PROLOGUE
 PROLOGUE
Moonlight washed over the stone hollow,bright as day, but beneath the bushes and at the edges under the cliffs, dark shadows seemed to uncoil like claws. Leafpool crouched over Ashfur’s limp body. The pale light turned his gray fur to silver as she groomed it for his burial. Beside her, Jayfeather helped, smoothing Ashfur’s tail and fluffing it up as it dried.
Leafpool raised her head to gaze up at the icy glitter cast by her warrior ancestors. “May StarClan light your path, Ashfur.” She let her voice fall softly into the cold air as she repeated the words used by medicine cats for more seasons than any cat could count, whenever a Clanmate died. “May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep.”
The words that should have comforted her, promising a long and happy life for the fallen warrior, instead hurt her, sharper than thorns. Her mind filled with the moment she had discovered the neat teethmarks in Ashfur’s neck. Too small for a dog, too clean for a fox, too sharp for a badger. Only a cat could have left them. But which cat? Who hated Ashfur enough to kill him in cold blood, leaving no signs of a struggle? Had it been an honest clash over borders or stolen prey? Could it have been a WindClan cat, or a passing rogue? Please, StarClan, let it be that!
The thought that a ThunderClan cat might have murdered Ashfur made Leafpool cold to her bones. Ashfur had been outspoken and strong-willed, yes, but a loyal and respected warrior as well. Surely none of his Clanmates had any reason to want him dead?
Bending over his body again, Leafpool began to clean earth and grit out of the dead warrior’s pads. Something soft and light fluttered against her muzzle; she drew back to see a tuft of fur snagged in Ashfur’s claws.
No! This can’t be true!Leaning closer, Leafpool sniffed the fur. I know that scent!
Desperately she tried to convince herself that the clump of fur had come from one of the cats who had carried Ashfur back to the camp from where he had been found, floating in the stream on the WindClan border. But the smell of river water was too strong to have come from a cat with dry fur, and besides, Ashfur’s claws were soft and limp now. They would flex rather than pull out a tuft of hair if they brushed against another cat.
The only cat this tuft of fur could have come from was Ashfur’s killer.
Breathless and shaking, Leafpool gently teased out the fur and carried it into her den. She forced her trembling paws to place the tuft on a leaf, which she folded into a tight wrap. Then she pushed it right to the back of her store, deep into the cleft in the rock, behind the last bundle of herbs. The truth about Ashfur’s death must never come out
In more pain than she had ever imagined she could feel without dying, she asked herself: Was all this my fault?
With a snarl, Yellowfang leaped on Bluestar, bowling her over and pinning her down in the lush grass of the forest where StarClan walked. “This is all your fault!” she spat. “None of this would have happened if you hadn’t left that wretched secret to fester in ThunderClan.”
Bluestar battered at Yellowfang’s belly with her hind paws, but couldn’t dislodge the former medicine cat’s grip. “What’s wrong with you?” she hissed. “Don’t forget that I was your Clan leader.”
All the respect that Yellowfang had once felt for the former ThunderClan leader had vanished. Their shared history crumbled to dust in the face of the terrible future she foresaw for the Clan she had made her own.
“Your secret has been like a maggot eating away inside an apple,” Yellowfang growled, her bared fangs close to Bluestar’s ear. “ThunderClan is rotten to the core—and more blood will be shed before the truth comes out.”
“You can’t know that,” Bluestar protested, straining to throw off her opponent.
“A blind rabbit could see it! The truth willcome out. Midnight told Sol everything. And we both know that Sol will return to ThunderClan.”
Summoning her trained warrior reflexes, Bluestar butted her head into Yellowfang’s chest and managed to slip to one side. Suddenly giving up, Yellowfang sprang away. She stood shaking her ruffled gray pelt.
Bluestar scrambled to her paws and stood, panting. “What’s the point of fighting?” she rasped when she had caught her breath. “The damage has been done—and whatever you say, this is notmy fault.”
Yellowfang grunted.
“I still can’t believe Midnight betrayed us,” Bluestar went on. “I trusted her to watch over the Clans.”
“It’s not Midnight who was the traitor,” Yellowfang pointed out, her pelt bristling. “The betrayal began with the first lies, with the secret that you have kept for all these moons. ThunderClan has been living a lie! If these three cats are as powerful as the prophecy says they are, they would have been able to cope with the truth. Unless you think we’ve been wrong about them all along.”
“Never!” Bluestar retorted. “Who else could the Three be? I didn’t want to lie!” she added, her voice rising to a wail. “But when could I have told them? They have been happy. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw are good parents. What good would it have done to tell them what really happened?”
“We’ll find out soon enough,” Yellowfang growled. “Old secrets can’t stay buried forever.” She lashed her tail and began to stalk away; then she paused, glancing back over her shoulder. “And if these three cats are not strong enough to deal with the truth,” she added, “then you, Bluestar, will have destroyed the Clan you love so much….”
CHAPTER1
CHAPTER1
Dead bracken rustled beneath Lionblaze’s pawsas he stalked through the forest. Above the leafless trees, the sky was dark and empty. Terror raised the hairs on the young warrior’s neck, and he shivered from ears to tail-tip.
This is a place that has never known the light of StarClan
He padded on, skirting clumps of fern and nosing under bushes, but he found no sight or scent of other cats. I’ve had enough of this,he thought, tugging his tail free from a trailing bramble. Panic sparked in his mind as he stared at the darkness that stretched away between the trees. What if I never find my way out of here?
“Looking for me?”
Lionblaze jumped and spun around. “Tigerstar!”
The massive warrior had appeared around the edge of a bramble thicket. His tabby pelt shone with a strange light that reminded Lionblaze of the sickly glow of fungus on dead trees.
“You’ve missed a lot of training,” Tigerstar meowed, padding forward until he stood a tail-length from the ThunderClan warrior. “You should have come back sooner.”
“No, I shouldn’t!” Lionblaze blurted out. “I shouldn’t have come here at all, and you never should have trained me. Brambleclaw isn’t my father! You’re not my kin!”
Tigerstar blinked once, but he showed no surprise, not even a flick of his ears. His amber eyes narrowed to slits, and he seemed to be waiting for Lionblaze to say more.
“You…you knew!” Lionblaze whispered. The trees seemed to spin around him. Squirrelflight isn’t the only cat who kept secrets!
“Of course I knew.” Tigerstar shrugged. “It’s not important. You were willing enough to learn from me, weren’t you?”
“But—”
“Blood isn’t everything,” Tigerstar snarled. His lip curled, showing the glint of sharp fangs. “Just ask Firestar.”
Lionblaze felt his neck fur begin to bristle as fury coursed through him. “Firestar’s a finer warrior than you ever were.”
“Don’t forget that he’s not your kin, either,” Tigerstar hissed softly. “There’s no point defending him now.”
Lionblaze stared at the dusk-lit warrior. Does he know who my real father is?“You knew all along that I wasn’t Firestar’s kin,” he growled. “You let me believe a lie!”
Tigerstar twitched one ear. “So?”
Rage and frustration overwhelmed Lionblaze. Leaping into the air, he threw himself at Tigerstar and tried to push him over. He battered at the tabby warrior’s head and shoulders, his claws unsheathed, tearing out huge clumps of fur. But the red haze of fury that filled his head made him clumsy, unfocused. His blows landed at random, barely scratching Tigerstar’s skin.
The huge tabby tom went limp, letting himself drop to one side and hooking one paw around Lionblaze’s leg to unbalance him. Lionblaze landed among the bracken with a jolt that drove the breath from his body. A heartbeat later he felt a huge paw clamp down on his shoulders, pinning him to the ground.
“I’ve taught you better than that, little warrior,” Tigerstar taunted him. “You’re out of practice.”
Taking a deep breath, Lionblaze heaved himself upward. Tigerstar leaped back and crouched a fox-length away, his amber eyes burning.
“I’ll show you who’s out of practice,” Lionblaze panted.
He forced his anger down, summoning a cold determination—all the fighting moves he had ever learned were at the tips of his claws. When Tigerstar sprang at him, he was prepared; he dived forward and hurled himself underneath his opponent’s belly. As soon as Tigerstar’s paws hit the ground, Lionblaze whipped around and landed a couple of blows on the tabby tom’s hindquarters before leaping out of range.
Tigerstar spun to face him. “Better,” he meowed, mockery still in his voice. “I have mentored you well.”
Before Lionblaze could reply, the huge tabby darted toward him, veering aside at the last moment and lashing out with one forepaw as he passed. Lionblaze felt Tigerstar’s claws rake along his side, and blood begin trickling out of the scratches. Fear stabbed at him. What happens if he kills me here? Will I be really dead?
His mind cleared. Tigerstar was hurtling toward him again. Lionblaze scrambled aside; he aimed a blow, but felt his claws slide harmlessly through the tabby’s pelt.
“Too slow,” Tigerstar spat. “You’ll have to work harder, now you know that prophecy wasn’t meant for you. That was for Firestar’s kin, wasn’t it?”
Lionblaze knew that the tabby tom was trying to make him too angry to fight. I won’t listen! All I need to do is win this battle!
He sprang at Tigerstar again, twisting in the air as he had been taught during those long nighttime visits, and landed squarely on the massive tabby’s broad shoulders. Digging in with his claws, he stretched forward and sank his teeth into Tigerstar’s neck.
Tigerstar tried the same trick of going limp and pulling Lionblaze down with him, but this time Lionblaze was ready. He wriggled out from underneath the heavy body, battering with his hind paws at Tigerstar’s exposed stomach fur.
“I’m not falling for that trick twice!” he hissed.
Tigerstar struggled to get up, but blood was pouring from a gash in his belly; he stumbled down again, rolling onto his back. Lionblaze planted one forepaw on Tigerstar’s chest and held the other, claws extended, against his neck.
The tabby glared up at him; for a heartbeat, fear flashed in his blazing amber eyes. “Do you really think you could kill me?” he growled. “You’d never do it.”
“No.” Lionblaze sheathed his claws and stepped back. “You’re already dead.”
He turned and stalked away, his pelt still bristling and all his senses alert in case Tigerstar followed and leaped on him again. But there was no sound from the dark warrior, and soon he was left behind among the endless trees.
Lionblaze’s mind whirled. He had beaten Tigerstar! Maybe Ido have power after all…but how can I, if I’m not one of the Three?
He paused, scarcely seeing the tangling undergrowth and the trees of the dark forest all around him. Do I want to know who my parents really are?he wondered. Does it even matter?Maybe it was best to let his Clanmates accept him for who they thought he was, so he could go on striving to improve his fighting skills.
I’m already the best fighter in ThunderClan. I know I can be a great warrior.
“Ashfur is dead,” he meowed out loud. “And Squirrelflight won’t reveal her secret to any other cats. It would hurt her Clanmates far too much if they knew she’d been lying to them for so long. Why not let everything stay the same?”
Lionblaze woke to the sun on his face. Most of the cats had already left the den; Lionblaze spotted only the gray-and-white pelt of Mousewhisker, who had kept guard over the camp the night before.
Lionblaze’s jaws stretched in a yawn. “Thank StarClan I wasn’t on the dawn patrol,” he muttered.
When he tried to get up, every muscle in his body shrieked a protest; he felt as if his body was one huge ache, from his head to his paws. Down one side, his golden tabby fur was matted with blood.
I hope no cat has noticed that!he thought as he bent his head and began cleaning up his pelt with swift, rhythmic licks.
The fight with Tigerstar had been a dream, hadn’t it? Lionblaze didn’t understand why he should feel just as much pain and exhaustion as if it had really happened. And he had been cut, as if a living warrior had raked his claws across Lionblaze’s flank…. He tried not to think about it. It doesn’t matter, because I’ll never go back to that place,he told himself. It’s over.
He felt better after his grooming, with his fur fluffed up to hide the gash in his side. When he finished, he could hear the voices of several cats just outside the den, though not close enough for him to make out what they were saying. Curious, he rose to his paws, arched his back in a delicious stretch, and pushed his way through the branches into the clearing.
Thornclaw was standing a couple of fox-lengths away; Spiderleg sat close by, while Cloudtail paced up and down in front of them, the tip of his white tail twitching. Cloudtail’s mate, Brightheart, watched him anxiously from where she sat with Ferncloud, Brackenfur, and Sorreltail. Honeyfern and Berrynose were crouched nearby, their eyes fixed on Thornclaw.
“Ashfur was killed by a WindClan cat!” the golden brown tom was declaring. “It’s the only possible answer.”
A few of his listeners nodded in agreement, though Lionblaze saw others exchanging doubtful glances.
“Firestar said he thought that one of us did it,” Honeyfern mewed, sounding nervous to be contradicting a senior warrior
“Clan leaders have made mistakes before,” Cloudtail meowed. “Firestar isn’t always right.”
“I’m sure none of us would kill Ashfur,” Ferncloud added more gently. “Why would we want to? Ashfur had no enemies!”
I wish that was true,Lionblaze thought.
However much he tried to forget, that night of fire and storm was seared into Lionblaze’s memory. He could hear the roar of the flames on the cliff top, and could see them licking hungrily around him and his littermates as Ashfur blocked the end of the branch they needed to scramble toward safety. Squirrelflight’s confession rang in his ears again: She had told Ashfur that Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather were not her kits. It was the only way to save their lives, by pretending she did not care what happened to them, but she had handed Ashfur a weapon more terrible than any flaming branch. Lionblaze knew that the gray warrior would have announced the truth to all the Clans at the Gathering; only death had closed his jaws forever and kept the secret safe.
“Lionblaze! Hey, Lionblaze, are you deaf?”
Lionblaze dragged his thoughts back to the hollow to see Spiderleg waving him over with his tail.
“You were Ashfur’s last apprentice,” the black warrior prompted as Lionblaze padded reluctantly up to the group. “Do you know if he’d quarreled with any cat?”
“Especially any WindClan cat?” Thornclaw added, with a meaningful twitch of his whiskers.
Lionblaze shook his head. “Uh…no,” he replied awkwardly. He couldn’t lie and say that Ashfur had quarreled with a WindClan cat, even though he wished with every hair on his pelt that it was true. Letting his Clanmates believe such a thing could cause an all-out war between ThunderClan and WindClan. “I hadn’t seen much of Ashfur just before he died,” he added.
To his relief, no other cats questioned him.
“We’d know if Ashfur quarreled with a ThunderClan cat,” Brackenfur insisted. “It’s impossible to keep a secret around here.”
If only you knew!Lionblaze thought.
“Brackenfur’s right.” Sorreltail touched her nose to her mate’s ear. “But all the same, we can’t be sure that a WindClan cat—”
“Ashfur died on the WindClan border,” Spiderleg interrupted. “What more do you want?”
Sorreltail turned to face him, her neck fur bristling at his scathing tone. “I want a bit more evidence than where his body was found before I start blaming any cat.”
Honeyfern and Brackenfur murmured agreement, but Lionblaze could see that most of the cats were convinced that a WindClan warrior was responsible for Ashfur’s death. However much he worried about what that could lead to, he couldn’t bury a guilty sense of relief.
“Are we going to let WindClan get away with this?” Thornclaw demanded, his ears lying flat as he dug his claws into the earth.
“No!” Berrynose leaped to his paws. “We have to show them they can’t mess with ThunderClan.”
Lionblaze’s belly churned as he saw the warriors cluster more closely around Thornclaw. They were behaving as if the golden brown tom was their leader, and seemed ready to follow him into battle to avenge their Clanmate’s murder.
“It would be best to attack by night,” Thornclaw began. “There’ll be enough moonlight to see by, and they won’t be expecting trouble.”
“We’ll see they get it, though.” Spiderleg lashed his tail
“We’ll head for the WindClan camp,” Thornclaw continued. “It’ll be best to split up: One raiding party can attack from this direction—”
“What?” The low growl came from just behind Lionblaze.
Startled, Lionblaze glanced over his shoulder to see Brambleclaw; he, along with all the other cats, had been so intent on what Thornclaw was planning that he hadn’t heard the Clan deputy approach.
“We’re going to raid WindClan,” Spiderleg explained, bunching his muscles as if he was planning to launch himself out of the camp right away. “One of them killed Ashfur, and—”
“There will be no raid on WindClan,” Brambleclaw interrupted, a glow of anger springing up in his amber eyes. “There is no evidence that a WindClan cat killed Ashfur.”
Lionblaze gazed at the cat he had always believed was his father. Does he know the truth?he wondered, remembering all the times that Brambleclaw had play wrestled with him and his littermates when they were kits, and how many times he had helped them or advised them as they grew older. Squirrelflight had told Ashfur that Brambleclaw didn’t know the truth, but Lionblaze had no reason to trust her now. If he does know, he’s a very good liar.
As good as Squirrelflight.
Brambleclaw didn’t wait for a response. He stalked off in the direction of the tumbled rocks that led up to the Highledge, only to halt after a couple of paces and glance back, twitching his ears to beckon Lionblaze to him.
“Are you okay?” The deputy’s voice was full of sympathy. “Ashfur was your mentor, after all.”
But we weren’t close.Lionblaze didn’t want to say the words aloud, but he had always known there was something wrong between himself and Ashfur; they had never known the true bond between a mentor and apprentice. Had Ashfur hated him the same way he had hated Squirrelflight? What a waste: Lionblaze wasn’t even Squirrelflight’s son.
“I’m fine,” he mumbled.
Brambleclaw rested his tail-tip on Lionblaze’s shoulder. “I can see you’re not,” he mewed. “Is there anything you want to tell me? You know you can always come and talk to me.”
For a couple of heartbeats Lionblaze froze. Does Brambleclaw suspect me of killing Ashfur?
“It’s hard to lose a cat you were close to,” Brambleclaw went on. “But I promised you before, his death will not go unavenged.”
He unsheathed his long, curved claws and sank them into the floor of the hollow. Lionblaze flinched, imagining those claws tearing into the throat of the guilty cat….
“If I find the cat who did this,” Brambleclaw growled softly, “they will regret taking the life of a warrior and my Clanmate.”
He turned away, padding toward the Highledge, but before he reached the foot of the rock fall, Firestar appeared from his den. He paused for a moment, looking down into the clearing; the pale sun of leaf-bare touched his pelt, turning it to flame. Then he bounded lightly down the stones to join Brambleclaw and Lionblaze. He nodded to the group of cats surrounding Thornclaw.
“What’s happening?” he queried.
“Some of the Clan want to lead an attack on WindClan,” Brambleclaw reported. “I didn’t know we had so many mouse-brains in ThunderClan.”
Firestar twitched his ears. “It’s hard to accept the death of a warrior,” he meowed loudly. “But this isn’t the time for an attack. I will lead a patrol to speak with Onestar, to see if he knows anything.”
“Of course he knows!” Spiderleg had turned to face them, his neck fur bristling aggressively.
“We should attack now, before we lose more warriors,” Thornclaw declared.
Firestar shook his head. “There’s no point in stirring up trouble when there’s no need,” he warned.
“But there isneed.” Thornclaw padded forward until he stood nose to nose with his Clan leader. “A warrior is dead!”
Yowls of agreement rose up from the cats around him.
“Ashfur must be avenged!”
“He was a fine warrior!”
“The whole Clan respected him! No ThunderClan cat would have killed him!”
Lionblaze couldn’t join in; it was hard enough to hide his fear and anxiety from his Clanmates. They remembered Ashfur as a brave and loyal warrior; they knew nothing of the cat who had been prepared to destroy his Clan to take revenge on Squirrelflight for choosing Brambleclaw instead of him.
Firestar raised a paw for silence, but he was still waiting for the yowling to die down when Lionblaze spotted cats emerging into the camp from the thorn tunnel: a hunting patrol led by Sandstorm. Dustpelt, Squirrelflight, and Hollyleaf followed her into the clearing and went to drop their prey on the fresh-kill pile before padding over to join the cats around Firestar.
“What’s all this?” Hollyleaf asked as she reached Lionblaze’s side.
Lionblaze stared at Squirrelflight, at the agony in her face as she listened to her Clanmates’ praise of Ashfur. He knew that she must be sharing his own thoughts, of the darkness in the gray warrior that was so well hidden from the rest of his Clan. How much do you know about how he died?he asked himself, not wanting to meet her gaze.
“Lionblaze, what’s happening?” Hollyleaf repeated her question in a sharper tone, prodding him in the side with one paw
Lionblaze glanced at her. His sister’s green eyes were haunted, and she looked as if she hadn’t slept for a moon. She looks just like how I feel,he thought.
“Thornclaw and some of the others want to attack WindClan because of Ashfur’s death,” he replied.
Hollyleaf’s eyes widened. “Do they really think it was a WindClan cat?” she asked, a tinge of surprise in her voice.
“Some of them do. But Firestar—”
Lionblaze broke off as the Clan leader darted back to the tumbled rocks and leaped up onto a boulder. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” he yowled.
The cats already in the clearing followed him and settled themselves at the foot of the boulder. Lionblaze could see that some of them were still arguing among themselves, but they kept their voices low.
The two apprentices, Foxpaw and Icepaw, emerged from the elders’ den under the hazel bush, pushing an enormous ball of moss between them. Mousefur and Longtail followed them out and crouched down in a patch of sunlight. Mousewhisker pushed his way out of the warriors’ den, yawning and flicking bits of moss off his pelt.
Graystripe and Millie appeared from the nursery, with their kits tumbling around their paws. They were followed more slowly by Birchfall and Whitewing; the white she-cat was heavy with kits, and Birchfall kept close to her side. Daisy was the last to appear; she sat in the nursery entrance, giving her chest fur a thorough wash, while Toadkit and Rosekit rolled around beside her, play fighting.
Leafpool and Jayfeather emerged from the medicine cats’ den and stayed just outside the bramble screen, away from the rest of the Clan. Lionblaze tried to catch his brother’s attention, but Jayfeather refused to respond, resolutely facing Firestar instead.
“I know you’re all wondering what to do about Ashfur’s death,” the Clan leader began. “I promise you that the cat who killed him will be punished. But there’s no proof that WindClan was involved.”
“There’s enough proof for me,” Spiderleg grunted.
Firestar ignored the interruption. “I will lead a patrol to speak with Onestar. Not to accuse him or attack his Clan. Ashfur died on the WindClan border, and it’s possible that one of Onestar’s warriors saw something.”
There were murmurs of disagreement from some of the listening cats; Thornclaw was flexing his claws in and out, but he didn’t speak up.
“Brambleclaw, you’ll come with me,” Firestar went on. “And Brackenfur, Sorreltail, and Lionblaze. We’ll leave right away.”
Lionblaze felt a jolt in his belly when Firestar spoke his name. For a heartbeat, he wanted to protest; he hated the thought of being involved in the investigation of Ashfur’s death. But he knew that if he said anything, he would only draw attention to himself. He had no reason to refuse to go to WindClan; as far as the other cats knew, he was as shocked by Ashfur’s death, and as determined to get vengeance, as they were.
“Good,” Hollyleaf breathed into his ear. “And you’ve got to tell me what happens when you get back.”
“Okay,” Lionblaze muttered. “But I’d rather stay out of it.”
Firestar leaped down from the boulder and padded through the groups of cats with Brambleclaw just behind him. Brackenfur and Sorreltail joined them.
Cats who didn’t want to attack WindClan,Lionblaze realized.
Firestar isn’t taking any risks.
Firestar led them toward the thorn tunnel; before they left, he turned and summoned Graystripe with a flick of his tail. “Keep an eye on Thornclaw and the others,” he murmured to the gray warrior. “Make sure they don’t try to launch their own attack.”
Graystripe nodded grimly. “Don’t worry. I’ll stick closer than their pelts.”
Lionblaze and the others followed Firestar as he headed through the woods, making for the WindClan border. Fallen leaves rustled as the cats brushed through them; in the shade of the trees, where the leaf-bare sun didn’t penetrate, every leaf was still rimmed with frost. The bare branches traced delicate patterns against the sky.
The patrol padded behind Firestar in solemn silence; Lionblaze brought up the rear. He could tell that the rest of the cats were uneasy, halting every few paw steps to taste the air. Sorreltail spun around, her tail lashing, at the sound of an acorn dropping into the undergrowth.
“It doesn’t feel like our territory anymore,” she mewed disgustedly when she realized her mistake. “There could be anything lurking about. Suppose it was a rogue who killed Ashfur?”
“It might have been.” Brackenfur touched his mate’s shoulder with his tail-tip. “But you’re safe with us. One cat can’t take on a whole patrol.”
“That crow-food-eating menace Sol could still be hanging around,” Sorreltail went on. “No cat knows where he went after ShadowClan threw him out.”
Firestar, who had paused to wait for his Clanmates, pricked his ears with interest. “It’s an idea. We should all stay alert for any signs of him. I’ll announce it to the rest of the Clan when we get back.”
“Sol doesn’t strike me as the sort of cat who would kill,” Brambleclaw commented thoughtfully. “Getting other cats to do his dirty work is more his style.”
Firestar nodded. “True. But maybe Ashfur caught him trying to do something to harm ThunderClan.”
“Ashfur might have attacked Sol just for being on our territory,” Brackenfur meowed. “He would have taken on a badger to protect his Clan.”
“He was a loyal warrior,” Brambleclaw agreed.
Miserably Lionblaze wished he could feel what they did, and mourn his Clanmate sincerely. Ashfur’s famous loyalty wouldn’t have stopped him from ruining ThunderClan’s reputation by revealing Squirrelflight’s secret at the Gathering. He had confessed that he had plotted with Hawkfrost to make Brambleclaw kill Firestar. His obsession with Squirrelflight had destroyed his commitment to ThunderClan. But now that he was dead, his Clan was determined to make him into a hero. Lionblaze longed to yowl out the truth to every cat in the forest, but he knew the destruction that would follow. When the patrol set off again, he could only plod along at the rear, hating the need for silence and hating himself.
“Are you okay?” Brambleclaw had dropped back to pad beside him. “I know you must be missing Ashfur.”
Fury at Brambleclaw’s misunderstanding flooded through Lionblaze. “I’m fine!” he snapped, knowing he was being illogical. “Stay out of my fur, will you?”
Brambleclaw’s eyes widened, but he said nothing, just nodded and quickened his pace again to catch up with Firestar.
“You shouldn’t claw his whiskers off,” Sorreltail mewed, padding up to Lionblaze and touching his ear with her nose. “Brambleclaw is bound to be worried about you; that’s what fathers do.” Her amber eyes gleamed with affection. “My kits are warriors now, but they’ll always be my kits.”
Lionblaze gave her an awkward nod, but he couldn’t reply. His secret trapped him like rising floodwater, cutting him off from every cat in his Clan. He’s not my father!Lionblaze wanted to yowl. Everything you’ve been told is a lie!
CHAPTER2
 CHAPTER2
A chilly wind was blowing fromthe moor when Firestar and his patrol reached the stream that marked the border with WindClan. Lionblaze’s paws tingled as he padded up to the edge of the bank. This was close to where they had found Ashfur. He tried to shut out the memories of Ashfur’s slick gray body, wedged behind a rock and bobbing in the current. Yet he could not regret Ashfur’s death.
Each cat leaped across the stream and raced into WindClan territory without even checking for scent. Lionblaze guessed that they, too, were spooked by the memory of the dead warrior. Firestar led them on, still at a run, until the stream was hidden behind them by rocks and reeds.
Lionblaze tasted the air and shivered. There was a tang of snow that must have come from the mountains. A dark haze like storm clouds crouched on the horizon; Lionblaze knew he was looking at the distant home of the Tribe of Rushing Water. How are they managing?he wondered. Leaf-bare would be even harder where snow lay thick on bare rock and prey was scarce. But I wish I could go back,he added to himself, knowing he meant not just back to the mountains, but back in time as well. When I was with the Tribe, I knew who I was and where my destiny was leading
“There are WindClan cats nearby,” Firestar meowed.
Lionblaze jumped guiltily; thinking about the Tribe, he had never noticed the WindClan scent, though it was strong and fresh. For the first time he started to wonder how their mission would turn out. There was still hostility between ThunderClan and WindClan; Onestar was bound to see an accusation behind Firestar’s questions.
The ThunderClan leader headed across the moor toward the WindClan camp with his warriors at his flanks. Wind buffeted their fur, and a strong gust nearly carried Sorreltail off her paws.
“I can’t imagine why cats would choose to live here!” she hissed as she struggled to regain her balance.
“We like it here!” A loud meow rang out across the moorland
Lionblaze looked up to see a WindClan patrol appearing over the shoulder of the hill. Tornear, the cat who had spoken, was in the lead, followed by Crowfeather, Whitetail, and Heathertail.
Meeting Heathertail’s gaze, Lionblaze saw nothing but cold contempt in the eyes of the cat who had once been his friend—and even more than that. Bitter regret surged through him. As he looked back, those times had been the happiest and easiest of his life, even though he had broken the warrior code to meet Heathertail in the tunnels beneath the forest. Now she looked as if she would have killed him for a couple of mousetails; Lionblaze shuddered as he pictured his own body lying in the stream.
“Greetings, Tornear.” Firestar dipped his head as the WindClan patrol approached.
“What are you doing here?” Tornear sounded wary but not hostile, though Crowfeather’s neck fur was bristling and Whitetail had unsheathed her claws.
“I need to speak with Onestar,” Firestar explained. “May we visit your camp?”
Tornear hesitated, narrowing his eyes in suspicion, then gave a brusque nod. “Very well, but we’ll escort you. And you’d better not start anything.”
“We only want to talk,” Firestar promised.
Taking the lead, Tornear headed farther up the hill in the direction of the WindClan camp. Crowfeather and Whitetail flanked the ThunderClan patrol on either side, while Heathertail brought up the rear. Lionblaze was acutely conscious of her, padding just behind him, and felt her gaze pierce him like a thorn.
At last Tornear led them up the long slope toward the circle of gorse bushes that surrounded the WindClan camp. Pushing through the thorns, Lionblaze paused to look down. It was a bleak place: a wide hollow of rough moorland grass where stones poked up through the thin soil. Twisted thornbushes gave the only shelter, except for the disused badgers’ set that was now the elders’ den.
Lionblaze spotted Onestar sitting near the middle of the hollow, talking to Barkface, the WindClan medicine cat. A few other WindClan cats—including the deputy, Ashfoot, and Crowfeather’s son, Breezepelt—stood around listening.
Lionblaze’s paws pricked with curiosity as he recognized the urgency in Barkface’s stance and expression; Lionblaze couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it looked as though he was sharing grave news with his Clan leader.
What’s all that about?Lionblaze wondered. They can’t know anything about Ashfur!
Onestar glanced up as Tornear raced down the slope to announce the visitors. Seeing Firestar and the others, he hesitated for a few heartbeats, then spoke quickly to Barkface. The medicine cat nodded, and at last Onestar signaled with his tail to let Firestar bring his warriors down into the camp.
“Greetings, Onestar.” Firestar halted in front of the WindClan leader and bowed his head. “Thank you for allowing us to talk to you.”
The look Onestar gave to Firestar showed none of their old friendship. “Say what you have to say,” he mewed cautiously.
His edgy tone made Lionblaze wonder if all was well in WindClan. Maybe there’s something he doesn’t want us to know about.Glancing around, he saw that all the WindClan cats looked skinny and underfed, but that was just as usual for WindClan.
“I’d like to speak to you in private,” Firestar began.
Onestar’s neck fur rose and he shook his head. “Anything you have to say can be said in front of my Clanmates.”
While he was speaking, Ashfoot padded up and stood by her leader’s side. She said nothing, just surveyed the ThunderClan cats with calm, clear eyes.
“Well?” Onestar prompted.
“If that’s how you want it.” Lionblaze’s belly churned as Firestar continued: “On the night of the Gathering, we found Ashfur’s body in the stream that marks our border. There was a gash in his throat; we think a cat killed him.”
Instantly the WindClan warriors began to bristle, and Breezepelt let out an indignant yowl.
Onestar lashed his tail and dug his claws hard into the ground. His eyes blazed with anger. “How dare you assume we had anything to do with it?” he hissed. “We have nothing to gain from killing one of your warriors.”
“None of us had any quarrel with Ashfur,” Whitetail put in.
“ThisClan is loyal to the warrior code,” Crowfeather growled, his lip curling in a snarl.
Lionblaze braced himself, ready for the fight he was sure would break out at any moment. But Firestar remained calm; not even his tail-tip twitched.
“No cat is accusing you,” he insisted. “We came to ask if you saw anything on the border that night.”
“What, like one of my warriors killing Ashfur?” Onestar’s fur was still fluffed up with anger. “Look to your own Clanmates first, Firestar. Question their loyalty to the warrior code, not ours.”
Lionblaze felt the fur rising on his neck and shoulders; Brackenfur and Sorreltail were bristling, too, while Brambleclaw flexed his claws in and out at the veiled insult. So what if there are cats of mixed blood in ThunderClan?Lionblaze thought fiercely. We’re all loyal.He pictured Ashfur’s body again, soaked and limp. All except one.
He spotted Heathertail standing off to one side, her gaze fixed on him. She seemed to be daring him to strike out so that she would have an excuse to jump on him and sink her claws into his fur. Breezepelt had padded so close to her that their pelts were brushing, and he met Lionblaze’s stare with a challenge in his eyes. Heathertail is mine now,he seemed to be saying.
You’re welcome to her,Lionblaze glared back.
“Then you saw nothing?” Firestar pressed; his voice had hardened, insisting on an answer.
“Nothing.” Onestar spat out the word like a piece of crow-food. “Now get out of our territory. Ashfoot, take a couple of warriors and escort them to the border.”
His deputy gave him a brisk nod and waved her tail to beckon Tornear and Breezepelt, who padded up to the ThunderClan patrol with truculent stares.
Firestar dipped his head toward the WindClan leader. “Thank you, Onestar. If you learn anything more, will you please send us a message?”
Onestar didn’t reply. Following Firestar’s lead, Lionblaze tried to stay dignified as he and the others were herded up the side of the hollow and through the barrier of gorse bushes onto the open moor.
None of the WindClan cats spoke as they conducted Firestar’s patrol back to the border. Ashfoot set a brisk pace, but Lionblaze would have liked to go racing ahead, to return to the woods, away from the cold eyes of these hostile cats. Yet there was no safety in the woods, either—nowhere he could hide from the death of Ashfur and all it meant for his Clan.
On the hillside above the stream, Ashfoot halted. “You can go back to the camp,” she ordered Breezepelt and Tornear. “I’ll see them the rest of the way.”
“Why?” Breezepelt demanded.
“You’re needed for a hunting patrol,” the WindClan deputy replied. “Or do you think the rabbits will come running into the camp on their own?”
Breezepelt let out an annoyed hiss, and Tornear looked uneasy, stopping once to glance back as both cats climbed to the top of the hill and vanished over it in the direction of the camp.
Ashfoot silently watched until they were out of sight, then turned to Firestar with a sigh. “I wanted to talk to you alone, Firestar. There’s something I have to tell you.”
Lionblaze’s belly lurched. Had Ashfoot been by the stream that night? Could she put a name to the cat whose teeth had torn out Ashfur’s life? But the WindClan deputy looked too calm for a cat who had been a witness to murder.
“Go on,” Firestar meowed.
“A few sunrises ago,” Ashfoot continued, “I was leading the dawn patrol along the stream when I spotted Sol—you remember, the cat who took over ShadowClan for a while?”
“Sol?” Firestar’s green eyes stretched wide. “I thought he had left the lake.”
“No—or at least, he was here a few days ago.”
“Then why didn’t Onestar tell me about him?” Firestar’s shock was giving way to anger.
Ashfoot shrugged, looking uncomfortable. Lionblaze knew that she was a fair-minded cat; she couldn’t be happy about the tensions between her own Clan and ThunderClan. But her loyalty to Onestar wouldn’t let her speak openly.
“Ashfur’s death is your problem, not ours,” she pointed out. “You can’t expect Onestar to be happy when you come barging into his camp accusing his cats of murder.”
“We didn’t—” Brambleclaw began indignantly, his amber eyes blazing.
Firestar raised his tail for silence. “Let’s end this misunderstanding now,” he meowed to Ashfoot. “We are notaccusing WindClan of anything. We just want to find out anything we can about Ashfur’s death. Now tell us what you know about Sol. Where did you see him? When?”
“It was about a quarter moon ago,” Ashfoot replied. “He was near the lake, in the woods on your side of the stream. I don’t think he saw us; he was too busy eating some fresh-kill.”
“Prey-stealing!” Sorreltail hissed.
“That’s not the day Ashfur died,” Brackenfur murmured thoughtfully. “But it’s close to the place where we found his body.”
“Very close,” Firestar agreed. “Thank you, Ashfoot. That’s the most useful thing we’ve learned so far.”
Ashfoot dipped her head. “I’m glad to be of help. I wish you and your Clan well, Firestar.”
Lionblaze could see the sympathy in her eyes. She can tell we’re in trouble,he realized. If only she knew how much!
Sunhigh was past and long black shadows were beginning to creep across the hollow when Firestar’s patrol returned. The queens and Birchfall were drowsily sharing tongues outside the nursery, while Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Hazeltail were crouched beside the fresh-kill pile. Foxpaw and Icepaw were practicing fighting moves outside their den. Lionblaze heard Icepaw screech, “WindClan murderer! I’ll rip your pelt off!”
Firestar sighed. “We’d better put a stop to that. I’ll call another meeting right away.”
Brambleclaw’s whiskers twitched in surprise. “Shouldn’t we discuss it with the senior warriors first?”
Firestar shook his head. “No. The whole Clan is involved in this. I want them to know about Sol right now, before some of these hotheads manage to sneak off and attack WindClan.”
He bounded across the clearing toward the tumbled rocks, but before he reached them Hazeltail spotted the returning warriors and leaped to her paws. “Hey!” she yowled. “Firestar’s back!”
Heads popped out from between the branches of the warriors’ den. The queens sat up and pricked up their ears, while all five kits tumbled out of the nursery, tripping over one another’s paws. Jayfeather poked his head out from behind the bramble screen, a bundle of herbs in his jaws. By the time Firestar reached the Highledge, there was no need for him to summon the Clan; every cat in the camp had gathered to hear what WindClan had to say. Lionblaze, with Brambleclaw and the rest of the patrol, padded over to sit at the back of the crowd.
“What did you find out?” Thornclaw called from where he sat at the foot of the tumbled rocks. “When do we attack?”
“We don’t,” Firestar replied. “WindClan did notmurder Ashfur.”
An uneasy muttering spread among the cats, but Firestar didn’t wait for an argument to break out. Quickly he went on: “Onestar and his warriors knew nothing about Ashfur’s death until I told them. And Ashfoot gave me one very useful piece of information: She saw Sol a few sunrises ago, by the stream near the lake.”
Spiderleg shot upright, his tail waving. “That’s where Ashfur’s body was found!”
Yowls of shock and anger broke out; several cats leaped up, eyes blazing and fur bristling, as if they wanted to attack the rogue cat right away.
“Sol killed Ashfur!”
“Filthy murderer!”
“We should find him and teach him what happens when rogues attack a warrior!”
Firestar raised his tail for silence. “We still have no proof,” he went on when he could make himself heard. “But—”
“What proof do we need?” Mousefur rasped. “Look at what he did to ShadowClan!”
“He didn’t kill any ShadowClan cats,” Dustpelt reminded her. “What reason would he have for killing Ashfur?”
Mousefur let out a disgusted hiss. “I wouldn’t put anything past that mangy piece of crow-food.”
“But he must have had a reason,” Brackenfur meowed, backing up Dustpelt. “Not many cats kill just for fun.”
Lionblaze recalled the stories he had heard about Scourge, the leader of BloodClan who had tried to take over in the old forest. He sounded like a cat who had enjoyed killing. But Lionblaze didn’t think Sol was like that.
“Maybe Ashfur caught Sol on our territory,” Brightheart suggested. “They could have fought—”
“But Ashfur hadn’t been fighting,” Sandstorm interrupted. “There were no wounds on him except for the marks on his throat. Isn’t that right, Leafpool?”
Heads turned to look at the medicine cat, who was sitting outside her den, away from the crowd around the Highledge. She replied to Sandstorm with a curt nod, but said nothing.
“Well, then,” Cloudtail meowed, “maybe Sol caught Ashfur unawares, and took the chance to stir up trouble between ThunderClan and WindClan.”
“That sounds like Sol,” Squirrelflight agreed with a flick of her tail. “Set cat against cat, and then step in to seize power for himself.”
“I think we need to know more,” Graystripe mewed quietly. “It’s useful to know that Ashfoot spotted Sol, but that doesn’t set Sol’s teeth in Ashfur’s neck.”
“You’re right.” Firestar nodded toward his former deputy. “Can any cat tell us more about Sol?”
To Lionblaze’s surprise, Hollyleaf tentatively raised her tail. “I…I saw him, Firestar. By the lake, not long after he was driven out of ShadowClan.”
She never told me about that!Uneasiness stirred in Lionblaze’s belly. But he and Jayfeather hadn’t told their sister about the catmint they had fetched from WindClan, either. When did we start keeping secrets from one another?
“Tell us what happened,” Firestar prompted.
“Nothing much,” Hollyleaf replied. “He said the Clans needed him, and he promised he’d be back.”
Cloudtail lashed his tail. “That’s a threat, if ever I heard one!”
“Why didn’t you report this?” Firestar asked Hollyleaf.
Hollyleaf ducked her head. “I didn’t think it mattered,” she told him. “I thought it was just talk because he was angry about losing control of ShadowClan. And he was heading along the lakeshore toward WindClan territory. I thought he was leaving.”
“You still should have mentioned it,” Firestar told her, though his voice was mild. “I could have told the patrols to keep a lookout for him.”
Hollyleaf studied her paws. “I’m sorry, Firestar.”
“Is there anything else we ought to know?” the Clan leader asked.
“I—I’m not sure,” Hollyleaf meowed hesitantly. “Sol mentioned that he had met Midnight the badger, but I can’t see what that has to do with killing Ashfur.”
“It might tell us how to find him,” Brambleclaw pointed out. “If Sol knows Midnight, he might have come from the sun-drown-place!” The Clan deputy’s eyes were glowing; Lionblaze could tell that he was remembering his heroic journey from the old forest to find the badger who would tell the Clans where they would live from now on.
“So what are we going to do?” Dustpelt asked Firestar.
“Why are you even asking?” Thornclaw growled. “We go and deal with Sol, of course!”
Lionblaze remembered how certain Thornclaw had been that morning that a WindClan cat had murdered the gray warrior. It hadn’t taken much to change his mind. But at least no cat was suggesting that a ThunderClan cat was the killer anymore.
They’re glad to accuse Sol because he’s a rogue,he realized.
“We can’t be sure that Sol killed Ashfur,” Firestar meowed over the chorus of agreement that met Thornclaw’s words. “But we need to find out. We’ll send a patrol to the sun-drown-place, to get Sol and bring him back here. Then we can question him, and if he didkill Ashfur, he’ll be punished.”
Prickles ran up and down Lionblaze’s spine at the thought of confronting Sol. He didn’t know whether he wanted to go on the patrol or not. The rogue cat knew more than was natural—more about himthan any other cat had ever seemed to know; maybe the answers to Firestar’s questions would be things no cat wanted to hear.
“Brambleclaw, you know the way to the sun-drown-place,” Firestar announced. “You’ll lead the patrol. Brackenfur, Hazeltail, and Birchfall can go with you.”
Lionblaze spotted Birchfall giving Whitewing a regretful look and leaning over to lick her ear. He guessed that Birchfall didn’t want to leave his mate when she was so close to giving birth to her kits.
“This could be dangerous,” Brambleclaw meowed to Firestar. “It might be better to have one or two more cats.”
“True.” The Clan leader glanced around. “Lionblaze and Hollyleaf, then. You can leave at dawn.”
Lionblaze glanced at his sister; Hollyleaf’s neck fur was standing on end and her green eyes glittered, but whether it was from fear or excitement, he couldn’t tell.
Hazeltail leaped to her paws and padded across to Hollyleaf. “Isn’t this great?” she mewed. “We’re really going to do something to help our Clan.”
Hollyleaf flicked her ears; Lionblaze couldn’t hear what she said in reply. The rest of the Clan were crowding around the chosen cats, congratulating them and offering advice. Every other cat seemed fired up to track down and destroy a murderer; he was the only one reluctant to avenge Ashfur’s death.
A few moments before, he had been relieved that suspicion had moved away from ThunderClan. But laying the blame at Sol’s paws was no better. He didn’t want to be reminded of the Clan cats’ instinctive mistrust of outsiders, of cats who weren’t Clanborn.
What if I’m a rogue, too? Will they all turn against me?
CHAPTER3
 CHAPTER3
Jayfeather sat still while the restof the Clan swirled around him, buzzing with tension and excitement.
“I’m scared.” Jayfeather recognized Bumblekit’s voice close by. “What if Sol comes into the camp and gets us?”
Jayfeather heard the rasp of a tongue, and pictured Millie giving her son a comforting lick. “Sol is far away, little one,” she murmured.
“And there are big, strong warriors here to guard us,” Daisy added. “Do you think that your father would let any cat lay a claw on you?”
Bumblekit’s tone brightened. “No! Graystripe is the best!”
Jayfeather wished he could be reassured as easily as the kit. He knew bad times were coming. Fear, suspicion, and accusation crashed over him from all sides, as if his Clanmates were hurling rocks at him. He felt sick and dizzy, and the ground under his paws didn’t seem solid anymore.
Beside him, he heard Mousefur heaving herself to her paws with a gusty sigh. “If Ashfur’s killer meant to stir up trouble, mission accomplished. That cat has stuck a nose into a nest of bees by taking one of our warriors.”
And that cat will get stung. But Jayfeather didn’t want to think about what might happen to Ashfur’s murderer.
He picked out Lionblaze from the mingled scents of ThunderClan cats, but his brother didn’t slow down as he padded past.
“So you’re going to find Sol,” Jayfeather called to him.
Lionblaze halted. “Yes.”
Jayfeather was desperate to talk to his brother as they always did: easily, with nothing left unspoken. But the secret they had shared since the night of the storm made it impossible.
The awkward silence was broken by Hollyleaf padding up to them.
“You never told us you’d seen Sol,” Jayfeather meowed.
He could imagine his sister’s shrug. “It didn’t matter then.”
“Even so, you should have said something.” Lionblaze sounded upset. “You know Sol was supposed to help us with the prophecy.”
“What prophecy?” Hollyleaf snapped. “There isn’t a prophecy, as far as we’re concerned.”
“You didn’t know that when you saw Sol.”
Jayfeather winced as he listened to them bicker. There was no point to their argument, except that it stopped them from discussing the only thing that mattered: whether any of them believed that Sol had killed Ashfur.
I’m glad I’m not going,he told himself. I don’t want to listen to them all the way to the sun-drown-place and back!
Leafpool’s voice cut across his thoughts. “Jayfeather, there you are! I want you to come help me prepare herbs for the patrol.”
“Okay, coming.”
He rose to his paws and followed his mentor back to the medicine cats’ den, leaving Hollyleaf and Lionblaze to their squabbling. As soon as he brushed past the bramble screen, his mouth filled with the scent of the traveling herbs.
“I’ve laid everything out,” Leafpool told him. “We just have to make them into leaf wraps.”
It was a relief to have something to distract him, but the task was soon done, and he emerged into the clearing again with a leaf wrap for Brambleclaw clamped between his jaws. By now the excitement over the patrol was beginning to die down, and the cats were returning to their dens. Distinguishing Brambleclaw’s scent from the tang of the herbs he carried was difficult, but Jayfeather finally located him with Squirrelflight near the fresh-kill pile.
“I wish you were coming with us,” Brambleclaw was mewing to his mate as Jayfeather padded up. “We have so many good memories from that journey.”
Jayfeather caught the wistful note in his voice. It was as if the Clan deputy was looking back to a good time that was over, and regretting everything that had gone wrong since.
I wonder if he knows how wrong?
“I wish I was coming, too,” Squirrelflight replied, her voice subdued. “But I’m probably not fit enough for a long journey, after the wound I took in the battle.”
“There’s no need to worry about Sol, you know,” Brambleclaw reassured her. “I’ll keep you safe.”
“I know.” Squirrelflight sighed.
Jayfeather’s pelt prickled. Squirrelflight had never needed another cat to keep her safe! Once she would have clawed the ears off any cat who suggested it. But now she sounded…broken; waves of guilt and longing were coming from her, so strongly that Jayfeather almost felt sorry for her.
He brushed past her and set the wrap of herbs down at Brambleclaw’s paws. “Here,” he announced. “Traveling herbs. Eat them all, and get plenty of rest before tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Jayfeather.”
“Hey, Brambleclaw!” Graystripe’s voice came from across the clearing; Jayfeather heard his paw steps as he bounded up. “Firestar wants me to act as deputy while you’re away. Can I have a word with you about border patrols?”
“Sure.” Brambleclaw gulped the herbs down quickly. “What do you want to know?”
“Well, I think a few cats are still worried about WindClan….”
The voices of the two toms faded as they padded across the clearing. Jayfeather had turned back toward his den when Squirrelflight intercepted him.
“Jayfeather, I want to talk to you.”
“There’s nothing left to say,” Jayfeather snapped. And I don’t want to hear anything you might have to tell me.He veered around the cat he had thought was his mother and headed toward his den. He felt hollow, as if a vast emptiness had opened up inside him. For so long he had depended on the prophecy to tell him who he was and what his destiny would be; without it, was he going to be just a medicine cat for the rest of his life? And where’s the cat who gave birth to us? What happened to her?
Jayfeather hated feeling that he wasn’t in control anymore. Unsettled, he blundered into the brambles that screened the medicine cats’ den. His paws tangled in a long tendril; thorns raked through his pelt and scratched his nose. He let out a startled yowl.
“Jayfeather!” Leafpool was instantly by his side. “Keep still. I’ll get you out.”
“I’m fine,” Jayfeather growled. He’d nevermade a mistake like that, not even when he was a kit! He tugged himself free of the brambles and felt a clump of fur tear out as he stumbled into the den.
“Are you all right?” Leafpool’s voice was anxious. “Your nose is bleeding. I’ll get some cobweb.”
“I said, I’m fine.” Jayfeather shrugged her away, giving one paw a swift lick and swiping it over his nose. The scratch stung, but he couldn’t stand being fussed over.
Why can’t she leave me alone?he thought angrily as he stalked toward the store to get more herbs. She doesn’t have to worry about me. We’re not even kin!
When he had delivered all the traveling herbs, Jayfeather found a few moments to snatch prey from the fresh-kill pile. As he gulped down his vole, he heard Berrynose’s raised voice a couple of tail-lengths away.
“Well, I don’t trust ShadowClan! After all that trouble with Sol, Blackstar would do anything to prove his Clan is still strong.”
Dustpelt’s annoyed hiss followed immediately. “Are you mouse-brained? Are you actually suggesting that a ShadowClan warrior trekked all the way across our territory to kill Ashfur?”
“It could happen,” Berrynose mumbled.
“And hedgehogs could fly,” Dustpelt retorted scathingly.
Swallowing the last of his prey and swiping his tongue around his jaws, Jayfeather headed back to the den. I’m sick of cats wondering who killed Ashfur!
But when he took tansy to Millie and Briarkit, who were recovering from greencough, he couldn’t help overhearing Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Daisy, sitting close to the nursery entrance.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Daisy,” Cloudtail assured the cream-colored she-cat. “Some of the warriors are leaving, but there are plenty of us left to protect you and the kits.”
“Graystripe said we can double the guard on the camp,” Brightheart added.
“I know you’ll all help.” Daisy still sounded worried. “But is it right to bring that murderous cat back here?”
Jayfeather didn’t want to listen to yet another discussion about Sol. Pushing his way through the brambles into the nursery, he found the kits swarming like ants whose nest has been disturbed.
“Now you be the killer!” Rosekit squealed, batting Blossomkit on the ear with one paw. “And we’ll all come and catch you!”
Blossomkit let out a screech of excitement; Jayfeather almost tripped over the other kits as they bundled on top of her in a writhing heap.
“Stop that right now!” Millie’s voice was shocked. “This isn’t fun. A brave ThunderClan warrior is dead.”
Ashfur was never this important when he was alive,Jayfeather thought.
The kits calmed down a little as Jayfeather set down the tansy and left. On his way back to his den, he passed Firestar with Sandstorm, Graystripe, and Brackenfur.
“We can’t assume the problems are over,” Sandstorm was meowing. “If I were you, Firestar, I’d warn all cats to stay away from the WindClan border, except for patrols.”
“Right,” Graystripe agreed. “We don’t want to find another warrior dead in the stream.”
Jayfeather stifled a sigh. What’s the point of patrols and guards? The killer is here.
A night breeze had sprung up when Jayfeather padded over to the fresh-kill pile where Lionblaze and Hollyleaf were eating with the rest of the Sol patrol. Earlier in the day, he hadn’t known what to say to them, and it was no better now.
“Hi,” he meowed. “Ready for tomorrow?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Hollyleaf replied.
“It’s weird, going without you.” Lionblaze brushed his muzzle against Jayfeather’s shoulder. “This will be the first time we’ve ever been separated.”
Jayfeather nodded. He had even managed the long journey to visit the Tribe in the mountains, but this time he had to stay behind. In spite of his earlier impatience with his littermates, it felt wrong to be split from them, especially when he knew that the tendrils of the secret that bound them together could not be broken by any distance.
“Well…I guess it’s good-bye,” he muttered.
“I guess,” Lionblaze meowed.
Jayfeather touched his nose to his brother’s, and then to Hollyleaf’s.
“Bye, Jayfeather,” she murmured.
There ought to be more to say, Jayfeather knew, but tension quivered among the three of them like the strands of a spider’s web. In the end, he ducked his head, mumbled, “May StarClan light your path,” and headed back to the medicine cats’ den.
Jayfeather opened his eyes to see bleak rocks stretching to either side of him and a plunging precipice just in front of his paws. Startled, he leaped back. Wind swept across the mountaintop, ruffling his fur. As he recovered from the first shock of finding himself here, he recognized the place where he had met Midnight the badger.
Looking up, Jayfeather saw the stars whirling around the sky, so fast that they became blurred trails of light. He tried to dig his claws into the thin soil where he stood, terrified of falling upward into the gaping emptiness.
Then he heard the scrape of claws on rock. Wrenching his gaze from the swirling stars, he whipped around to see the bulky body and white-striped head of Midnight.
“What do you want?” he demanded, trying not to sound as scared as he felt.
“Sol not kill Ashfur,” Midnight rumbled. “This you know. These cats chasing wild geese.” She lumbered closer to Jayfeather, starlight glittering in her small black eyes. “Truth must come out.”
“Why?” This time Jayfeather couldn’t stop his voice from quivering.
Midnight’s words fell like stones into a deep pool. “Anything else will destroy your Clan forever.”
“But—” Jayfeather began to protest, but the wind rose, whipping away Midnight’s words and his own, and the badger’s looming form, until he felt that he and Midnight and the stars themselves were being swept into a vast whirlpool.
He seemed to hit the ground with a jolt, and opened his eyes in the darkness of his own den. The air bore the scent of frost, and Jayfeather guessed that dawn was near.
Leafpool was shifting around in the bracken of her nest close by. “It’s time for the patrol to leave,” she meowed. “Do you want to come say good-bye?”
Jayfeather had said his farewells the night before, but he scrambled out of his nest and followed his mentor into the clearing. Most of the Sol patrol were bunched together near the opening of the thorn tunnel along with Firestar, Graystripe, and Squirrelflight.
A fox-length or so away, Jayfeather located Birchfall and Whitewing; their mingled scents told him they were pressed close together.
“You take care of yourself and get plenty of rest,” Birchfall told his mate. “Eat lots of fresh-kill, and tell Leafpool if you feel anything….”
“Shh,” Whitewing murmured lovingly. “I’ll be fine. I’m not the only cat who ever gave birth!”
Jayfeather padded past them and found himself close to Squirrelflight, who was saying good-bye to Brambleclaw. Unlike Whitewing, she was keeping her emotions firmly under control; Jayfeather couldn’t tell what she was feeling.
“Be careful at the sun-drown-place,” she warned the ThunderClan deputy. “Don’t get too close to the edge of the cliffs. They might give way again.”
“I know. I don’t want to go for another swim.” Brambleclaw was trying to sound cheerful, but Jayfeather could tell that it was forced.
“Brambleclaw, just remind me about hunting patrols,” Graystripe broke in. “The best places are by the old Twoleg nest and near the dead tree, right?”
“Right,” Brambleclaw replied. “Make sure the patrols remember that if they’re hunting by the dead tree they’ve got to be careful not to cross the ShadowClan border.”
“You’ll be fine, Graystripe,” Firestar assured the gray warrior. “You know the territory well enough by now.”
The cats who were staying behind edged backward as the patrol got ready to leave. A solemn silence spread over them. Jayfeather was aware of a sudden heightening of tension; no cats had ever set out on an expedition like this before.
“May StarClan light your path,” Firestar meowed. “You are going to find the truth.”
No! The truth is here!Jayfeather clamped his jaws shut so that he didn’t yowl out loud. Midnight had told him what he already knew: Sol did not kill Ashfur. The patrol was heading toward danger for nothing. Why couldn’t his Clanmates see that they had to look among themselves to find the truth?
He wondered whether they would find Sol and what would happen if they did. His paws tingled as he thought about what Sol could tell them.
He knows about the prophecy….
CHAPTER4
 CHAPTER4
Frost lay thick on the groundas Brambleclaw’s patrol headed through the forest toward the lake. The cats trotted in silence through the silver bracken, their breath clouding around their muzzles. Above Hollyleaf’s head the sky was lightening to a pale dove-gray.
Hollyleaf felt as though her paws would freeze to the ground at every step. Icy claws seemed to rake through her fur; the bitter cold numbed the tips of her ears. She felt light-headed—ever since Squirrelflight’s revelation, she had found it hard to choke down even the smallest piece of fresh-kill. All that kept her going was a burning need to find out what Sol knew.
Lionblaze trotted alongside her, grim-faced and strong, his amber gaze fixed on the forest ahead. His presence comforted Hollyleaf, though she felt Jayfeather’s absence like the stab of a thorn.
Maybe it’s best that he stayed behind,she thought. It’s not like he can look for Sol himself.
Brambleclaw led the way to the stream, and they followed it downhill until they reached the edge of the lake, where the water was still and shallow, with a delicate covering of ice.
Are we mouse-brained, to set out on a long journey in leaf-bare?
But in spite of the cold, tension within the patrol ebbed as they headed along the shore on the edge of WindClan territory. Hazeltail dropped back to pad along beside Hollyleaf, her eyes shining.
“Isn’t this great?” She gave a little bounce, like an excited kit. “We’re going somewhere no cats have been before.”
“Actually they have,” Hollyleaf pointed out, not wanting to listen to Hazeltail’s chatter. “Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight went to the sun-drown-place with the other cats chosen by StarClan.”
“That must have been so exciting!” Hazeltail sighed. “Your mother and father have traveled farther than any cats, ever. They’re so adventurous!”
No, they’re just liars,Hollyleaf thought bitterly.
There was no sign of any WindClan cats as they skirted the territory, but as they approached the horseplace Hollyleaf began to pick up a strong WindClan scent. Brambleclaw halted, raising his tail to tell his patrol to do the same. He stood with head raised, his jaws parted to taste the air.
Aware of the pelts bristling around her, Hollyleaf realized how jumpy they all were. They weren’t doing anything to break the warrior code by keeping close to the edge of the lake, but a single whiff of WindClan scent had them all unsheathing their claws. Ashfur’s death has done this to us.
“Why should there be any trouble?” Hazeltail asked, puzzled. “We’re allowed to walk beside the lake, aren’t we?”
Before Hollyleaf could respond, a gray she-cat appeared at the top of the bank and padded down toward the patrol.
“Ashfoot!” Brambleclaw relaxed. “Greetings.”
“Greetings, Brambleclaw.” The WindClan deputy dipped her head as she reached the group of ThunderClan cats. “I wondered if you would go looking for Sol. That is why you’re here, isn’t it?”
Brambleclaw nodded. “Whether or not he killed Ashfur, he has questions to answer.”
“Then I’ve something to show you,” Ashfoot meowed. “Follow me.”
She led the way along the edge of the lake until they reached the Twoleg fence around the horseplace; the mesh shone like a huge cobweb in the strengthening daylight.
“There.” Ashfur flicked her ears toward a rough place on the mesh where a long, silky strand of reddish fur was caught.
Brambleclaw padded up to it and sniffed it, then turned to the patrol with his amber eyes wide. “Sol.”
Hollyleaf’s heart pounded harder in her chest. The evidence of Sol’s presence brought his memory back to her more strongly than ever. He had seemed to know so much, had prophesied so much…and yet he had turned out to be a traitor.
“Then he went this way!” Brackenfur exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. “We’re on the right track.”
“The scent’s stale,” Brambleclaw warned, “but not that old. Sol certainly passed this place not many sunrises ago.”
Ashfoot took a pace back, toward her own territory. “Good-bye, then, and good luck.”
“Thanks, Ashfoot,” Brambleclaw responded. “You’ve helped us a lot—what made you do it?”
Ashfoot twitched her ears. “I want my own Clan to be safe. Sol must be dealt with before he causes more trouble.” Without waiting for a reply, she padded back up the bank and disappeared over the shoulder of the hill.
