him. Most of them were sharing harmless gossip, catching up on news from other Clans, and he heard nothing about what ShadowClan were planning. He noticed, though, that all the ShadowClan cats he passed glared at him, still fiercely hostile. And he caught one or two of them glancing up at the Great Rock as if they were impatient for the meeting to start.
At last a yowling sounded from the top of the rock, and the murmuring from the cats below died away. Fireheart found a place at the edge of the hollow where he had a good view of the four Clan leaders, their silhouettes black against the sky.
Sandstorm settled herself beside him, crouching with her paws tucked under her chest. “Now for it,” she whispered expectantly.
Nightstar stepped forward, stiff-legged with barely suppressed fury. “Cats of all Clans, listen to me!” he demanded. “Listen, and remember. Until last greenleaf, Brokenstar was leader of ShadowClan. He was—”
Tallstar, the leader of WindClan, stepped forward to stand beside Nightstar. “Why do you speak that hated name?” he growled. His eyes flashed, and Fireheart knew he was remembering how Brokenstar and his warriors had driven WindClan out of their territory.
“Hated, yes,” Nightstar agreed. “And with good reason, which you know as well as any cat, Tallstar. He stole kits from ThunderClan. He forced kits from his own Clan into battle too early, and they died. In the end he was so bloodthirsty that we—his own Clan—drove him out. And where is he now?” Nightstar’s voice rose to a shriek. “Was he left to die in the forest, or scavenge a living among the Twolegs? No! Because there are cats here tonight who have taken him in. They are traitors to the warrior code, and to every other cat in the forest!”
Fireheart exchanged an uneasy glance with Sandstorm. He could see what was coming, and by the troubled look she gave him in return, so could she.
“ThunderClan!” Nightstar yowled. “ThunderClan are sheltering Brokenstar!”
第十八章
第十八章
火心落水后的第三天，这位年轻的武士坐在巢穴外舔梳自己身上的毛，仔细进行清理，毛上似乎仍残留有泥水味。就在他扭头清理背部的时候，一阵脚步声走近，他抬头看见虎掌站在面前。
虎掌粗声粗气地说：“蓝星想让你去参加森林大会，要你去见她，就在她的巢穴外——也叫上沙风和灰条。”说完，不等火心回答就走开了。
火心站起来伸个懒腰，环顾四周，看见灰条和沙风正在荨麻丛边吃东西，于是三步并作两步走过去，说：“蓝星要我们去参加森林大会。”
沙风吃完画眉鸟，用舌头在嘴边扫了几圈，有些不解地说：“我们不可能渡过溪水，能到‘四棵树’吗？”
火心说：“蓝星说如果我们不试试，星族会生气的。她现在想和我们谈谈——也许她有主意了。”
灰条一边吃着水老鼠，一边说：“希望不会要我们游过去吧。”话是这么说，他听到这个消息还是挺高兴的，匆匆咽下剩余的鼠肉。火心知道他一直在找机会去见银溪，自从他们上次被虎掌逮个正着后，也不知道灰条和银溪有没有偷偷见过面。
银溪怀上了灰条的孩子，火心真想象不出，灰条怎能忍受他的孩子们要在异族长大这一残酷现实。银溪会告诉孩子们，他们的父亲是一名雷族武士吗？火心尽量不去想这些烦心事，他和沙风、灰条一起穿过会场向高岩走去。蓝星和白风、鼠毛、柳带已经坐在巢穴外。过了一会儿，虎掌和黑条也到了。
蓝星让大伙儿围着她坐好，对他们说：“大家都知道，今晚就是月圆之夜。要想去‘四棵树’不是件容易事，可星族一定想让我们能找到一条路。因此，此行我只带武士同去——没有老年猫，没有学徒，也没有怀孕的母猫。黑条，今早你带领一支队伍去察看了溪水的情况，把你看到的给大家说一下。”
黑条说：“洪水在回落，但回落的速度很慢。我们一直巡行至雷鬼路，除了游过去，没有别的办法渡溪。”
柳带说：“雷鬼路那里的溪流较窄，我们能跳过去吗？”
黑条说：“插上翅膀也许能跳过去，如果单靠四条腿……”
白风说：“不过雷鬼路那里是我们渡溪的最佳地点了。”
蓝星点点头，说：“我们就从那里走。也许星族会引领我们找到一条路。”说完，她带领众猫走出营地。
太阳已经落山，周围的一切事物都变得朦朦胧胧。远处传来猫头鹰的咕咕叫声，近处的灌木丛里则有猎物发出的沙沙声响。不过，众武士忙于赶路，没有心思捕猎。他们一路穿越丛林来到雷鬼路，此处的雷鬼路下有一个隧道，只见溪水从隧道里滚滚流过。往常去“四棵树”时，还从没有路经雷鬼路，因此，火心不知道族长下一步会干什么。走到隧道边，火心看见洪水漫出隧道顶部，连雷鬼路都被淹在水里，在月光下越发显得诡异。这时一只怪物从这里经过，只见它放慢速度涉水而过，推起层层波浪。
怪物渐渐消失在远方，蓝星带着大伙儿走到雷鬼路边，她嗅了嗅路面上的水，水里散发出阵阵恶臭，熏得她直皱鼻子。她小心翼翼地将一只爪子伸进水中，然后说：“这里比较浅，我们可以从雷鬼路走到溪的对岸，然后沿着影族领地的边界去‘四棵树’。”
在雷鬼路上走！火心一想到要和怪物们同行一条路，就感到身上直起鸡皮疙瘩。炭爪的不幸遭遇已经表明了怪物们对待猫的残忍，而她也仅仅是在雷鬼路边缘上走而已。
灰条也和火心一样感到胆怯，问：“如果恰巧有怪物经过怎么办？”
蓝星淡淡地说：“我们尽量靠边走。你们也都看到了，刚才那只怪物走得很慢，大概它也不想沾湿了脚吧。”
火心看出灰条仍然心存疑惑。他和灰条一样感到担心，不过现在不好争论，否则会被虎掌当做是胆小鬼。
蓝星一只脚刚踏进水里，白风突然说：“蓝星，等一下。还记得这条溪的对岸地势也很低吗？我觉得对岸可能也遭洪灾了。要想去‘四棵树’，我们得借道影族的领地，那里的地势较高。”
火心身边的一只猫轻声发出低嘶，白风的提议也令火心感到害怕。一队武士，刚刚和影族打完仗，然后又向他们借道？如果被影族的巡逻队发现，对方会认为他们是在进行入侵活动。
蓝星站在水里想了一会儿，然后对白风说：“也许吧，但如果没有别的路，我们不得不冒一回险。”
没等大家做出反应，蓝星又迈出脚步，看情形也只能服从命令了。火心跟在白风身后，沿着雷鬼路边水而行。虎掌走在最后，以防范怪物从众猫背后驰来。
起初一切还算顺利，除了雷鬼路对面有一个怪物逆向驰过之外，再没有别的动静。然而走到半路的时候，只听身后传来轰隆隆的声音，溅起的水声哗哗直响，一只怪物渐渐逼近。
虎掌大声喊道：“大家小心！”
火心紧紧靠在雷鬼路的路沿上，吓得一动不敢动。黑条则跳到路沿上趴下来，冲着路过的怪物龇牙咧嘴。臭气熏天的水面上泛起一片奇异的色泽，一个浪头涌过来，把火心腹部的毛都浸湿了。
怪物走后，火心方才长长地吁了口气。
来到对岸，火心发现白风说得没错，这里早已是汪洋一片。眼下没有别的办法，唯有继续沿着雷鬼路走到一处地势较高、没有被水淹没的地方再下去。
众猫走到一片干燥的地段后，方才离开雷鬼路。火心抬起头张开嘴巴，嗅到一股浓烈、刺鼻的气味——是影族的气味！他们此时已经走出了雷族的地界，他们所在的地方与“四棵树”之间，隔着一条宽阔的影族领地地带。
柳带不安地说：“我们不该来这里。”
蓝星没有理会她，反而加快脚步通过脚下这片湿漉漉的草地。这片空旷的草地上只是孤零零长了几棵大树，而且草长得很矮，在这里根本无法隐匿行踪。火心的心怦怦直跳。
如果被影族发现就糟了，不过“四棵树”已经遥遥在望，他们也许还有几分运气。
突然，队伍的前方出现了一条黑影，接着，又蹿出了几条，然后只听一声愤怒的吼叫撕破寂静的夜空。
蓝星加快速度，似乎想闯过去，接着又忽然放慢脚步停了下来。大家亦步亦趋地跟在她的身后。那几条黑影越来越近，火心看清楚原来是由影族族长夜星率领的巡逻队。
夜星望着这群不速之客说：“蓝星！你带领属下闯进影族的领地到底有何贵干？”
蓝星不卑不亢地说：“还不是因为这场洪水的缘故，这是唯一一条通往‘四棵树’的路了。我们没有恶意，夜星。你知道，森林大会期间，各个族群是不能刀兵相见的。”
夜星双耳贴平、毛发立，低嘶着说：“这个规矩只在‘四棵树’才有效力，在我们这里可没这个规矩。”
火心本能地俯下身子做出防御姿势。影族的猫们——既有武士，也有学徒和老年猫——迅速将雷族众猫团团围住。如同他们的族长一样，他们竖起身上的毛，尾巴缓缓摆动，一双双充满了敌意的眼睛，反射出冷冷的月光。火心知道一场大战在即，在这场战斗中，雷族猫的数量处于劣势。
蓝星说：“夜星，很抱歉，没有特殊原因我们绝不会擅自进入贵境。请行个方便吧。”
她的话对影族丝毫不起作用。影族的副族长灰毛走上前对夜星说：“我认为他们是来这里刺探机密的。”
“刺探机密？”虎掌分开猫群走到蓝星身边，他向前探着头，几乎触到了灰毛的鼻子，“我们在这里能刺探到什么机密？你们的营地又不在附近。”
灰毛凶狠地咧开大嘴，露出利齿：“下令吧，夜星，把他们撕成两半！”
虎掌厉声喝道：“尽管试试看！”
夜星没有做声。火心肌肉紧绷，身边的灰条则发出低嘶声，鼠毛和站在旁边的影族武士针锋相对，沙风则双目炯炯，准备大干一场。
最后，夜星对他的属下们说：“退后，给他们让开道路。我还想让雷族参加这次森林大会呢。”话虽然友好，但却是咬着牙说的。火心疑心大起，悄声对灰条说：“他到底什么意思？”
灰条耸了耸肩膀说：“不知道。自从闹洪灾后我们再没有和影族打过交道，谁知道他们的近况如何。”
夜星眯缝着眼继续说：“我们甚至还能护送你们，这只是为了让你们能够安全到达‘四棵树’。万一你们路上被一只发怒的老鼠吓跑怎么办，是吗？”
影族的猫们齐声附和。他们移动队形，将雷族的武士们围在中间。夜星略一点头，和蓝星并肩而行。雷族众猫在影族半是护送、半是看押下，乖乖地跟在两位族长身后。
众猫到达“四棵树”时已是月上中天。借着清冷的月光，只见河族和风族已经到齐了。
眼见雷、影这两个原本誓不两立的族群竟然一同从斜坡上下来，河、风两族都很好奇。火心知道雷族此时看起来定然像是影族的俘虏，于是他昂首阔步，以姿态来表明他们并没有被打败。
不过影族还算识趣，他们刚从坡上下来，影族便走开了。蓝星和虎掌并肩径直向巨岩走去。火心回头找灰条，哪里还能看到他的影子。不一会儿，他就发现灰条正朝银溪走过去，不过碍着银溪周围有许多河族的猫，灰条不敢过分靠近，只能沮丧地在附近徘徊。
火心暗地里叹了口气。他知道灰条是多么思念银溪，更何况银溪已怀上了他的孩子。
可是在这种众目睽睽的情况下见面，实在太冒险了。
他正在低头沉思，突然被鼠毛的声音吓了一跳：“你怎么了？一副心事重重的样子。”
火心急中生智，说：“我……我在想夜星说过的话。他为什么想让雷族参加这次大会呢？”
“嗯，我敢肯定当中一定另有隐情。他可不会安着什么好心。”沙风嘴里说着话和柳带并肩走过来，她舔了舔爪子，然后用爪子在耳朵上蹭了蹭，“事情很快就会有眉目的。”
柳带一边向风族的母猫们聚集的地方走去，一边回过头说：“祸在不远，连我的爪子都感觉到了。”
火心心情沉重，在树下走来走去，留心周围的猫谈论的话题。大部分猫议论的都是些无关痛痒的流言飞语，没有谈及任何有关影族的计划的事。每当他从影族的猫们身旁经过时，他们都充满敌意地瞪着他，其中还有一两只猫不时地瞅瞅巨岩，似乎急于想让会议开始。
终于，巨岩上传来一声号叫，大家的议论声渐渐平息。火心看见四大族群的族长们站在巨岩上，以夜空为背景，形成四个黑黢黢的身影。
沙风来到他身边趴下，爪子枕在胸脯下，小声说：“终于开始了。”
夜星走上前，神情冷漠地说：“在场的各位，听我一言！希望大家不要把我下面将要说的话当做是耳旁风。在去年绿叶季之前，断星一直是影族的族长。他……”
风族族长高星上前厉声喝道：“你为什么要提起这个可恶的名字？”他眼里闪着怒火。
火心知道他想起了那段曾被断星驱逐出家园的屈辱历史。
夜星附和道：“是的，他很可恶。大家之所以这么痛恨他是有充分理由的。他偷走了雷族的幼崽，强迫本族的幼崽过早地接受战斗训练，不少幼崽因此而夭折。最终，由于无法忍受他的血腥统治，我们将他逐出族群。但是他现在在哪里呢？”他的声音一下子尖厉起来，“他死在了丛林里呢，还是在两脚兽的地盘里过着沿街乞讨的生活呢？都没有！而这一切都是拜今晚在场的一个族群所赐，是他们收留了断星。他们背叛了武士守则，背叛了森林里所有的族群！”
火心和沙风面面相觑，都感到惴惴不安。火心知道即将到来的麻烦是什么了，显然沙风也想到了。
夜星吼道：“他们就是雷族！雷族正在为断星提供庇护！”
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 19
Shocked and angry caterwauls rose upfrom the cats surrounding the Great Rock. Every muscle in Fireheart’s body urged him to creep backward into the bushes and hide from their fury. It took all his strength to stay where he was. Sandstorm pressed against his side, as shaken as he was, and he found her warmth comforting.
On top of the Great Rock, Tallstar whipped around to face Bluestar. “Is this true?” he snarled.
Bluestar did not reply to him at once. With great dignity, she stepped forward and faced Nightstar. The moonlight glowed on her fur, turning it to silver, so that Fireheart could almost believe that a warrior of StarClan had leaped down from Silverpelt to join them. She waited until the noise from below had died down. “How do you know this?” she coolly asked Nightstar when she could make herself heard. “Have you been spying on our camp?”
“Spying!” Nightstar spat the word out. “There’s no need to spy when your apprentices gossip so freely. My warriors heard this at the last Gathering. Do you dare to stand here now and tell me they are wrong?”
As he spoke, Fireheart remembered seeing Swiftpaw with the ShadowClan apprentices at the end of the last Gathering. No wonder the young cat had looked guilty, if he had been telling his friends all about ThunderClan’s prisoner, so soon after Bluestar had ordered all her Clan to keep quiet!
Bluestar hesitated. Fireheart felt a pang of sympathy for her. Many of her own Clan had been unhappy with her decision to shelter blind Brokentail. How was she going to defend herself in front of the other Clans?
Tallstar crouched in front of her, his ears flattened. “Is it true?” he repeated.
For a moment Bluestar did not speak. Then she lifted her head defiantly. “Yes, it’s true,” she meowed.
“Traitor!” spat Tallstar. “You know what Brokenstar did to us.”
Bluestar’s tail tip twitched; even from his place below the rock Fireheart could see the strain in every muscle of her body, and knew she was struggling to keep calm. “No cat dares to call me traitor!” she hissed.
“I dare,” retorted Tallstar. “You are nothing but a traitor to the warrior code, if you are willing to give shelter to that…that heap of foxdung!”
All around the clearing WindClan cats leaped to their paws, yowling in support of their leader. “Traitor! Traitor!”
At the foot of the Great Rock, Tigerclaw and Deadfoot, the WindClan deputy, faced each other with their hackles raised, lips drawn back to show their sharp teeth, their noses no more than a mouse-length apart.
Fireheart sprang up too, his fighting instinct sending energy to his paws. He caught a glimpse of Willowpelt snarling at the WindClan queens with whom she had been sharing tongues a few moments before. A couple of ShadowClan warriors paced threateningly toward Darkstripe, and Mousefur leaped to his side, ready to attack.
“Stop!” Bluestar yowled from her place on the Great Rock. “How can you break the truce like this? Would you risk the wrath of StarClan?”
As she spoke, the moonlight began to fade. Every cat in the clearing froze. Looking up, Fireheart saw a wisp of cloud passing over the face of the moon. He shivered. Was that a warning from StarClan, because the Clans seemed about to break the sacred truce? Clouds had covered the moon once before, a sign of StarClan’s anger that had brought the Gathering to an end.
As the cloud passed away the moonlight strengthened again. The moment of crisis had passed. Most of the cats sat down, though they continued to glare at one another. Whitestorm pushed himself between Deadfoot and Tigerclaw, and started to mew urgently into the ThunderClan deputy’s ear.
On the top of the Great Rock, Crookedstar stepped forward to stand beside Bluestar. He looked calm; Fireheart realized that of all the Clans, RiverClan had least reason to hate Brokentail. He had not crossed the river into their territory, or stolen their kits.
“Bluestar,” he meowed, “tell us why you have done this.”
“Brokentail is blind,” Bluestar replied, her voice ringing out so that every cat in the clearing could hear her. “He is an old, defeated cat. He is no danger, not anymore. Would you have him starve to death in the forest?”
“Yes!” Nightstar’s voice rose, shrill and insistent. “No death is too cruel for him!” Flecks of foam spun from the ShadowClan leader’s lips. He thrust his head aggressively toward Tallstar and snarled, “Will you forgive the cat who drove you out?”
For a moment Fireheart wondered why Nightstar should be so frantic, so intent on whipping up Tallstar’s hatred like this. He was Clan leader now. What harm could a blind prisoner do him?
Tallstar flinched away from the ShadowClan leader, clearly taken aback by his fury. “You know how much this means to my Clan,” he meowed. “We will never forgive Brokenstar.”
“Then I tell you, you’re wrong,” meowed Bluestar. “The warrior code tells us to show compassion. Tallstar, don’t you remember what ThunderClan did for you when you were defeated and driven out? We found you and brought you home, and later we fought beside you against RiverClan. Have you forgotten what you owe us?”
Far from soothing Tallstar, Bluestar’s words angered the WindClan leader more than ever. He stalked up to her, his fur bristling. “Does ThunderClan claim to own us?” he spat out. “Is that why you brought us back, to bow to your wishes and accept your decisions without question? Do you think WindClan has no honor?”
Bluestar bowed her head in the face of the WindClan leader’s fury. “Tallstar,” she meowed. “You’re right that no Clan can own another. That’s not what I meant. But remember how you felt when you were weak, and try to show compassion now. If we drive Brokentail out to die, we’re no better than he is.”
“Compassion?” spat Nightstar. “Don’t give us tales fit for kits, Bluestar! What compassion did Brokenstar ever show?” Yowls of agreement filled the air as he spoke. Nightstar added, “You must drive him out now, Bluestar, or I’ll want to know the reason why.”
Bluestar’s eyes narrowed to glittering blue slits. “Don’t tell me how to run my Clan!”
“I’ll tell you this,” Nightstar growled. “If ThunderClan keeps on sheltering Brokenstar, you can expect trouble. ShadowClan will see to that.”
“And WindClan,” snarled Tallstar.
For a moment Bluestar was silent. Fireheart knew she knew how dangerous it was to make enemies of two Clans at once, especially when some of her own cats were unhappy with her decision to take care of Brokentail. “ThunderClan does not take orders from other Clans,” she meowed at last. “We do what we think is right.”
“Right?” Nightstar jeered. “To shelter that bloodthirsty—”
“Enough!” Bluestar interrupted. “No more argument. There’s other business to discuss at this Gathering, or had you forgotten?”
Nightstar and Tallstar exchanged a glance, and while they hesitated Crookedstar stepped forward to report on the floods and the damage done to the RiverClan camp. They let him speak, though Fireheart didn’t think that many cats were listening. The hollow was buzzing with shocked speculation about Brokentail.
Sandstorm pressed closer to Fireheart and mewed in his ear, “I knew there’d be trouble over Brokentail, as soon as Nightstar started to speak.”
“I know,” Fireheart replied. “But Bluestar can’t send him away now. It would look as if she were giving in. No cat would respect her after that, not from ThunderClan or any Clan.”
Sandstorm gave a low purr of agreement. Fireheart tried to concentrate on the rest of the Gathering, but it was difficult. He couldn’t help being aware of the hostile glares on all sides from the cats of WindClan and ShadowClan, and he wished the Gathering were over.
It seemed a long time before the moon began to sink and cats began to divide into their patrols for the journey home. In silent accord, the ThunderClan warriors bounded up to Bluestar as soon as she left the Great Rock and made a protective circle around her. Fireheart guessed they were all as uncertain as he was that the truce would hold.
As the warriors formed up around Bluestar, Fireheart caught sight of Onewhisker, slipping past on his way to join a group of WindClan cats. Their eyes met, and Onewhisker paused. “I’m sorry about this, Fireheart,” he meowed softly. “I haven’t forgotten how you brought us home.”
“Thanks, Onewhisker,” Fireheart replied. “I wish—”
He broke off as Tigerclaw pushed his way into the circle of cats, glaring at them and baring his teeth at Onewhisker, who backed away toward the WindClan cats. Fireheart braced himself for a rebuke, but the deputy stalked straight past him.