“Or else she wants us to stop blaming WindClan,” Birchfall muttered as soon as she was out of earshot.
“That may be,” Brambleclaw mewed. “But we don’t need to bother about that now. All of you, get a good sniff of this fur, and fix the scent in your minds. Then we can be on our way.”
Sliding under the Twoleg fence, he led the way across the field. The ground was hard as stone, and the grass crunched underneath their paws. Their route led them close to the wooden horse nests. Hollyleaf felt her neck fur begin to bristle as she caught the scents of Twoleg and dog, but nothing moved and there was no sound.
She expected Brambleclaw to pass by quickly, but instead he halted at the entrance to the horse nest. “Why are we stopping?” she asked.
“We won’t stay long,” Brambleclaw replied, “but there are some cats here I want Hazeltail to meet. Hello!” he called softly through the opening.
Hazeltail looked up, puzzled, but before she could speak, two cats appeared from the shadows. In the lead was a muscular gray-and-white tom, with a smaller, paler she-cat just behind him.
“Brambleclaw!” The tom sounded surprised but welcoming. “What are you doing here—and all these others? I hope there’s no trouble in your Clan.”
“Nothing that need worry you,” Brambleclaw replied.
“Who are they?” Hollyleaf whispered in Lionblaze’s ear.
Lionblaze shrugged. “No idea.”
“Smoky, Floss,” Brambleclaw went on, “this is Hazeltail, Daisy’s daughter.” He twitched his ears to draw Hazeltail to his side, in front of the stable cats. “Hazeltail, this is Smoky…your father.”
Hazeltail’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Daisy brought us here when we were kits. Father!”
She rushed forward and rubbed her muzzle against Smoky’s chin. Purring loudly, Smoky bent his head and gave her a lick around the ears. “I’ve missed you all,” he murmured.
With the touch of his tail on her shoulder, he urged the small she-cat forward. “Do you remember Floss?” he prompted Hazeltail. “She helped Daisy look after you, when you were first born.”
Hazeltail looked uncertain. “I don’t remember that,” she mewed, dipping her head to Floss. “But I do remember seeing you here when Daisy brought us back.”
“How is Daisy?” Smoky asked Brambleclaw. “And the other kits…Berry and Mouse?”
“They’re all fine,” Hazeltail assured him, her eyes sparkling. “They’re Berrynose and Mousewhisker now. We’re all warriors of ThunderClan. Berrynose lost half his tail in a fox trap—”
Floss interrupted with a gasp. “Was he badly hurt?”
“Not too badly,” Hazeltail replied. “Leafpool—she’s our medicine cat—looked after him. He’s a strong warrior now, and so is Mousewhisker.”
“And Daisy?” There was a shadow of sadness in Smoky’s eyes as he looked to Brambleclaw for an answer. “Is she happy in the Clan? She was so scared, that time she brought our kits back here after the badger attack.”
Brambleclaw nodded. “She has found her place. She will never be a warrior, but she is a true cat of ThunderClan.”
“She has two more kits!” Hazeltail broke in. “Rosekit and Toadkit. They’re so cute!”
“I can see she has moved on,” Smoky murmured. Then he gave his pelt a shake, as if dismissing memories. “So you’re a warrior now,” he meowed to his daughter. “Show me what you’ve learned.”
“Okay.” Hazeltail dropped into the hunter’s crouch and began to glide forward. “Now I’m stalking a mouse,” she explained. “You have to set your paws down light as clouds, because the mouse will feel the vibrations through the earth. Then when you’re ready—” She paused, waggling her rump. “You pounce!”
She leaped into the air and landed with her front paws gripping the tip of Birchfall’s tail.
Birchfall jumped a tail-length off the ground. “Hey! That hurt!”
Hazeltail’s eyes gleamed. “Attack me, then!”
Hollyleaf watched as Birchfall sprang for Hazeltail; she dodged to one side and fetched him a blow across the shoulder with her claws sheathed. Birchfall whipped around and leaped on top of her with a screech; the two young cats wrestled together on the ground.
We were like that once,Hollyleaf thought. Not a care in the world.Seeing the pride in Smoky’s eyes, she felt a wave of jealousy sweep over her. Would my father be proud of me?she wondered. Does he even know I exist?
“I’m impressed,” Smoky meowed, as Hazeltail and Birchfall broke apart and sat up, shaking scraps of earth and debris out of their fur. “ThunderClan certainly teaches cats to look after themselves.”
Floss stepped forward, looking shy but friendly. “Would you like to stay with us for the rest of the day?”
“Good idea.” Smoky stepped back and waved his tail toward the inside of the horse nest. “It’s warm in here, and there are plenty of mice if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks, but no,” Brambleclaw replied. “We have to keep going.”
“We’re on the trail of a killer!” Hazeltail added.
Floss and Smoky exchanged an alarmed glance, their neck fur beginning to fluff up. “What—who did they kill?” Floss asked nervously.
“It’s a long story.” Brackenfur padded up, giving Smoky a calming touch on the shoulder with the tip of his tail. “And you don’t have to be frightened about anything. We just need to speak to a cat who may have seen what happened.”
Smoky relaxed, the fur on his neck and shoulders beginning to lie flat again. “What cat is this?” he asked.
“A white-and-brown tabby tom,” Brambleclaw replied, “with very long fur and pale yellow eyes.”
Floss caught her breath. “I saw a cat just like that! He was heading across the field, very early, a couple of sunrises ago.”
“Then we’re hard on his paws,” Brambleclaw purred. “Let’s go.”
Hazeltail padded up to her father and touched noses with him. “Good-bye,” she mewed. “I’ll come to see you on the way back.”
“Come any time,” Smoky told her. Hollyleaf could see how sad he was to let his daughter go so soon.
“I will!” Hazeltail promised.
As they headed across the field, following in Sol’s paw steps, Birchfall veered to pad beside Hollyleaf. “It must be weird to be halfClan,” he murmured, too quietly for Hazeltail to hear him. “Imagine never seeing your kin.”
Hollyleaf didn’t reply. It’s better than what I am,she thought bleakly. I’mnothing Clan!
CHAPTER5
CHAPTER5
As the patrol crossed the nextfield, snow began to fall in soft feathery flakes that melted as soon as they touched the ground. Lionblaze sneezed as one landed upon his nose.
At the opposite side of the field they came to a wide stretch of whitish stone, with huge red nests at one side. The snow was heavier by now, and a wind had risen, whipping the flakes across the open expanse as they ventured onto the hard surface. Lionblaze padded along beside Hollyleaf, trying to protect her from the worst of the wind.
Suddenly a loud snorting sound came from one of the nests. Terror gripped Lionblaze’s limbs and he leaped forward, racing across the stone with the snow brushing his belly fur. Hollyleaf hurtled beside him, with Hazeltail on his other side.
The sound came again, followed by a yowl from Brackenfur. “It’s okay! It’s only horses!”
Only horses!Lionblaze’s flying paws propelled him onward as he imagined the gigantic creatures with their heavy feet that could break a cat’s spine with one blow. A Twoleg gate loomed up out of the swirling snow; he wriggled underneath it and bunched his muscles to leap forward again. Hollyleaf and Hazeltail were just behind him.
“No!” Brambleclaw screeched. “Stop! Thunderpath!”
Lionblaze slammed to a halt as yellow beams sliced through the flurries of snow. A monster with glaring eyes swept past, buffeting Lionblaze’s fur and soaking his paws with a wave of dirty snowmelt. He and his Clanmates shrank back; Lionblaze’s heart was pounding with fear as he waited for Birchfall, Brackenfur, and Brambleclaw to join them.
“You call yourselves warriors?” Brambleclaw’s voice was scathing. “That was pure panic. The horses were inside their nests. There was no danger until you decided to hurl yourselves into the path of a monster.”
“Sorry,” Lionblaze muttered. Searing shame swept over him, hot as a forest fire. Brambleclaw’s harsh words stung all the more painfully because he knew the deputy was right. They had acted like apprentices on their first venture out of the camp.
Hazeltail’s head was hanging in shame, and Hollyleaf had turned away, lifting each paw in turn to shake the dirty water off her fur. Lionblaze knew how much it meant to her to uphold the warrior code; she must be furious with herself for being spooked like that. And what about you?he demanded silently. The bravest warrior in ThunderClan, scared of a horse that isn’t even loose?
Brambleclaw let out a long sigh and relaxed. “All right. Let’s see about getting across here.”
Lionblaze heard the roar of another monster as the Clan deputy padded forward cautiously to the edge of the Thunderpath. The gleaming creature leaped past in a blaze of light; from the other direction, an even bigger monster came barreling along with a throaty growl, its round black paws as big as boulders.
How are we ever going to cross? We’ll be squashed flat!
He could see that Hazeltail and Hollyleaf were still scared, their fur on end and their eyes wide with alarm. He knew he must look just the same. He braced himself to force his paws to carry him across the hard, black surface of the Thunderpath
“Come up here beside me,” Brambleclaw directed them calmly. “We’ll cross one at a time. Brackenfur, you can go first, to show them how it’s done.”
Brackenfur twitched his ears in acknowledgment. “It’s not so bad,” he told the younger cats kindly. “The Thunderpath in the old forest was much bigger than this.”
Birchfall’s fur bristled. “Then I’m glad we don’t live there anymore!”
Brackenfur padded up beside Brambleclaw and waited for another monster to sweep past. Its roar died away in the distance.
“Okay, go,” mewed Brambleclaw.
Brackenfur leaped forward, his golden brown pelt almost vanishing in the swirling snow. When he reached the other side, everything was still quiet.
“Hollyleaf, go!”
Taking a gulp of air, Hollyleaf hurled herself across the Thunderpath. Lionblaze dug his claws into the ground, trying to stop himself from shaking, until he saw her reach Brackenfur’s side safely.
The growling of another monster was approaching through the snow. Lionblaze flinched back as it came into sight: a huge creature in glaring colors. His heart raced even faster when he saw several Twolegs in its belly as it flashed past.
Did it eat them? Will it eat us?
“Lionblaze, now you go.”
Summoning all his courage, Lionblaze stepped up beside Brambleclaw and launched himself forward. For a few heartbeats his world was full of the choking stink of the monster that had just passed by, and the black stuff scraped his pads as he raced across. Then he was standing on a narrow strip of grass between the Thunderpath and a prickly hedge, and Hollyleaf was pressing her pelt against his.
“We did it,” she murmured.
“You know, Birchfall is right,” Lionblaze whispered back, as his heartbeat gradually calmed. “If the old Thunderpath was worse than this, I wouldn’t want to live near it, either!”
A moment later Hazeltail joined them, and then Birchfall. A stream of monsters followed, leaving Brambleclaw marooned on the other side. Finally the last of the monsters disappeared, though Lionblaze could still hear their roaring in the air.
Brambleclaw bounded out onto the Thunderpath, racing for the other side. Another monster appeared in the distance, and Birchfall screeched, “Look out!” The Clan deputy didn’t break stride. Long before the monster swept past, he was safely across, among his Clanmates.
“See, nothing to it.” He flicked an ear dismissively. “Now let’s keep going.”
The wet leaves and debris under the branches of the hedge plastered themselves to Lionblaze’s belly fur as he flattened himself to crawl into the next field. A strong scent flooded over him as he struggled to his paws on the other side. He felt as though he ought to remember it, but the memory slipped away from him like an elusive piece of prey.
“What are those?” Hazeltail asked nervously, angling her ears toward the center of the field.
Lionblaze peered through the snowflakes. Ahead of them, clustered together in small groups, were several huge animals with black-and-white pelts. As he examined them, one of them raised its head and let out a low, mournful sound.
“Cows!” Hollyleaf exclaimed, coming to stand beside her brother. “You remember, Lionblaze. We saw them on the way to the mountains.”
“Cows—of course.” Lionblaze’s mind flew back to the time when they had encountered the old loner, Purdy. He had shown the cows to them as they passed a farm; his mother—no, Squirrelflight—had told them the massive creatures weren’t dangerous, provided they didn’t step on you.
“The cows are okay,” Brambleclaw reassured Hazeltail, as he emerged from the hedge. “They won’t attack us.”
Hazeltail gave him a doubtful look, and as Brackenfur took the lead across the field, Lionblaze was inclined to share her concern.
The cows gathered around them, gazing down at them with huge liquid eyes. Lionblaze was far closer to their stony feet than he wanted to be, and he didn’t like the looks of the big curved claws sticking out of their heads. Fighting techniques wouldn’t be much use against animals this size. The cows bent down and sniffed at the cats’ fur with hot, wet breath; Lionblaze thought he was going to choke on the strong reek of their scent, and their doleful moaning almost deafened him.
As Brackenfur led them calmly through the forest of legs, one of the long, swishing tails gave Hollyleaf a stinging slap in the face. She leaped backward, cannoning into Lionblaze.
“Fox dung!” she snapped.
Lionblaze steadied her until she got her balance.
“I’m starting to wonder if this is such a great adventure,” she muttered, with a glance at Hazeltail, who nodded vigorously in agreement. “The journey to the mountains was much easier than this, even with the dogs in the barn.”
And there was some point to that journey,Lionblaze added silently. We weren’t just looking for a cat Iknow isn’t a murderer
Leaving the cows behind, the cats trekked through the snow toward the other side of the field. Lionblaze tasted the air for Sol’s scent, but he couldn’t pick up a trace of it.
I can’t smell anything except cow,he grumbled silently. I can barely find my own Clanmates!
To his relief, he soon made out the next hedge, looming black against the swirling snow. The patrol plodded up to it and halted in the shelter of the thickly packed thorns.
“We’ll never get through there!” Birchfall exclaimed, his eyes wide with dismay. “We’ll be ripped to pieces.”
“No, we won’t,” Brambleclaw mewed. “We just need to look for a place where the hedge is thinner.”
He began to lead the way along the bottom of the hedge. I hope we don’t have to go back,Lionblaze thought miserably, trying to shake the snow off his pelt.
His heart fell even further when he made out the roar of another Thunderpath, somewhere on the other side of the hedge. “Not again!” he muttered.
At last Brambleclaw halted. “This might do.” He pointed with his muzzle at a spot in the hedge where two arching branches left a tiny gap between them. “Lionblaze, will you give it a try?”
Lionblaze nodded and stepped forward, testing the width of the gap with his whiskers. Then he flattened himself to the ground and dragged himself forward. Thorns raked across his back, and he felt his fur snag on them as he struggled through to the other side and scrambled to his paws.
“It’s okay,” he called.
As Hollyleaf and Birchfall followed, Lionblaze looked out over a vast white landscape. The ground sloped gently down to the Thunderpath he had heard: It was much wider than the first one, with monsters roaring up and down in both directions. Glaring Twoleg lights edged it on both sides.
We’ll never get across that!he thought despairingly.
A startled yowl distracted him; spinning around, he saw Hazeltail emerging from the hedge and pawing frantically at her muzzle.
“I’ve got a thorn in my nose!” she wailed.
“Let me see.” Hollyleaf padded up to her. “Keep still, and stop clawing at it.”
Hazeltail sat down, her eyes filled with pain. The thorn was a huge one, firmly embedded in her nose. Bright blood welled out around it.
Lionblaze watched his sister using the medicine cat skills she had learned long ago from Leafpool. Hollyleaf licked the area around the thorn and got a good grip on it with her teeth. Pulling firmly, she drew out the thorn and spat it onto the ground. More blood gushed out of Hazeltail’s nose and splashed onto the snow.
“Ouch!” Hazeltail protested.
“We really need some water to rinse the blood away and close the wound,” Hollyleaf meowed.
Lionblaze glanced around, ready to fetch some for her, but there was no sign of any streams….
“Press your muzzle into the snow,” Hollyleaf instructed Hazeltail. “That will stop the bleeding.”
Blinking doubtfully, Hazeltail dipped her head and buried her nose in a patch of clean white snow. “It’s very cold!” came a muffled meow.
“Stay there a bit longer,” Hollyleaf urged. “I promise it will help.”
I hope it will,Lionblaze thought, or Hollyleaf could just be freezing Hazeltail’s nose off.He could see how worried his sister looked as she watched her Clanmate.
Hazeltail kept her face pressed into the snow for several long moments, then lifted her head. Clumps of white clung to her face, making her look as if she were turning into Cloudtail, with his long, snow-colored pelt. “I-it doesn’t h-hurt so much now,” she reported through chattering teeth.
Hollyleaf bent forward to inspect the wound left by the thorn. Carefully she brushed the snow away with her paw. The injury looked like a neat, clean hole, almost sealed up already. “I think that did the trick,” she meowed.
“Well done.” Brambleclaw’s rumbling purr sounded behind Hollyleaf. Lionblaze saw him blinking warmly at her with the same fatherly pride in his eyes that Smoky had shown when he was watching Hazeltail.
Hollyleaf turned away; Lionblaze knew how much she must want to respond, but she couldn’t. Once Brambleclaw’s approval had meant so much to all of them. But not anymore. Whatever skills we have, they didn’t come from you.
The snow was starting to ease off, but the cloud covering the sky made it impossible to tell where the sun was. Maybe it’s nearly sunset,Lionblaze thought, shivering. Straight ahead lay the huge Thunderpath, and beyond it the land stretched flat as far as they could see, unbroken except for a small copse in the middle of the openness. Beyond it, over to one side, Lionblaze made out a mass of twinkling lights.
“What’s that?” he asked, pointing with his tail. “It looks as if a lot of stars have fallen down to earth.”
“No, that’s lots and lots of Twoleg nests, all together,” Brackenfur explained.
Hazeltail gasped. “I didn’t think there were as many Twolegs as that in the whole world!”
“I hope we don’t have to go near them,” Birchfall added.
Hazeltail nodded, while Lionblaze muttered, “We’re notkittypets.” He felt as if he was trying to convince himself.
Brambleclaw and Brackenfur led the way down to the Thunderpath and crouched at the edge, one at each end of the line of cats. Monsters growled past, their blazing lights reflecting off the wet black surface.
“This time we’ll all cross together, once there’s a big enough gap,” Brambleclaw decided. “When I say run, run as if a whole tribe of badgers was after you.”
Lionblaze tried desperately to hide his fear as he waited for the deputy’s signal. This was far worse than the Thunderpath they had crossed earlier. It seemed as if the stream of monsters would never end!
Next to him, Hazeltail was quivering too, and beyond her, Birchfall’s fur was bristling as if he faced a horde of enemies. On Lionblaze’s other side, Hollyleaf worked her claws furiously in the ground, her eyes fixed on Brambleclaw as she waited for the command to cross.
Why do I have to be brave all the time?Lionblaze asked himself miserably. I shouldn’t have to be, not now we know the prophecy wasn’t about us. As far as we know, we could be kittypets!
Horror and shame swept over him at the thought. He was so wrapped up in his dismay that he almost missed Brambleclaw’s yowled signal: “Now!”
CHAPTER6
CHAPTER6
Hollyleaf leaped forward with her Clanmates.As they reached the middle of the Thunderpath, she heard the roar of another monster in the distance, rapidly growing louder. Dazzling light angled across her as the huge creature seemed to leap out of nowhere. Hollyleaf ran even harder, pushing with her paws against the hard surface to drive herself faster and faster to the other side.
A terrified screech split the air. When Hollyleaf gained the safety of the grass beyond, she spun around to see Hazeltail rigid with fear, crouching in the middle of the Thunderpath in the path of the monster.
“No!” Hollyleaf yowled. “Hazeltail, run!”
Hazeltail was too panic-stricken to move. With a snarl of fury, Brambleclaw darted back onto the Thunderpath and grabbed her by the scruff, almost under the paws of the oncoming monster.
“It’ll kill them both!” Birchfall wailed.
The monster’s blazing eyebeams raked across the two warriors as Brambleclaw dragged his Clanmate across the black surface. Hazeltail’s legs dangled at first, as if she were dead; then in a heartbeat she scrambled to her paws and fled. Brambleclaw dashed after her, the monster almost on top of his haunches. For a heartbeat, Hollyleaf was certain that he would be crushed under the monster’s whirling paws; then it was roaring past them, and Brambleclaw was still running. Hazeltail collapsed onto the grass and Brambleclaw skidded to a halt beside her.
He let out a disgusted snort. “That was an example of how notto cross a Thunderpath.”
“I’m sorry.” Hazeltail sounded like a frightened kit. “I’m so sorry!”
The rest of the cats flopped down, panting. Even Lionblaze looked ruffled. Sol must be braver than any of us realized,Hollyleaf thought as she tried to calm her breathing. He made this journey all by himself!
Brackenfur padded up to Hazeltail and gave her a comforting lick. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “We all make mistakes.”
“But I could have gotten Brambleclaw killed!” Hazeltail’s eyes were wide with horror. “Thank you, Brambleclaw. You saved my life!”
The fury in Brambleclaw’s eyes faded, and he blinked. “Just make sure I don’t have to do it again.”
“I promise you won’t.”
After allowing them a few moments to rest, Brambleclaw urged the patrol members to their paws again. “We can’t stay here,” he meowed. “Let’s head for the trees. There might be some prey there.”
The cats followed him as he struck out across the prickly grass. The snow had stopped, but it still lay thickly on the ground, clogging Hollyleaf’s paws as she limped after her Clan deputy. My fur’s so cold I think I’m turning into an ice cat,she thought, trying to shake the cold white clumps off her feet. A cold wind was blowing into their faces, catching up the loose snow and flinging it into her eyes. “Mouse dung, that stings!” she muttered.
As they drew closer to the copse, she could see that the trees were shorter than the ones on ThunderClan territory, and twisted into strange shapes. They looked like the bushes on WindClan’s moorland territory, bent double like hunched Twolegs. But as she tasted the air, Hollyleaf realized that the smells were more familiar than anything she had scented since she left the forest. The reek of the Thunderpath was dying away, and in its place she could pick up the scents of leaf and bark; water flooded her jaws as she recognized mouse, rabbit, and squirrel.
“We’ll stay here to eat and rest,” Brambleclaw announced when the cats reached the edge of the trees. “We won’t find anywhere better to spend the night.”
Birchfall’s ears perked up, and Hollyleaf exchanged a hopeful glance with Lionblaze at the thought of not having to plod any farther through the snow.
“It can’t be sunset yet,” Brackenfur objected, eyeing the gray clouds that still shouldered their way across the sky.
“No, but we’re all tired and cold,” Brambleclaw replied. “And when we can’t see the sun, we can’t be sure that we’re heading the right way to the sun-drown-place.”
Brackenfur shrugged, agreeing, and all six cats headed deeper into the copse. There wasn’t as much snow under the shelter of the trees, and Hollyleaf felt her paws starting to warm up. The ground was uneven, sloping roughly down to where a small stream trickled among the roots of the trees.
“Catch your prey and then rest,” Brambleclaw ordered. Hollyleaf thought he sounded tense—perhaps he was unhappy about where their journey would take them next. Does he know there’s something dangerous up ahead?
Brackenfur vanished into the undergrowth, and Lionblaze and Birchfall headed off together.
“Would you like to hunt with me?” Hollyleaf asked Hazeltail; her Clanmate still looked shocked by her panic at the Thunderpath.
“That would be great!” Hazeltail’s ears flicked up. “Where should we start?”
“Right here’s as good as anywhere.”
Both she-cats tasted the air; Hollyleaf picked up a strong scent of squirrel, and a moment later she spotted one scuffling among the debris at the foot of a twisted thorn tree. Angling her ears, she pointed it out to Hazeltail. Her friend nodded, eyes gleaming.
Hollyleaf signaled to Hazeltail to stay where she was, then dropped into a hunter’s crouch and worked her way in a wide circle around to the other side of the tree. She had carried out this hunting move so often in ThunderClan territory that it almost felt as if she were home again. Approaching the squirrel from the other side, she crept closer and closer, sliding her paws through the rough grass. When she thought she was close enough, she let out a fearsome yowl and leaped. Panicked, the squirrel darted away, only to run straight into Hazeltail’s claws. Hazeltail dispatched it with a swift bite to the neck.
“Great catch!” Hollyleaf exclaimed.
“You set it up,” Hazeltail mewed; she looked a lot more cheerful now.
As Hollyleaf padded over to her friend, Lionblaze came bounding out from behind a bramble thicket. “Birchfall and I got a really fat rabbit.”
Birchfall appeared as he spoke, staggering as he dragged the rabbit between his forepaws. Dropping it with a gusty sigh, he stumbled into the low-growing branches of a hazel bush. A load of snow slid down and covered him; he emerged hissing with disgust, shaking snow from his pelt.
Hollyleaf couldn’t suppress a small mrrowof laughter. “Watch out, or we’ll have to call you Snowfall,” she purred.
The four young cats dragged their prey into a sheltered hollow beside the stream, where the ground was covered with a drift of dead leaves. Soon Brackenfur appeared with another squirrel, and Brambleclaw with a couple of mice. As they ate, the warmth of their bodies spread throughout the hollow; with the branches of the bushes straggling overhead, Hollyleaf thought it almost felt like a den.
Full and comfortable, she swept her tongue around her jaws. “I could sleep for a moon,” she announced drowsily.
“Fine,” meowed Brambleclaw, “but we’d better set a watch.”
“I’ll go first,” Lionblaze offered.
“Okay.” Brambleclaw stretched his jaws in an enormous yawn. “Wake me when you’re ready, and I’ll take the next one.”
As Hollyleaf settled down to sleep, the last thing she saw was her brother’s golden tabby shape, his ears pricked as he stared through the trees.
A paw prodding into her side woke Hollyleaf. Blinking in confusion, she thought at first she was in the warriors’ den. But where’s all the moss and bracken? And why can I hear running water?
Then she remembered she was on the journey to the sun-drown-place, with Brambleclaw and the others. The ThunderClan camp lay a day’s travel behind them, and everything here was new and strange.
Hazeltail was gazing down at her. “It’s your watch,” she mewed. “You’re the last.”
Hollyleaf staggered to her paws and arched her back in a stretch. Lionblaze, Birchfall, and Brackenfur were all curled up close by. “Where’s Brambleclaw?” she yawned.
“He woke up while I was on watch,” Hazeltail explained. “He said he was going to scout ahead.” She settled herself comfortably among the leaves and wrapped her tail over her nose. “I’m going to get some more sleep while I can,” she murmured.
Hollyleaf groomed the scraps of dead leaf out of her pelt, then padded the two or three paw steps to the edge of the stream. Before she bent to lap, she let her gaze travel over the trees that surrounded her; she could just make out their branches against the sky, which was beginning to fade from black to gray. Everything was quiet.
She took a long drink of the icy water; as she shook the drops from her whiskers, she heard a loud alarm call and caught a glimpse of a blackbird shooting upward. A moment later Brambleclaw came stalking through the trees, carrying a rabbit in his jaws.
“The hunting is good here,” he remarked, dropping his prey at Hollyleaf’s paws.
The rich scent of the fresh-kill made Hollyleaf’s mouth water. “Should I catch some more?” she suggested. “One rabbit won’t go far between six of us.”
“Fine,” Brambleclaw replied. “But don’t go out of the copse. I’ll wake the others. Next time, you can take first watch,” he added. “But right now we need to keep moving.”
Hollyleaf followed the stream, bounded up beside a small waterfall, and practically fell over a vole just before it could slip into its hole in the bank. Scratching earth over its limp body, she climbed the bank and stood tasting the air, her ears alert for the tiny sounds of prey. Soon she spotted a mouse nibbling seeds under a bush. Her paws lighter than air, Hollyleaf glided over the ground and broke the mouse’s neck with a swift blow of her paw. Then she went back to collect the vole, and returned to the hollow with both pieces of fresh-kill.
She would have been proud of her hunting skills once, especially when she could show Brambleclaw how fast she could bring back prey. Now she couldn’t even meet the deputy’s gaze as he congratulated her. All her training, everything she thought she knew, was nothing but dust if she wasn’t even a real Clan cat.
All six cats were awake. They ate quickly and followed Brambleclaw to the edge of the copse. “We’re not far from Midnight’s home now,” he meowed. “Be careful, and keep close to me.”
The land ahead was flat and empty, except for the Twoleg nests, with no shelter in sight. The sky was clear but for a few ragged, scudding clouds, and behind the patrol it shone milky-pale with dawn. The wind hit Hollypaw in the face as soon as she left the shelter of the trees. It felt cold and sharp, with an unfamiliar tang, like the scent of frozen blood.
“It’s going to blow my fur off!” she heard Birchfall complain.
Hollyleaf’s eyes and mouth stung, and her pelt felt sticky. She screwed up her eyes and ducked her head, keeping close to Lionblaze as they trekked on and on across the brittle grass until, beneath the whistling of the wind, Hollyleaf could make out a dull roaring, like nothing she had ever heard before
Suddenly Lionblaze halted; unable to stop in time, Hollyleaf bumped into him. Hissing in annoyance, she staggered as Hazeltail collided with her from behind. Raising her head, Hollyleaf saw that Brambleclaw and Brackenfur were standing side by side at the head of the patrol, staring at something. Hollyleaf padded up to them, the rest of the cats falling into a line alongside.
Great StarClan!They had reached the very edge of the land! At their paws, the ground fell away into a tumble of rocks. Stretching in front of them, as far as Hollyleaf could see, was an endless expanse of heaving, roaring gray water.
“Welcome to the sun-drown-place,” Brambleclaw meowed.
CHAPTER7
CHAPTER7
Jayfeather stood in the clearing afterthe Sol patrol had left, sniffing the tang of snow on the dawn wind. He could hear rustling as several cats pushed their way through the branches of the warriors’ den. There was a strange sense of tension among his Clanmates.
“Dawn patrol.” Graystripe’s voice came from close by Jayfeather. “Sandstorm, you can lead. Take Foxpaw and Squirrelflight with you. And take care along the WindClan border.”
“Do I have to go with them?” Jayfeather heard the dismayed voice of Foxpaw. “I don’t like WindClan.”
“Shh.” Ferncloud sounded shocked. “You know there’s nothing to be frightened of anymore.”
Jayfeather winced; it sounded as if most of the Clan believed that Sol was the murderer, and there was nothing more to worry about. But they’re wrong! They’re completely wrong!
“Foxpaw, you’re my apprentice,” Squirrelflight meowed with an edge of annoyance in her voice. “Of course you come with me. Or if you’d rather, you can go and search the elders for ticks.”
“Uh…no, I guess I’ll come.”
“You’ll be fine,” Firestar assured the apprentice; Jayfeather hadn’t heard him come down from the Highledge. “Who have we got for hunting patrols, Graystripe?”
“I thought I’d lead one,” the gray warrior meowed. “I’ll take Sorreltail and Mousewhisker.” In a lower voice he added to Firestar, “If you or I do the border patrols, every cat will think there’s something to be scared of.”
“Good thinking,” Firestar agreed.
“Dustpelt, will you lead another hunting patrol,” Graystripe went on more loudly. “Cloudtail and Brightheart can go with you. Try the ShadowClan border, but remember what Brambleclaw said about being careful not to cross it.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, thanks,” Dustpelt snapped, irritation sparking from him.
“Should we take Icepaw?” Brightheart asked. “She doesn’t get out much, now that Whitewing is in the nursery.”
“Sure,” Graystripe meowed. “Icepaw! Stop batting that bark around and come over here.”
Jayfeather heard the scampering of paws and excited mews as the other apprentice bounded up. “You’re going hunting with Dustpelt, Cloudtail, and Brightheart,” Graystripe told them. “We’re counting on you to bring back a lot of fresh-kill.”
“I’m sure you will,” Firestar assured her. “You’re doing so well.”
Jayfeather could feel the apprentice’s happy pride as she padded over to join the senior warriors.
“It won’t be long before we’ll be holding another warrior ceremony,” Firestar remarked to Graystripe.
Although his words sounded cheerful, Jayfeather picked up the doubt buzzing beneath them. He knew that his Clan leader’s thoughts were with the patrol of Clanmates who were heading off to find Sol.
Did Sol really kill Ashfur? Was I right to send so many warriors to look for him? Will my Clan be vulnerable without them?Jayfeather could hear his leader’s thoughts as clearly as if Firestar had spoken them aloud. To his surprise, he realized that Firestar still felt weak after the attack of greencough that had taken one of his nine lives. Lurking in his mind was the fear that the sickness would return.
And maybe he’s right,Jayfeather thought. He could hear Spiderleg wheezing over by the nursery, as his kits tumbled all over him.
“That’s right,” their mother, Daisy, meowed. “You can practice your fighting moves with your father. Spiderleg, can’t you be a scarier badger than that?”
“Badgers…don’t”—Spiderleg was finding it hard to catch his breath—“get…greencough,” he finished painfully.
Nearby Millie was grooming her three kits, breaking off every now and then to cough. “Don’t stay out if it gets too cold,” Graystripe warned her, bounding over to her side. “And you three kits—don’t play too rough with your mother.”
Jayfeather heard Blossomkit’s high-pitched mew. “We won’t.”
“Right, the patrols can go now,” Graystripe announced as he returned. “Keep a good lookout, and report anything you see that’s at all strange.”
The stone hollow was quiet after all the patrols had left; the remaining warriors returned to their den to get out of the cold. Daisy and Millie rounded up the kits.
“It’s time for some exercise,” Daisy meowed. “Running around will keep you warm. Who can fetch me a twig from the thorn barrier and get back here first?”
“I can!” all the kits yowled together, and they pelted across the clearing. Jayfeather jumped back to avoid being knocked over and retreated into his den.
As soon as he set paw behind the bramble screen, the dust from churned-up moss and bracken hit him in the nose. “What’s going on?” he asked, stifling a sneeze.
“I’m changing the bedding,” Leafpool explained. “Can you come over here and roll up this moss, please?”
Jayfeather padded over, his paws sinking into the heaps of moss and bracken that Leafpool had already clawed together. “I think it’s going to snow,” he pointed out. “All the fresh stuff will be soaked with it.”
“We can squeeze the water out,” Leafpool replied. “This old bedding is disgusting. How can we ask sick cats to sleep in it?”
I’d rather sleep in it,Jayfeather thought, than go outside to get freezing cold and wet.
He was starting to push the piles together, half burying himself in dried fronds of fern and clumps of moss, when he heard a cat brush past the brambles. He picked up Firestar’s scent above the dusty smell of the bedding.
“How are you, Leafpool?” Firestar meowed.
“Fine, thanks.” Leafpool’s tone was brisk, and she didn’t stop raking out the remains of the bedding.
“There’s something I want to ask you….” Firestar’s voice trailed off, and Jayfeather picked up strong waves of anxiety coming from him. He crouched among the ferns, trying not to sneeze again and hoping that whatever Firestar had to say didn’t need to be said in private.
“Well?” Leafpool prompted.
“It’s just—” Firestar broke off again.
Spit it out!Jayfeather urged him silently.
“I know it’s not my place to tell a medicine cat how to speak with StarClan,” Firestar meowed, sounding more awkward with every word. “But I wondered…have you thought of finding Ashfur in StarClan and asking him who killed him?”
What?Jayfeather nearly choked on a piece of moss.
For a long moment Leafpool was silent; when she spoke at last, her voice was as icy as leaf-bare snow. “It’s not my choice whom I meet in StarClan. Our ancestors approach me; I cannot search them out. If Ashfur comes to me and wishes to talk, then I will listen.”
It wasn’t only shock and anger she felt as she answered Firestar, Jayfeather realized. There was something else behind that: Could it be…fear?
“I’m sorry,” Firestar apologized. “I didn’t think…”
“I’ll do all I can, I promise,” Leafpool added more gently. “I want to know who killed Ashfur as much as you do.”
So why am I finding it hard to believe her?Jayfeather asked himself.
Later that day, after Jayfeather had cleared out all the old bedding and delivered tansy to the cats still suffering from the after-effects of greencough, he padded over to the fresh-kill pile and chose a vole. A thick flurry of snow had swept across the clearing earlier, but now a weak ray of sunlight warmed his fur.
While he was eating, he scented Leafpool emerging from the elders’ den with Mousefur and Longtail padding behind her.
“Jayfeather?” Leafpool called to him. “When you’ve finished there I want you to go out for a stroll with Mousefur and Longtail. It’ll be the first time they’ve been out of the camp since the greencough.”
Jayfeather gulped down a mouthful of vole. “Okay.”
“We’re not kits, you know,” Mousefur grumbled. “We can be trusted to get to the lake and back without some cat guiding our paws.”
“I know,” Leafpool replied patiently. “But I want Jayfeather to look for herbs. We’re getting very low on tansy. We could do with chervil and yarrow, too. There might still be something growing under the trees near the lake.”
Mousefur’s only response was an exaggerated sigh; Jayfeather pictured the skinny brown elder rolling her eyes.
Leafpool padded up to Jayfeather, close enough to brush his pelt. “I want you to take special care of Mousefur,” she whispered. “Make sure she doesn’t go too far, and check her breathing.” More loudly she added, “Mousefur, maybe you and Longtail could help Jayfeather carry back any herbs he finds.”
“I think we might just about manage that,” Mousefur growled
Jayfeather swallowed the last of his vole and led the way across the clearing and through the thorn tunnel. Mousefur followed him, guiding Longtail. The forest seemed very quiet now that most of the leaves had fallen from the trees. Jayfeather had to push his way through mounds of dead leaves on the ground and keep alert to avoid drifts of snow that still remained under the trees. The air tingled with frost.
The scent of water led him toward the lake. He kept one ear pricked for Mousefur and Longtail, who padded beside him, and sensed before Mousefur the branch that had fallen across their path.
“This way,” he mewed to Longtail, laying his tail over the blind tabby’s shoulders to guide him around the obstacle. “It’s okay, you won’t get your paws tangled.”
“I think you see better than any of us.” Mousefur didn’t sound as grouchy as usual; she almost seemed impressed.
I wish I did,Jayfeather thought. Right now I can’t see far enough.He wanted to know what had happened to the prophecy, and whether Rock knew anything about the secret Squirrelflight had revealed. Most of all, he wanted to know who his real parents were.
The trees thinned out and cold wind hit Jayfeather in the face as the three cats neared the lake.
“You go off and do whatever you have to,” Mousefur meowed. “Longtail and I are going to find a nice patch of sun to snooze in.”
“Yes, there should be plenty of herbs—”
“Look,” the skinny brown elder interrupted, “I know Leafpool only sent you along with us to be sure we made it to the lake without keeling over. You’ll be lucky to find enough herbs to fill your own mouth this far into leaf-bare!”
“It’s not like that,” Jayfeather protested.
“Go on, we’ll be fine,” Longtail insisted.
“And if youneed ourhelp, just call,” Mousefur added. “I might be a bit unsteady on my feet, but there’s nothing wrong with my ears.”
“Fine.” Relieved to be free of his duty, Jayfeather pelted along the lakeshore until he reached the twisted tree roots where he had hidden the stick. The cold wind from the lake blew his fur the wrong way as he tugged it out and dragged it under an elder bush. Then he lay down with his paws resting on the scratches.
Come on, Rock. I need to talk to you.
Alarm trickled down his spine as he realized he might find himself back with the Ancient Clan. Something inside him was drawing him back—desire to see the friends he had made there, curiosity about how they had coped on the journey to the mountains—but he had to fight against it. He knew that the Ancient Clan sharpclaws couldn’t help him now.
Jayfeather concentrated as hard as he could, trying to picture the underground cave where Rock waited, but he could still feel grass under his belly and a twig tickling his ear.
“There’s no need for that,” a voice behind him rumbled. “The stick isn’t the answer to everything.”
Jayfeather’s eyes flew open, and he realized that he could see. He was still under the elder bush; turning, he saw Rock standing behind him, almost transparent against the grass and trees. Rock crept under the bush to join Jayfeather, his hairless body smelling of stone and the endless dark of the tunnels.
Jayfeather suppressed a shiver. “Did you know all along that Squirrelflight was lying to us?” he demanded.
Rock’s bulging, sightless eyes turned toward him. “The answers lie within your own Clan,” he replied, “if you can find them.”
“That’s no answer,” Jayfeather mewed irritably. “I need your help!”
“I cannot give the kind of help you want,” Rock warned him.
“Then what about the prophecy? If we’re not Firestar’s kin—”
“Make your own future, Jayfeather,” the spirit-cat interrupted. “Don’t expect it to be dropped at your paws like a piece of fresh-kill.”
Every hair on Jayfeather’s pelt prickled with annoyance. How was he supposed to make his own future if no cat would tellhim anything? He dug his claws into the earth.
“Jayfeather!” Mousefur’s voice came from the edge of the lake. “Jayfeather!”
Darkness slammed down over Jayfeather’s vision. The scent of Rock vanished.
“Jayfeather, where are you?”
He crawled out from under the elder bush, kicking dead leaves and debris over the stick. He would have to come back later and hide it properly.
“What are you doing under there?” Mousefur asked, padding up to him. “We’re ready to go back now. We wondered if you have any herbs for us to carry.”
“Er…no, I haven’t found any,” Jayfeather stammered.
Mousefur sighed. “Maybe you’re not looking in the right place. Last I heard, herbs don’t grow well under elder bushes. There’s a huge clump of tansy just behind you,” she added.
Jayfeather’s pelt grew hot with embarrassment. He should have taken time to grab a few herbs before he tried to speak with Rock. He had been so intent on finding the spirit-cat that he hadn’t even noticed the sharp scent of the tansy.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
He was aware of Mousefur’s irritation as he and the skinny elder picked the herbs together. There wasn’t enough for Jayfeather to need help carrying it, and he scented no other herbs as all three cats headed back toward the camp.
“Is that all?” Leafpool asked; she was waiting outside the den when Jayfeather arrived with the tansy. “What about the yarrow and chervil I asked for?”
“I couldn’t find any,” Jayfeather mumbled around the bunch of stems.
Leafpool snorted. “Didn’t look, more likely. Jayfeather, I didn’t send you out there to waste time. You have to do what you’re supposed to!” Her voice deepened to a snarl. “If every cat did that, there wouldn’t be any problems.”
Who put ants in her fur?Jayfeather wondered. It wasn’t like Leafpool to be so short-tempered. For once he didn’t want to argue with her, so he just headed for the den to put the tansy away.
Leafpool brushed past him. “Leave that! I’ll do it.” She almost snatched the herbs out of his jaws; fury rolled off her as she carried them into the cave.
Jayfeather backed out of the den and padded across to the fresh-kill pile. But he had eaten earlier, and even a freshly caught mouse couldn’t tempt him. There were pangs in his belly sharper than hunger: Already he missed Lionblaze and Hollyleaf more than he would have thought possible. They had never been separated for this long before.
In the dream Midnight had said that the patrol was chasing wild geese and Rock had told him that the answers lay inside ThunderClan itself. But Jayfeather didn’t know how he was going to find them on his own. What kind of power was it, to walk in other cats’ dreams, when you woke up still blind? There was no way he was going to find out anything when he was trapped in darkness at every step.
CHAPTER8
CHAPTER8
Lionblaze forgot to breathe as hestared across the vast gray water. Sharp, cold wind buffeted his fur; he felt as though it could sweep him off his paws at any moment and hurl him down the cliffs to the rocks far below.
“This way,” Brambleclaw ordered. He led the patrol along the edge of the cliff to a narrow gully lined with scrubby grass. Lionblaze gasped in relief as he stepped out of the wind.
“Midnight the badger lives near here,” Brambleclaw went on, once the patrol was clustered around him at the bottom of the gully.
“How did you know where to find her?” Hollyleaf asked curiously.
“We didn’t,” the Clan deputy admitted. “We didn’t even know we were looking for a badger.” He twitched his tail-tip. “I found Midnight’s den by falling into it.”
Hazeltail’s eyes stretched wide. “Were you hurt?”
“Weren’t you scared of Midnight?” Birchfall added.
Brambleclaw flicked one ear as if he were trying to get rid of a fly. “This isn’t the time for stories. We have to keep going.”
He led his patrol through the gully, every so often climbing the slope to pop his head out and see how far along the cliff they were. Lionblaze and the others stayed crouching in the dip, listening to the blast of wind overhead.
At last Brambleclaw beckoned them with his tail to join him at the top. “We’re almost there,” he told them. “Follow me closely.”
Lionblaze and the rest of the patrol flattened their bellies to the short, bristly grass as they padded after Brambleclaw toward the edge of the cliff.
Is he going to jump over?Lionblaze wondered, as each paw step took them closer to the sheer drop.
But just before the land vanished from under their paws, Brambleclaw jumped down into a much deeper, narrower gully, sloping steeply through a dip in the cliffs. Brackenfur and the other cats followed him, with Lionblaze bringing up the rear. The sharp stones that covered the bottom of the gully dug into his pads or skidded from under him, nearly carrying him off his paws. Birchfall slipped, crashing into Hazeltail, and Brackenfur had to block the two younger cats before they hurtled down any farther.
“Thanks!” Birchfall gasped.
“Just watch where you’re putting your paws,” Brackenfur mewed.
The gully led down to a rocky shore, the sand almost completely covered with pebbles. Lionblaze had seen waves on the lake when the wind blew hard, but these waves were much bigger, crashing onto the rocks with spurts of foam. Hazeltail stared at them, wide-eyed, so scared that she could scarcely put one paw in front of another.
“I hate this,” Hollyleaf muttered, backing away toward the cliff face. “My fur’s getting all wet and sticky.” She turned her head to give her shoulder a lick. “Yuck!”
Lionblaze felt the same stickiness in his pelt; his nose wrinkled at the unfamiliar tang in the air. This is no place for cats,he told himself.
With a wave of his tail, Brambleclaw jumped onto a rocky outcrop and instantly disappeared under the edge of the cliff.
“Where did he go?” Birchfall asked, bewildered.
Lionblaze spotted the deputy’s amber eyes glowing from the shadows at the bottom of the cliff.
“Come on!” Brambleclaw called.
Reluctantly the rest of the patrol followed him beneath the jagged, teethlike rocks and into a low-roofed cave. Lionblaze gazed around at the pale sandy walls and the floor strewn with large, smooth stones. High above them, gray light slanted down from a small hole in the roof.
“Is that where you fell?” Lionblaze guessed, remembering how Brambleclaw had said he first found Midnight.
Brambleclaw nodded. “The cave was full of water, and I nearly drowned. Your mother saved my life.”
A cold pang swept through Lionblaze, harsh as the booming water outside. She’s not my mother.The words almost forced themselves out of his jaws, but he bit them back. If Brambleclaw didn’t know, this wasn’t the place to tell him.
Hollyleaf hadn’t heard the exchange between Lionblaze and Brambleclaw. She was sniffing curiously around the cave, padding over to where the floor sloped upward at the back, turning soft and sandy. Some branches were tucked in it at the top.
“What are those doing there?” Hollyleaf asked.
“This is Midnight’s den,” Brambleclaw explained.
For the first time Lionblaze noticed the scent of badger underlying the smell of the water. His neck fur bristled, but he made himself relax. The scent was stale, and besides, Brambleclaw had told them that Midnight was friendly to cats.
“Will she come and find us?” Hazeltail mewed nervously.
“I hope she does,” Hollyleaf replied. “Jayfeather told us all about her. She knows so much.”
Her green eyes flashed at Lionblaze from the shadows. Is that what she really wants?he wondered. Does she think Midnight can tell us who our parents are?
“Midnight isn’t here.” Brambleclaw sounded disappointed. “And her scent is stale, so there’s no point in waiting for her. She’s been gone for several days. We’d better get back.”
When they emerged from the cave, the water had risen even farther up the shore. A wave crashed onto the rocks and licked over the pebbles; Lionblaze jumped back as water swirled around his paws before retreating with a rattling hiss.
“Back to the gully, quickly,” Brambleclaw ordered.
He took the lead as the patrol scrambled back across the rocks. Lionblaze staggered as water foamed around him as high as his belly fur, but he managed to stay on his paws and drag himself to safety, up the steep slope of the gully where Brambleclaw and Hazeltail had already taken refuge. Hollyleaf dragged herself after him, her black pelt soaked and flattened to her sides from the spray.
“I hate this place!” she spat as she tried to shake herself dry. “Midnight must be mouse-brained to live here.”
A sharp cry of alarm cut through her words. As Birchfall tried to leap up into the gully, a huge wave crashed over him. Hollyleaf stretched out a paw, but before she could grab him, the wave swept him back out of reach. Lionblaze caught a glimpse of him struggling in the gray water, his jaws wide in a yowl of terror, before his head went under.
“He’ll drown!” Hollyleaf screeched.
At the same instant a dark shadow flashed over Lionblaze’s head; Brambleclaw had leaped down into the water and was swimming strongly to where Birchfall had disappeared. Brackenfur, still precariously balanced on the rocks below, launched himself after the Clan deputy.
Lionblaze bunched his muscles to leap down and join them, only to find Hollyleaf blocking his way. “You can’t,” she rasped. “More cats will die!”
“There must be something we can do,” Lionblaze meowed desperately.
Glancing around, he saw a straggling bush growing between the rocks a couple of tail-lengths above them.
“Hazeltail,” he called. “Can you break a branch off that bush?”
The young she-cat was staring at the sun-drown water, frozen with horror as she watched her Clanmates struggling in the waves. She started as Lionblaze spoke, then turned and began tugging at the longest branch.
Lionblaze scrambled up to help her. To his relief the bush was dry; the branch cracked away from the main trunk, so that he and Hazeltail could claw it free and drag it down the gully to the edge of the water. Lionblaze let out a gasp of relief when he saw that Birchfall had resurfaced; Brambleclaw had his teeth fastened in the younger warrior’s neck fur, while Brackenfur swam on his other side, trying to push him toward the cliff.
Dropping the branch at the bottom of the gully, Lionblaze beckoned his sister with his tail. “Grab the end,” he directed. “Sink your teeth and claws in, and don’t let go.”
Hollyleaf obeyed, pushing the branch so that it stuck out into the water as far as it would go. Lionblaze and Hazeltail crouched beside her, all three cats hanging on to the end of the branch, trying to keep it steady among the crashing waves. More water swirled around them.
We can’t keep this up for long,Lionblaze thought grimly. We’ll be swept away as well
He narrowed his eyes to peer across the roaring water and spotted his Clanmates bob above the surface as a wave drove them inshore. The short leaf-bare day was drawing to an end; the sinking sun flooded the surface of the water with scarlet so that the cats’ heads were just shadows bobbing in a sea of blood.
The wave swept them closer still; Brackenfur reached out and managed to sink the claws of one paw into the end of the branch. “Grab it!” he yowled to Birchfall.
The young tom looked frozen with fear, his eyes staring vacantly, but as Brambleclaw let go his scruff, he clutched wildly at the branch and dragged himself along it until he could scramble onto the rocks at the bottom of the gully. Lionblaze let go of his end of the branch to haul Birchfall’s limp body up higher; water streamed from his pelt and he vomited up a huge mouthful of liquid.
Brackenfur clawed his way along the branch to safety, and stood shaking the water out of his ginger fur. “Brambleclaw!” he yowled. “Brambleclaw, where are you?”
Cold horror flooded over Lionblaze as he realized that the deputy had disappeared. He can’t have drowned. What will we do without him?
Then he spotted Brambleclaw’s dark head break the surface a couple of fox-lengths away from the end of the branch. He was trying to swim, but his efforts were much feebler now.
Waves were tugging at Hollyleaf and Hazeltail as they clung to the branch. Hollyleaf’s tail streamed out into the water.
“Get back, but don’t let go!” Lionblaze ordered, his heart pounding as hard as the waves on the shore. Then he raised his voice to a yowl. “Brambleclaw! Over here!”
The deputy heard him and seemed to find new strength. Struggling to keep afloat, he let the next wave carry him up to the branch, then struck out toward it. He managed to fasten his claws into it and haul himself out before the retreating wave swept him back again.
“Fox dung!” he spat, standing on the stones of the gully with water eddying around his paws. “I thought I was on my way to StarClan for sure.”
The cats began to retreat from the hungry water. Brambleclaw scrambled up the gully until he stood beside Birchfall, who was still slumped on the stones with his eyes closed. Only his heaving chest showed that he was alive.
Brambleclaw prodded him with one paw. “Birchfall?”
The young tabby’s eyes opened and he let out a shuddering sigh. “I might have drowned.” His voice shook with fear. “I might never have seen Whitewing again—or our kits!”
“But you’re fine now.” Brambleclaw’s voice rasped in his throat, rubbed raw by the bitter water. “It’s time we started moving.”
The Clan deputy didn’t allow his patrol to rest until they reached the shallow gully that ran along the top of the cliff. Out of the wind, with the waves booming against the cliffs below, they could collapse and try to groom the water out of their fur. Lionblaze winced at the bitter taste of salt, and saw that his Clanmates were making faces as they licked.
“Thanks, Brambleclaw and Brackenfur,” Birchfall mumbled. “You saved my life back there.”
Brackenfur touched the young tom’s shoulder with the tip of his tail. “It’s all over, and thank StarClan, no cat died. Brambleclaw, what do you think we should do next, seeing that Midnight isn’t here?”
Brambleclaw accepted his Clanmate’s tactful change of subject with a flick of his ears. “We’ll keep looking for Sol. There’ll be cats in the Twolegplace who have seen him.”
The hair on Brackenfur’s neck lifted at the mention of Sol’s name. “Yes, he had a look of kittypet about him.”
That cat’s no kittypet.Lionblaze didn’t dare say the words out loud, in case some cat asked him how he knew so much about Sol. He exchanged a doubtful glance with Hollyleaf. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to visit the Twolegplace, and he could tell that his sister felt the same. Hazeltail was looking nervous, too, but it was Birchfall who spoke what they were all thinking
“Do we have to go so close to Twolegs? It’s not right for Clan cats.”
“We’ve got no choice,” Brambleclaw growled. “We’re not going back to ThunderClan without Sol!”
I wonder whether Brambleclaw would be so keen to hunt down Ashfur’s killer if he knew that Ashfur had tried to destroy Squirrelflight?Lionblaze thought.
But Brambleclaw also didn’t know that Squirrelflight had lied to him. She let him believe he was our father. Would he be so loyal to her if he found out the truth?
Lionblaze shook his head, trying to clear it of all the lies. He had to fix his mind on the one thing he could control: being the best warrior for ThunderClan that he could possibly be. Iknow I can still fight without being hurt. I just need a chance to prove it….
“What’s the matter?” Hollyleaf muttered into his ear. “Have you heard something?” Her black pelt was bristling.
Lionblaze realized that he had sunk his claws into the ground as if he were about to attack. “No, it’s okay,” he replied, forcing himself to relax. “I was just thinking about Sol.”
Brambleclaw hadn’t heard their exchange. “This is what we’re going to do,” he announced. “There’s nowhere for cats to live near the edge of the cliff, and nowhere to catch prey. So we’ll have to head for the outskirts of the Twolegplace and look for any cats who might have seen Sol.”
“So long as we stayon the outskirts,” Hollyleaf muttered.
The patrol slunk cautiously over the edge of the gully and made for the red blur of Twoleg nests on the far side of the open stretch of cliff. Lionblaze felt thankful that the noise of crashing water was dying away behind him, though the wind still thrust at him.
The sun had vanished, swallowed up by the sun-drown-place, and shadows were stretching across the grass. Lionblaze’s stomach growled, and he remembered that he hadn’t had so much as a sniff of fresh-kill since early that morning.
“We’ll look for prey as soon as we get to the Twolegplace,” Brackenfur promised when he heard the rumble of Lionblaze’s belly.
And what sort of prey will we find there?Lionblaze wondered. I’m not eating kittypet food!
As they drew closer to the Twoleg nests, Lionblaze grew more and more anxious; he could tell from his Clanmates’ bristling fur and flickering glances that they felt the same. Something black swooped down on them with a high-pitched chittering sound; Lionblaze threw himself to the ground and rolled over, his teeth bared and his claws extended, in time to spot a bat fluttering away and vanishing into the growing darkness.
Birchfall suppressed a small mrrowof laughter. “I wish you’d caught it,” he mewed. “Then we might all have had a bite to eat.”
“A pretty small bite for the six of us,” Lionblaze growled.
Lights were beginning to appear in the Twoleg nests, and the sky above them was lit by an eerie orange glow. Lionblaze wrinkled his nose against the strange scents and felt his neck fur bristle at the harsh, unfamiliar sounds.
Beside him, Hollyleaf’s eyes were glowing and her tail was fluffed out to twice its size. Even Brambleclaw and Brackenfur were moving more cautiously as the huge Twoleg dens loomed up ahead.
“I don’t think Sol lives with Twolegs,” Brambleclaw meowed, “so we’re more likely to find him—or cats who have seen him—near the edge.”
He led the way across a stretch of softer grass, and halted in front of a tall fence made out of flat strips of wood. Lionblaze tasted the air; among many smells he couldn’t identify, he picked up the scents of Twoleg and dog.
“Each Twoleg nest has a small piece of territory attached to it,” Brambleclaw explained. “It’s enclosed by a fence made of wood or red stones. I think that’s the Twoleg way of marking their borders.”
“How does he know so much about it?” Hollyleaf muttered suspiciously.
“There was a Twolegplace in the old forest,” Brackenfur told her. “Right up against our territory. Don’t you remember the story of how Firestar wandered away from his Twolegs and met Graystripe in the forest?”
Hollyleaf shrugged. “I guess.”
Brambleclaw led the way alongside the fence, toward a gap that was flooded by orange light. Before they reached it, loud barking exploded from the other side of the fence; Lionblaze jumped as two dogs slammed their bodies against the flimsy wood. He exchanged an alarmed glance with Hollyleaf. What if the fence gives way?
“Run!” Brambleclaw yowled.
The patrol bolted along the fence and swerved through the gap. As soon as he set paw on the hard black stone at the end of the fence, Lionblaze was engulfed in a beam of piercing white light. A monster was charging straight for them!
Some cat let out a screech of terror. For a heartbeat, Lionblaze spotted his Clanmates outlined against the glare from the monster’s eyes. Then he leaped back to the side of the Thunderpath, landing with a thump in the middle of some thorns.
When he dared to look up, the monster had slowed down and was turning into a gap behind one of the Twoleg nests. Sharp orange light shone down from tall stone trees standing in lines along both sides of the Thunderpath. Just opposite, Lionblaze spotted Birchfall sprawled at the foot of the fence, and Brackenfur balanced on top of it, his back arched and his tail straight up and bristling. Hollyleaf and Brambleclaw emerged side by side from the deep shadows under a tree.
“Birchfall?” Lionblaze called softly. “Are you okay?”
To his relief, the young tabby tom scrambled to his paws and gave his whiskers a shake. “I’ve got all the warriors in StarClan inside my head,” he meowed. “That thing was fierce!”
The thorns where Lionblaze had landed grew beside another gap in the Twoleg fence. His belly lurched when he spotted another monster in front of the Twoleg den. Then his breathing steadied and his heart slowed down as he realized that this monster was asleep.
On the other side of the gap, a shiny Twoleg thing had tipped over, spilling out a pile of rubbish. Lionblaze’s nose wrinkled at the scent of crow-food. Then the heap heaved and Hazeltail emerged from the middle of it, shaking debris from her pelt.
“I knocked the thing over,” she complained, “and now I’m covered with all this yucky stuff.”
Lionblaze padded across to help her. Clinging to her pelt were scraps of something that smelled like a plant, but they were cold and slimy, like herbs picked and left in the rain to rot. Cautiously he stretched out a paw to knock them off; Hollyleaf and Brambleclaw bounded up to help.
“They taste vile.” Hazeltail licked her shoulder and swiped her tongue around her lips as if she was trying to get rid of a disgusting taste. “I’d rather eat fox dung.”
Brackenfur padded up and stood at the edge of the Thunderpath, keeping watch for more monsters. His fur still hadn’t settled down; Lionblaze noticed that Brambleclaw looked just as ruffled as he helped Hazeltail clean her pelt.
Seeing the senior warriors’ confidence shaken made Lionblaze feel a bit braver. “There can’t have been dogs in the Twolegplace near the old forest,” he murmured to Hollyleaf. “Even Brambleclaw was surprised.”
“I wonder what else will surprise us,” Hollyleaf responded.
Meanwhile Birchfall had crossed the Thunderpath and was nosing around in the heap of debris that had fallen out of the shiny Twoleg thing. “Hey, look at this!” he meowed. “Brambleclaw, can we eat it?”
Lionblaze wasn’t sure at first what his Clanmate was dragging out of the pile of rubbish. It was smooth and pale and smelled a little like fresh-kill, though it was no kind of prey that he had ever seen before. The stink of Twolegs clung to it as well; Lionblaze knew he didn’t want to eat it, but at the same time his belly growled at the thought of food.
Brambleclaw sniffed the thing carefully and nibbled a bit from one side. “It tastes a bit like blackbird,” he reported after a moment. “I don’t think it will hurt us to eat it, and we need food.”
“I guess that means he doesn’t think we’ll catch much prey around here,” Hollyleaf whispered into Lionblaze’s ear.
Brambleclaw clawed the Twoleg prey into fair shares for each cat. Birchfall checked the rubbish again, but he didn’t find any more prey.
“This isn’t bad,” Lionblaze mumbled to Hollyleaf around a mouthful of the stuff, “if you ignore the scent of Twolegs.”
Hollyleaf was crouched over her share, eating it in neat, rapid bites. “Huh! Give me a good plump vole any day.”
With the edge taken off his hunger, Lionblaze felt stronger, but as Brambleclaw led them farther into the Twolegplace, he started to feel trapped. The red stone nests reared up on either side, closer than the walls of the hollow and higher than the trees in the forest. His pads ached from walking on the hard stone. How can any cat live here?
The orange glare from the stone trees cast the cats’ shadows huge and wavering on the wall beside them as they slunk along the edge of the Thunderpath. Suddenly Hollyleaf stiffened, flicking out her tail to touch Brambleclaw on the shoulder. “There’s something up ahead!” she hissed.
Lionblaze froze as Brambleclaw raised his tail for the patrol to halt. He half expected the roar of another monster, but nothing broke the silence except for the patter of approaching paws.
Hazeltail drew closer to his side; Lionblaze could feel her pelt quivering. “What if it’s a dog?” she murmured.
“Then we fight it.” Lionblaze flexed his claws.
He relaxed with a sigh as a small black-and-white cat appeared from around the next corner. It halted and stared at the patrol in horror, its back arched and every hair on its pelt standing on end.
Almost immediately the newcomer started to back away, its terrified gaze still fixed on the forest cats. Before it could turn and flee, Brambleclaw took a single pace forward.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” he called, lifting one forepaw to show his claws were sheathed. “We just want to talk to you.”
“That’s what hesaid!” The little cat looked almost frightened out of its fur. “And look what happened!”
Before Brambleclaw could ask what it meant, the black-and-white cat spun and fled back around the corner where it came from. Brambleclaw launched himself after it, with the whole patrol hard on his paws, but when they rounded the corner, the Thunderpath was empty. Nothing moved under the harsh orange light.
“Mouse dung!” Brambleclaw spoke through gritted teeth.
“What in the name of StarClan was he talking about?” Brackenfur asked, looking mystified.
Lionblaze exchanged a glance with Hollyleaf. He could see she shared the idea that had instantly flashed into his mind: Sol!
“I wonder who ‘he’ is,” Brambleclaw mused aloud, his ears twitching as he surveyed the silent Thunderpath. “Could it be Sol, do you think?”
“I bet a moon of dawn patrols it is!” Birchfall mewed excitedly.
“We don’t look anything like Sol,” Brambleclaw continued, his tone thoughtful. “But we’re strangers, just as Sol must have been.”
“And what happened?” Hazeltail shivered. “From the way that cat behaved, it must have been something bad.”
No cat replied. Lionblaze’s belly fluttered. His Clanmates were looking edgy, their eyes wide with fear, as if they expected to find Sol under the next fallen leaf.
Finally Brambleclaw broke the silence. “It’s too late to go on looking now. Let’s get some rest and start a proper search in the morning.”
He led the way back around the corner and along the Thunderpath, past the fence where the dogs had tried to attack. Everything was quiet now, though the scent of dog was still strong; Lionblaze slid out his claws, ready to rip them along the vicious creatures’ pelts. But there was no sound from behind the fence. Eventually they reached the stretch of soft grass and trees they had crossed on their way to the Twolegplace.
Lionblaze and Hollyleaf settled into a makeshift den among the roots of one of the trees; the rest of the patrol found places nearby.
“I’m so tired my paws could drop off,” Hollyleaf mumbled, stretching her jaws in a huge yawn.
“Mine, too.” Lionblaze had been afraid that his worries and the strangeness of their surroundings would keep him awake, but when his aching body curled up among the dead leaves, he felt exhaustion pressing on him like a heavy pelt. As he drifted into sleep, he could still hear the distant roaring of the sun-drown-place.
CHAPTER9
CHAPTER9
Jayfeather woke when a cold breezeruffled his fur. “We need more bedding in here,” he grumbled to himself as he scrambled out of his bare nest. “It’s as drafty as sleeping on top of the ridge in WindClan territory!”
He lifted his head to sniff the scents of early morning. There was a strong tang of herbs in the air; as Jayfeather bent his head to give his pelt a quick grooming, he located Leafpool in front of the storage cave. She was making up leaf wraps of tansy, and beside her there was a fresh mixture of juniper berries and daisy leaves to ease the pain of Mousefur’s aching joints.
“Should I take those for you?” Jayfeather offered, padding up behind his mentor.
Leafpool jumped. “Don’t creep up on me like that! You frightened me out of my fur.” She carefully patted the herbs together, then added, “No, I can manage. I want you to go over to the nursery and check every cat there, and the bedding, for fleas. I spotted Briarkit scratching yesterday.”
Jayfeather turned away, resentment seething beneath his skin. “Am I a medicine cat or an apprentice?” he muttered, loud enough for Leafpool to hear, but the she-cat did not respond.
He called a greeting as he pushed through the brambles into the nursery, and then he started to check for fleas.
“Oh, thank you, Jayfeather,” Millie meowed. “I’m sure I’ve a couple in my pelt somewhere. It’ll be such a relief to get rid of them.”
“You need a change of bedding,” Jayfeather told her, tracking down a flea in Briarkit’s neck fur and spearing it with a claw. “I’ll get Foxpaw and Icepaw to deal with it.” Unless Leafpool expects me to do that as well,he added grumpily to himself.
“Right, you’re done,” he told Briarkit. “Blossomkit, I’ll—”
He broke off with a startled yelp as claws stabbed into his tail. Wrenching it free, he spun around and picked up the scent of Toadkit.
“I pretended your tail was a mouse,” the little tom told him proudly. “I caught it, too!”
Jayfeather bared his teeth. “Just keep your claws to yourself!”
“There’s no need for that,” Daisy protested. “He was only playing.”
Jayfeather bit back a sharp retort and went to check Blossomkit and Bumblekit for fleas. Toadkit wriggled away from Daisy and bounced up to him, interest sparking from him as Jayfeather parted Blossomkit’s pelt.
“Can you eat fleas?” he mewed. “Do they taste yucky?”
“Why don’t you try one and find out?” Jayfeather suggested
“You be a flea and I’ll eat you!” Blossomkit squeaked, pulling away from Jayfeather and leaping on top of Toadkit. Jayfeather staggered as the two wrestling kits piled into him.
“Stop that!” he snarled. “Blossomkit, do you want your fleas fixed or don’t you?”
The little tortoiseshell kit instantly broke away from the play fight and stood quietly in front of Jayfeather again. Toadkit pushed up close to them; Jayfeather could feel the kit’s breath on his ear.
“Do you like being a medicine cat?” Toadkit asked. “I wouldn’t want to do it if you only get to look for fleas.”
StarClan, give me patience!“That’s not all medicine cats do,” Jayfeather replied through clenched teeth. “We have to know about herbs and—”
“Do you think I’d be a good medicine cat?” Toadkit persisted. “I’d be good at finding herbs. I can scent out anything. Can I be a medicine cat? Can I?”
“You’ll be lucky to make warrior if you don’t shut up,” Jayfeather muttered.
“Daisy!” Toadkit let out a wail as he scampered away through the bracken that covered the floor of the nursery. “Daisy, Jayfeather was mean to me!”
“Honestly, Jayfeather!” Daisy’s irritated voice came from the other side of the den. “I think you’ve got ants in your fur this morning. You should go away and come back later when you can be more pleasant.”
Jayfeather ignored her, and went on searching for fleas in gloomy silence. He wanted Hollyleaf and Lionblaze to come back. They belonged together—especially now, when they had no idea where they had been born, who their parents were, or why Squirrelflight had lied to them for so long.
When Jayfeather finally left the nursery, he paused for a few heartbeats, letting out a long sigh as the weak rays of the leaf-bare sun soaked into his fur. A paw step behind him and the scent of his Clan leader made him turn.
“Good morning, Jayfeather,” Firestar meowed. There was concern in his voice. “Are you okay? Any problems?”
“I’m fine.” Jayfeather dipped his head awkwardly. He didn’t want to tell his leader that all his problems came from his Clanmates. After all, Firestar had never lied to him, as far as he knew.
He felt a pang of regret that he didn’t share his Clan leader’s blood after all. His respect for the flame-colored tom had nothing to do with the prophecy, and everything to do with the way Firestar led his Clan, even losing a life to greencough for their sake.
“Good,” Firestar murmured. Jayfeather sensed that the Clan leader didn’t entirely believe him. “You know, you can always tell me if there’s anything bothering you.”
“Yes…fine.” Jayfeather felt even more uncomfortable. Firestar, you don’t want to know the things I could tell you!
To his relief, Firestar padded off toward the fresh-kill pile. Left alone at the edge of the hollow, Jayfeather scanned the clearing. He located Mousefur and Longtail sharing tongues outside their den, and heard the skinny brown elder complain, “Leaf-bare was never as cold as this in the old forest.”
Outside the apprentice den, Foxpaw and Icepaw were trying out a new fighting move; Jayfeather reminded himself to tell them about the nursery bedding. Cloudtail and Brightheart were padding toward the thorn tunnel. “I think we should try for prey near the old Twoleg nest,” Cloudtail suggested.
“Stupid furball!” Brightheart’s voice was full of affection. “We scared off all the prey when the cats with greencough stayed there.”
“There’s been time for them to come back….” Their friendly bickering died away as they left the camp.
In spite of the feeble warmth of the sun, cold pierced Jayfeather through and through. He had never felt so alone. Rock had told him that the answers lay with his Clanmates. But what if I don’t have Clanmates?
“Do I have to do this?” Jayfeather protested as he emerged from the trees into the mossy clearing where the apprentices trained. “It’s a waste of time when we have to look for herbs.”
“The herbs won’t run away,” Leafpool responded tartly. “You know as well as I do that everycat gets basic fight training, even medicine cats.”
Jayfeather bit back another complaint. He hated learning to fight, because he knew he would never be any good at it. But there was no point in arguing with Leafpool; she always seemed to be in a bad mood these days.
“Right,” Leafpool began, leading the way into the center of the clearing. “Let’s start with some defensive moves. I’m going to attack you, and I want you to dodge to one side and get a blow in as I pass you.”
“Okay,” Jayfeather muttered. “The sooner we start, the—ow!”
While he was speaking, Leafpool leaped past him and landed a stinging blow on his ear.
“I wasn’t ready!” he yowled.
“You think a ShadowClan warrior is going to give you any warning? You have to be alert all the time, Jayfeather.”
On the last words, Leafpool sprang at him again. This time Jayfeather was more prepared; he jumped to one side and swiped at where he thought his mentor was, but his paw barely grazed her pelt.
“Better,” Leafpool admitted. “But not good enough. Let’s do it again.”
Jayfeather managed to land a blow or two, but his paws felt heavy and clumsy, and his senses weren’t as sharp as usual. Even though his mentor kept her blows light and her claws sheathed, he began to feel battered and exhausted. Finally, as he leaped aside, he lost his balance on a rough patch of ground and collapsed, paws flailing, without touching Leafpool at all.
“I’m over here, Jayfeather.” Leafpool’s voice came from the opposite side of the clearing. “Honestly, you’ve got no more fighting sense than a baby rabbit! I don’t think you’re trying at all.”
“I am!” Jayfeather spat.
“I know what your problem is.” His mentor’s voice was cold. “You expect Lionblaze and Hollyleaf to protect you, so you can’t be bothered to learn to defend yourself.”
“That’s not true!”
“I think it is. But Lionblaze and Hollyleaf won’t always be around. They’re not around now. You need to be able to look after yourself.”
Jayfeather didn’t reply. She doesn’t understand,he thought mutinously, as he scrambled up and tried to shake the moss out of his pelt. It’s not the same for her and Squirrelflight. If they were so close, she’d know Squirrelflight lied about us being her kits. Leafpool would never have let her do something like that. I wonder what she’d do if she knew what her sister was really like?
Jayfeather limped back to the medicine cats’ den through the damp scents of twilight. His legs ached and his head throbbed where he had grazed it colliding with a tree. He was too exhausted to look for any herbs to treat himself. “I hope Leafpool’s happy,” he grumbled as he curled up in his nest. “I’ll probably be too stiff to do anything tomorrow.”
He closed his eyes—and then opened them a heartbeat later to find himself in deep, lush forest, with starlight dancing on the leaves. His aches and pains had vanished and a warm, scent-laden breeze soothed his fur. Leaf-bare in the waking forest was only a distant memory.
A narrow path wound ahead of him through arching clumps of fern. Jayfeather began to follow it, ears pricked as he glanced around for any familiar cats. He could hear rustling in the undergrowth on either side and he caught glimpses of furry pelts, as if there were cats all around him, but none of them emerged to greet him.
“Who’s there?” he called out. “Yellowfang? Bluestar? Can any cat hear me?”
There was no reply. Becoming more frustrated with every paw step, Jayfeather followed the track until it reached a clearing covered with soft grass. A small pool was at the center, reflecting the stars. There were still no cats in sight.
“Where are you?” Jayfeather wailed, stepping out into the open. “Why won’t you talk to me?”
Fronds of bracken dipped and rustled at the opposite side of the clearing, and Spottedleaf appeared. Jayfeather’s rush of relief died when he saw how warily she was regarding him, her tail kinked high over her back.
“Spottedleaf…?” he began uncertainly.
“We can’t give you the answers you’re seeking,” the tortoiseshell she-cat interrupted. “Go back to your Clan. That is where the truth lies.”
“But—you musttell me more than that!” Jayfeather begged. “Did StarClan know all along that Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw weren’t our parents?”
Anger flared in Spottedleaf’s green eyes. “When will you realize that StarClan doesn’t know everything?” she snarled, lashing her tail. “Sometimes we have questions, too! Sometimes we’re just cats, like you!”
Without giving Jayfeather a chance to reply, she whipped around and vanished into the ferns.
Jayfeather sprang forward to pursue her, only to feel the ground give way beneath his paws. He jolted awake in his own den, opening his eyes onto darkness. He stretched his jaws wide, longing to wail like a kit abandoned by its mother.
They’ve all left me: Hollyleaf and Lionblaze, all the rest of my Clanmates, and now StarClan as well. I’m completely alone
Even his belief in the prophecy, which had once seemed to promise so much, had been built on a lie.
I may as well be blind in my sleep, tooWhat am I going to do now?
引子
引子
月光如水一般流淌，照得石头山谷像白天一样明亮。但是在灌木丛下和悬崖边缘，黑影就像爪子一样伸展开去。叶池蹲伏在蜡毛毫无生机的尸体旁，给他梳理皮毛，准备安葬。苍白的月光将他淡灰色的皮毛变成了银色。在叶池身边，松鸦羽正帮忙将蜡毛的尾巴弄得和它干燥时一样，又直又蓬松。
叶池抬起头，凝视着武士祖灵洒下的冰冷光辉。“愿星族照亮你前行的路，蜡毛。”她重复着这些话，这也是无数个季节以前流传下来的，每当有猫死去，巫医都必须说的。此时她的声音在冰冷的空气里回荡：“愿你猎有所获，迅疾如飞，睡在安稳的地方。”
这些话本该让她安心，并给倒下去的武士带来永久的光明和快乐的生活，此时却像刺一样扎伤了她，甚至比刺更尖利。蜡毛脖子上发现的整齐的牙印，在她的脑海里挥之不去。牙印太小，不是狗的；太整齐，不是狐狸的；太锋利，不是獾的。只有猫才有可能留下这样的齿痕。可是这是哪只猫干的？是谁这么痛恨蜡毛，竟然如此冷血地杀了他，甚至连一丝搏斗的痕迹都没留下？是光明正大的边界冲突，还是盗猎引发的争斗？有没有可能是风族猫干的？或者是途经此地的流浪猫？拜托了，星族，给我一点启示！
叶池一想到可能是一只雷族猫谋杀了蜡毛，就感到寒冷刺骨。蜡毛心直口快，甚至有些固执己见，但他也是一位忠诚而值得尊敬的武士。真的没有族猫会因为什么原因想让他死吗？
叶池再次俯下身子，开始清理他脚垫上的泥土和沙石。有什么又软又亮的东西在她的鼻子前飘动。她身子一缩，看到蜡毛爪子里攥着一绺皮毛。
不！这不可能是真的！叶池凑上去，闻了闻那绺皮毛。我认识这种气息！
她徒劳地想要说服自己，这绺皮毛也许来自把蜡毛带回营地的那几只猫中的某一只。当时蜡毛就漂浮在风族边界的小溪里，但是这绺皮毛上面溪水的气息这么重，不可能是来自皮毛干爽的某只猫。再说了，死后的蜡毛爪子又软又无力，即使在别的猫身上划过，也只会弯曲起来，而不会扯下一绺皮毛。
这绺皮毛只可能来自于杀害蜡毛的那只猫。
叶池感到呼吸困难，全身颤抖。她轻轻地拔出那绺皮毛，将它带回她的巢穴。她强迫自己颤抖的爪子把那绺皮毛放在一片叶子上，紧紧地包成一个小包。然后她将它塞进她的储藏室，深深地藏在最里面的一包草药后的岩缝里。蜡毛死亡的真相决不能公布。
除了死亡，她再也想不到比这更令她感到痛苦的了。她不禁问自己：这一切都是我的错吗？
随着一声怒吼，黄牙扑向蓝星，将她撞倒在地，摁在星族森林下茂盛的草地上。“这都是你的错！”她怒喝道，“如果不是你把那个不幸的秘密泄露给雷族，这一切都不会发生。”
蓝星用后爪猛击黄牙的肚子，可是她挣不脱前任巫医的爪子。“你怎么了？”她嘶嘶地叫着，“不要忘了，我是你的族长！”
黄牙对前任雷族族长的所有敬意都消失了。想到自己曾经的族群将要面临的可怕未来，她们两个患难与共的交情有如尘埃般消散了。
“你的秘密就像一只蛆，一直在啃噬苹果的内部。”黄牙咆哮着，她可怕的牙齿靠近蓝星的耳朵，“整个雷族正在溃烂，在真相大白之前，还会流更多的血。”
“你怎么知道会那样！”蓝星反驳着，拼命地想摆脱黄牙。
“瞎了眼的兔子都能看出来。真相会水落石出的。午夜把一切都告诉了日神。而且我们俩都清楚，日神会重返雷族的。”
蓝星激发起了自己的武士本能，一头撞向黄牙的胸部，想趁机滑向一边。黄牙却突然放弃搏斗，跳到一旁，站定身形，抖了抖乱糟糟的灰色皮毛。
蓝星挣扎着爬起来，站在那里喘着粗气。“这一架究竟是为什么？”她调整着呼吸，恼怒地说道，“伤害已经产生了！而且不管你怎么说，这都不是我的错。”
黄牙呼噜了一声。
“我还是不敢相信，午夜会背叛我们，”蓝星继续说道，“我信任它，以为它能照顾族群。”
“我没说午夜背叛了我们。”黄牙提醒道，她身上的毛竖了起来，“背叛早已开始，伴随着第一个谎言，伴随着你保守了这么多个季节的秘密。雷族一直活在谎言中！如果这三只猫真的像预言说的那么强大，他们就有办法应对真相。除非你觉得我们一直看错了他们。”
“绝对不会！”蓝星反驳道，“这三只猫还能是其他的猫？我不想撒谎。”她补充着，抬高声音哀号道，“但是我应该在什么时候告诉他们呢？他们一直很快乐。松鼠飞和黑莓掌是很不错的父母。如果告诉他们事情的真相，能有什么好处？”
“我们很快就会弄清楚的。”黄牙咆哮道，“再老的秘密也不可能永远被埋葬。”她甩了甩尾巴准备离开，接着又停下来，回头看着蓝星。“如果这三只猫不够强大，还无法应对真相，”她又说道，“那么你，蓝星，就会毁掉你深爱的族群……”
第一章
 第一章
狮焰独自穿过森林，爪子下干枯的蕨叶沙沙作响。头顶是光秃秃的树木，天空又黑又空旷。恐惧让这个年轻武士后颈上的毛竖了起来。他从耳朵到尾巴尖都在发抖。
星族的星光永远不会照亮这个地方。
他继续往前走，绕过一簇簇蕨丛，嗅着灌木丛下的气息，但是没有发现其他猫的踪迹和气息。我已经受够这个了。他想着，用力把尾巴从挂住它的荆棘上扯出来。他盯着树木之间延伸到远处的无尽的黑暗，不由得一阵心慌。如果我永远找不到离开这里的路怎么办？
“你是在找我吗？”
狮焰跳着转过身：“虎星！”
那个体形庞大的武士出现在一丛黑莓旁边。他的虎斑皮毛上闪耀着奇怪的光，让狮焰想到了枯死的树上泛着苍白色光芒的蘑菇。
“你已经错过了很多训练！”虎星慢慢走过来，在离雷族武士只有一条尾巴远的地方停下来，“你早就该回来了。”
“不，我不该回来！”狮焰脱口而出，“我根本就不该来这里，你也不该训练我。黑莓掌不是我的父亲！你也不是我的至亲！”
虎星眨了一下眼睛，但他没有表现出一点儿惊讶，甚至连耳朵都没抖一下。他琥珀色的眼睛眯成了一条缝，似乎正在等着狮焰接着说下去。
“你……你知道了！”狮焰喃喃地说。周围的树木仿佛正在旋转。原来知道这个秘密的不止松鼠飞。
“我当然知道了！”虎星耸耸肩，“这不重要。你是自愿向我学习的，不是吗？”
“可是……”
“血缘并非一切。”虎星咆哮道。他的嘴唇向后卷着，露出闪着寒光的利齿，“只要看看火星，就知道了！”
狮焰感到怒火正在全身流动，后颈的毛竖了起来：“作为武士，火星比你优秀多了。”
“别忘了，他也不是你的至亲！”虎星轻轻地嘶嘶道，“你没必要维护他。”
狮焰盯着这位在黑暗中闪着微光的武士。他知道我真正的父亲是谁吗？“你早就知道，我不是火星的至亲。”他嘶嘶地咆哮道，“你让我相信了一个谎言！”
虎星抖了抖一只耳朵：“那又怎样？”
愤怒和失望让他失去了理智。他跳到空中，将自己向虎星砸去，企图把他撞倒。他猛击着虎斑武士的头和肩膀，弹出爪尖，撕下了一大绺的皮毛。但是由于他脑子里充斥着怒火，反而使得动作笨拙无比，无法击中目标。他的爪子胡乱地抓着，却很难伤到虎星分毫。
这只壮硕的虎斑公猫一个晃动，身子歪向一边，然后伸出一只爪子，钩在狮焰的腿上，使他失去了平衡。狮焰震惊地倒在蕨丛中，喘不过气来。一个心跳过后，他感到一只巨大的爪子压住了他的肩膀，把他摁在地上。
“我可不是这么教你的，小武士。”虎星嘲笑道，“你没好好练习。”
狮焰深深地吸了一口气，使劲支撑起身体。虎星向后跳开，然后蹲伏在一只狐狸身长远的地方，琥珀色的眼睛燃烧着怒火。
“我让你看看，到底是谁没练习。”狮焰喘息着说道。
他压下怒火，冷静下来，把所有学过的格斗动作都集中到了爪尖上。当虎星跳向他时，他已经做好了准备。他猛地向前一冲，钻到对手的肚子下。等虎星的爪子一落地，狮焰转身在虎斑公猫的后肢上猛击了几下，然后跳出了攻击范围。
虎星转身面对着他。“终于好些了！”他说道，声音里依然充满了嘲弄，“我把你教得很好啊！”
没等狮焰回答，这只体形庞大的虎斑猫飞扑过来，在最后时分猛一转身，经过狮焰身边的时候，一只前爪猛地挥了过去。狮焰感到虎星的爪子沿着他的侧腹飞速划过，血立即从剐擦过的地方滴下来。恐惧立时涌上心头。如果他杀了我会怎么样？我真的会死吗？
他的大脑一片空白。虎星又向他扑来。狮焰连忙闪到一边，同时挥出一爪。但他感觉自己的爪子几乎是从虎星的皮毛上滑了过去，一点也没伤到他。
“太慢了！”虎星训斥道，“你得加倍努力了，毕竟你已经知道预言中的猫指的不是你，而是火星的至亲，不是吗？”
狮焰明白，这只虎斑公猫想让他狂怒，以至于无法战斗。我不会中计的！我要做的所有事情，就是打赢这场战斗！
他再次跳向虎星，然后就像他在那些漫漫长夜里被教导的那样，在空中转身，然后不偏不倚地落在虎星宽阔的肩膀上。他把爪子扎进虎星的皮毛，接着向前一探身，牙齿咬进了虎星的脖子。
虎星试图使出同样的招数，向旁边一歪，用身体把狮焰拉倒。但是这次狮焰早有防备。他从对手沉重的身体下钻了出来，用后爪猛击着虎星暴露在外的肚子。
“我不会被那招击倒两次的！”他嘶嘶地叫着。
虎星挣扎着站了起来，但是鲜血正从肚子上那深深的伤口里喷涌出来，他再次跌倒了，向后滚去。狮焰把一只前爪放在虎星的胸部，然后抬起另一只前爪，弹出爪尖，刺入了虎星的脖子。
那只虎斑猫瞪着他，有一个心跳的时间，恐惧在他琥珀色的眼睛里跳跃。“你真的以为你能杀了我吗？”他低声咆哮着，“你绝对做不到。”
“不。”狮焰收起爪尖，向后退去，“你已经死了。”
他转身走开了，身上的毛仍然竖着，所有的感官都保持着警觉，以防虎星跟上来再次扑向他。但是黑暗武士没有发出任何响动，而且很快就被抛在了永无尽头的森林中。
狮焰的大脑在飞快地转动。他打败了虎星！也许我确实拥有力量……可是怎么可能呢，如果我不是三只猫中的一只？
他停下了爪子，几乎看不到缠绕在一起的灌木和围绕在他周围的黑暗森林里的树。我真的想知道我的父母是谁吗？他有些疑惑，这真的重要吗？或许让族猫们接受这个他们一直很熟悉的狮焰，才是最好的方法，这样他才能继续提高他的战斗技能。
我已经是雷族最优秀的武士了。我知道，我能成为一位伟大的武士！
“蜡毛死了！”他大声说道，“松鼠飞也不会把她的秘密告诉别的猫。如果族猫知道她欺骗了他们这么久，他们受到的伤害就太大了。为什么不让一切如旧呢？”
狮焰醒来的时候，阳光正照在他的脸上。大多数猫已经离开了巢穴。狮焰只看到了鼠须那一身灰白相间的皮毛，他昨天夜里负责守卫营地。
狮焰嘴巴大张着，打了个哈欠。“感谢星族，我不用参加黎明巡逻。”他喃喃道。可是当他准备起身的时候，每块肌肉都发出抗议的尖叫。他感到似乎他的身体从头到爪子，都非常疼痛。一边侧腹的金棕色虎斑皮毛上沾着血迹，缠结在一起。
希望没有猫注意到这些！他低下头，飞快地有节奏地清理皮毛的时候，心里想着。
跟虎星的战斗只是一场梦，不是吗？狮焰不明白，为什么他会感到这么疼痛和疲惫，就像这真的发生过一样？而且他还受了伤，就像活着的武士用爪子飞快地划过他的侧腹……他努力不去想这件事。这没什么，因为我再也不会回到那个地方。一切都结束了。他告诉自己。
舔梳了皮毛之后，他感觉好多了。他把皮毛抖松，盖住了侧腹的伤口。他刚弄完，就听到几只猫正好来到了巢穴外面，不过不是很近，听不清他们在说什么。他有点好奇，站起身，弓起后背，舒服地伸了伸腰，然后穿过枝条，来到了空地。
刺掌正站在两三只狐狸身长远的地方，蛛足坐在他的旁边，云尾在他们面前走来走去，白色的尾巴尖抽动着。云尾的伴侣亮心跟香薇云、蕨毛和栗尾坐在一起，不安地看着云尾。蜜蕨和莓鼻蜷伏在旁边，他们的眼睛也紧紧地盯着刺掌。
“蜡毛是被风族猫杀死的！”有着金棕色皮毛的公猫断言道，“这是唯一可能的答案。”
几个听众同意地点点头，不过狮焰看到其他几只猫交换着怀疑的眼神。
“火星说，他认为是我们族群中的某只猫干的！”蜜蕨说道。这样反驳一位资深武士，她似乎有些不安。
“族长以前也犯过错误，”云尾说道，“火星并非永远正确。”
“我相信我们中间没有猫会杀蜡毛。”香薇云温柔地补充道，“为什么我们要杀死他？蜡毛没有仇敌！”
我倒希望这是真的！狮焰想。
不管他多希望忘记，但那个烈火与暴雨来袭的夜晚都深深地烙在了他的脑海里。他能听到悬崖顶上火焰的呼啸，看到火舌在他和他的同窝猫周围饥饿地舔着。这时蜡毛就堵在树枝的另一端，而他们只有爬过那根树枝，才能逃到安全地带。松鼠飞的忏悔再次回响在他的耳边：她不得不告诉蜡毛，狮焰、冬青叶和松鸦羽并非她的孩子。她救他们性命的唯一方法，就是假装自己不在意这三只猫会发生什么事。但是她这样做，却给了蜡毛比燃烧的树枝还要可怕的武器。狮焰知道，蜡毛会在森林大会上向所有的族群说出真相。只有死亡才能让他永远闭嘴，保证这个秘密不被泄露。
“狮焰！嘿，狮焰！你聋了吗？”
狮焰的思绪被拉回到山谷，看见蛛足正朝他摇着尾巴。
“你是蜡毛最后一位学徒，”当狮焰很不情愿地走向群猫时，黑色皮毛武士提醒道，“你知道他是否跟哪只猫争吵过？”
“尤其是一只风族猫？”刺掌补充着，意味深长地抖了抖胡须。
狮焰摇了摇头。“哦……不知道。”他尴尬地回答道。他不能撒谎，也不能说蜡毛跟一只风族猫有过争吵，虽然他皮毛上的每根毛发都希望是这样。让族群相信了这样一件事，很可能会导致雷族和风族之间爆发全面的战争。“他死之前，我也没怎么见过他。”他又说道。
让他松了一口气的是，没有猫质疑他的话。“如果蜡毛跟一只雷族猫争吵过，我们会知道的。”蕨毛坚持道，“在这里保守秘密是不可能的。”
狮焰想，如果只有你知道的话，那倒好了！
“蕨毛说得没错。”栗尾用鼻子碰了碰伴侣的耳朵，“但是结论还是一样，我们仍然不能确定是不是风族猫……”
“蜡毛死在风族的边界。”蛛足打断了她，“你还要什么证据？”
栗尾转头面对着他，后颈的毛竖了起来，语气严厉地说道：“我想，在指责某只猫之前，要有更多的证据才行，而不仅仅因为蜡毛的尸体是在那里发现的。”
蜜蕨和蕨毛小声表示赞同。不过狮焰明白，大多数猫都确信，某个风族武士应该为蜡毛之死负责。无论他有多么内疚、多么担心这种推测会导致的后果，他还是难以抑制心底里那种如释重负的感觉。
“我们就这样让风族撇清干系了？”刺掌问道，他将爪子插进泥土里，耳朵平贴了起来。
“当然不！”莓鼻跳了起来，“我们必须让他们明白，雷族不是那么好欺负的。”
狮焰看到更多的武士聚集在刺掌周围，肚子抽搐起来。他们的举动就像这只金棕色公猫是他们的族长，似乎已经准备好追随他投入战斗，为遇害的族猫复仇。
“晚上发动攻击最好。”刺掌开口说道，“月光很亮，我们能够看见，而且风族也不会有防备。”
“而我们也能看到他们受到惩罚的惨样儿。”蛛足甩着尾巴。
“我们前往风族营地的时候，”刺掌继续说道，“最好分开行动。一路突袭者可以从这个方向……”
“什么？”一声低沉的怒吼从狮焰的身后传来。
狮焰大吃一惊，回头看到是黑莓掌。他和其他猫专心听着刺掌的计划，竟然没听到副族长走过来。
“我们正准备突袭风族。”蛛足解释着，绷紧了肌肉，好像他正准备立即奔出营地，“他们中间的一只猫杀害了蜡毛，而且……”
“不要提什么突袭风族的计划。”黑莓掌打断了他的话，琥珀色的眼睛里闪着愤怒，“没有证据表明是风族猫杀害了蜡毛。”
狮焰盯着这只猫，他一直都以为他是自己的父亲。他知道真相吗？狮焰沉思着。记得他和同窝猫还是幼崽的时候，黑莓掌总是跟他们三个在一起玩耍。当他们长得大一些的时候，他帮助过他们很多次，给过他们很多建议。松鼠飞告诉蜡毛，黑莓掌不知道真相。不过狮焰现在没有理由相信她。如果黑莓掌知道真相，那他就是个出色的骗子。
跟松鼠飞一样出色的骗子！
黑莓掌没等他们回应。他迈开大步走向通往高石台的落石堆，但是只走了两三爪子远，又站住了。他回头看了看，冲着狮焰抖了抖耳朵。
“你没事儿吧？”副族长的声音里充满了同情，“蜡毛毕竟是你的老师。”
但是我们并不是非常亲密！狮焰不想大声说出这句话。但他一直都明白，自己跟蜡毛之间有什么不对的地方。他俩也从未了解真正的师徒关系是什么样子。难道蜡毛像恨松鼠飞那样恨我吗？那他还真是多此一举——我甚至都不是松鼠飞的儿子。
“我很好。”他低声说。
黑莓掌把尾巴尖放在狮焰的肩上。“我能看出来你并不好。”他说道，“你有什么要告诉我的吗？你是知道的，你随时可以找我谈。”
有两三个心跳的时间，狮焰僵住了。难道黑莓掌怀疑我杀了蜡毛？
“失去与你亲近的猫，心里确实不会好受。”黑莓掌继续说道，“不过我之前跟你保证过，他的死不会就这么算了。”
他伸出长长的弯曲的爪子，将它们刺入山谷的地面。狮焰往后退了一下，想象着这些爪子撕开凶手的喉咙……
“如果让我找出哪只猫干了这件事，”黑莓掌轻轻地吼道，“他一定会后悔夺走了我同族武士的性命。”
黑莓掌转身离开，向高石台走去。但他还没走到落石堆下，就看见火星从洞穴里走了出来。他停顿片刻，低头看着空地。秃叶季苍白的阳光打在他的皮毛上，将他的全身都染成了火红色。接着他轻轻地跳下落石堆，来到黑莓掌和狮焰面前。他向围着刺掌的那群猫点了点头。
“发生了什么事？”他问道。
“有些族猫想带队袭击风族，”黑莓掌汇报道，“我没想到，在我们雷族竟然会有这么多鼠脑子。”
火星抖了抖耳朵。“接受一位武士的死确实很难。”他大声说道，“不过这不是攻击的好时机。我会带巡逻队去找一星谈谈，看看他是不是知道一些情况。”
“他当然知道！”蛛足转身面向他们，后颈上的毛竖了起来，一脸的愤恨。
“我们现在就该开战，以免失去更多的武士！”刺掌高声说道。
火星摇了摇头。“不到必要的时候，开战没有意义。”他警告道。
“但是我觉得很有必要。”刺掌向前走着，直到跟族长脸对脸地站着，“一位武士死了！”
赞同的吼叫声从他身边的猫中升起。
“蜡毛的仇必须报！”
“他是一位好武士！”
“全族的猫都尊敬他！雷族猫不可能杀死他！”
狮焰没有加入他们。对他来说，在族猫面前掩饰自己的恐惧和焦虑太难了。他们记得蜡毛，把他看作一位勇敢而忠诚的武士。但是他们不知道另一个蜡毛，他正准备毁灭自己的族群，以报复松鼠飞选择了黑莓掌作为伴侣，而不是他。
火星举起一只爪子，示意安静，但呼喊声还是持续了好一阵子才停了下来。这时狮焰发现有猫从荆棘通道进入了营地——是沙风带领的狩猎巡逻队。尘毛、松鼠飞和冬青叶跟着她进了空地，把猎物放在猎物堆上，这才走到围着火星的猫中间。
“这是怎么回事儿？”冬青叶问着，走到狮焰的身边。
狮焰盯着松鼠飞。当松鼠飞听到族猫赞扬蜡毛的时候，脸上满是痛苦的表情。他知道，她一定和他想的一样，淡灰色武士把自己的阴暗面隐藏得太深了。对于他的死，你知道多少实情？他问着自己，不想跟松鼠飞的目光接触。
“狮焰，发生了什么事？”冬青叶用一只爪子捅了捅他的侧腹，用更尖厉的口气重复道。
狮焰看了她一眼。妹妹绿色的眼睛里充满了担忧，而且她看上去就像是有一整月没睡觉了。她的感受似乎同我一样！他心里想。
“刺掌和有些猫因为蜡毛的死，要攻击风族。”他回答道。
冬青叶的眼睛变大了。“他们真的认为是一只风族猫干的？”她问道，声音里有一丝惊讶。
“有些猫是这么想的。不过火星……”
狮焰赶紧闭上嘴巴。族长火星已经走到落石堆前，跳上了一块大圆石。“请所有能够独自狩猎的猫到高石台下集合，参加族群会议！”火星喊道。
空地上的猫都来到火星身边，在大圆石下给自己找好了位置。狮焰看到其中有些猫还在争论，但是都压低了声音。
两位学徒狐爪和冰爪从榛子树下的长老巢穴走了出来，一起用爪子推着一个很大的苔藓球。鼠毛和长尾跟在他们身后走出来，蜷伏在阳光下。鼠须从武士巢穴钻了出来，打着哈欠，轻轻抖掉身上的苔藓碎屑。
灰条和米莉出现在育婴室入口，他们的幼崽跌跌撞撞地走在他们的爪子旁边。在他们身后，桦落和白翅慢慢地往外走。那只白色皮毛的母猫怀孕了，拖着笨重的身体，桦落紧跟在她的身边。黛西是最后一只出现的猫。她坐在育婴室入口，仔细地舔梳着胸部。小蟾蜍和小玫瑰在她的旁边翻滚着，玩打仗的游戏。
叶池和松鸦羽也早已从巫医巢穴那里露出头来，不过他们只是站在黑莓屏风的外面，和其他族猫保持着距离。狮焰想引起弟弟的注意，但松鸦羽没有理他，始终盯着火星。
“我知道，你们都想知道如何处理蜡毛被杀的事。”族长开口说道，“我向你们承诺，谋杀了他的那只猫会得到惩罚。但是没有证据表明，风族跟这件事有关系。”
“我觉得证据已经足够了。”蛛足呼噜着说。
火星没有理会他的插嘴。“我要带一支巡逻队去跟一星谈谈。既不是去指责他，也不是攻击他的族群。蜡毛死在风族的边界，一星的武士很有可能看到了什么。”
猫群中立刻传出了反对的窃窃私语。刺掌不停地将爪尖弹出和收起，但是没说话。
“黑莓掌，你跟我一起去。”火星继续说道，“还有蕨毛、栗尾和狮焰。我们现在就走。”
当火星喊出狮焰的名字时，他的肚子一阵抽搐。有一个心跳的时间，他想提出抗议。他想到自己要参与调查蜡毛的死因，不由得一阵痛恨。但他知道，他没有理由拒绝去风族。在其他猫看来，蜡毛的死一定让他非常震惊，他也跟他们一样，决心复仇。
“很好。”冬青叶在他的耳朵边轻声说道，“你回来的时候，要告诉我发生了什么事。”
“好的。”狮焰嘟囔道，“可我宁愿置身事外。”
火星从大圆石上跳下来，从众猫中间穿过。黑莓掌紧随其后。接着蕨毛和栗尾也加入了队伍。
狮焰突然意识到，这几只猫都是不想攻击风族的。看来火星并不想冒险。
火星领着他们向荆棘通道走去。在他们离开前，他转身摇了摇尾巴，把灰条叫到面前。“要时刻盯着刺掌和其他猫，”他对灰条低声说道，“确保他们不会擅自发动攻击。”
灰条严肃地点点头：“不用担心。我会盯着他们的。”
狮焰和其他猫跟着火星穿过森林，向风族边界走去。众猫的爪子拂过落叶，发出沙沙的响声。秃叶季的阳光没有穿透的阴影处，落叶的边缘还挂着白霜。头顶上，光秃秃的树枝在天幕上勾画出各式图案。
众猫跟在火星身后，沉默而庄重地前进着，狮焰走在队伍的最后。他感觉到其他猫的内心并不平静，走不了几爪子路，就停下来嗅一嗅空气。一颗橡树果实掉到灌木丛的声响传来，栗尾猛然转身，不安地抽动着尾巴。
“我感觉这里再也不像我们的领地了。”当她意识到自己弄错了，厌恶地说道，“这里可能潜伏着危机。杀害蜡毛的不会是只泼皮猫吧？”
“有这个可能。”蕨毛用尾巴尖碰了碰伴侣的肩膀，“但是你跟我们在一起很安全。一只猫打不过整支巡逻队的。”
“恐怖的鸦食者日神很可能还在附近游荡。”栗尾继续说，“没有猫知道，他被影族赶走之后去了哪里。”
火星停下来等着族猫。他竖起耳朵，对这句话充满了兴趣，“这是一个思路。我们都应该保持警惕，留心跟他有关的踪迹。我们回来之后，我再跟其他猫宣布这个事情。”
“日神不像愿意动爪子杀害猫的那种猫，”黑莓掌沉思着评论道，“让其他猫来做肮脏的事倒更像他的作风。”
火星点了点头：“没错，不过也有可能，蜡毛发现他正在做危害雷族的事情。”
“蜡毛很可能因为日神在我们的领地上，就攻击他。”蕨毛说道，“他为了保护族群，甚至敢和獾搏斗。”
“他是一位忠诚的武士。”黑莓掌表示赞同。
狮焰希望自己也能有其他猫那样的感受，并且真诚地为族猫哀悼。蜡毛出名的忠诚并没有阻止他想在森林大会上揭开松鼠飞的秘密，败坏雷族的名声。他已经承认曾跟鹰霜密谋，让黑莓掌杀死火星。对松鼠飞的怨恨毁了他对雷族的忠诚。但是现在他已经死了，他的族群却要把他当作一个英雄。狮焰真想大声号叫，对林子里的每只猫说出真相。但是他知道这样做带来的将是毁灭。巡逻队再次出发时，他在队伍最后走着，诅咒必须沉默的现实，也诅咒自己。
“你还好吧？”黑莓掌放慢爪子，走在他的旁边，“我知道你肯定想念蜡毛。”
黑莓掌对狮焰的误解让狮焰怒火中烧。“我很好！”他咆哮道，虽然知道自己这么做没有道理，“让我自己安静点，可以吗？”
黑莓掌的眼睛瞪大了，但是他什么也没说，只是点点头，然后加快了步子，追上了火星。
“你不应该冲他发火。”栗尾说道，她走到狮焰身边，用鼻子碰了碰他的耳朵，“黑莓掌一定是很担心你，当父亲的都这样。”她琥珀色的眼睛里闪着真挚的光，“我的孩子现在是武士了，可在我看来，他们永远都长不大。”
狮焰尴尬地冲她点点头，但是没有说话。他的秘密就像上涨的洪水一样困住了他，把他和族里的每只猫都分隔开来。他不是我的父亲！狮焰真想大吼一声，你们听到的每件事，都是谎言！
第二章
 第二章
当火星和他的巡逻队来到标记风族边界的那条小溪时，一阵寒风正从荒原吹来。狮焰走到岸边的时候，感到爪子一阵刺痛。这里距离他们发现蜡毛尸体的地方不远。他试图不去回想蜡毛光滑、淡灰色的身体卡在一块岩石的后边，被溪流冲得上下浮动的情景。不过对蜡毛的死，他并不感到难过。
每只猫都越过了小溪，迅速冲上风族领地，甚至没有嗅一嗅周遭的气息。狮焰猜测，他们也一定是因为想起了死去的武士有些害怕。火星领着他们继续前进，一直小跑着来到了遮住小溪的岩石和芦苇后面。
狮焰嗅着空中的气息，浑身颤抖着。这里有一股浓烈的雪的气息，肯定是从山地那边传来的。一团像乌云一样的黑雾正从地平线上升起。狮焰知道，他眺望的是急水部落的家园。他们过得怎么样？他很想知道。秃叶季的时候，裸露的岩石上覆盖着厚厚的雪，猎物匮乏，生活甚至会更加艰苦。不过我很希望能回到那里，他又对自己说道。他的意思不只是回到山地，也要回到那个时间。在急水部落的时候，我知道自己是谁，也知道自己的命运将走向何方。
“附近有风族猫。”火星说道。
狮焰内疚地跳了起来。他一直想着急水部落，尽管风族猫的气息很浓烈，也很新鲜，他却完全没有注意到。他第一次开始思索，这次任务会有什么结果。雷族和风族之间依然充满敌意，一星肯定会觉得火星的询问有指责的意味。
雷族族长带头穿过荒原，向风族营地走去，他的武士紧紧地走在他的两侧。风吹着他们身上的皮毛。一阵大风刮来，差点儿把栗尾吹得摔倒在地。
“我无法想象，为什么会有猫选择住在这里！”她努力站稳身体，嘶嘶地说道。
“我们喜欢这里！”一个响亮的声音从荒原上传来。
狮焰抬起头，发现一支风族巡逻队出现在半山腰。刚刚说话的那只猫叫裂耳，是他们的领队。他后边跟着鸦羽、白尾和石楠尾。
狮焰看到石楠尾看了他一眼。这只猫曾经是他的朋友，甚至比朋友还要更加亲密。此时他从她的眼睛里看到了轻蔑，除此之外一无所有。苦涩的悔恨淹没了他。回想过去，他多少次甚至不顾武士守则，到森林下的隧道里与石楠尾见面，那是他一生中最快乐、最无忧无虑的时光。现在的她不一样了，哪怕为了一束鼠尾草都会要了他的命。他想象着自己的尸体漂在小溪里的样子，顿时不寒而栗。
“你好，裂耳。”火星等风族巡逻队走到近前，点头致意道。
“你们来这里干什么？”裂耳听起来很谨慎，但并无敌意，尽管鸦羽后颈的毛已经竖了起来，白尾也弹出了爪尖。
“我需要跟一星谈谈，”火星解释道，“我们可以拜访你们的营地吗？”
裂耳犹豫着，怀疑地眯起了眼睛，然后生硬地点点头：“当然可以，不过我们得押送着你们。而且你们最好不要轻举妄动。”
“我们只想谈一谈。”火星承诺道。
裂耳走在最前面，带领众猫向风族营地方向处的更远的小山进发。鸦羽和白尾走在雷族巡逻队的两边，石楠尾走到了最后。狮焰很明显地感觉到石楠尾正跟在他的身后，她的目光看着她，就像荆棘在扎着他的背。
最后裂耳带领他们爬上一面很长的斜坡，往环绕着风族营地的金雀花丛走去。穿过金雀花丛的时候，狮焰停下来四下看着。这是一个毫无遮蔽的地方：一个荒凉的长着坚韧的荒原野草的山谷，石头钻出贫瘠的泥土，高高地耸立着。整个营地只有扭曲的荆棘丛作为屏障，除了长老巢穴——它建在废弃的獾穴中。
狮焰看见一星正坐在靠近山谷中间的地方，在跟巫医青面说话。还有另外几只风族猫——包括副族长灰脚和鸦羽的儿子风皮——站在旁边听着。
狮焰从青面的姿势和表情中看得出，他们谈论的事情很紧急。他不由得心中好奇，真想走近去听。他听不清青面说的是什么，但是看起来他好像在跟风族族长汇报重要的消息。
那会是什么消息呢？狮焰很想知道，他们不可能知道蜡毛的事情！
裂耳冲下斜坡，告诉他们有访客时，一星抬头看了一眼。他看着火星和其他猫，犹豫了几个心跳的时间，然后飞快地跟青面说了句什么。巫医点了点头。然后一星用尾巴示意火星，把众武士带到营地里来。
“你好，一星。”火星在一星面前停下，低头致意，“感谢你允许我们过来谈谈。”
一星似乎不想再提起往日的交情了，他只是看着火星。“说你要说的话吧！”他谨慎地说道。
他紧张的样子让狮焰怀疑，风族是不是发生了什么事情。可能是一些不想让我们知道的事情吧！他环顾四周，发现所有的风族猫看起来都瘦骨嶙峋，一副没吃饱的样子。不过这对风族来说，倒也不足为奇。
“我想私下里跟你谈一谈。”火星开口说道。
一星后颈的毛竖了起来，然后摇了摇头：“不管你要说的是什么事，都可以当着我的族猫说。”
就在他说这话的时候，灰脚走上前去，站在族长的身旁。她一言未发，只是用平静而清澈的目光审视着雷族猫。
“怎么样？”一星催问道。
“当然，如果你希望这样的话。”火星继续说下去，狮焰的肚子抽搐起来，“森林大会的那天晚上，我们在作为两族边界的小溪里发现了蜡毛的尸体。他的喉咙上有一道长长的伤口，我们觉得是一只猫谋杀了他。”
风族武士们立即竖起了毛，风皮则发出了一声怒吼。
一星甩着尾巴，爪子深深地插进了土里。他的眼睛闪着愤怒的光。“你怎么敢怀疑风族跟这件事有关？”他嘶嘶地叫道，“杀害你们的武士对我们毫无裨益。”
“我们哪只猫都没有跟蜡毛争执过。”白尾插嘴道。
“风族是恪守武士守则的。”鸦羽吼道。他皱起嘴唇，发出一声吼叫。
狮焰绷紧身体，随时准备投入这场一触即发的战斗。但是火星仍然保持着冷静，甚至连尾巴尖都没抖一下。
“谁都没怀疑你们。”他坚持说道，“我们来到这里是想问问你们，那天晚上有没有在边界看到什么。”
“看到什么？类似我们的武士杀死了蜡毛的事情？”一星愤怒得毛奓开了，“先查一查你的族猫，火星。问问他们是否忠于武士守则，而不是我们。”
狮焰觉得后颈和肩膀上的毛竖直了。蕨毛和栗尾也奓开了毛。黑莓掌也因为这个隐晦的侮辱，不停地伸缩着爪尖。他这样说，是因为雷族有一些混血猫吗？狮焰气恼地想。我们都是忠诚的啊。他再次想起了蜡毛被水浸得湿漉漉的尸体。只有一只猫例外。他心中说道。
他发现石楠尾站在一边，目光紧盯着自己。她似乎正在等他跳起来，以便有借口跳到他的身上，把利爪插进他的皮毛。风皮走到她的身边，他们近得皮毛都擦在了一起。然后他挑衅地看着狮焰，似乎在说，现在石楠尾属于我了。
你很讨她的欢心嘛！狮焰瞪了回去。
“那么你们什么也没看到？”火星追问道。他的声音冷峻，坚持等着回答。
“没有。”一星厉声说出这句话，就像是丢弃一份鸦食，“现在离开我们的领地。灰脚，带两三位武士护送他们去边界。”
他的副族长飞快地点点头，挥动尾巴召唤裂耳和风皮，然后走向雷族巡逻队，一脸的挑衅。
火星向风族族长点头示意：“谢谢你，一星。如果你知道了更多情况，可不可以给我们送个信儿？”
一星没有回答。狮焰跟在火星身后，尽量保持着威严。他和其他猫循着来时的路，穿过金雀花屏障，走进了开阔的荒原。
风族猫陪同火星的巡逻队返回边界时，没有一只猫说话。灰脚的步子很快，但狮焰更想跑在她的前边，马上返回森林，离开这些满怀敌意的猫的冰冷的目光。但森林里也并不安全，也没有地方可以回避蜡毛的死以及他的死对族群的影响。
在小溪旁边的山坡上，灰脚停了下来。“你们可以返回营地了，”她命令风皮和裂耳，“剩下的这段路，我看着他们就行了。”
“为什么？”风皮问道。
“你们得去参加狩猎队，”风族的副族长回答道，“难道你们觉得兔子会自己跑到营地里去？”
风皮发出一声气恼的嘶嘶声，裂耳看起来也很不高兴。他们爬到山顶，停下来，回头看了一眼，然后消失在通往营地的方向。
灰脚静静地看着，直到他们走出了视野。她这才长出了一口气，转向火星：“火星，我想跟你单独谈谈。有些情况我必须告诉你。”
狮焰的肚子翻腾起来。难道那晚灰脚也在小溪边？她知道咬死蜡毛的那只猫的名字吗？但是风族副族长看起来太平静了，完全不像看到一只猫被谋杀的样子。
“说吧。”火星说道。
“几个太阳升起之前。”灰脚继续说道，“我正带领黎明巡逻队沿着小溪走的时候，看见了日神。你还记得吗？就是那只接管了影族一段时间的猫。”
“日神？”火星的绿眼睛瞪大了，“我以为他已经离开了湖区。”
“不！或者说，至少几天前他在这里。”
“那为什么一星没跟我说起他？”火星的震惊正在变成愤怒。
灰脚耸了耸肩，看起来很尴尬。狮焰知道她是一只内心公正的猫，看到自己的族群跟雷族关系紧张，心里肯定不好受。但是她对一星的忠诚，让她不可能公开谈论这件事。
“蜡毛的死是雷族的问题，不是我们的。”她提醒道，“当你们冲进风族营地，怀疑他的族猫是谋杀者时，你就不能指望一星会高兴。”
“我们没有……”黑莓掌开始变得愤怒起来，他琥珀色的眼睛闪闪发光。
火星扬起尾巴，示意他安静。“现在让我们结束这场误会吧！”他对灰脚说道，“我们没有怀疑风族的任何一只猫。我们只是想找出蜡毛遇害的一些线索。现在告诉我们你们知道的日神的情况吧。你是在哪里看到他的？什么时候？”
“大约是四分之一个月亮圆缺之前，”灰脚答道，“他当时就在湖边小溪旁你们那边的树林里。我觉得他没看见我们，当时他正忙着吃一些猎物。”
“偷猎！”栗尾嘶嘶地叫着。
“那就不是蜡毛死的那天。”蕨毛边想边喃喃说道，“不过离我们发现蜡毛尸体的地方很近。”
“的确非常近。”火星赞同道，“谢谢你，灰脚。这是目前为止，我们了解到的最有用的信息。”
灰脚低头致意：“我很高兴能帮上忙。我希望你和你的族群都好，火星。”
狮焰能从她的眼睛里看到同情。她知道我们有麻烦了，狮焰心想，但愿她不知道这麻烦有多大。
火星的巡逻队回到营地的时候，太阳已经越过中天，长长的阴影开始爬过山谷。猫后们和桦落正在育婴室外懒洋洋地聊天。云尾、亮心和榛尾蹲伏在猎物堆旁。狐爪和冰爪正在他们的巢穴外练习战斗动作。狮焰听见冰爪尖声叫道：“风族凶手，我要把你的皮毛撕成碎片！”
火星叹了一口气：“我们最好让这种情况停下。我马上召开另一个会议。”
黑莓掌惊讶地抖了抖胡须：“我们不需要先和高级武士商量一下吗？”
火星摇了摇头：“不需要。整个族群都卷入了这件事。我想让他们现在就知道日神的事，以免那些鲁莽的家伙溜出去袭击风族。”
他跳着穿过空地，向落石堆走去。但是还没等他走到那里，榛尾就发现了归来的武士，跳了起来。“嗨！”她喊道，“火星回来了！”
有几个脑袋从武士巢穴的枝条中钻了出来。猫后们也坐起来，支棱起耳朵。五只幼崽爬出了育婴室，互相绊倒在一起。松鸦羽从黑莓屏风后探出头来，嘴巴里叼着一捆草药。火星走到高石台上的时候，已经不需要再召唤雷族成员了。营地里的每只猫都聚拢过来，想听听风族说了什么。狮焰、黑莓掌和巡逻队的其他成员也走过去，坐在众猫的身后。
“你们有什么发现吗？”刺掌在火星坐着的落石堆下问道，“我们什么时候发动攻击？”
“我们不发动攻击，”火星答道，“风族没有杀害蜡毛。”
一阵不安的喃喃声在众猫中间传播开来，但是火星没等大家开始讨论，就飞快地继续说道：“在我告诉他们之前，一星和他的武士对蜡毛的死毫不知情。另外，灰脚给了我一个非常有用的信息。几天前她看到了日神，就在湖附近的小溪边。”
蛛足一跃而起，挥动着尾巴：“那正是蜡毛尸体被发现的地方！”
惊叫和怒骂的号叫突然爆发出来。有几只猫跳了起来，眨着眼睛，毛竖了起来，就好像他们马上要去攻击那只泼皮猫。
“日神害死了蜡毛！”
“下流的凶手！”
“我们应该找到他，让他知道，泼皮猫攻击武士会是什么下场！”
火星扬起尾巴，示意安静。“我们还没有证据，”当他能让自己的声音被听到的时候，继续说道，“但是……”
“我们需要什么证据？”鼠毛尖叫道，“看看他对影族都干了什么！”
“他没有杀死任何一只影族猫，”尘毛提醒她，“他又有什么理由杀死蜡毛呢？”
鼠毛发出气恼的嘶嘶声：“我不会放过那个吃鸦食的脏东西。”
“不过他一定有什么原因，”蕨毛说道，他赞成尘毛的说法，“没有猫会仅仅因为寻开心，就杀了其他猫。”
狮焰想起了他听过的长鞭的故事，他是血族的族长，曾经尝试统治旧森林。他好像就是一只喜欢杀猫的猫。但是狮焰觉得日神跟他不像。
“或许蜡毛在我们的领地上抓住了日神，”亮心提醒道，“他们可能发生了打斗……”
“但是蜡毛没有打斗，”沙风打断了她，“除了喉咙上的伤痕，他身上没有别的伤。是这样的吧，叶池？”
众猫都转头看着巫医。她正坐在巫医巢穴外，距离高石台下聚集着的众猫很远，她只是用点头作为对沙风的回应，此外什么也没说。
“好，那么，”云尾说道，“也许日神趁蜡毛没防备。他想制造一个挑起雷族和风族争端的机会。”
“这听起来像是日神的做法，”松鼠飞甩了一下尾巴，表示同意，“让猫和猫斗，他则乘虚而入，为自己攫取大权。”
“我认为我们需要掌握更多情报，”灰条平静地说道，“知道灰脚看到过日神，这是很有用的信息，但这并不能证明，就是日神撕开了蜡毛的脖子。”
“你说得对。”火星向前任副族长点点头，“哪只猫能告诉我们更多关于日神的事情？”
让狮焰惊讶的是，冬青叶犹豫着扬起了尾巴：“我……我见过他，火星。就在湖边，那是在他被影族赶走后不久。”
她从来没跟我说起过！狮焰的肚子里一阵翻腾。但是他和松鸦羽也没跟冬青叶说过，他们从风族的领地上带回猫薄荷的事。我们是从什么时候开始对彼此保密的呢？
“告诉我发生了什么事。”火星催问道。
“没什么大事。”冬青叶回答道，“他说族群都需要他，而且他发誓，他会回来的。”
云尾甩了甩尾巴：“这是在威胁我们，我认为是。”
“你为什么没跟我汇报？”火星问冬青叶。
冬青叶低下了头。“我觉得这没什么大不了的。”她告诉火星，“我觉得他只是说说而已，来发泄失去了影族大权的愤怒。而且当时他正沿着湖边向风族领地走。我以为他正在离开。”
“那你也应该跟我说一声。”火星告诉她，声音变得柔和起来，“这样我就能告诉巡逻队，提防着他。”
冬青叶盯着自己的爪子：“对不起，火星。”
“还有别的应该让我们知道的吗？”族长问道。
“我……我不确定。”冬青叶犹豫地说道，“日神提起过，他遇到了那只叫午夜的獾。但是我不知道，这跟蜡毛被杀是不是有关系。”
“这或许能告诉我们，如何找到他。”黑莓掌提醒道，“如果日神知道午夜，那么他可能是从太阳沉没之地来的！”副族长的眼睛闪闪发光。狮焰知道，他正在回忆当初从旧森林去寻找午夜的英勇之旅，就是午夜告诉了族群，哪儿是以后的理想居所。
“那我们怎么办？”尘毛问火星。
“这还用问，”刺掌吼道，“当然是去跟日神做个了断！”
狮焰记得早晨的时候，刺掌非常确定是一只风族猫杀死了灰毛武士。他可真容易改变想法呀！不过至少，现在没有哪只猫再怀疑谋杀者是一只雷族猫了。
他们都愿意怀疑日神，因为他是泼皮猫。
“我们不能确定是日神杀害了蜡毛。”火星的声音盖过了众猫赞同刺掌言论的合唱，“不过我们需要查出真相。我们要派个远征队去太阳沉没之地找到日神，把他带到这里来。那时我们就可以审问他，如果确实是他杀害了蜡毛，他就要受到惩罚。”
一想到要跟日神对质，狮焰就觉得后背一阵刺痛。他不知道自己是该加入远征队呢，还是不该。这只泼皮猫知道的事情比一般猫多，对他的事情也知道不少。或许日神给火星的回答，是任何猫都不愿意听的。
“黑莓掌，你知道去太阳沉没之地的路线。”火星宣布道，“你来带领远征队。蕨毛、榛尾、桦落跟你一起去。”
狮焰看见桦落歉疚地看着白翅，然后靠过去舔着她的耳朵。他猜想，桦落一定不想现在离开他的伴侣，白翅马上就要生下他们的孩子了。“此行可能有危险。”黑莓掌跟火星说道，“最好再派一两位武士一起去。”
“有道理。”族长四下看了看，“那就派狮焰和冬青叶。你们天亮时就出发。”
狮焰看了妹妹一眼。冬青叶脖子上的毛竖了起来，绿色的眼睛闪烁着，不过这是因为害怕，还是兴奋，他分辨不出来。
榛尾跳了起来，然后径直走向冬青叶。“这不是很好吗？”她说道，“我们真的能为族群做点儿事情了。”
冬青叶弹了一下耳朵。狮焰听不清她是怎么回答的。族群其他成员聚拢在选中的猫周围，祝贺他们，给他们出主意。其余的每只猫看上去都想追踪凶手，然后抓住并消灭他。他是唯一不愿意为蜡毛复仇的猫。
不久之前，他还为大家把怀疑对象从雷族猫身上移走，感到松了口气。可是把罪责推给日神，并没有让他好过一点。他再也不愿意想起族生猫对外来者的不信任，以及对非族生猫的偏见。
如果我也是一只泼皮猫，会怎么样？他们都会转而怀疑我吗？
CHAPTER10
CHAPTER10
Hollyleaf shifted uneasily in the makeshiftnest under the tree roots. Beside her, Lionblaze’s ears and tail were twitching, as if his sleep was disturbed by dark dreams. Hollyleaf wasn’t sure how he managed to sleep at all, so close to the Twolegplace. Even in the middle of the night, monsters growled, Twolegs shrieked, and dogs barked.