“I hope you’re satisfied,” Tigerclaw snarled at Bluestar as he took his place beside her. “Now two Clans are yowling for our blood. We should have thrown out that piece of vermin long ago.”
Fireheart couldn’t help feeling surprised by Tigerclaw’s hostility toward the ThunderClan prisoner. Not long before, he had seen Tigerclaw sharing tongues with Brokentail, as if the deputy were reconciled to the cat staying in the Clan. But maybe it wasn’t so surprising that he had been ruffled—as they all had—by the clash with WindClan and ShadowClan.
“Tigerclaw, this is no place to argue among ourselves,” Bluestar told him quietly. “When we get back to camp—”
“And how do you intend to get back?” It was Nightstar who interrupted, pushing his way past the ThunderClan warriors. “Not the way you came, I hope. If you set one paw on ShadowClan territory, we’ll rip you to pieces.” He turned and slipped away into the shadows without waiting for a reply.
For a moment Bluestar looked confused. There was no other way back to the ThunderClan camp, Fireheart knew, unless they tried to swim the stream. He shivered at the thought of the fierce current that had almost cost him his life. Would they have to stay at Fourtrees until the floodwater went down? Then he caught the scent of RiverClan, and turned to see Crookedstar approaching with some of his warriors.
“I heard that,” the pale tabby tom addressed Bluestar. “Nightstar is wrong. At a time like this, all cats should help one another.” He glanced at Fireheart as he spoke, and Fireheart guessed he was remembering how Fireheart and Graystripe had helped RiverClan by sharing prey. But none of the ThunderClan cats here, except for Bluestar, knew anything about that, and Fireheart heard some uneasy murmurings from the warriors around him.
“I can offer you a way home,” Crookedstar continued. “To get here, we crossed the river by the Twoleg bridge. If you go that way, you can travel through our territory and cross back lower down—there’s a dead tree caught up by the stepping-stones.”
Before Bluestar could speak, Tigerclaw hissed, “And why should we trust RiverClan?”
Crookedstar ignored him, his amber eyes on Bluestar as he waited for her response. She dipped her head respectfully. “Thank you, Crookedstar. We accept your offer.”
The RiverClan leader nodded briefly and turned to escort her out of the clearing. There was still some muttering among the ThunderClan cats as Bluestar led her warriors through the bushes and up the slope out of the hollow. Cats from ShadowClan and WindClan hissed at them, even though RiverClan warriors flanked them protectively on both sides. Fireheart realized with a jolt that the divisions within the forest had shifted in the space of a single Gathering.
He was relieved when they reached the top of the slope and left the hostile Gathering behind them. He noticed Graystripe trying to edge his way closer to Silverstream, but another of the RiverClan queens was in his way, giving Silverstream a lick from time to time
“You’re sure you’re not tired?” the queen fussed. “It’s a long journey when you’re expecting kits.”
“No, Greenflower, I’m fine,” Silverstream replied patiently, casting a frustrated glance at Graystripe over her friend’s head.
Tigerclaw brought up the rear of the ThunderClan patrol, swinging his huge head aggressively from side to side as if he expected the RiverClan cats to attack at any moment.
Bluestar, on the other hand, seemed to be quite at ease traveling with the other Clan. Once they were away from Fourtrees she let Crookedstar take the lead, while she dropped back to join Mistyfoot. “I hear you have kits,” she meowed, her voice level. “Are they well?”
Mistyfoot looked slightly surprised to be addressed by the ThunderClan leader. “Two…two of them were swept away in the river,” she stammered. “Fireheart and Graystripe saved them.”
“I’m sorry. You must have been frightened for them,” Bluestar murmured, her blue eyes soft with sympathy. “I’m glad ThunderClan warriors were able to help. Did your kits recover?”
“Yes, they’re fine now, Bluestar.” Mistyfoot still seemed bewildered at being questioned so closely by the ThunderClan leader. “They’re all fine. They’ll be apprentices soon.”
“And I’m sure they’ll make fine warriors,” Bluestar mewed warmly.
Watching his leader and the RiverClan queen walking step for step, Fireheart couldn’t help thinking how their blue-gray fur shone almost identically in the moonlight. They had the same neat, compact bodies, and when they had to leap over a log that lay in their path they both flexed their limbs with the same economical ripple of muscles. Stonefur, coming up behind, was a copy of his sister, with a silver sheen to his coat and an enviable deftness of movement.
If cats from different Clans could look so alike, Fireheart wondered, why couldn’t they think alike too? Why did there have to be so much quarreling between them? Uncomfortably he remembered the antagonism shown toward his Clan by ShadowClan and WindClan, and their bitterness over Bluestar’s defense of Brokentail. As he padded toward the bridge, alert for the scent of Twolegs, Fireheart felt the cold winds of war beginning to sweep over the forest.
On the second dawn after the Gathering, Fireheart woke in the warriors’ den to find that Graystripe had already left. The hollow in the moss where his friend had been sleeping was quite cold.
Gone to meet Silverstream, Fireheart thought with a sigh of resignation. It was hardly surprising, now that Graystripe knew she was going to have his kits, but it meant that Fireheart would have to cover for his absence again.
Yawning widely, Fireheart pushed his way through the outer branches of the bush, and shook moss from his coat while he looked around the clearing. The sun was beginning to edge its way above the bracken wall, casting long shadows over the bare ground. The sky was pure, cloudless, and blue. Birdsong all around held the promise of easy prey.
“Hey, Brackenpaw!” Fireheart called to the apprentice, who sat blinking at the entrance to his den. “Do you want to go hunting?”
Brackenpaw leaped to his paws and raced across the clearing to Fireheart. “Now?” he asked, delight shining in his eyes.
“Yes, now,” meowed Fireheart, suddenly sharing the young cat’s eagerness. “I could do with a nice fresh mouse, couldn’t you?”
Brackenpaw fell in behind him as they headed for the gorse tunnel. He hadn’t even asked where Graystripe was, Fireheart realized. Graystripe had never taken his duties as mentor seriously, he thought with a pang of worry. He had been more interested in Silverstream right from the start. Meanwhile, Fireheart himself had more or less taken over Brackenpaw’s training. He enjoyed it, and he liked the serious-minded ginger tom, but he was troubled that loyalty to the Clan didn’t mean more to Graystripe.
He put these thoughts aside as he led Brackenpaw up the ravine, avoiding the muddy streambed where the floodwater was drying up. It was hard to be sad or anxious on a bright, warm day like this. With the floods receding more and more every day, there was no longer any danger that ThunderClan would be driven out of their camp by rising water.
At the top of the ravine, Fireheart paused. “Okay, Brackenpaw,” he meowed. “Have a good sniff. What can you smell?”
Brackenpaw stood with his head erect, his eyes closed, and his jaws parted to drink in the breeze. “Mouse,” he mewed at last. “Rabbit, and blackbird, and…some other bird I don’t know.”
“That’s woodpecker,” Fireheart told him. “Anything else?”
Brackenpaw concentrated, and his eyes snapped open in alarm. “Fox!”
“Fresh?”
The apprentice sniffed again and then relaxed, looking a bit ashamed of himself. “No, stale. Two or three days old, I think.”
“Good, Brackenpaw. Now, you head that way, as far as the two old oaks, and I’ll go this way.” He watched Brackenpaw for a few moments as the apprentice moved slowly into the shadow of the trees, stopping every few paces to taste the air. A flutter of wings under a bush distracted Fireheart; turning his head he saw a thrush, flapping to keep its balance as it tugged a worm out of the soil.
Fireheart crouched down and crept toward it paw by paw. The thrush pulled the worm free and started to tuck in; Fireheart bunched his muscles for the pounce.
“Fireheart! Fireheart!”
Brackenpaw’s frantic meow split the silence. His paws crunched on dead leaves as he tore through the trees toward Fireheart. Though Fireheart hurled himself at the thrush it had been given too much warning. It flew up to a low branch, squawking in panic, while Fireheart’s paws thudded onto the empty ground.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Fireheart swung around angrily to face the apprentice. “I’d have caught that thrush, and now listen to it! Every bit of prey in the forest will—”
“Fireheart!” Brackenpaw gasped out, skidding to a halt in front of him. “They’re coming! I could smell them; then I saw them!”
“Smell who? Who’s coming?”
Brackenpaw’s eyes were round with fear. “ShadowClan and WindClan!” he meowed. “They’re coming to invade our camp!”
第十九章
第十九章
巨岩下响起一片惊呼声。在群猫怒视之下，火心恨不得挖个地洞钻进去。他用尽全身的气力才待在原地，沙风紧贴着他，和他一样感到惶恐。沙风的体温阵阵传来，使火心渐渐镇定下来。
在巨岩上，高星扭头质问蓝星：“这是真的吗？”
蓝星没有立即做出回答，而是不卑不亢地上前几步面对着夜星。月光如华，倾泻在蓝星的身上，使得她银光闪闪。在火心的眼里，她就像是一位从银河降临的星族武士。巨岩下群猫的议论声渐渐止息，蓝星淡淡地对夜星说：“你是怎么知道这件事的？你们一直在刺探我们营地内的情报吗？”
夜星咬牙切齿地说：“刺探！你们的学徒把这件事传得满天飞，我们没有必要再去刺探什么吧。我们是在上次的森林大会上得到这个消息的。你敢当着大伙儿的面说这个消息不是真的吗？”
火心听到这里，顿时想起自己在上次森林大会中曾看见迅爪和影族的学徒们待在一起。难怪他当时一脸愧疚的样子。蓝星刚刚下令不许把这件事泄露出去，他就到处宣扬！
蓝星沉吟不决。火心突然间十分同情她。她原本是顶着来自族内的巨大压力收容断尾的，现在她又将如何应对来自外族的责难呢？
高星又冷冷地问：“这是真的吗？”
蓝星沉默半晌，然后抬起头说：“是真的。”
高星骂道：“叛徒！断星对我们做过的好事你可是一清二楚的。”
蓝星的尾巴晃了晃，虽然火心站在巨岩下，仍能看到她的每条肌肉都绷得紧紧的。蓝星强抑怒火，低嘶着说：“没有猫敢叫我叛徒！”
高星反唇相讥：“我就敢。如果你执意庇护那个……那个浑蛋，你就是违反武士守则的叛徒！”
会场上所有风族的猫都跳起身，为他们的族长助威呐喊：“叛徒！叛徒！”
在巨岩脚下，虎掌和坏脚两位副族长怒目相视，几乎鼻子贴着鼻子，彼此间张牙舞爪，虚张声势。
火心也站起来，战斗的冲动立刻为他的四肢注满了力量。柳带刚才还和一名风族的母猫谈得投机，此时也是仇敌相见，分外眼红。两只影族武士向黑条逼近，鼠毛跳过去相助，准备迎敌。
这时，巨岩上传来蓝星的怒斥：“住手！你们怎么能破坏规矩呢？你们想触怒星族吗？”
就在她说话的当口，月光忽然暗淡下来。所有的猫都站在原地往天上看，只见一团乌云经过，恰巧遮住了月亮。大家都感到不寒而栗。这是星族在警告他们不要破坏规矩吗？
原先也发生过这种乌云遮月的情况，大家认为这是星族发怒的征兆，因此草草结束了森林大会。
乌云继续飘动，月光又渐渐变强。这时场上的火药味淡了许多。大部分猫坐了下来，不过彼此间的敌意一点儿也没有减弱。白风站在坏脚和虎掌中间，防止两只猫重启战端。
钩星上前几步站在蓝星旁边，神色平静。火心意识到在所有族群当中，唯有河族与断尾没有宿怨。断尾既没有渡过河侵入他们的领地，也没有偷窃他们的幼崽。
钩星说：“蓝星，把你这么做的原因给大家说一说。”
蓝星回答说：“断尾已经双目失明了。”她提高嗓门儿，好让在场的每只猫都听得见：“他年老体弱，被我们彻底打垮了，他不可能再构成威胁。你们能眼睁睁地看着他在森林里饿死吗？”
“当然能！”夜星兴致勃勃，急切地说，“让他死就算便宜他了！”他唾沫横飞，伸长脖子对高星无礼地说：“你能原谅曾把你们赶跑的猫吗？”
火心想不通夜星为什么如此露骨地挑动高星的怨恨。他如今已经是族长了，一只瞎了双眼、沦为俘虏的老猫值得他如此兴师动众吗？
高星没有料到夜星会如此激动，不由得后退两步，说：“你知道这件事对我们族群意味着什么，我们永远都不会宽恕断星。”
蓝星说：“既然这样，就让我来告诉你们，你们错了。武士守则教导我们要表现出怜悯。高星，你难道不记得当初你们被逐出家园时，雷族是怎样帮助你们的吗？我们四处寻找，将你们带回家，过后不久我们又和你们一道抵御侵略。你忘了你们亏欠雷族什么了吗？”
蓝星的话犹如火上浇油，高星腾地走过来，恶狠狠地说：“雷族想统治我们吗？你们带我们回到家园，就是为了让我们奴颜婢膝、唯命是从吗？你以为风族不懂廉耻吗？”
蓝星小心翼翼地说：“高星，你说得对，没有哪个族群能够奴役另一个族群。我并不是这个意思。但请回想一下当你们穷困潦倒的时候，你们的心里是什么感受，然后试着表现出一些同情之心。如果我们任由断尾自生自灭，就变得跟他一样残忍了。”
夜星恨恨地说：“同情？别把我们当小孩子哄了，蓝星！断星什么时候表现出过同情？”巨岩下群猫响起一片附和声，夜星继续说，“蓝星，你现在必须把他赶走，给大伙儿一个交代。”
蓝星眯缝起眼睛，眼里寒光闪闪：“别对我的族群指手画脚！”
夜星吼道：“我就这么说了，怎样？如果雷族执意庇护断星，那就是在自找麻烦，影族决不答应。”
高星恶狠狠地说：“还有风族。”
蓝星没有做声。火心知道她如今处在内外交困的局面中，内有同胞们的不理解，对外则同时对抗两个族群。最后，蓝星说：“雷族不会听命于任何别的族群，我们只做自己认为正确的事情。”
夜星嘲弄说：“正确？庇护那个冷血……”
蓝星截断他的话说：“够了！不要再为此争论了。这次大会还有别的事要商量，你忘了吗？”
夜星和高星面面相觑，一时间犹豫不决。这时钩星走上前向大家通报洪水给河族营地造成的损失情况，但此时大家都已心不在焉，猫群中响起一片嗡嗡声。
沙风凑近火心的耳边说：“夜星刚一开口，我就知道断尾的事情要出麻烦。”
火心说：“是啊。但蓝星现在是骑虎难下，如果她在这个时候退缩，不但别族的猫瞧不起她，连我们自己族群也要把她看扁了。”
沙风深表赞同。虽然还有议程没有进行完，但火心已没有心思再听了，在风、影两族的虎视眈眈下，他巴不得会议早些结束。
时间过得很慢，月亮终于沉入天际，众猫开始纷纷离去。蓝星刚从巨岩上下来，雷族武士们便不约而同地迎了上去，大家围住蓝星，以防出现意外情况。
就在忙乱之际，火心瞅见一根须正往风族的队伍那边跑。两只猫目光相接，一根须停下脚步，轻声说：“对于今天的事情我很抱歉，火心，我不会忘记你是怎么将我们带回家园的。”
火心回答：“谢谢，一根须。我希望……”
虎掌突然走过来，眼睛死死盯着他们，冲着一根须龇牙咧嘴，一根须匆匆忙忙回到风族伙伴那里。火心硬着头皮等待挨骂，哪知虎掌什么也没说，只是从他身边走过。
虎掌走到蓝星身边，不满地说：“这下满意了吧，如今有两个族群都吆喝着要吸干我们的血。我们早该把那个寄生虫赶走！”
虎掌的这番话让火心着实吃了一惊。不久前，他还看见虎掌和断尾在亲密交谈，似乎同意了让断尾留下。也许是风族和影族的激烈反应又把虎掌的怒火勾了起来。
蓝星平静地说：“虎掌，这里不是我们吵嘴的地方。我们回到营地后……”
“可是你们如何回去呢？”正从他们身边经过的夜星插嘴说，“你们好像没有路可以回家了。如果你们胆敢踏进影族领地一步，我们就把你们碎尸万段。”说完便转身离去。
蓝星一时间茫然失措。火心知道，除非从河上游过去，否则没有路可以回营地。一想到那条差点儿要了他小命的急流，他就感到胆寒。难道他们要在“四棵树”这里等待洪水退去吗？这时，一股河族的气味传来，他扭头看见钩星和几名河族武士正朝他们这边走来。
钩星对蓝星说：“我都听见了，夜星做得不对。在这种时刻，所有的猫都应当互帮互助。”说着他瞥了眼火心，火心知道钩星指的是他和灰条为河族提供食物的事情。但是雷族中，除了蓝星之外，没有猫懂得钩星话里的含义，于是雷族里有些猫开始躁动起来。
钩星继续说：“我们能为你们提供一条回家的路。我们从这里利用两脚兽的桥渡过河，你们可以途经我们的领地，找一处河水浅的地方过河——我知道有个地方，那里有一棵树恰好卡在两岸的石头中间。”
没等蓝星说话，虎掌便低嘶着说：“可我们为什么要信任河族？”
钩星没有理会他，眼睛看着蓝星，等待她的回答。蓝星尊敬地低下头，说：“谢谢你，钩星。我们接受你们的好意。”
钩星略一点头，陪同蓝星一道走出会场。雷族众猫在蓝星的带领下，穿过灌木开始往山谷外爬去，有些猫嘴里仍在喋喋不休。影、风两族内的一些猫不停地对他们做出一些不友好的举动，因此河族的武士们护卫在两侧，以防发生冲突。这一幕景象让火心感到非常震惊，就在这次会议上，森林里分成了截然对立的两派。
走出山谷，火心才渐渐放下了心。他瞅见灰条想接近银溪，但有几只河族的母猫正陪护着她，因此相见十分不便。
有一只母猫大惊小怪地说：“你确定不感到劳累吗？对于一个孕妇来说这段路程可不近。”
银溪耐着性子说：“不累，绿花，我很好。”银溪隔着那只母猫无奈地望了灰条一眼。
虎掌走在队伍的最后，巨大的脑袋摆来摆去地瞅，似乎认为河族随时都可能发动攻击。
相比之下，蓝星则显得十分坦然。离开“四棵树”后，她让钩星先走，自己则来到雾脚旁边，淡淡地说：“我听说你生幼崽了。他们还好吧？”
雾脚没想到雷族的族长会和自己说话，不由得十分惊讶，结结巴巴地说：“有两……两个被水冲到了河里，多亏火心和灰条救了他们。”
蓝星的双眼流露出同情的神色，低声说：“真遗憾，你一定被吓坏了。我很高兴雷族的武士能够及时伸出援手。你的孩子们恢复健康了吗？”
“是的，他们现在很好，蓝星。”雾脚仍被这位雷族族长的家常话搞得摸不着头脑，“他们都好，不久就能当学徒了。”
蓝星温和地说：“我敢肯定，他们一定能成为优秀的武士。”
火心看着蓝星和雾脚肩并肩走在一起，不由得觉得，她们身上灰色的毛在月光照射下发出的光泽竟是如此相似。她们有着同样结实的体格，当她们起步跳跃时，身段转折起伏，竟然如出一辙。走在后面的石毛也是长着一身银光闪闪的皮毛，行动时敏捷灵活，简直就是他姐姐雾脚的翻版。
火心暗想，不同族群的猫外貌能够如此相似，为什么观念却大相径庭呢？族群之间为什么纷争不断？他想起雷族和影、风二族之间剑拔弩张的场面，想起他们对维护断尾的蓝星恶语相加，心里很不是滋味。当他走过弥散着两脚兽气息的小桥时，寒风骤起，吹冷了整片森林。
第二天清晨，火心醒来时灰条已经离开了巢穴，他的窝已经凉透了，显然已离去多时。
“又去看银溪了。”火心无奈地叹了口气。这种事他早已见怪不怪，更何况如今灰条已经知道银溪临产在即，只不过自己又得帮他掩饰了。
火心打着哈欠迈步走出巢穴，抖去粘在身上的苔藓，举目四顾。太阳刚刚露出半张脸，周围树木的影子被阳光拉得老长老长。碧空万里无云，鸟儿们在尽情欢唱，处处都蕴涵着猎物丰盛的迹象。
蕨爪正睡眼惺忪地坐在学徒巢穴门口，火心喊道：“喂，蕨爪，你想外出打猎吗？”
蕨爪顿时两眼放光，二话不说急忙跑过来问：“现在吗？”
“是的，现在。”火心说着，突然被蕨爪的热情所感染，说，“我能抓好多好多老鼠，你能吗？”
蕨爪跟着他朝金雀花通道走去，没有问他灰条去哪里了。这也难怪，灰条从没有认真履行过老师的职责。想到这里，火心感到忧心忡忡，虽然现在他对银溪的看法已经大为改观。说实话，蕨爪这个徒弟或多或少是他火心拉扯起来的。他喜欢训练这只姜黄色的小猫，令他担心的是灰条可能并没有将“忠诚”二字放在心上。
他将这些想法放在一边，带着蕨爪往沟外爬。洪水刚退不久，沟里泥泞不堪，他们不得不绕开走。在这种明媚、温暖的天气里，无论是谁都感到心胸开阔，就算有天大的烦心事也会烟消云散。随着水势在一天天退去，再也不必担心雷族的营地会被洪水冲垮了。
爬上了沟，火心停下脚步说：“好了，蕨爪，仔细嗅嗅，看能嗅到什么？”
蕨爪站得笔直，合上双眼，迎着微风半张开嘴巴。过了半晌，他说：“有老鼠、兔子、画眉鸟，还有……还有一种鸟我认不出来。”
火心告诉他说：“那是啄木鸟。还有别的吗？”
蕨爪全神贯注，忽然睁开眼睛，紧张地说：“还有狐狸！”
“气味新鲜吗？”
蕨爪又嗅了嗅，神情放松下来，有些不好意思地说：“不新鲜，我猜大概有两三天了吧。”
“很好，蕨爪。现在你顺着那条路走，一直走到那两棵老橡树那里，我顺着这条路走。”蕨爪小心翼翼地走进树丛里，每走几步就停下来嗅嗅空气。火心目送他离去，这时，灌木丛里传来一阵翅膀扑腾的声音，他一扭头看见一只歌鸫正扇着翅膀以保持身体平衡，嘴里叼着一只虫子正往泥土外拉。
火心急忙俯下身子一步一步地靠过去。那只歌鸫已将虫子从泥土中拽了出来，正往肚子里咽。火心收紧肌肉准备跃起。
“火心！火心！”
蕨爪疯狂的喊叫声划破沉寂。一阵树叶的哗哗声过后，蕨爪从树丛里钻出来，朝火心猛跑。歌鸫受到惊吓，扑棱着飞到树上，火心扑了个空，四爪重重地落回地面。
他怒气冲冲地扭头喝道：“看你都干了些什么好事！好好听着！森林里的每一只猎物都……”
蕨爪冲到他面前刹住脚步，气喘吁吁地说：“火心！他们来了！我先是嗅到他们的气味，然后就看见他们了！”
“嗅到谁的气味？谁来了？”
蕨爪睁大眼睛，眼里充满了恐惧：“是影族和风族！他们来袭击我们的营地了！”
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 20
“Where? How many warriors?” Fireheart demanded.
“Over there.” Brackenpaw flicked his tail toward the deeper forest. “I don’t know how many. They’re creeping through the undergrowth.”
“Okay.” Fireheart thought quickly, trying to ignore the sudden thumping of his heart. “Go back to camp. Warn Bluestar and Tigerclaw. We need some warriors out here right now.”
“Yes, Fireheart.” Brackenpaw spun around and raced off down the ravine.
As soon as he had gone, Fireheart headed into the forest, prowling with new caution beneath the arching ferns. At first all seemed quiet, though it wasn’t long before he picked up the rank scent of many intruding cats—the scents of WindClan and ShadowClan.
Somewhere ahead, a bird sounded a stuttering alarm call. Fireheart took cover behind a tree. He could still see nothing. His fur prickled with anticipation.
He bunched his hindquarters and sprang, clawing his way up the trunk of the tree until he could scramble onto a low branch. Crouching there, he peered down through the leaves.
The forest floor seemed empty, with not even a beetle stirring. Then Fireheart caught sight of a fern quivering. Something flashed white and was gone. Moments later a dark head poked out of the undergrowth below the tree. Fireheart recognized Nightstar.
A soft mew came from him. “Follow me!”
The ShadowClan leader emerged from the bracken and raced across a stretch of open ground. A band of cats streamed after him; Fireheart grew even more tense when he saw how many. Warriors from WindClan and ShadowClan bore down on his camp together; Fireheart saw Tallstar and Cinderfur, Deadfoot and Stumpytail, Wetfoot and Onewhisker, running side by side as if they were littermates.
Not long ago, these cats had been fighting each other in the snowbound WindClan camp. Now they were united in their hatred of Brokentail and of ThunderClan for sheltering him.
Fireheart knew he would have to fight them. Even though he thought of the WindClan warriors as his friends, he would have to stand by his leader and his own Clan.
As Fireheart braced himself to spring down, he heard a single furious caterwaul from the direction of the camp, and recognized Tigerclaw’s voice summoning the warriors to battle. For all his distrust of the deputy, Fireheart couldn’t help feeling relieved. Right now, ThunderClan needed all of Tigerclaw’s fierce courage and fighting skills.
Fireheart scrambled down the tree, hit the ground with all four paws, and streaked toward the battle, no longer trying to hide from the invaders. When he broke out of the trees, he saw that the open ground at the top of the ravine was covered with a mass of writhing, spitting cats. Tigerclaw and Nightstar wrestled together, clawing furiously. Darkstripe had pinned down a WindClan warrior. Mousefur flung herself, screeching in fury, on top of Cinderfur. Morningflower, a WindClan queen, raked her claws down Longtail’s flank and sent him howling back down the slope.
Fireheart sprang at Morningflower, anger pounding through his veins. He couldn’t help remembering how he had helped this same queen carry her kit on the way back to WindClan’s camp after Brokenstar had driven out her Clan. She leaped around as Fireheart landed beside her, and pulled back just as she was about to swipe him with her claws. For a few heartbeats both cats stared at each other. Morningflower’s eyes were filled with sorrow, and Fireheart could see that she too remembered what they had endured together. He could not bring himself to strike her, and after a moment she backed away from him and disappeared into the heaving mass of cats.
Before he could draw breath, a cat slammed into Fireheart from behind, knocking him onto the damp ground. He scrabbled vainly to get up. Twisting his neck, he gazed up into the fierce eyes of the ShadowClan warrior Stumpytail; a heartbeat later the ShadowClan warrior’s teeth sank into his shoulder. Letting out a yowl of pain, Fireheart battered at Stumpytail’s belly with his back legs, clawing out great clumps of his brown tabby fur. Stumpytail’s blood spattered him as the ShadowClan warrior reared back in agony and was gone.
Fireheart scrambled up and looked around, panting. The fiercest fighting had shifted to the bottom of the ravine. The enemy cats were pushing forward, clearly determined to invade the camp. The outnumbered ThunderClan warriors were unable to keep them back. And where was Bluestar?
Then Fireheart saw her. With Whitestorm and Dustpelt, she crouched at the entrance to the gorse tunnel, ready to bar the way with her life. Already Onewhisker and Wetfoot had broken through Tigerclaw’s defense, and as Fireheart stared, horrified, Wetfoot flung himself at Bluestar.
Fireheart raced along the top of the ravine. Out of the whole of ThunderClan, only he and Yellowfang knew that Bluestar was on the last of her nine lives. If she died in this battle, ThunderClan would be without a leader—or worse, would be left to the control of Tigerclaw.
When he was above the tunnel entrance, Fireheart plunged straight down the slope, his paws barely touching the treacherously steep rocks, to land, skidding, in the thick of the fight. His teeth tore into Wetfoot’s neck, dragging the warrior off Bluestar. The ThunderClan leader slashed her claws at the gray tabby tom until he scrabbled backward and fled.
A wave of fighting cats bore down on Fireheart and the other cats by the gorse tunnel. Fireheart bit and scratched instinctively without knowing which cat he was fighting. Sharp claws slashed his forehead and blood began trickling into his eyes. He took a gasping breath, feeling as if he were about to suffocate in the rank scent of his enemies.
Then he heard Bluestar meowing close to his ear. “They’re pushing through the wall! Fall back—defend the camp!”
Fireheart scrabbled to keep on his paws as the invaders carried the battle into the tunnel itself. The gorse tore at his fur like hostile claws. It was impossible to fight here, so he turned along his own length and struggled through the gorse into the camp.
In the clearing, Willowpelt, Runningwind, and Sandstorm had rushed to guard the nursery, ready to protect the nursing queens and their kits. Longtail, hastily licking his wounds, stood outside Brokentail’s den with Brackenpaw beside him. Among the branches of the fallen tree, Fireheart could just make out the dark tabby fur and sightless eyes of the former ShadowClan leader. He couldn’t help feeling a pang of frustration that they were being attacked for the sake of this cruel and murderous cat.
Nightstar and Onewhisker were the first to break out of the tunnel, streaking across the open ground toward Brokentail’s den. Tallstar pushed his way through the thorny hedge and joined them. More of the invaders followed.
“Stop them!” Fireheart yowled, rallying the Clan warriors as he raced across the clearing. “They want Brokentail!” He threw himself on Nightstar, rolling the black tom over on the dusty ground. He couldn’t help wondering how many ThunderClan cats really wanted to defend the former ShadowClan leader. Many of them would no doubt be happy to hand him over to the other Clans. But Fireheart also felt sure that they would stay loyal; whatever they felt in their hearts, they would fight for ThunderClan.
He pinned Nightstar down, his teeth buried in the leader’s bony shoulder. Nightstar writhed under him and then heaved upward. Fireheart lost his balance and suddenly found that he was trapped—the warrior, though old, was still ferociously strong.
Nightstar bared his fangs, his eyes gleaming. All of a sudden he reared back, letting Fireheart go. Shaking blood from his eyes, Fireheart saw that Brackenpaw had leaped at the ShadowClan leader and was clinging to his back with all four paws. Nightstar tried vainly to shake him off and then rolled over, crushing Brackenpaw against the ground. The apprentice let out a furious howl.
Fireheart slashed at Nightstar with claws outstretched, but Tallstar thrust between them, trying to reach Brokentail’s den. To his dismay, Fireheart felt himself being forced backward.
Then Tigerclaw was there. The huge deputy was bleeding from many wounds and his fur was plastered with mud, but his amber eyes still burned with the fire of battle. He swiped a massive paw at Tallstar, bowling him over and sending him scrambling away.
More ThunderClan cats appeared: Whitestorm, Mousefur, Runningwind, and Bluestar herself. The tide of battle turned. The invaders started to retreat, breaking for the tunnel and the gaps in the bracken around the clearing. Fireheart watched, panting, as Onewhisker vanished at the tail end of the fleeing invaders. The battle was over.
Brokentail stayed crouching in his den, his head low as he stared unseeing at the ground. He had made not one sound during the battle. Fireheart wondered if he even knew what his adopted Clan had risked for him.
Close by, Brackenpaw struggled to his paws. Fur hung raggedly from one shoulder, and his coat was smeared with dust and blood, but his eyes glowed.
“Well done,” Fireheart meowed. “You fought like a warrior.”
The apprentice’s eyes shone even brighter.
Meanwhile the battered ThunderClan cats were gathered around Bluestar. All were muddy and bleeding, and they looked as exhausted as Fireheart felt. At first they were silent, their heads lowered. Fireheart could sense no triumph in their victory.
“You brought this on us!” It was Darkstripe who spoke, angrily confronting Bluestar. “You made us keep Brokentail here, and now we’ve been torn to pieces defending him. How long before one of us is killed for his sake?”
Bluestar looked troubled. “I never thought it would be easy, Darkstripe. But we must do what we believe is right.”
Darkstripe spat at her with contempt. “For Brokentail? For a couple of mousetails I’d kill him myself!”
Several of the other warriors mewed their agreement.
“Darkstripe.” Tigerclaw shouldered his way through the assembled cats to stand beside Bluestar, who looked suddenly old and fragile beside the huge dark tabby. “This is your leader you’re talking to. Show some respect.”
For a heartbeat Darkstripe glared at them both, then bowed his head. Tigerclaw swung his massive head, sweeping his amber gaze over all the cats.
“Fireheart, go and fetch Yellowfang,” meowed Bluestar.
Fireheart turned toward the medicine cat’s den, to see that she was already running stiffly across the clearing, followed closely by Cinderpaw. Quickly the two cats began to check the warriors’ wounds, searching out the ones who needed the most urgent treatment. As Fireheart waited for his turn, he saw another cat appear from the camp entrance. It was Graystripe. His fur was sleek and unmarked; a couple of pieces of fresh-kill dangled from his jaws.
Before Fireheart could move, Tigerclaw broke away from Cinderpaw and strode across to meet Graystripe in the middle of the clearing. “Where have you been?” he demanded.
Graystripe looked bewildered. He dropped the fresh-kill and meowed, “Hunting. What on earth happened here?”
“What does it look like?” snarled the deputy. “WindClan and ShadowClan invaded, trying to get at Brokentail. We needed every warrior, but it seems that you weren’t here. Where were you?”
With Silverstream, Fireheart answered silently. He thanked StarClan that at least Graystripe had brought back some prey, so he had a genuine reason for being away from camp.
“Well, how was I to know what was happening?” Graystripe protested to the deputy, beginning to look annoyed. “Or do I have to ask your permission before I set paw out of camp?”
Fireheart winced—Graystripe should have known better than to provoke Tigerclaw like that, but perhaps guilt was making him reckless
Tigerclaw growled low in his throat. “You’re away too often for my liking—you and Fireheart.”
“Hang on!” Fireheart was stung into replying. “I was here today when the cats attacked. And it’s not Graystripe’s fault that he wasn’t.”
Tigerclaw let his cold gaze rest on Graystripe, and then Fireheart. “Just be careful,” he spat. “I’ve got my eye on you—both of you.” He swung around and stalked back to Cinderpaw.
“Like I care,” Graystripe muttered, but he didn’t meet Fireheart’s eyes.
While Graystripe went to take his prey to the pile of fresh-kill, Fireheart limped back to the medicine cats to have his wounds seen to.
“Hmph!” growled Yellowfang as she ran an expert eye over him. “If they’d pulled out much more of your fur, you’d look like an eel. But none of the wounds is deep. You’ll live.”
Cinderpaw came up with a wad of cobweb, which she pressed to the scratch over Fireheart’s eye. Gently she touched her nose to his. “You were brave, Fireheart,” she whispered.
“Not really.” Fireheart felt embarrassed. “We all did what we had to do.”
“But it’s not easy,” Yellowfang rasped unexpectedly. “I’ve fought battles in my time, and I know. Bluestar,” she went on, turning to the leader and facing her squarely, “thank you. It means a lot to me that you’d risk your Clan to protect Brokentail.”
Bluestar shook her head. “There’s no need for thanks, Yellowfang. It’s a matter of honor. Despite what Brokentail has done, he deserves our compassion now.”
The old medicine cat bowed her head. Softly, so that only Bluestar and Fireheart could hear, she mewed, “He has brought great danger to my adopted Clan, and for that I am sorry.”
Bluestar moved closer to her and gave her gray coat a comforting lick. For a moment the expression in her eyes was that of a mother soothing a fretful kit. A picture came into Fireheart’s mind of the Clan leader padding through the forest on the night of the Gathering, and the moonlight that shone on three silver coats—on Bluestar, Mistyfoot, and Stonefur.
Fireheart gasped. Was that really what he had seen? Three cats so identical that they could be nothing else but kin? Mistyfoot and Stonefur were sister and brother, he knew…and Graypool had told him that they had once borne the scent of ThunderClan.
Was it possible that Bluestar’s kits hadn’t died all those moons ago? Could it be that Mistyfoot and Stonefur were the ThunderClan leader’s lost kits?
第二十章
第二十章
火心急忙问：“在哪里？有多少武士？”
蕨爪的尾巴朝丛林深处摆了摆，说：“在那边。不知道有多少武士，他们正利用灌木丛作掩护匍匐行进。”
火心强抑住激烈的心跳，脑子飞转：“听着，马上赶回营地，向蓝星和虎掌报告，让他们立刻派遣武士过来。”
“是，火心。”蕨爪转身冲下沟。
火心当即朝森林里走去，保持着十二分的警惕。起先似乎一切都很平静，可是不一会儿，他便嗅到侵略者的气味——风族和影族的气味。
前方不远处飞鸟惊鸣。火心躲在一棵树后，仍没有看到什么异常。他的心情越来越紧张。
他收紧后腿用力一跳，同时前爪伸出扒住大树的树干，然后爬上树干趴下，透过树叶的间隙往下望。
地面上似乎没什么情况。忽然，火心看到一棵香薇树颤动了一下，接着一团影子闪过。过了一会儿，从灌木丛里探出一颗黑色的脑袋。火心立刻便认出是夜星。
夜星低声说：“跟上！”
他从灌木丛里钻出，迅速通过一片开阔的空地，一支队伍紧随其后。火心点了点对方的数量，心情愈发紧张。影族和风族的武士倾巢而出了。火心看见有高星和灰毛，坏脚和矮尾，湿脚和一根须……他们肩并肩地奔跑，似乎同属一个族群。
就在不久前，这些猫们还在风族的营地里拼得你死我活。如今，对断尾的刻骨仇恨和对雷族的不满使他们走到了一起。
火心知道自己必须与他们为敌。虽然他一向把风族的武士们当做是自己的朋友，但在这种危急关头，他必须站在本族这一边。
火心缩紧身体准备往下跳。这时，营地方向传来一声怒吼，火心听出那是虎掌在召集武士们投入战斗。出于对虎掌的不信任，火心并没有感到轻松些。现在，雷族需要的是虎掌的凶狠和力量。
火心从树上爬下来，四脚刚一落地，也不顾在入侵者面前暴露行踪，便向战场飞奔而去。他冲出树林，看到沟边的空旷地带已经变成了激烈的战场。虎掌和夜星扭打在一起，你给我一爪，我还你一脚。黑条则把一名风族武士按在地上。风族的母猫晨花在长尾的侧腹上狠狠抓了几下，后者惨叫着滚下沟去。
火心的怒火腾的一下升了起来，纵身向晨花跳过去。他当初带领风族返回营地时一路上悉心照料的那只母猫，此刻已成为他的敌人。晨花转过身，伸出爪子正准备用力挥出。
两只猫一照面，顿时愣在当场。晨花眼里充满了歉意和悲伤，火心看得出来她仍记得他们共患难的那段时光。火心也不忍心继续出手，过了片刻，晨花向后退去，消失在猫群中。
还没等他喘口气，一只猫冲过来撞在他的屁股上，把他撞倒在地。火心急忙爬起来，扭过头，进入眼帘的是影族武士矮尾那双凶狠的眼睛，一眨眼工夫矮尾的牙齿就插进了他的肩膀。火心一声大叫，后腿蹬在矮尾的腹部，爪子扯下了一大块皮毛。矮尾血流如注，立刻逃之夭夭。
火心摇摇晃晃站了起来，喘着气，向四周打量。战场已经转移到沟里。敌方不断向前推进，显然下决心要摧毁雷族的营地。雷族寡不敌众，根本无法抵抗对方的凌厉攻势。蓝星在哪里？
原来蓝星正和白风、尘毛守在营地入口处，准备拼死捍卫营门。这时，一根须和湿脚突破了虎掌的防线，湿脚直接冲向蓝星。
火心急忙沿着沟边跑了过去。在雷族里，只有他和黄牙知道蓝星只剩下最后一条命了。如果她在这次战斗中牺牲，雷族立刻就会群龙无首——更糟的是，雷族会落入虎掌的掌控之中。
他跑到金雀花通道上方，直接从沟上往下跳，连滚带爬地下来，正好落在湿脚旁边。
他张嘴咬住湿脚的脖子，把他从蓝星身边拖开。蓝星趁机狠狠给了湿脚几下，湿脚负伤仓皇而逃。
敌人不断向金雀花通道冲过来。火心顾不上对方是谁，闭着眼睛一通狂咬乱抓。他的额头被抓破了，鲜血蒙住了双眼。他大口吸气，仿佛就要窒息在敌人的气息中。
突然，蓝星的声音在他耳边响起：“他们正要突破围墙！后撤——保卫营地！”
敌人蜂拥而入，进入金雀花通道。火心挣扎着站起身，金雀花的尖刺如同敌人的利爪刮着他的皮毛。这里不是打仗的地方。于是火心忍着痛，向营地内走去。
柳带、奔风和沙风守在育婴室门口，保卫着正在哺乳的母猫和幼崽。长尾迅速舔净伤口，和蕨爪一起守在断尾的巢穴外。透过树枝，火心只能辨认出这位影族前族长的黑色花斑皮毛和那双无神的眼睛。想到他们浴血奋战，全都是为了保护这个残忍、卑鄙的凶手，火心顿时有些泄气。
夜星和一根须最先从金雀花通道里冲进营地，他们穿过会场，朝断尾的巢穴扑去。高星钻进营地的围墙，也冲了过去。越来越多的敌人攻入营地。
火心边跑边喊：“拦住他们！他们想杀断尾！”他扑到夜星身上，把他撞得在地上打滚。说实话，他也不知道雷族中到底有几只猫真心想保护那位影族前族长。毫无疑问，许多猫都想借着其他族群的力量除掉断尾。但火心也知道他们都赤胆忠心，不管心里怎么想，他们都会为了雷族战斗至最后一息。
火心将夜星按在地上，张口咬住他的肩膀。夜星挣扎着撑起身体，火心顿时失去了重心，他突然发现自己中计了——对方虽然年老，但依然凶狠狡诈。
夜星面目狰狞，两眼凶光暴射，露出一口利齿。突然，他松开火心，向后退去。火心甩掉流进眼眶的鲜血，看见蕨爪正骑在夜星的背上，四爪紧紧抓住他。夜星使出吃奶的力气想把蕨爪抖开，但无济于事，于是他一个翻滚，将蕨爪压在身子底下。蕨爪发出一声怒吼。
火心身子一跃，就要帮忙，不料半路杀出个程咬金，高星挡住他的去路。火心心里顿时一沉，突然，他发觉自己被别的猫往后拽。
原来是虎掌。只见这位副族长遍体鳞伤，像只血猫一般。虎掌杀红了眼，一见到高星二话不说便挥爪打去，高星哪里是虎掌的对手，三两下便被打翻在地。
这时，雷族的猫们相继出现：白风、鼠毛、奔风还有蓝星。战场上的敌我态势登时逆转。侵略者终于溃败下来，纷纷夺路而逃。火心气喘吁吁，眼见一根须混杂在一群败军中逃走了。战斗终于结束了。
断尾趴在巢穴里，低着头“看”着地面。在整个战斗过程中，他没有发出任何声响。火心怀疑他是否知道雷族为了他差点儿被毁灭。
火心身旁的蕨爪挣扎着站起来，一个肩膀上的皮毛被扯烂耷拉着，身上全是血和灰土，但双眼却炯炯放光。
火心说：“干得漂亮，你打起仗来就像一名武士。”
蕨爪的眼睛更亮了。
这时，大家向蓝星聚拢过去，个个浑身泥污、鲜血淋漓，均已疲惫不堪。众猫低着头都不说话，没有任何胜利后的喜悦。
黑条怒气冲冲地对蓝星吼道：“这都是你一手造成的后果！你要我们留下断尾，现在我们为了保护他，全都挂了彩。是不是我们的同胞非要为他牺牲你才甘心？”
蓝星心烦意乱：“我知道这件事不易做，黑条，但我们必须去做我们认为正确的事情。”
黑条轻蔑地说：“为了断尾吗？我恨不得杀了他！”
一些武士出声表示赞同。
蓝星看起来似乎突然间老了许多，脆弱了许多。“黑条，”虎掌分开猫群走到蓝星身边，“你正在对我们的族长说话，怎么连一点儿尊重都不懂。”
黑条瞪了他们一会儿，然后低下头去。虎掌从左至右，缓缓扫视群猫。
蓝星说：“火心，去把黄牙叫来。”
火心转身正要向巫医巢穴走去，一抬眼看见黄牙带着炭爪已经来到会场。这两只猫当即开始检查武士们的伤势，依照轻重缓急分别救治。等轮到火心的时候，他看到灰条从营门口闪身进来。他身上的皮毛完好无损，嘴里叼着两只猎物。
虎掌离开炭爪，走到会场中央迎上灰条，问：“你去哪里了？”
灰条一脸迷惑不解的样子。他将猎物放在地上，说：“打猎啊。这里究竟发生什么事了？”
虎掌鼻子里发出嗤的一声，说：“什么事，这个样子能有什么事？风族和影族联合入侵，要杀死断尾。那时我们急需武士，不过看样子你不在这里。你刚才在哪儿？”
火心暗想：肯定是和银溪在一起呗。幸亏灰条还带着猎物回来，也好有个交代。
灰条脸色变得越来越难看，分辩说：“哼，我怎么知道会发生什么事情？是不是离开营地之前都要得到你的准许呀？”
火心提心吊胆——灰条应该知道这样惹怒虎掌可没什么好处呀，也许是他恼羞成怒了。
虎掌低吼道：“你，还有火心，我看你们总是不顺眼！”
“打住！”火心勃然大怒，“营地被袭击时，我可是在场的啊。况且灰条没有参加这次战斗也不是他的错。”
虎掌冷冷地看着灰条，然后目光移向火心，说：“小心！我一直盯着你们呢。”说完转身回到炭爪那里。
灰条嘟囔：“好像我会在意似的。”虽然嘴硬，却不敢接触火心的目光。
灰条把猎物放到猎物堆上，火心则回去找巫医治疗伤口。
黄牙为他检查完伤口后，呵斥道：“哼！如果再被扯下些毛来，你就变成光身子泥鳅了。不过伤口不深，不会要你的命的。”
炭爪取来一捆蛛丝，把它压在火心眼睛处的伤口上。她轻轻触了触火心的鼻子，小声说：“火心，你真勇敢。”
火心不好意思地说：“别这么说。我们都是在做些必须做的事情吧。”
黄牙突然说：“不过做起来可着实不易。我打过仗，我清楚。”她转身盯着蓝星的眼睛说：“蓝星，谢谢你。你为了保护断尾，让族群冒这么大的风险，我心里十分感激。”
蓝星摇了摇头，说：“不必谢我，黄牙。这件事关系族群的荣誉，虽然断尾恶贯满盈，但他现在应该得到我们的同情。”
黄牙低下头，声音低得只有蓝星和火心能够听见：“他给收留我的族群带来了巨大的危险，对此我很抱歉。”
蓝星凑近舔了她一下以示安慰，脸上的表情就像是一位母亲在宽慰烦躁的孩子。森林大会后的那一幕重又浮现在火心眼前：月光照在三只银灰色的猫身上——他们是蓝星、雾脚和石毛。
他倒吸了口凉气。他没有看错吧？三只猫长得如此相像，除了血缘关系又该如何解释呢？雾脚和石毛是亲姐弟，这是他知道的——灰池曾告诉他，他们原先带有雷族的气味。
有没有这种可能，那就是蓝星的孩子根本没有死。雾脚和石毛会是这位雷族族长失去的孩子吗？
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 21
When Cinderpaw had finished tending toFireheart’s wounds, he went to find Graystripe. His friend was hunched up inside the warriors’ den, his golden eyes troubled.