I’ve never been in such a noisy place,she thought, trying to find a comfortable spot among the dead leaves. How do the kittypets stand it?
Toward dawn she slipped into a fitful doze, only to be woken again as Lionblaze scrambled out of the nest. Yawning hugely, Hollyleaf followed him.
The orange glow in the sky above the Twolegplace had given way to the pale light of dawn; the roofs of the Twoleg dens were black outlines against the sky. A cold breeze was blowing, and every blade of grass was edged with frost. Brambleclaw and the other Clan cats stood gazing across the grass to the outlying dens of the Twolegplace.
“We need to go back into the Twolegplace,” Brambleclaw began, “and look for that cat we met last night. He has to explain what he meant.”
Hazeltail’s whiskers twitched nervously. “They obviously don’t like strangers around here.”
Birchfall touched her ear with his nose. “There are enough of us here to outnumber a few jumpy kittypets!”
Hollyleaf exchanged a glance with her brother. “I think we’re on Sol’s trail,” Lionblaze murmured, clawing at the grass. “I’ll bet you the fattest vole on the fresh-kill pile that he’s the reason that black-and-white cat was so scared of us.”
Hollyleaf nodded. Curiosity gave her more confidence as she followed Brambleclaw back across the grass and into the gap between the Twoleg nests. She could see that her Clanmates felt the same, padding along with bright eyes and tails held highWe’re warriors!she reminded herself. We don’t have to be afraid of anything.
The breeze strengthened to a bitterly cold wind that swept through the world of hard, red stone as the patrol padded deeper into the Twolegplace. There was barely enough light to make out the right direction, and no sun to melt the ice that covered the puddles beside the Thunderpath.
“I’m so thirsty!” Hollyleaf whimpered. “My tongue feels like a mouse’s pelt.”
While Brambleclaw paused to taste the air, she crouched down beside one of the puddles and touched the ice with her tongue, grateful for the tingling freshness.
“Come on,” the Clan deputy meowed. “This way.”
Hollyleaf tried to jump up, only to stop with a strangled cry of dismay. Her tongue had frozen to the ice; a sharp pain shot through it as she tried to wrench herself free.
“What’s the matter?” Lionblaze asked.
“My tongue…” Hollyleaf could hardly get the words out. “It’th thtuck!”
Lionblaze snorted as he suppressed a mrrowof laughter. Birchfall stooped down until he was nose to nose with Hollyleaf; irritation swelled inside her when she saw amusement dancing in his eyes.
“It’th not funny!” she mumbled as clearly as she could with her tongue plastered to the ice.
“Stand back.” Brackenfur’s calm voice came from behind Hollyleaf. “Let me have a look.” He leaned beside Birchfall, gently shouldering the younger cat out of the way. “Well, you’re certainly stuck,” he went on. Hollyleaf could tell that he was struggling not to laugh, too. “I suppose we could break off the ice. Then you’d have to carry it until it melts.”
“Hey, you’ve discovered a new way to fetch water for the elders!” Hazeltail put in.
Her pelt itching with frustration, Hollyleaf tried again to wrench her tongue free, only getting another stab of pain for her efforts. “It hurt-th! Do thomething!”
She pictured herself crouched on the hard ground with her tongue stretched out, and suddenly she felt laughter bubbling up inside her. I guess I do look pretty funny.She couldn’t remember the last time she had found anything to laugh at.
“Hollyleaf.” Brambleclaw was at her side; his amber eyes sparkled, but his voice was gentle as he touched his nose to her ear. “Breathe out hard. Your warm breath should melt the ice.”
He crouched down next to her and let out a long breath at the patch of ice where she was stuck. A trickle of warmth spread through Hollyleaf; it was good to be cared for. But the warm feeling turned to ice as Brambleclaw broke off to add, “You know, you’re just like your mother. She was always getting stuck in things, too.”
She’s not my mother!
Hollyleaf let out a fierce breath and tugged at her tongue again, gasping as it came free at last. The frozen puddle was glossy with melted water where Brambleclaw had breathed on it. But she wasn’t going to thank him. “Right,” she meowed, straightening up. “I’m okay. Let’s—”
She broke off as a low growl sounded behind her. Every cat spun around. A couple of fox-lengths away, a line of dogs was standing on the other side of the Thunderpath, blocking their way. There were five of them, all different shapes, from a small, rough-coated brown-and-white one to a huge black-and-tan brute. Vicious hatred glared out of their eyes.
Hollyleaf heard Hazeltail whisper, “Oh, no…”
“Back away.” Brambleclaw’s voice was quiet but steady. “Don’t turn and run.”
Fear froze Hollyleaf’s paws to the ground harder than the ice had trapped her tongue. She couldn’t move. It was too easy to imagine the dogs’ teeth ripping into her pelt, her blood streaming out….
She staggered as Lionblaze gave her a hard nudge. “Come on!” he hissed.
Suddenly Hollyleaf found she could move again. All her instincts were screeching at her to turn and flee, but she forced herself to retreat paw step by paw step; the line of dogs advanced, keeping the same distance between them and the cats. The big black-and-tan dog opened its jaws to show dripping yellow teeth. A drawn-out snarl came from its throat.
Not much farther,Hollyleaf told herself. Once we’re away from this Twolegplace, we can climb the trees
Then every hair on her pelt stood on end as she heard another growl from behind. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that two more dogs had appeared, cutting off their escape route. They looked as vicious as the first dogs, with gaping jaws and lolling tongues.
“We’re fresh-kill,” Birchfall murmured.
At the same instant, the first set of dogs leaped forward.
“Run!” Brambleclaw yowled.
His hind legs pumping, he headed for a narrow gap with Twoleg nests on one side and a high wooden fence on the other. Hollyleaf and the rest of her Clanmates raced after him, with the dogs yelping at their paws. Hollyleaf had never been more terrified in her life, not even when Ashfur had held them prisoner on the burning cliff top. She expected sharp yellow teeth to pierce her flank at any moment. Her paws felt as if they were on fire from running on the hard stone, and her breath tore from her chest.
Lionblaze was pelting along beside her, his fur fluffed up so he looked twice his normal size. Hollyleaf knew that he wanted to turn and face the dogs. No! They’ll tear you apart!
“Don’t leave me!” she gasped between panting breaths.
Yet more dogs appeared ahead of them, crowding down the narrow alley. Brambleclaw swerved through another gap onto a path between thick hedges; his Clanmates stayed hard on his paws, but the dogs were catching up.
Hollyleaf realized that their enemies were running steadily, not putting out all their strength, as they waited for the cats to tire so they could be picked off easily. That’s how Crowfeather taught Breezepaw to catch rabbits, when we were on the journey to the mountains,she recalled. Butwe’re the prey now!
Suddenly Brambleclaw halted and squeezed through a narrow gap at the foot of the hedge, his hind paws scrabbling as he forced his body through. “Come on!” he panted. “They can’t follow us through here!”
Brackenfur shoved Hazeltail through next, then Birchfall. “Hollyleaf—quick!” he meowed.
Hollyleaf didn’t want to leave her brother, but there was no time to argue. She pushed her way through the prickly bushes; Brackenfur followed and Lionblaze scrambled after him, so quickly that he left some of his golden fur behind on the thorns.
“Mangy crow-food-eaters!” he yowled back through the hedge.
Her chest heaving, Hollyleaf glanced around. She was standing on a smooth stretch of bright green grass, surrounded by low-growing bushes. At one side was a Twoleg den; all the doors and windows were shut, and there was no sign of any Twolegs.
“Maybe now we can—” Brambleclaw began.
He broke off, and Hollyleaf stared in horror as she saw that the hedge stopped near the wall of the Twoleg nest, leaving just a low wooden fence to fill the gap. The dogs were leaping effortlessly over the fence, and bounding across the grass toward the patrol. Their eyes were gleaming with hunger and scorn, and their growls had changed to joyful yelping.
They’re enjoying this!Hollyleaf realized as she turned to flee.
Suddenly the door to the den burst open. A Twoleg rushed out, screeching and shaking a long stick at the dogs. Another Twoleg followed with a yowl, something shiny in his hands. He swung it toward the dogs; water cascaded out of it, but the dogs just shook it off.
The far side of the Twoleg territory was also bordered by a wooden fence. Brambleclaw raced toward it, waving his tail for the others to follow. Breathlessly they scrambled up the slippery wood. Hazeltail started to slip back; Brackenfur gave her a shove from below, and Brambleclaw grabbed her scruff to haul her the rest of the way. Hollyleaf realized as she clambered to safety that her paws had left smears of blood on the wood.
For a few heartbeats the dogs jostled one another at the foot of the fence, whining and scrabbling as they tried to reach the cats. Brambleclaw gazed down at them, his back arched and his fur bristling with a mixture of terror and anger. “Leave us alone, flea-pelts!” he hissed.
Suddenly the huge black-and-tan dog broke away from the rest and raced back across the grass to the low part of the fence near the den. The rest of the pack streamed after him and began jumping, back into the alley.
“They’re coming to get us!” Birchfall gasped.
“We can’t stay here.” Brambleclaw’s voice was tense. “Follow me.”
He leaped down as the first of the dogs appeared around the corner, and took off down the alley, his tail streaming out behind him and his belly fur brushing the stones. Hollyleaf and the others pelted after him.
We can’t keep this up much longer!Hollyleaf thought.
Brambleclaw swerved into another gap and immediately halted. The rest of the patrol piled into his back. Hollyleaf gazed ahead, terror pounding through her. This alley was a dead end. Straight in front of them was a high wall built of the same red stone as the Twoleg nests, and almost as tall. We’ll never climb that!
Brambleclaw leaped up at the wall but fell back, his straining paws nowhere near the top. Hollyleaf knew that Hazeltail would never manage it. And the hedge on either side looked too thick to get through.
“You go on,” Hazeltail mewed bravely, even though she was shaking with fear. “Don’t worry about me.”
Brackenfur touched her shoulder with his tail-tip. “We can’t keep going,” he murmured. “We’re all too exhausted. There’s nowhere left to go.”
“What about there?” Hollyleaf had spotted a group of tall, shiny objects like very smooth boulders, standing together in one corner. Scents of Twoleg rubbish hung around them. She gestured toward them with her tail. “We can hide.”
Brackenfur glanced around for other cover, but there was none. He nodded swiftly. “Go!”
Brambleclaw guided Hazeltail into hiding and shoved Birchfall after her into the narrow space beside the shiny boulders. Hollyleaf and Lionblaze followed, leaving Brackenfur and Brambleclaw to crouch on the outskirts of the space, their ears and whiskers twitching as they waited for the dogs to appear.
Hollyleaf was crowded up against Hazeltail; she could feel her Clanmate trembling and hear the whimpers of terror that she tried to stifle.
“I know I’ll never see my kits,” Birchfall murmured. “I just hope Whitewing is okay.”
Pounding footsteps and loud yelping announced that the dogs had reached the alley. Hollyleaf could smell their stink even over the scents of the Twoleg rubbish. I guess that means they’ll be able to scent us, too.
Then she felt Lionblaze pushing his way past her, toward the opening where Brackenfur and Brambleclaw were crouching. With a shock like a rush of icy water, she realized that he was going out to fight the dogs.
“No! You can’t!” she hissed.
“I can!” Lionblaze insisted, turning glowing amber eyes on her. “I won’t get hurt, you know I won’t.”
He pushed his way to the edge of the silver boulder, squeezing past Brambleclaw and Brackenfur, and ignoring the Clan deputy when he asked what in StarClan’s name Lionblaze thought he was doing.
“Lionblaze, no!” Hollyleaf screeched. “Stop!”
第三章
 第三章
松鸦羽静静地坐着，其他猫围着他，紧张又兴奋地议论着。
“我害怕！”松鸦羽听出是小黄蜂的声音在身边响起，“如果日神来到营地，抓住了我们怎么办？”
松鸦羽听见舌头发出刺耳的摩擦声，意识到米莉正轻轻地舔着小公猫，宽慰着他。“日神离得远着呢，小宝贝。”她喃喃道。
“这里有又魁梧又强壮的武士保护着我们，”黛西补充道，“你觉得你父亲会让别的猫碰你一爪子吗？”
小黄蜂的声音轻快起来：“不会！灰条最棒了！”
松鸦羽希望自己能像这只幼崽一样信心满满。他知道坏日子正在到来。恐惧、猜疑和指责从四面八方涌来，那感觉就像是族猫都在向他丢石块。他觉得有点恶心又有点眩晕，爪子下的大地似乎也不再那么坚实了。
在他的身边，鼠毛突然叹了口气，重重地踩着地面离开了。“如果杀害蜡毛的凶手是想找麻烦的话，那他已经如愿以偿了。那只猫带走了我们一位武士的性命，无异于捅了蜜蜂窝。”
然后那只猫就会被蜇死。不过松鸦羽不愿意去想，杀害蜡毛的猫会有什么下场。
他从雷族众猫的气息中找到了狮焰，但是他的哥哥从他身边经过时，并没有放慢脚步。
“你要去找日神了？”松鸦羽对他叫道。
狮焰停了下来：“是的。”
松鸦羽非常渴望能像以前那样跟哥哥说话：轻松，言无不尽。但是自从那个暴风雨之夜，他们有了共同的秘密后，这种状况就再也不可能了。
冬青叶走到他们的身边，打破了尴尬的沉默。
“你从来没跟我们说过，你看见过日神。”松鸦羽说道。
他想象着姐姐耸耸肩，说道：“当时觉得不值一提。”
“即便如此，你也应该说一下这件事。”狮焰听起来心烦意乱，“你知道，日神本来应该帮我们解释预言的。”
“什么预言？”冬青叶呵斥道，“没有什么预言，跟我们也没有关系。”
“你看到日神的时候，并不知道这一点。”
松鸦羽听他们争吵，往后退了退。他们的争论毫无意义，不过这倒是阻止了他们讨论那个超级麻烦的问题——他们之中有谁相信日神杀了蜡毛。
我很高兴，我不用去。他告诉自己，我可不想在往返太阳沉没之地的旅途中听他俩吵个没完没了。
叶池的声音打断了他的沉思：“松鸦羽，你在这里呀！我想让你帮我给远征队准备草药。”
“好的，我这就来。”
他站起身，跟着老师走回巫医巢穴，留下冬青叶和狮焰在那里继续争吵。他刚走过黑莓屏风，嘴里立即被旅行草药的气息填满了。
“我把所有的草药都准备好了，”叶池告诉他，“我们只需要把它们用叶子卷起来就行。”
有事情分散他的注意力，让他放松下来，可惜任务很快就完成了。然后他又来到空地，把黑莓掌的草药带给他。此时族猫对远征队的兴奋已经开始减退，众猫都已经回到了自己的巢穴。他带着的草药气味太重，想要靠嗅觉找到黑莓掌不大容易。不过松鸦羽最终还是在猎物堆旁找到了和松鼠飞待在一起的黑莓掌。
“我希望你能跟我们一起去。”松鸦羽向他们走去的时候，黑莓掌正跟他的伴侣说，“那段旅途给我们留下很多美好的记忆。”
松鸦羽听得出他声音里的渴望。副族长似乎正在追忆一段已经逝去的美好时光，而且正在为那以后出现的所有错误感到惋惜。
我真的想知道，他是否知道这些错误有多严重？
“我也希望我能去，”松鼠飞回答道，她的声音中透着温柔，“但是在那次战斗中受伤以后，我不可能有力气走那么长的旅途了。”
“不用担心日神，你也知道，”黑莓掌安慰她，“我会保护你的。”
“我知道。”松鼠飞叹了一口气。
松鸦羽的皮毛刺痛起来。松鼠飞从来都不需要别的猫来保护！以前如果谁这么说，她早就撕烂那只猫的耳朵了。但是现在听起来……她那么虚弱。内疚和渴望潮水般向她涌来，强烈得连松鸦羽都不由得替她难过。
他从松鼠飞身边擦过，把草药放在黑莓掌的爪子旁。“给，”他吩咐道，“旅行草药，吃了它们，记得明天出发前保证充足的睡眠。”
“谢谢，松鸦羽。”
“嗨，黑莓掌！”灰条的声音从空地的另一边传来。松鸦羽迈步离开时，听到他爪子落地的声音：“火星让我在你离开的这段时间担任副族长。我能和你谈一谈边界巡逻的事吗？”
“当然了。”黑莓掌飞快地吞下草药，“你想知道什么？”
“嗯，我觉得，有几只猫仍然很担心风族……”
那两只公猫穿过空地，声音渐渐消失了。松鸦羽转身回到自己的巢穴。这时松鼠飞拦住了他。
“松鸦羽，我想跟你谈谈。”
“再没什么好谈的了。”松鸦羽厉声说道。而且我也不想听你说的任何事。他绕过这只他曾以为是自己母亲的猫，向巫医巢穴走去。他觉得空落落的，好像一个巨大的空洞在内心打开了。很长时间以来，他都依靠那个预言告诉他：他是谁，他的命运是什么。没有了那个预言，他会愿意当一个巫医，度过剩下的日子吗？而且生下我们的那只猫在哪里呢？她怎么样了？
松鸦羽很讨厌这种无法掌控形势的感觉。带着纷乱的情绪，他跌跌撞撞地走进遮蔽巫医巢穴的黑莓丛。他的爪子被一根长长的黑莓须缠住了，上面的刺钩住了他的皮毛，划破了他的鼻子。他发出一声惊恐的叫声。
“松鸦羽！”叶池飞快地出现在他的身旁，“别动，我把你弄出来。”
“我没事！”松鸦羽吼道。他从来没犯过这样的错误，即使是幼崽的时候也没有。他用尽全力，从黑莓丛中挣脱出来。当他爬进巫医巢穴的时候，觉得有一绺皮毛被扯了下来。
“你没事儿吧？”叶池的声音里充满了担心，“你的鼻子流血了。我去弄点蛛丝。”
“我说了，我很好。”松鸦羽耸耸肩，示意她离开。他飞快地舔了一下爪子，又抬起它擦着鼻子。虽然伤口很疼，可他无法忍受叶池大惊小怪的关心。
为什么她不能让我单独待一会儿？他生气地想着，一瘸一拐地走到储藏室去拿草药。她没必要担心我。我们又不是至亲！
当松鸦羽把所有的旅行草药分发完毕后，他又抽了点儿时间，在猎物堆上找出一只猎物。他正狼吞虎咽地吃着一只田鼠的时候，听见莓鼻在两三条尾巴远的地方用很大的声音说话。
“哦，我不相信影族！经历了日神惹出的所有麻烦后，黑星肯定会不择手段地证明，他的族群仍旧是强大的。”
尘毛气恼的嘶嘶声随即传了过来：“你是鼠脑子啊？难道你真的认为，是影族武士走了那么远，到我们的领地上杀了蜡毛？”
“有这种可能。”莓鼻嘟哝着。
“那刺猬都能飞了！”尘毛尖刻地反驳道。
松鸦羽吞下最后一口猎物，然后伸出舌头舔了一下嘴巴，往巫医巢穴走去。我真受不了这些猫，总是在推测是谁杀了蜡毛！
但是当他去给米莉和小荆棘送艾菊的时候——她们的绿咳症还没完全康复——他又无意中听到云尾、亮心和黛西正坐在育婴室入口旁谈话。
“不要担心这件事，黛西。”云尾向这只乳白色的母猫保证，“尽管有些武士离开了，但是还有我们这些武士留下来，足够保护你和幼崽们。”
“灰条说，我们会把营地的守卫增加一倍。”亮心补充道。
“我知道你们都会帮忙。”黛西听起来还是很担心，“可是把那只凶残的猫带到这里，真的好吗？”
松鸦羽不想再听关于日神的讨论了。他推开黑莓丛，走进育婴室。他发现幼崽们像被入侵的蚂蚁一样，乱成一团。
“现在你来当凶手！”小玫瑰长声尖叫着，用一只爪子拍打着小梅花的耳朵，“我们都来抓你！”
小梅花发出一声兴奋的尖叫。当他们跳到小梅花身上滚成一团的时候，松鸦羽差点儿被他们绊倒。
“马上停下来！”米莉的声音非常严厉，“这不好玩儿。一位勇敢的雷族武士死了。”
蜡毛活着的时候可从来没有这么重要。松鸦羽想。
松鸦羽放下了艾菊，离开的时候，幼崽们稍微安静了一些。他在回巫医巢穴的路上遇到了火星、沙风、灰条和蕨毛。
“我们不能以为，这个问题就这么结束了。”沙风正在说道，“如果我是你，火星，我会警告所有的猫远离风族边界，巡逻队除外。”
“对。”灰条也表示同意，“我不希望再发现哪位武士死在小溪里。”
松鸦羽叹了一口气。巡逻队和守卫有什么用呢？嫌疑犯就在族群里。
松鸦羽从猎物堆旁经过的时候，吹来一阵夜风。狮焰和冬青叶正跟其他远征队的成员一起吃猎物。今天早些时候，他根本就不知道该跟他们说什么，现在依然如此。
“嗨，”他说道，“明天的行程准备好了吗？”
“该准备的，我们都做了。”冬青叶答道。
“没有你一起去，感觉有点古怪。”狮焰用鼻子碰了碰松鸦羽的肩膀，“这是我们第一次分开。”
松鸦羽点点头。他已经设法完成了拜访山地部落的长途旅行，但这次他却必须留下来。虽然他之前对自己的同窝猫没有耐心，但是现在要跟他们分开，他还是觉得不舒服，特别是他已经知道，那个秘密有如黑莓的卷须，正将他们捆在一起，任何距离都无法分开他们。
“哦……我想……该说再见了。”他喃喃地说道。
“我想也是。”狮焰说道。
松鸦羽跟哥哥碰了碰鼻子，然后又碰了碰冬青叶的鼻子。
“再见，松鸦羽。”冬青叶喃喃道。
松鸦羽知道，他们本该有更多的话要说，但如今，他们三个之间，紧张的气氛如同蜘蛛网的丝，不住地颤抖着。最后他低下头，轻声说道：“愿星族照亮你们前行的路。”然后转头向巫医巢穴走去。
松鸦羽睁开双眼，看到昏暗的岩石向身体两边延伸，面前就是断崖峭壁。他吓了一跳，赶紧向后跳去。风从山顶掠过，吹拂着他的毛发。当他发现自己身处何地时，一下子惊呆了。等到缓过神儿来，他意识到这正是他以前遇到那只名叫午夜的獾的地方。
松鸦羽仰起头，看到星星正在天空旋转，快得变成了模糊的光影。他使劲地把爪子插进脚下薄薄的土里，害怕掉进无底的深渊。
然后他听到了脚垫在岩石上的剐擦声。他让目光离开闪烁的星星，环顾四周，看到了午夜庞大的身躯和长着白条的脑袋。
“你要干什么？”他问着，努力让自己的声音平静，不把心里的真实情绪表露出来。
“日神没有杀害蜡毛。”午夜用低沉的声音说道，“这你知道。这些猫是在白忙活。”它向松鸦羽靠近了些，星光在它小小的黑眼睛里闪耀着：“真相必须公开。”
“为什么？”这一次，松鸦羽的声音不由得颤抖起来。
午夜的话就像落入深水中的石头：“别的任何做法，都会永远毁灭雷族。”
“但是……”松鸦羽开口抗议，但是一阵风吹过，就吹走了午夜的话和他自己，也吹散了午夜虚幻的身形，直到他觉得他和午夜，还有天上的繁星，都被卷进了一个巨大的旋涡。
他似乎感觉到身子一震，撞在地上，然后他在黑暗中的巢穴里睁开了双眼。空气中充满了霜的气息，松鸦羽猜黎明就要来了。
叶池在旁边的蕨叶铺成的窝里翻了个身。“远征队就要出发了。”她说道，“你要去道别吗？”
昨天晚上松鸦羽已经说了告别的话，不过他还是从窝里爬出来，跟着老师来到空地上。大部分寻找日神的巡逻队成员都已经聚集在荆棘通道的入口，和火星、灰条和松鼠飞待在一起。
松鸦羽站在离桦落和白翅差不多一只狐狸身长的地方，他们混合在一起的气息告诉他，他们正紧紧地依偎在一起。
“你要照顾好自己，要保证充足的休息。”桦落告诉他的伴侣，“多吃一些东西，如果你感觉哪里不舒服，就告诉叶池……”
“嗯嗯，”白翅充满爱意地喃喃着，“我不会有事儿的。我又不是唯一要生幼崽的猫！”
松鸦羽从他们身边走过，发现自己来到来松鼠飞身边，她正跟黑莓掌道别。与白翅不一样，松鼠飞正努力让自己的情绪保持平静。松鸦羽弄不懂她是什么感觉。
“在太阳沉没之地要当心，”她提醒黑莓掌，“不要离悬崖的边缘太近。它们可能会再次坍塌。”
“我知道，我可不想再掉进海里游泳了。”黑莓掌尽量让自己听起来很轻松，但松鸦羽能感觉出他是强装的。
“黑莓掌，我再确认一下巡逻路线。”灰条插了进来，“最佳地点是两脚兽的废弃巢穴旁边和枯树附近，是吧？”
“对，”黑莓掌答道，“一定要让巡逻队成员记住，如果他们在枯树附近狩猎，一定要小心，不要跨过影族的边界。”
“你能做好的，灰条，”火星安慰着灰毛武士，“你现在已经非常熟悉我们的领地了。”
当远征队做好出发的准备后，留下来的猫一起向后退开。一种庄严的沉默笼罩了他们。松鸦羽突然感到特别紧张，以前从来没有哪只猫会像这样远征。
“愿星族照亮你们前行的路。”火星说道，“你们会查出真相的。”
不！真相就在这里！松鸦羽紧闭着嘴唇，才不至于大声喊出来。午夜告诉他的事情，其实他早就知道——日神并没有杀害蜡毛。远征队必然一无所获，而且还会陷入险境。为什么族猫都不明白，他们应该从族群内部寻找真相呢？
他很好奇，远征队是否能找到日神，如果他们找到了，又会发生什么事。一想到日神可能会告诉他们的事，他的爪子就感到刺痛起来。
日神知道那个预言……
CHAPTER11
CHAPTER11
Lionblaze heard his sister screeching, buthe ignored it. He knew, with every hair on his pelt, that he could fight the dogs. He could feel his blood pumping hot and fierce through his veins, and every fighting move he had ever learned was at his claw-tips.
The dogs seemed to approach in slow motion. He had all the time he needed to watch the drool waving from their lips and their paws pounding over the ground. His gaze flicked from one to another.
I’ll take out that black-and-tan one first. When it falls, it’ll trip the thin gray one, and the white one too, if I’m lucky. Then I’ll go for that yapping little horror with the black paws….
He was dimly aware that his Clanmates were yowling behind him, but he still didn’t respond. This ismy fight. I’m the only one who can save them!
Lionblaze braced himself to leap, spotting the surprise in the leading dog’s yellow eyes. “You didn’t think a cat would turn and fight!” he taunted. “Well, now’s your chance to learn!”
His last words were drowned by a shattering crash; he glanced behind to see that one of the silver boulders had toppled over, sending a silver disc spinning across the ground. It rolled into the pack of dogs; they swerved to avoid it, the rush of their attack halted.
To Lionblaze’s surprise, a dark brown tabby she-cat popped up from behind the fallen boulder, closer to the fence than the terrified Clan cats were. “Quick!” she meowed. “Help me push this one over.”
She reared up, resting her forepaws against the side of the next shiny boulder. Brambleclaw sprang up beside her, and together they pushed. The boulder crashed over like the other one, the silver disc on top of it spinning away. Twoleg rubbish spilled out from inside.
The dogs were yelping in frustration, scrabbling at the boulders in their efforts to get around them and sink their jaws into their prey.
“Come on!” the strange she-cat ordered. “It won’t hold them off for long.”
She dove through a narrow gap at the bottom of the hedge that had been hidden by the silver boulders, and the patrol followed her at full pelt, racing across a wide stretch of pale gray stone.
Renewed barking made Lionblaze glance over his shoulder as he fled. The small brown-and-white dog and the thin gray one had pushed their way through the gap and were bounding across the expanse of stone.
“They’re coming!” he gasped.
“This way!” the she-cat mewed tersely. She led them down a narrow path between two high fences and halted beside a small hole with jagged edges. “Through there.”
Birchfall bundled through first, followed by Hazeltail and Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze squeezed through after them. He let out a yowl of alarm as he crashed hind legs over head into brittle grass. Head spinning, he staggered to his paws to see Brambleclaw already beside him and the strange she-cat scrambling through the hole.
“Brackenfur?” he asked anxiously.
A screech answered him as the ginger tom hauled himself through the fence, paws flailing as he tugged at his tail. “Fox dung!” he gasped, collapsing on the grass. “That flea-ridden brute bit me!”
Brambleclaw gave his Clanmate’s tail a quick sniff; Lionblaze could see that some of Brackenfur’s fur had been stripped off, but there didn’t seem to be any blood.
“You’ll be okay,” the deputy decided. “Where now?”
The she-cat’s reply was drowned out by a flurry of barking. The fence creaked and bent as the dogs flung themselves against it.
In the Twoleg nests around them, lights began to appear in the dark holes in the walls. Lionblaze heard a Twoleg shouting angrily, but the dogs went on barking and pounding at the fence. His belly lurched when he saw that the small brown-and-white dog had stuck its head through the gap and the wood around it was starting to splinter.
The dark tabby she-cat darted forward and slashed her claws at the dog’s nose. Yelping, it pulled back.
“That’ll teach you,” she meowed with satisfaction. To the cats she added, “Quick, follow me!”
They raced after her to the entrance of a Twoleg nest. Brambleclaw skidded to a halt.
“We can’t go in there!” he protested. “It’s a Twoleg nest.”
“Fine!” the tabby snapped. “Stay out here and get eaten.” She squeezed through the skinny gap at the side of the flat piece of wood blocking the opening and disappeared.
Brambleclaw and the rest of the patrol exchanged confused glances; then the deputy shrugged and raised his tail, signaling his Clanmates to follow. Lionblaze paused to look back across the grass, and saw that the small dog was still scrabbling at the gap. It had managed to get its shoulders and one paw through the hole.
Lionblaze felt his fur bristle and grow hot again as he braced himself to fight. He could almost taste the blood and hear the terrified yelping as his claws ripped into his enemies’ pelts.
Then he heard a crash and a Twoleg shouting; it sounded much closer than before. The dogs’ fierce barking turned to frightened yelps; the little dog struggled backward to free itself from the hole in the fence, then vanished.
Lionblaze’s fur lay flat again as the noise died away. He started to feel disappointed that he hadn’t managed to try out his battle skills against the dogs, then jumped as Brackenfur nudged him.
“Come on,” mewed the ginger tom, angling his ears toward the entrance to the nest. “What are you waiting for?”
The other cats had already gone inside. Lionblaze pushed his way through the gap, with Brackenfur close behind him. He found himself in a small, straight-sided den; his Clanmates huddled together in the middle, casting nervous glances around them. He tasted the air: There was a strong scent of cat, but only a very faint, stale trace of Twoleg.
“That’s unusual,” he began. “Why…?”
The brown tabby she-cat paid no attention to him. “This way,” she mewed briskly. “Since you’re here, you may as well meet the others.”
She led the way through an archway into a larger den. Light streamed into it from a long slit in the wall. As Lionblaze padded hesitantly forward, the smell of cats grew overpoweringly strong; it was almost like coming back into the camp after a patrol in the forest. Hollyleaf kept close to him, their pelts brushing, while Brambleclaw and Brackenfur stayed on the outside of the group. Lionblaze knew they were ready to protect the younger cats if they needed to. And so am I. If we have to fight our way out, I’m ready.
Brambleclaw signaled for his patrol to halt in the center of the den. A broad-shouldered gray tom sat on a shallow ledge just below the gap in the wall, while a she-cat with a flecked brown pelt was curled up on something like a soft boulder in bright Twoleg colors. Four kits suckled at her belly. On the other side of the den, another cat was barely visible as he peered out from underneath some wooden Twoleg thing.
Lionblaze caught his breath as he recognized the black-and-white tom sitting on top of another soft-looking boulder. He was the cat they had met the night before, who had run away from them.
“I’m Jingo,” the tabby she-cat announced, before Lionblaze could speak. “Over there is Hussar”—she waved her tail at the gray tom sitting on the ledge—“and the queen with kits is Speckle.”
“Hi, there,” Hussar meowed, with a lazy wave of his tail. Speckle just twitched her ears; she looked wary, as if she was afraid the newcomers might harm her kits.
“Over there’s Pod,” the tabby she-cat went on. The cat underneath the wooden structure blinked at them. “Come out, Pod, no cat is going to hurt you. And I think you’ve already met Fritz.”
As she finished speaking, she leaped up onto the squashy boulder beside the black-and-white tom. He stared at the Clan cats, wide-eyed, and didn’t speak.
Brambleclaw stepped forward. “Who did you think we were?” he asked Fritz. When the tom didn’t reply, he turned to Jingo. “When we met him last night he seemed to think we were connected with another cat, one who talked to you but ended up causing you trouble. Do you know who that was?”
“We don’t trust strangers around here anymore.” Jingo’s voice was solemn. “Not since Sol.”
Lionblaze felt a jolt in his belly. We were right! Sol has been here!
“Sol?” Brackenfur’s neck fur rippled. “You know him, then?”
Jingo nodded. “He came here last leaf-bare, but no cat knows where from. He lived on the edge of Twolegplace for a while, then when the weather turned colder he moved into this abandoned Twoleg nest and invited some other cats without housefolk to join him.”
“I was one of the first.” Pod emerged from underneath the wooden thing, revealing himself to be a scrawny brown tom, his muzzle gray with age. “Speckle and Fritz came with me.”
“And I joined later, with Hussar,” Jingo went on. “I heard about the community of cats that had made a home for themselves, and it sounded like a good idea.”
“Did Sol act like he was your leader?” Lionblaze asked. The patch-pelted loner had tried to take over ShadowClan; maybe that wasn’t the first time he’d been in control of a group of cats.
“Yes, did he ever tell you to believe anything in particular?” Hollyleaf added.
Jingo looked puzzled. “Not exactly. Only that we could live however we wanted to, because that’s what we deserved. Life was good, he said….”
“Life was not good!” Pod snapped. He sat down and lifted a hind leg to scratch behind his ear. “We had to do whatever Sol told us to, like bring him food and feathers for his nest. And he scared the little cats by telling them that they’d die without him.”
“It wasn’t that bad!” Jingo protested. “You’re just thinking of what happened later.”
“And why wouldn’t I?” Pod stopped scratching to glare at her. “That mouse-brained idiot nearly got us all killed!”
Fritz nodded vigorously, giving his whiskers a nervous twitch, but still didn’t speak.
Lionblaze glanced at Hollyleaf; she looked as shocked as he felt, her eyes glittering and her claws working on the hard Twoleg floor. When Sol had lived in the forest, he never wanted cats to die,Lionblaze thought. Is Hollyleaf wondering if he really could have killed Ashfur?
He was distracted by Speckle’s four kits, who left their mother and scrambled down, one after another, from the soft boulder. Speckle sat up, watching nervously as the biggest of the four, a tom with a flecked brown pelt like his mother, bounced up to Brambleclaw.
“I’m Frisk,” he announced. “What’s your name? Are you coming to live here?”
Brambleclaw shook his head. “We’re just passing through. I’m Brambleclaw,” he added, addressing all the cats. He went on to introduce the rest of the patrol. “Thanks for helping us,” he finished, dipping his head to Jingo. “The dogs would have ripped us to pieces without you.”
“We’d help any cat in danger from those dogs,” Jingo responded. “And you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“Thank you.” Brambleclaw bowed again. “Now, can you tell us what Sol did?”
Jingo settled herself on the soft boulder, tucking her paws underneath her chest. Hussar sprang down lightly from the ledge and padded over to sit beside Pod. For the first time, Lionblaze noticed that he had a long scar along his side, where the fur hadn’t grown back. Glancing around, he noticed that the others had signs of injury, too: One of Fritz’s ears was torn, Pod’s muzzle was scarred, and the tip of Jingo’s tail was missing.
“These cats have been fighting hard,” he muttered to Hollyleaf.
He sat down on the hard Twoleg floor, longing for the grass of the forest or the soft moss of his nest in the warriors’ den. Hollyleaf sat beside him, her claws still flexing restlessly, and their Clanmates gathered around.
“Sol didn’t cause any trouble at first,” Jingo began. “He kept to himself and stayed out of kittypet territory.”
“He was the first cat to find this abandoned Twoleg den,” Hussar put in. “He started inviting other cats to live here with him—cats without housefolk of their own, to start with.”
“He said he wanted to keep us all safe,” Speckle mewed, creeping a bit closer to the edge of the soft boulder.
Pod snorted. “More likely he wanted us to do things for him. Lazy lump. He had an easy life here.”
“That’s not fair!” Speckle protested. “We’re safer here than wandering about in the open, sleeping under bushes.”
“So what happened next?” Brambleclaw prompted, before Pod could continue the argument.
“More and more cats joined him here.” Jingo took up the story again. “I lived with housefolk then, but I liked the sound of what Sol was doing, so I came to give it a try.”
“I joined soon after her,” Hussar added. “I liked the freedom. I could come and go without waiting for my housefolk to let me in and out.”
“And catching our own prey was better than eating that dry Twoleg food,” meowed Jingo.
“But why did the Twolegs let you stay?” Brackenfur asked curiously. “Don’t they want this nest?”
“Obviously not,” Hussar replied with a shrug.
“Twoleg kits used to come here now and again,” Jingo explained. “They never tried to chase us out, though, and they don’t come anymore.”
“Sol told us what to do if adult Twolegs came,” Speckle explained. “There’s a dark space right at the top of the nest, with a pointed roof. Sol told us to hide up there.”
“They did come once or twice.” Fritz spoke for the first time. “So we all hid.”
“And the Twolegs never found us,” Speckle added proudly.
Even though he had good reasons for not trusting Sol, Lionblaze realized that what he had done here wasn’t all bad. The cats had shelter here and support from one another. He wasn’t sure why kittypets would want to come, but it was certainly better for loners than trying to survive in the open through the harsh moons of leaf-bare. It was like a Twolegplace version of a Clan.
“So what went wrong?” he meowed.
“Can’t you guess?” Jingo replied bleakly. “The dogs found us. They couldn’t get in here, because most of them are too big to get through that narrow gap at the entrance.”
“A little one pushed his way in, once.” Hussar extended his claws, the beginnings of a snarl in his throat. “He didn’t try it twice.”
“But they lay in wait for us whenever we came out,” Fritz continued with a shudder. “And then they chased us.”
“Clumsy, oafish brutes!” The tip of Pod’s tail twitched.
“If we did manage to hunt, they stole our prey,” Jingo continued. “And they killed Flower.” Her eyes clouded with sorrow and guilt. “She was a beautiful young cat. Her housefolk had the den next to mine, and I persuaded her to come here.”
She bowed her head, and Fritz nudged her shoulder.
“So how did Sol react to that?” Brackenfur asked, after a moment’s respectful silence.
“He told us we needed to show the dogs that we had the right to live here.” Hussar took up the story. “So he made a plan. He found a small unused den beside that stretch of stone where the monsters sleep. He said if we could lure the dogs in there they wouldn’t be able to get away while we fought them.”
Fritz shuddered, letting out a frightened mewling sound, and sank his claws into the soft boulder underneath. Jingo pressed up against him comfortingly.
“It didn’t work?” Brambleclaw guessed, though Lionblaze already knew the answer to that question.
“What do you think?” Pod spat.
“Sol showed us how to fight,” Jingo went on. “We spent a lot of time training—”
“Which meant there wasn’t enough time to hunt,” Pod interrupted. “My belly thought my throat was clawed out.”
Jingo ignored the interruption. “Then Sol said we were ready. He chose a tom called Pepper to go out and catch some prey, and then get the dogs to chase him to the small den. We were all lying in wait, ready to follow the dogs in and fight them. Sol was with us, and when—”
“Why are you talking about that piece of fox dung?” A new voice spoke from behind Lionblaze, who glanced over his shoulder to see a black tom standing in the entrance to the den. His fluffed-out fur made him look twice his size, and his tail whipped from side to side.
Lionblaze’s muscles tensed; a cat who looked like that was ready to attack. But then he realized that the black tom’s anger wasn’t directed toward him or his Clanmates.
“It’s okay, Jet,” Jingo replied. “These cats asked about—”
“It’s not okay,” Jet hissed. “It’ll never be okay. I don’t want to thinkabout that cat ever again!” Still bristling, he whirled around and disappeared.
“I’m sorry if we’ve upset him…” Hazeltail mewed, gazing after the black tom.
“It’s not your fault,” Jingo assured her. “Pepper was his littermate, and now he can’t bear for any cat to mention Sol.”
“Pepper died?” Hollyleaf asked.
Hussar nodded, his eyes clouding. “Before we ever made it into the den. We were hiding on the roof of one of the other dens, and we saw Pepper streaking across the stone space with the dogs on his tail. I’ve never heard such a racket as they were making! Then we heard this awful shriek—”
Lionblaze’s paws tingled as a yowl sounded from outside the den, almost as if Hussar’s words had called it up. It was followed by an outbreak of barking, drawing rapidly closer. All the Clan cats crouched closer to the ground, frozen by fear, their claws scraping on the hard floor. Pod whisked back underneath the Twoleg thing, while Speckle gestured urgently with her tail. “Kits—come here quickly.” The four kits scrambled back onto the soft boulder, and Speckle circled them protectively with her legs and tail.
Only Jingo and Hussar seemed calm. Jingo meowed, “They can’t get in.”
Lionblaze jumped at the sound of scrabbling just outside the den. Hussar leaped to his paws, only to relax a moment later as a ginger-and-white she-cat poked her head through the entrance; a mouse dangled limply from her jaws. Just behind her, a young gray tabby tom peered over her shoulder.
“Oh, it’s you, Merry.” Hussar arched his back in a stretch, then sat down again. “And Chirp. Come and meet these new cats.”
Merry took a step into the den, her green gaze flickering from one Clan cat to another. Then she shook her head, mumbled something inaudible around the mouthful of prey, and retreated; Lionblaze heard the sound of her paw steps fading.
Chirp, however, padded into the den and sat down. But he stayed near the door and kept casting nervous glances over his shoulder.
“We’re all jumpy since the fight with the dogs,” Hussar commented.
“And can you blame us?” Pod emerged again and gave his chest fur a few licks, as if trying to pretend he hadn’t shot so quickly into hiding.
“Tell us what happened,” Lionblaze prompted. “After you heard the shriek…”
“We all raced into the den,” Jingo went on, digging her claws into the soft boulder. “Pepper was already dead. The dogs were tossing his body about. We attacked, but there were too many of them, and they were too big and fierce for us. Every cat was injured. The dogs ripped Frosty to pieces, and Jester was so badly wounded that he died after we brought him back here.”
Lionblaze felt sick. Sol had made a terrible mistake. Every cat could have died in that single battle, and it was obvious the dogs were still causing trouble.
“Ask me if Sol joined in the fight,” Pod rasped.
Brambleclaw cocked his ears. “Well?”
“He didn’t raise a single claw to help us,” the old tom growled. “He wasn’t even there to watch! He just strolled in here while we were licking our wounds.”
“What happened then?” Brackenfur asked.
Jingo twitched her ears. “If he’d admitted he was wrong, it might have been different. But he insisted that we were the ones who decided to fight, and it wasn’t his fault that we lost. Then he sat down and started washing himself, and asked Jet to bring him some food.”
“If I hadn’t held Jet back, he might have ripped Sol to pieces,” Hussar added.
Birchfall’s whiskers twitched. “I wish he had!”
Jingo looked surprised, but she didn’t ask the young warrior what he meant. “So we asked Sol to leave,” she meowed. “We would have driven him out if we had to, but he just told us we were making a mistake and went without a fight.” She sighed. “Maybe he was right. I don’t know anymore.”
“No, she was right,” Birchfall muttered into Lionblaze’s ear. “They’re better off without Sol, and so are we!”
Jingo rose to her paws, yawned and stretched, then sat down again. “That’s all we can tell you. Now tell us what you know.”
Brambleclaw and Brackenfur exchanged a glance; it was Brackenfur who spoke first. “Sol came to the forest where we live,” he began. “It must have been after he left you. He went to stay with ShadowClan—a group of cats who live near us—and he persuaded them to stop believing in the warrior code and the spirits of their warrior ancestors.”
The Twolegplace cats glanced blankly at one another. Clearly they had never heard of StarClan or the warrior code.
“He can be very powerful when he’s trying to persuade you,” Jingo murmured.
Lionblaze flashed a glance at Hollyleaf. They knew better than most cats how persuasive Sol could be. Maybe Sol was right,Lionblaze couldn’t help thinking, in spite of his horror at what the dogs had done. Maybe these cats shouldn’t blame him because they lost the battle.He flexed his claws, imagining what he would do if he came face to face with one of the dogs. Maybe they should have trained harder.
“So are you looking for Sol because of what he did to…to ShadowClan?” Jingo asked.
“No, it’s because another warrior—” Birchfall began eagerly. Lionblaze’s belly churned at the thought of discussing Ashfur’s murder.
Brambleclaw raised his tail to silence the younger warrior. “We just need to talk to Sol about something that happened recently,” he stated calmly. “Have you seen him?”
“No, and we don’t want to,” Pod growled.
Hussar muttered an agreement, but Lionblaze noticed that Speckle was looking wistful, as if she had better memories of Sol
“I haven’t seen Sol.” Chirp, who had remained quietly by the door, spoke suddenly, startling Lionblaze. “But I heard he’s back.”
Hussar scraped his claws hard against the floor. “He wouldn’t dare!”
“Not here,” Chirp explained, “but on the other side of Twolegplace. Where a cat called Purdy used to live.”
“We know Purdy!” Lionblaze exclaimed, remembering the old loner who had guided them on part of their journey to the mountains.
“Thanks, that’s a great help,” Brambleclaw meowed. “We’ll go and look for him there.”
“It’s too late to go now.” Jingo rose to her paws and leaped lightly off the soft boulder to land beside Hussar. “You can stay here for the night.”
Brambleclaw dipped his head. “Thank you.”
“You can eat with us,” Jingo continued. “Come on, Hussar, help me carry the prey.”
The two cats left and returned a moment later loaded with fresh-kill, which they shared among all the cats. Speckle jumped down from her boulder to join them, and her kits scrambled after her; she picked out a mouse for them and they squabbled happily over it.
“This isn’t what Sol would have taught them,” Lionblaze murmured to Hollyleaf as he crouched to eat a blackbird. “Remember how he told ShadowClan that every cat should feed themselves? He said it was a sign of weakness for any cat to depend on another.”
Hollyleaf nodded. “These cats obviously have a fresh-kill pile somewhere, and they hunt for cats who can’t hunt for themselves. They’re almost like a Clan.”
“It looks like they’re better off without Sol.” But as Lionblaze spoke, he knew that some of these cats wouldn’t agree with him. He had felt the pull of Sol’s charm, his quiet authority and sense that he knew exactly the right thing to do. Jingo and the others must have felt it too, and missed the loner when he was gone. Lionblaze thoughtfully ate his blackbird. It was plump and juicy, but it had a taint of the Thunderpath about it, and he would have found it hard to choke down if he hadn’t been so ravenous.
When they had finished eating, Speckle’s kits started to bat a scrap of leaf around, squealing and tumbling over one another in their excitement. Frisk, the biggest and boldest of the four, batted the leaf toward Lionblaze.
Some of Lionblaze’s tension melted away as he batted the leaf back to the kit. This was almost like playing with the kits back in the stone hollow. Speckle’s litter were big and strong, almost ready to become apprentices.
Soon they should be learning to fight and hunt,he thought. Do these cats have the skills to teach them properly?
Hollyleaf joined in the game, too, chasing the leaf and pouncing on it until all four kits collapsed, panting, beside their mother.
“They’re fine kits,” Lionblaze gasped, flopping down on the floor in front of Speckle. “They’ll grow up to be strong cats.”
“I hope so,” Speckle murmured. She bent over Frisk, licking his rumpled fur. Then she looked up again. “Whatever you think Sol has done, you’re wrong.”
Lionblaze’s belly lurched as he glanced at his sister; Hollyleaf’s green eyes were wide with alarm. How much does this cat know?
He was too startled to reply. After a couple of heartbeats, Speckle went on quietly: “Sol never gets his own paws dirty. If something has happened, another cat did it—maybe at Sol’s bidding, maybe not. You won’t be able to accuse him of anything.”
There was a yearning in her voice; even though she knew the damage Sol had done here, she clearly wanted him back.
“Is Sol the father of your kits?” Hollyleaf asked, reaching out her tail to touch the brown queen’s flank.
Speckle shook her head. “Their father left when the dogs started to become a problem.” She hesitated, then added almost defiantly, “I wanted them to be Sol’s. I know that the other cats say he betrayed us, but we were the ones who decided to fight the dogs. Sol didn’t force us to do anything.”
No, he just made it seem as if you couldn’t do anything elseLionblaze couldn’t speak the words aloud to Speckle. It was obvious she was still deeply in love with the loner.
He and Hollyleaf exchanged another glance. Neither of them had mentioned Ashfur, but Lionblaze knew that the gray warrior’s death must be weighing on his littermate’s thoughts, just as it was on his own.
Speckle bent her head and went on grooming Frisk. “If Sol came back,” she mewed between licks, “I’d be very glad to see him.”
第四章
 第四章
地面上覆盖着一层厚厚的霜，黑莓掌带领远征队穿过森林，向湖边走去。他们默默地一路小跑，穿过银色的蕨丛，呼出的热气在口鼻周围凝成了白雾。冬青叶的头顶上的天空正在变亮，显出淡淡的鸽灰色。
冬青叶觉得每走一步，脚垫都好像要被冻在地上。她的皮毛像是被冰冷的爪子耙了一遍又一遍，刺骨的寒意冻木了她的耳朵尖。她觉得头晕。自从松鼠飞揭开秘密到现在，她连一小片猎物都咽不下去。让她坚持下来的动力，是她迫切地想要知道，日神到底知道些什么。
狮焰快步在冬青叶的身边走着，他的脸色冷峻而坚毅，琥珀色的眼睛紧盯着前方的树林。虽然松鸦羽的缺席让冬青叶感到心里就像有一根刺，但是狮焰的陪伴多少让她觉得踏实了一些。
或许松鸦羽留下来是最好的，她想，寻找日神的旅程实在是太艰苦了。
黑莓掌带队来到小溪边，然后沿着小溪走下山坡，一直来到了湖边。湖水很清很浅，上面结着一层薄薄的冰。
我们是鼠脑子吗？竟然在秃叶季做这样的长途旅行！
尽管天气寒冷，但是当他们沿着风族领地上的湖岸向前时，紧张的情绪消退了很多。榛尾放慢了步伐，和冬青叶一起走着，她的眼睛闪闪发亮。
“是不是非常了不起？”她轻轻地跳了一下，就像一只兴奋的幼崽，“我们要到别的猫从没去过的地方。”
“实际上，别的猫已经去过了。”冬青叶提醒着，不想听她唠叨个没完，“黑莓掌、松鼠飞和星族挑选出来的其他猫，已经去过太阳沉没之地。”
“他们当时肯定也是这么兴奋！”榛尾感叹道，“你的父母亲比别的猫都走得更远。他们是多么勇于冒险啊！”
不，他们只是骗子。冬青叶痛苦地想。
他们沿着风族领地边缘前进的时候，没有发现任何风族猫。但是等他们接近马场时，冬青叶却捕捉到了很强的风族猫的气息。黑莓掌停住爪子，扬起尾巴示意远征队也停下。他抬起头站在那里，半张着嘴巴，嗅着空气。
冬青叶感觉到同伴的毛都竖了起来，这让她意识到大家是多么的警惕。他们一直紧贴着湖边前进，并没有做任何违背武士守则的事情。但是哪怕只闻到一丝很微弱的风族猫气息，他们都会弹出爪尖，做好迎战准备。这是蜡毛之死留下的阴影，冬青叶想。
“为什么会有麻烦啊？”榛尾疑惑地问道，“我们在湖边走是可以的，不是吗？”
还没等冬青叶回应，一只灰色的母猫出现在湖岸上，然后向远征队走了过来。
“灰脚！”黑莓掌放松下来，“你好。”
“你好，黑莓掌！”风族副族长走到雷族猫群前，低头致意，“我想知道，你们是不是要去找日神。这也是你们会来这里的原因，是吗？”
黑莓掌点点头：“不管是不是他杀害了蜡毛，我们都有些问题要问他。”
“那么我有些东西要给你们看，”灰脚说道，“跟我来。”
她领着众猫沿着湖边前进，最后来到了马场外面的栅栏前。网状的东西在强烈的日光下闪着亮光，就像一张巨大的蛛网。
“那儿！”灰脚向网状物上一片粗糙的地方弹了弹耳朵，那里挂着一绺长长的光滑的浅棕色皮毛。
黑莓掌走到它跟前嗅了嗅，然后转向了远征队，琥珀色的眼睛瞪大了：“是日神的！”
冬青叶的心在胸膛里跳得厉害。日神在这里出现过的证据，让冬青叶比往常更加清晰地记起了他。他似乎知道很多事，也预言了很多事……但最终他变成了叛徒。
“也就是说，他走的就是这个方向！”蕨毛惊呼道，眼睛闪闪发亮，“我们追踪的方向是对的。”
“这个气息已经不新鲜了。”黑莓掌提醒道，“不过也不是多么陈旧。日神经过这个地方肯定没有几个日升的时间。”
灰脚后退了一步，向自己的领地走去：“那么再见，祝你们好运！”
“谢谢你，灰脚，”黑莓掌回礼道，“你帮了我们一个大忙。你为什么要帮我们？”
灰脚弹了弹耳朵。“我想让我的族群平安。在日神带来更多的麻烦之前，他的问题必须处理好。”她没等回答，便转身返回了堤岸，然后消失在山脊之上。
“或许她是希望我们不要将蜡毛的死归罪于风族。”等她走远了，桦落小声说道。
“这是有可能的，”黑莓掌说道，“但是我们现在没必要操那个心。所有的猫，好好闻一闻这绺皮毛，记住它的气味。然后我们继续上路。”
他从两脚兽的栅栏下溜过去，又带领大家穿过田野。地面硬得像石头一样，爪子下的草都被踩得咯吱作响。他们一路来到木质马厩附近。冬青叶闻到了两脚兽和狗的气息，感觉脖子上的毛开始竖了起来。但是周围没有什么动静，也没有任何声音。
冬青叶本以为黑莓掌会快速通过这里，但是相反，他在马厩入口处停了下来。“我们为什么要停下来？”冬青叶问道。
“我们不会停太久的。”黑莓掌回答道，“只是这里有几只猫，我想让榛尾见见。你好！”他轻柔地朝空地喊道。
榛尾抬起头，有些疑惑。但是还没等她说话，两只猫从阴影处走了出来。打头的是一只健硕的灰白相间的公猫，他的后面跟着一只娇小的灰白色皮毛的母猫。
“黑莓掌！”那只公猫的声音听起来很惊讶，但是也非常热情，“你在这里干什么？还有其他的猫？我希望你们的族群没遇到什么麻烦。”
“没什么可担心的。”黑莓掌答道。
“他们是谁？”冬青叶在狮焰的耳边低声问道。
狮焰耸耸肩：“不知道。”
“小灰，丝儿，”黑莓掌继续说道，“这是榛尾，黛西的女儿。”他抖着耳朵，把榛尾叫到他的旁边，站在两只马厩猫的面前，“榛尾，这是小灰……是你的父亲。”
榛尾吃惊得瞪大了眼睛。“我们还是幼崽的时候，黛西带我们来过这里。父亲！”她冲过去，用鼻子摩擦着小灰的下巴。小灰高兴地呼噜着，低下头在她的耳朵周围舔着。“我一直很想念你们。”他喃喃地说。
他把尾巴放在榛尾的肩上，招呼娇小的母猫走上前来。“你记得丝儿吗？”他问榛尾，“你刚出生的时候，她帮着黛西照看过你。”
榛尾看起来并不确定。“我不记得这件事了。”她说道，低下头向丝儿致敬，“不过我记得黛西带我们回来的时候，我在这里见过你。”
“黛西怎么样？”小灰问黑莓掌，“还有其他的幼崽……小莓和小鼠？”
“他们都很好。”榛尾宽慰着他，眼睛闪闪放光，“他们现在叫莓鼻和鼠须了。我们都是雷族的武士。莓鼻被捕狐狸的圆圈弄掉了半截尾巴。”
丝儿惊呼着打断了她：“他伤得严重吗？”
“不是太严重。”榛尾答道，“叶池，就是我们的巫医，当时在照料他。他现在是一位强壮的武士了，鼠须也是。”
“那黛西呢？”小灰期待地看着黑莓掌，眼中闪过悲伤的阴影，“她在雷族开心吗？那次在獾群攻击雷族后，她带着孩子回来时吓坏了。”
黑莓掌点点头。“她在族群中找到了她的位置。虽然她不能成为一位武士，不过她是一只真正的雷族猫。”
“她又生了两只幼崽！”榛尾插嘴道，“小玫瑰和小蟾蜍，他们都很可爱！”
“我明白她已经有了自己的新生活。”小灰喃喃地说。然后他抖了一下皮毛，仿佛是在跟过去告别。“对了，你们现在是武士了，”他对女儿说道，“让我看看你学到了什么。”
“好的。”榛尾俯身做出狩猎潜伏姿势，然后开始匍匐向前，“现在我正悄悄地接近一只老鼠。”她解释着，“你必须像云一样轻地放下爪子，因为老鼠能通过地面的震动感觉到你。然后做好准备之后……”她停下来，摆动着臀部，“你猛扑上去！”
她跳向半空，落地的时候用前爪抓住了桦落的尾巴尖。
桦落跳起来一尾巴的高度：“嗨，很疼的！”
榛尾的眼睛闪闪发亮：“那你来攻击我啊！”
冬青叶看到桦落跳向榛尾，榛尾躲向一边，探出没有弹出爪尖的前爪，抓向他的肩膀。桦落迅速转身，呼叫着跳过她的头顶。两只年轻猫在地上扭打成一团。
我们也曾像他们一样，冬青叶心想，什么也不用担心。她看着小灰自豪的眼神，感到一阵嫉妒袭来。我的父亲也会为我感到自豪吗？她心里问自己，他知道有我这么一个女儿吗？
“这让我印象深刻！”看到榛尾和桦落分开，站起身，抖落皮毛里的泥土和碎屑，小灰说道，“雷族确实能教会猫照顾自己。”
丝儿走上前去，看上去有些害羞，但很友好：“你们今天可以留下来陪我们吗？”
“好主意！”小灰往后退了退，然后用尾巴指着马厩里边，“这里很温暖。如果你们饿了，这里的老鼠也足够你们吃。”
“谢谢，但是不行。”黑莓掌回答道，“我们不得不继续赶路。”
“我们正在追踪一个谋杀者！”榛尾补充道。
丝儿和小灰吃惊地看了看对方，脖子上的毛竖了起来。“什么？谁被杀了？”丝儿紧张地问道。
“说来话长，”蕨毛走上前去，镇静地用尾巴尖拍了拍小灰的肩膀，“而且你们没必要害怕。我们只是想找一只猫谈谈，他可能看到发生了什么事。”
小灰松了口气，脖子和肩膀上的毛也渐渐平顺下来。“哪只猫？”他问道。
“一只白棕相间的虎斑公猫，”黑莓掌答道，“他的毛很长，眼睛是淡黄色的。”
“我见过一只长成那样的猫！”丝儿屏住了呼吸，“他穿过田野走了，那是两三个日升以前的事了。”
“那我们得赶紧跟上去，”黑莓掌轻轻地呼噜道，“我们走！”
榛尾走到父亲跟前，跟他碰了碰鼻子。“再见！”她说道，“回来的时候，我再来看你。”
“什么时候来都行。”小灰告诉她。冬青叶看得出，这么快就要和女儿分开，小灰的心里十分难过。
“我会的！”榛尾承诺道。
当他们循着日神的爪迹穿过田野的时候，桦落转过身，走到了冬青叶身边。“只有一半族群血统的猫，该有多怪异啊！”他怕榛尾听见，声音很小，“你想想，一直都见不到至亲。”
冬青叶没回答。那也比我好啊！她沮丧地想，我可能都不是族群猫！
CHAPTER12
 CHAPTER12
Jayfeather shifted uncomfortably on the bareearth. How was any cat supposed to sleep without a proper nest? But Leafpool had kept him so busy the day before that there had been no time to search for fresh moss. “It’ll do the den good to be aired out,” Leafpool had said. Huh!Jayfeather wriggled again, feeling a cold dawn wind ruffle his pelt.