He looked up as Fireheart slipped between the branches. “I’m sorry,” he blurted out. “I know I should have been here. But I had to see Silverstream. I couldn’t get near her on the night of the Gathering.”
Fireheart sighed. For a moment, he had considered sharing his suspicions about Mistyfoot and Stonefur with his friend, but now he realized that Graystripe had more than enough worries of his own. “It’s okay, Graystripe. Any of us could have been away, patrolling or hunting. But if I were you, I’d stick around camp for the next few days, and make sure Tigerclaw sees you.”
Graystripe scraped absently at a piece of moss. Fireheart guessed he had already arranged to meet Silverstream again. “There’s something else I wanted to tell you,” he meowed, deciding not to try to argue about this now. “About Brackenpaw.” Quickly he described how he and the apprentice had gone out early, and how Brackenpaw had scented the invading band of cats. “He fought well, too,” Fireheart remarked. “I think it’s time he became a warrior.”
Graystripe let out a purr of agreement. “Does Bluestar know this?”
“Not yet. You’re Brackenpaw’s mentor. You ought to recommend him.”
“But I wasn’t there.”
“That doesn’t matter.” Fireheart gave his friend a nudge. “Come on, let’s go and talk to Bluestar now.”
The ThunderClan leader and most of the warriors were still in the clearing, while Yellowfang and Cinderpaw distributed cobwebs to stop bleeding and poppy seeds for pain. Brindleface had brought out her kits to see what was going on, and Cloudkit was frisking around, pestering one warrior after another with questions about the battle. Brackenpaw was there, too, giving himself a thorough wash; Fireheart was relieved that he didn’t seem too badly hurt.
The two warriors went up to Bluestar, and Fireheart once more told the story of Brackenpaw’s skill at scenting their enemies, and his bravery in the battle. “It’s thanks to Brackenpaw that we had any warning at all,” he meowed.
“We think he should be made a warrior,” Graystripe added.
Bluestar nodded thoughtfully. “I agree. Brackenpaw showed himself worthy today.” She got up, paced into the middle of her cats, and raised her voice. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting.”
Goldenflower appeared at once from the nursery, followed by Speckletail, and Smallear limped slowly from the elders’ den. When they had gathered around Bluestar, she meowed, “Brackenpaw, come here.”
Brackenpaw looked up, surprised, and padded nervously over to Bluestar. Fireheart could see he had not the least idea what was coming.
“Brackenpaw, it was you who warned the Clan today, and you fought bravely in the battle,” Bluestar meowed. “It is time for you to become a warrior.”
The apprentice’s mouth fell open. His eyes blazed with excitement as Bluestar pronounced the ritual words.
“I, Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn.” She fixed her blue gaze on Brackenpaw. “Brackenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
Brackenpaw trembled slightly, but his voice was steady as he meowed, “I do.”
“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Brackenpaw, from this moment you will be known as Brackenfur. StarClan honors your forethought and your determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”
When she finished speaking Bluestar stepped up to Brackenfur and rested her muzzle on his bowed head. Brackenfur licked her shoulder respectfully, then walked over to stand between Fireheart and Graystripe.
The watching cats raised their voices to chant the new warrior’s name. “Brackenfur! Brackenfur!” They began to press around him, congratulating him and wishing him well. His mother, Frostfur, pressed her muzzle against his flank, while her dark blue eyes glowed with delight.
“Tonight you have to keep vigil alone,” mewed Sandstorm, giving Brackenfur a friendly nudge. “Thank StarClan! The rest of us can have a night off!”
Brackenfur was too overwhelmed to answer properly, but he broke into a deep, contented purr. “Th-Thank you, Graystripe,” he stammered. “And you, Fireheart.”
Fireheart felt a rush of pride to see the cat made a warrior at last, almost as though Brackenfur had been his own apprentice. It made up, a little, for knowing that he would never go through this with Cinderpaw. StarClan had a different fate for her. Now that the ceremony was done, weariness swept over Fireheart. He was about to go back to the warriors’ den when he caught sight of Cinderpaw limping rapidly over to her brother.
“Congratulations, Brackenfur!” she mewed, her blue eyes sparkling as she covered his ears with licks.
Brackenfur’s purring faltered and his eyes looked troubled. “You should have been with me,” he murmured, gently nosing her injured leg.
“No, I’m fine as I am,” Cinderpaw insisted. “You’ll have to be a warrior for both of us. And I’ll have to settle for being the greatest medicine cat this forest has ever seen!”
Fireheart gazed at the dark gray she-cat with admiration. He knew that Cinderpaw really was happy to be Yellowfang’s apprentice. She would be a fine medicine cat. But she would have been a fine warrior too. It took a special spirit, he thought, not to begrudge her brother’s triumph. As always, the sight of Cinderpaw’s injury reminded Fireheart of Tigerclaw. Fireheart was so sure the deputy had caused her accident, and had also tried to drown him just recently. Yet today Tigerclaw had fought with the strength of StarClan. Without him, they could have lost the battle. If you prove his treachery, Fireheart asked himself, who will defend ThunderClan then?
After the raid, Fireheart was relieved to see Graystripe keeping his promise to stay around the camp, patrolling or hunting or helping Yellowfang and Cinderpaw to replenish their supplies. Tigerclaw said nothing, but Fireheart hoped he had noticed.
However, on the third morning Fireheart was woken by movement in the nest beside him, and opened his eyes in time to see Graystripe sliding out of the den. “Graystripe?” he muttered, but his friend vanished without replying.
Careful not to disturb Sandstorm, who was sleeping on his other side, Fireheart got up and slipped out between the branches. He emerged blinking into the clearing and saw Graystripe disappearing into the gorse tunnel. He also saw Darkstripe, crouched beside the pile of fresh-kill, looking up with a vole dangling from his jaws. His eyes were fixed on the tunnel entrance.
Fireheart felt a heavy weight like a cold stone in his belly. If Darkstripe had seen Graystripe leave, that meant Tigerclaw would know about it before very long. And then the deputy would want to know exactly where Graystripe had been. He might even follow him, and catch him with Silverstream.
Almost unconsciously, Fireheart started forward. He forced himself to walk briskly, but without any special urgency. As he passed the heap of fresh-kill, he called out, “Morning, Darkstripe! We’re just off to hunt. It’s the early cat that catches the prey, you know!” Without waiting for Darkstripe’s response, he entered the tunnel. Once he had left the clearing, he put on speed, racing to the top of the ravine. Graystripe was out of sight already but his scent was strong, leading unwaveringly to the Sunningrocks.
But they agreed only to meet at Fourtrees, he thought.
Fireheart pelted along, ignoring the tempting sounds and smells of prey in the undergrowth. He had hoped to catch Graystripe and divert him before his friend reached Silverstream, just in case Tigerclaw was already out in the forest, but by the time he came within sight of the Sunningrocks he had seen no sign of him. Fireheart paused on the edge of the trees and drank in the scented air. Graystripe was close by, he was sure, and he could scent Silverstream as well, but the scents of both cats were overlaid with something that set Fireheart’s fur bristling—the smell of blood!
At that moment, he heard a thin, eerie wailing from the rocks ahead, the unmistakable sound of a cat in deep distress. “Graystripe!” he yowled. He shot forward and hurled himself up the sloping surface of the nearest rock. What he saw from the top brought him to a skidding stop.
Below, in a deep gully between this rock and the next, Silverstream lay on her side. As Fireheart stared, appalled, a strong spasm traveled down the length of her body, and her legs twitched. She let out another chilling wail.
“Graystripe!” Fireheart gasped.
Graystripe was crouched beside Silverstream, frantically licking her heaving flank. He looked up at the sound of Fireheart’s voice. “Fireheart! It’s the kits—the kits are coming, and it’s all going wrong. Fetch Yellowfang!”
“But—” Fireheart bit off his protest. His paws were already moving, carrying him down from the rock and back across the stretch of open ground toward the trees.
Fireheart ran as he had never run before, but even so, a small, cold part of his mind was telling him this was the end. Every cat in the Clans would find out about Graystripe and Silverstream now. What would Bluestar and Crookedstar do to them when it was all over?
Almost before he knew it he was back at the camp. He hurled himself down the ravine, almost bowling Cinderpaw over at the entrance to the tunnel. She reared back with a meow of protest, scattering the herbs she had gathered. “Fireheart, what—”
“Where’s Yellowfang?” Fireheart panted.
“Yellowfang?” Cinderpaw suddenly grew more serious as she sensed Fireheart’s desperation. “She went over to Snakerocks. It’s the best place to find yarrow.”
Fireheart gathered himself to go on running, then paused, frustrated. It would take too much time to fetch Yellowfang from Snakerocks. Silverstream needed help now!
“What’s the matter?” mewed Cinderpaw.
“There’s a cat—Silverstream—by the Sunningrocks. She’s having her kits, but something’s gone wrong.”
“Oh, StarClan help her!” exclaimed Cinderpaw. “I’ll come. Wait there—I need to fetch supplies.” She vanished into the mouth of the gorse tunnel. Fireheart waited, scrabbling his paws with impatience, until at last he saw movement in the tunnel again. But it wasn’t Cinderpaw; it was Brackenfur.
“Cinderpaw sent me for Yellowfang,” he called as he bounded past Fireheart, heading up the ravine.
At last Cinderpaw reappeared. Her jaws were clamped on a leaf-wrapped bundle of herbs. She flicked her tail at Fireheart as she approached, signaling that he should lead the way.
Every step of that journey was torment for Fireheart. Cinderpaw did her best, but her damaged leg slowed her down. Time seemed to stretch out. With a pang of horror, Fireheart remembered his dream, of a faceless silver queen who faded away, leaving her kits crying helplessly in the dark. Had that been Silverstream?
As soon as the Sunningrocks came in sight, Fireheart bounded ahead of Cinderpaw. When he reached the foot of the rock, he saw another cat crouched on the top, looking down into the gully where Graystripe and Silverstream were. Cold paws clutched Fireheart’s heart. There was no mistaking Tigerclaw’s massive body and dark coat. Darkstripe must have notified him, and the deputy had followed Graystripe’s scent. Fireheart had passed him on his dash back to camp without realizing it.
“Fireheart,” growled Tigerclaw, turning his head as Fireheart scrambled up the rock. “What do you know about this?”
Fireheart looked down into the gully. Silverstream still lay on her side, but the powerful rippling down her body had ebbed away into weak spasms. She had stopped wailing now; Fireheart guessed she was too exhausted. Graystripe huddled close to her. He made a low, crooning noise deep in his chest, and his yellow eyes were fixed on the she-cat’s face. Fireheart didn’t think that either of them had realized Tigerclaw was there.
Before Fireheart could answer the deputy’s question, Cinderpaw came skidding around the bottom of the rock and squeezed along the gully to Silverstream’s side. She dropped the bundle of herbs and stooped to sniff the silver-gray queen.
“Fireheart!” she called a moment later. “Get down here! I need you!”
Ignoring a furious hiss from Tigerclaw, Fireheart leaped down into the gully, scraping his claws painfully on the sheer rock. As his paws touched the ground, Cinderpaw came to meet him. She was carrying a very small kit with its eyes closed and ears flat to its head, and dark gray fur plastered to its body.
“Is it dead?” Fireheart whispered.
“No!” Cinderpaw set down the kit and patted it toward him. “Lick, Fireheart! Make it warm, get its blood flowing.”
As soon as she had finished speaking she turned in the narrow space and went back to Silverstream. Her body blocked Fireheart’s view of what was happening, but he heard the apprentice medicine cat begin to meow reassuringly, and an anxious question from Graystripe.
Fireheart bent over the kit and rasped his tongue over its tiny body. For a long time it didn’t respond, and he began to think Cinderpaw had been wrong, and the kit was dead after all. Then he felt a tiny shiver run through it and it opened its jaws in a soundless mew. “It’s alive!” he gasped.
“Told you,” Cinderpaw called to him. “Keep licking. There’s another one coming, any moment now. That’s right, Silverstream…you’re doing fine.”
Tigerclaw had come down from the rock and was standing in the mouth of the gully with a look of thunder on his face. “That’s a RiverClan cat,” he hissed. “Will one of you tell me what’s going on?”
Before any cat had time to reply, Cinderpaw let out a shout of triumph. “You’ve done it, Silverstream!” Moments later she turned with a second tiny kit in her jaws, and set it down in front of Tigerclaw. “Here. Lick.”
Tigerclaw glared at her. “I’m not a medicine cat.”
Cinderpaw’s blue eyes blazed as she rounded on the deputy. “You’ve got a tongue, haven’t you? Lick, you useless lump of fur. Do you want the kit to die?”
Fireheart flinched, half expecting Tigerclaw to hurl himself at her and slash her open with his powerful claws. Instead, the dark tabby bowed his huge head and began to lick the second kit.
At once Cinderpaw turned back to Silverstream. Fireheart heard her meow, “You need to swallow this herb. Here, Graystripe, make her eat as much as she can. We’ve got to stop the bleeding.”
Fireheart paused for a moment in his own vigorous licking. His kit was breathing evenly now, and it seemed to be out of danger. He wished he knew what was happening in the gully ahead of him; he heard Cinderpaw growl, “Hold on, Silverstream,” and a louder, panicky meow from Graystripe: “Silverstream!”
At the sound of his friend’s distress, Fireheart could not stay back any longer. Leaving the kit, he pushed forward until he could crouch beside Cinderpaw. He was in time to see Silverstream raise her head and feebly lick Graystripe’s face. “Good-bye, Graystripe,” she whispered. “I love you. Take care of our kits.”
Then the silver tabby’s body gave a massive shudder. Her head fell back, her paws jerked, and she was still.
“Silverstream!” whispered Cinderpaw.
“No, Silverstream, no.” Graystripe’s mew was very soft. “Don’t go. Don’t leave me.” He bent over the limp body, nuzzling her gently. She did not move.
“Silverstream!” Graystripe reared up and flung back his head. His wails of grief split the quiet air. “Silverstream!”
Cinderpaw crouched over the body for a few moments more, nudging at Silverstream’s fur, but at last she admitted defeat. She sat up and stared ahead, her blue eyes bleak and cold.
Fireheart got up and padded over to her. “Cinderpaw, the kits are safe,” he murmured.
The look she gave him made his heart freeze. “But their mother is dead. I lost her, Fireheart.”
The rocks were still echoing to Graystripe’s dreadful wailing. Tigerclaw appeared, scrambling past the other cats, and reached out a massive paw to cuff the gray warrior behind the ear. “Stop that moaning.”
Graystripe fell silent, more out of shock and exhaustion, Fireheart thought, than obedience to the deputy’s order.
Tigerclaw glared around at all of them. “Now will some cat tell me what’s going on? Graystripe, do you know this RiverClan cat?”
Graystripe looked up. His eyes had gone dull and cold, like pebbles. “I loved her,” he whispered.
“What—these are your kits?” Tigerclaw seemed stunned.
“Mine and Silverstream’s.” A faint spark of defiance kindled in Graystripe. “I know what you’ll say, Tigerclaw. Don’t bother. I don’t care.” He turned back to Silverstream, pressing his nose against her fur and murmuring softly to her.
Meanwhile, Cinderpaw had roused herself enough to examine the two kits. “I think they’ll live,” she mewed, though to Fireheart she sounded less certain than before. “We need to get them back to camp, to find a queen to suckle them.”
Tigerclaw spun around to face her. “Are you mad? Why should ThunderClan raise them? They’re half-breeds. No Clan will want them.”
Cinderpaw ignored him. “Fireheart, you take that one,” she ordered. “I’ll carry the other.”
Fireheart twitched his whiskers in agreement, but before he picked up the kit he walked over to Graystripe and pressed his body against his friend’s broad gray shoulder. “Do you want to come with us?”
Graystripe shook his head. “I have to stay here and bury her,” he whispered. “Here, between RiverClan and ThunderClan. After this, not even her own Clan will want to mourn her.”
Fireheart felt his heart break for his friend, but there was nothing more he could do to help. “I’ll come back soon,” he promised. More softly, though he was past caring if Tigerclaw heard him or not, he added, “I will mourn her with you, Graystripe. She was brave, and I know she loved you.”
His friend did not respond. Fireheart picked up the kit with his teeth, and left Graystripe beside the cat he had loved more than his Clan, more than honor, more than life itself.
第二十一章
第二十一章
火心裹好伤口后去找灰条，发现他坐在武士巢穴里，神情恍惚，目光散乱。
看到火心进来，他说：“对不起。我知道我本该在这里的，但我必须去见银溪。森林大会那天晚上我无法接近她。”
火心叹了口气。他原本打算和灰条聊聊自己对雾脚和石毛身世的猜疑，不过看来他的朋友更操心自己的事情。“没关系，灰条，谁都有可能刚好外出离开，或者巡逻，或者打猎。不过，如果我是你，接下来几天我会老老实实地待在营地，让虎掌能看得到你。”火心安慰道。
灰条心不在焉地扒拉着一团苔藓，火心猜他已经计划好了再次和银溪见面。火心避开这个话题，说：“我还有别的事情跟你说，是关于蕨爪的。”他简单叙述了一遍早上他和蕨爪如何外出，蕨爪如何嗅到入侵者的踪迹，最后说道，“他打得也很好。我认为他可以成为一名武士了。”
灰条高兴地问：“蓝星知道这些吗？”
“她还不知道。你是蕨爪的老师，应该由你去推荐。”
“可我当时并不在场啊。”
“没关系。”火心顶了顶他，“走吧，我们现在就去和蓝星谈谈。”
蓝星和大部分武士仍在会场上，黄牙和炭爪正忙着向大家分发可以止血和止痛的蛛丝和罂粟籽。纹脸带着孩子们在旁边看，云崽在猫群中蹦蹦跳跳，缠着众猫询问战斗的情况。蕨爪也在那里，他正在舔梳清理身上的毛。见他伤得不重，火心放下心来。
两只猫走到蓝星那里，火心又将蕨爪嗅到敌人气味的事情以及在战斗中的英勇表现讲了一遍。他说：“多亏了蕨爪，我们才能及时得到警报。”
灰条接着说：“我们认为他可以成为一名武士了。”
蓝星若有所思地点了点头：“我同意。蕨爪今天的表现完全符合武士的条件。”说完她站起身走到猫群中间，大声宣布：“所有够年龄的猫到高岩下开会。”
金花立即出现在育婴室门口，纹尾也跟着走了出来，接着，小耳晃晃悠悠从老年猫巢穴里踱步出来。等大家聚齐后，蓝星说：“蕨爪，过来一下。”
蕨爪不知道蓝星有什么事，惊讶地抬起头，局促不安地向蓝星走了过去。
蓝星说：“蕨爪，今天是你及时给族群里发出警报，而且你在战斗中表现得也很勇敢。
你现在可以成为一名武士了。”
蕨爪张大嘴巴听着，当他听到蓝星说出最后一句话时，双眼立刻放出兴奋的光彩。
“我，雷族族长蓝星，请诸位武士祖先从天上俯视这名学徒。他经过刻苦训练，终于掌握了武士守则的要旨。在此，我请求诸位祖先赐予他武士的荣耀。”她凝视着蕨爪，“蕨爪，你能够保证将不折不扣地遵守武士守则，努力保卫族群，即使付出生命也在所不惜吗？”
蕨爪有些颤抖，但声音却坚决果断：“我保证。”
“那么，凭借着星族的力量，我赐予你武士的名号。蕨爪，从现在起你的名字叫蕨毛。
你的先见之明和坚毅果敢为星族带来了荣耀，欢迎你成为雷族的武士。”
蓝星走上前用鼻子触了触蕨毛的额头，蕨毛怀着敬意舔了一下她的肩膀，然后走过去站在火心和灰条中间。
群猫齐声高呼这位新武士的名号：“蕨毛！蕨毛！”大家凑过来向他致以诚挚的祝贺和衷心的祝愿。蕨毛的妈妈霜毛亲吻着他的脸颊，眼里充满了喜悦的光彩。
沙风友善地顶了顶蕨毛，说：“今晚你不得不独自守夜了。感谢星族！我们可以安心睡上一觉了！”
蕨毛被这件突如其来的喜事搞得晕晕乎乎，一时间说不出话来。他深吸了口气，结结巴巴地说：“谢……谢谢你，灰条。还有你，火心。”
火心一直把蕨毛当做自己的徒弟，如今看着这只年轻的猫终于成长为一名武士，他深深地感到自豪。他之所以会这么想，多少和炭爪有关，因为炭爪再也无法经历这一刻了，星族为她安排了不同的命运。典礼已经结束，疲劳困乏之感立刻向火心袭来。他正要回到武士巢穴，一瞥眼看见炭爪瘸着腿向蕨毛走去。
她两眼放光，舔着弟弟的耳朵说：“祝贺你，蕨毛！”
蕨毛伤感地用鼻子轻轻蹭炭爪的断腿，说：“你本该和我一起接受武士名号的。”
炭爪说：“别难过，我现在也很好啊。我们中间出一名武士就行了。我要成为丛林中有史以来医术最高超的巫医！”
火心凝视着炭爪，竟然有些羡慕她。他知道，能够成为黄牙的徒弟令炭爪感到十分幸福，她将来一定是一位优秀的巫医。但她原本也能成为一名优秀的武士的。炭爪的断腿再一次刺痛了火心，他敢肯定她的不幸遭遇都是虎掌一手造成的，而他自己最近也差点儿被虎掌害得淹死。不过，今天虎掌居功至伟。如果没有他，雷族就输掉了这场战斗。火心扪心自问：就算证实了他的卑劣行径，那么谁又能取代他来保卫雷族呢？
这次袭击事件过后，火心多少松了口气，因为灰条一直都安守本分，不是巡逻打猎，就是帮助黄牙和炭爪补充药物储备。虎掌嘴上没说什么，但火心估计他都看在眼里。
不过好景不长，第三天清晨，火心被身旁的动静惊醒，一睁开眼睛就看见灰条正往巢穴外溜。他小声说：“灰条？”不过灰条没有搭话。
火心小心翼翼地爬起来，唯恐惊动睡在旁边的沙风。他蹑手蹑脚地走出巢穴，睡眼惺忪地来到会场，看见灰条消失在金雀花通道出口处。这时黑条正卧在猎物堆旁，嘴里叼了一只水老鼠，抬起头盯着金雀花通道出口。
火心感到心头就像压了一块冰冷的大石头。如果黑条看见灰条离开，这件事很快就会传到虎掌的耳朵里。虎掌肯定想知道灰条的去向，因此，他也许会跟踪灰条，最后把灰条和银溪双双拿住。
火心下意识地挪动脚步，尽量装出一副漫不经心的样子。经过猎物堆时，他招呼说：“早啊，黑条！我们正要出去打猎。你知道，早起的猫总能捉到猎物！”没等黑条回答，他便走进金雀花通道。走出营门后，火心立刻加快速度跑上沟。灰条早已消失在视线之外，但他留下的浓烈气味直指太阳石。
火心寻思：他们可是保证只在“四棵树”见面的啊。
火心一路追赶，无心恋顾沿途灌木丛里猎物发出的沙沙声和飘散的香味。为了防止虎掌随后跟来，他一门心思只想在灰条见到银溪前追上他，把他揪回去。不过，当他赶到太阳石时，连灰条的影儿都没有见到。火心在树林边停下脚步，嗅了嗅空气。他敢肯定灰条就在附近，还有银溪的气味。不过，这两只猫的气味都被什么东西给掩盖住了，这种东西令火心感到不寒而栗——是血的味道！
这时，前方的石头堆间传出微弱的、令他毛骨悚然的哀号声，这是伤心欲绝的猫所发出的悲泣。火心高喊道：“灰条！”他大步流星，跳到最近的石头上。眼前的景象令他大吃一惊。
只见银溪侧躺在一处深深的石缝中，四肢蜷缩，身体抽搐不已，嘴里不停地发出凄惨的呻吟声。
火心倒吸了口凉气：“灰条！”
灰条就卧在银溪身边，疯狂地舔着她的脸颊。听到火心的喊声，他抬起头，歇斯底里地喊道：“火心！是孩子——银溪难产了。快把黄牙找来！”
“但……”火心不忍拒绝，立刻从石头上跳下来，往树林里跑去。
他拼命地奔跑，仿佛此前从未跑过步似的。过了一会儿，火心慌乱的心情渐渐趋于冷静。他意识到发生这种事非常要命，所有的猫都会发现灰条和银溪的私情，蓝星和钩星在事后会怎样处置他们呢？
他从沟上冲下来，和正从营地往外走的炭爪撞在一起。炭爪摔倒在地，采集的草药散了一地：“火心，你……”
火心气喘吁吁地问：“黄牙在哪里？”
“黄牙？”炭爪嗅到火心身上的绝望气味，突然严肃起来，“她去蛇岩采蓍草了。”
火心扭头正要往外跑，忽然泄了气，停下了脚步。去蛇岩找黄牙要花很长时间，事情十万火急，哪能如此耽搁！
炭爪说：“出什么事了？”
“太阳石那边有一只猫——就是银溪啦，她正在生孩子，但是难产了。”
炭爪惊呼：“噢，星族保佑！我去看看。在这里等着——我需要取些药物。”炭爪转身消失在金雀花通道。火心坐立不安，犹如热锅上的蚂蚁一般。半晌过后，一只猫从金雀花通道里出来了，不过不是炭爪，而是蕨毛。
蕨毛一边朝沟外跑，一边喊道：“炭爪派我去找黄牙。”
炭爪嘴里衔着一捆草药从通道里走出来，尾巴朝火心摆了一下，让他带路。
对火心来说，每踏出一步他都在忍受煎熬。炭爪虽然用尽全身气力，但拖着一条断腿又哪能跑快。时间似乎被拖长了。惶恐彷徨中，火心想起他做的梦，那只面目模糊的银灰色母猫的身影渐渐淡去，留下自己的孩子在黑暗中无助地哭泣。那是银溪吗？
太阳石近在眼前。火心心急如焚，跑到炭爪前面。当他跑到近前时，看到石头上卧着一只猫，正往石缝中瞅。火心的心一下子凉透了。只有虎掌才有那雄壮的身躯和棕色的皮毛，他一定是听了黑条的汇报后，循着灰条的气味到这里来的。火心匆匆赶回营地时，曾瞥见他的背影，但当时他并没有在意。
虎掌扭过头，冲着正往石头上爬的火心吼道：“火心，你知道这件事吗？”
火心往石缝里瞅。银溪仍侧躺在那里，但身体的颤抖已变成了微弱的抽搐。她一声不响，大概连哀号的力气都没有了。灰条趴在旁边，鼻子埋进她的胸口轻轻摩擦，眼睛呆呆地看着她的脸。火心不知道他们察觉到虎掌没有。
火心正要回答虎掌的问题，却见炭爪跑到石头下，挤进石缝里。她将草药放在地上，弯腰去嗅银溪。
过了一会儿，她喊道：“火心！下来帮把手！”
虎掌恼火地发出一声低嘶。火心顾不上许多，当即跳进石缝里。他的爪子刚一接触地面，炭爪就走过来，嘴里衔着一只刚出生的幼崽。那只幼崽眼睛尚未睁开，耳朵还贴在脑门儿上，身上长了一层深灰色的绒毛。
火心小声问：“他死了吗？”
炭爪把幼崽放在火心面前，说：“没死！快舔一舔，给他暖暖身子，让血液流动起来。”
说完她转身回到银溪身边。她的身子挡住了火心的视线，不过火心听见灰条焦急地问了她一个问题，然后她安慰了灰条几句。
火心弯下脖子舔幼崽，那只幼崽好长时间都没有反应。正当火心以为他肯定死了时，谁知小家伙竟然有了动静，张开嘴叫唤了一声。火心声音沙哑着说：“他还活着！”
炭爪喊道：“早告诉过你了。继续舔，别停下。另一只随时都可能生下来。就是这样，银溪，做得好。”
虎掌从石头上下来，一脸怒色地站在石缝前，低嘶着说：“那是河族的猫。你们谁能告诉我这是怎么回事吗？”
就在这时，炭爪发出一声胜利的欢呼：“生出来了，银溪。”不一会儿，她衔着第二只幼崽出来了，将他放在虎掌面前：“快舔。”
虎掌吹须子瞪眼说：“我又不是巫医。”
炭爪说：“可你长了舌头，不是吗？快舔，没用的东西。你想让这只幼崽死掉吗？”
火心吓了一跳，料想虎掌定然会一巴掌打过去，哪知虎掌却乖乖地照她的话做了。
炭爪转回去对银溪说：“你得吃下这些草药。灰条，你喂她，尽可能多吃些。我们必须把她的血止住。”
火心照料的那只幼崽呼吸渐渐平稳，看起来已经脱离了危险，不必再费力去舔了。火心看不到石缝里的具体情况，忽听炭爪大声喊道：“坚持住，银溪。”灰条也大声叫道：“银溪！”
火心急忙冲过去。只见银溪抬起头，无力地舔着灰条的脸庞，小声说：“再见了，灰条。我爱你，照顾好我们的孩子。”
说话间，她的身体剧烈一震，头歪在一旁，停止了呼吸。
炭爪轻声唤道：“银溪！”
灰条喃喃说：“不要，银溪，不要。别走，别丢下我。”他弯下脖子，轻轻顶了顶银溪。银溪没有反应。
灰条仰天长号：“银溪！银溪！”叫声撕心裂肺，划破周围的沉寂。
炭爪不愿意放弃，不停地顶银溪，不过最终只能面对现实。她呆呆地看着前方，目光暗淡。
火心走过去轻声说：“炭爪，幼崽们都平安。”
炭爪看了火心一眼，火心心里一阵缩紧。“但他们的妈妈死了，我没能救活她，火心。”
灰条凄厉的哀号仍然回荡在山石间。虎掌走过去，在他头上打了一巴掌，喝道：“别在这里鬼哭狼嚎了。”
灰条心神疲惫，渐渐停止了哭泣。
虎掌看着他们几个，说：“现在可以告诉我，这究竟是怎么回事了吧？灰条，你认识这只河族猫吗？”
灰条抬起头，目光呆滞冰冷，喃喃说道：“我爱她。”
虎掌大吃一惊：“什么——这两个是你的孩子？”
灰条说：“是我和银溪的。我知道你想说什么，没关系，我不在乎。”说完转身对着银溪，将鼻子贴在她身上，柔声对她说话。
这时，炭爪检查了一下两只幼崽的情况，说：“我想他们应该能活下来。”语气失去了以往的自信。“把他们带回营地，找一只母猫喂他们奶吃。”
虎掌猛地转过身来，说：“你疯了？雷族凭什么要养活他们？他们全是杂种，没有哪个族群愿意收养。”
炭爪没有理他，说：“火心，咱们俩各带一只。”
火心动了动须子表示同意，他走到灰条身边贴着他的身子说：“你和我们一起回去吗？”
灰条摇了摇头，小声说：“我留下来，把她埋在这里，埋在河族和雷族之间。经过这件事，大概连她的本族都不会悼念她了。”
火心心里难过，但这种情况下他也爱莫能助。他说：“我很快就回来。”然后，也不怕虎掌听到，又补充了一句，“灰条，我会和你一起悼念她。她很勇敢，我知道她很爱你。”
灰条置若罔闻。于是火心衔起幼崽转身离去，只留下灰条独自陪着银溪的尸体。他是那么深爱着她，甚于爱自己的族群、自己的荣誉，甚至自己的生命。
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 22
Tigerclaw went on ahead, and bythe time Fireheart and Cinderpaw reached the camp with Silverstream’s kits, the whole Clan knew what had happened. Warriors and apprentices had gathered outside their dens, watching in silence. Fireheart could almost smell their shock and disbelief.
Bluestar stood at the entrance to the nursery as if she was waiting for them. Fireheart half expected her to turn them away, refusing to take care of a different Clan’s kits, but she only meowed quietly, “Come inside.”
In the heart of the bramble thicket, all was dim and quiet. Brindleface was curled around her kits, asleep in a heap of gray and tawny fur with Cloudkit’s white coat shining among them like a patch of snow. Close by her, in a nest of moss lined with downy feathers, Goldenflower lay on her side, suckling her new kits. One was a pale ginger color like Goldenflower herself, and the other a dark tabby.
“Goldenflower,” murmured Bluestar, “I have something to ask you. Can you manage two more? Their mother has just died.”
Goldenflower raised her head, her startled look softening when she saw the two helpless scraps of fur dangling from Fireheart’s and Cinderpaw’s mouths. They had begun to wriggle feebly, giving out thin, high-pitched mews of fear and hunger.
“I suppose—” Goldenflower began.
“Wait,” Speckletail interrupted; she had padded into the nursery just behind Fireheart. “Before you agree to anything, Goldenflower, ask Bluestar to tell you whose kits these are.”
Fireheart felt a pang of anxiety. Though Speckletail was a good mother, she had a ferocious temper, and he guessed she would not look kindly on kits that were neither one Clan nor the other.
“I would not hide such a thing from her,” Bluestar meowed calmly. “Goldenflower, these are Graystripe’s kits. Their mother was Silverstream—a RiverClan cat.”
Goldenflower’s eyes widened in astonishment, and Brindleface, roused from her doze, pricked up her ears.
“Graystripe must have been slinking off for moons to see her,” Speckletail hissed. “What loyal cat would do that? They both betrayed their Clans. There’s bad blood in those kits.”
“Nonsense,” Bluestar spat back, her hackles suddenly raised. Fireheart winced—he had rarely seen his leader so angry. “Whatever we think about Graystripe and Silverstream, the kits are innocent. Will you take them, Goldenflower? They’ll die without a mother.”
Goldenflower hesitated, and then let out a long breath. “How can I say no? I have plenty of milk.”
Speckletail let out a snort of disapproval and pointedly turned her back as Fireheart and Cinderpaw gently laid the kits in Goldenflower’s nest. The pale ginger queen bent over to guide them toward her belly, and their miserable squeaking died away as they burrowed into the warmth of her body and found a place to suckle.
“Thank you, Goldenflower,” purred Bluestar.
Fireheart realized that she was looking down at the young kits with an expression of longing. He wondered if she was thinking about her own lost kits, and his doubts about what had really happened to them came flooding back. Could they possibly be Mistyfoot and Stonefur, alive and well in RiverClan? Did she have any idea?
His thoughts were interrupted when Cinderpaw turned abruptly and made her way out of the den. Fireheart followed her, to find her crouching outside with her head bowed onto her front paws. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Silverstream died.” Fireheart could hardly hear her muffled reply. “I let her die.”
“That’s not true!”
Cinderpaw looked up, blinking. Her eyes were blue pools of misery. “I’m supposed to be a medicine cat. I’m supposed to save lives.”
“You saved the two kits,” Fireheart reminded her, moving closer and pressing the side of his face against her cheek.
“But I didn’t save Silverstream.”
A wave of sympathy washed over Fireheart. He understood how Cinderpaw felt, and he wanted to tell her she was wrong to blame herself, but he didn’t have the words. Feeling useless and saddened, he began to lick her gently.
“What’s going on?” Fireheart looked up to see Yellowfang standing in front of them, a puzzled frown on her broad gray face. “What’s this I hear about Graystripe and a RiverClan queen?”
Cinderpaw didn’t even seem to notice that her mentor was there. It was left to Fireheart to explain.
“Cinderpaw was brilliant,” he told the elderly medicine cat. “Those kits would have died without her.”
Yellowfang nodded. “I’ve seen Tigerclaw,” she rasped. “Brackenfur was taking me to the Sunningrocks when we ran into him. He’s furious about the kits. But he’s not furious with you, Cinderpaw,” she added. “He knows you did your duty, just as any medicine cat would.”
Cinderpaw glanced up at that. “I’ll never be a medicine cat,” she spat bitterly. “I’m useless. I let Silverstream die.”
“What?” snarled Yellowfang angrily, arching her skinny gray body. “That’s the most mouse-brained thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Yellowfang—” Fireheart began to protest at her harsh tone, but the medicine cat ignored him.
“You did your best, Cinderpaw,” she growled. “No cat can do more.”
“But it wasn’t good enough,” Cinderpaw pointed out dully. “If you’d been there, you would have saved her.”
“Oh? StarClan told you that, did they? Cinderpaw, sometimes cats die, and no cat can do anything about it.” She let out a rusty mew, half laughter, half scolding. “Not even me.”
“But I lost her, Yellowfang.”
“I know. And that’s a hard lesson.” Now there was rough sympathy in the old cat’s meow. “But I’ve lost cats before now—more cats than I care to count. Every medicine cat in the world has. You live with it. You go on.” She nudged Cinderpaw with her battle-scarred muzzle, and went on nudging until the younger cat rose unsteadily to her paws. “Come on. There’s work to be done. Smallear’s complaining about his aching joints again.”
She herded Cinderpaw in the direction of her den and paused to glance over her shoulder at Fireheart. “Don’t worry,” she told him. “She’ll be fine.”
Fireheart watched the two cats cross the clearing and vanish into Yellowfang’s den.
“You can trust Yellowfang.” At the sound of the quiet meow, Fireheart turned to see Bluestar. “She’ll see Cinderpaw through this.”
The Clan leader was sitting just outside the nursery, her tail wrapped neatly over her paws. In spite of all the turmoil of Silverstream’s death and the discovery of Graystripe’s illicit relationship, she looked as calm as ever.
“Bluestar,” Fireheart meowed hesitantly, “what will happen to Graystripe now? Will he be punished?”
Bluestar looked thoughtful. “I can’t answer that yet, Fireheart,” she admitted. “I need to discuss it with Tigerclaw and the other warriors.”
“Graystripe couldn’t help himself,” Fireheart blurted out loyally.
“Not help himself—when he betrayed his Clan and the warrior code to be with Silverstream?” Bluestar’s eyes glinted, but her tone was not as angry as Fireheart would have expected. “I promise you one thing,” she added. “I’ll do nothing until the shock has died down. We need to consider the whole matter carefully.”
“You’re not really shocked, though, are you?” Fireheart dared to ask. “Had you guessed it was happening?” He half expected Bluestar not to answer. She held him motionless for several heartbeats with her penetrating blue gaze. There was wisdom in her eyes, he saw, and even pain.
“Yes, I suspected,” she mewed at last. “It’s a leader’s place to know things. And I’m not exactly blind at the Gatherings.”
“Then…then why didn’t you stop it?”
“I hoped Graystripe would remember his loyalty to the Clan on his own,” Bluestar replied. “I knew that even if he didn’t, something would happen to end it, sooner or later. I only wish it had not ended so tragically, for both of them. Though I don’t know how Graystripe would have coped with watching his own kits grow up in another Clan.”
“You understand about that, don’t you?” The words were out before Fireheart had a chance to think about what he was saying. “It happened to you.”
Bluestar stiffened and Fireheart flinched at the sudden blaze of anger in her eyes. Then she relaxed, and the anger was replaced by a distant look of memory and loss.
“You guessed,” she murmured. “I thought you might. Yes, Fireheart, Mistyfoot and Stonefur were once my kits.”