The sound of a cat brushing past the bramble screen brought him properly awake. He picked up Leafpool’s scent, and the smell of the moss she carried in her jaw. At last! But why didn’t she ask me to help?Jayfeather’s paws itched with irritation that Leafpool seemed determined to do even the most basic tasks without him. Does she think I’m too incompetent even to carry moss?
But there was no point in protesting. Jayfeather stumbled out of the scoop where his nest should have been and helped Leafpool arrange the moss near the trickle of water, where sick cats slept.
“Do you want me to fetch more?” he offered.
His mentor’s only reply was a grunt that could have meant anything. Jayfeather wanted to ask her what was biting her, but he knew she wouldn’t tell him anything. She’d probably claw my ears off just for asking,he muttered to himself. The only way I’ll get any answers—about my own past and what’s going on with Leafpool—is if I look for them myself.
While he pushed the moss tidily into place, Jayfeather cast his mind back to his earliest memories. His littermates’ absence stabbed him like a claw. We might find out a lot more if we could share what we remember!
He recalled a long, cold journey, stumbling through snow that reached up to his belly fur, following his mother’s scent.
No—Squirrelflight’s scent!Pausing with a pawful of moss, he tried to think himself back into that snowbound forest. He strove to distinguish each individual scent: his own, Lionblaze’s, Hollyleaf’s, Squirrelflight’s…and there was another! Another adult cat, a warm and bulky shape. He’d never remembered this detail before, but another cat was definitely there, just ahead of Squirrelflight, forcing a way through the snow….
Who was that?Jayfeather wondered. Didtwo cats bring us back to the hollow?
He needed to ask another cat, one who had been in ThunderClan when Squirrelflight brought her kits to the hollow. But it had to be a cat who wouldn’t get suspicious about his questions or tell the rest of the Clan what he had been asking.
Well, there’s one cat who doesn’t gossip….
“I’ll go get more moss,” he meowed, rapidly shoving the last pawful into place.
Without giving Leafpool a chance to protest, he brushed past the bramble screen and into the clearing. But instead of heading for the thorn tunnel, he darted across to the elders’ den under the hazel bush.
“Mousefur!” he called, ducking under a trailing strand of honeysuckle.
The skinny brown elder was curled up near the trunk of the hazel. “I hope your tail’s on fire or foxes are invading the camp,” she rasped, stifling a yawn. “Or that you’ve got another really good excuse for waking me up.”
“Sorry,” Jayfeather mumbled. Mouse dung! That’s a great way to start….
“Don’t worry,” Longtail mewed peaceably. The blind elder was sitting by Mousefur’s side; Jayfeather heard the rasp of his tongue as he gave himself a thorough wash. “Mousefur has been asleep for ages. It’s time she woke up.”
Mousefur let out an annoyed hiss. “Well, what do you want?”
“I’ve come to check you for fleas,” Jayfeather explained, thinking fast. “One of the apprentices brought some back from patrol.” He hoped neither of the elders would think to mention his lie to any other cat.
“I haven’t been scratching,” Mousefur meowed. “But you can check my pelt anyway.” She settled herself comfortably with her paws tucked underneath her. “Be careful you don’t miss any,” she added as Jayfeather began probing her thick, ungroomed fur. “You’ve been Leafpool’s apprentice for long enough.”
Jayfeather bit back an irritated retort as he realized this could be the opening to the conversation he wanted. “That’s true,” he mewed. “It was the middle of last leaf-bare when I was born, wasn’t it?”
“The coldest leaf-bare I remember,” Longtail agreed. “I remember how thick the snow was. The whole Clan was stunned when Squirrelflight came back to the hollow with three kits! She said they’d been born earlier than she expected, which is why she didn’t have a chance to get back to the nursery, but even still, what queen plans to have kits in the dead of leaf-bare?”
“Thank StarClan she had Leafpool with her,” Mousefur added, twitching her ears as Jayfeather parted the fur on her head. “She’d have been in big trouble otherwise.”
Leafpool!Jayfeather stopped running his claws through Mousefur’s pelt. So Leafpool was the second cat he hadn’t been able to identify. She’d never said anything to him about being with Squirrelflight when he was born….
Locating a bit of twig on the ground, he snatched it up behind Mousefur’s back and cracked it in his teeth. “That’s one flea you don’t need to worry about,” he meowed. Trying to sound as if the answer didn’t matter very much, he added, “Do you remember anything else about Squirrelflight bringing us home?”
“Not a lot,” the elder replied. “It was so cold and snowy, we spent most of our time asleep that leaf-bare. I do remember how surprised every cat was that Squirrelflight hadn’t realized how close she was to having her kits when she went away. But then, she was always scatterbrained, right from when she was a kit.”
“Did you notice anything…odd about that time?” Jayfeather asked, cracking the twig again. He hoped Mousefur wouldn’t think she was infested with fleas.
“Odd?” Mousefur snorted. “Most of what the Clan does these days seems odd to me.”
“I remember,” Longtail put in. “It was around then that Leafpool fed you that funny-tasting herb.”
Jayfeather’s ears pricked. “What funny herb?”
“Oh, how should I know?” Mousefur muttered. “Leafpool brought me some tansy, as usual. I think she expects me to live on the stuff every leaf-bare. And this weird-tasting stuff was mixed in with it.”
A tingle in Jayfeather’s paws told him that the strange herb was important. “Did Leafpool tell you what it was?”
Mousefur stretched, shaking her pelt. “No. I never asked her. When I complained about the taste, she just took away what was left. She said it hadn’t been meant for me anyway.”
“What was it like?” Jayfeather pressed, moving across to Longtail to check his pelt.
“Odd, but not unpleasant,” Mousefur mewed. “I’d have clawed Leafpool’s ears off if she fed me something disgusting! It tasted cold, like frost on fur, and fresh like grass, even though it was dry and dusty—from right at the back of Leafpool’s store, I’d guess.”
“How weird.” Jayfeather gave the twig another crack. “It’s not like Leafpool to get herbs muddled up.”
Mousefur snorted. “She was all over the place, trying to help Squirrelflight care for you kits! The fuss she made, any cat would think Squirrelflight was the first queen ever to give birth!”
“Really…” Jayfeather murmured.
Quickly finishing his examination of Longtail’s fur—and finding a real flea, which he crunched between his teeth—he said good-bye to the elders and headed into the forest to gather moss. As he tugged mouthfuls of it from between the roots of a tree, he wondered what Mousefur’s mystery herb could have been. It was strange that Leafpool hadn’t told Mousefur what the herb was or who it had been meant for. And stranger still that Leafpool, who was always so careful, had made a mistake.
I need to find out what the herb was,Jayfeather thought, gathering up his moss to carry it back to the camp.
When he returned to the medicine cats’ den, he found that Leafpool had already gathered more bedding while he was talking to the elders. “Did you go to RiverClan to find that moss?” she demanded. “Or have you been mooning about in the forest again?”
“Uh…no.” Jayfeather dropped his bundle and started to arrange it in his own nest. “I thought I’d check on the elders first.” When Leafpool didn’t respond, he added, “Mousefur told me a weird story. She said you gave her a funny-tasting herb once, mixed up with her tansy.”
A pulse of alarm came from Leafpool, but she mewed, “I don’t remember that. When was this?”
“Oh, a long time ago.” Something told Jayfeather not to be too specific. He didn’t want his mentor to know that he had been asking questions about his birth. “Do you know what it was?”
Leafpool let out an annoyed hiss. “How am I supposed to know that? For StarClan’s sake, do you think I don’t have more important things to worry about?”
“I was just—”
“If you’re so bored that you have to start asking about something that happened last leaf-bare, I can soon find you something to do. We’re still short of moss in here, so you can get on with that.”
“Okay.” Jayfeather was glad to leave. But I never mentioned last leaf-bare,he thought as he padded across the clearing. He had sensed his mentor’s fear, too. Leafpool was lying. She knows what the herb was, and she knows it’s important. I must be getting close to the truth—and Leafpool doesn’t want me to find it.
第五章
 第五章
当远征队穿过下一片田地时，雪开始飘落下来。羽毛般柔软的雪花刚一接触地面，就融化了。一片雪花落到狮焰的鼻子上时，他打了个喷嚏。
在田地的另一面，他们看到了一大片发白的石头，旁边是巨大的红色两脚兽巢穴。当他们冒险在坚硬的地面前行时，雪下得更大了。风也大了起来，夹着雪花穿过空旷的田野。狮焰走在冬青叶的身边，竭力为她挡住寒风。
突然，一个很大的鼻息声从一个巢穴里传来。狮焰害怕得四肢僵硬，然后他向前跃了出去，跑过那块石头，雪花擦着他肚子上的皮毛。冬青叶在他的一侧快跑，榛尾则在另一侧。
那个声音再次传来，接着传来了蕨毛的喊声：“没事儿，只是马的声音！”
只是马而已！狮焰想象着那种有着沉重爪子的庞大畜生，只需一击就能把猫的脊梁骨打断，抑制不住的恐慌让他的爪子腾空而起，带着他向前冲去。一个两脚兽的入口出现在纷飞的大雪中。他蠕动着从入口下钻了过去，绷紧肌肉，准备再次向前跳去。冬青叶和榛尾紧紧跟在他的身后。
“不！”黑莓掌尖叫道，“停下，前面是雷鬼路！”
当黄色的光束穿过飞扬的大雪照过来时，狮焰猛地停住了。一只眼睛发光的怪物从他的身边跑过，带起的风吹动着狮焰的皮毛，一片肮脏的融雪浸湿了他的爪子。他和族猫闪身后退。狮焰等桦落、蕨毛和黑莓掌跟上来的时候，吓得心怦怦乱跳。
“你们也敢自称武士？”黑莓掌的声音非常严厉，“这也能让你们慌乱不堪！马都在它们的巢穴里！只要你们不冲到怪物的前面，根本就没有危险！”
“对不起。”狮焰小声说道。他羞愧得全身发热，就像森林里燃起的大火。黑莓掌严厉的话刺得他羞愧难当，因为他知道副族长说得对。他们刚才的表现，就像第一次踏出营地去冒险的学徒。
榛尾羞愧地耷拉着脑袋，冬青叶转身走到旁边，轮番抬起爪子，抖落皮毛上的脏水。狮焰知道，恪守武士守则对她来说有多重要，她肯定为自己被吓成这样而非常自责。那么你呢？他默默地问自己。雷族最勇敢的武士，竟然被拴着的马吓得惊慌失措！
黑莓掌一声长长的叹息，放松了下来：“好了，让我们看看，怎么才能穿过这里。”
当副族长小心地走向雷鬼路边缘的时候，狮焰听到了另一只怪物的吼叫。这只闪闪发光的怪物，发出一束炫目的光，倏地跑远了。从另一个方向，一只看起来更大的怪物气势汹汹地发出低沉的吼叫，它又黑又圆的爪子简直有巨石那么大。
我们怎么才能从这里穿过去？我们会被压扁的！
狮焰能看出榛尾和冬青叶依然惊魂未定，毛直立着，警惕的眼睛瞪得大大的。他知道，自己看起来肯定也一样。他鼓起勇气，好让爪子带着他穿过表面又黑又硬的雷鬼路。
“到我身边来！”黑莓掌平静地指导他们，“我们一次过去一只猫。蕨毛，你先走，给他们示范一下怎么做。”
蕨毛抖了抖耳朵，表示知道。“这里还不太难，”他友善地对年轻猫说，“旧森林里的雷鬼路比这里的还要宽。”
桦落的毛竖了起来：“我很高兴，我们不再住在那里了！”
蕨毛走上前去，站在黑莓掌身边，等待另一只怪物掠过。那怪物的吼声终于渐渐在远方消失了。
“好了，行动！”黑莓掌说道。
蕨毛向前一跃，他金棕色的皮毛几乎消失在纷飞的大雪中。当他到达另一边的时候，周围仍旧静悄悄的。
“冬青叶，出发！”
冬青叶深吸一口气，然后猛地冲上雷鬼路。狮焰把爪子深深地插进泥土里，努力让自己不再颤抖，直到他看到冬青叶安全地到达蕨毛的身边。
又一只怪物吼叫着，在雪幕中向他们靠近。狮焰看清它时，吓得直往后退。当怪物一闪而过的时候，他看到怪物的肚子里有几只两脚兽，他的心顿时狂跳不已。
是怪物吃了两脚兽吗？怪物会吃掉我们吗？
“狮焰，现在到你了。”
狮焰鼓起所有的勇气走上前去，来到黑莓掌身旁，然后向前跃去。有几个心跳的时间，他身边全是刚刚经过的怪物留下的令他窒息的臭气。他跑过雷鬼路的时候，黑色的东西摩擦着他的脚垫。然后他站在了雷鬼路和一排长满刺的篱笆中间的一小块草地上。冬青叶走过来，跟他依偎在一起。
“我们做到了。”她低声说道。
“你知道，桦落说得对，”狮焰低声回答着，这时他的心跳渐渐平缓，“如果老雷鬼路比这还糟糕，我也不愿意住在它的附近！”
过了一会儿，榛尾也来到了他们身边，然后是桦落。一队怪物接踵而至，只剩下黑莓掌孤零零地留在对面。终于，最后一只怪物消失了，尽管狮焰还能听见它们传来的叫声。
黑莓掌跳上雷鬼路，向另一边飞奔。这时，又有一只怪物出现在远处，桦落惊惧地叫道：“当心！”但是副族长并没有慌乱。在那只怪物掠过前，他已经安全地穿越雷鬼路，来到了族猫中间。
“看，没什么大不了的。”他不屑地抖着一只耳朵，“现在我们继续往前走吧。”
狮焰伏下身子爬向下一片田野，树篱的枝条下湿漉漉的叶子和碎屑都挂在了他腹部的皮毛上。当他挣扎着在另一边准备站起来时，一股刺鼻的气息迎面扑来。尽管他觉得自己应该能想起这种味道，但是记忆像一只狡猾的猎物，从他的身边溜走了。
“那些是什么？”榛尾紧张地问道，竖着的耳朵指向田野中央。
狮焰透过飘落的雪花看着前方，只见一小群一小群聚集着一些身形巨大的动物，身上长着黑白相间的皮毛。就在狮焰打量着它们的时候，其中一只仰起头，发出一声低沉而悲凉的叫声。
“是奶牛！”冬青叶解释道，她走过来站在哥哥的身边，“你记得吗，狮焰？我们在去山地的路上见过。”
“奶牛，当然了。”狮焰的思绪飞回到他们偶遇独行猫波弟的时候。他们经过一片农田时，他让他们见识过奶牛。他母亲——不，是松鼠飞——告诉过他们，这种巨大的生物没有什么危险，只要躲开它们，不被它们踩到就行。
“奶牛不危险。”黑莓掌钻出树篱，安慰着榛尾，“它们不会攻击我们的。”
榛尾将信将疑地看了他一眼。蕨毛带头穿过那片田野的时候，狮焰和她一样，也有点担心。
奶牛聚集在他们的周围，低下头用亮晶晶的大眼睛看着他们。狮焰小心地避开它们看上去像石头一样的脚。他也不喜欢它们头上冒出来的大弯爪子。对付这么庞大的动物，战斗技巧没有多大用处。这些奶牛低着头，鼻子里喷出又热又湿的气息，使劲嗅着他们。狮焰觉得，他就要窒息在它们浓烈的臭气中，而且它们低沉的叫声快把他耳朵震聋了。
当蕨毛领着他们镇静地穿过奶牛林立的长腿时，有一条长长的甩动的尾巴给了冬青叶的脸重重一击。她向后跳开，撞上了狮焰。
“狐狸屎！”她呵斥道。
狮焰撑住了她，直到她重新找到了平衡。
“我开始有点儿怀疑，这是不是一次伟大的冒险。”她嘟哝着，看了一眼正使劲表示赞同的榛尾，“去山地的旅程比这轻松多了，哪怕在谷仓里遇到了狗。”
而且那次旅途还有些意义，狮焰默默地补充道，不像这次只是去找一只并不是谋杀者的猫。
众猫离开了牛群，艰难地穿过积雪，向田野的另一边走去。狮焰嗅着空气，探测着日神的气息，但是他没找到任何踪迹。
除了奶牛的气息，我什么都闻不到，我都快闻不到族猫的气息了！他心里发着牢骚。
很快，他便在一片白茫茫的雪幕中隐约看到一片树篱，这才松了一口气。远征队向树篱走去，最后停在一大片厚厚的荆棘前。
“我们钻不过去！”桦落抱怨着，眼睛沮丧地睁大了，“我们会被撕成碎片的。”
“不，不会的。”黑莓掌说道，“我们只要找到一个树篱比较稀疏的地方就行了。”
他开始领着大家沿着树篱前行。我希望我们不用走回头路。狮焰可怜兮兮地想，奋力把身上的雪抖掉。
当他听见树篱另一边传来雷鬼路上怪物的咆哮时，心情更加沮丧。“可别再这样了！”他喃喃道。
最后，黑莓掌停了下来。“这里应该可以。”他用嘴巴指着树篱中的一个地方，在那里，两簇拱起的枝条中间有一个很小的空隙，“狮焰，你能试一下吗？”
狮焰点点头，走上前去，用胡须试着缝隙的宽度。然后他匍匐在地面上，挣扎着往另一边爬去。当他使劲爬到另一边，站起身来的时候，有尖刺划过他的后背，皮毛被扯掉了一些。
“没问题。”他叫道。
就在冬青叶和桦落跟着爬过来的时候，狮焰向外面看去。眼前是一个白色的世界。地势向下微微倾斜，直通他听见声响的那条雷鬼路。这条雷鬼路比第一条还要宽很多，怪物从两个方向吼叫着来回跑动。两脚兽的灯光炫目地点缀在雷鬼路的两边。
我们绝对过不去了。他绝望地想。
一声惊叫打断了他的沉思。他急忙转身，看见榛尾钻出了树篱，用爪子拼命挠着鼻子。
“我的鼻子上扎了一根刺！”她哭号道。
“让我看看！”冬青叶向她走去，“别动，别再挠了！”
榛尾坐下来，眼睛里满是痛苦。那根刺很大，牢牢地钉进了她的鼻子，鲜血涌了出来。
狮焰看到妹妹正在使用很久以前从叶池那里学来的巫医技巧。冬青叶舔着刺的周围区域，然后用牙齿紧紧地咬住了那根刺，用力一拉，将刺拔了出来，吐在了地上。更多的血从榛尾的鼻子上涌了出来，溅落在雪地上。
“嗷！”榛尾呻吟着。
“我们需要弄点水，把血冲掉，让伤口愈合。”冬青叶说道。
狮焰向四周看着，准备为她找些水。但这里根本看不到溪流的影子……
“把你的鼻子压到雪里，”冬青叶指挥榛尾，“那样能止血。”
榛尾怀疑地眨着眼睛，低下头，把鼻子埋进一片干净的白雪中。“太冷了！”一阵模糊不清的声音传来。
“多在里面停一会儿，”冬青叶鼓励她，“我敢保证很有效。”
我希望它能奏效，狮焰想，否则冬青叶这个办法会把榛尾的鼻子冻掉的。他看得出来，妹妹在查看族猫的伤情时有多焦虑。
榛尾又把脸埋进雪里，过了好一会儿，才抬起头。白色的雪块紧紧地粘在脸上，看起来就像是她已经变成了云尾，披着一身长长的、雪白的皮毛。“伤口现在……没……没那么痛了。”她牙齿打着战。
冬青叶俯身向前，检查荆棘刺留下的伤口。她用爪子小心地扫掉上面的残雪。伤口看上去就像一个整齐而干净的小洞，差不多已经愈合了。“我觉得它确实奏效了。”冬青叶说。
“干得好！”黑莓掌低沉的声音从冬青叶的身后响起。狮焰看见他温暖地朝冬青叶眨着眼睛，他的眼睛里闪着和小灰看着榛尾时一模一样的父亲式的自豪。
冬青叶转过身去。狮焰知道，冬青叶也很想有所回应，可是她做不到。曾几何时，黑莓掌的认可对他们来说是多么重要。但现在不再这样了。不论我们有什么样的本领，都跟你无关。
雪开始小了，但是笼罩在天空中的乌云让他们无法知道太阳在什么位置。或许已经快要日落了。想到这里，狮焰颤抖起来。正前方就是宽阔的雷鬼路。越过雷鬼路，一望无垠的土地平坦地向远方延伸，只在中间的旷野上点缀着一片矮树丛。而树丛的另一边，狮焰看到了一团闪烁的光芒。
“那是什么？”他问道，用尾巴指着，“它看上去就像很多星星落到了地上。”
“不，那是很多很多两脚兽的巢穴，所有的巢穴都挨在一起。”蕨毛解释道。
榛尾倒吸了一口冷气：“我觉得全世界的两脚兽也没有这么多。”
“我希望，我们不用走得离那些地方太近。”桦落补充道。
榛尾点点头。这时狮焰小声说：“我们不是宠物猫。”他突然觉得这好像是在说服自己。
黑莓掌和蕨毛带头向下走到雷鬼路，一只接一只排成一排，蹲伏在路边。怪物呼啸着从他们身边掠过，耀眼的光照亮了湿漉漉的黑色路面。
“这次一旦有了足够的空当，我们就一起通过。”黑莓掌做出了决定，“等我说‘跑’，大家就要像身后有一群獾追着一样往前跑！”
狮焰拼命把恐惧藏在心底，等待着副族长的信号。这条雷鬼路比他们之前穿过的那条危险得多。一串串的怪物似乎永无尽头！
在他旁边的榛尾同样浑身发抖。在榛尾的旁边，桦落的毛全都竖了起来，就像面前有一大群敌猫。在狮焰的另一边，冬青叶用爪子使劲地抓挠着地面，眼睛盯着黑莓掌，等着他发出命令。
为什么我要一直都表现得勇敢呢？狮焰痛苦地问着自己，我没必要那么勇敢，我们已经知道那个预言指的不是我们。根据我们知道的情况看，我们很可能是宠物猫！
想到这里，他立即被恐惧和羞愧淹没了。他沉浸在失望中无法自拔，差点儿没听到黑莓掌发出的指令：“开始！”
CHAPTER13
CHAPTER13
Hollyleaf blinked in surprise when shewoke among the stone walls of the Twoleg nest instead of under the branches of the warriors’ den in the ThunderClan camp. Then she remembered their journey to find Sol, and how Jingo had brought them to this abandoned Twoleg nest to save them from the dogs.
As Hollyleaf sat up, her brother yawned and stretched. “I don’t like this place,” he muttered. “It’s time we left.”
Hollyleaf murmured agreement. It wasn’t right for warriors to be so close to all this Twoleg stuff, even though there were no Twolegs here.
The pale light of dawn flooded into the den through the gap in the wall. Looking around, Hollyleaf saw that Birchfall and Hazeltail were still asleep. Brackenfur was perched on the ledge under the gap where Hussar had sat the night before. There was no sign of Brambleclaw, but a moment later he sprang up from outside and squeezed through the gap to sit beside Brackenfur.
“All’s quiet,” he reported. “But there’s a strong smell of dog.”
Hollyleaf twitched her whiskers; she could pick up the rank scent even here.
“We have to get moving,” Brackenfur meowed. “Have you seen Jingo?”
Brambleclaw shook his head. Speckle and her kits were curled up in a furry heap on one of the soft boulders, while Fritz and Pod were sleeping on the other. There was no sign of the other Twolegplace cats.
“She’ll be here somewhere.” Brambleclaw jumped down inside the nest. “I think we can trust her.”
He padded over to prod Birchfall and Hazeltail awake. As the two younger warriors were blinking sleep away, Jingo padded in through the entrance to the den.
“Good, you’re ready,” she mewed, with a brisk nod of greeting. “Let’s go.”
She led the way into the Twoleg territory through the gap in the wall. “This journey’s going to be a bit different,” she warned the Clan cats when they were all in the raw, damp air of the leaf-bare morning. “We won’t be setting paw to the ground until we get where we’re going.”
Hollyleaf shot a startled glance at her Clanmates, and saw that they were all looking equally surprised. How could they get anywhere if their paws didn’t touch the ground? Was Jingo expecting them to fly?
“It’s not safe to walk around on the ground since the battle with the dogs,” Jingo explained. “The dogs lie in wait for us and hunt us like prey.”
Shuddering, Hollyleaf leaned closer to Lionblaze. “That’s exactly what happened to us yesterday.”
Her brother nodded; his amber eyes were gleaming and his claws flexed as if he was imagining his chance to slash a dog that attacked him or his Clanmates. Better to stay out of their way,Hollyleaf thought.
“So we’ve found a different way of moving around our territory,” Jingo went on. Gracefully she leaped up onto the top of the Twoleg fence. “Ready?” she called, glancing over her shoulder at the Clan cats.
Brambleclaw quickly leaped up beside her, followed by the rest of the patrol. Jingo set off, balancing easily on the narrow fence, then turning a corner to pad past several Twoleg dens, with a small Thunderpath on the other side.
Hollyleaf stiffened as the door to one of the Twoleg nests opened and a little white dog bolted out; its high-pitched yapping filled the air.
“It’s okay,” Jingo reassured the Clan cats. “That’s a housedog. It’s a stupid nuisance, just like all the others, but it’s not dangerous like the wild dogs.”
Hollyleaf had to take her word for it, but as she watched the dog bounding along the bottom of the fence and scrabbling about in the earth under a bush, she was glad that she wasn’t down below where it could get at her. She dug her claws more firmly into the narrow strip of wood under her paws and focused on the tip of Lionblaze’s tail.
The fence came to an end at a row of small dens with flat roofs. “These are monster nests,” Jingo told them, leaping up onto the nearest roof.
“Monsters have nests?” Hazeltail exclaimed.
“Sure.” Jingo waved her tail to where a Twoleg was approaching at the edge of the Thunderpath. “Watch.”
The Clan cats jumped up onto the roof beside her and watched the Twoleg as it opened the door of one of the dens and vanished inside. A moment later they heard the throaty growl of a monster. It nosed its way out of the den and headed down the Thunderpath, with the Twoleg in its belly.
“Great StarClan, this is where they sleep!” Birchfall’s neck fur was bristling.
“Yes, but they can’t climb up here,” Jingo meowed. “Let’s get on.”
The patrol easily bounded across the flat roofs until the cats came to another fence and more Twoleg dens. Daylight was strengthening and a stiff wind had sprung up; Hollyleaf gripped with her claws at every step, scared that she would be blown off her skinny perch. So this was what Jingo meant by not setting paw on the ground. Not flying, but staying high up, out of reach of the wild dogs. She tried to imagine not daring to set paw on the ground in the forest, and having to leap from tree to tree to avoid being chased and killed.
No cat should be forced to live like this.
At the next corner, the fence gave way to a wall built of red stone; the top was wider and it was easier to pad along. The Thunderpath here was wider too, with stone trees growing at both edges, and a few monsters prowling along it. Every so often the wall was interrupted by a lower section of wooden fence; Jingo slid down onto it, padded quickly across, and leaped up onto the wall on the other side. The Clan cats followed. Hollyleaf’s pelt prickled with fear as she remembered how the dog pack had leaped the low fence the day before; but no dogs appeared, and every cat reached the other side of the wooden fence safely.
Farther along the wall, Jingo halted; peering past her, Hollyleaf saw that one of the wooden sections had been swung back, leaving a gap between their stretch of wall and the next. As if at a signal, a flurry of barking broke out somewhere behind them, and a gust of wind brought the scent of dogs.
“We’ll have to jump,” Jingo decided. “Get back a bit; leave me space for a running start.”
Once the Clan cats had shuffled backward, Jingo bounded along the wall and took off from the end in a powerful leap, landing neatly on the other side. The Clan cats glanced at one another; Hollyleaf could see that Hazeltail and Birchfall were both looking nervous.
“I’ll go next,” she meowed, deciding it would be better to get this over with than to watch her Clanmates go ahead of her. She hurtled along the wall and into the air before she could think about the wide gap and the nearby dogs.
Her paws hit the red stone of the wall and Jingo jumped forward to steady her.
“Well done,” the brown tabby mewed. “Move along to give the others space.”
Hollyleaf squeezed past her, turning in time to see Brackenfur leaping easily across the gap. Birchfall followed him; the young warrior’s front paws landed on the wall, but his hind paws dangled down. His eyes were huge with fear as the barking grew louder and two dogs raced round the corner. Quick as lightning, Brackenfur grabbed Birchfall’s scruff in his teeth and hauled him the rest of the way; his tail whisked up just in time, out of reach of the leading dog’s teeth.
Birchfall shuddered. “Thanks, Brackenfur. I thought I was dog food for sure.”
Hazeltail was shivering on the other side of the gap, gazing down in terror at the barking dogs as they reared up on their hind legs and scrabbled at the wall. “I can’t, Brambleclaw,” she whispered. “I just can’t. I know I’ll fall.”
“No, you won’t,” the Clan deputy assured her. “You’re good at jumping. You’ll be fine.”
“If you fall, I’ll leap down and fight the dogs,” Lionblaze promised.
With a despairing look at both of them, Hazeltail moved back a couple of fox-lengths and bounded up to the end of the wall. Both dogs hurled themselves at her as she leaped, but she cleared the gap with a tail-length to spare, and was welcomed on the other side by a quick lick on her ear from Birchfall.
Lionblaze followed and then Brambleclaw, and the cats set off again, with the dogs pacing alongside a fox-length below, whining and yelping in frustration at not being able to reach their prey. Hollyleaf wondered if there was any way of shaking them off. The Twolegplace wouldn’t last forever. Sooner or later they would have to come down to the ground, and then they would be ripped to pieces.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
A new voice came from up ahead: Hollyleaf spotted a huge blue-furred tom standing nose to nose with Jingo. He had the sleek, well-fed look of a kittypet, but his neck fur was beginning to fluff up and his blue eyes were unfriendly.
“Just passing through,” Jingo replied calmly.
“Well, get a move on,” the kittypet growled. “I’m going home for some sleep. I don’t want to listen to that racket all day. Those dogs wouldn’t even be here if you hadn’t brought them.”
Anger lit up Lionblaze’s eyes, and he began to push forward along the edge of the wall to stand beside Jingo. Hollyleaf’s fur prickled. Starting a fight here would probably end with both cats falling off the wall into the waiting jaws of the dogs.
Brambleclaw raised his tail to halt Lionblaze. “Stay out of it, unless the kittypet attacks,” he ordered. “Let Jingo handle it.”
Lionblaze obeyed, but he kept his furious gaze fixed on the kittypet.
“You’re the one who’s holding us up,” Jingo replied, still calm. “If you weren’t stuck there in the way, we’d be long gone.”
The blue-furred tom let out an angry snort, but said nothing more. Instead he leaped down into the Twoleg territory, raced across to the nest, and vanished through a small hole in the door.
Hollyleaf relaxed; they had more important things to do than teach kittypets some manners. Still with the dogs following, they padded farther along the wall until they came to another corner.
“This is where we can get rid of the dogs,” Jingo told them. Turning the corner, she led the way along a narrow wooden fence between two Twoleg dens. There was no way for the dogs to follow, even though they tried to push themselves into the gap at the foot of the fence. Their frustrated yelping sounded behind Hollyleaf as she and her Clanmates approached the nest.
“This way—and watch where you’re putting your paws.” Jingo sprang up onto a narrow, flat area above the entrance to the Twoleg nest, then clawed her way up a creeper that grew alongside it until she reached the edge of the Twoleg roof. “It’s not hard!” she called down, beckoning with her tail.
“And hedgehogs can fly!” Birchfall muttered.
But when it was Hollyleaf’s turn to climb, she realized that Jingo was right. The creeper had thick, twisted stems that created plenty of paw holds, and it was strong enough to bear even the weight of Brambleclaw and Lionblaze. But the edge of the roof felt unsteady, and Hollyleaf tried unsuccessfully to dig her claws in, terrified that the wind would blow her off.
“Where now?” Brambleclaw panted as he hauled himself over the edge to stand beside Jingo.
As an answer, the brown tabby she-cat began scrambling up the steep slope of the roof. “This is a good shortcut,” she meowed.
“We can’t go up there!” Hazeltail gasped. “We’ll fall!”
“If Jingo can do it, we can do it,” Brackenfur declared firmly. “Up you go, Hazeltail. I’ll be right behind you.”
Slipping and scrabbling, the Clan cats clawed their way up the slope to where Jingo was sitting with her tail curled round her paws, at the very top of the roof next to a couple of tree stumps made of stone.
“It’s great up here,” she mewed as Hollyleaf struggled up the last fox-length to join her. “Sometimes I come just to look.”
You come up here even if you don’t have to?Hollyleaf felt as if her claws had been worn away in the desperate climb. A sharp ridge stretched away in both directions; it felt far too narrow to balance on. Wind buffeted her fur and plastered her whiskers to the side of her face.
Not wanting to let Jingo know how uneasy she was, she forced herself to look up from her clinging claws. Instantly she forgot to be scared. She could see forever! All the way across the tumbled roofs of the Twolegplace, to the flat stretch of rough grass that covered the cliffs above the sun-drown-place. And beyond that, over the gray, heaving waves as far as the horizon.
“Look!” Lionblaze yowled, dragging himself up to balance on the ridge beside Hollyleaf. “You can see the mountains!”
Hollyleaf twisted around to stare in the opposite direction. After the edge of the forest, the mountains lay like a smudge of cloud on the horizon. She could make out gray slopes and cliffs, and peaks tipped with snow reaching up to the sky.
“Do you think we’re as high as we were in the mountains?” she asked wonderingly.
“Of course not.” There was a hint of scorn in Lionblaze’s voice. “It took us ages to climb up to the waterfall.”
Hollyleaf realized he was right, and yet the mountains seemed so close she could almost imagine leaping off the roof and landing on the ledge that led behind the waterfall to the cave where the Tribe of Rushing Water lived.
“I wonder what they’re doing,” she murmured, half to herself. “Will we ever see Stormfur and Brook again?”
No cat answered her. As soon as the rest of the patrol had reached the roof ridge, Jingo rose to her paws. “For this next bit, you have to be extra careful,” she warned. “Going down is far harder than going up. If you slip…well, just don’t slip, that’s all.”
Cautiously, in a half-crouch, Jingo led the way down the other side of the roof. Hollyleaf’s paws skidded on the smooth stone of the roof; there was nothing to hold on to, and the downward slope seemed to end in empty air. When she was halfway down, a big white bird swooped past her, letting out a raucous cry and filling the air with the beating of its wings. Hollyleaf froze, trying to dig her claws into the stone, until it was gone.
“I’m neverdoing this again!” Birchfall hissed behind her.
Hollyleaf was shaking by the time they reached the edge of the roof and perched on a narrow channel half choked with leaves and other debris. A couple of fox-lengths below was a flat roof, and just beyond that, a narrow Thunderpath.
“Is that another monster nest?” Hazeltail asked.
Jingo nodded. “We’ll have to come down to the ground here,” she meowed, “because we have to cross that Thunderpath. But I think we’re safe now. The wild dogs don’t often come this far.”
When she reached the grass beside the Thunderpath, Hollyleaf tasted the air. She could pick out the mingled scents of several dogs, but none of them were close by. And no monsters appeared as Jingo paused to listen, then waved her tail for the Clan cats to cross.
Once on the other side, Jingo jumped up onto another wall, this one built of gray stone. Padding along it, Hollyleaf saw that the Twoleg nests here were smaller, with narrower strips of grassy territory behind them. A couple of tiny Twoleg kits were playing on one of the patches of grass, but they didn’t notice the cats as they padded past.
“Is it much farther to Purdy’s nest?” Brackenfur asked. “I think every cat is getting tired and hungry.”
Hollyleaf muttered agreement. Every muscle in her body was aching, and her belly felt like a giant hole. The sky was covered with cloud, but she sensed it was long past sun-high, and no cat had eaten since the fresh-kill in the abandoned Twoleg nest the night before.
“Not far now,” Jingo responded. “We can—”
She broke off as a gust of wind swept across them, bringing with it a slap of icy rain. Birchfall let out a yowl of alarm. Hollyleaf flattened herself to the top of the wall, terrified that the wind would blow her off.
“This way!” Jingo ordered.
She ran along the top of the wall to the fence dividing the Twoleg territories. A bushy pine tree grew close to the wall; Jingo sprang up onto the nearest branch and forced her way in among the needles. Peering out, she called, “Come on! We need to shelter.”
Unbalanced by the buffeting wind, the Clan cats stumbled along the wall and climbed into the tree. Hollyleaf’s pelt was soaked by the time she reached it. The pine needles raked through her fur as she plunged into the branches, clawing for paw holds so she could climb higher.
“What does she think we are, squirrels?” Lionblaze gasped as he struggled upward. The branches dipped and swung under his greater weight, and Hollyleaf suddenly felt the whole tree spinning around. She drove her claws hard into the branch and closed her eyes until the dizzy sensation faded.
“I thought you came from a forest,” Jingo meowed, a tail-length above where Hollyleaf was clinging. “Aren’t you used to trees?”
“We don’t climb that often,” Brambleclaw replied. He had stayed lower down in the tree, just above the spot where it overhung the wall. “If we’re caught in the rain in the forest, we’d rather shelter among the roots of a tree, or under a bush.”
“Well, you learn something new every day,” Jingo responded, sounding amused.
By the time the rainstorm was over, Hollyleaf could tell that the daylight was beginning to fade. I hope we reach Purdy’s den before nightfall. I don’t want to be wandering around this Twolegplace in the dark.Scrambling out of the tree after her Clanmates, she tried to groom the pine needles from her fur, but the whole of her pelt was clumped and messy. I might as well be a rogue,she thought crossly, not a Clan cat at all.
Then a deeper pang shook her. Maybe that’s what I am.
The patrol followed Jingo along more walls and fences, and over the roofs of another set of monster nests, until twilight began to spill from the shadows. Eventually Jingo halted at the corner of a wall.
“See that holly bush?” she meowed, waving her tail in the direction of a dark, bushy mass poking over a fence on the other side of a small Thunderpath. “Purdy’s den is just beyond it.”
“Thank you, Jingo,” Brambleclaw meowed. “We would never have found it without you.”
“You’re welcome,” the she-cat replied. “You’ll be able to hunt and spend the night there. But be careful,” she added more seriously. “Sol has a way of making cats believe in him. I know, because I believed in him, too. Enough to leave my housefolk, where I was happy.” In the gathering dusk, her eyes shone with sadness.
“Why don’t you go back to your housefolk?” Birchfall asked
“Because the other cats need me,” Jingo replied. “Every cat needs a leader—someone to follow, someone to make the hard decisions. That’s why we listened to Sol. But it’s my job now. I can’t leave them.”
Loneliness throbbed in her voice. Hollyleaf felt desperately sorry for her. A Clan leader was chosen through the warrior code and given nine lives by StarClan. It was a huge honor, and the leader had the support of the Clan deputy, the medicine cat, and the senior warriors. But Jingo had no one.
The tabby she-cat gave herself a shake, as if getting rid of useless regrets. She touched noses with each of the Clan cats. “Good-bye and good luck,” she meowed. “Come and see us if you ever pass our nest again.”
“We will,” Brackenfur promised. “Good-bye and good luck to you, too.”
Jingo dipped her head as the other cats added their good-byes, and turned to pad along the wall, back the way she had come. Her head and her tail were lifted high.
“Good-bye, Jingostar,” Brambleclaw whispered, too softly for the retreating she-cat to hear him. “May StarClan light your path.”
Hollyleaf crouched just behind Brambleclaw in the shadows underneath the holly bush. The Twoleg den beyond looked even more abandoned than the one where Jingo and the others lived. Dark holes gaped in the walls and roof.
“Remember when we met Purdy on the way to the mountains?” Lionblaze murmured into his sister’s ear. “He said his Upwalker had died.”
“Maybe Purdy won’t be here at all,” Hollyleaf suggested. She wasn’t sure whether she would be glad or sorry. She looked forward to meeting the cranky old cat again, but she was afraid of what the encounter with Sol would bring.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Brambleclaw meowed. He began to pick his way through the straggling bushes that surrounded the nest. Hollyleaf’s jaws flooded as she picked up a strong smell of mouse.
“Prey!” Hazeltail’s voice was sharp with hunger. “Brambleclaw, may we hunt?”
The Clan deputy hesitated for a heartbeat. “Okay,” he mewed. “But let’s make it quick. And don’t leave this bit of territory.”
The patrol scattered among the bushes. Hollyleaf soon pinpointed a mouse scurrying through dead leaves, and killed it with a swift blow. “Thanks, StarClan,” she mumbled through the first delicious mouthful. It felt as if she hadn’t eaten for a moon. She had just finished gulping down her fresh-kill when she heard Brambleclaw calling the patrol together. As she slipped through the bushes, another mouse practically ran across her paws. She held it down and bit its throat, then carried the limp body back to her Clanmates.
The others were waiting for her. Lionblaze was swallowing the last of his prey while Birchfall swiped his tongue around his jaws with a satisfied expression.
“Everyone fed?” Brambleclaw asked. “Hollyleaf, are you going to eat that?”
Hollyleaf shook her head. “I already ate,” she explained around the mouse. “I thought we could give this to Purdy.”
Brambleclaw nodded approvingly. “Good idea. Let’s go, then.”
Cautiously, stopping every few paw steps to listen and to taste the air, he led the way up to the Twoleg nest and through the dark, gaping entrance hole. Hollyleaf shivered as she stepped inside. It was even colder here than outside: a raw cold that struck upward from the damp stone floor. Brambles grew through the gaps in the walls, as if the territory outside was invading the nest. There was a musty smell made up of stale prey, rotting leaves, and mold. But there was a smell of cats, too, stronger and fresher than the other scents.
“Purdy?” Brambleclaw called.
There was no reply. The deputy padded forward, with the patrol clustered tightly together behind him. Every hair on Hollyleaf’s pelt prickled. There was something strange about this place, something chilly and unwelcoming.
Then a new voice spoke behind them. “Are you looking for me?”
第六章
 第六章
冬青叶跟着族猫一起向前跃去。他们刚跑到雷鬼路的中央，冬青叶听见远方传来另一只怪物的吼声，接着声音越来越大。这个大家伙似乎是突然从什么地方冒出来的，炫目的光扫过她的身体。冬青叶更加拼命地往前跑，爪子不停地蹬着坚硬的雷鬼路，好让自己能更快地接近对面。
一声恐怖的尖叫响彻天空。此刻，冬青叶已经来到了对面草地的安全地带，她转过头，看到榛尾害怕得呆住了，蜷伏在雷鬼路的中央，怪物正向她冲过去。
“不！”冬青叶大喊，“榛尾，快跑！”
榛尾太害怕了，根本动弹不了。随着一声怒吼，黑莓掌冲回雷鬼路，然后叼住她的后颈，这时，怪物的爪子已经近在眼前。
“它会杀了他俩的！”桦落号叫道。
黑莓掌拖着族猫穿过黑色的路面时，那只怪物炫目的眼睛掠过两位武士。起初榛尾的腿悬在空中，就像她已经死了一样。过了一个心跳的时间，她爬起来，撒腿就逃。黑莓掌跟在她的后面向前猛冲，怪物眼看就要踩在他的臀部！有一个心跳的时间，冬青叶还以为黑莓掌会被怪物飞转的爪子踩碎。然后怪物咆哮着从他们身边跑过，而黑莓掌还在跑着。榛尾一下子瘫在草地上，黑莓掌打着滑停在她的身旁。
他恼怒地冷哼道：“这可真是一个穿越雷鬼路的反面的例子！”
“对不起。”榛尾听起来像一只吓坏了的幼崽，“真的很抱歉！”
其他猫也都猛地跌倒在地，大口喘息着。就连狮焰看起来也被惊到了。日神肯定比我们想象的更勇敢，冬青叶想着，竭尽全力让自己的呼吸恢复平静，他可是只靠自己就完成了这个旅程。
蕨毛走到榛尾身边，安慰地舔了一下她。“没事了。”他喃喃道，“我们都会犯错。”
“但是我差一点就害死了黑莓掌！”榛尾的眼睛惶恐得瞪大了，“谢谢你，黑莓掌。你救了我的命！”
黑莓掌眼中的怒火渐渐退去，接着他眨了眨眼睛：“你最好向我保证，这样的事不会再发生！”
“我保证，不会有下次了。”
黑莓掌让远征队的成员休息了一会儿，就催促着大家再次上路。“我们不能待在这里，”他说道，“我们朝那片树林走，那里可能有猎物。”
众猫跟着他，一起穿过粗糙的草地。雪已经停了，但是地面上仍旧铺着厚厚一层。当冬青叶跟在副族长身后慢慢往前走时，爪垫里塞满了雪。身上真冷！我想我都快变成冰猫了，她想着，使劲抖掉爪子缝间的雪。一阵冷风迎面吹来，卷起松散的雪，灌进了她的眼睛。“老鼠屎！真疼！”她低声骂道。
他们快走到那片矮树丛的时候，冬青叶看到那些树比雷族领地里的要矮，而且扭曲成了奇怪的形状，看起来就像风族荒原上的灌木，也像蹲伏着的两脚兽。但是当她嗅着空气的时候，她意识到，这里的气息比她离开森林后闻到的任何气息都熟悉。雷鬼路上的臭气已经消失了，而且在这个地方，她能分辨出树叶和树皮的气息。当她闻到老鼠、兔子和松鼠的气息时，口水一下子流了出来。
“我们就在这里狩猎和休息。”等所有的猫都来到了树林边缘，黑莓掌宣布道，“我们找不到比这里更好的过夜的地方了。”
桦落的耳朵竖了起来，冬青叶和狮焰交换了一个充满默契的眼神，他们可不想在雪地里拖着沉重的爪子走更远的路了。
“太阳现在还没落山。”蕨毛看着仍然笼罩在他们身后天空上的灰云说道。
“是的，不过我们都又累又冷，”黑莓掌答道，“而且这会儿我们看不到太阳，也没办法保证是朝着太阳沉没之地前进。”
蕨毛耸耸肩，同意了。所有的六只猫往矮树丛更深的地方走去。在树木的遮蔽下，这里没有太厚的雪。因此，冬青叶觉得自己的爪子开始暖和起来。地面并不平坦，微微向一条从树根下流过的涓涓细流倾斜。
“大家先给自己狩猎，然后休息。”黑莓掌下令道。冬青叶觉得黑莓掌听上去有些紧张，可能是在担心接下来的旅途。难道他知道前方有什么危险？
蕨毛消失在矮木丛中，狮焰和桦落也一起离开了。
“你想和我一起狩猎吗？”冬青叶问榛尾。她的族猫看上去仍心有余悸。
“那真是太好了！”榛尾的耳朵抖了抖，“我们应该去哪里狩猎呢？”
“哪儿都差不多。”
两只母猫嗅着空气。冬青叶闻到了一股浓烈的松鼠的气息。过了一会儿，她发现在长得歪歪扭扭的带刺的灌木下的落叶里，传来窸窸窣窣的响动。她的耳朵斜了一下，向榛尾指了指那个方向。她的朋友点点头，眼睛发亮。
冬青叶示意榛尾就待在她们所在的地方，然后自己蹲伏下来，做出狩猎姿势，兜了个大圈子，来到了树的另一边。她经常在雷族的领地上做这个狩猎动作，因此感觉就像又回到了家里。她从另一边匍匐着接近那只松鼠，她靠得越来越近，爪子轻轻穿过稀疏的草丛。等觉得已经足够近了，她发出一声可怕的号叫，跳了起来。那只松鼠猛地向前逃窜，却正好跑到了榛尾的爪子下。榛尾一口咬住了它的脖子，杀死了它。
“完美的扑击！”冬青叶大声赞道。
“是你设计得好。”榛尾说道。她现在看起来高兴多了。
冬青叶往榛尾身边走去。这时，狮焰从一片浓密的黑莓丛后跳了出来：“桦落和我抓到了一只特别肥的兔子。”
正说着，桦落蹒跚着走了出来，两只前爪中间拖着一只兔子。桦落喘了口粗气，放下了兔子，又爬进了一片榛树丛下的叶片中。一大堆雪滑了下来，盖住了他。他厌恶地嘶叫着钻了出来，把雪从皮毛上抖掉。
冬青叶不由得笑出了声。“当心点！要不然我们就得叫你雪落了。”她咕噜道。
四只年轻猫拖着猎物来到细流边一个有遮蔽的地方，地面上堆积着一层枯叶。不一会儿，蕨毛也带着一只松鼠回来了，黑莓掌则带回来两只老鼠。他们吃猎物的时候，温暖的气息洋溢在谷地里。灌木枝条一直蔓延到他们头顶，冬青叶想，这里简直就像一个巢穴。
冬青叶伸出舌头，舔着嘴巴周围，感觉肚子饱饱的，舒服极了。“我可以睡一个月亮圆缺的时间。”她懒洋洋地说。
“很好。”黑莓掌说道，“不过我们最好设一个岗哨。”
“我先来。”狮焰提议道。
“好的。”黑莓掌张着嘴巴，打了个大大的哈欠，“你准备睡觉的时候，把我叫醒，我来接替你。”
冬青叶躺下去准备睡觉时，她看的最后一眼，就是哥哥金棕色带有虎斑的身体。狮焰竖着耳朵，盯着树林深处。
一只爪子捅着冬青叶的身体，叫醒了她。她迷迷糊糊地眨着眼睛，起初还以为自己是在武士巢穴里。可是苔藓和蕨叶都到哪里去了？而且为什么我能听到流水的声音？
接着她想了起来，她正在前往太阳沉没之地的旅途中，一起去的还有黑莓掌和其他猫。雷族营地在一天路程之外的地方。这里的一切既新鲜又陌生。
榛尾正低头看着她。“该你站岗了，”她说道，“你是最后一班岗。”
冬青叶摇晃着站起来，弓起后背，伸了伸懒腰。狮焰、桦落和蕨毛都在身边蜷着身子。“黑莓掌在哪儿？”她打了个哈欠。
“我站岗的时候，他就醒了。”榛尾解释道，“他说要去前面探探路。”她让自己舒服地躺在枯叶里，把尾巴卷起来，盖在鼻子上。“我要尽可能地多睡一会儿。”她喃喃道。
冬青叶清理掉身上的枯叶碎片，然后走了两三爪子，来到了细流的边缘。低头喝水前，她的目光在周围的树林里搜索着。她看到树枝映衬在天空上，天空正开始由黑色变成灰色，周围一片寂静。
她美美地喝了一肚子冰水。正在抖落胡须上的水滴时，她突然听到了一声响亮的惊叫，瞥见一只画眉骤然飞起。过了一会儿，黑莓掌穿过树林回来了，嘴里叼着一只兔子。
“这里的猎物很多。”他赞叹道，把猎物放在冬青叶的爪子旁。
猎物浓烈的气息让冬青叶直流口水。“我应该再去抓些猎物吗？”她提议道，“一只兔子不够我们六只猫吃的。”
“好的，”黑莓掌回答道，“不过别走出这片矮树丛。我会叫醒他们的。下一次，你第一个站岗，”他又说道，“不过现在我们需要继续赶路。”
冬青叶顺着小溪往前走，跳到了一个小瀑布旁。在一只田鼠溜回岸边的洞前，她熟练地抓住了它。她刨了些土，盖住了它软塌塌的身体。她爬上溪岸，站在那里嗅着空气，耳朵警惕地听着猎物发出的细微声音。很快，她就发现了一只正在一丛灌木下嚼着种子的老鼠。她的爪子比空气还轻，身体贴着地面前进，一只爪子飞快地抓断了老鼠的脖子。然后她回去挖出那只田鼠，带着两只猎物回到了谷地。
她曾经很自豪自己的狩猎技能，尤其是能让黑莓掌看到她这么快就带回了猎物的时候。不过现在，她甚至在副族长恭喜她的时候，都不敢看他的眼睛。如果她不是一只真正的族猫，她想，她所有的训练，她知道的每件事，就跟灰尘一样没有任何意义。
所有的六只猫都醒来了。他们飞快地吃完猎物，跟着黑莓掌来到矮树丛的边缘。“现在我们离午夜的家不远了，”他说道，“大家小心一点，跟紧我。”
前方的土地非常平坦，也很空旷，除了两脚兽的巢穴，看不到任何遮蔽物。天空已经放晴，只是偶尔有几片流云掠过，远征队身后的天空已经出现黎明时分的乳白色。刚一离开灌木丛，冬青叶就感到风击打在脸上。风又冷又烈，带着一股不熟悉的气息，就像是冷凝了的血液。
“风都快要把我的皮毛吹掉了！”她听到桦落抱怨着。
冬青叶感到眼睛和嘴巴被吹得生疼，皮毛也一簇一簇的。当他们在变脆的草地上，艰难地往前走的时候，她眯起眼睛，低下了头，紧紧地跟在狮焰身后。这时，冬青叶在呼啸的寒风中，听见了一种沉闷的吼叫声，这种声音跟她以前听过的任何一种声音都不相同。
突然，狮焰停了下来。冬青叶来不及停下，撞到了狮焰的身上。她气恼地嘶嘶叫着。恰好榛尾又从后面撞上了她，把她吓了一跳。冬青叶抬起头，看到黑莓掌和蕨毛肩并肩站在远征队前边，盯着什么。冬青叶走上去，站到他们身边，其他猫也在两边站成了一条线。
伟大的星族呀！他们已经到了陆地的边缘！在他们的爪子下，地面下沉，出现了一片乱石。冬青叶极目远眺，只见无边的灰色水面在他们正前方延伸开来，波涛汹涌，怒吼不停。
“欢迎来到太阳沉没之地。”黑莓掌说道。
CHAPTER14
CHAPTER14
Hollyleaf whirled around. Behind her, inan arched opening, a tall, well-muscled cat was outlined against the dusk. The white patches on his pelt shone very brightly.
“Sol!” Hazeltail’s gasp was amazed and terrified all at once.
She really thinks Sol is the killer!Hollyleaf thought.
She was aware of bristling pelts and stiff limbs around her. But as soon as she looked into Sol’s glowing amber eyes, Hollyleaf felt herself relaxing. How could she have forgotten how wise he was, how calm and certain he was about the future? Nothing troubled him, because he already knew what to expect.
“Greetings, Sol.” Brambleclaw stepped forward. “Yes, we’re looking for you. You need to come back to ThunderClan.”
Sol looked into the eyes of each cat in turn. “Something has happened.”
Hollyleaf felt a jolt in her belly, as if a stone had struck her. What does he know about Ashfur?
“We just need you to come with us,” Brambleclaw meowed. “Firestar wants to talk to you.”
Sol’s eyes narrowed. “Something has happened that you think concerns me. Something bad. You wouldn’t come all this way to thank me.” He paused thoughtfully. “A cat has died….”
Behind Hollyleaf, Birchfall caught his breath.
“No,” Sol corrected himself. “A cat has been killed. And you think I’m responsible.” The tip of his tail twitched, but he betrayed no other emotion.
I’d be terrified if any cat accused me,Hollyleaf thought, scraping her claws against the cold stone. But Sol just surveyed the patrol calmly and waited for them to speak.
“He must be guilty!” Hazeltail whispered to Hollyleaf. “He didn’t even ask who died!”
“Sol? Is that you?” A frail voice broke the silence, and Purdy appeared in the entrance, dragging a scrawny rabbit behind him. He was thinner than when Hollyleaf had last seen him, and his tabby pelt looked messier than ever.
“Look what I got!” Purdy dropped the prey and looked up. He blinked in astonishment as he recognized the Clan cats. “If it ain’t Brambleclaw!” he exclaimed. “And Hollypaw and Lionpaw! I hope you two young ’uns are behaving yourselves.”
“Yes, we are,” Lionblaze replied, padding forward to touch noses with the old loner. “And we’re warriors now. Lionblaze and Hollyleaf.”
“Well, who’d have thought it?” Purdy’s eyes gleamed. “Well done, youngsters.”
For a few heartbeats, Hollyleaf felt like an apprentice again. She should have been insulted, that Purdy still thought of her and her brother as young cats who were always getting into mischief. Instead she yearned for the days when everything had seemed so simple, and all she had to do was make herself the best warrior she could.
“How’s that brother o’ yours?” Purdy asked.
“He’s Jayfeather now,” Hollyleaf replied. “He’s a full medicine cat.”
Purdy shook his head again. “Who’d have thought it?” he repeated.
Brambleclaw padded forward and dipped his head to the old loner. “Greetings, Purdy. It’s good to see you again. Come and meet my other Clanmates. This is Birchfall, and this is Hazeltail and Brackenfur.”
“Good to know you,” Purdy mumbled, looking a bit embarrassed to be among so many strangers.
“I’m sorry, Purdy.” Sol stepped forward, to stand in front of the old cat. “I have to go.”
Purdy blinked in astonishment. “What? Why?” When Sol didn’t reply, he added, “I know you’ve only been here a couple o’ days, but I reckoned we were getting on fine. This old nest don’t feel half as empty wi’ you around. And look—” He waved his tail toward the rabbit he had dragged in. “I found us some prey. It’s a bit old and scrawny, but it could make a good meal….” His voice trailed off, and he hunched his shoulders.
“You enjoy the rabbit, Purdy,” Sol mewed gently, his amber eyes glowing. “I think the ThunderClan cats want to leave at once.”
“What’s all the rush?” Purdy turned to Brambleclaw. “Why do you need Sol to leave with you right now? Couldn’t you all stay here a bit longer? You’d be right welcome.”
Let Sol stay here.Hollyleaf wanted to speak the words aloud. We don’t need to take him back. Purdy needs him more than we do.But she knew that was impossible.
“We’ll stay for the night,” Brambleclaw decided. “But we’ll have to leave at dawn.”
“Fine!” Purdy’s ears perked up. “Have some o’ this rabbit,” he invited proudly.
“Thank you,” Brambleclaw replied, his voice gentle, “but we can catch our own to add to your fresh-kill pile.”
“I brought you a mouse,” Hollyleaf added, snatching up her prey and dropping it at Purdy’s paws.
The old tabby’s eyes shone. “That’s right kind of you.” He crouched down and tucked in.
The Clan cats headed for the entrance to the den. Brackenfur glanced back at Sol, who was still standing in the middle of the den.
“Don’t worry,” Sol meowed. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
Brackenfur still looked uncertain; as they padded through the entrance, Brambleclaw shouldered his way toward him and murmured into his ear. “Stay on guard. But keep out of sight.”
Brackenfur gave him a relieved nod and crept underneath the low-growing branches of a nearby bush, where he crouched with his gaze firmly fixed on the den.
Darkness had fallen while the cats were inside. The harsh orange light of the Twolegplace covered the sky, blotting out the stars. Hollyleaf wished she could have seen the spirits of the Clan’s warrior ancestors, to know that they were still watching over her.
Once outside, she headed for the thicket of shiny green leaves where she had caught her mice. Hazeltail padded along beside her.
“I’m so glad we found Sol,” she murmured. “Now we can go home.”
Hollyleaf nodded. “I feel bad about taking Sol away from Purdy,” she confessed.
“But Sol is a murderer!” Hazeltail halted, her eyes wide with shock. “What if he kills Purdy, too?”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Hollyleaf replied.
“How do you know?” Hazeltail persisted. “We need to get him back to the camp fast, before he does any more damage. Firestar will know what to do with him.”
Hollyleaf shook her head helplessly. There was no way to reply to Hazeltail’s questions. Besides, if Sol didn’t come back to ThunderClan with them, what would happen in the hunt for Ashfur’s killer? Would Firestar be forced to look closer to home? Hollyleaf’s belly felt cold at the thought of accusations flying around her Clan.
She plunged into the thicket to hunt, but this time prey didn’t come so easily to her paws. In the end she had to be content with a single shrew; she padded back to Purdy’s den feeling embarrassed, but the rest of the patrol had only found thin pickings, too.
“Prey’s pretty scarce ’round here,” Purdy admitted as they crouched down to eat. “But I can find enough to feed me and Sol through leaf-bare. I ain’t never starved before!”
He must be so lonely if he’s willing to share this much prey with a stranger,Hollyleaf thought sadly, swallowing her morsel of shrew.
Once she had eaten, she settled down to sleep. The stone floor of the den was damp and cold, and wind whistled through the gaps in the walls. Huddling next to Lionblaze for warmth, Hollyleaf wished for the thick moss and bracken of her nest in the camp, and for the sheltering branches of the warriors’ den.