第二十二章
第二十二章
火心和炭爪衔着幼崽随虎掌回到营地。此事早已在营地中传开，无论是武士还是学徒都走出巢穴，默默地看着他们。火心能够嗅到他们身上散发出的震惊和猜疑的气味。
蓝星站在育婴室门口，大概她一直在等他们回来。火心原本以为她会拒绝收养这两只幼崽，谁知她却淡淡地说：“进来吧。”
育婴室内昏暗而安静。纹脸蜷起身子将她的孩子们围起来，几只幼崽正呼呼大睡，云崽白色的毛在一堆灰毛球中间犹如一团白雪般醒目。旁边，金花躺在用厚厚的羽毛铺成的窝里，正为刚生下来的幼崽们喂奶。这两只幼崽一只是姜黄色，就如金花一样，另一只则是深棕色的虎斑猫。
蓝星轻声说：“金花，我有件事求你。你能再多养两只幼崽吗？他们的妈妈刚刚死去。”
金花吃惊地抬起头，当她看到火心和炭爪嘴里叼着的小可怜时，目光逐渐变得柔和。
两个小家伙饿得发慌，不停地在蠕动。
金花说：“我想……”
纹尾走进来插嘴说：“等等，金花。在你应允之前，先问问蓝星这两只幼崽是谁家的。”
火心顿时焦急起来。虽然纹尾是位好妈妈，不过她生性火暴，族别之见很深。
蓝星平静地说：“我不会瞒她的。金花，他们是灰条的孩子。他们的妈妈是银溪——一只河族猫。”
金花吃惊地睁大眼睛，连纹脸也从瞌睡中惊醒，竖起耳朵倾听。
纹尾低嘶着说：“灰条一定是几个月前就和她有来往了。忠心的猫会干这种勾当吗？他们都背叛了自己的族群。这两只幼崽的血统不好。”
蓝星忽然站起，呵斥道：“胡说！”火心吓了一跳，他从未见过族长这般生气。“无论灰条和银溪做了什么，孩子们总是无辜的。金花，你愿意收养他们吗？没有母亲照料，他们会死的。”
金花迟疑了一下，然后长出了口气，说：“我有充足的奶水，还能说‘不’吗？”
纹尾的鼻子里发出嗤的一声，背过身去。火心和炭爪将幼崽轻轻放进金花的窝内。金花弯腰将他们推向自己的肚腹。两个小家伙缩进她温暖的身体里，找到奶头后立即大口吮吸起来，很快便停止了哭泣。
蓝星说：“谢谢你，金花。”
火心发现，当蓝星低头看着这两只幼崽的时候，脸上带着一种奇怪的表情。火心怀疑她是不是想起了自己的孩子，他很想知道其中究竟隐藏了怎样一段故事。蓝星的孩子是否活了下来并在河族里生活得很好呢？是否就是雾脚和石毛呢？她对此又知晓多少呢？
火心正在深思，炭爪突然转身向育婴室外走去。他急忙跟出去，发现炭爪趴在育婴室外面，脑袋枕在前爪上。他问：“怎么了？”
炭爪喃喃地说：“银溪死了，我没能救活她。”
“这不是你的过错！”
炭爪抬起头，眨了眨眼睛，眼中充满了悲伤：“我想当一名好巫医，我想救治生命。”
火心凑上前和她脸贴着脸提醒说：“你救了两条命。”
“但我没能救下银溪。”
火心很同情炭爪，他理解炭爪的感受，想告诉她自责是不对的，但他不知该怎么说才好。他又难过，又觉得自己没用，唯有轻柔地舔着她。
“这是怎么回事？”火心抬眼看见黄牙皱着眉头站在面前，一脸困惑的样子，“我听说灰条和一只河族母猫的事了，到底怎么回事？”
炭爪似乎对老师的到来浑然不觉，火心只得自己向黄牙解释。
他说：“炭爪立了大功。要不是她，那两只幼崽就死了。”
黄牙点了点头：“我见过虎掌了。蕨毛去太阳石找我，回来的路上我们遇见他。他对这两只幼崽的事情感到十分恼火。但是他倒没有怪你，炭爪，他知道你只是在尽一名巫医的职责。”
炭爪抬起头，苦涩地说：“我永远也成不了巫医。我真没用，是我害了银溪。”
黄牙一听就火了，厉声喝道：“什么？这是我听过的最愚蠢的话了。”
“黄牙……”火心想替炭爪分辩，但黄牙没有理他。
她喝道：“炭爪，你已经尽力了。谁也不能做得更好。”
炭爪呆呆地说：“可这还不够好。如果你在场，肯定能救活她。”
黄牙半是玩笑，半是责备地说：“哦？是星族这么对你说的，是吗？炭爪，有时在死亡面前，医术是无能为力的。我也不例外。”
“但我没有救活她，黄牙。”
黄牙同情地说：“我知道。这种教训非常惨痛，但在我的手底下也死过猫——多得我都数不过来。每个巫医的手底下都放走过生命。你必须学会适应这一点，然后继续往前走。”她用伤痕累累的口鼻部顶炭爪，顶得她站不稳脚跟。“好了，还有事情要做呢。小耳又抱怨说他的膝盖疼了。”
她将炭爪往巫医巢穴赶去，扭头对火心说：“别担心，她会好起来的。”
火心目送两只猫经过会场，消失在香薇通道的入口处。
“相信黄牙。”火心耳边响起一个声音，他扭头一看是蓝星，“她会帮助炭爪挺过去的。”
蓝星坐在育婴室门口，尾巴卷过来盖住爪子。虽然银溪的死以及灰条的胆大妄为来得很突然，但她看起来像往常一样镇静。
火心迟疑地问：“蓝星，灰条现在怎么办？他会受处罚吗？”
蓝星沉思片刻说：“我也回答不上来，火心。我需要和虎掌他们商议一下。”
火心着急地说：“灰条是情不自禁啊。”
“情不自禁——但他和银溪在一起，这违反了武士守则，是背叛族群的行为。”蓝星目光闪闪，但语气中却不含怒意，“我向你保证一件事，在事情平息前我不会做出任何处理决定。我们需要仔仔细细地通盘考虑，火心。”
火心壮着胆子问：“其实你并不感到震惊，是吗？你是不是早料到了这种事会发生？”他问是这么问，但对蓝星是否会回答他的问题并没有抱太大期望。蓝星一动不动地凝视着他，目光似乎能穿透一切。火心看到，在她的眼里有智慧，也有痛苦。
最后蓝星说：“是的，我确实怀疑过。作为族长，应当知道族内发生了什么事情，在森林大会上我就看出来了。”
“那……那你为什么不加以阻止？”
蓝星回答道：“我希望灰条还能记得自己对族群所负有的忠诚。我知道，就算他不去了结，这种事情迟早都会有个了断的。我只希望事情的结局对他们不要太过悲惨。不过，我不知道灰条如何面对自己的孩子在别的族群长大这一事实。”
火心想都没有想就脱口而出：“你清楚这种情形，是吗？因为在你身上也曾发生过这种事情。”
蓝星一下子僵在那里，眼里突然闪起怒火。火心吓得心里怦怦直跳。过了一会儿，她的情绪平复下来，眼里怒火渐渐消失，目光却变得悠远而迷失。
她喃喃说道：“你猜到了，我就知道你能猜到。是的，火心，雾脚和石毛都是我生的。”
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 23
“Come,” Bluestar ordered. She began towalk slowly across the camp toward her den, leaving Fireheart with no choice but to follow. Once inside, she told him to sit down, and settled herself on her bedding.
“How much do you know?” she asked Fireheart, her blue eyes searching his.
“Only that Oakheart once brought two ThunderClan kits to RiverClan,” Fireheart admitted. “He told Graypool—that’s the queen who suckled them—that he didn’t know where they had come from.”
Bluestar nodded, her gaze softening. “I knew Oakheart would stay loyal to me,” she murmured. She raised her head. “He was the kits’ father,” she added. “Did you guess that much?”
Fireheart shook his head. But it made sense, then, that Oakheart had been so desperate for Graypool to care for the helpless kits. “What exactly happened to your kits?” he demanded, curiosity making him unguarded. “Oakheart didn’t steal them, did he?”
The Clan leader’s ears flicked impatiently. “Of course not.” Her eyes met Fireheart’s, suddenly clouded with a pain he could not begin to imagine. “No, he didn’t steal them. I gave them away.”
Fireheart stared in disbelief. There was nothing he could do but wait for the she-cat to explain.
“My warrior name was Bluefur,” she began. “Like you, I wanted nothing more than to serve my Clan. Oakheart and I met at a Gathering early one leaf-bare, when we were still young and foolish. We were not mates for long. When I discovered I was to have kits, I intended to bear them for ThunderClan. No cat asked me who the father was—if a queen does not wish to tell, that is her choice.”
“But then…?” Fireheart prompted.
Bluestar’s eyes were fixed on a point far away, as if she were staring into the distant past. “Then our Clan deputy, Tawnyspots, decided to retire. I knew I had a good chance of being chosen to take his place. Our medicine cat had already told me that StarClan held a great destiny for me. But I also knew the Clan would never take a queen nursing kits as deputy.”
“So you gave them away?” Fireheart could not keep the note of disbelief out of his voice. “Couldn’t you have waited until they had left their nursery? Surely you could have been made deputy once the kits were old enough to care for themselves.”
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Bluestar told him, her voice rough with pain. “That was a bitter leaf-bare. The Clan was half-starved and I had barely enough milk to feed my kits. I knew that in RiverClan they would be well cared for. In those days the river was full of fish, and RiverClan cats never went hungry.”
“But to lose them…” Fireheart blinked at the sharpness of pain he felt in sympathy.
“Fireheart, I don’t need you to tell me how difficult my choice was. I lay awake for many nights, deciding what to do. What was best for the kits…what was best for me…and what was best for the Clan.”
“There must have been other warriors ready to be deputy?” Fireheart was still struggling to accept that Bluestar had been so ambitious that she would have given away her own kits.
Bluestar jerked her chin up defiantly. “Oh, yes. There was Thistleclaw. He was a fine warrior, strong and brave. But his answer to every problem was to fight. Should I have watched him be made deputy, and then leader, and let him force the Clan into unnecessary wars?” She shook her head sadly. “He died as he lived, Fireheart, a few seasons before you came to join us, attacking a RiverClan patrol on the border. Wild and arrogant to the last. I couldn’t stand by and let him destroy my Clan.”
“Did you give the kits to Oakheart yourself?”
“Yes. I spoke to him at a Gathering, and he agreed to take them. So one night I crept out of the camp and took them to the Sunningrocks. Oakheart was waiting, and he took two of them across the river.”
“Two of them?” Fireheart was startled. “You mean there were more than two?”
“There were three.” Bluestar bowed her head; her mew was scarcely audible. “The third kit was too weak to cope with the journey. He died with me, by the river.”
“What did you tell the rest of the Clan?” Fireheart thought back to the Gathering, when Patchpelt had said only that Bluestar had “lost” her kits.
“I…I made it look as if they had been taken from the nursery by a fox or a badger. I tore a hole in the nursery wall just before I left, and when I came back, I said that I had been hunting and had left my kits sleeping safely.” Her whole body trembled, and Fireheart could tell that confessing to this lie was causing Bluestar more pain than losing a life.
“Every cat searched,” she went on. “And I searched too, even though I knew there was no hope of finding them. The Clan was devastated for me.” She dropped her head onto her paws. Forgetting for a moment that she was his leader, Fireheart crossed the floor of the den and gave Bluestar’s ears a gentle lick.
Once again he remembered his dream, and the faceless queen who had faded away, leaving her kits to cry for her. He had thought the queen was Silverstream, but now he realized she was Bluestar as well. The dream had been both prophecy and Clan memory. “Why are you sharing this with me?” he asked.
When Bluestar looked up, Fireheart could hardly bear to see the sorrow in her eyes.
“For many seasons I put the kits out of my mind,” she answered. “I became deputy, and then leader, and my Clan needed me. But lately, with the floods, and the danger to RiverClan—and your discoveries, Fireheart, making me hear again what I knew very well already…And now another pair of kits who are half RiverClan, half ThunderClan. Perhaps this time I can make better decisions.”
“But why tell me?” Fireheart repeated.
“Perhaps after so long I want a cat to know the truth,” meowed Bluestar with a slight frown. “I think you of all cats might understand, Fireheart. Sometimes there are no right choices.”
But Fireheart was not sure that he understood at all. His mind was whirling. On one paw he could picture the young warrior, Bluefur, fiercely ambitious, determined to do the best for her Clan, even if it meant unimaginable sacrifices. On the other, he saw a mother grieving for the kits she had abandoned so long ago. And what was probably more real to him than either, the gifted leader who had done what she felt was best and borne the pain of it alone.
“I won’t tell another cat,” he promised, realizing how much she must trust him to have revealed her secrets to him like this.
“Thank you, Fireheart,” she replied. “There are difficult times ahead of us. The Clan doesn’t need more trouble.” She rose to her paws and stretched as if she had been curled up in a long sleep. “Now I must speak with Tigerclaw. And you, Fireheart, had better go and find your friend.”
The sun was beginning to sink, turning the river into a ribbon of reflected fire, as Fireheart returned to the Sunningrocks. Graystripe crouched beside a patch of freshly turned earth at the top of the riverbank, his gaze fixed on the blazing water.
“I buried her on the shore,” he whispered as Fireheart padded up and sat down beside him. “She loved the river.” He raised his head to where the first stars of Silverpelt were beginning to appear. “She hunts with StarClan now,” he mewed softly. “Someday I’ll find her again, and we’ll be together.”
Fireheart was unable to speak. He pressed himself more closely to Graystripe’s side, and the two cats crouched there in silence as the bloodred light faded.
“Where did you take the kits?” Graystripe meowed at last. “They should have been buried with her.”
“Buried?” Fireheart echoed. “Graystripe, didn’t you know? The kits are alive.”
Graystripe stared at him, jaws gaping, his golden eyes beginning to glow. “They’re alive—Silverstream’s kits—my kits? Fireheart, where are they?”
“In the ThunderClan nursery.” Fireheart gave him a quick lick. “Goldenflower is suckling them.”
“But she won’t keep them—will she? Does she know they’re Silverstream’s?”
“The whole Clan knows,” Fireheart told him reluctantly. “Tigerclaw saw to that. But Goldenflower doesn’t blame the kits, and neither does Bluestar. They’ll be cared for, Graystripe; they really will.”
Graystripe scrambled to his paws, moving stiffly after his long vigil. He looked doubtfully at Fireheart, as if he couldn’t believe that ThunderClan would really accept the kits. “I want to see them.”
“Come on, then,” mewed Fireheart, feeling a surge of relief that his friend felt ready to face the Clan again. “Bluestar sent me to bring you home.”
He led the way through the darkening forest. Graystripe padded after him, but he kept casting glances back, as if he couldn’t bear to leave Silverstream behind. He did not speak, and Fireheart let him be silent with his memories.
When they reached the camp, the curious murmuring groups of warriors and apprentices had broken up, and everything looked normal for a warm newleaf evening. Brackenfur and Dustpelt crouched by the nettle patch, sharing a piece of fresh-kill, and outside the apprentices’ den Thornpaw and Brightpaw were rolling around in a play fight while Swiftpaw looked on. Tigerclaw and Bluestar were nowhere to be seen.
Fireheart breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted Graystripe left alone, at least until he had visited the kits, without being troubled by blame or hostility from his fellow warriors.
Then, on their way to the nursery, they passed Sandstorm. She halted abruptly, glancing from Fireheart to Graystripe and back again.
“Hi,” Fireheart mewed, trying to sound as friendly as he always did. “We’re going to visit the kits. See you in the den later?”
“You can,” Sandstorm growled, with a glare at Graystripe. “Just keep him away from me, that’s all.” She stalked off, her head and tail held high.
Fireheart’s heart sank. He remembered how hostile Sandstorm had been to him when he first joined the Clan. It had taken her a long time to thaw toward him. How long would it be before she would treat Graystripe as a friend again?
Graystripe flattened his ears against his head. “She doesn’t want me here. No cat does.”
“I do,” Fireheart meowed, hoping he sounded sufficiently encouraging. “Come on; let’s go and see your kits.”
第二十三章
第二十三章
“跟我来。”蓝星说完，慢慢向她的巢穴走去。火心没有办法，只得跟在后面。蓝星进到巢穴里，躺在窝内，示意火心坐下。
她盯着火心问：“你知道的有多少？”
火心承认说：“我只知道橡心曾把两只雷族幼崽带进河族，他对灰池——就是他们的养母——说他不知道那两只幼崽的出身。”
蓝星点了点头，目光柔和下来，小声说：“我就知道橡心不会背叛我。”说着，她抬起头，“他就是那两只幼崽的父亲。你猜到了吗？”
火心摇了摇头。不过这样一来事情就变得合情合理了，难怪橡心会坚持要灰池抚养那两只幼崽。在好奇心的驱使下，火心问道：“这究竟是怎么回事？橡心没有偷走他们，是吗？”
蓝星不耐烦地晃了晃耳朵，说：“当然没有偷。”她看着火心，双眼忽然充满了痛苦的神色，“不，他没有偷走他们，是我把他们送出去的。”
火心简直不敢相信自己的耳朵，等着蓝星做进一步的解释。
蓝星回忆说：“我当武士时的名字叫蓝毛。和你一样，我满脑子里想的都是如何为族群多做贡献。那一年刚刚进入落叶季，我和橡心在森林大会上相识。我们年轻而又糊涂，交往没多久，我发现自己怀了孩子，我想把他们抚养长大。没有猫会问孩子的父亲是谁——说与不说那是母猫的权利。”
火心说：“既然这样，那……”
蓝星凝望着远方，仿佛又回到了那段尘封的往事：“那时，我们的副族长褐斑决定辞职，这是一个获得该职位千载难逢的机会。族里的巫医已经告诉过我说星族将降大任于我，但我知道，哺育幼崽的母猫是不能当副族长的。”
火心语含责备地说：“所以你就把他们送走了。为什么你不能等他们离开育婴室呢？你应当等他们能够照顾自己后再出任副族长。”
蓝星痛苦地说：“做出这个决定绝非轻而易举的事。在那个严酷的落叶季里，族群填不饱肚子，而我也没有足够的奶水喂养孩子。我知道河族衣食无忧，孩子们在那里能得到很好的照顾。当时的河里鱼类丰富，因此河族永远都不会有挨饿的忧虑。”
火心难过地说：“但失去他们……”
“火心，我不需要你来告诉我这个选择有多残酷。接连数个夜晚，我辗转反侧，迟迟下不了决心，如何选择才最有利于孩子、最有利于我、最有利于族群。”
“当时一定有别的武士来竞争这个副族长职位。”火心仍很难接受蓝星为了自己的野心而放弃亲生骨肉的事实。
蓝星有些愤恨地说：“哦，没错，就是蓟掌。他是一位优秀的武士，强壮而勇敢，但他生性好斗。我能眼睁睁地看着他当上副族长，然后当上族长，把族群带入无休无止的战争中吗？”她悲伤地摇了摇头，“火心，就在你来到族群数月前，他率众袭击河族的巡逻队，不幸身亡。他这一生始终狂热而自负，我不能坐视他毁了族群。”
“是你亲自把孩子们交给橡心的吗？”
“是的，我在一次森林大会上征询他的意见，他同意抚养孩子。因此，我趁着一个夜晚溜出营地，带着孩子们到太阳石。橡心等在那里，然后他就带着其中的两只幼崽过了河。”
火心吃了一惊：“其中的两只？你的意思是不止两只吗？”
蓝星低下头，凄惨地说：“共有三只。第三只身子弱，耐不住旅途的艰辛，死在了河边，我就在他的身边。”
火心想起在一次森林大会上，团毛说的只是蓝星“失去”了孩子。于是他问：“你是怎么对族里说的？”
“我……我制造了一出假相，使得大家误以为我的孩子是被狐狸或者獾拖走了。我事先在育婴室后的营墙上挖了个洞，事后我对大家说我把孩子们留在育婴室里睡觉，而我则一直在外面打猎。”说着，蓝星的身体剧烈颤抖起来。火心明白，对于蓝星来说，承认一个谎言要比杀了她还难受。
蓝星继续说：“大家倾巢出动去寻找，虽然我知道不会有什么结果，但还是假装寻找。”她垂下头枕在前爪上。火心忘记了上下之别，走过去轻轻地在蓝星的耳朵之间舔了一下。
他又想起自己做过的那个梦：那只面目模糊的银灰色母猫的身影渐渐淡去，留下自己的孩子在黑暗中无助地哭泣。原先他以为那只母猫是银溪，现在意识到她应该是蓝星。这个梦既是预言，也是一段往事。火心问：“你为什么把这件事告诉我？”
蓝星抬起头，眼里充满了令火心刻骨铭心的悲痛。
她回答说：“一直以来，我都惦念着这两个孩子。我当上了副族长，然后又当上了族长，我的族群需要我。但最近洪水危及到河族的生存，你的发现使我又听到自己早已熟知的事情。如今，又出现了一对半是河族、半是雷族的幼崽。也许这一回我能做出更好的决定。”
火心又问：“但你为什么把这件事告诉我？”
蓝星眉头微皱，说：“也许这件事在我心里压抑太久了。我觉得你最有可能理解我，火心。有时我们根本没有选择的余地。”
但火心很难理解这种行为，一时间，他心乱如麻。他眼前浮现出一个年轻武士的形象，是雄心壮志的蓝毛，她决意将族群的利益放在首位，甚至不惜付出难以想象的惨痛代价。但现实中，站在他面前的是一位久失爱子的母亲。对于他来说，最真实的蓝星也许是这么一只猫：她是一位很有天赋的族长，她做了自己认为最正确的事情而独自忍受痛苦的折磨。
火心忽然意识到蓝星把这个秘密告诉自己，是对自己的无比信任，于是他说：“我不会把这件事告诉其他猫的。”
“谢谢你，火心。未来还会有很多困难等待着我们，族群不能再乱了。”蓝星回答道，她站起来伸了个大大的懒腰，“我现在去和虎掌谈谈。火心，你最好去看看你的朋友。”
火心回到太阳石，看见灰条卧在河岸边一堆新砌的土堆旁，呆呆地望着闪耀着万道金光的河面。
火心走过去坐在他身边，只听他喃喃说道：“我把她埋在岸边。她爱这条河。”说着，他仰头望着天上渐渐出现的银河，柔声说，“她现在和星族在一起。某一天我会再找到她，我们就能重逢了。”
火心不知道该说什么好，唯有贴紧灰条的身体。两只猫默默地卧在那里，直到周围的一切都被黑暗吞噬。
最后灰条说：“你们把幼崽带到哪里了？他们应该和她埋葬在一起。”
火心说：“埋葬？灰条，你还不知道吗？孩子们都还活着。”
灰条盯着他，呼吸加剧，眼里开始放射出光彩：“他们还活着——银溪的孩子——我的孩子？火心，他们在哪里？”
火心舔了他一下，说：“在育婴室里，金花正在给他们喂奶。”
“但她不会收养他们——会吗？她知道他们是银溪生的吗？”
火心不情愿地说：“整个族群都知道了。虎掌就是这么认为的。不过金花对待这两个孩子倒没有什么偏见，蓝星也没有。他们得到了很好的照料，灰条，将来也会。”
灰条爬起来，吃力地挪动身体。他疑惑地看着火心，似乎不相信雷族能真的接纳这两只幼崽。“我想去看看他们。”
见到灰条做好了再次面对族群的准备，火心松了口气，说：“这就走吧。蓝星派我来接你回家。”
火心走进黢黑的森林，灰条跟在后面，不停地回头望去，似乎不忍把银溪独自丢在那里。他一路上默不做声，火心也不去打扰他。
当他们回到营地时，武士和学徒们三三两两地聚在一起窃窃私语。这是一个温暖的早晨，一切并没有什么太大的变化。蕨毛和尘毛卧在荨麻丛边吃东西，刺爪和亮爪在学徒巢穴外嬉戏打闹，迅爪在一旁观战，虎掌和蓝星则不见踪影。
火心吁了口气。他就想让灰条独自待着，起码他探视孩子们时，其他的猫别来打搅他。
他们朝育婴室走去，路上遇见沙风。沙风猛地刹住脚步，目光在他们之间移来移去。
火心尽量像往日一般友好地说：“嘿，我们去看看孩子们。过一会儿咱们巢穴里见。”
沙风厉声喝道：“你可以，但叫他离我远点儿！”说着，她昂首翘尾踱步而去。
火心心里一沉。他想起当初自己刚进族群时，沙风一直对他怀着敌意，这种敌意过了好长时间才渐渐消除。这一次，要过多久她才会重新把灰条当做朋友呢？
灰条沮丧地说：“她不想让我留在这里。没有猫想。”
火心为他打气说：“我想呀。走吧，去看看你的孩子们。”
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 24
Fireheart leaped from one stepping-stoneto the next across the swiftly flowing river. The floodwater had retreated and the stones were clearly visible again. It was the day after Silverstream had died; the sky was gray with a thin drizzle of rain, as if StarClan were mourning her too.