Hollyleaf slept fitfully, and woke to see the cold light of a leaf-bare dawn angling across the floor. Brambleclaw and Brackenfur were already on their paws; Hazeltail and Birchfall were stirring drowsily, while Purdy slept in a rumpled heap in the opposite corner.
Sol was curled up in a sheltered niche where a couple of stones had fallen from one of the inner walls of the den. Brambleclaw padded over and prodded him awake.
“It’s time to leave,” he meowed.
Sol lifted his head, his amber eyes blinking, then rose to his paws. “If you wish.”
“He creeps me out,” a voice whispered in Hollyleaf’s ear.
Hollyleaf started and turned to see Birchfall. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!” she snapped, annoyed with herself because Sol was spooking her, too. “He’s just a cat.”
As she finished speaking, Sol padded past her toward the entrance to the den. “I told you I would come back,” he murmured, quietly enough that she was the only cat to hear.
Struggling to shrug off her feelings of uneasiness, Hollyleaf roused Lionblaze, and the sound of voices woke Purdy, who stumbled sleepily over to the remains of the rabbit. “You got to eat something before you go,” he meowed.
“But you need it more than we do,” Brackenfur protested.
“I can catch another,” Purdy retorted, his neck fur beginning to bristle. “You need to keep your strength up if you’re goin’ on a long journey.”
The ThunderClan cats exchanged glances; clearly Purdy would be insulted if they refused, so they crowded around the last of the prey and forced down a few gristly scraps. Purdy watched them, while Sol just waited in the entrance, his gaze lifted to the sky.
“Don’t go near them monsters,” Purdy instructed. “They’ll flatten you as soon as look at you. And there’s dogs give trouble sometimes. They know not to mess wi’ me, but youngsters like you…”
“We met the dogs, Purdy,” Hazeltail told him. “You’re right, they are dangerous. We’ll be careful.”
The old tabby tom gave his chest fur a lick, as if he was pleased to have been helpful. Every mouthful of prey felt like dust to Hollyleaf. She wished there was something they could do, so that Purdy wouldn’t be left alone.
When all the cats had finished eating, Hollyleaf said good-bye to Purdy. The old cat was still trying to stay cheerful, but Hollyleaf could see the loneliness and fear in his eyes. She touched noses with him gently. “May StarClan be with you, Purdy,” she murmured. “I hope we’ll meet again.”
“Mebbe we will.” But Hollyleaf could tell Purdy didn’t believe they would. “You take care now, you hear?”
Brambleclaw led the way to the entrance of the den. Sol rose to his paws and fell in beside the Clan deputy as the cats emerged into the garden. By this time the sun was up; the sky was the clear, pale blue of leaf-bare, and a faint breeze rustled the leaves on the bushes.
Halfway to the fence, Brambleclaw stopped and looked back at Purdy, who stood watching them from the nearest gap in the wall.
“Come with us, Purdy,” he meowed urgently. “There’s room for you in the elders’ den. Firestar will welcome you.”
Purdy stared at him. “Well, I…I dunno what to say.”
As sorry as she felt for the old cat, Hollyleaf felt herself bristling inside. This can’t be right! Purdy isn’t a Clan cat. What will the other Clans say?Then she suppressed a shiver. I might not be a Clan cat, either. Does that mean I should live alone, without any friends to help me hunt?
Sol was looking on expressionlessly. Does he care about Purdy at all?Hollyleaf wondered.
“Well?” Brambleclaw prompted the old cat.
“No, I’ll be fine.” Purdy gave his rumpled pelt a shake. “There ain’t no need to feel sorry for me. I’ve survived more than one leaf-bare on my own.”
“We’d appreciate your help getting around this Twolegplace, you know,” Brackenfur meowed, padding back toward the den. “You know the area far better than we do.”
“And once we’re back in the camp, you’d have a lot to teach our apprentices,” Brambleclaw put in. “I don’t suppose Hollyleaf and Lionblaze have forgotten how you saved them from the dogs.”
Lionblaze nodded, while Hollyleaf suppressed a shudder at the memory of the dogs who had trapped them in a barn on their way to the mountains. Without Purdy’s quick thinking, she and her brother and Breezepelt would all have been torn to pieces.
“Elders have a lot of influence in the way the Clan is run,” Brambleclaw went on. “It would be an honor to have you live with us, with all your experience, and all you know about Twolegs—I mean, Upwalkers.”
Hollyleaf dug her claws into the earth. She knew that the two senior warriors were lying. Bringing another loner into the Clan wouldn’t be easy, and they didn’t need to know about living among Twolegs, because there were so few of them by the lake. Why not leave Purdy where he is, if he’s happy? Why do Clan cats always think they know best?
“Well, okay.” Purdy scrambled through the gap in the wall and padded over to join the patrol. “I’ll come along as far as the edge of Twolegplace, at least. Reckon you might need a bit o’ help findin’ your way.” Turning to Sol, he added, “I never finished tellin’ you that story about the fox….”
Brambleclaw led the way to the gap in the fence where the patrol had entered the night before. Here he paused, his head raised and his ears pricked, while he tasted the air. The rest of the patrol waited in silence; Hollyleaf closed her eyes, concentrating until she felt the tug at her paws that told her the direction of the lake.
“Do you know which way to go?” Hazeltail fretted, obviously not trusting her own inner guide.
Brambleclaw nodded. “I think so. I’m trying to remember what we saw from that rooftop.”
“I’m not going up there again!” Birchfall wailed.
“No, there’s no need,” Brambleclaw assured him. “But one of us can climb a tree soon to check whether we’re going the right way. Let’s get moving.”
Hollyleaf squeezed through the gap in the fence, hard on the Clan deputy’s paws, and found herself on a grass shoulder beside a Thunderpath. They had crossed here the night before, when all was dark and quiet. Now monsters were rushing up and down. Their bright colors dazzled Hollyleaf’s eyes; the air was filled with their growling and their acrid stink.
“I hate this,” she muttered to Lionblaze. “I don’t care how many times we’ve done it, I’m still afraid some cat will get squashed.”
Brambleclaw padded up to the very edge of the Thunderpath until his fur was ruffled by the wind of passing monsters. “When I say run, run as if a whole pack of dogs were behind you.”
Lionblaze sighed. “Well, we’ve had plenty of practice.”
Hollyleaf noticed that Brackenfur had positioned himself next to Purdy, as if he intended to keep an eye on the old cat when the time came to cross. Sol stood on Purdy’s other side, his gaze fixed on the opposite side of the Thunderpath.
A huge monster swept by, the rumbling from its belly louder than a whole Clan of cats growling at once. As it faded into silence, Brambleclaw glanced sharply up and down the Thunderpath. “Now! Run!”
Hollyleaf leaped forward, aware of Lionblaze on one side of her and Birchfall on the other. The surface of the Thunderpath was hard under her flying paws. Then she was across, stumbling thankfully onto the grass on the other side.
Turning, she saw that all the cats had crossed safely, except for Purdy, who was weaving erratically across the middle of the Thunderpath, and Brackenfur, who padded beside him, trying to urge him on.
“Take it easy, youngster,” Purdy meowed. “There ain’t no monsters coming.”
“But—” Brackenfur began desperately.
He broke off at the sound of a monster approaching. As it roared into sight around the corner, he gave Purdy a massive shove from behind. The old tabby stumbled forward with a startled yowl and flopped safely onto the grass as the monster swept past, snarling, barely a mouse-length away. Brackenfur had sprung to safety beside him with a heartbeat to spare.
“Purdy, never scare us like that again!” Brambleclaw hissed in exasperation.
The old cat picked himself up, blinking. “What? There weren’t no problem. And there weren’t no need to go pushin’ me around,” he added to Brackenfur in an injured tone.
Brackenfur sighed. “Sorry.”
“Always panickin’, you young cats,” Purdy muttered.
Hollyleaf rolled her eyes. “This journey is going to be interesting,” she whispered to Lionblaze.
Brambleclaw gathered the patrol together with a wave of his tail and set off along the edge of the Thunderpath. Soon Hollyleaf picked up the sound of many Twoleg kits, their voices shrill in the crisp morning air. “What’s that?” she asked, her paws tingling with suspicion.
“Nothin’ to worry about,” Purdy reassured her. “You’ll see.”
Hollyleaf wasn’t sure she could trust the old cat’s judgment. Rounding the next corner, she saw a huge Twoleg nest with a wide expanse of stone on the ground all around it. A fence of narrow, shiny trees cut it off from the Thunderpath. Crowds of Twoleg kits—more Twolegs than she had ever seen together at one time—were running and yowling and throwing things at one another.
“What is this place?” she meowed curiously.
Purdy shrugged. “Dunno. They come here most days.”
Hollyleaf’s belly clenched with shock as the old cat trotted up to the fence and stuck his nose through a gap. At once several of the Twoleg kits ran up to him, stretching out their hands.
“What’s he doing?” Brackenfur muttered. “Purdy!”
Purdy took no notice. The Twoleg kits were reaching through the fence to stroke him; his purr was loud enough to reach the rest of the patrol where they stood a few tail-lengths away.
“Remember, he used to be a kittypet,” Birchfall murmured. “It must make him act weird sometimes.”
Brambleclaw said nothing, just twitched his tail to guide the patrol past the shiny fence at a safe distance. They waited for Purdy a few fox-lengths down, alongside the Thunderpath. As they padded past, Hollyleaf noticed one of the kits pull something out of its pelt and hold it out to Purdy, who licked it up enthusiastically.
Has heno sense?
Eventually a harsh clanging sounded from inside the Twoleg den, and all the kits ran over toward it and stood in a line to go through the entrance. Purdy turned away and came bounding up to the patrol.
“What’re you all starin’ at?” he demanded, puffing.
“Purdy, was that a good idea?” Brambleclaw asked. Hollyleaf could tell he was trying to keep irritation out of his voice. “What did that kit feed you?”
“Dunno.” Purdy’s eyes gleamed as he swiped his tongue around his jaws. “It was real tasty, though.”
Brambleclaw sighed. “Right, let’s go.”
A little farther on, the Twoleg dens became more widely spaced; then they stopped altogether as woodland took over on either side of the Thunderpath. Relief flooded through Hollyleaf from ears to tail-tip as Brambleclaw veered away from the Thunderpath to pad under the trees. Before they had ventured more than a couple of tail-lengths into the wood, he halted.
“This would be a good place to check our direction,” he meowed. “Who feels like climbing a tree?”
“I will!” Lionblaze offered instantly.
“No, I will,” Hazeltail argued. “I’m lighter. I can get up higher.”
Brambleclaw nodded. “Okay, Hazeltail.”
Lionblaze looked disgruntled while Hazeltail leaped up the trunk of the nearest tree, digging her claws into the bark. Hollyleaf’s heart thumped as she watched her friend clambering through the leafless branches, higher and higher, until she reached the top of the tree and clung there, swaying in the breeze. Hollyleaf couldn’t stop thinking about how Cinderheart had fallen, back in the forest, and injured her leg.
What do we do if Hazeltail is hurt, when we have so far to go?
But a few heartbeats later, Hazeltail began to scramble down; soon she reached the lowest branch and jumped down beside her Clanmates.
“I could see so far!” she exclaimed.
“Are we on the right track?” Brambleclaw asked.
“Yes!” Hazeltail’s fur was fluffed up with excitement. “I couldn’t see the lake, but I could tell where it is, behind WindClan’s ridge. We need to go this way”—she gestured with her tail into the trees—“and we’ll get there without going through any more Twolegplaces.”
“That’s great news.” Brambleclaw gave the younger warrior an approving nod. “Well done, Hazeltail.”
Hazeltail’s eyes shone with pride as the patrol set off again. Now that the path was wider, Hollyleaf noticed that Brackenfur and Birchfall were walking one on each side of Sol.
The loner glanced at each of them, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. “You don’t need to put me under guard, you know,” he mewed. “I’m not going to run away.”
Purdy halted, staring at Sol with a baffled look. “Under guard? What’s all that about?”
Brambleclaw was forced to halt, too; his whiskers twitched with irritation as he glanced back. “It doesn’t matter. We have to keep moving.”
“ThunderClan thinks I’ve done something,” Sol replied to Purdy, ignoring Brambleclaw. “That’s why they want me to go back with them.”
“Wha’?” Purdy gaped. “That’s fluff-brained!” Turning to Brambleclaw, he added, “You’re wrong, you know. Sol’s a decent cat. He wouldn’t do nothin’ bad.”
Brambleclaw didn’t try to explain. He just waved his tail, signaling for the patrol to continue, and almost immediately disturbed a pheasant, which came scrambling out of a clump of bracken with a raucous alarm call. At the same moment a squirrel, obviously spooked by the pheasant, dashed out of cover and raced for the nearest tree. Springing forward, Hollyleaf intercepted it and brought it down with a swift blow of her paw.
“Neat catch!” Birchfall called.
All the patrol gathered to share the unexpected prey, and Purdy’s awkward questions were pushed to the back of every cat’s mind. But Hollyleaf knew he would ask again. And which one of us is going to tell him the truth?
The patrol headed on through the forest, but not long after sunhigh Hollyleaf noticed that Purdy was getting tired, stumbling and blundering into bracken or brambles. She padded beside him, trying to guide him with her tail, but it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to keep going until nightfall.
Sprinting ahead, Hollyleaf caught up to Brambleclaw. “It’s Purdy,” she mewed. “He’s so tired. What are we going to do?”
Brambleclaw glanced back. “Mouse dung! We can’t just leave him here.” Clearly the Clan deputy was regretting that he had asked Purdy to join them. “Okay, we’ll stop soon,” he decided. “Do what you can to help him, Hollyleaf.”
“Sure.” Hollyleaf waited for Purdy to stagger up to her, then padded beside him again. “Do you want to lean on my shoulder?” she offered.
Purdy glared at her. “You think I can’t manage on my own? Jumped-up young whippersnapper!”
“Sorry.” Hollyleaf guessed he was angry because he knew he needed help, but pride wouldn’t let him accept it. She fell back a couple of paw steps so she could keep an eye on him, and was relieved when Brambleclaw called a halt.
“So soon?” Lionblaze asked, gazing up at where the sun still angled through the trees. “We could go a lot farther before it gets dark.”
“I know,” Brambleclaw meowed, with a glance at Purdy. “But we all had a tough time in the Twolegplace, and we need to hunt and rest. There should be plenty of prey here.”
The place Brambleclaw had chosen to stop was a small clearing among huge oak trees. Dead leaves covered the ground. At one side, a tiny spring trickled between moss-covered stones into a pool. Purdy stumbled over to it, took a few laps of water, and flopped down in a rumpled heap. Heartbeats later, loud snores came from him.
Sol padded across to a sunny patch of ground and sat down with his tail curled around his front paws. His amber eyes glowed in the golden light. He clearly had no intention of hunting for himself.
Hollyleaf headed into the undergrowth. The scents were strong, and she soon caught a mouse and a thrush. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to stop early,she thought as she kicked earth over her fresh-kill. It’s warmer now, so the prey is out and about
When she had added another mouse to her catch she hurried back to the clearing to find that her Clanmates were already building a fresh-kill pile near the pool.
Birchfall dragged up a huge rabbit, his tail raised proudly. “There are more over there.” He gestured with his tail. “We’ll eat well tonight.”
Dropping a mouse and the thrush onto the pile, Hollyleaf took the other mouse over to Purdy and prodded him awake.
The old tabby gave a startled snort, looking around wildly. “What is it? Foxes? Let me get at ’em!”
“It’s okay, Purdy.” Hollyleaf rested her tail on his shoulder. “I brought you a mouse.”
Purdy blinked. “That’s right good of you.” He began devouring the mouse in famished gulps, then stopped and moved back awkwardly. “Here—you have some, too.”
“No, it’s for you,” Hollyleaf mewed. How long has it been since Purdy had a decent meal?“There’s plenty more.”
When all the cats had eaten—Brambleclaw made sure Sol was given a share of the catch—they settled down to sleep among the trees. By now the sun had gone and twilight was gathering. A cold breeze clattered the bare branches.
Hollyleaf noticed that Purdy was shivering. She beckoned Hazeltail over with a wave of her tail. “Purdy really can’t look after himself,” she murmured into her Clanmate’s ear. “Let’s sleep beside him and keep him warm.”
“Okay,” Hazeltail mewed, though she looked doubtful. “I hope he hasn’t got fleas.”
I’m sure he’s got fleas,Hollyleaf thought, as she and Hazeltail clawed together a heap of dry leaves to make a nest. And ticks. We’ll have to give him a good going-over with mouse bile before we let him go anywhere near Mousefur!
When Hollyleaf woke, it was still dark. She could just make out the trace of bare branches against the sky, but stars still glittered overhead. Purdy was snoring louder than ever, and Hazeltail was curled up beside him with her tail wrapped over her ears.
Hollyleaf knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. Very quietly, so as not to disturb any cat, she rose to her paws and peered around, blinking to clear her bleary eyes. Brambleclaw, Brackenfur, and Birchfall had all made nests close together on the other side of the pool. All three of them were sleeping peacefully; Birchfall’s tail twitched as if he was dreaming.
Three cats…not four…Sol’s gone!Hollyleaf swept her gaze around the clearing, but there was no sign of the distinctive tortoiseshell-and-white pelt. Tasting the air, she picked up his scent; it was still fresh, but faint.
Hollyleaf’s first impulse was to wake Brambleclaw. But some inner command sent her paws in the other direction, following the wispy thread of Sol’s scent. She padded as silently as she could through the trees, flinching as her paws crunched in the brittle leaves. She soon began to hear the sound of running water. It grew louder until she came to a spot where the trees thinned out a little, and the ground fell away to where a stream gurgled along over stones. Sol was sitting at the top of the slope, his back to her, his gaze fixed on the paling stars.
“Do you still think they hold all the answers, Hollyleaf?” he asked without turning his head.
Every hair on Hollyleaf’s pelt rose, until she realized that she was standing upwind of the stream and Sol must have scented her approach. “I…I don’t know,” she replied. “I don’t know anything anymore.”
Now Sol turned to her, his amber eyes blinking sympathetically. “Why is that?”
Hollyleaf sighed. “Everything was so much easier when I could trust what other cats said.” Even as she spoke, she couldn’t believe she was telling this to any cat. She hadn’t even shared her doubts with her littermates.
“You must learn to trust yourself, Hollyleaf,” Sol meowed, in the deep, rich voice that seemed to inspire confidence. “Only you know what is right.”
“I get so confused sometimes.” Hollyleaf’s voice shook. “I don’t want to have to decide everything on my own.”
“It gets easier, little one.” Sol rose to his paws. “Come on, let’s go back to the others.”
Hollyleaf’s belly churned as she followed Sol back to the clearing. He almost destroyed ShadowClan! Every cat thinks he killed Ashfur! So why do I feel that I can trust him with my life?
When they reached the clearing, the rest of the patrol were stirring. Brambleclaw looked up from grooming his pelt, a surprised expression in his amber eyes. But all he said was, “I wondered where you’d got to,” as he padded over to check on Purdy.
The old tabby heaved himself out of his nest. “I’m fit as a squirrel,” he insisted, shaking dead leaves from his back. “No need for you youngsters to be fussin’.”
After they had finished up the previous night’s fresh-kill, the cats set out again. Passing the place where she had met Sol, Hollyleaf realized they were coming to the edge of the woods. Soon they stood beneath the forest’s outermost trees, gazing across fields dotted with gray-white puffs that Hollyleaf realized were sheep.
“I don’t like this,” Purdy grumbled as they crossed the fields, giving the sheep a suspicious glance. “What are them creatures, anyway?”
“Sheep, Purdy,” Hollyleaf replied, padding beside him. “Didn’t they have any on that farm where we met you last time?”
Purdy sniffed. “Never seen ’em before.” He jumped, fur fluffing up, as one of the sheep ambled away from the others and trotted closer to the cats. “Quick—run!”
“It’s okay,” Hollyleaf mewed; the sheep halted and began to crop a new patch of grass. “They’re not taking any notice of us.”
“There’s too much…space around here,” Purdy complained, flattening himself to the ground. “No trees. No Upwalkers—Twolegs, you call ’em.”
“You mean you wantTwolegs?” Hollyleaf’s exasperation spilled over like rain from a leaf. “That won’t do if you’re going to live in ThunderClan.”
“Hey, take it easy.” Lionblaze veered over and rested his tail on Purdy’s shoulders for a heartbeat. “Purdy can’t help not being a Clan cat.”
Nor can we!Hollyleaf almost flashed the words back at her brother, but stopped herself in time. How long before one of us gives away the secret?
With a massive effort she made herself relax. “I know. Sorry, Purdy.”
By sunhigh, Hollyleaf could see that the old cat was tiring again, and soon Brambleclaw called a halt in the shelter of some trees surrounded by gorse bushes. Purdy collapsed on his side, breathing hard. Sol padded away a few paw steps and sat down, peering out over the field.
“Hey, look at this!” Hazeltail was sniffing at a clump of something that looked like thistledown stuck on one of the gorse bushes. “What is it?”
Hollyleaf padded up to look. Birchfall followed curiously. “It smells of sheep,” Hollyleaf meowed. Glancing around, she spotted more of the clumps on other bushes. “Their pelts must get snagged on the thorns when they brush past.”
“It’s very soft.” Hazeltail tugged at the clump with her teeth and came away with a mouthful of it. “I’m going to take some back for the nursery.”
Birchfall suppressed a mrrowof laughter. “You look as if you’ve swallowed a thistle!” He ducked as Hazeltail swatted at him with her tail. “It’s a good idea,” he added hastily. “I’ll collect some, too, for my kits.”
Hollyleaf left them pulling the sheep pelt off the bushes, and padded back to Purdy. The old cat was reviving, and looked calmer now that the sheep were a safe distance away.
“Do we have we time to hunt?” she asked Brambleclaw.
The Clan deputy’s ears twitched in surprise. “Are you hungry already?”
“No,” Hollyleaf replied, lowering her voice. “I just want one mouse, for the mouse bile. We’ll never hear the last of it if we let Purdy into the camp with all his fleas and ticks.” Raising a hind paw to scratch her side, she added, “I think I might have picked something up from him already.”
“Okay.” There was a glint of amusement in Brambleclaw’s eyes. “But don’t be long. I want to keep going. We’re not far from the lake now. I can feel it in my paws.”
Dusk was falling as the patrol left the fields behind and came to a small Thunderpath. Tasting the air, Hollyleaf breathed in the scent of horses. “The horseplace!” she exclaimed. “We’re nearly home!”
Brambleclaw led the way, slipping under the shining fence and across the expanse of whitish stone, past the Twoleg nest and the horse nests. As they emerged into the field, Hollyleaf looked around for the horses, but there was no sign of them. “They must be shut up in their wooden nests,” she murmured to Lionblaze.
She couldn’t see Smoky or Floss, either, though she picked up their scents. Her paws prickled with urgency; she wanted to be back in the warm familiarity of the stone hollow, and yet she knew that there was no real safety there.
Or anywhere else,she reflected sadly. Where will all the lies and betrayal end?
第七章
 第七章
寻找日神的远征队离开后，松鸦羽站在空地中，嗅着黎明的风中雪的气息。他听见几只猫钻出武士巢穴入口的枝条时发出的沙沙声。族猫中间里弥漫着一种奇怪的紧张感。
“黎明巡逻队。”灰条的声音从松鸦羽旁边响起，“沙风，你来带队，狐爪和松鼠飞和你一起去。沿着风族边界巡逻时要多加小心。”
“我必须跟她们一起去吗？”松鸦羽听见狐爪沮丧的声音，“我不喜欢风族。”
“嘘！”香薇云听起来有点吃惊，“你知道的，那里已经没有什么值得害怕的了。”
松鸦羽一惊，这话听起来好像雷族的大多数猫都已经相信，日神就是那只杀死蜡毛的猫，现在已经没什么可担心的了。但是他们错了！他们完全错了！
“狐爪，你是我的学徒，”松鼠飞的声音有一些气恼，“你当然得跟着我，要是你不愿意，那你就去帮长老抓虱子吧！”
“哦……不，我觉得，我还是去巡逻吧。”
“你不会有事的。”火星安慰着这位学徒。松鸦羽没听到火星是什么时候从高石台下来的，“我们要让谁参加狩猎巡逻队，灰条？”
“我想，我来带一队。”灰毛武士说道，“我带上栗尾和鼠须。”他用更低的声音对火星补充道：“如果你或者我带队去边界巡逻，每只猫都会以为，边界上肯定有什么可怕的东西。”
“你考虑得很周全。”火星赞成道。
“尘毛，你来带另一支狩猎队。”灰条提高声音继续说道，“云尾和亮心可以跟你一起去。到影族边界试试，但是要记住黑莓掌说的，小心点儿，不要越界。”
“我又不是昨天才出生的，谢谢提醒！”尘毛厉声说着，身上似乎燃着愤怒的火苗。
“我们可以带上冰爪吗？”亮心问道，“她没怎么出去过。现在白翅已经在育婴室了。”
“可以，”灰条说道，“冰爪！别拍打那块树皮了，到这边来。”
松鸦羽听到学徒蹦蹦跳跳跑过来的声音和兴奋的喵呜声。“你跟尘毛、云尾和亮心一起去狩猎。”灰条告诉他们，“我们希望你们能带回来很多猎物。”
“我相信你能的，”火星鼓励着她，“你一直做得都很不错。”
当冰爪走过去加入资深武士的行列时，松鸦羽能感受到学徒的开心和自豪。
“要不了多久，我们就得举行下一次武士命名仪式了。”火星对灰条说道。尽管火星的话听起来很开心，但是松鸦羽还是能捕捉到他话里的不安。他知道，族长心里正在想着寻找日神的远征队。
真的是日神杀了蜡毛吗？我派了这么多武士去寻找他，是对的吗？这些武士不在，我的族群是不是很容易受到攻击？松鸦羽能听见族长的想法，清晰得就好像火星大声说出来一样。让他惊讶的是，他感到，火星在染上绿咳症丢掉了一条命之后，至今仍然很虚弱，盘踞在火星脑海里的是对疾病卷土重来的恐惧。
也许他是对的。松鸦羽想。松鸦羽能听见蛛足在育婴室里喘息的声音，他的幼崽都围在他的周围翻腾着。
“很好！”他们的母亲黛西说道，“你们可以跟父亲练练战斗动作。蛛足，你就不能装成再凶一点的獾啊？”
“獾……不……”蛛足觉得自己几乎喘不过气来，“得了……绿咳症。”他痛苦地停了下来。
米莉正在旁边给三只幼崽整理皮毛，时不时地停下来咳嗽几下。“如果太冷了，就别待在外面了，”灰条跳到她的身边提醒着她，“还有你们三个小家伙，别跟母亲玩得太疯了。”
松鸦羽听到小梅花用尖尖的声音说道：“我们不会的。”
“好了，巡逻队现在可以出发了，”灰条返回来宣布道，“注意保持警惕，看到的所有异常情况都要汇报。”
所有的巡逻队都离开以后，石头山谷安静了下来。其他武士都回到武士巢穴避寒。黛西和米莉把幼崽们叫到了一起。
“现在该做些练习了，”黛西说道，“跑一跑会让你们暖和起来。谁能从荆棘屏障那里给我带一根细枝，并且第一个跑回来？”
“我能！”所有的幼崽都一起喊道，然后他们飞快地冲过空地。松鸦羽连忙往后跳去，给他们让开路，然后离开这里，重新回到了巫医巢穴。
他刚穿过黑莓屏风，从苔藓和蕨叶上腾起的灰尘就冲进了他的鼻子。“怎么回事？”他问道，随即打了个喷嚏。
“我正准备换铺垫。”叶池解释道，“你能到这里来，帮我把这些苔藓卷起来吗？”
松鸦羽走过去，爪子陷进叶池已经抓到一起的苔藓和蕨叶里。“我觉得快要下雪了。”他提醒道，“所有能用来垫窝的东西都会被雪水浸湿。”
“我们可以把水挤出去，”叶池回答道，“旧窝垫太难闻了，我们怎么能让生病的猫睡在上面呢？”
我就宁愿睡在上边，也不想在这又冷又湿的天气里，跑到外面去被冻死。他心里对自己说道。
他开始把旧窝垫堆到一起，因此身子半埋在干蕨叶和苔藓团里。这时，他听到有猫触动了黑莓屏风。尽管旧窝垫的气息非常浓烈，他还是闻到了火星的气息。
“你还好吗，叶池？”火星说道。
“我很好，谢谢。”叶池的语气很轻松，而且她也没有停下整理剩余窝垫的工作。
“我有些事情想问你……”火星的声音低了下去，松鸦羽感觉到一股浓浓的焦虑从他的身上散发出来。他蜷伏在蕨叶中，竭力不让自己再打喷嚏，希望火星无论必须说什么，都不要避开他去跟叶池私下说。
“什么事啊？”叶池问道。
“只是……”火星再次停下来。
说出来吧！松鸦羽默默地期盼着。
“我知道我没资格指示巫医，应该怎么跟星族对话。”火星说道，似乎每说出一个字，都让他变得越发尴尬，“不过我想……你想过到星族去寻找蜡毛，问问是谁杀害了他吗？”
什么？松鸦羽差点儿被一团苔藓噎住。
叶池沉默了好一会儿。她最后开口说话的时候，声音冷得就像秃叶季的雪：“在星族那里见到谁，这不是我能决定的。只能是我们的祖灵来找我，而我无法去找它们。如果蜡毛来找我，并且想说这件事，我就会听到的。”
松鸦羽意识到，叶池回答火星的时候，情绪中除了震惊和愤怒外，还有些别的什么。难道是……害怕？
“对不起，”火星道歉，“我没想到……”
“我会做我能做的所有事情，我保证。”叶池温柔地补充道，“我和你一样，也想知道是谁杀害了蜡毛。”
可为什么，我发现自己很难相信她？松鸦羽问自己。
当天晚些时候，松鸦羽清理出了所有的旧窝垫，并把艾菊送给仍旧受到绿咳症后遗症影响的猫之后，走到猎物堆前，挑选了一只田鼠。早些时候，一场很大的雪席卷了空地。但是现在，微弱的阳光温暖着他的皮毛。
他正吃着猎物，闻到叶池从长老巢穴里走了出来，身后跟着长尾和鼠毛。
“松鸦羽？”叶池叫他，“你吃完以后，我想让你和鼠毛、长尾出去走走。这是他们得了绿咳症之后第一次走出营地。”
松鸦羽吞下一口田鼠肉，说道：“好。”
“我们不是小猫崽了，你知道的。”鼠毛嘟囔着，“我们保证，我们没有别的猫陪伴也可以走到湖边，然后再走回来。”
“我知道。”叶池耐心地回答道，“但是我想让松鸦羽去找些草药。我们的艾菊剩得太少了，我们也需要山萝卜、蓍草。在湖边的树下，可能还长着一些。”
鼠毛唯一的反应是一声夸张的叹气。松鸦羽想象着这位清瘦的暗棕色长老正转动着眼珠的样子。
叶池走向松鸦羽，贴着他的皮毛站住。“我想让你特别照顾一下鼠毛，”她小声说道，“确保不要让她走太远，还要注意她的呼吸。”然后她又大声说道，“鼠毛，也许你和长尾可以帮助松鸦羽把他找到的草药带回来。”
“我觉得，我们也只能干些这样的活儿了。”鼠毛低声吼道。
松鸦羽吞下最后一口田鼠肉，然后领着他们穿过空地和荆棘通道。鼠毛带着长尾，跟在他的后面。森林里非常安静，大多数树叶都已经落了。松鸦羽不得不从落叶堆中开辟出一条路来，小心翼翼地避开仍然残留在树下的积雪。空气中充满了霜的气息。
水的气息带着他向湖边走去。他一只耳朵一直注意着鼠毛和长尾——他们正走在他的身边——在鼠毛之前嗅到横在小路上的枝条。
“这边走，”他向长尾说道，然后把尾巴搭在瞎眼虎斑猫的肩上，指引他绕开障碍物，“放心吧，这样你就不会绊倒了。”
“我觉得你比我们任何一个看得都清楚。”鼠毛听起来并不像平时那样坏脾气，甚至有些感动。
我也希望我能这样，松鸦羽想，可我现在看得还是不够远。他想知道那个预言是怎么回事，岩石是不是知道松鼠飞揭露的那个秘密。最重要的是，他想知道他真正的父母是谁。
当三只猫靠近湖边的时候，树木稀疏起来，冷风打在松鸦羽的脸上。
“你去忙你该做的事情吧！”鼠毛说道，“长尾和我想找个阳光好的地方打个盹儿。”
“好，那边应该有很多草药……”
“行了，”瘦削的暗棕色皮毛长老打断了他，“我知道叶池派你来，只是为了跟着我们，确保我们在湖边不会出现意外。在秃叶季已经过了这么久的时候，你能找到一嘴巴草药就算走运了。”
“不是那样的。”松鸦羽反驳道。
“去吧，我们没事。”长尾坚持道。
“那么，如果你需要帮忙，就喊一声，”鼠毛补充道，“我可能腿脚有一点儿僵硬，不过耳朵没问题。”
“好的。”松鸦羽尽完了责任，感到很轻松。他沿着湖边前行，一直来到了他藏棍子的那处树根前。湖面吹来的冷风吹乱了他身上的毛。当他把棍子拽出来拖到一丛老灌木下的时候，从湖面吹过来的冷风把他的毛向后吹去。然后他俯下身体，爪子放在那些抓痕上。
快点，岩石！我需要跟你谈谈！
他警觉起来，因为意识到自己醒来后可能会出现在远古猫族。体内的某些东西正在把他往很久以前拖去——是想见到他在那里交的朋友的渴望，是对他们如何完成前往山地旅程的好奇。不过他必须抵抗这种欲望。他知道，远古猫族的利爪现在帮不上他。
松鸦羽尽可能地集中精神，努力想象着岩石待着的那个地下洞穴。可他还是只能感觉到肚子下的草和挠着耳朵的一根枝条。
“没必要那样做，”一个声音从身后响了起来，“那根棍子给不了你任何答案。”
松鸦羽的眼睛一下子睁开了，而且也意识到自己能看见了。他仍旧待在老灌木丛下，转过身，看到岩石那几乎透明的身体就站在他身后的枯草和树木之间。岩石钻到灌木丛下，跟松鸦羽坐在一起，他那无毛的身体散发出地洞中强烈的石头的气息以及无尽的黑暗气息。
松鸦羽不由得浑身颤抖。“你是不是一开始就知道松鼠飞在跟我们撒谎？”他问道。
岩石探出身子，看不见的眼睛转向他。“答案就在你们的族群里。”他回答道，“只要你能查出来，你就能知道。”
“那不是答案，”松鸦羽生气地说道，“我需要你的帮忙！”
“我不能给你你想要的那种帮助。”岩石警告他。
“那么那个预言呢？如果我们不是火星的至亲……”
“创造你们自己的未来吧，松鸦羽。”岩石打断了他，“不要指望猎物掉在你的爪子上。”
松鸦羽气得身上的每根毛发都竖了起来。如果别的猫什么都不告诉他，他又怎么去创造自己的未来？他把爪子深深地插进了土里。
“松鸦羽！”鼠毛的声音从湖边传来，“松鸦羽！”
黑暗突然覆盖了松鸦羽双眼，岩石的气息消失了。
“松鸦羽，你在哪里？”
他从那丛老灌木下爬了出来，踢了些枯叶和碎屑，盖住了棍子。他稍后必须回来把它藏好。
“你在那下面干什么？”鼠毛一边向松鸦羽走来，一边问道，“我们现在准备回去了。我们想知道，你是否有草药要我们带回去？”
“哦……没有，我还没找到。”松鸦羽磕磕巴巴地说道。
鼠毛叹了口气：“可能你没找对地方。我听说，老灌木丛下的草药长得不好。你身后就有一大簇艾菊。”
松鸦羽窘得皮毛发烫，他本应该在尝试跟岩石对话前，先花点时间找草药的。他太想找到岩石，所以没注意到艾菊的浓烈的气息。
“谢谢。”他低声说道。
他和瘦削的老猫把草药采到一起的时候，能感觉到她的恼怒。要带回去的艾菊并不多，松鸦羽并不需要其他猫帮他带回去。而且，在返回营地的路上，他也没嗅到其他草药的气味。
“就这些吗？”叶池问。松鸦羽带着艾菊回去的时候，她正等在巢穴外。“我要的山萝卜和蓍草呢？”
“我没有找到。”松鸦羽衔着那束草药支吾道。
叶池生气地哼了一下。“没找到！那就多找找。松鸦羽，我不是让你去浪费时间的。你必须做你该做的事情。”她的音调升高，变成了咆哮，“如果每只猫都能做好自己的事，我们就没什么麻烦了。”
谁往她的皮毛里放了蚂蚁吗？松鸦羽疑惑着。叶池可不是这么容易发脾气呀！不过这回，他不想和她争辩。因此他走进巫医巢穴，准备放下艾菊。
叶池从他的身边跑过去。“放在那里！我会弄好的。”她几乎是从他的嘴里抢过了草药。她带着艾菊走进巢穴的时候，怒火在她的身上翻滚。
松鸦羽退出巫医巢穴，来到猎物堆前。但是他早前已经吃过了，现在哪怕是刚抓到的老鼠也引不起他的食欲。他肚子里的悲伤比饥饿更尖利：他思念狮焰和冬青叶，胜过了以往任何时候。他们以前可从来没分开过这么久。
在梦里，午夜已经告诉过他，远征队干的事等于是追赶一群大雁。岩石也告诉他，答案就在雷族内部。但是松鸦羽不知道，自己该怎么找到它们。你可以出现在别的猫的梦里，醒来的时候却又看不见东西，这算什么力量啊？如果他每一步都要走在黑暗中，他就别想发现任何真相。
CHAPTER15
CHAPTER15
“Thanks, Jayfeather,” Whitewing purred as Jayfeatherdropped a leaf wrap of ragwort in front of her.
The nursery was warm and quiet. Daisy and Millie had taken their kits out for some exercise, leaving the white queen to get some rest.
“Make sure to eat it all,” Jayfeather instructed her. “Your kits will be born soon, and you need all the strength you can get.”
“I know.” Whitewing sighed. “I hope it’s not much longer. I feel huge!”
“You’re fine,” Jayfeather assured her. He said good-bye and pushed his way out of the nursery. The morning was crisp but he could feel the weak rays of leaf-bare sun, melting the night frost.
“Now,” he muttered to himself, “if only Leafpool’s still out looking for yarrow….”
He couldn’t pick up his mentor’s scent when he brushed past the bramble screen into the den, but another cat was there, irritation coming off him in waves.
Mouse dung!Jayfeather thought. Now I’ll have to deal with him.
“Berrynose,” he mewed. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s my tail,” the young warrior told him. “It hurts. And it smells funny.”
Jayfeather sniffed at the stump of Berrynose’s tail, and almost recoiled at the rotting scent. “You’ve got an infection,” he reported.
“How?” Berrynose sounded indignant. “Leafpool said that it healed after I caught it in the fox trap.”
“It did,” Jayfeather agreed. “You must have opened up the wound again. Can you remember catching it on anything lately?”
Berrynose hesitated. “I got stuck in some brambles when I was chasing a rabbit,” he admitted at last.
“That could do it,” Jayfeather mewed. “But there’s nothing to worry about. You need a poultice of marigold, that’s all. Wait there a moment.” He padded into the cave where the herbs were stored, and located the marigold. Chewing up the leaves, he returned to Berrynose. “Keep still while I plaster this on,” he mumbled around the mouthful.
“Can I be excused from duties?” the cream-colored warrior asked hopefully.
Jayfeather was unsympathetic. “No. You don’t patrol or catch prey with your tail. But come back here tomorrow and I’ll put a fresh poultice on.”
“Okay,” Berrynose mewed. “Thanks, Jayfeather. It does feel better.”
Right,Jayfeather thought when he had gone. Now for my plan…He went back into the cave and collected a few leaves of chervil, dandelion, and borage. Bounding across to the elders’ den, he set the leaves down in front of Mousefur.
“Are any of these the herb?” he demanded.
Mousefur let out an annoyed hiss. “What herb?”
Without the bunch of leaves in his mouth, Jayfeather could smell fresh-kill, and he guessed he had interrupted the elders’ meal. “The herb you told me about, the one Leafpool mixed with your tansy.”
“Oh, that.” The skinny elder still sounded grumpy. “What do you want to know for?”
“Just curious.” Jayfeather realized he had sounded too urgent. He didn’t want Mousefur to tell Leafpool what he was doing. “You never know, it might be useful.”
Mousefur let out a grunt and gave the herbs a suspicious sniff.
“Let me try, too,” Longtail offered. “I didn’t taste the stuff, but I might remember the scent.”
“Well?” Jayfeather asked, when both elders had given the herbs a good sniff.
“No, it wasn’t any of those,” Mousefur meowed. “I know these herbs. Leafpool uses them all the time for fever and infected wounds.”
“That’s right,” Longtail added. “Sorry.”
Jayfeather suppressed a frustrated sigh. “Not even this one?” he asked, pushing forward the chervil.
“What part of ‘no’ didn’t you understand?” Mousefur growled, giving his ear a stinging flick with her tail.
“Okay.” Jayfeather gathered up the herbs again. “Thanks. I’ll bring some more later.”
“Give us the chance to finish this rabbit first!” Mousefur called after him as he left the den.
Jayfeather returned to his own den, intent on finding more herbs for Mousefur and Longtail to try. But he had just replaced the chervil, dandelion, and borage in their proper places when he heard Leafpool enter the den behind him. A strong scent of yarrow came with her.
“Jayfeather, what are you doing?” she asked sharply. “Why do you smell as if you’ve been sleeping in our supplies?”
“Uh…I fell over in the store,” Jayfeather stammered. “I got herb dust on my pelt.”
Leafpool let out a long sigh. “Really, Jayfeather, it’s like having a kit in here! And why were you poking around in the store anyway?”
Jayfeather felt his pelt rising at the anxiety and fear that was flooding from his mentor. Why doesn’t she want me looking in the store?he wondered. I’ve as much right to be in there as she has! What is she hiding now?
“I wasn’t poking around,” he retorted. “And I cleaned the stuff up.”
Leafpool sniffed. “Put this yarrow away, then,” she ordered. “I want to go check on Millie’s breathing. She’s out there romping around with her kits, and it might be too much for her.”
Once Leafpool had gone, Jayfeather tidied away the yarrow and slipped out a daisy leaf and a sliver of burdock root. If it’s either of these, I’m a mouse!Making sure that Leafpool was over by the nursery with Millie, he hurried back to the elders’ den.
“You again!” Mousefur muttered. “What is it this time?”
She sniffed briefly at each of the herbs Jayfeather put in front of her, and tasted the daisy leaf. “No,” she mewed. “It wasn’t them.”
Longtail came over for a sniff, but he didn’t recognize the herbs either.
Jayfeather sighed. “Okay, we’ll keep trying.”
“I think you’ve got bees in your brain,” Mousefur meowed as she settled down for a nap.
Jayfeather was eating a vole near the fresh-kill pile when he heard Firestar padding past him, on his way to the medicine cats’ den. Gulping down the last couple of mouthfuls, he followed, standing just outside the bramble screen so that he could hear what the Clan leader had to say.
“Leafpool, I wanted to ask you…” Firestar sounded almost embarrassed.
“Yes?” Leafpool prompted, an edge to her tone.
“I just wondered whether you’ve had a chance to speak with StarClan yet.” Jayfeather could tell that the Clan leader wanted to sound casual, as if the question didn’t really matter, but he was failing miserably.
Jayfeather’s belly clenched as he wondered what Leafpool’s answer would be; then he made himself relax. The whole Clan would know about it if Leafpool had spoken to Ashfur!
“No!” Leafpool snapped. “If I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Oh, okay…thanks.” Firestar edged out of the den, paused, and then bounded off, not even noticing Jayfeather.
Why doesn’t Leafpool want to talk to StarClan?Jayfeather wondered. What is she so afraid of?
His paws itched to get out of the camp, maybe go down to the lake, find the stick, and see if Rock would talk to him again. But Rock had told him to look for answers here, among his own Clan. StarClan, why aren’t you helping me?Jayfeather demanded silently. Isn’t that your job, to guide the Clans?
As if in answer to his unspoken plea, Sandstorm padded across the clearing and halted beside him. “Do you want to go for a walk in the forest with me?”
Jayfeather twitched his ears in surprise. “What for?”
Sandstorm let out a faint purr of amusement. “Can’t I just want your company? No, you’re right,” she added. “I do need to talk to you, somewhere we won’t be interrupted.”
“Okay,” Jayfeather agreed. “But I’ll have to ask Leafpool first. She’s…well, she’s a bit touchy just now.”
“I know,” Sandstorm told him. “Wait there.” She brushed past the bramble screen, and Jayfeather heard her meow, “Leafpool, I’m borrowing Jayfeather for a bit. We’re going into the forest.”
“All right,” Leafpool replied, though she sounded grudging as she gave permission. “Tell him to fetch some tansy back with him.”
Jayfeather’s paws tingled as he followed Sandstorm through the gorse tunnel and along the trail that led toward the WindClan border. He had always respected the ginger she-cat, and even though he now knew that she wasn’t his kin, he still trusted her.
Sandstorm said nothing particularly helpful as she followed the stream that marked the border with WindClan. Jayfeather listened impatiently to her comments about how the prey was running and whether WindClan was likely to make a raid across the border. But he didn’t object; he knew the she-cat wouldn’t talk until she was ready.
Eventually they reached the spot where the trees gave way to moorland, and a cold wind came whistling down from the ridge that stretched all the way to the Moonpool.
“Let’s rest for a while,” Sandstorm suggested, sitting at the edge of the stream.
Jayfeather padded over to join her, turning until the wind was in his face, enjoying the snow-scented blast that flattened his pelt to his sides.
“Jayfeather,” Sandstorm began, “do you think Leafpool is all right? She seems very tense lately.”
So that’s what it’s about!“I’ve noticed that too,” he replied cautiously.
“Is it the strain of dealing with the greencough?” Sandstorm guessed. “Or something worse? Do…do you think it’s possible she’s blaming herself for Ashfur’s death?”
Jayfeather sank his claws into the grass to steady himself.
I didn’t seethat coming!He wanted to tell Sandstorm that the death of Ashfur had nothingto do with Leafpool. I can guarantee it!But he knew how stupid it would be to voice his certainty. It would provoke questions from Sandstorm—questions that he had no way of answering without bringing the whole of ThunderClan crashing down around his ears.
“I don’t think so,” he murmured.
“Perhaps she feels she ought to have predicted his death, or stopped it somehow,” Sandstorm went on. “Or maybe she thinks she should be able to visit him in StarClan and find out the truth.”
Jayfeather froze. So Firestar hasn’t told Sandstorm that he asked Leafpool to find Ashfur and talk to him. How many more cats have secrets from one another?
“I think Leafpool’s tired from dealing with the greencough,” he mewed, knowing he would have to say something to explain his mentor’s strange mood. “And I know she’s worried about Whitewing’s kits being born in such a cold season. Besides, every cat is still grieving for Ashfur.” Well, maybe not every cat…Jayfeather curled up his claws as the lie slipped out.
“You could be right,” Sandstorm sighed. “Firestar and I are both worried about her. After all she’s not just our medicine cat, she’s our daughter, too. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight would feel just the same about you if you were in trouble.”
Or not…Jayfeather found it hard to nod seriously, hoping that his expression showed none of the turmoil he felt.
“You’ll tell me if you find out anything else?” Sandstorm mewed.
“Of course.” Of course not!As he followed the ginger she-cat back to the camp, Jayfeather wondered which cat would be the next to probe his secrets, and how long the terrible things he knew could stay hidden.
“Into the nursery now, kits,” Daisy mewed gently. “It’s time you were asleep.”
“But WindClan are attacking us!” Rosekit protested. “And I’m going to be Clan leader and fight them off!”
“You can be Clan leader tomorrow,” Daisy promised.
Jayfeather listened as the kits tumbled into the nursery, their high-pitched voices fading. A chill night breeze ruffled his fur; stretching, he padded off toward his den.
Two sunrises had passed since his conversation with Sandstorm. Leafpool was still touchy, and Jayfeather still didn’t know why. His mentor was afraid of something, that much he was sure of, but he didn’t dare ask for an explanation.
He had just reached the bramble screen when he heard a yowl from Cloudtail, who was on guard duty at the end of the thorn tunnel. “Brambleclaw! Brackenfur! Hey, they’re back!”
Rustling came from the warriors’ den as cats bounded out into the open. Several of them raced past Jayfeather to greet the returning patrol. Jayfeather followed, but hung back, trying to make sense of the mingled scents as the cats slipped through the thorn tunnel and into the camp. Brambleclaw was in the lead, followed by Brackenfur. A shiver passed through Jayfeather’s pelt as he recognized the scent of Sol. The loner stepped calmly out of the tunnel and paused at the entrance before padding forward into the camp. Confidence radiated from him; this was no prisoner dragged back to answer for his crimes.
A flurry of excited speculation broke out among the Clan cats
“That’s Sol!”
“They found him!”
“He looks so calm,” Brightheart mewed, sounding confused. “Surely he wouldn’t look like that if he had killed Ashfur?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past that cat,” Dustpelt growled. “Look what he did to ShadowClan.”
“What’s Firestar going to do with him?” That was Foxpaw’s voice, quivering with excitement. “I think he should rip his pelt off and leave him for the crows.”
“No.” Graystripe’s voice rose strongly above the babble. “That isn’t how Firestar does things. He’ll talk to Sol and find out the truth.”
I hope not,Jayfeather thought.
Another cat followed Sol into the clearing, with a scent Jayfeather couldn’t place, though he knew he should remember it. Hazeltail followed, and last of all came Hollyleaf and Lionblaze. Jayfeather relaxed as he realized that his littermates had made it home unhurt.
The Clan cats fell silent as Firestar padded past Jayfeather, their pelts almost brushing. “Greetings, Sol,” he meowed. His tone was cool but polite. “Thank you for coming.”
“Anything I can do to help,” Sol replied, with equal politeness.
“I’ll let you rest for tonight,” Firestar went on. “You must be tired after your journey. Berrynose, Honeyfern!”
“Yes, Firestar?” The two young warriors bounded up.
“Make a nest for Sol, would you? That bush between the medicine cats’ den and the warriors’ den would be a good place. It’s nicely sheltered, tucked under the cliff.”
And there’s a narrow entrance, so it’s easily guarded,Jayfeather added silently.
“Well done, Brambleclaw, and all of you,” Firestar continued, when Honeyfern and Berrynose had hurried off. “I know how difficult this must have been.”
“More than we expected,” Brambleclaw admitted. “We found Sol in a Twolegplace, with—”
“Wi’ me!” An angry voice interrupted Brambleclaw, and Jayfeather suddenly remembered who the cat was whose scent he hadn’t been able to identify. Purdy! What’s he doing here?
“An’ I’d like to know why you’ve dragged Sol all this way!” the old cat went on. “I hope you’re not accusin’ him of somethin’ he hasn’t done!”
An astonished murmur broke out among the listening cats. Jayfeather wasn’t sure whether Purdy’s mere presence or his fierce defense of Sol had provoked it.
“Brambleclaw, who’s this?” Firestar asked, surprise in his voice.
“His name is Purdy,” Brambleclaw replied. “He’s the loner we met on our first journey to the sun-drown-place. Purdy, this is our Clan leader, Firestar.”
“Welcome, Purdy.” Jayfeather pictured the flame-colored tom dipping his head to welcome the old tabby into the camp. “You can stay in the elders’ den. Foxpaw, will you go with him and introduce him to Mousefur and Longtail?”
“Thanks, Firestar,” the loner meowed. “Sol, just you give me a call if you need me, okay?” He padded after Foxpaw as the apprentice led the way toward the elders’ den.
As the old loner retreated, Leafpool padded up and gave Sol’s pelt a thorough sniff. “Were you hurt at all on the journey?” she asked. “Any stiffness in your legs?”
“No.” Sol’s voice was tinged with amusement. “I’m used to traveling long distances.”
Yes, because no cats want you around for very long.The sarcastic words rose to Jayfeather’s lips, but he had more sense than to let them out.
“Come on, Sol, I’ll take you to your nest,” Brackenfur announced.
As the two of them padded off, Firestar called quietly to Spiderleg. “You can take the first watch over Sol,” he murmured. “Bring him some fresh-kill, then make sure he stays in the den until morning.”
“No problem, Firestar.” Spiderleg bounded over to the fresh-kill pile.
Firestar headed back to his own den, leaving the rest of the Clan clustered together near the camp entrance.
“I’m sure he’s a killer!” Poppyfrost exclaimed. “Did you see those eyes? He looks as if he could see right through you.”
“I’m too scared to go to sleep,” Icepaw mewed. “What if he murders us in our nests?”
“Right,” Mousewhisker added. “I don’t know why Firestar let him in here.”
“Firestar needs to find out the truth,” Brightheart meowed.
“And I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about,” Sorreltail added briskly. “Spiderleg will make sure that Sol doesn’t get out of his den.”
In spite of the she-cats’ reassurance, Jayfeather’s paws tingled and the fur rose on his pelt as if a thunderstorm were about to break over the clearing. The air was tense with fear and uncertainty, as if every cat knew that something huge was hanging overhead.
Trying to ignore his jitters, Jayfeather padded over to where Hollyleaf and Lionblaze had flopped down together beside the thorn barrier.
“Hi,” he mewed. “How was the journey?”
“Long.” Lionblaze’s voice was bleak. “I thought we’d never get back.”
“We met some other cats,” Hollyleaf added. “They were having trouble with dogs, and Sol had encouraged them to fight. Several of them were killed, and since then the cats have to battle the dogs every time they set paw outside their den.” She let out a weary sigh. “More damage that Sol’s done.”
“He’s a troublemaker,” Lionblaze agreed, with a yawn.
The question Jayfeather wanted to ask—Do you think he killed Ashfur?—stayed unspoken. All he could pick up from his littermates were sensations of weariness, fear, and misery; he didn’t allow himself to probe deeper into their minds.
“It’s good to have you home,” he told them.
Neither Lionblaze nor Hollyleaf responded. Jayfeather realized that although he had missed his brother and sister with pangs sharp as claws, now that they were back, the murdered body of Ashfur still came between them.
“Come and eat,” he suggested, pushing the thought away. “Then you both need a good sleep.”
I wonder if we’ll get a chance to talk to Sol,he thought as he followed his littermates over to the fresh-kill pile. After all, he’s the only other cat who knows about the prophecy.A new thought occurred to him: Sol talked as if we were definitely the Three referred to in the prophecy. But we can’t be, because Squirrelflight’s not our mother!
Was this something that Sol didn’t know? Or had he been lying to them as well?
第八章
 第八章
狮焰注视着一望无垠的灰白色水面，连呼吸都忘了。冰冷的狂风吹着他的皮毛，他觉得狂风随时都能把他掀翻，卷下悬崖，摔到下面的岩石上。
“走这边。”黑莓掌下令道。他带着众猫沿着悬崖的边缘，走进一条长满杂草的窄沟。当狮焰离开了寒风风口的时候，他长长地舒了一口气。
“午夜，就是那只獾，就住在附近。”等远征队在沟底聚拢在黑莓掌的身边时，他继续说道。
“你们当时怎么知道它住在哪里？”冬青叶好奇地问道。
“我们也不知道。”副族长承认道，“我们甚至不知道，我们要找的是一只獾。”他甩了甩尾巴尖，“我意外地掉到午夜的巢穴里，这才发现了它。”
榛尾的眼睛瞪得大大的：“你受伤了吗？”
“你们不怕午夜吗？”桦落也问道。
黑莓掌抖了抖一只耳朵，就像在赶一只苍蝇：“现在不是讲故事的时候，我们必须继续赶路。”
他带着远征队在沟里穿行，并时不时爬上斜坡查看距离悬崖有多远。狮焰和其他猫都蜷伏在沟底，听着头顶呼啸的狂风。
终于，黑莓掌用尾巴召唤他们，跟他一起来到顶部。“我们就快到了，”他告诉他们，“跟紧我。”
狮焰和其他远征队成员肚皮贴在又短又硬的草上，跟着黑莓掌向悬崖的边缘走去。
他要跳下去吗？当每走一步，他们就离悬崖更近的时候，狮焰疑惑起来。
就在爪子下的土地快到尽头的时候，黑莓掌跳进一条更深更窄的沟里，这个深沟通向悬崖上的一个大裂缝。蕨毛和其他猫跟着他，狮焰走在队伍的最后面。覆盖着谷底的尖锐石块不是硌着他们的脚垫，就是在他们的爪子下滑动，险些让他们摔倒。桦落滑了一跤，撞向榛尾。蕨毛不得不在这两只年轻的猫滑得更远的时候，挡住他们。
“谢谢！”桦落大口喘息着。
“看好你放爪子的地方。”蕨毛说道。
这条沟一路向下，通往一个有很多岩石的海岸，沙滩上几乎全是鹅卵石。狮焰曾见过大风吹拂的时候，湖面上荡起的涟漪。但是这里的波浪更大，它冲击着岸边的岩石，溅起巨大的飞沫。榛尾盯着波浪，眼睛瞪大了。她害怕极了，连一爪子都不敢向前挪动。
“我讨厌这里。”冬青叶喃喃着，退向崖壁，“我的皮毛都都被弄湿了，黏糊糊的。”她转头舔了一下肩膀，“老鼠屎！”
狮焰也觉得皮毛黏糊糊的，他用鼻子嗅闻着空气中不熟悉的气味。这不是猫待的地方。他告诉自己。
黑莓掌挥了一下尾巴，跳上了一块岩石，然后立刻消失在悬崖的边缘。
“他去哪儿了？”桦落有些疑惑地问道。
狮焰看见副族长琥珀色的眼睛在悬崖底部的阴影里闪闪发亮。
“下来！”黑莓掌叫道。
远征队的其他成员不情愿地跟着他，在犬牙交错的岩石下穿行，然后进入了一个低矮的洞穴。狮焰四下看着淡黄色的洞壁，地面上有很多很大的光滑的石头。在他们头顶的高处，灰色的光从顶部的小孔里照了进来。
“这就是你摔下来的地方吗？”狮焰猜测道，他想起黑莓掌说过的他第一次遇见午夜的事。
黑莓掌点了点头：“这个洞穴里全都是水，我差点儿就淹死了。是你母亲救了我。”
一股冰冷的剧痛掠过狮焰的全身，就像外面翻滚的水一样残酷。她不是我母亲。这句话差点儿就冲出了他的嘴巴，但是他硬生生咽了回去。如果黑莓掌不知道这件事，那就不该跟他说这个。
冬青叶没有听见黑莓掌和狮焰之间的对话。她正好奇地在洞穴四周嗅来嗅去。她走到洞穴里边往上倾斜的地方。那里的地面是柔软的沙地，地面上铺着一些枝条。
“那些枝条是干什么用的？”冬青叶问道。
“这是午夜的窝。”黑莓掌解释道。
狮焰第一次注意到水的气息里还夹杂着獾的气息。他后颈上的毛立了起来。但是他强迫自己放松下来。这里的气息已经很陈旧了。而且黑莓掌跟他们说过，午夜对猫很友好。
“它会来找我们吗？”榛尾紧张地问道。
“我希望它会。”冬青叶回答道，“松鸦羽跟我们说了它所有的事。它知道得非常多。”
她绿色的眼睛从暗处扫过狮焰。这就是她想要的吗？狮焰想，她期待午夜可以告诉我们，谁是我们的父母吗？
“午夜不在这里。”黑莓掌听起来很失望，“而且它的气息已经不新鲜了，在这里等它没有意义。它已经离开好几天了，我们回头再来吧。”
当他们走出洞穴的时候，水已经升到了更高的岸边。一个大浪冲进了岩石，舔着鹅卵石。狮焰向后一跳，浪花在他的爪子周围打转，然后又嘶嘶地退了回去。
“退回那条沟，快！”黑莓掌下令道。
他在前边带路，远征队回头快速爬过岩石。当水泛起的泡沫浸湿了狮焰肚子上的皮毛的时候，他摇晃起来。但他还是设法站稳，将自己拖到了安全地带，爬上了那条沟上陡峭的斜坡。黑莓掌和榛尾已经率先爬了上去。冬青叶跟在狮焰后面爬上来，她黑色的皮毛被喷溅的水花浸得湿淋淋的，粘在身上。
“我讨厌这里！”她使劲抖掉身上的水，发出一阵呼噜，“午夜住在这里，真是个鼠脑子。”
一声尖厉的惊呼打断了她的话。桦落正准备跳到沟里时，一个巨浪撞在他的身上。冬青叶伸出一只爪子，但还没来得及抓住他，浪头就把他向后卷去。狮焰瞥见桦落在灰色的水中挣扎着，嘴巴惊恐地大张着，接着沉入了水里。
“他要淹死了！”冬青叶尖叫道。
就在此时，一道黑影从狮焰头顶闪过。黑莓掌跳进了水里，奋力游向桦落消失的地方。蕨毛本来正在下面的岩石上艰难地试图站稳，此时也跟在副族长身后跳入水中。
狮焰绷紧肌肉，刚要跳下去帮忙，却发现冬青叶拦住了自己的去路。“你不能去。”她尖叫着，“否则死的猫更多！”
“我一定能做点什么的。”狮焰绝望地说道。
他四下张望，看见在他们头顶几条尾巴高的岩石缝中长着一丛灌木。
“榛尾，”他喊道，“你能从那丛灌木上折一根树枝吗？”
年轻的母猫盯着太阳沉没之地的水面，看着族猫在波浪中挣扎，早已经吓得浑身僵硬。狮焰说话的时候，她先是一惊，然后转过身去拽那根最长的枝条。
狮焰也爬上去帮她。让他松一口气的是，灌木丛已经干枯了，那根枝条跟主干连接的地方已经裂开。因此他和榛尾用爪子把它扯了下来，顺着沟底拖到水边。看到桦落又露出了水面，狮焰长舒了一口气。黑莓掌用牙齿叼着年轻武士后颈的皮毛，蕨毛则在桦落的另一边游着，试图把他推向岸边。
狮焰把枝条放到沟底，用尾巴招呼妹妹。“抓住末端。”他指示道，“牙齿咬紧，爪子抓牢，千万别让它动。”
冬青叶依令而行，尽可能将枝条推向水面上方较远的地方。狮焰和榛尾蹲伏在她的旁边，三只猫都趴在枝条的末端，试图让枝条在汹涌的波浪中保持稳定。更多的水在他们的周围打着漩儿。
我们撑不了多久的，狮焰沮丧地想，我们也会被卷走的。
他眯起眼睛，目光越过咆哮的水面，发现一道波浪将族猫们向岸边推来，他们在水面上下起伏。秃叶季短暂的白天就要结束，落日的余晖把水面染成了猩红色，几只猫的头就像在血海中浮动的黑影。
波浪把他们冲得更近了。蕨毛探出身子，设法把爪尖扎进了枝条的另一端。“抓住它！”他对着桦落大喊。
年轻的公猫看上去已经吓呆了，眼睛呆呆地瞪着。但是黑莓掌一放开他的脖子，他就拼命抓住了枝条，攀着枝条往回爬，一直爬进了沟底的岩石中间。狮焰放开枝条末端，把桦落软绵绵的身体抱到更高的地方。水从桦落的皮毛上流下来，他吐出了一大口水。
蕨毛沿着枝条爬到了安全地带，然后站在那里，抖掉金棕色皮毛上的水。“黑莓掌！”他叫道，“黑莓掌！你在哪儿？”
当狮焰意识到副族长失踪了，恐惧的寒意顿时淹没了他。他不能淹死。没有他，我们怎么办？
突然，他发现黑莓掌黑色的脑袋又冲出水面，离枝条另一头只有两条狐狸尾巴远。他还在奋力地游动，但很显然已经筋疲力竭。
冬青叶和榛尾趴在枝条上，波浪不断地拉扯着她们。冬青叶的尾巴已经卷进了水里。
“往后退，但别松开！”狮焰命令道。他的心跳得跟冲刷海滨的波浪一样剧烈。然后，他提高声音大喊道：“黑莓掌！这边！”
副族长听到了他的喊声，似乎找到了新的力量。他挣扎着浮到水面上，让下一轮波浪将他推向枝条边，然后爪子探向枝条。他设法让爪子抓紧了枝条，在下一轮波浪将他重新卷回去之前，爬出了水面。
“狐狸屎！”他嘴里骂着，站在沟底的石头上，爪子周围是打着漩儿的海水，“我还以为我肯定要踏上前往星族的道路了。”
众猫开始从汹涌的水边撤离。黑莓掌爬上沟，站在桦落的身边。桦落仍旧双眼紧闭，坐在石头上。只有他剧烈起伏的胸脯表明他还活着。
黑莓掌用一只爪子拍了拍他：“桦落？”
年轻的虎斑猫睁开眼睛，颤抖着叹息了一声。“我差点就淹死了！”他的声音因为恐惧颤抖着，“我可能再也见不到白翅了，还有我们的孩子！”
“但是你现在没事了！”黑莓掌的声音非常刺耳，他的喉咙已经被苦涩的海水呛得肿了起来，“我们该动身了。”
副族长没有让他的远征队休息，一直走到了那条可以爬上崖顶的浅沟那里。这里没有风，波浪也只是在悬崖下拍打着岩石，他们终于可以停下来，清理皮毛里的水。狮焰舔到了咸水的味道，直皱鼻子，他看见族猫舔着皮毛的时候，也都表情难看。
“黑莓掌，蕨毛，谢谢你们。”桦落嘟哝道，“你们救了我的命。”
蕨毛用尾巴尖碰了碰年轻公猫的肩膀：“好在都结束了！也感谢星族，没有猫死去。黑莓掌，既然午夜不在，你认为我们下一步该怎么办？”
黑莓掌抖了一下耳朵，对蕨毛委婉地岔开话题很满意：“我们要继续寻找日神，两脚兽的猫很可能见过他。”
听到日神的名字，蕨毛脖子上的毛立了起来：“是的，他的模样有点像宠物猫。”
那只猫可不是宠物猫。狮焰不敢大声说出来，以免有些猫会问他，他怎么这么了解日神。他跟冬青叶交换了一个怀疑的眼神，他也不确定自己想不想去两脚兽的领地，而且他感觉妹妹也是如此。榛尾看起来也很紧张。最后，桦落说出了他们的想法。
“我们有必要这么靠近两脚兽吗？族群猫这么做是不对的。”
“我们别无选择，”黑莓掌低声咆哮道，“找不到日神，我们就不能回雷族！”
如果黑莓掌知道蜡毛一直处心积虑地想毁掉松鼠飞，他还这么急于找到杀害蜡毛的凶手吗？狮焰想。
可是黑莓掌也不知道松鼠飞对他撒了谎。松鼠飞让他相信，他就是我们的父亲。如果他知道了真相，他还会对松鼠飞如此忠诚吗？
狮焰摇了摇头，拼命想忘掉所有的谎言。他必须将精力放在他能控制的事情上：他要尽可能成为雷族最优秀的武士。我知道，我仍然可以毫发无损地战斗，只是需要机会来证明这件事……
“怎么了？”冬青叶在他的耳边小声问道，“你听到什么了吗？”她黑色的毛竖了起来。
狮焰这才意识到自己将爪子插进了土里，似乎正准备发动攻击。“不，没事。”他回答道，强迫自己放松下来，“我只是在想日神的事。”
黑莓掌没听到他们的对话。“这就是我们要做的事情，”他宣布道，“悬崖边上不会有猫居住，而且也没有猎物。所以我们不得不向两脚兽领地的外围走，寻找可能见过日神的猫。”
“但愿我们能一直待在外围。”冬青叶嘟囔着。
远征队小心翼翼地跨过沟边，向悬崖远端的开阔地上隐约可见的两脚兽巢穴走去。让狮焰感到欣慰的是，虽然风还在猛吹，但是水撞击悬崖的喧哗正在渐渐消失。
太阳已经消失了，被太阳沉没之地吞掉了，他们的影子长长地在草地上延伸着。狮焰的肚子发出咕咕声，他这才想起，从一大早到现在，他连一口猎物都没吃过。
“我们一到两脚兽的领地，就去寻找猎物。”蕨毛听见他肚子里的叫声，承诺道。
我们在那里能找到什么样的猎物呢？狮焰想着，我可不吃宠物猫的食物！
当他们离两脚兽的巢穴越来越近时，狮焰也越来越紧张。他能从族猫竖起的毛和闪烁的目光中看出，他们也同样紧张。突然，有什么黑色的东西向他们俯冲下来，发出尖锐的声音。狮焰扑倒在地，打了个滚。他龇出牙齿，弹出爪尖。这时，他才发现是一只蝙蝠，它飞快地震动翅膀，消失在越来越浓的黑暗里。
桦落强忍着才没笑出声来。“我真希望你抓住它，”他说道，“那样我们都能吃上一口。”
“咱们六只猫分着吃，那一口也太小了。”狮焰低声吼道。
亮光开始出现在两脚兽的巢穴里，天空被照成了诡异的橙色。狮焰皱着鼻子，闻着奇怪的气息，听着刺耳陌生的声音，感到脖子上的毛竖了起来。
在他的旁边，冬青叶的眼睛闪闪发亮，尾巴蓬松成了平时的两倍大。当两脚兽巨大的巢穴隐隐约约出现在前方时，黑莓掌和蕨毛的行动变得小心翼翼。
“我觉得日神不会跟两脚兽生活在一起。”黑莓掌说道，“所以，我们更有可能在边缘地区找到他，或者找到见过他的猫。”
他带队穿过一片柔软的草地，然后停在用光滑的木条做成的高高的栅栏前。狮焰嗅着空气，有很多气息他都认不出来。他只是分辨出了两脚兽和狗的气息。
“每个两脚兽巢穴都有一小片附属的领地，”黑莓掌解释道，“它被木头栅栏或者红石头封闭起来。我觉得，那是两脚兽标记它们的边界的方法。”
“他怎么会知道这么多？”冬青叶怀疑地嘟囔着。
“在旧森林里有两脚兽的领地，”蕨毛告诉她，“正好就在我们的领地旁边。你不记得那个故事了吗——火星是如何离开他的两脚兽，然后在森林里遇见了灰条？”
冬青叶耸耸肩：“我想起来了。”
黑莓掌带队，沿着栅栏走向一个被橙色光线覆盖的缺口。他们还没走到那里，大声的狗叫声就从栅栏的另一边传来。当两只狗的身体使劲地撞上薄薄的栅栏时，狮焰吓得跳了起来。他和冬青叶警惕地对视了一眼。要是栅栏被撞倒了怎么办？
“跑！”黑莓掌大喊一声。
远征队沿着栅栏逃跑，然后冲过了那个缺口。狮焰刚把爪子放在栅栏尽头坚硬的黑色石头地面上，就被一道耀眼的白光罩住了。一只怪物径直向他们冲来！
一些猫发出恐怖的叫声。有一个心跳的时间，狮焰从怪物的眼睛里看到了族猫的身影。然后他跳回到雷鬼路边，落到了一片灌木丛中。
等他敢抬头看的时候，怪物已经放慢了爪子，转向两脚兽巢穴后面的一个缺口。耀眼的黄光从雷鬼路两旁站着的高高的石头树上落下来。狮焰看到，在他的对面，桦落正坐在栅栏下，蕨毛站在栅栏上，弓着后背，直竖着尾巴，毛奓开了。冬青叶和黑莓掌一起从一棵树下的阴影中出现了。
“桦落？”狮焰轻声叫道，“你没事儿吧？”
让他松一口气的是，年轻的虎斑公猫爬了起来，向他抖了抖胡须。“我吓得脑袋里全是星族的武士。”他说道，“那个东西太凶残了！”
狮焰藏身的荆棘就长在两脚兽栅栏的另一个缺口旁。当他看着两脚兽巢穴前的另一只怪物时，肚子收紧了。但是他随即意识到这只怪物正在睡觉，呼吸这才渐渐平稳，心跳也慢下来了。
在缺口的另一边，有一个闪光的两脚兽物品翻倒了，涌出来一堆垃圾。狮焰闻到了鸦食的味道，不由得皱了皱鼻子。然后那堆东西被翻了起来，榛尾从里边钻了出来，抖掉了身上的碎屑。
“我把那个东西撞翻了。”她抱怨着，“然后我就被这些恶心的东西埋住了。”
狮焰走过去给她帮忙。沾在她皮毛上的恶心东西闻着像一种植物，但是又凉又滑，就像草药采回来后，在雨中烂掉了。他小心翼翼地伸出一只爪子，把它们弄掉，冬青叶和黑莓掌也跳过来帮忙。
“这味道真恶心！”榛尾舔了舔肩膀，又用舌头把嘴巴舔了一圈，试图把这种气味清除掉，“我宁愿吃狐狸屎。”
蕨毛走到雷鬼路的边缘，查看是不是还有更多的怪物。他的毛仍然没有平顺下来。狮焰注意到，黑莓掌帮榛尾清理皮毛时，还是有些紧张。
两位资深武士信心动摇了，这反而让狮焰找回了一点儿斗志。“旧森林里的两脚兽领地不可能有狗。”他跟冬青叶小声说，“你看，连黑莓掌都吓了一跳。”
“真不知道还有没有别的会吓着我们。”冬青叶回应道。
桦落穿过雷鬼路，闻着从亮闪闪的两脚兽物品里倒出来的那堆碎屑。“嗨，看这个！”他说道，“黑莓掌，我们能吃它吗？”
狮焰一开始并不知道桦落从垃圾堆里拖出来的是什么。它很光滑，颜色很淡，尽管它不是他们以前见过的任何一种猎物，但是闻起来有一点像抓回来的猎物，上面还有两脚兽的怪味。狮焰不想吃它，可是一想到食物，他的肚子又咕咕地叫了起来。
黑莓掌仔细闻了闻那个东西，然后从边上咬了一小口。“它尝起来有点像画眉，”过了一会儿，他向大家汇报道，“我觉得吃了不会对大家造成伤害，况且我们需要食物。”
“我觉得，这意味着他认为我们在附近找不到太多猎物。”冬青叶在狮焰的耳朵边低声说。
黑莓掌把两脚兽的食物公平地给每只猫分了一份。桦落又检查了一遍垃圾，可是没找到其他可以吃的东西。
“味道不太坏！”狮焰对冬青叶嘟哝着，满嘴都是那食物，“除了上面两脚兽的气息。”
冬青叶蹲伏在她那份食物旁，飞速地小口咬着：“嗯，改天我要吃一只又大又肥的田鼠。”
随着食物驱走了饥饿，狮焰觉得有了很多力气。但是当黑莓掌领着他们向两脚兽的领地深处走去时，他开始觉得被困住了。红石头巢穴站在道路两边，比石头山谷的墙挤得更紧，而且比树林里的树还高。走在坚硬的石路上，他的脚垫硌得生疼。猫在这里可怎么生活啊！
当他们沿着雷鬼路的边缘往前跑的时候，从石头树上照下的黄光，在旁边的墙上投下猫巨大的晃动的影子。突然，冬青叶嗅了嗅，抖动的尾巴碰了碰黑莓掌的肩膀。“前面有东西！”她嘶嘶地叫道。
当黑莓掌扬起尾巴，示意远征队停下时，狮焰马上停住不动。他以为会传来怪物的吼叫，但除了爪子逼近的啪嗒声外，没有其他声音。
榛尾往他的身边靠了靠，狮焰能感到榛尾全身都在哆嗦。“如果是狗怎么办？”她低声问道。
“那我们就和它战斗。”狮焰活动了一下爪子。
当一只黑白相间的小猫从下一个墙角走出来时，狮焰松了一口气。小猫停下来，害怕地盯着远征队，后背弓起，身上的每根毛发都竖了起来。
那只猫立即向后退去，惊恐的目光仍旧盯着这群族群猫。没等他转身逃走，黑莓掌就向前迈了一爪子。
“我们不会伤害你。”他叫道，举起一只前爪，让小猫看到他的爪尖是收着的，“我们只想跟你说话。”
“他也是这么说的！”小猫看起来吓得魂不附体，“可是看看都发生了什么事！”
黑莓掌还没问他的话是什么意思，那只黑白相间的小猫已经掉头逃回他走出来的墙角。黑莓掌在他的后面紧紧追赶，整个远征队也紧追了上去。可是等他们绕过那个墙角，雷鬼路上空荡荡的。在明亮的黄光下，一个移动的身影都没有。
“老鼠屎！”黑莓掌咬牙切齿地说道。
“看在星族的分上，他到底在说什么？”蕨毛一脸迷惑地问道。
狮焰跟冬青叶对视了一眼。他明白冬青叶的脑海里闪现的是和他同样的想法——日神！
“我想知道‘他’指的是谁？”黑莓掌沉思着，他的耳朵抖动着，眺望着寂静的雷鬼路，“可能就是日神。你们觉得呢？”
“就是他！我敢赌一个月亮圆缺的黎明巡逻！”桦落兴奋地说道。
“我们看起来跟日神一点儿都不像。”黑莓掌若有所思地继续说道，“但是我们是新来的——就跟日神一样。”
“那到底发生了什么事呢？”榛尾颤抖着问，“从那只猫的举动来看，那一定是很坏的事情。”
没有猫能回答这个问题。狮焰的肚子急速起伏着。族猫们看起来非常紧张，他们的眼睛吓得瞪大了，仿佛他们发现日神就在下一片落叶下。
最后黑莓掌打破了寂静：“天太晚了，不能再找了。我们休息一下，明天早上再开始搜索。”
他领路返回那个角落，然后沿着雷鬼路，经过先前差点儿被狗攻击的那道栅栏。现在所有的一切都很安静，只不过狗的气息还是很浓。狮焰弹出爪尖，准备撕碎那可恶动物的皮毛。可是栅栏后面没有传来任何声响。最后他们来到去两脚兽领地时经过的那片柔软的草地和树林。
狮焰和冬青叶在树木的根部做了一个临时巢穴，其他猫也都在附近找到了睡觉的地方。
“我太累了！脚垫都要掉了！”冬青叶嘟囔着，张开嘴巴，打了一个大大的哈欠。
“我的也是。”一开始狮焰还害怕，心中的担心和对周围环境的陌生感会让他睡不着。可是当他把酸痛的身体蜷伏在枯叶上时，感到睡意就像一张厚重的皮毛盖在了他的身上。他快睡着的时候，仍然能听到远处传来太阳沉没之地的咆哮声。
CHAPTER16
CHAPTER16
Lionblaze woke to the sound ofexcited mewing and movement around him. He lifted his head to see his Clanmates pushing their way out of the warriors’ den and into the clearing. He staggered to his paws, wincing at the stabs of pain from his aching muscles, and shouldered his way through the branches after them.
The sky was clear, but the sun hadn’t risen far enough to penetrate the hollow. Deep shadows hung over the dens and blanketed Spiderleg in near darkness where he crouched, on watch outside Sol’s nest. But even though it was so early, it looked as if most of ThunderClan was gathered in the clearing. Daisy, Millie, and Whitewing were sitting outside the nursery. Lionblaze saw that they had their tails curled protectively around the kits, who gazed out across the stone hollow with wide, scared eyes. Foxpaw and Icepaw bounded across to join the warriors, feeling the need to be close to the older, more experienced cats.
Hollyleaf was already up, standing with Hazeltail and Brackenfur. She didn’t glance at Lionblaze, and somehow his paws wouldn’t carry him over to her.
It’s as if part of us, part of what we used to be, died with Ashfur!
Firestar emerged from his den on the Highledge and ran lightly down the tumbled rocks to join Graystripe at the bottom. At the appearance of the Clan leader, the excitement in the clearing mounted.
“Here’s Firestar!”
“Now something’s bound to happen!”
Lionblaze flexed his muscles, trying to work the stiffness out of them. He heard a flurry of paw steps, and the dawn patrol raced back into the camp with Thornclaw at their head.
“What’s going on?” the golden brown warrior panted as he skidded to a standstill in the middle of the clearing. “Have we missed anything?”
Brambleclaw padded over to him. “What are you doing here so early?” he demanded. “You can’t have been all the way along the ShadowClan border.”
“Oh, everything’s quiet,” Berrynose mewed, peering over Thornclaw’s shoulder. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Brambleclaw’s tail-tip twitched. “All right,” he growled. “But take longer over it next time.” He turned back to the cluster of warriors outside their den. “Hunting patrols,” he announced. “Sandstorm, will you lead one, please. And Brightheart, you can—” He broke off, his tail flicking with irritation when he realized that no cat was listening to him.
He glanced frustratedly at Firestar, who padded up to him with Graystripe at his side. “They won’t settle,” Brambleclaw meowed. “No cat even wants to eat.”
Graystripe nodded, and leaned over to murmur into Firestar’s ear. Lionblaze just caught the soft words: “You may as well get this done now.”
Firestar’s ears pricked. “You’re right. Brambleclaw, go and fetch Sol.”
Every cat’s gaze was fixed on the deputy as he padded across to the bush where Sol had slept. He exchanged a quick word with Spiderleg, then vanished under the branches. A few heartbeats later he emerged again with Sol behind him.
As the loner padded over to Firestar, the first rays of the sun slid over the rim of the hollow and shone on his fur. He looked as sleek as if he had spent the last moon grooming his pelt, instead of trekking through the Twolegplace and across open country to reach the camp. Lionblaze felt tired and scruffy in comparison.
As Brambleclaw escorted Sol to the center of the clearing, the ThunderClan cats drew back on either side, their eyes wide and their fur fluffed up.
What’s wrong with them?Lionblaze wondered with a flash of irritation. Sol’s just a cat! Why are they acting like a lot of cowardly rabbits?
“Sol! Wait for me!” Purdy’s yowl echoed around the hollow as he erupted from the elders’ den, with Mousefur and Longtail following. They halted just beyond the outer branches of the hazel bush, while Purdy lumbered farther into the clearing. His fur was sticking up on end, covered with scraps of moss, and his eyes blazed with anger.
Brackenfur intercepted him before he could reach Sol. “Take it easy, Purdy,” he mewed quietly. “No cat is harming Sol. Just keep back with the others.”
Purdy gaped in shock, but before he could reply, Hazeltail padded up to him and nudged him over to sit beside her and Birchfall.
Firestar stood face to face with Sol in the middle of the circle of cats. “Do you know why we’ve brought you here?” he asked.
Sol tilted his head to one side. “A cat has been murdered, and you think I’m responsible.” He confidently met Firestar’s gaze. His fur gleamed in the pale, cold sunlight.
“You killed Ashfur!” Thornclaw snarled at him.
“Yes,” Cloudtail growled. “You were seen on the WindClan border. Don’t try to deny it!”
“Why did you kill him?” Sorreltail demanded. “What had he ever done to you?”
Sol ignored the hostile yowling and kept his gaze fixed on Firestar as the Clan leader waved his tail for silence.
“One of our warriors was found in the WindClan border stream, with bitemarks in his throat,” Firestar meowed when the clamor had died down. “Do you deny it was you?”
Sol stared at him without blinking. “Think about what you are saying, Firestar. The truth will be known when it is time.”
Lionblaze caught a flash of frustration in Firestar’s green eyes. Sol had neither confirmed nor denied the accusation.
“Make him confess!” some cat hissed from the back of the crowd.
Firestar ignored the fierce words, his gaze still fixed on Sol. “What were you doing on the WindClan border?” he asked.
Sol shrugged. “How should I remember? It was many sunrises ago.”
“Did you see Ashfur there?” Lionblaze could tell how hard Firestar found it to keep his voice even and calm as he questioned the loner.
“Ashfur…?”
“A powerful tom with thick grey fur.” There was an edge of irritation in Firestar’s tone; Lionblaze guessed that Sol knew very well who Ashfur was.
Sol shook his head. “I didn’t see any cat there.”
“Did you scent any?”
Lionblaze caught a gleam of amusement in Sol’s eyes, as if the mysterious loner had picked up Firestar’s increasing desperation. “I scented ThunderClan and WindClan,” he replied. “But I didn’t recognize any particular scents.”
“Did you hear any sound of fighting?”
Sol blinked slowly. “No.”
Firestar paused, the tip of his tail twitching in frustration. A cold claw seemed to touch Lionblaze’s belly as he realized that even his Clan leader couldn’t penetrate Sol’s secrets.
“Go and get something to eat,” Firestar mewed eventually. “But don’t think this is over,” he warned Sol. “We will speak of this again. Cloudtail, will you take over guard duty, please?”
“It’ll be a pleasure,” the white warrior growled. He padded after Sol and Brambleclaw as the deputy escorted Sol to the fresh-kill pile and then back to the nest, and settled himself under the outermost branches of the bush, his face grim and his pelt bristling.
When Sol had gone, Brambleclaw was able to organize the hunting patrols, and cats began to leave.
“All the cats who went to find Sol can have the morning to recover,” the deputy meowed to Lionblaze. “Make sure you all get a good rest.”
Lionblaze wasn’t sure that would be possible. His Clanmates crowded around him and the other cats who had made the journey, demanding to know what had happened.
“Was it hard, trying to bring Sol back?” Poppyfrost asked.
“Yeah, did he try to escape?” Foxpaw added excitedly.
“No,” Lionblaze replied. “He was willing to come. He did exactly what we wanted.”
And that’s strange,he added to himself. Does he have a reason of his own for agreeing to come here?Every hair on his pelt prickled. Does he think he can do to us what he did to ShadowClan?
“Were you scared?” Mousewhisker whispered, his eyes wide as if he was imagining all kinds of disasters. “That cat might do anything.”
“You watch what you’re saying, young ’un!” Purdy’s voice rang out loudly as the elder came bustling up to the group of cats. “You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. Sol is a good cat. He’s my friend.”
Mousewhisker jumped back, alarmed by the old tabby’s fierce protest.
“But he was seen—” Cinderheart began.
“Sol would neverhurt another cat,” Purdy insisted, looming over the younger cats. “Have you all got fluff in your heads?”
“Look, Purdy,” Lionblaze began, trying to think of how he could convince the old cat.
Sandstorm interrupted him. “It’s okay, Purdy. No cat will harm Sol if he’s innocent. Come on, let me show you the fresh-kill pile.”
Mumbling something under his breath, Purdy glared at the younger warriors before allowing the ginger she-cat to lead him away.
“Phew!” Lionblaze glanced at Hollyleaf. “I thought he was going to knock me out with his dog-breath.”
Hollyleaf was more sympathetic. “Well, he’s the only one defending Sol just now. Every other cat has already decided that he’s guilty.”
Lionblaze opened his mouth to ask, What do you think?But Hollyleaf was already padding away, and the question remained unspoken. Thinking it over, Lionblaze wasn’t sure that he wanted to know the answer.
He was heading back to the warriors’ den to rest when he heard a call from Firestar, and spotted the Clan leader at the foot of the tumbled rocks, beckoning with his tail to gather his remaining warriors around him. As he padded up to the Highledge, Lionblaze thought that Firestar looked edgy; he was flexing his claws as if he wanted action but wasn’t sure what it should be.
“Leafpool,” the Clan leader began, spotting the medicine cat at the edge of the group, “do you know of any way we can be sure whether Sol killed Ashfur?”
The medicine cat shook her head.
“What about the bitemarks?” Sorreltail suggested. “Could we get Sol to bite on a leaf, and then measure his teethmarks against Ashfur’s wound?”
“Brilliant!” Firestar meowed, giving the tortoiseshell she-cat a warm look of approval. “I’ll—”
“It won’t work,” Leafpool interrupted. “Ashfur has been buried for too long.”
“There’s something else we need to think about,” Graystripe added. “Remember when ThunderClan kept Brokentail prisoner, back in the old forest? He ended up befriending Tigerclaw and attacking ThunderClan from within. We can’t trust Sol while he’s inside our camp!”
“Then we’ve got to punish him.” Birchfall lashed his tail. “We can’t let him cause any more trouble.”
“Let’s make him collect mouse bile!” Poppyfrost’s eyes gleamed; clearly she was remembering the tasks she had to do when she was an apprentice.
“We could make him hunt prey for the Clan,” Brackenfur suggested.
“But then he might escape,” Lionblaze pointed out.
“We can’t punish him until we’re sure he’s guilty,” Firestar meowed. “All we can do is wait. Leafpool, will you watch for any signs from StarClan? Surely our warrior ancestors know the truth.” He raked his claws across the ground, leaving deep marks in the wet earth. “Why haven’t they shown us something already?”
Leafpool’s expression was guarded. “StarClan will tell us what it wants us to know in its own good time.”
Firestar dipped his head, accepting what his medicine cat told him. “Then Sol will stay here under guard until we have more evidence,” he decided. With another glance at Leafpool, he added, “Until StarClan decides to help us.”
In the days that followed, ThunderClan settled into an uneasy routine of feeding Sol, watching him stretch his legs when he was allowed out into the clearing, and escorting him to make dirt. Sol never lost his air of calm, and he treated every cat with the same friendliness.
Lionblaze waited frustratedly for the chance to talk to him alone. He was desperate to discuss the prophecy. He couldn’t forget the sense of power and control he had felt when facing the dogs, which convinced him still that he was one of the Three. But Sol was never left alone, and only the senior warriors were assigned to guard him.
The weather stayed sunny and dry, even though each morning the trees were rimmed with frost. Sometimes it was even warm enough by sunhigh to bask on a couple of flattish rocks at the base of the cliff. Mousefur especially liked to stretch out there, soaking up the sunlight.
“The elders should be allowed to bask here whenever we want,” she had announced. “Our old bones need it.” She sighed, twitching her ears. “Back in the old forest, we had Sunningrocks. All the Clan’s cats could bask there together, if they wanted.”
Since Purdy’s arrival, she had taken to lying on the rocks with him. Lionblaze was surprised at their friendship, but he figured that they talked about things like how rude young cats were these days and how much tastier prey used to be.
Around sunhigh, several days after the patrol’s return, Lionblaze was strolling back to the camp with Honeyfern and Berrynose. They had spent the morning training with Squirrelflight and Brackenfur and the two apprentices; Brackenfur had taken over as Icepaw’s mentor since Whitewing was so close to having her kits.
“They’re doing so well,” Honeyfern purred. “Did you see how high Icepaw can leap?”
“And Foxpaw can dodge really quickly,” Lionblaze agreed. “Squirrelflight made them practice that move over and over again, and they’ve both got it now.”
Berrynose paused to stretch his jaws wide in a yawn. “I feel like lying in the sun for a bit to catch my breath. I wonder if Mousefur will let us have a turn on the basking rocks.”
“Good idea,” mewed Lionblaze.
Pushing his way through the thorn tunnel, he saw that Mousefur, Purdy, and Longtail were all snoozing on the flat-topped rocks. Berrynose bounded over to them eagerly; Lionblaze followed with Honeyfern.
But Purdy wasn’t dozing after all. “So my Upwalker,” he was meowing as they approached, “he says to me, ‘Purdy,’ he says, ‘there’s only you can get rid of this mouse, and—’” He broke off, blinking as he spotted the younger cats.
Lionblaze noticed that Mousefur and Longtail, to whom Purdy was telling his story, were both fast asleep.
“Hi, Purdy,” he greeted the old tabby. “We were wondering if we could bask here with you for a bit. We’ve been training all morning, and we’re tired.”
“Young cats today—no stamina,” Purdy grumbled, but he rose to his paws, stretched, then prodded Mousefur and Longtail awake.
“Wha’?” Mousefur woke with a start.
“These young ’uns want to bask,” Purdy explained.
The tip of Mousefur’s tail twitched, but to Lionblaze’s surprise she didn’t object. “I suppose so,” she muttered. “We’ll even leave the rocks to you, providing one of you brings a bit of fresh-kill to our den. I could just eat a good plump vole.”
“I’ll do that,” Honeyfern offered, bounding off to the fresh-kill pile.
Mousefur laid her tail on Longtail’s shoulders to guide him down from the rocks, and the three elders headed off toward their den under the hazel bush.
“Thanks!” Lionblaze called after them.
“You fell asleep and missed some of the story,” Purdy mewed to Mousefur as they retreated. “I’d better start it all over again. There was this mouse, see…”
Lionblaze and Berrynose climbed up onto the basking rocks, and Honeyfern joined them a few heartbeats later. The flat surface was warm where the elders had been lying, and bright yellow sunlight spilled down on it. Lionblaze stretched out and let the heat soak into his fur. I wish I could lie like this for ever,he thought, and never have to worry about anything again.
On the rock next to him, Berrynose and Honeyfern were sharing tongues and watching Millie’s kits playing in the clearing close by.
Berrynose bent his head close to the tabby she-cat’s ear. “We’ll have kits like that one day,” he purred.
Honeyfern looked up at him, blinking shyly. “I’d like that.”
Lionblaze was surprised at how gentle Berrynose sounded; he was used to the older warrior being a bossy nuisance, ordering around other cats if he thought he could get away with it. Maybe having Honeyfern as a mate would be good for him.
At least he might stay out of my fur.
The cream-colored warrior rasped his tongue over Honeyfern’s shoulder. “You’ll make a wonderful mother.”
Watching them together, a pang of loneliness gripped Lionblaze’s belly. Who ismy mother? Why didn’t she want me?Closing his eyes, he wondered what she had been like, and whether she ever thought about the kits she had abandoned.
“Watch me! Watch me!” Blossomkit’s voice came from a little way across the clearing. “I can leap higher than any cat!”
“No, you can’t, I can!” Bumblekit argued.
Lionblaze opened one eye to see all three of Millie’s kits leaping and tumbling around, a couple of fox-lengths from the rocks where he and his Clanmates lay. Briarkit fell over and rolled so that she was next to a crack in the rock wall; leaping up, she balanced on her hind legs with her forepaws stretching up into the air.
“I bet you can’t do this!” she boasted.
In the same instant, Lionblaze spotted a long, dark shadow emerging from the rock behind the kit. It reared up against the gray stone, but Briarkit was too excited to notice. Lionblaze sat bolt upright.
Snake!
He bunched his muscles to spring, but Honeyfern was quicker. Leaping down from the rock, she bundled Briarkit out of the way. The snake arched its neck; before Honeyfern could move it struck down and buried its hooked fangs in her shoulder.
Honeyfern sprang backward with a screech of pain. “Help!”
第九章
 第九章
一阵冷风弄皱了松鸦羽的毛，将他唤醒了。“我们这里需要更多的窝垫。”他从空荡荡的窝里爬出来，对自己抱怨道，“简直就像睡在风族领地的山顶上，四面透风！”
他抬起头，嗅着清晨的气息。空气中有很浓的草药气息。当松鸦羽低下头飞快地整理着皮毛时，他确定叶池就在储藏草药的洞穴前。她正在用叶子包起艾菊，身边放着刚刚用刺柏果和艾菊叶配好的草药，是用来给鼠毛的关节止疼的。
“要不要我把它们给鼠毛带去？”松鸦羽走到老师身后提议道。
叶池跳了起来。“别像这样接近我！你吓得我皮毛都飞了。”她小心地把草药混合到一起，然后补充道，“不用，我自己能行。我想让你去一趟育婴室，查看一下那里的每只猫，还有铺垫，看看有没有跳蚤。昨天我看见小荆棘的抓痕了。”
松鸦羽转身离开了，怨恨在皮毛下沸腾着。“我是位巫医，还是位学徒？”他嘟囔着，声音大得叶池都能听到，但是母猫并没有理他。
他穿过黑莓丛，走进了育婴室，大声打了招呼，开始检查跳蚤。
“噢，谢谢你，松鸦羽！”米莉说道，“我肯定我的皮毛里有两只跳蚤。要是能弄掉它们，我可就轻松多了。”
“你需要更换铺垫。”松鸦羽告诉她，他在小荆棘的脖子上找到一只跳蚤，然后用一只爪子戳着它，“我去找狐爪和冰爪来给你换。”除非叶池希望这由我来做。他生气地对自己补充道。
“好了，检查完了。”他告诉小荆棘，“小梅花，我要……”
当一只爪子刺入了松鸦羽的尾巴时，他痛得惊呼一声，停了下来。他用力抽出尾巴，转身闻到了小蟾蜍的气息。
“我正假装你的尾巴是一只老鼠，”小公猫自豪地告诉他，“我抓住它了！”
松鸦羽露出了牙齿：“把你的爪尖收起来！”
“你没必要这样，”黛西不满地说，“他只是逗你玩的。”
松鸦羽忍住了，没有回击，他继续检查小梅花和小黄蜂身上有没有跳蚤。小蟾蜍扭动着挣脱了黛西，然后又跳到他的身边。看到松鸦羽分开小梅花的皮毛，小蟾蜍立即来了兴趣。
“你能吃跳蚤吗？”他说道，“它们的味道恶心吗？”
“你为什么不吃一只试试看？”松鸦羽建议道。
“你是一只跳蚤，我要吃了你！”小梅花叫着，挣脱了松鸦羽，跳到了小蟾蜍的身上。两只叠在一起的幼崽朝松鸦羽滚过来，他连忙让开了。
“别闹了！”他低吼道，“小梅花，你想把跳蚤弄干净，还是留着它？”
这只玳瑁色的幼崽立刻停止了战斗游戏，再次安静地站在松鸦羽跟前。小蟾蜍挤到了他们身边，松鸦羽能感到幼崽的气息吹在他的耳朵上。
“你喜欢当巫医吗？”小蟾蜍问道，“如果只是负责捉跳蚤，我可不愿意当巫医。”
星族啊，请赐予我耐心吧！“巫医可不是只做这些工作。”松鸦羽从牙缝中挤出几个字，“我们必须熟悉草药和……”
“你觉得我能成为好巫医吗？”小蟾蜍继续说道，“我很擅长找草药。我什么都能闻出来。我能做巫医吗？我能吗？”
“如果你不闭嘴，将来能成为武士就不错了。”松鸦羽嘟囔着。
“黛西！”小蟾蜍从育婴室地上铺着的蕨草中跳过去的时候，抽泣着号叫道，“黛西，松鸦羽欺负我！”
“老实说，松鸦羽！”黛西不悦的声音从巢穴的另一边传来，“我觉得你今天早晨皮毛里一定爬进了很多蚂蚁。你应该先出去一下，等你开心点以后再回来。”
松鸦羽没理她，继续沮丧地默默地捉跳蚤。他很想看到冬青叶和狮焰回来。他们仨是一个整体，尤其是现在，他们都不知道自己是在哪里出生的，他们的父母是谁，也不知道为什么松鼠飞骗了他们这么久。
终于，松鸦羽离开了育婴室，他静静地站了几个心跳的时间。秃叶季微弱的阳光温暖着他的皮毛，他发出了一声长长的叹息。他身后响起了爪子落地声，族长的气息让他转过身。
“早上好，松鸦羽！”火星的声音里充满关心，“你还好吧？有什么问题吗？”
“我很好。”松鸦羽尴尬地低下了头。他不想告诉族长，他所有的问题都是因为族猫。毕竟就他所知，火星从来没有对他撒过谎。
他感到一阵遗憾，他的身上终究没有族长的血脉。他对姜黄色公猫的尊敬跟那个预言没有任何关系，却和火星管理族群的方式有关。为了族群，他甚至因为染上绿咳症而丢了一条命。
“好吧。”火星喃喃道。松鸦羽感觉族长并没有完全相信他的话。“你知道的，如果有什么问题困扰着你，你可以随时跟我说。”
“是的……好的。”松鸦羽觉得更不安了。火星，你永远也不想知道那些事！
幸好，火星离开他，朝猎物堆走去。松鸦羽独自待在山谷的边缘，眺望着空地。他发现鼠毛和长尾正在长老巢穴外说话。他听到那只瘦削的深棕色长老抱怨道：“旧森林的秃叶季从来不会像这里这么冷。”
在学徒巢穴外面，狐爪和冰爪正在练习一个新的战斗技巧。松鸦羽想起要告诉他们换育婴室铺垫的事。云尾和亮心正朝荆棘通道走去。“我觉得，我们应该试试在废弃的两脚兽巢穴周围狩猎。”云尾提议道。
“愚蠢的毛球！”亮心的声音里充满了深情，“得了绿咳症的猫待在那里时，我们吓跑了所有的猎物。”
“他们已经回来一段时间了……”随着他们离开营地，友好的争论渐渐听不到了。
虽然太阳带来了微弱的温暖，可松鸦羽还是感到寒意一次又一次地穿透了皮毛。他感到一种从未有过的孤独。岩石告诉他，答案就在他的族猫身上。但是如果我没有族猫呢？
“我必须做这件事吗？”松鸦羽从树林里出来，走到学徒训练的长满苔藓的山谷，“这简直是浪费时间，我们还得找草药呢。”
“草药又不会跑掉，”叶池毫不留情地反驳道，“你和我一样清楚地知道，每只猫都要进行基本的战斗训练，巫医也不例外。”
松鸦羽咽回了另一句抱怨。他讨厌学习战斗动作，因为他知道，他绝对不擅长战斗。但是现在和叶池争论没有意义。这些天她好像一直都心情不好。
“现在，”叶池领着他来到山谷的中央，开口说道，“我们先从一些防守动作开始。我攻击你，你向一边躲闪，然后在我经过你身边的时候，向我猛击一爪子。”
“好吧。”松鸦羽嘟哝着，“开始得越早，越——嗷！”
就在他还在说话的时候，叶池已经从他身边跳了过去，在他的耳朵上毫不客气地打了一爪子。
“我没准备好呢！”他号叫道。
“你觉得影族武士在发动攻击前会先给你一个警示吗？你必须随时保持警惕，松鸦羽。”
随着最后一句话，叶池又向他跳了过来。这次，松鸦羽有了准备。他跳向一边，向他认为的老师所在的地方猛击过去，但是他的爪子只是勉强碰到了叶池的皮毛。
“好点儿了，”叶池承认道，“但是还不够好。我们再来一次！”
松鸦羽设法击中了一两次，但是他的爪子又重又慢，他的感觉也不像平常那么敏锐。即使他的老师打得很轻，爪尖也没有弹出来，他还是觉得被打得太疼，而且也很累。最后当他跳向一边时，因为没站稳倒在粗糙的地面上，他瘫在地上，胡乱地挥舞着爪子，根本就没有碰到叶池。
“我在这儿了，松鸦羽。”叶池的声音从空地的另一边传来，“说实话，你的战斗力并不比一只小兔子好！我觉得你根本没尽力。”
“我尽力了！”松鸦羽不服气地说道。
“我知道你的问题是什么。”老师的声音冷冰冰的，“你希望狮焰和冬青叶保护你，所以你就不想费劲去学习如何保护自己。”
“不是这样的！”
“我觉得就是这样。但是狮焰和冬青叶不会永远都待在你的身边。他们现在就不在。你需要学会照顾自己。”
松鸦羽没有回应她。她不会明白的。当松鸦羽爬起来抖落身上的苔藓时，他愤愤地想。叶池不是松鼠飞。如果她们很亲近，她就会知道松鼠飞撒谎的事。她绝不会允许松鼠飞那样做的。如果她知道自己的妹妹是只撒谎的猫，她会怎么做呢？
暮色降临，空气中弥漫着潮湿的气息，松鸦羽一瘸一拐地走回巫医巢穴。他的腿很疼，他的头撞到树上时蹭破皮的地方很疼。可他太疲惫了，没去找草药给自己治疗。“我希望叶池这下子会高兴了。”他蜷伏在窝里的时候，抱怨地嘟哝着，“我明天很可能身体僵硬，什么都做不了。”
他闭上了眼睛，但是一个心跳的时间后又睁开了。他发现自己正在茂密的森林深处，星光在树叶上跳动着。他周身的疼痛都消失了，充满温暖气息的风抚平了他的皮毛。在这充满生机的森林里，秃叶季只是一个遥远的记忆。
一条狭窄的小路从他面前垂成拱形的蕨丛穿过。松鸦羽开始顺着小路往前走，他竖着耳朵环顾着四周，寻找着熟悉的猫。他听见路两边灌木丛发出沙沙声，然后瞥见一个个毛茸茸的身影，好像他的周围都是猫，但是没有一只猫出来跟他打招呼。
“谁在那里？”他喊道，“黄牙？蓝星？你们能听见我说话吗？”
没有应答。松鸦羽沿着小路往前走，每走一爪子，心里都更加害怕。最后，他来到了覆盖着柔软小草的空地。草地中央有一个水池，倒映着星星。这里还是看不到任何猫的影子。
“你们在哪儿？”松鸦羽号叫着，走进了空地，“你们为什么不跟我说话？”
空地对面的蕨丛摇动着，发出沙沙的响声，接着斑叶走了出来。松鸦羽看到斑叶一脸警惕地注视着自己，尾巴高高地竖在身后时，心中的欣喜荡然无存。
“斑叶？”他犹豫着开口了。
“我们不能给你你想要的答案。”玳瑁色的母猫打断了他，“回到你的族群，真相就在那里。”
“但是，你必须跟我多说一点！”松鸦羽乞求道，“星族知道松鼠飞和黑莓掌不是我们的父母吗？”
愤怒的神色在斑叶绿色的眼睛里扩展着。“你什么时候才能意识到，星族并非无所不知呢？”她甩了一下尾巴，低声吼道，“有时候，我们也有问题想知道答案！有时候，我们也只是像你那样的猫！”
她没等松鸦羽有机会回应，就转过身，消失在蕨丛中。
松鸦羽跳上前去，想追上她，可是他觉得爪子下的地面消失了。他震惊地发现，他在自己的窝里醒了过来。他睁开眼睛，又陷入黑暗中。他使劲张大嘴巴，希望自己能像幼崽那样在母亲的怀里号哭。
他们都离开了我——冬青叶和狮焰，还有其他所有的族猫。现在星族也离开了我。我彻底陷入了孤独。
甚至连他坚信的预言，曾经似乎给了他极大希望的预言，也是建立在一个谎言之上。
有可能，我在睡着的时候也是瞎的。我现在该怎么做？
CHAPTER17
CHAPTER17
Hollyleaf pushed her way through thethorn tunnel with a vole and two mice dangling from her jaws. Her hunting patrol had done well, but her nose and paws were numb with cold as she padded over to the fresh-kill pile. The leaf-bare sun didn’t penetrate the shadows under the trees, and the ground there was still frozen.
She was dropping her prey on the pile when she heard a shriek from the base of the cliff, on the far side of the medicine cats’ den. Whirling around, she saw Lionblaze bolt into the middle of the clearing, his pelt bristling as if a whole Clan of enemies were on his tail.
“Help! Come quick!” he screeched. “Honeyfern’s been bitten by a snake!”
Icy terror coursed through Hollyleaf’s blood as she rushed across the clearing. They’d never had a snake in the hollow before! When she reached the cliff, she saw Briarkit cowering at the base of the rocks; the little kit was trembling, her eyes wide with shock. Millie bounded up and drew her away with her tail wrapped protectively around the kit.
Berrynose crouched beside Honeyfern, who was lying on her side with her paws splayed out; her breath came fast and shallow, and her eyes were full of terror. A thin line of blood on her shoulder showed where the snake had struck.
Sorreltail and Brackenfur raced across from the warriors’ den with the same look of horror in their eyes when they saw their wounded daughter. Cinderheart, Honeyfern’s littermate, was hard on their paws.
As they skidded to a halt, Sorreltail pressed her muzzle into Brackenfur’s shoulder. “No…oh, no…” she whispered. “I can’t lose another kit! Not after Molekit! Please, StarClan…”
“Where’s Poppyfrost?” Hollyleaf muttered to Lionblaze as her brother came running back. Sorreltail needed all her kits right now.
“Out on patrol,” Lionblaze replied. “She—”
He broke off as Leafpool pushed her way through the knot of cats. “Stand back and give me some room,” she ordered.
Berrynose glared at her. “I’m not leaving,” he snarled.
Ignoring him, Leafpool crouched beside Honeyfern and rested one paw on her shoulder. “Try not to move,” she meowed.
Hollyleaf waited expectantly for Leafpool to start helping Honeyfern. Surely she would know what to do? But she hadn’t brought any herbs with her, and she wasn’t doing anything more than sitting beside the trembling tabby warrior.
Leafpool looked up, her gaze sweeping over the crowd of cats and coming to rest on Cinderheart. There was a pleading look in her eyes, so desperate and hopeful that it made Hollyleaf wince. I don’t understand,she thought. What does she want from Cinderheart?
“Help me!” Honeyfern had begun to twitch and writhe in pain. “My blood is on fire! Help me, please! It hurts so much!”
Berrynose stared at Leafpool. “Do something!” he begged. His gaze swept over the cluster of cats. “One of you, do something!”
Leafpool didn’t seem to hear him; she just dragged her gaze away from Cinderheart and looked down at Honeyfern as she struggled for breath.
Sorreltail slid out her claws, her disbelieving gaze fixed on the medicine cat. “Why aren’t you doing anything?”
Leafpool bowed her head. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “There’s nothing I can do. The poison has taken hold of her.”
Sorreltail raised her head and let out a yowl of anguish, while Brackenfur wrapped his tail around her shoulders and drew her close.
Honeyfern’s legs folded into her belly, and her back arched in agony. When the spasm passed she lay limply, her chest hardly moving to show that she was still breathing. Her legs continued to twitch; her eyes had begun to glaze over.
In silence, Hollyleaf and the rest of the cats shuffled backward to give Berrynose space to help Honeyfern on her journey to StarClan. The cream-colored tom crouched over her, stroking her fur with one paw. “We would have had wonderful kits together,” he murmured. “Just as strong and beautiful as you. And one day I’ll see you in StarClan.”
Honeyfern’s jaw moved and a rasping sound came from her throat, as if she was trying to reply.
“You saved Briarkit’s life,” Berrynose went on, bending his head to lick the dying she-cat’s head. “Every cat in StarClan will honor you.”
A long sigh came from Honeyfern. Hollyleaf watched helplessly as her friend’s limbs grew still and the rise and fall of her chest faded away. Finally, her blue eyes stared sightlessly into the sky.
Pain as sharp as the snake’s bite pierced Hollyleaf. She gazed at Cinderheart’s horrified expression, trying to imagine how she would feel if she lost one of her littermates.
No!Hollyleaf dug her claws into the earth. That must never happen!
Leafpool moved toward Honeyfern’s body, but Brackenfur stopped her. Instead he padded up to Berrynose and rested his tail on the young warrior’s shoulder. “She’s gone,” he told him. “She hunts with StarClan now.”
As gently as if he were Berrynose’s father, Brackenfur nudged him to his paws and led him away, then nodded to Leafpool. The medicine cat crouched beside Honeyfern with a paw on her chest to check for any signs of breathing. Shaking her head slightly, she mewed to Lionblaze, “Find some warriors to help carry her body into the clearing. We need to get her away from the cliff in case the snake is still around.”
“I’ll help,” Hollyleaf offered instantly.
Lionblaze beckoned with his tail to Spiderleg and Thornclaw, and together the four cats lifted Honeyfern’s limp body and carried it to a shaded spot not far from the warriors’ den.
As they were crossing the clearing, Graystripe appeared through the thorn tunnel, his jaws full of prey. Poppyfrost and Mousewhisker followed him into the camp. As soon as she saw her sister’s body, Poppyfrost dropped her fresh-kill and raced over.
“What happened?” she wailed. “Honeyfern, wake up!”
Sorreltail padded up to her and guided her along after Honeyfern’s body, their pelts brushing, until the warriors set the dead she-cat down and her kin could huddle together around her, comforting one another as they kept vigil.
The sun still shone, but Hollyleaf felt as if ice were creeping through the hairs on her pelt, and she couldn’t stop shivering. “Are you okay?” she asked Lionblaze. “You saw it all happen.”
Lionblaze gave her a bleak nod but didn’t speak.
“Honeyfern will be a great loss to her Clan.”
Hollyleaf started as she heard Sol’s voice, and turned to see that the loner had left his nest. Thornclaw must have left him unguarded when he came to see what was happening. Sol’s amber eyes shone with sadness and his head was bowed as if he genuinely grieved for the young she-cat.
“It’s hard when a life is cut off so early,” he added.
Hollyleaf knew she should send him back to his nest, but she couldn’t summon the energy. All the other cats seemed too distracted by their grief to worry about what Sol was up to.
He might as well stay,she thought. What harm is he doing?
Purdy and the elders had appeared, too, padding up and mingling with their Clanmates.
“There’s nothin’ worse than losin’ a young cat,” Purdy meowed. “She’d all her life stretchin’ in front of her.”
“She was a fine cat,” Mousefur agreed. “The last thing she ever did was fetch me some fresh-kill.”
All the cats were milling around in the center of the clearing, unsure what to do. Hollyleaf was relieved when Graystripe strode into the middle of them, raising his tail for silence.
“Mousewhisker,” he directed, “go and fetch Firestar. He took a hunting patrol toward the old Twoleg nest. Brambleclaw is on a border patrol, so we’ll have to wait for him to come back, as I don’t know where he’ll be right now,” he added as Mousewhisker pelted off. “Leafpool, can you check Briarkit, to make sure she’s okay?”
Leafpool nodded; she looked glad to have something to do. Millie guided her kit over to the medicine cat and waited, her claws scraping the ground and her eyes frantic with worry. Daisy followed, keeping a watchful eye on all the other kits, who seemed as shocked as Briarkit.
As Leafpool sniffed the kit all over, Hollyleaf murmured to Lionblaze, “She mustbe all right. Honeyfern can’t have died for nothing.”
Finally Leafpool nodded. “She’ll be fine,” she told Millie. “I’ll give her a poppy seed so she gets a good night’s sleep.”
“But what about the snake?” Daisy wailed. “We’ve never had one in the camp before.”
“Yes, what about it?” Millie added. “We’ve got to do something. More cats might die.”
Graystripe turned to Lionblaze. “Show me exactly where the snake struck.”
Hollyleaf followed her brother and Graystripe across the clearing toward the basking rocks. She admired the way the gray warrior had taken over; he must have been a good Clan deputy back in the forest, she realized.
“That’s the crack that the snake came out of.” Lionblaze pointed with his tail toward a deep cleft in the cliff face. “I didn’t see if it went back in there.”
Very cautiously, Graystripe approached and sniffed along the cliff, peering into every crack. “No sign of it,” he reported, returning to Lionblaze. “But it could be anywhere. Some of these cracks are very deep. There’s plenty of room for it to hide.”
Hollyleaf’s paws tingled with fear. How could they go on living in the stone hollow, when death might come sliding silently out of the cliff at any moment and strike down another cat?
“Millie’s right,” she meowed. “We have to do something.”
Before Graystripe could reply, there was a flash of flame-colored fur at the entrance to the tunnel, and Firestar raced back into the camp. Graystripe bounded over to meet him. Hollyleaf watched as her leader’s expression changed from anxiety to horror, and he padded over to Honeyfern’s body, where he crouched down beside her grieving kin.
Hollyleaf was just close enough to hear what he said. “I’m so sorry.” Firestar’s voice was shaking. “Honeyfern should have been safe here. I promise you I’ll never let anything like this happen again.”
But how can you stop it?Hollyleaf wondered. It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known there was a snake hiding under the cliff
Mousewhisker had followed Firestar into the camp, along with Dustpelt and Birchfall, the rest of Firestar’s patrol. They were soon joined by Brightheart and Jayfeather, each carrying a bunch of catmint. Their dazed expressions told Hollyleaf that Mousewhisker must have met them, too, and passed on the terrible news. Last of all, Brambleclaw’s patrol returned from checking the WindClan border; their cries of shock and anguish echoed around the hollow. Hollyleaf longed to go back to her nest in the warriors’ den and bury herself in the moss and bracken with her eyes shut tight. Perhaps Honeyfern’s death would turn out to be just a terrible dream.
Before her paws could carry her there, she saw Firestar bounding up the rocks to stand on the Highledge. “Cats of ThunderClan!” He raised his voice to carry to every part of the stone hollow. “A dreadful thing has happened, but we must stay calm. Honeyfern died a warrior’s death, protecting a kit of her Clan. We will mourn her, not just tonight, but for all the moons to come. And we must make sure that the snake doesn’t come back to hurt any other cats.”
“Tell us what to do, and we’ll do it,” Brambleclaw called out.
Firestar dipped his head to his deputy. “To begin with, we’ll make a barrier of brambles across that part of the cliff. Dustpelt, will you take charge of that?” The brown tabby warrior gave a curt nod. “No cat must go near it. Millie and Daisy, make sure that your kits understand. And it’s best we don’t use the basking rocks anymore. Snakes usually sleep during leaf-bare, but I think this one must have been disturbed by cats sunning themselves on the stones.”
Hollyleaf saw Purdy and Mousefur exchanging a shocked glance. “That might have been us!” Purdy exclaimed.
Mousefur hung her head, and her eyes filled with sorrow. “Better it had been me, than that poor young cat,” she murmured
“Okay,” Firestar meowed. “Get on with your duties, all of you. Tonight we will keep vigil for Honeyfern.” He ran lightly down the rocks again and bounded across to Brambleclaw.
“Lionblaze!” Dustpelt called. “Help me with the barrier, please. You can take Foxpaw and Icepaw into the forest to collect brambles.”
“Coming,” Lionblaze replied. He paused briefly to touch noses with Hollyleaf, then raced off to round up the two apprentices.
Daisy and Millie were gathering their kits together and bundling them back toward the nursery. “Don’t any of you darego near that part of the cliff,” Millie meowed sternly. “You heard what Firestar said.”
“We won’t.” Blossomkit’s mew was high-pitched with fear, and all the kits looked unusually subdued.
Whitewing was following them back to the nursery when Birchfall bounded over to her and pressed his nose into her shoulder. “You will be careful, won’t you?” he fretted.
The white she-cat blinked at him, her eyes full of love. “Of course I will. You don’t have to fuss.”
Birchfall angled his ears toward Berrynose, still crouched silently over the body of Honeyfern. “I won’t lose you to StarClan,” he insisted. “Not for a long, long time.”
Whitewing and Birchfall leaned into each other, their pelts brushing and their tails twined together.
Hollyleaf stood still as the rest of the cats moved away. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to go and comfort Cinderheart, but she didn’t dare disturb Honeyfern’s grieving kin. She had begun to pad uncertainly toward the warriors’ den when Leafpool trotted up to her.
“Hollyleaf, could you help Brightheart to put the herbs away?” she asked. “Jayfeather and I are going to check the queens and kits for signs of shock.”
“Sure.” Hollyleaf was relieved to have something to do. She retrieved Jayfeather’s share of the catmint and carried it to the medicine cats’ den, where Brightheart was already sorting through her bundle of stems. Hollyleaf joined her; it was good to breathe in the scent of herbs that drifted around the den; it reminded her of when she had been Leafpool’s apprentice. I used to get worried when I couldn’t remember which herb was which. If only that was all I had to worry about now!
“I wish we knew a herb to cure snakebite,” Brightheart murmured sadly as her forepaws flicked through the leaves, deftly stripping off any that were shriveled or damaged.
Hollyleaf nodded, but she knew that no amount of wishing would bring Honeyfern back. Her ears flicked up at the sound of a cat brushing past the bramble screen; she glanced over her shoulder to see Leafpool coming in.
“I need some poppy seeds for Daisy,” the medicine cat explained. “She’s getting hysterical.”
“I can’t say I blame her,” Brightheart mewed. “If I had kits now, I’d be terrified.”
Leafpool collected the seed in a leaf wrap and was about to leave the den when Firestar put his head around the brambles.
“Yes?” Leafpool asked; there was an edge to her tone that Hollyleaf didn’t understand.
“We need to make sure the snake isn’t a threat to us,” Firestar meowed quietly.
Leafpool blinked, puzzled. “What do you want me to do? I can’t summon the snake out of its hole.”
“No,” Firestar replied, “but you can make sure that it never reaches the main part of the camp. I want you to put deathberries around the place where the snake came from.”
Hollyleaf felt her paws freeze to the ground as soon as the Clan leader mentioned deathberries. She exchanged a shocked glance with Brightheart. Every cat knew that Leafpool refused to have deathberries in the camp because they were so dangerous.
“Firestar, you know—” the medicine cat began.
“Explain to the kits, and to every single cat, what the berries are and why they mustn’t be touched or eaten,” Firestar interrupted her. “They’ll understand. We have to do this. I will notlose another cat this way.”
Leafpool hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Very well. Jayfeather and I will collect some today. But I don’t like it,” she added more forcefully. “If the deathberries don’t kill the snake within one moon, we’ll have to try something else.”
CHAPTER19
CHAPTER19
Jayfeather padded in Leafpool’s paw stepsas she climbed to the ridge where the trees thinned out and pine needles prickled under paw. He felt the ground grow damp and his paws slipped as he scrambled down the other side into a tangle of undergrowth. As he regained his balance, he picked up the tang of yew bark and berries.
“Here we are,” Leafpool meowed. “I’m going to climb the tree and bend down a branch so you can reach it.” She nudged him forward a couple of paw steps. “Stand just there.”
Jayfeather listened to his mentor scramble up the tree, and a few heartbeats later felt the touch of the yew branch on the top of his head. His fur bristled at the overwhelming scent of deathberries.
“Reach up as high as you can.” Leafpool’s voice came from just above him. “There’s a stem with berries just there. Be very careful.”
Like you need to tell me!Jayfeather thought.
He stretched upward, his front paws lifting from the ground, until a feathery twig poked him in the face and he felt the heavy clump of deathberries touch his fur. He managed to fasten his teeth into the stem where it met the branch, and felt Leafpool’s muzzle press close to his as she helped him bite it through.
Waves of unhappiness were flooding from the medicine cat, shocking Jayfeather so much that he almost lost his balance. He had to shuffle his hind paws, wedging them more firmly among the damp pine needles, before he could go on nibbling at the twig with its deadly load. Leafpool was filled with gnawing anxiety about bringing more death into the hollow; she was saturated with sorrow, so full of grief that she could hardly move.
Yet her voice was steady as she mewed, “That’s it,” and Jayfeather felt the twig fall to the forest floor just beside his paws. He relaxed, rolling his shoulders to get rid of the strain of stretching, then picked up the clump of berries by the end of the twig, careful not to let any of the deathberries touch his mouth.
A light thump beside him told him that Leafpool had leaped down from the tree. “If you carry that,” she told him, “I’ll follow behind and make sure that none of the berries fall off. It doesn’t matter so much up here, but I don’t want to scatter any of them near the camp.”