Fireheart was on his way to take the news of Silverstream’s death into RiverClan, although he had not sought Bluestar’s permission first. He had slipped away without telling any cat because he thought Silverstream’s Clan had the right to know what had happened to her. And he suspected that not every cat in ThunderClan would agree with him.
Reaching the opposite bank, Fireheart stood with his head raised, tasting the air for fresh scents. He caught one almost at once, and a heartbeat later a small tabby tom appeared from the ferns above the path.
He hesitated, looking startled, before sidling down the bank to confront Fireheart. “You’re Fireheart, aren’t you?” he meowed. “I recognize you from the last Gathering. What are you doing on our side of the river?”
He was trying to sound confident, but Fireheart could detect nervousness in his voice. He was a very young cat—an apprentice, Fireheart guessed, anxious at being away from the camp without his mentor.
“I’m not here to fight, or to spy,” Fireheart promised. “I need to talk to Mistyfoot. Will you fetch her for me?”
The apprentice hesitated again, as if he would have liked to protest. Then the habit of obeying warriors’ orders won over, and he padded along the riverside in the direction of the RiverClan camp. Fireheart watched him go and scrambled up the bank to a spot where he could lie concealed in the bracken until Mistyfoot appeared.
It was a long time before she came, but at last Fireheart caught sight of her familiar blue-gray shape trotting rapidly toward him. Familiar because of Bluestar, he realized with a jolt. His leader’s daughter was practically her double. To his relief she was alone. As she paused to sniff the air, he called out softly to her, “Mistyfoot! Up here!”
Mistyfoot’s ears twitched; moments later she was pushing her way into the ferns beside him. “What is it?” she meowed, looking worried. “Is it about Silverstream? I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
Fireheart felt as if a bone were lodged in his throat. He swallowed uncomfortably. “Mistyfoot,” he mewed, “it’s bad news. I’m so sorry…Silverstream is dead.”
Mistyfoot fixed him with wide blue eyes full of disbelief. “Dead?” she echoed. “She can’t be!” Before Fireheart could respond, she added more harshly, “Did some of your ThunderClan warriors catch her over there?”
“No, no,” Fireheart replied quickly. “She was at the Sunningrocks with Graystripe, and the kits started to come. Something was wrong…there was a lot of blood. We did everything we could, but…oh, Mistyfoot, I’m so sorry.”
Pain flooded into Mistyfoot’s eyes as he explained. She let out a long, low wailing sound, her head flung back and her claws digging into the ground. Fireheart moved closer to try to comfort her, and felt every muscle in her body rigid with tension. There were no words he could say that would do any good.
At last the terrible wailing died away and Mistyfoot relaxed a little. “I knew no good could come of it,” she murmured. There was no anger or accusation in her voice, only a weary sadness. “I told her not to meet Graystripe, but would she listen? And now…I can’t believe I’ll never see her again.”
“Graystripe buried her by the Sunningrocks,” Fireheart told her. “If you’ll meet me there one day, I’ll show you the place.”
Mistyfoot nodded. “I’d like that, Fireheart.”
“Her kits are alive,” Fireheart added, in an attempt to ease some of the queen’s grief.
“Her kits?” Mistyfoot sat up, alert again.
“Two kits,” mewed Fireheart. “They’re going to be fine.”
Mistyfoot blinked, suddenly deep in thought. “Will ThunderClan want them, when they’re half RiverClan?”
“One of our queens is suckling them,” Fireheart assured her. “The Clan’s angry with Graystripe, but no cat would take it out on the kits.”
“I see.” Mistyfoot was silent for a while, still thoughtful, and then rose to her paws. “I must get back to camp and tell the Clan. They don’t even know about Graystripe. I can’t imagine what I’m going to say to Silverstream’s father.”
Fireheart knew how she felt. Many warrior fathers did not stay close to their kits, but Crookedstar had maintained a close bond with Silverstream. His grief at her death would be mixed with anger that she had betrayed her Clan by taking Graystripe as a mate.
Mistyfoot gave Fireheart a quick lick on the forehead. “Thank you,” she mewed. “Thank you for coming to tell me.”
Then she was gone, sliding rapidly through the ferns. Fireheart waited until she was out of sight before he padded down the pebbly shore and crossed the stepping stones back to his own territory.
Hunger roused Fireheart from sleep. Peering through the dim light in the warriors’ den, he saw that Graystripe had left his nest already. Oh, no! Fireheart thought irritably. He’s gone off to meet Silverstream again! Then he remembered.
Two dawns had passed since Silverstream’s death. The shock the Clan felt about her affair with Graystripe was beginning to die down, though none of the warriors except Fireheart and Brackenfur would talk to Graystripe or go on patrols with him. Bluestar had still not announced what his punishment would be.
Fireheart stretched and yawned. All night his sleep had been disturbed by Graystripe twitching and whimpering, but the weariness inside him went deeper than that. He couldn’t see how the Clan could possibly recover from the blow that had been struck by the discovery of Graystripe’s disloyalty. There was an atmosphere of uncertainty and distrust that dulled conversation and cut short the familiar rituals of sharing tongues.
With a determined shake, Fireheart slipped out through the branches and padded over to the pile of fresh-kill. The sun was rising, dappling the camp with golden light. As he bent to pick out a plump vole, he heard a voice calling, “Fireheart! Fireheart!”
Fireheart turned. Cloudkit was racing across the clearing toward him from the nursery. Brindleface and the rest of her kits followed more slowly, and to Fireheart’s surprise Bluestar was with them.
“Fireheart!” Cloudkit panted, skidding to a stop in front of him. “I’m going to be an apprentice! I’m going to be an apprentice now!”
Fireheart dropped the vole. He couldn’t help feeling cheered up when he saw the kit’s excitement, along with a twinge of guilt that he had completely forgotten Cloudkit was approaching his sixth moon.
“You’ll mentor him, of course, Fireheart?” Bluestar meowed as she came up. “It’s time you had another apprentice. You did good work with Brackenfur, even though he wasn’t yours.”
“Thank you,” meowed Fireheart, dipping his head to acknowledge her praise. He couldn’t help thinking sadly of Cinderpaw. He would never lose the feeling that he had been partly responsible for her accident, and he resolved to do better with Cloudkit.
“I’ll work harder than any cat!” Cloudkit promised, his eyes wide. “I’ll be the best apprentice there ever was!”
“We’ll see about that,” Bluestar mewed, while Brindleface purred with amusement.
“He’s been pestering me day and night,” she meowed fondly. “I know he’ll do his best. He’s strong and intelligent.”
Cloudkit’s eyes gleamed at her praise. He seems to have gotten over finding out he was a kittypet, Fireheart thought. But he’s arrogant, and he barely knows what the warrior code is, let alone respects it. Did I do the right thing, to bring him here? he wondered yet again. Mentoring him wouldn’t be easy, he knew.
“I’ll call the meeting,” Bluestar meowed, heading for the Highrock. With a glance at Fireheart, Cloudkit bounced after her, and the rest of the kits tumbled along behind.
“Fireheart,” meowed Brindleface, “there’s something I want to ask you.”
Fireheart suppressed a sigh. “What is it?” Obviously he wasn’t going to have time to eat his vole before Cloudkit’s ceremony.
“It’s about Graystripe. I know what he’s been through, but he’s never out of the nursery, watching over those two kits. It’s as if he thinks Goldenflower can’t look after them properly. He’s getting in the way of all of us.”
“Have you told him?”
“We’ve tried dropping hints. Speckletail even asked him if he thought he was expecting kits himself. He doesn’t take any notice.”
Fireheart gave the vole a last regretful glance. “I’ll talk to him, Brindleface. Is he there now?”
“Yes, he’s been there all morning.”
“I’ll fetch him out for the meeting.” Fireheart padded across the clearing; as he reached the nursery he heard Bluestar summoning the Clan from the top of the Highrock.
As he entered the nursery he felt a jolt of surprise to meet Tigerclaw coming out. He stepped aside to let the deputy pass him, wondering what he had been doing in the nursery, until he remembered that one of Goldenflower’s kits was a dark tabby; Tigerclaw must be their father.
The nursery was warm, and full of comforting milky smells. Goldenflower lay in her nest with Graystripe crouching over her, sniffing at the bundle of kits.
“Are they getting enough milk?” he meowed anxiously. “They’re so small.”
“That’s because they’re young,” Goldenflower replied patiently. “They’ll grow.”
Fireheart went over to watch the four kits suckling busily in the warmth of their mother’s body. The little dark tabby certainly looked just like Tigerclaw. Graystripe’s two were smaller, but now that their coats had dried and fluffed out they looked just like any other healthy kits. One was the same dark gray as Graystripe, while the other had their mother’s silvery coat.
“They’re beautiful,” Fireheart whispered.
“Better than he deserves,” snorted Speckletail, pushing past on her way to answer Bluestar’s summons.
“Don’t listen to Speckletail,” mewed Goldenflower when the older queen had gone. She bent over the kits and touched the silvery one with her nose. “She’ll be as beautiful as her mother, Graystripe.”
“But what if they die?” Graystripe blurted out.
“They’re not going to die,” Fireheart insisted. “Goldenflower is looking after them.”
Goldenflower was gazing at all four kits with equal love and admiration, but Fireheart couldn’t help thinking that she was looking tired and strained. Perhaps four kits were too much for her to manage. He pushed the thought away. The bond between a mother and her own kits was strong, he reflected, but Clan loyalty was strong too, and Goldenflower would give the best she could to these kits because they were half ThunderClan, and she had a kind heart.
“Come on.” Fireheart gave Graystripe a nudge. “Bluestar has called a meeting. She’s going to make Cloudkit an apprentice.”
For a heartbeat Graystripe hesitated, and Fireheart thought he was going to refuse to come. Then he pushed himself up and let Fireheart herd him toward the entrance, looking back all the while at his kits.
Outside in the clearing the rest of the Clan had already gathered. Fireheart heard Willowpelt announce happily to Mousefur and Runningwind, “I’ll have to move into the nursery soon. I’m expecting kits.”
Runningwind murmured his congratulations, while Mousefur gave her friend’s ears a joyful lick. Fireheart couldn’t help wondering who had fathered these kits, and as he glanced around he noticed Whitestorm watching proudly from a distance. The news of Willowpelt’s kits reassured Fireheart. No matter what disasters they had to face, Clan life went on
With Graystripe at his side, he made his way to the front of the crowd, just below the Highrock. Cloudkit was there, sitting up very straight and importantly beside Brindleface. Tigerclaw was seated close by, a thundercloud of disapproval on his face. Fireheart wondered what had happened now to send the deputy back into his usual bad temper.
“Cats of ThunderClan,” Bluestar began from on top of the Highrock. “I’ve called you here for two reasons, one good and one bad. To begin with the bad, you all know what happened a few days ago, when Silverstream of RiverClan died, and we gave shelter to her kits by Graystripe.”
A hostile mutter swept through the crowd of cats. Graystripe crouched down, flinching, and Fireheart pressed comfortingly against him.
“Many cats have asked me what Graystripe’s punishment will be,” Bluestar went on. “I have thought carefully on this, and I have decided that Silverstream’s death is punishment enough. What could any cat do to him that is worse than what he has already suffered?”
Her challenge led to outraged meows of protest. Longtail called out, “We don’t want him in the Clan! He’s a traitor!”
“If you become Clan leader, Longtail, these decisions will be yours,” Bluestar meowed coldly. “Until then, you will respect mine. I say there will be no punishment. However, Graystripe, for three moons you will not attend Gatherings. This is not to punish you, but to make sure there is no risk to you from angry RiverClan cats who might be tempted to break the truce because of what you have done.”
Graystripe bowed his head. “I understand, Bluestar. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” meowed the Clan leader. “But work hard and fight well for your Clan from now on. One day you will be a fine mentor for those kits.”
Fireheart saw that Graystripe brightened a little at that, as if he suddenly saw something to hope for. Tigerclaw, however, scowled even more fiercely, and Fireheart guessed that he had wanted a harsh punishment for the warrior.
“Now I can turn to a happier duty,” meowed Bluestar. “Cloudkit has reached his sixth moon, and he is ready to become an apprentice.” She leaped down from the rock and beckoned Cloudkit to her with a flick of her tail. Cloudkit bounced over to her. He was quivering with excitement, his tail stuck straight in the air and his whiskers twitching. His blue eyes sparkled like twin stars.
“Fireheart,” Bluestar meowed, “you are ready for another apprentice, and Cloudpaw is your sister’s kit. You will be his mentor.”
Fireheart stood up, but before he could walk over to the Highrock Cloudkit scampered to meet him and lifted his head to touch noses.
“Not yet!” Fireheart muttered to him through his teeth.
“Fireheart, you know what it is to be one of us, yet born outside the Clan,” Bluestar continued, ignoring Cloudkit’s impulsiveness. “I rely on you to pass on all you have learned to Cloudpaw, and help him to become a warrior the Clan will be proud of.”
“Yes, Bluestar.” Fireheart dipped his head respectfully, and at last allowed Cloudpaw to touch noses with him.
“Cloudpaw!” the new apprentice mewed triumphantly. “I’m Cloudpaw!”
“Cloudpaw!” Fireheart felt a surge of pride in his sister’s kit as the members of the Clan pressed around to congratulate the new apprentice. The elders, Fireheart noticed, were making a special fuss over him.
But Fireheart also noticed that some of the Clan held back. Tigerclaw never moved from where he sat at the base of the rock, and Longtail stalked over to sit beside him. As Fireheart stood back to let the other cats reach his new apprentice, Darkstripe shouldered past him on his way to the warriors’ den.
Fireheart heard his disgusted, deliberately loud meow. “Traitors and kittypets! Is there no decent cat left in this Clan?”
第二十四章
第二十四章
火心在石头上循序跳跃，渡过湍湍急流。洪水已退去多时，河底的石头自然便显露出来。这是银溪离去的第二天，天空灰蒙蒙的，飘着零星小雨，仿佛星族也在为她悼念。
虽然没有得到蓝星的允准，火心仍然前往河族，准备将银溪的死讯告诉他们，因为他觉得河族有权知道银溪发生了什么事情。由于害怕遇到阻拦，此行他没有告诉任何猫。
到达对岸，火心抬头嗅了嗅空气，立时便嗅到了一只猫的新鲜气味。不多一会儿，从路边的香薇丛里走出一只小虎斑公猫。
那只小猫见到火心后吃了一惊，怯怯地走到他面前问：“你是火心，是吗？我在上次森林大会上见过你。你到我们这边来干什么？”
他努力装出一副信心十足的样子，但声音中却明显透着紧张。他年纪太小——估计还是学徒，没有老师的带领便急着离开营地。
火心说：“我不是来打架或刺探情报的。我想和雾脚说句话，你能把她叫来吗？”
那个学徒迟疑了一下，看起来想拒绝，不过服从武士命令这一习惯终究占了上风，于是他转身沿着河边朝营地走去。火心目送他离去后，爬上河岸，藏在蕨木丛里等候雾脚的到来。
过了老半天雾脚才来。火心看见那熟悉的灰色身影匆匆向他赶来。多像蓝星啊！火心这才发觉雾脚简直就是蓝星的翻版。看到雾脚孤身前来，火心松了口气，对停下脚步嗅空气的雾脚唤道：“雾脚！上这里来！”
雾脚的耳朵动了动，急忙钻进蕨木丛里。一见面她就问：“什么事？是关于银溪的吗？
打昨天起我就没有看见她。”
火心如鲠在喉，吃力地咽了口唾沫，说：“雾脚，是坏消息。我很遗憾，银溪死了。”
雾脚难以置信地盯着他，说：“死了？不可能！”没等火心说话，她厉声喝道，“是不是你们雷族的武士捉走她的？”
火心急忙说：“不，不是。她和灰条在太阳石，准备生幼崽。然后事情出了差错——她流了很多血。我们用尽所有办法，但……唉，雾脚，真对不起。”
雾脚眼里充满了痛苦的神情，紧紧攥住地面，爪子都陷进了土里。她仰天长啸，声音凄厉。火心上前抚慰，觉得她每一条肌肉都绷得紧紧的。一时间，火心也找不出合适的话来安慰她。
雾脚发泄了一通，情绪稍稍平稳下来。她喃喃地说：“我就知道这种事情不会有好下场。”语气中只有悲痛，而没有丝毫的恼怒和责怪的意思。“我告诉过她，叫她别和灰条来往，但她肯听吗？现在——我真不敢相信再也见不着她了。”
火心告诉她：“灰条把她埋在了太阳石。如果有一天你我在那里见面，我会指给你看。”
雾脚点了点头。火心为了让她节哀，补充了一句：“她的孩子们都还活着。”
雾脚立刻坐起来，问：“她的孩子们？”
火心说：“两个，他们都很好。”
雾脚眨眨眼睛，忽然若有所思地问：“雷族想要他们吗？他们身上可有一半的河族血统啊。”
火心说：“我们的一只母猫当他们的奶妈。大伙儿虽然对灰条感到气恼，但谁也不会把气撒在孩子身上。”
“我明白了。”她想了一会儿，站起来，“我必须赶回去把这件事通知族群，他们还不知道她和灰条的事呢。真不知道该怎么对银溪的父亲启齿。”
火心清楚她的感受。一般来说父亲和孩子之间的关系比较松散，但钩星与银溪之间的关系却是甚为紧密。银溪选择灰条作为配偶无疑是对族群的背叛，可想而知，钩星定然在伤心之余，又感恼怒。
雾脚舔了一下火心的额头说：“谢谢你前来相告。”
说完，她钻出蕨木丛，迅速离去。火心看着她消失在视线之外，方才渡过河回到自己的领地里。
火心从睡梦中饿醒。借着昏暗的光，他看见灰条的窝空荡荡的，生气地想：噢，又去和银溪私会了！接着突然省悟过来，银溪已经死去两天了。此事在族群中引发的震动渐渐平息，不过除了火心和蕨毛外，大家既不同灰条讲话，也不和他一道外出巡逻捕猎。蓝星则迟迟没有宣布对他的处罚决定。
火心打着哈欠伸了个懒腰。这几天，灰条整晚辗转反侧，抽泣连连，搅得他根本睡不好觉。看到朋友这个样子，他心里也很难受。灰条的不忠行为给族群造成的冲击很大，大伙儿之间的日常交谈充满了猜忌，彼此间舔梳的时间也大大缩短了。火心不知道族群何时才能恢复过来。
他抖了抖身子，走出巢穴向猎物堆走去。冉冉升起的朝阳将营地洒满了金色的光斑。
火心低头挑了一只肥大的水老鼠，这时他听到有猫呼唤：“火心！火心！”
火心转过身，看见云崽正从育婴室朝他跑过来，纹脸带着其他几个幼崽慢慢悠悠跟在后面。令他惊奇的是，蓝星也来了。
云崽跑到他面前，气喘吁吁地吆喝：“火心！我就要成为学徒了！我就要成为学徒了！”
火心放下嘴里的水老鼠。是啊，他几乎忘了云崽马上就要满六个月这件事了。想到这里，心里又是兴奋，又是惭愧。
蓝星走近说：“你是他理所当然的老师，不是吗，火心？你该另收一名弟子了。虽然蕨毛不是你的徒弟，但你教得也很好啊。”
听到蓝星赞扬，火心低下头说：“过奖了。”他想起炭爪，心里感到一阵悲伤。自从炭爪遭遇不幸以来，他时时感到愧疚，因此他决心要把云崽教好。
云崽睁着大眼睛说：“我会比别的猫更加努力！我要成为最优秀的学徒！”
纹脸被逗得莞尔一笑，蓝星说：“我们都在拭目以待呢。”
纹脸说：“他一天到晚地纠缠我。我知道他会尽最大努力的，他是一个健壮而聪明的孩子。”
云崽顿时喜形于色。火心寻思：看来他把宠物猫的事情早扔到脑后了。这孩子生性自负，心里压根儿没有什么武士守则。我把他带进族群，这件事做对了吗？火心心里再次产生了怀疑。他知道，收这么个徒弟可不是一件轻松的事。
蓝星说：“我这就召集开会。”说着朝高岩走去。云崽看了一眼火心，跟着蓝星跑了过去，其他的几个幼崽也蹦蹦跳跳跟在后面。
纹脸说：“火心，有些事我想问问你。”
火心暗地里叹了口气，看来在云崽的学徒典礼前自己是没有时间吃东西了。
“什么事？”火心问道。
“是关于灰条的。我理解他现在的心情，可他看守着那两只幼崽，寸步不离育婴室，仿佛金花照顾不好他的孩子似的。他把我们的生活都打乱了。”
“你对他说了吗？”
“我们暗示了好几次，纹尾甚至问他是不是怀孕了，可他根本没有反应。”
火心遗憾地朝那只水老鼠瞥了最后一眼，说：“我会同他说的，纹脸。他现在还在那儿吗？”
“在，他待了整整一个早晨。”
“我叫他出来开会。”说着，火心朝育婴室走去，路上他听见蓝星站在高岩上大声召集全族开会。
进入育婴室时正遇上虎掌从里面出来。他让开道路，暗想虎掌来育婴室做什么，随即想起金花生下的幼崽中有一只是深棕色虎斑猫，虎掌一定是孩子们的父亲。
育婴室里暖暖和和的，洋溢着温馨的奶味。金花躺在巢穴里给孩子们喂奶，灰条卧在旁边观看。
只听灰条焦急地说：“他们能吃饱吗？他们的个头真小。”
金花耐心地回答：“那是因为他们年龄还小。他们会长大的。”
火心走过去，看到那四只幼崽正躺在妈妈温暖的怀里大口地吮吸奶汁。那只小虎斑猫长得和虎掌简直一模一样。灰条的两个孩子个头小些，不过身上的毛都干了，此时蓬蓬松松的，显得十分健康。两只幼崽中一只像灰条那样长着深灰色的皮毛，另一只则像他们的妈妈银溪，长着银灰色的皮毛。
火心小声说：“他们长得可真俊。”
纹尾讥讽说：“这下他可赚了。”说完走出育婴室去开会。
纹尾离开后，金花说：“别理她。”她扭头用鼻子触了触那只银灰色的幼崽，说：“灰条，她将来一定像她妈妈一样漂亮。”
灰条脱口而出：“但如果他们都死了呢？”
火心说：“有金花照料，他们不会死的。”
金花凝视这四只幼崽时眼里充满了慈爱的目光，并没有什么厚此薄彼。不过火心瞧她似乎有些倦意，也许同时照料四个孩子的工作量着实有些大，但这个念头只是一闪而过。
他知道，一位母亲固然深爱自己的孩子，但忠诚对她也同样重要。金花会尽全力抚养这两只幼崽，因为他们身上也有雷族的血统，更何况她还是一位好心肠的母亲。
火心顶了一下灰条说：“走吧。蓝星召集开会了，是云崽的学徒典礼。”
灰条犹豫了一下，不过终究还是站了起来，被火心推着走出去，目光仍恋恋不舍地停留在他的孩子们身上。
大家均已到齐。火心听见柳带用幸福的语气对鼠毛和奔风说：“不久我就要搬进育婴室里住了，我怀孕了。”
奔风连声祝贺，鼠毛则上前欣喜地舔着柳带的脑门儿。火心心里正犯嘀咕，猜想孩子的父亲会是谁，一瞥眼看见白风站在远处往这里张望，一脸骄傲自豪的样子。柳带怀孕的消息令火心稍稍安下心来，因为不论眼前面临怎样的灾祸，族群的生命依旧在延续。
火心带着灰条走到猫群前面，看见云崽神气活现地坐在前面，身子挺得笔直。纹脸坐在他的旁边。虎掌也在附近就座，阴沉着脸，不知道什么事又惹他生气了。
蓝星站在高岩上说：“雷族的各位同胞们，今天召集大家有两件事情，一好一坏。先说坏的，几天前发生的事情大家已都知道了，河族的银溪死了，而我们则决定抚养她和灰条的孩子。”
群猫议论纷纷，脸上均露出不以为然的神色。灰条吓得趴在地上，火心挨着他以示安慰。
蓝星继续说：“许多猫都来问我灰条会受到什么处罚，我考虑再三，最后认为银溪的死已是对他最重的惩罚。还有什么事能比此事令他更加痛苦呢？”
猫群中顿时炸开了锅。长尾高呼：“把他赶出族群！他是叛徒！”
蓝星冷冷地说：“等你当上族长再做决定吧，此前你必须听从我的决定。我说了，不处罚灰条。不过，灰条，未来三个月你不得参加森林大会。这不是处罚你，而是因为你的出现可能会触怒河族，你做下的事有可能会使他们顾不得什么规矩了。”
灰条低下头说：“我明白，蓝星。谢谢你。”
蓝星说：“不要谢我。今后要为族群努力工作、战斗，将来，你会成为这两只幼崽的好老师。”
灰条的眼里闪过一线光彩，似乎突然间看到了希望。火心看见虎掌紧绷着脸，料想他原本必定想严厉惩罚灰条。
蓝星说：“接下来我要宣布一个好消息。云崽已满六个月，到了成为学徒的年龄了。”她从高岩上跳下来，晃了一下尾巴招呼云崽走上前。云崽翘着尾巴，激动得身子发颤，两只蓝眼睛就像一对明亮的星星。
蓝星说：“火心，你一直想再收一名弟子，而云崽又是你姐姐的孩子，就由你来做他的老师吧。”
火心站起身，正要向高岩走去，云崽已蹦蹦跳跳跑过来，仰起鼻子就要和他接触。
火心又好气又好笑，呵斥说：“急什么！”
蓝星装作没有看见云崽的鲁莽行为，继续说：“火心，虽然你并非生于我族，但你是我族中的一员。希望你能把学到的东西传授给云爪，帮助他成为一名能够让族群引以为荣的武士。”
“是，蓝星。”火心尊敬地低下头，然后和云崽对触了一下鼻子。
云崽像打了胜仗似的，欢呼道：“云爪！我是云爪喽！”
“云爪！”火心看着大伙儿纷纷上前祝贺，心里顿时涌起无比的自豪。他注意到，那些老年猫们叫嚷得尤其起劲。
不过，火心还注意到有些猫表现得漠不关心。虎掌坐在原地一动不动，长尾则走过去坐在他身边。火心后退两步，为前来表示祝贺的猫们让开道路。黑条从他身旁经过，向武士巢穴走去。
火心听到他说：“不是叛徒就是些宠物猫！这个族群还有没有体面点儿的猫啊！”
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 25
Fireheart paused at the edge ofthe trees. “Wait,” he warned Cloudpaw. “We’re near Twolegplace, so we have to be careful. What can you smell?”
Cloudpaw raised his nose obediently and sniffed. He and Fireheart had just been on the first long expedition of his apprenticeship, tracing the Clan boundaries and renewing the scent marks. Now they were near Fireheart’s old kittypet home, outside the garden where Cloudpaw’s mother Princess lived.
“I can smell lots of cats,” Cloudpaw mewed. “I don’t recognize any of them, though.”
“That’s good,” Fireheart told him. “They’re mostly kittypets, and maybe a loner or two. Not Clan cats.” He had caught a trace of Tigerclaw’s scent, too, but he didn’t draw Cloudpaw’s attention to it. He remembered the day long ago, when snow was on the ground, when he had tracked Tigerclaw to this place, and found the deputy’s scent mixed with the scents of many strange cats.
Now Tigerclaw’s scent proved he had been here again. Fireheart still could not tell whether he had met the other cats, or whether their scents just happened to have crossed. But why should Tigerclaw come so close to the Twolegplace, when he despised Twolegs and everything to do with them?
“Fireheart, can we go and see my mother now?” Cloudpaw demanded.
“Can you smell dogs? Or fresh Twoleg scent?”
Cloudpaw sniffed again and shook his head.
“Then let’s go,” mewed Fireheart. Looking carefully around, he stepped out into the open. Cloudpaw followed him with exaggerated caution, as if he wanted to show Fireheart how quickly he could learn.
Since his apprentice ceremony the day before, Cloudpaw had been unusually quiet. He was obviously trying very hard to be a good apprentice, listening to everything Fireheart told him with wide-eyed seriousness. But Fireheart couldn’t help asking himself how long this uncharacteristic humility would last. Instructing Cloudpaw to wait, he leaped onto the fence and looked down into the garden. Lurid-colored flowers grew against the fence, and in the center of the grass some Twoleg pelts hung on a spiky, leafless tree. “Princess?” he called softly. “Princess, are you there?”
Leaves quivered on a shrub close to the house, and the tabby-and-white figure of Princess stepped delicately onto the grass. When she saw him she let out a delighted meow. “Fireheart!”
Bounding over to the fence, she sprang up beside him and pressed her cheek against his. “Fireheart, it’s been such a long time!” she purred. “It’s good to see you.”
“I’ve brought someone else, too,” Fireheart told her. “Look down there.”
Princess peered over the fence to where Cloudpaw sat on the ground below, looking up at her. “Fireheart!” she exclaimed. “That’s couldn’t be Cloudkit! He’s grown so much!”
Without waiting to be told, Cloudpaw leaped for the top of the fence, paws scrabbling madly against the smooth wood. Fireheart leant over and fastened his teeth in his scruff to pull him up the last couple of mouse-lengths so that he could sit on the fence beside his mother.
Cloudpaw looked at Princess with wide blue eyes. “Are you really my mother?” he asked.
“I really am,” Princess purred, looking her son up and down admiringly. “Oh, it’s so good to see you again, Cloudkit.”
“Actually, I’m not Cloudkit,” the fluffy white tom announced proudly. “I’m Cloudpaw now. I’m an apprentice.”
“That’s wonderful!” Princess began to cover her son with licks, purring so hard that she barely had breath enough for words. “Oh, you’re so thin…do you get enough to eat? Have you made friends where you are? I hope you do what Fireheart tells you.”
Cloudpaw didn’t try to answer the flood of questions. He wriggled out from his mother’s caresses and edged away from her along the fence. “I’ll be a warrior soon,” he boasted. “Fireheart’s teaching me to fight.”
Princess closed her eyes for a moment. “You will have to be so brave,” she murmured. For a moment Fireheart thought she was regretting her decision to give her son to the Clan, but then she opened her eyes again and declared, “I’m so proud of both of you!”
Cloudpaw sat even taller as he lapped up her attention. He twisted his head to groom himself with rapid strokes of his small pink tongue, and while he was distracted Fireheart whispered, “Princess, do you ever see any strange cats around here?”
“Strange cats?” She looked puzzled, and Fireheart wondered if there was any point in asking the question. Princess wouldn’t know rogues or loners from ordinary ThunderClan cats.
Then Princess shivered. “Yes, I’ve heard them yowling in the night. My Twoleg gets up and shouts at them.”
“You haven’t seen a big, dark tabby?” Fireheart asked, his heart starting to pound. “A tom with a scarred muzzle?”
Princess shook her head, eyes wide. “I’ve only heard them, not seen them.”
“If you do see the dark tabby, stay away from him,” Fireheart warned. He didn’t know what Tigerclaw was up to so far from the camp, if it really was Tigerclaw, but he didn’t want Princess going near the deputy, just in case.
This made Princess look so scared that he changed the subject, encouraging Cloudpaw to describe his apprentice ceremony, and the expedition they had made around the borders. Soon she was happy again, exclaiming admiringly at everything her son told her.
The sun was past its height when Fireheart meowed, “Cloudpaw, it’s time we went home.”
Cloudpaw opened his mouth as if he was going to protest, but he remembered himself in time. “Yes, Fireheart,” he mewed obediently. To Princess, he added, “Why don’t you come with us? I’d catch mice for you, and you could sleep in my den.”
Princess let out a purr of amusement. “I almost wish I could,” she replied honestly. “But really I’m happier as a kittypet. I don’t want to learn to fight, or sleep outdoors in the cold. You’ll just have to come and visit me again soon.”
“Yes, I will, I promise,” Cloudpaw mewed.
“I’ll bring him,” Fireheart meowed. “And Princess…” he added as he prepared to spring to the ground. “If you do see anything…odd around here, please tell me about it.”
Fireheart stopped on the way back so that they could hunt. By the time he and Cloudpaw reached the ravine, the sun was near to setting, bathing the forest in red light and casting long shadows on the ground.
Cloudpaw was proudly carrying a shrew, which he was going to take to the elders. At least it filled his jaws and put a stop to his endless chatter. Fireheart was feeling worn out after a whole day in his company, but he had to admit he was more impressed than he had expected. Cloudpaw’s courage and quick wits promised that he would make an exceptional warrior. As they slipped down the shadowy ravine toward the tunnel, Fireheart paused. An unfamiliar scent tickled his nostrils, drifting to him on the breeze that swept through the forest.
Cloudpaw stopped too and put down the shrew. “Fireheart, what’s that?” He tasted the air, and drew in his breath in a gasp. “You showed me that this morning. It’s RiverClan!”
“Very good,” Fireheart mewed tensely. He had recognized it himself a heartbeat before Cloudpaw spoke. Looking up toward the top of the ravine, he could make out three cats picking their way slowly through the boulders. “RiverClan it is. And it seems they’re on their way here. Now go back to the camp and tell Bluestar. Make sure she understands it’s not an attack.”
“But I want—” The young apprentice broke off as Fireheart frowned. “Sorry, Fireheart. I’m going.” He padded off toward the tunnel entrance, not forgetting to pick up his shrew.
Fireheart stayed where he was. He drew himself up and waited while the three cats drew closer. He recognized Leopardfur, Mistyfoot, and Stonefur. When they were only a couple of tail-lengths away, he asked, “RiverClan, what do you want? Why are you on our land?” Though he had to challenge them for entering ThunderClan territory uninvited, he tried not to sound too hostile. He didn’t want to add to any possible trouble with RiverClan.
Leopardfur stopped, with Mistyfoot and Stonefur just behind her. “We come in peace,” she meowed. “There are matters to be settled between our Clans. Crookedstar has sent us to talk to your leader.”
第二十五章
第二十五章
火心在树林边停下脚步，对云爪说：“等一下。这里距两脚兽的地盘很近，我们必须小心行事。你能嗅到什么吗？”
云爪仰起鼻子深吸了一口气。火心还是头一回带他出远门。他们沿着领地边界，一路走一路重新标记，最后来到火心做宠物猫时的老家附近，云爪的妈妈公主就住在这里的一处花园里。
云爪说：“我嗅到许多猫的气味，不过我认不出他们是谁。”
火心说：“这就不错了。他们大部分是些宠物猫，其中有一两只独行者，没有族生猫。”其实他早就嗅到虎掌的气味了，不过他不想让云爪注意到。就在老早以前，他曾追踪虎掌至此，发现这里有许多陌生猫的气味，其中也夹杂着虎掌的气味。
看现在的情形，他分明又来过这里。到现在为止，火心仍弄不清虎掌来这里是与那些陌生猫们会面，还是恰巧路过。不过，虎掌非常厌恶两脚兽以及与它们相关的任何事物，他为什么还要到两脚兽的地盘里来呢？
云爪问：“火心，现在能去看我的妈妈吗？”
“你嗅到狗的气味没有？或者是两脚兽的新鲜气味？”
云爪又嗅了嗅后摇摇头。
火心说：“走吧。”他小心翼翼地观察了一下周围的情况，然后迈步走进开阔地带。云爪谨慎地跟在后面，样子颇为夸张，似乎是向火心表明他学得有多么快似的。
自从前天他成为学徒后，便一刻也没闲着。为了当一名好学生，火心交代他的事他都认真做好，不过火心仍然担心他还能这样乖多久。火心让云爪候在外面，自己跳上围栏朝花园内望去。沿着围栏栽满了鲜艳的花丛，花园中的大树上悬挂着几张动物的毛皮。火心轻声唤道：“公主！公主在家吗？”
房子旁边的灌木丛一阵晃动，接着便见公主姿态娴雅地走进花园。她看到火心，喜出望外地说：“是火心啊！”
公主跃上围栏，和火心面贴面，高兴地说：“火心，这么长时间没来看我！见到你真好！”
火心说：“我带了别的猫来，你看！”
公主朝下一望，看见云爪正坐在地上抬头瞅她。她叫道：“火心！这不会是云崽吧！他长这么大了！”
云爪不等招呼就往围栏上跳，但他年纪尚小，哪能跳得上去，只是扒住了围栏上缘。
火心低下头咬住他颈背处的皮毛将他拖上围栏。
云爪睁着蓝色的大眼睛问：“你真的是我的妈妈吗？”
公主慈爱地看着自己的儿子说：“我真的是你的妈妈。哦，再次见到你真好，云崽。”
这个白色的小毛球自豪地说：“我现在已经不是云崽了。我现在是学徒了，名字叫云爪。”
“太好了！”接着公主一阵铺天盖地的舔舐落在云爪的脑门儿上，她高兴得几乎说不出话来，“噢，你太瘦了，能吃饱吗？交朋友没有？要好好听火心的话。”
云爪没有回答这一长串的问题，他从母亲的爱抚中挣扎出来，踩着围栏走开几步，大肆吹嘘说：“火心正在教我格斗术，我很快就能成为一名武士了。”
公主闭上眼睛，喃喃地说：“你一定会非常勇敢。”火心以为她在为送儿子去族群的决定感到后悔，哪知她睁开眼睛说，“我为你们两个感到无比骄傲！”
为了不负母亲的赞誉，云爪坐得更加笔直，扭头用小舌头梳理自己的毛。趁着他分心之际，火心小声问：“公主，你在附近有没有见过什么陌生的猫呢？”
公主一脸困惑地问：“陌生的猫？”火心知道这个问题问得实在滑稽，公主根本分不清谁是泼皮猫、谁是雷族猫。
火心问：“你见过一只口鼻部布满伤痕的深棕色虎斑猫吗？”说着，火心的心跳开始加剧。
公主摇了摇头，说：“我只听过他们的声音，没见过他们的样子。”
火心说：“如果你见到那只猫，别走近他。”他虽然不知道虎掌来到这里究竟有什么企图，不过为了以防万一，他不想让姐姐接近虎掌。
看到公主有些害怕，火心换了个话题。他让云爪把学徒典礼的情景，以及来这里的路上的情景说给公主听。公主听了一会儿就又高兴起来，对儿子讲述的每一件事情都啧啧称赞。
眼看日头偏西，火心说：“云爪，我们该回家了。”
云爪正要犟嘴，但话到嘴边又改成：“是，火心。”他对公主说：“你为什么不和我们一起走呢？我给你捉老鼠吃，你能睡在我的窝里。”
公主呵呵直乐，坦白地说：“我也很希望和你们一起走。不过我觉得做一只宠物猫很开心。我不想学打架，也不想大冷天睡在门外。我们很快还能再见面的。”
云爪说：“没错，我一定会再来看你，我保证。”
火心说：“我会带他来的。还有，公主——”跳下围栏前，他又补充了一句，“如果你发现附近有什么奇怪的事情，请告诉我一声。”
回家的路上，火心抽空捕了一会儿猎。等他们走到沟边时，太阳已经落到了地平线上。夕阳如血，树木的影子被拉得老长。
云爪捉到了一只老鼠，骄傲得不得了，吵嚷着要带回去给老年猫们吃。不过他叼着老鼠，被堵住了嘴，火心倒落得个耳根清净。火心着实有些疲惫，不过此行他甚感欣慰，云爪处处表现出非凡的勇气和机智的头脑，想来将来必成大器。两只猫下到沟里正要往金雀花通道里走，火心突然停住脚步。远处吹来一阵微风，夹杂有异常的气味。
云爪也停下脚步，将老鼠放下说：“火心，什么事？”他嗅了嗅空气，吃惊地说：“今天早上你教过我，这是河族的气味！”
火心紧张地说：“很好。”他抬头朝沟上望去，看到有三只猫正寻路朝营地走来。他对云爪说：“的确是河族。他们似乎往这边来了，你马上返回营地通知蓝星，让她早做安排。”
“可我还想……”看到火心皱起眉头，云爪话到嘴边又咽了回去，“对不起，火心。我这就去。”说完，他走进金雀花通道，临走还不忘带上他捉到的老鼠。
火心等候在原地。随着那三只猫越走越近，他认出他们分别是豹毛、雾脚和石毛。等他们走近，火心问：“喂，你们想干什么？为什么来我们的领地？”他不想多生事端，因此虽然口中责问他们不请自来，语气中却不含敌意。
那三只猫停下脚步，豹毛说：“我们没有恶意。我们两族间有些事情，钩星派我们来和你们的族长谈谈。”