When they emerged from the thorn tunnel, the clearing seemed full of cats, their voices buzzing like an angry swarm of bees. Jayfeather located Lionblaze and padded up to him, setting the deathberries down for a moment to ask, “What in StarClan’s name has happened now?”
“The other three Clan leaders were here.” Lionblaze’s voice was a low, furious growl. “They told Firestar he has to get rid of Sol by the next Gathering, or they’ll get rid of him themselves.”
“What?” Jayfeather lashed his tail. “What right do they have to tell ThunderClan what to do?”
He could feel sparks of anger coming from Lionblaze. “They don’t care that Ashfur was killed,” his brother snarled. “They’re like scared rabbits, convinced that Sol is going to leap out and tear them apart. Firestar can’tgive in to them!”
Jayfeather murmured agreement, but his paws tingled with unease. He didn’t like that the other Clans knew all about Ashfur’s murder. The ripples of the gray warrior’s death were spreading farther and farther, and there was no sign that the effects would fade away.
He tried to shrug off the uneasy feeling as he heard Leafpool calling him. “Jayfeather, put the berries on this leaf. We have to make sure that all the kits know how dangerous they are.”
She set a flat leaf down in front of Jayfeather, who laid the clump of deathberries on top of it. Then he followed his mentor as she dragged the leaf across the camp to the nursery. “Fetch Foxpaw and Icepaw, too,” she added.
Jayfeather tasted the air and located the two apprentices near the cliff where Dustpelt was building the barrier. “Foxpaw! Icepaw!” he called, jerking his head. “Leafpool wants you.”
“Coming!” Icepaw called.
Jayfeather caught a grumble from Dustpelt. “I supposewe’ll get this barrier built this side of greenleaf. Come right back when Leafpool’s finished with you!” he ordered the two apprentices.
“Millie! Daisy!” Leafpool called when Jayfeather caught her up outside the nursery. “Bring the kits out here, please.”
“Why?” Daisy’s voice was drowsy from the poppy seeds.
“There’s something I need to show all of you.”
Leafpool and Jayfeather waited while the two queens herded their kits outside; Whitewing followed them, crouching in the entrance tunnel.
“Now,” Leafpool began, “do you see these berries?”
Jayfeather could feel the kits’ curiosity, though they were still subdued and didn’t answer Leafpool.
“They look tasty,” Bumblekit ventured after a heartbeat.
“No! They’re not tasty!” Leafpool’s voice quivered with anger and disgust. “These berries are evil. They’re called deathberries, and if you eat just one of them, you won’t just get a bellyache, you’ll die. There won’t be anything a medicine cat can do for you.”
Jayfeather knew that wasn’t entirely true. Mousefur had told him that Cinderpelt had saved Sorreltail after she ate deathberries by making her sick, but it had been a close call. Leafpool had to scare the kits thoroughly, though, so they wouldn’t dream of going near the deathberries.
“Then why have you brought them into the camp?” Daisy fretted.
“Because Firestar wants to use them to kill the snake,” Leafpool replied. “I need to make sure that every cat knows not to go near them.”
“Did you hear that?” Millie asked the kits sharply. “Take a good look, so you’ll recognize them again.”
“We’ll be careful,” Rosekit mewed, sounding scared. The rest of the kits murmured agreement.
“Foxpaw? Icepaw?” Leafpool prompted.
“We’ll remember,” Foxpaw meowed. “We won’t touch them.”
“We’ll keep a lookout for them when we’re out in the forest, too,” Icepaw added.
“Good. Then you can go. But don’t forget what I said.” Leafpool began to drag the leaf with its deadly load back across the camp, but halted and turned to Jayfeather. “Bring me a mouse from the fresh-kill pile, please.”
Jayfeather bounded off, returning with the mouse to the medicine cats’ den. “It’s a good plump one,” he meowed.
“I’m not going to eat it,” Leafpool told him. “This is for the snake. I’m going to stuff it with deathberries. Put it down and keep your paw on it to hold it steady.”
“You’ll get poison on your paws!” Jayfeather exclaimed.
“No, I’m going to use a stick to push the berries down the mouse’s throat.”
As he clamped his paw firmly over the mouse, Jayfeather could feel his mentor’s revulsion at what she was doing. He could almost read her thoughts. I’m a medicine cat! I’m supposed to cure, not kill!But he said nothing while Leafpool went on shoving the deadly berries into the body of the mouse.
I’ll only get my fur clawed off if I try to talk to her.
Finally Leafpool let out a sigh. “There, that should do. I’ve poked some thorns in there, too. They’ll cut the snake from inside and send the poison more quickly around its body.”
Jayfeather nodded. He was surprised by how much his mentor hated using her skills like this, seeing as her victim was the snake that had killed Honeyfern. He had been fascinated to discover that there were plants that would harm instead of healI wonder if there are others.…
Leafpool laid the prepared mouse back on the leaf and dragged it out into the clearing again, over to where Dustpelt was building the bramble barrier around the snake’s hole. Lionblaze and the two apprentices were helping him.
Jayfeather padded over to his brother, while Leafpool explained to Dustpelt what she had done.
“Good idea,” the brown tabby warrior grunted. “I’ll put it behind the barrier near the hole.”
“Be careful,” Leafpool warned him.
“I’ll be fine,” Dustpelt meowed, sounding unusually gentle as he reassured the medicine cat. “Look, I’m picking it up by the tail.” Jayfeather heard him leap across the barrier and a moment later leap back. “There,” he meowed. “All done. Right, what are you waiting for?” he added, swinging around to face his helpers. “Let’s get this barrier finished.”
Back in their den, Jayfeather and Leafpool wrapped the rest of the deathberries in the leaf. “We’d better store them in case the mouse doesn’t work the first time,” Leafpool explained. “I don’t like it, but—”
A loud wail interrupted her. “Leafpool! Leafpool!”
“What now?” Jayfeather groaned.
He picked up Birchfall’s scent as the young warrior crashed past the bramble screen. “Leafpool, you’ve got to come at once!” he panted. “Whitewing has pains in her belly.”
“All right, don’t panic.” Leafpool rose to her paws. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious. Maybe her kits are coming. Jayfeather, put that leaf wrap away,” she instructed as she brushed past him. “Right at the back of the store where no cat will pick it up by mistake.”
Gingerly Jayfeather pushed the leaf wrap in front of him and crept all the way to the back of the store, among a litter of old folded leaves and piles of shriveled herbs. “We need to clear this lot out,” he muttered as he pushed the deathberries into the farthest corner.
Crawling back into the den, he twitched his whiskers with disgust. His pelt was covered with herb dust and clinging stems. He had just begun to groom one shoulder when Leafpool returned.
“Whitewing’s fine,” she reported. “It’s just a bellyache. I’ll take her a couple of juniper berries.” She ducked quickly into the store and out again with the berries in a leaf wrap. “I’ve just remembered,” she mumbled around her mouthful. “With all this trouble, I forgot to check on Purdy’s sore pads. Can you go and do it now?”
“Sure,” Jayfeather sighed, resigning himself to putting up with a messy pelt for a bit longer. He fetched the ointment of yarrow from the store and padded over to the elders’ den.
As he crawled under the outer branches of the hazel bush, he heard Purdy’s voice. “What I don’t understan’ is why you’re all against Sol. Those other leaders who came here today, they want Firestar to get rid of him!” The old tabby sounded flustered. “Why won’t any of you listen when I tell you he’s a good cat?”
“Purdy, you’re not listening when other cats tell you what Sol did here.” Mousefur sounded as if her patience was wearing thin.
And there was never that much of it anyway,Jayfeather thought as he paused at the edge of the den.
Purdy snorted. “Some nonsense about tellin’ other cats what to believe in. They didn’ have to listen if they didn’ want to.”
True!Jayfeather suppressed a mrrowof amusement. Purdy’s not as stupid as some cats seem to think!
“StarClan is very important to us, Purdy,” Longtail murmured. “You’ll understand if you stay with us.”
“Cats in the sky!” Purdy snorted again. “Hedgehogs will fly before I believe that. Anyway,” he went on, “that’s nothin’ to do with how Firestar is treatin’ Sol now. It’s not natural, keepin’ a cat penned up like that. Firestar needs to come to his senses an’ let Sol live with the rest of the Clan.”
Jayfeather padded forward; he could sense Mousefur’s anger growing and wanted to prevent a quarrel. Spotting him, Mousefur let out a hiss of annoyance and went to crouch in the farthest corner of the den.
“Hi, Purdy. I’ve come to look at your pads,” Jayfeather announced.
“About time,” the old cat grumbled. “My paws feel as if they’re burnin’ off.” He lay down on his side, sticking out his paws for Jayfeather to examine.
Jayfeather felt carefully over all four of the elder’s feet. They were cracked—probably from his long journey—and they felt hot and swollen. “This ointment will help,” he mewed, beginning to smooth it on. “Try to stay off your paws as much as you can. The apprentices will bring you fresh-kill.”
Purdy let out a long sigh. “That’s much better, young ’un. You may be a scrawny young piece o’ nothin’, but you know what you’re doin’.”
“Thanks a bunch,” Jayfeather muttered. “I’ll come every day and—” He broke off as Longtail stretched out his neck to sniff the young cat’s pelt.
“Jayfeather, that herb…”
“What herb?”
“Sticking to your pelt. I’m not sure, but I think—Mousefur, come over here,” the blind elder called.
“What?” Mousefur still sounded grouchy, but she padded back to Jayfeather and sniffed at his fur. Then he felt her lick off one of the stems he must have picked up when he crawled into the back of the store. She chewed slowly.
“What are you doing?” Jayfeather asked.
“That’s it!” Mousefur’s voice was shrill with surprise. “Jayfeather, that’s the herb Leafpool mixed in with my tansy!”
CHAPTER18
CHAPTER18
Lionblaze led Foxpaw and Icepaw intothe forest to collect brambles. He felt numb; the terrible scene kept repeating itself endlessly behind his eyes.
Was there anything I could have done? If I’d been quicker…maybe if I’d leaped for the snake I could have killed it first
Both the apprentices were still trembling with fear, spooking at every leaf rustle, as if they thought that a snake might be hiding in every hollow. And for all I know, they’re right.…
“I can’t believe we’ve got Sol anda snake in the camp,” Icepaw mewed, jumping aside with her fur bristling as an oak leaf drifted to the ground beside her.
“I wonder if Sol summoned the snake to kill Honeyfern,” Foxpaw added, his voice shaking.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Lionblaze’s voice came out louder than he’d intended; both apprentices jumped backward. “The snake was just there. It could easily have bitten Sol instead of Honeyfern.”
“I wish it had,” Foxpaw muttered.
Lionblaze didn’t say anything. Hadn’t there been enough death in the Clan already?
He led the apprentices to a bramble thicket near the beginning of the old Thunderpath and crawled underneath to bite the long, thornless stems at the bottom. The two apprentices hesitated at the edge of the stone, blinking nervously.
“Come on!” Lionblaze urged them. “What’s the matter?”
“Are there any snakes in there?” Icepaw whimpered.
“If there are, I’m dead,” Lionblaze replied irritably. “Okay,” he added with a sigh. “I’ll bite through the stems, and you drag the tendrils out.”
For a while they worked steadily, and the pile of bramble tendrils began to grow. Then Foxpaw stopped with the end of a stem in his mouth.
“What’s wrong?” Lionblaze asked. “I need you to get that out of the way so I can reach the next one.”
Foxpaw dropped the tendril. “I can smell WindClan!”
Icepaw let go the stem she was dragging to the pile and tasted the air. “No, it’s RiverClan!” she exclaimed.
Quickly Lionblaze wriggled his way out of the thicket and took a deep breath. “You’re both right,” he meowed, his neck fur beginning to rise. “And there’s ShadowClan scent as well.”
Foxpaw laid his ears flat and crouched low to the ground. “Are we being invaded again?” he shrieked.
“I don’t think so.” Lionblaze forced himself to stay calm. “The scents aren’t strong enough for lots of cats.” Gesturing with his tail, he added, “Stay behind me. And don’t doanythingunless I tell you.”
The two apprentices huddled together, close to his hind paws, while Lionblaze faced the undergrowth from where the scents were approaching. A clump of bracken quivered, and Blackstar of ShadowClan stepped into the open, followed by Rowanclaw. A heartbeat later Leopardstar and Reedwhisker appeared, and hard on their paws came Onestar and Turnear.
All three leaders!Lionblaze stared at them, his heart racing. What kind of patrol is this?
“Greetings, Lionblaze.” Blackstar dipped his head. “We need to speak with Firestar.”
“O-okay,” Lionblaze meowed. “Follow me. Foxpaw, Icepaw, bring back the brambles, please.”
Leaving the apprentices to their task, he led the visitors back to the stone hollow and through the thorn tunnel. The clearing was quieter than when he had left. Honeyfern’s body still lay in the shade. Her family crouched around it, keeping vigil alone until nightfall. Sol had disappeared; Thornclaw was back on guard duty outside his nest. The queens and kits had retreated into the nursery.
Firestar was standing in the middle of the clearing, talking to Graystripe and Brambleclaw. All three cats looked up in surprise as Lionblaze emerged with his unusual patrol following
“Greetings,” Firestar mewed, dipping his head courteously to the other Clan leaders. His tone was wary, and his neck fur had begun to bristle. “What can I do for you?”
Blackstar didn’t bother to return his greeting. “Is Sol here?” he demanded.
“And is it true that he killed Ashfur?” Leopardstar added.
Onestar bared his teeth in a snarl. “When were you going to tell us that you’re keeping a murderer captive?”
Firestar’s ears pricked and his tail-tip twitched from side to side. Lionblaze could see shock in his green eyes. “How did you find out so quickly?” he asked.
“One of my patrols saw your cats returning with Sol along the edge of the lake,” Onestar replied, his voice tense with anger. “They told a RiverClan patrol, and RiverClan passed on the news to ShadowClan.”
Firestar’s gaze flicked from one leader to the next. “Since when was this any of the other Clans’ business?” he meowed icily.
“Since you put ourClans in danger,” Leopardstar retorted.
“You knowhow much of a threat that cat is,” Onestar added, his forepaws kneading the ground. “And yet you brought him back into our territories!”
Blackstar took a pace forward. Lionblaze could hardly believe that he would attack Firestar in the ThunderClan camp, but he braced his muscles ready to defend his leader if any of the other cats so much as raised a paw.
“Have you forgotten what Sol tried to do to ShadowClan?” Blackstar hissed. “He tried to force us to stop believing in StarClan!”
And I’m a mouse!Lionblaze thought cynically. A look flashed between Graystripe and Brambleclaw, telling Lionblaze that the senior warriors shared his thought. Blackstar wasn’t prepared to admit any responsibility, though at the time he had been only too willing to listen to Sol.
“What are you going to do with him?” Leopardstar demanded.
Firestar hesitated. He was looking increasingly harried, but he kept his claws sheathed. “I haven’t decided,” he admitted. “We’re still trying to find out exactly what happened.”
Onestar’s nostrils flared and he narrowed his eyes. “Sol is too dangerous to keep anywhere near the lake. You should send him away now.”
“You should have left him where he was,” Leopardstar growled. “Any cat with a flea’s worth of sense would see that.”
“Then Ashfur’s murder would have gone unpunished,” Firestar argued.
“Vengeance isn’t everything,” Onestar spat. “You have put all our Clans in danger by bringing Sol back. Whatever happens next, you will not have our support.”
The other two leaders nodded in agreement, and a threatening murmur came from their three followers. A chill ran through Lionblaze, though hot blood was pounding in his veins; he wanted to slice his claws through the fur of these arrogant cats.They have no right to interfere in ThunderClan’s business like this!
Blackstar raised his chin. “Sol must be gone from Clan territory by the next Gathering,” he insisted. “Or we will unite our three Clans to get rid of him ourselves.”
第十章
 第十章
冬青叶躺在树根中间的临时巢穴里，不安地翻着身。在她的身边，狮焰的耳朵和尾巴抖动着，似乎正在做噩梦。冬青叶实在不明白，他是怎么睡着的。离两脚兽这么近，甚至在午夜时分，怪物吼叫着，两脚兽尖叫着，狗也吠着。
我从来没在这么吵的地方待过，她想着，试图在枯叶中找到一个舒服的地方。宠物猫是怎么忍受这一切的？
快黎明的时候，她才进入了断断续续的睡眠。但是狮焰爬出窝的时候，她又醒了。她打了个大哈欠，跟着狮焰走了出去。
在两脚兽领地的上方，天空中的橙色光芒已经变成了黎明的灰白色曙光。两脚兽巢穴的顶部在天空下现出黑色的轮廓。冷风正在吹着，每棵草的叶子边上都挂着霜。黑莓掌和其他猫站在那里，目光越过草地，眺望着远方影影绰绰的两脚兽巢穴。
“我们需要回到两脚兽的领地，”黑莓掌开口道，“找到昨晚遇到的那只猫，让他给我们解释清楚，他究竟是什么意思。”
榛尾的胡须紧张地抖动着：“他们很显然不喜欢外来猫在附近逗留。”
桦落用鼻子碰了碰她的耳朵：“我们数量上占优，对付几只有些神经质的宠物猫不在话下。”
冬青叶跟哥哥对视了一眼。“我觉得，我们离日神一定很近了。”狮焰嘟囔着，撕扯着草地，“我用猎物堆上最肥的田鼠跟你们打赌，那只黑白相间的猫那么怕我们，就是因为日神。”
冬青叶点点头。当她跟着黑莓掌穿过草地，进入两脚兽巢穴间的空隙时，强烈的好奇心让她更加自信了。她感到族猫跟她有一样的感觉——向前走的时候眼睛发亮，尾巴翘得高高的。我们是武士，她提醒自己，我们不需要害怕任何东西。
远征队深入两脚兽的领地时，风渐渐变大，凛冽的寒风吹过坚硬的红石头世界。光线还不够强，无法找到正确的方向。太阳还没有升起，所以也没有阳光融化雷鬼路边上那些坑洼里的积雪。
“我好渴啊！”冬青叶抱怨道，“我的舌头干得就像一张老鼠皮毛。”
在黑莓掌停下来嗅着空气的时候，冬青叶蹲伏在一个雪坑边，伸出舌头舔冰，享受那种凉丝丝的感觉。
“快点！”副族长说道，“走这边。”
冬青叶想跳起来，却发出一声惊呼停了下来。她的舌头已经冻在了冰上。她用力想让舌头挣脱的时候，却感到舌头上传来强烈的疼痛。
“你怎么了？”狮焰问道。
“我的舌头……”冬青叶几乎不能说话了，“被冻住了！”
狮焰憋住笑声，喷了一下鼻息。桦落伏低身子，直到和冬青叶鼻子相碰。冬青叶看见他的眼睛里流露出戏谑的神情，愤怒顿时涌上心头。
“这……一点都不好笑！”由于舌头冻在冰上，她费了好大劲才说出这几个字。
“往后站。”蕨毛平静的声音从冬青叶身后传来，“让我看一看。”他靠在桦落旁边，轻轻地用肩膀把这只年轻猫推到一边。“哦，你的舌头真的被冻住了。”冬青叶看得出，他正在竭力忍住笑声。他继续说道：“我觉得我们可以弄断那块冰，然后你带着它，直到它融化。”
“嗨，你发明了一个给长老取水的新方法！”榛尾插嘴道。
冬青叶气得皮毛疼痛，她再次试着扯了一下舌头，但她的努力只换来另一次剧烈的疼痛。“太疼……太疼了！快想办法！”
她想象自己蜷伏在坚硬的地上，舌头伸出来的样子，心里也忽然觉得非常好笑。我猜，我确实看着很滑稽。她都不记得上次发现这么好笑的事是什么时候了。
“冬青叶。”黑莓掌来到她的身边，他琥珀色的眼睛闪着光，但声音很轻柔。他用鼻子碰了碰她的耳朵，说道：“用力呼气，你温热的气息可以融化冰。”
他伏低在她的旁边，对着粘住冬青叶舌头的那块冰长长地吐了一口气。一股暖流传遍了冬青叶的全身。被呵护的感觉真好！但是黑莓掌停下说出的下一句话，却让这种温暖的感觉瞬间变得冰冷：“你知道吗？你真的跟你母亲很像，她也总是被什么东西困住。”
她不是我的母亲！
冬青叶使劲吹出一口气，然后再次用力扯舌头，终于把舌头从冰上拉了下来。在那个结冰的小坑里，黑莓掌吹气的地方有一汪明亮的融化的水。但是她不准备感谢他。“好了，”她说着直起了身，“我好了。我们……”
她的话还没说完，就听到身后传来一声低吼。每只猫都转过了身。在两三只狐狸身长远的地方，一排狗站在雷鬼路的另一边，挡住了他们的路。这群狗一共有五条，它们体形各异，有皮毛粗糙、棕色和白色相间的小狗，也有黑褐色的凶猛大狗。它们全都目露凶光。
冬青叶听到榛尾耳语道：“噢，不……”
“往后退！”黑莓掌的声音沉着而冷静，“不要转身跑。”
恐惧已经把冬青叶的爪子冻在了地上，甚至比刚才被冰冻住舌头还要牢。她无法动弹，脑海中立刻闪现出狗牙撕扯着她的皮毛，鲜血飞溅……
狮焰用力推了她一下，冬青叶趔趄了一下。“快点！”狮焰嘶嘶地叫道。
冬青叶忽然发现自己又能动了。她所有的本能都在冲她尖叫，让她转身逃走。但是她强迫自己一爪子一爪子地往后退。那队狗正在逼近，跟众猫之间始终保持着相同的距离。那只黑褐色的大狗张开了嘴，露出滴着口水的黄牙。一声长长的吼声从它的喉咙里发出来。
没有多远了！冬青叶在心里不住给自己打气，只要我们离开这个两脚兽领地，我们就可以爬到树上去。
就在这时，她听到身后传来一声大吼，她身上的每根毛发都竖了起来。她回过头，看见另两只狗出现在身后，截住了他们的逃跑线路。这两只狗看起来跟第一队狗一样凶猛，嘴巴张着，舌头伸在了外面。
“我们成了猎物了。”桦落小声说道。
就在此时，第一拨狗扑了上来。
“快跑！”黑莓掌大喊道。
他后腿猛地一蹬，向一条狭窄的缝隙冲去。缝隙的一边是两脚兽巢穴，另一边是高高的木栅栏。冬青叶和其他猫跟着他向前飞奔，狗群跟在他们的身后，发出汪汪的叫声。冬青叶从没这么害怕过——哪怕是蜡毛把他们困在大火熊熊的悬崖上。她觉得那尖利的黄牙随时都可能刺入自己的身体。脚垫跑在坚硬的石头上，她感觉就像着了火一样，呼吸急促得像是胸口都要炸开了。
狮焰就跑在她的身边，身上的皮毛蓬松开来，他看上去有平时的两倍大。冬青叶知道，他想转身跟那些狗对战。不要，它们会把你撕成碎片的！
“不要丢下我！”她在喘息之间，尖叫道。
更多的狗出现在他们的前方，挤满了狭窄的小道。黑莓掌突然转向，穿过另一道缝隙，跑进了茂密树篱中间的一条小路。族猫紧紧地跟着他，但是那些狗正在逼近。
冬青叶意识到，他们的敌人跑得很稳，似乎并没有使出全力，似乎它们正在等众猫精疲力竭，那样它们就能很容易抓住他们。她想起来了，在去山地的旅途中，鸦羽就是这样教风爪抓兔子的。但是现在我们成了猎物了！
黑莓掌突然停了下来，然后挤过树篱下的一个狭窄的缝隙。他使劲钻过去的时候，后爪用力地乱蹬着。“快点！”他喘着粗气说道，“它们没法儿钻过来再追我们！”
蕨毛把榛尾推了过去，然后是桦落。“冬青叶——快！”蕨毛喊道。
冬青叶不想丢下哥哥，但是没时间争辩了。她奋力钻过带刺的灌木丛，蕨毛跟在她的后边。狮焰是最后钻过来的，由于爬得太快，被刺扯下了一绺金棕色的皮毛。
“肮脏的鸦食者！”他冲树篱外吼道。
冬青叶的胸部剧烈起伏着。她四下张望，发现自己正站在一块平坦的碧绿的草地上，周围是低矮的灌木丛。草地的一边是一个两脚兽巢穴，所有的门和窗子都是关着的。这里没有两脚兽。
“或许现在我们可以……”黑莓掌开口道。
他突然停了下来。冬青叶恐惧地瞪大了眼睛，因为她看到，树篱在两脚兽巢穴附近消失了，剩下的缺口上只有一段很低的木头栅栏。狗毫不费力地跳过了栅栏，正穿过草地向远征队冲来。它们的眼中闪烁着饥饿和轻蔑，吼声变成了开心的吠叫。
它们很享受这一切！冬青叶转身逃跑时，一下子想到这一点。
突然，巢穴的门开了，一只两脚兽冲了出来，冲着狗尖叫着，挥动着一根长棍子。另一只两脚兽也大吼着跟了出来，手里拿着一个闪闪发光的东西。它把那个东西对准狗群，水从里边喷溅出来，可是那些狗只是把水抖掉了。
两脚兽领地的另一边也有一圈木栅栏。黑莓掌冲了过去，挥着尾巴让其他猫跟上。他们上气不接下气地往滑溜溜的木头上爬。榛尾开始往下滑，蕨毛在下面推了她一下，然后黑莓掌一口叼住了她的颈部，把她拖了上去。冬青叶爬到安全的地方才意识到，她的爪子在木头上留下了斑斑血迹。
有几个心跳的时间，那些狗在栅栏的另一边挤作一团，号叫着，抓挠着，企图抓到猫。黑莓掌俯视着它们，因为害怕和愤怒，弓着后背，毛全竖了起来。“滚开，你们这些癞皮狗！”他嘶嘶地叫道。
忽然，那只黑褐色的大狗冲出狗群，穿过草地，向巢穴旁边的矮栅栏冲去。其他狗跟着它向前涌去，然后又跳过栅栏，回到了小道上。
“它们要过来抓我们了！”桦落尖叫道。
“我们不能待在这里。”黑莓掌听起来很紧张，“跟我来。”
他跳下栅栏，这时第一只狗已经出现在拐角处。他沿着小道向前飞奔，尾巴甩在身后，肚子上的皮毛擦到了石头。冬青叶和其他猫紧紧地跟着他。
我们这样坚持不了多久的！冬青叶想。
黑莓掌改变方向，跑进另一个缺口，然后立刻停下来，其他的猫来不及止步，顿时撞在他的后背上。冬青叶一看，恐慌顿时袭遍全身。这条小道没有出口！他们的正前方是一堵高墙，也是用那种与两脚兽巢穴一样的红石头砌的，高度也差不多。我们绝对爬不上去！
黑莓掌往墙上跳去，但立即滑了回来。他的爪子离墙顶还很远。冬青叶知道，榛尾肯定跳不上去。每一边的树篱都很厚，根本钻不过去。
“你们走吧，”榛尾勇敢地说道，其实她正害怕得发抖，“不要担心我。”
蕨毛用尾巴尖碰了碰她的肩膀。“我们不能继续往前跑了，”他低声说道，“我们都累坏了，这里也无路可逃了。”
“那里怎么样？”冬青叶看见一群高高的发光的东西立在一个角落里，就像非常光滑的巨石。巨石的周围弥漫着两脚兽垃圾的气息。她用尾巴一指那里，说道：“我们可以藏在那里。”
蕨毛四下张望，想寻找其他藏身处，但什么都看不到。他飞快地点点头说：“走！”
黑莓掌引导榛尾藏了进去，又把桦落推进闪光巨石旁的狭窄空间里。冬青叶和狮焰跟着躲了进去，蕨毛和黑莓掌蜷伏在藏身之处靠外的地方。他们等待着群狗出现的时候，耳朵和胡须抖动着。
冬青叶挤在榛尾旁边，能感到榛尾浑身发抖，听到她正在竭力忍住的害怕的呜咽声。
“我知道，我再也看不到我的孩子了，”桦落小声说道，“我只希望白翅平安。”
咚咚咚的爪子落地声和响亮的狗吠声显示，狗群已经踏上了小道。即使周围遍布着两脚兽垃圾的气息，冬青叶仍然闻得到狗的臭味。她告诉自己，这说明狗也能闻到我们的气息。
接着她感觉狮焰从她的旁边挤了过去，走向黑莓掌和蕨毛蜷伏的入口处。她意识到狮焰要出去跟群狗战斗，顿时像淋了一身冰水似的颤抖起来。
“不，你不能去！”她嘶嘶地说道。
“我能！”狮焰坚持道，他转头用琥珀色的眼睛看着她，“我不会受伤的，你知道我不会的。”
他挤到银色巨石的边缘，从黑莓掌和蕨毛身边挤了过去。副族长问道：“看在星族的分上，你究竟想干什么？”但他根本没有理会。
“狮焰，不！”冬青叶尖叫道，“快回来！”
第十一章
 第十一章
狮焰听到了妹妹的尖叫声，但是他没有理会。他知道，他身上的每根毛都知道，他可以打败那些狗。他感觉自己的血液正在血管里剧烈涌动，他曾经学过的每个战斗动作，都在爪尖跃跃欲试。
狗群似乎正在慢慢地靠近。他有足够的时间，观察它们流着口水的嘴巴和在地面跳动的爪子。他的目光轻蔑地从一只移向另一只。
我首先要干掉那只黑褐色的狗。它倒下的时候，会绊倒那只瘦小的灰狗。如果我幸运的话，那只白狗也会绊倒。然后，我再对付那只狂吠个不停的讨厌的黑爪子……
他隐隐听到族猫们正在他的身后怒吼，但是他仍然没有回应。这是我的战斗，我是唯一能救他们的那只猫！
狮焰做好准备正要一跃而起，却看到领头狗的黄眼睛里露出了惊讶的神情。“你没想到一只猫也敢转身战斗吧！”他奚落道，“好，现在你有机会开眼了！”
他的最后一句话被一阵震耳欲聋的撞击声淹没了。他回过头，看到身后一个银色巨石倒了下来，飞出来的银白色圆盘旋转着穿过地面。圆盘滚进了狂吠着的狗群中，众狗纷纷躲避，猛烈的攻击因此停顿了下来。
让狮焰吃惊的是，一只暗棕色虎斑母猫突然出现在倾倒的巨石后面。与惊慌失措的族猫相比，她更靠近那道栅栏。“快点！”她说道，“帮我把这个推倒！”
她直起身，把前爪放在另一块银色巨石上。黑莓掌跳到她的旁边，和她一起推。这块巨石也像刚才那个一样翻倒了，顶上的银色圆盘滚了出去。两脚兽的垃圾从里边涌了出来。
群狗恼怒地尖叫着，拼命在巨石上又抓又挠，想绕过巨石，将利齿插入它们猎物的皮毛。
“快跑！”那只陌生母猫命令道，“这样拖不了它们太久。”
她俯身钻过树篱根部的一个狭窄的缝隙——这个缝隙之前被银色巨石挡住了。远征队跟在她的身后全速飞奔，跑过一片宽阔的淡灰色石头地。
身后再次响起狗吠声，狮焰在逃跑中不禁回头看了一眼。那只矮小的棕白相间的花狗和瘦小的灰狗已经钻过了缝隙，正冲过石头地。
“它们追上来了！”狮焰着急地叫道。
“走这边！”母猫说道。她领着他们沿着一条狭窄的小路向前飞奔而去，路的两旁是高高的栅栏。最后她停在一个边缘呈锯齿状的小洞旁。“钻过去。”
桦落缩着身子第一个钻了过去，接着是榛尾和冬青叶，狮焰跟在她们身后挤了过去。结果，他腿朝上、头朝下掉在了一片坚硬的草地上，狮焰惊恐地大叫一声。他感觉天旋地转，等到挣扎着站起来，看到黑莓掌站在他的身边，那只陌生的母猫也从小洞钻了过来。
“蕨毛呢？”狮焰焦急地问道。
一声尖叫回答了他的问题，金棕色公猫爪子吃力地将自己拖过栅栏，钻过小洞。“狐狸屎！”他瘫倒在草地上，喘着粗气喊道，“那只满身跳蚤的畜生咬到了我！”
黑莓掌闻了闻族猫的尾巴。狮焰发现蕨毛的一些皮毛被扯掉了，但是似乎没有流血。
“你不会有事的。”副族长判断道，“这是哪儿？”
母猫的回答被狗群的吠叫声淹没了。群狗撞向栅栏，栅栏发出嘎吱嘎吱的响声。
两脚兽巢穴墙上黑乎乎的洞中开始出现了亮光，狮焰听见一只两脚兽愤怒地大喊着，但是群狗仍旧狂吠着撞向栅栏。他看见那只棕白相间的小狗从缝隙里探过头来，缝隙两边的木头开始崩裂，他心头不由一紧。
暗棕色虎斑母猫冲上前去，在狗鼻子上狠狠地抓了一下。狗号叫着，退了出去。
“知道我的厉害了吧！”她满意地说着，又对众猫说道，“快，随我来！”
他们跟在她身后向两脚兽巢穴的入口跑去。黑莓掌滑动着停了下来。
“我们不能进去！”他反对道，“这是两脚兽的巢穴。”
“好啊！”虎斑猫呵斥道，“那你们就留在这儿，让它们吃了你们。”她缩着身子，钻过挡在入口的木板旁边小小的洞，消失不见了。
黑莓掌和其他队员疑惑地相互看着。然后副族长耸耸肩，扬起尾巴示意族猫跟上。狮焰停下来，回头向草地那边看去，看见那只小狗还在往小缝隙里钻，它已经挤过来半个肩膀和一只爪子。
狮焰感到身上的毛竖了起来，热血再次沸腾，随时准备战斗。他似乎能感到，他的爪子撕开了敌人的皮毛，尝到鲜血的味道，听到了可怕的叫声。
接着他听到咔嚓一声，一只两脚兽大叫起来，听起来比先前近了很多。群狗狂热的叫声变成了害怕的嘶吼。那只小狗挣扎着退出了小洞，然后消失了。
当嘈杂声渐渐平息时，狮焰的皮毛也平顺下来。狮焰心里有些失望，因为他没能在群狗身上展示战斗技巧。接着蕨毛推了他一下，他惊得跳了起来。
“来吧！”这只金棕色的公猫竖起耳朵指向巢穴的入口，“你还在等什么？”
其他猫已经钻进去了。狮焰挤过了缝隙，蕨毛跟在他的身后。他发现自己正站在一个小小的方形巢穴里，族猫都聚拢在中央，紧张地环顾着四周。他嗅着空气中的味道，猫的味道很浓，只有一股非常微弱的两脚兽气息。
“这里有点怪。”他开口说道，“为什么……”
那只暗棕色虎斑猫没理会他。“走这边，”她说道，“既然你们已经来了，就见见其他猫吧。”
她领头穿过一个拱门，进入一个更大的巢穴。光线从墙上的一个大缝涌了进来。狮焰忐忑地往前走着，猫的气息越来越浓，几乎有种巡逻结束后从林子里回到营地的感觉。冬青叶与他贴得很近，皮毛都擦在了一起。黑莓掌和蕨毛则守在猫群的外围。狮焰知道，他们正随时准备保护年轻猫。我也会这样做，如果我们需要杀出一条生路，那我也准备好了。
黑莓掌示意远征队停在巢穴的中央。一只肩膀很宽的灰色公猫坐在缝隙下的台子上，一只带斑点的棕色母猫蜷伏在两脚兽的物件上，那东西亮亮的，像一个柔软的巨石。四只小猫趴在她的肚皮上吃奶。另一只猫躲在两脚兽的木质物件下向外窥探着，几乎看不清他的模样。
狮焰认出坐在另一个看起来很柔软的巨石上的黑白相间的公猫，正是昨晚遇见他们后跑掉的那只。他不由得屏住了呼吸。
“我叫金戈。”暗棕色虎斑母猫没等狮焰张口，先说话了，“那个是虎萨。”她摇着尾巴，指向坐在台子上的灰色公猫，“有幼崽的猫后是褐斑。”
“嗨，你们好！”虎萨说道，他懒懒地摆了摆尾巴。褐斑只是抖了抖耳朵，看起来有点警惕，好像担心新来者会伤害她的幼崽。
“他是豆荚。”暗棕色虎斑母猫继续说着。那只叫豆荚的猫待在木质物件下，冲他们眨着眼睛。“出来吧，豆荚，没有猫会伤害你。还有，我想你们已经见过弗利兹了。”
她说完之后，就跳上了黑白相间公猫待着的那块柔软的巨石。弗利兹盯着族群猫，瞪大了眼睛，但是没有说话。
黑莓掌走上前去。“你把我们当成谁了？”他问弗利兹。看到那只公猫没有回答，黑莓掌转向金戈：“我们昨晚见到他的时候，他似乎以为我们和另一只猫是一伙的，他说那只猫跟你们说过话，但是却给你们带来了麻烦。你知道他说的那只猫是谁吗？”
“我们已经不再相信任何来这儿的陌生猫了。”金戈的声音听起来很严肃，“自从日神来过之后，就不再相信了。”
狮焰感到肚子里一阵翻腾。我们猜对了！日神果然来过这里！
“日神？”蕨毛脖子上的毛起伏着，“这么说，你认识他？”
金戈点了点头：“他上个秃叶季来过这儿，但是没有猫知道他从哪里来。他在两脚兽领地的边上住了一段时间，后来天气变冷了，他就住到了这个废弃的两脚兽巢穴。他还邀请其他没有主人的猫和他住在一起。”
“我就是第一批来的。”豆荚从木头物品下钻了出来，族猫这才看清他是一只公猫，口鼻部位已经老得发白，“褐斑和弗利兹是跟我一起来的。”
“后来我和虎萨也加入进来，”金戈继续说道，“我听说有一群猫给自己建立了一个家，觉得这个主意不错。”
“日神表现得像你们的首领吗？”狮焰问。这只皮毛上有斑块的独行猫曾试图控制影族，或许那不是他第一次想控制一群猫。
“对，他有没有告诉过你们要相信某些事情？”冬青叶继续问道。
金戈看起来充满了疑惑：“也不完全是。他只是说，我们可以按照我们想要的方式生活，因为那就是我们应该享有的生活。生活是美好的，他说……”
“生活并不美好！”豆荚厉声说道。他坐下来，抬起一条后腿在耳朵后边挠了挠。“我们不得不做日神告诉我们的任何事情，比如给他带食物，给他的窝里铺羽毛。而且他吓唬幼崽，告诉他们，没有他，他们就活不下去。”
“也没那么糟糕！”金戈反驳道，“你说的只是后来发生的事。”
“我为什么不能这么说？”豆荚停下抓挠，注视着她，“那个鼠脑子的蠢货差点让我们全都丧命！”
弗利兹使劲地点了点头，紧张地抖了抖胡须，但是仍旧没有说话。
狮焰看着冬青叶，她看起来跟他一样吃惊，眼中闪闪发光，爪子在坚硬的两脚兽地面上摩擦着。日神住在森林里时，从来没有想要哪只猫去死，狮焰想，冬青叶是不是怀疑他真的杀了蜡毛？
这时，他被褐斑的四只幼崽分了神，他们离开了母亲，一个接一个地从柔软的巨石上爬下来。褐斑坐了起来，紧张地看着最大的那只幼崽跳向黑莓掌。他是一只公猫，有着和母亲一样的斑点，毛也是棕色的。
“我叫欢蹦。”他大声说道，“你叫什么？你是要住在这里吗？”
黑莓掌摇摇头。“我们只是路过。我叫黑莓掌。”他又一一介绍了远征队的其他成员。“谢谢你们的帮助，”说完，他低头向金戈致意，“如果不是你，我们会被狗撕成碎片的。”
“我们会帮助被那群狗威胁的任何一只猫，”金戈回应道，“而且只要你们愿意，在这里待多久我们都欢迎。”
“谢谢你们。”黑莓掌再次低头致意，“现在能不能告诉我们，日神都做了些什么？”
金戈在柔软的巨石上坐好，爪子埋在了胸下。虎萨轻轻地从台子上跳下来，走过去坐在豆荚身边。狮焰第一次注意到，他的肋下有一道长长的伤口，那里的皮毛还没有恢复原状。他环顾四周，发现其他猫也都带着伤痕：弗利兹的一只耳朵被撕破了，豆荚的嘴上有伤疤，金戈的尾巴尖不见了。
“这些猫都曾身陷苦战。”他低声对冬青叶说道。
他在两脚兽坚硬的地板上坐了下来，心里非常想念林子里的草地，以及武士巢穴里铺着柔软苔藓的窝。冬青叶坐在他旁边，爪尖仍不安地伸缩着，其他族猫都聚在周围。
“日神最初并没有惹出什么麻烦，”金戈开口说道，“他独来独往，待在宠物猫的领地外。”
“他是第一只发现这个废弃的两脚兽巢穴的猫，”虎萨插话道，“他开始邀请其他猫跟他一起住在这里——起初邀请的是那些没有主人的猫。”
“他说他想保证所有猫的安全。”褐斑说着往柔软巨石的边缘挪了挪。
豆荚低声咆哮道：“其实，他更想让我们为他做事情。他又懒又蠢，在这里过得很是惬意。”
“这么说不公平！”褐斑反驳道，“我们在这里比游荡在外面——睡在灌木丛——更安全。”
“那接下来发生了什么事？”黑莓掌在豆荚继续争辩前，催促道。
“越来越多的猫来到了这里。”金戈再次开始讲述往事，“我那时有主人，但是我喜欢日神所做的事情，所以我就想来试一试。”
“我是在她来后不久加入进来的，”虎萨补充道，“我喜欢自由。在这里，我来去自由，不用等待主人的命令。”
“而且自己抓的猎物，也比两脚兽给的没有水分的食物要好吃得多。”金戈说道。
“但两脚兽为什么会让你们待在这里？”蕨毛好奇地问道，“难道它们不想要这个巢穴了吗？”
“很明显是不想要了。”虎萨耸耸肩，回答道。
“两脚兽的幼崽以前会时不时地来这里，”金戈解释道，“不过它们从来没有驱赶过我们，现在它们已经不来了。”
“日神告诉我们，如果成年两脚兽来了，我们该怎么办。”褐斑解释道，“在巢穴的高处正好有个黑暗的空间，是个尖尖的巢穴顶部。日神告诉我们，可以藏在那里。”
“它们确实来过一两次。”弗利兹第一次开口说话，“因此我们都藏了起来。”
“而且两脚兽从来没有发现过我们。”褐斑自豪地补充道。
尽管狮焰有很好的理由不相信日神，但是他也意识到，日神在这里做的事并不都是坏的。这些猫在这里有庇护的地方，还可以互相帮助。他不太敢肯定，宠物猫为什么想来这里，但是对独行猫来说，这里肯定好过秃叶季在外面受冻。这听起来就像两脚兽领地里的族群。
“那后来出了什么问题？”他问道。
“你猜不到吗？”金戈有些绝望地回答道，“那些狗发现了我们。它们进不到这里来，因为大多数狗都太大了，无法从入口处狭窄的缝隙钻进来。”
“有一次，一只小狗钻了进来。”虎萨伸长爪子，喉咙里开始发出低吼，“但它再也不敢尝试第二次。”
“但是不管我们什么时候出去，它们就在那里等着我们，”弗利兹颤抖了一下，继续说道，“而且它们后来还追赶我们。”
“一群又蠢又笨的畜生！”豆荚的尾巴尖抖了抖。
“如果我们狩猎，它们就偷我们的猎物。”金戈继续说道，“它们还杀了花儿。”她的眼里笼罩着悲伤和歉疚，“她是一只漂亮的年轻母猫。她主人的巢穴就在我主人巢穴的旁边。是我劝说她来到这里的。”
她低下了头，弗利兹轻轻地拍着她的肩膀。
“那日神是怎么应对这件事的？”为了表示尊敬，蕨毛沉默了片刻后问道。
“他告诉我们，需要让那些狗明白，我们有权生活在这里。”虎萨继续讲起了故事，“所以他制订了一个计划。他发现了一个废弃的很小的巢穴，就在怪物睡觉的石头小路旁边。他说，如果我们把那些狗引进去，我们和它们作战的时候，它们就没办法逃脱。”弗利兹的肩膀颤抖着，发出了一声害怕的叫声，然后把爪子嵌进身下柔软的巨石里。金戈靠在他的身上，安慰着他。
“计划没起作用吗？”黑莓掌猜测道，但是狮焰已经知道了答案。
“你觉得呢？”豆荚没好气地说道。
“日神教我们如何战斗，”金戈继续说道，“我们练习了很长时间……”
“这就意味着，我们没有足够的时间狩猎，”豆荚打断了他，“我饿得喉咙里都快伸出爪子来了。”
金戈没理会他的打岔，继续说道：“后来日神说，我们已经准备好了。他选了一只叫胡椒的公猫出去捕捉猎物，然后让那些狗追着他来到小巢穴里。我们都埋伏着，准备跟着那些狗进去，然后猛打它们。日神跟我们在一起，当……”
“你们为什么要谈论那个狐狸屎？”一个新的声音从狮焰身后传来。他回过头，看见一只黑色的公猫正站在巢穴入口。他蓬松的毛让他看起来有原来的两倍大，尾巴不住地抽打着。
狮焰的肌肉紧绷起来，看起来就像是做好了攻击准备。不过他随即意识到，黑色公猫的愤怒并非针对他和他的族猫。
“没什么事儿，黑玉。”金戈回答道，“这些猫想问……”
“怎么可能没事！”黑玉嘶嘶地叫道，“这里永远不会太平的。我不愿意再想起那只猫！”他的毛仍然竖立着，然后转过身，消失了。
“抱歉，我们让他心烦了……”榛尾说道，回头盯着那只黑猫的背影。
“这不是你们的错，”金戈安慰着她，“胡椒是黑玉的同窝猫，直到现在，黑玉还是不能忍受任何猫提到日神。”
“胡椒死了吗？”冬青叶问道。
虎萨点点头，神情黯然：“在我们进入那个巢穴之前，他就死了。当时，我们都藏在另一个巢穴的顶部，然后看见胡椒沿着石头路飞奔过来，群狗在他身后紧追不舍。它们叫起来的时候，我从来没有听过比那个更疯狂的声音。接着我们就听见一声可怕的惨叫……”
这时，巢穴外面应声传来一声号叫，好像就是虎萨的话把它召唤来的。狮焰的爪子痛了起来。紧跟着传来一阵狗吠声，而且声音正在迅速靠近。所有的族猫都蜷伏在地上，吓得一动不动，爪子抓挠着坚硬的地面。豆荚匆匆走回两脚兽的东西下面，褐斑也急忙用尾巴催促着：“孩子们——快点到这里来。”四只幼崽爬回到柔软的巨石上。褐斑用腿和尾巴把他们圈在一起。
只有金戈和虎萨表情平静。金戈说道：“它们进不来。”
听见巢穴外响起抓挠声，狮焰跳了起来。虎萨也跳了起来，但很快便放松下来。一只姜黄色与白色相间的母猫探身进来，嘴上叼着一只还没僵硬的老鼠。就在那只母猫的身后，一只年轻的灰色虎斑公猫探头向里张望着。
“噢，是你啊，梅丽，”虎萨弓起背伸了个懒腰，然后又坐了下来，“还有奇尔普，过来见见这些新来的猫。”
梅丽往巢穴里走了一步，绿色的眼睛逐一打量着族群猫。然后她摇了摇头，嘴里叼着老鼠，嘟哝着别的猫听不清的话，然后退了出去。狮焰听见她爪子落地的声音渐渐消失了。
但是奇尔普却走进巢穴里，坐了下来。不过他只是坐在门边，一直紧张地看着门外。
“自从和狗的那次战斗以后，我们都很警觉。”虎萨说道。
“那能怪我们吗？”豆荚又出现了，舔了几下胸部的皮毛，好像在竭力假装他刚才没有那么快躲起来。
“告诉我们发生了什么？”狮焰追问道，“你们听到惨叫之后……”
“我们都冲进那巢穴里，”金戈继续说着，利爪插进了柔软的巨石，“但胡椒已经死了。那些狗正撕扯着他的尸体。我们发动了攻击，但是它们的数量太多，而且体形比我们大，也比我们凶猛。每只猫都受了伤。那些狗把雪儿撕成了碎片，小丑的伤势严重，我们把他带回这里之后，他就死了。”
狮焰感到毛骨悚然。日神犯了一个可怕的错误。每只猫都面临过死亡，而且很明显，那些狗仍未善罢甘休。
“不问我日神有没有参加战斗吗？”豆荚怒声问道。
黑莓掌竖起了耳朵：“什么？”
“他根本就没有举起爪子帮助我们！”老公猫愤愤地低吼道，“他甚至都没去观战！我们舔伤口的时候，他就在这里漫步。”
“之后发生了什么？”蕨毛问道。
金戈抽动着耳朵：“如果他承认他错了，事情或许还会不一样。可是他一口咬定，是我们决定开战的，而且我们打败了并不是他的错。然后他坐下来，开始清理自己的皮毛，还让黑玉给他弄点吃的回来。”
“要不是我把黑玉按住，他可能早就把日神撕碎了。”虎萨补充道。
桦落的胡子抖动着：“我倒希望他这么做了！”
金戈看起来很吃惊，不过她并没有问这位年轻的武士他的话是什么意思。“所以我们要求日神离开，”她说道，“如果我们觉得有必要，会把他赶出去。不过他只是告诉我们，我们在犯一个错误，然后便乖乖地离开了。”她叹了口气，“或许他是对的。我也不知道了。”
“不，金戈是对的。”桦落凑近狮焰的耳朵，低声说道，“没有日神，他们会过得更好，就像我们一样！”
金戈站起身，打了个哈欠，伸了伸懒腰，然后又坐了下来：“我们要说的也就这些了。现在告诉我们你们知道的事吧。”
黑莓掌和蕨毛对视了一眼。这次是蕨毛先开口。“日神来到了我们居住的森林，”他说道，“那肯定是在他离开你们之后。他到那里和影族待在一起——影族是住在我们旁边的一群猫。他劝说影族，不要再相信武士守则和他们的武士祖灵。”
两脚兽领地上的猫一脸茫然地互相看着。很显然，他们没听说过星族和武士守则。
“当他劝说你的时候，他确实非常有说服力。”金戈低声说道。狮焰扫了一眼冬青叶。他们比很多猫都更明白，日神的话是多么有说服力。或许日神是对的，狮焰禁不住想，虽然在处理恶狗这件事上，他的做法非常可怕。或许这些猫不应该因为他们输了那场战斗而怪罪日神。他一边活动爪子，一边想象着自己与其中一只狗面对面时该怎么做。或许他们应该训练得更刻苦些。
“所以你们寻找日神是因为他对……对影族做的事情？”金戈问道。
“不，是因为另一位武士……”桦落迫不及待地开口道。狮焰想到要谈及蜡毛的死，肚子抽搐起来。
黑莓掌扬起尾巴，示意年轻武士安静。“我们只想跟日神谈一谈最近发生的事情，”他平静地陈述道，“你们见过他吗？”
“没有，而且我们也不想再见到他。”豆荚低声咆哮道。
虎萨小声表示同意。但是狮焰注意到褐斑看上去有些惆怅，似乎她对日神的印象还不错。
“我没再见过日神。”奇尔普一直安静地坐在门边，这时忽然开口说话了，他盯着狮焰，“不过我听说他回来了。”
虎萨使劲地抓着地面：“他还敢回来！”
“不在这里。”奇尔普解释道，“是在两脚兽领地的另一边。有一个叫波弟的猫曾经住在那里。”
“我们认识波弟！”狮焰大喊道，他记得那只上了年纪的独行猫。他们去山地的那次旅行中，波弟曾给他们带过路。
“谢谢，这真是帮了大忙。”黑莓掌说道，“我们就去那儿找他。”
“现在去天太晚了，”金戈站起来，轻轻地跳下柔软的巨石，落在虎萨身旁，“今晚你们可以留在这里。”
黑莓掌低头致意：“谢谢你。”
“你们可以跟我们一起吃东西。”金戈继续说道，“来，虎萨，帮我拿些猎物。”
那两只猫离开了，然后带着猎物回来，他们跟所有的猫分享这些猎物。褐斑从巨石上跳下来，加入他们的行列。她的孩子们摇摇晃晃地跟着她。她挑了一只老鼠给他们，他们快乐地吵闹着吃了起来。
“这应该不是日神教他们的。”狮焰蹲伏着吃一只画眉，低声对冬青叶说，“还记得他告诉影族成员，每只猫都要自己找吃的吗？他说任何猫依赖别的猫，就是变弱的表现。”
冬青叶点点头：“这些猫很明显在某个地方有个猎物堆。而且他们还在为不能自己狩猎的猫狩猎。他们差不多就跟族群猫一样。”
“看起来没有日神，他们过得更好。”但是狮焰说话的时候，发现其中有几只猫并不赞成他的话。他感受过日神魅力的力量，他不动声色的威严，还有他能准确地知道如何做正确的事的直觉。金戈和其他猫也一定感受到了，而且日神离开后，还开始怀念他。狮焰若有所思地吃着画眉。画眉的肉肥美多汁，不过却有一股雷鬼路的味道。如果他不是这么饿，他会发现简直难以下咽。
他们都吃完猎物后，褐斑的幼崽拍打着身边的一堆树叶。他们互相兴奋地尖叫着，翻滚着。欢蹦，那四只小猫中体形和年龄最大的一只，开始把树叶朝狮焰身上拍。
狮焰把树叶向幼崽拍回去的时候，心中的紧张消除了很多。这跟在石头山谷和幼崽玩耍差不多。褐斑的幼崽个头大，身体壮，差不多已经可以成为学徒了。
很快他们就可以学习战斗和狩猎了，他想，这些猫有像样的技巧教给他们吗？
冬青叶也加入了同样的游戏，追赶着树叶，在上面又蹦又跳，直到四只幼崽瘫倒在母亲身边，气喘吁吁。
“这几只幼崽很不错。”狮焰喘着粗气，坐倒在褐斑面前的地板上，“他们会长成强壮的猫的。”
“我也希望如此。”褐斑低声说道。她伏在欢蹦身边，舔着他乱蓬蓬的皮毛。然后她再次抬起头来。“不管你们认为日神做过什么，我想你们肯定错了。”
狮焰看了看妹妹，肚子抽搐起来。冬青叶的绿眼睛警惕地瞪大了。这只猫知道多少事？
狮焰太吃惊了，根本无法回答。过了两三个心跳的时间，褐斑平静地继续说道：“日神永远不会弄脏自己的爪子。如果发生了什么事，那一定是别的猫做的——这可能是日神授意的，也可能不是。你没办法指责他的任何不是。”
她的声音里充满了渴望。即使她知道日神给这里带来的伤害，可是很显然，她仍希望他回来。
“日神是这四只幼崽的父亲吗？”冬青叶问道，她伸出尾巴，摸着棕色猫后的侧腹。
褐斑摇了摇头。“那些狗开始成为一个大麻烦后，他们的父亲就离开了。”她犹豫着，然后几乎是大胆地补充道，“我倒希望他们是日神的孩子。我知道，其他猫说他背叛了我们，可是决定跟那些狗开战的是我们，日神并没有强迫我们做任何事情。”
不，他只是让你们觉得，你们别无选择。狮焰没有大声对褐斑说出这些话来。很明显，她还深深地爱着那只独行猫。
他和冬青叶又互相看了看，他俩谁都不想提起蜡毛。但是狮焰明白，那位淡灰色武士的死给他的同窝猫带来了沉重的压力，他自己的感觉也是如此。
褐斑低下头，继续给欢蹦整理皮毛。“如果日神回来，”她在舔皮毛的间隙说道，“我会很开心能见到他。”
第十二章
 第十二章
松鸦羽难受地在没有铺垫的地上翻腾着。没有一个舒服的窝，一只猫怎么睡得着呢？可是整个白天，叶池都让他忙个不停，他根本没有时间去找新鲜的苔藓。“这样可以让巢穴里的空气流通。”叶池竟然还这么说。哼！松鸦羽又在窝里翻了个身，觉得黎明的寒风吹皱了他的皮毛。
一只猫穿过黑莓屏风的沙沙声让他完全醒了过来。他闻到了叶池的气味，还有她嘴里叼着的苔藓的气息。终于要铺窝了！可是她为什么不让我帮忙呢？松鸦羽羞愧得爪子疼痛。叶池似乎已经决定，连最基本的活儿都不让他做了。她是觉得我太没用，甚至连叼苔藓都做不好吗？
不过现在抗议没有意义。松鸦羽从当成窝的坑里爬出来，帮助叶池把苔藓铺在水池旁边的窝里，那些窝是给病猫们睡的。
“需要我再弄些回来吗？”他提议道。
老师的唯一回答是一声他也弄不明白意思的呼噜声。松鸦羽想问叶池，是什么让她如此苦恼。不过他也知道叶池什么都不会说。如果我问了，她很可能会把我的耳朵撕下来。他对自己喃喃道。我找到答案的唯一办法——关于我自己的过去以及叶池的烦心事——就是自己去寻找。
松鸦羽把苔藓整齐地放进窝里的时候，他的思绪回到了最早的记忆。他的哥哥姐姐的离开像利爪一样刺痛了他。如果我们能分享我们各自知道的信息，我很可能会发现更多真相。
他回忆起那段漫长而又寒冷的行程。他跟着母亲的气息，挣扎着穿过深及腹部的雪。不——是松鼠飞的气息！他抓着一爪子苔藓，愣在了那里。他努力设想自己回想到了那个大雪纷飞的森林。他努力想分辨出每种独特的气息：他自己的、狮焰的、冬青叶的、松鼠飞的……还有另一只猫的！另一只成年猫，身形温暖而笨重。他以前从没想起过这个细节，但是那只猫确实在那儿，就在松鼠飞的前面，在积雪中为他们开出一条路……
那是谁呢？松鸦羽回想着，是这两只猫把我们带回石头山谷的吗？
他得去问问另外的猫，得找一只当松鼠飞把他们带回山谷的时候就已经在雷族的猫。同时这只猫还不会对他的问题产生怀疑，也不会把他的问题告诉其他族猫。
对了，族群里确实有一只猫不会传小道消息……
“我去再弄点苔藓来。”他说着，飞快地铺好苔藓。
他没给叶池反对的机会，就钻出黑莓屏风，来到了空地。不过他并没有走向荆棘通道，而是飞快地钻进了榛树下的长老巢穴。
“鼠毛！”他边喊边钻到了一丛金银花下。
瘦削的深棕色老猫正蜷缩在榛树旁。“你火急火燎的是因为尾巴着火了，还是狐狸入侵了营地？”她打了个哈欠，恼怒地说道，“否则，你就必须给我一个把我吵醒的理由。”
“抱歉，”松鸦羽嘟哝道。老鼠屎！还真是奇妙的开始！
“别担心！”长尾平静地说道。盲眼长老正坐在鼠毛旁边。松鸦羽听到他清理全身时舌头发出的声音，“鼠毛已经睡得太久了，也该醒了。”
鼠毛发出一声恼怒的嘶吼：“好吧，你要干什么？”
“我来给你检查一下跳蚤，”松鸦羽解释道，他的大脑飞快地运转着，“有位学徒巡逻的时候带了回来。”他希望两位长老不会把他的谎话向其他猫提起。
“我身上一点也不痒！”鼠毛说道，“不过你也可以给我检查一下皮毛。”她把爪子放在身下，舒服地趴好：“仔细一点，可别漏掉任何一只。”当松鸦羽开始检查她厚厚的没有整理的皮毛时，她又说道：“你做叶池的学徒到现在已经够久的了。”
松鸦羽意识到这正好可以作为他想说的话题的开始，因此没有抱怨。“确实如此！”他说道，“我是上个秃叶季的中期出生的，对吧？”
“那是我记忆中最冷的秃叶季，”长尾肯定地说道，“直到现在，我还记得雪有多厚！当松鼠飞带着三只幼崽回到石头山谷的时候，整个族群都惊呆了。她说他们出生得比她预计的要早，所以她没来得及回到育婴室。不过更让族猫困惑的是，有哪只猫后会选择在艰难的秃叶季生小猫呢？”
“感谢星族，幸好有叶池在她身边。”鼠毛又说，松鸦羽分开她头上的皮毛时，她的耳朵颤抖着，“否则她就有大麻烦了。”
叶池！松鸦羽停下正在给鼠毛梳理皮毛的爪子。如此说来，他一直未能认出的那只猫就是叶池。她从未跟他提起过，他出生的时候，她和松鼠飞在一起的事……
他在地上找到一小节细枝，在鼠毛背后抓起来，放在牙齿中间咯嘣咬断。“抓到一只跳蚤，你不用担心了。”他说道，然后尽量做出若无其事的样子，问道，“你还记得松鼠飞带我们回来时的其他事情吗？”
“不是很多。”长老回答道，“那时天太冷，雪也很大。那个秃叶季的大部分时间，我们都在睡觉。我清晰地记得，每只猫都很惊讶！因为松鼠飞出去的时候，竟然没意识到自己离分娩的时间近了。不过她总是粗心大意的，从她是幼崽时就那样。”
“你注意到什么奇怪的事情没有？”松鸦羽问着，又咬断了一根细枝。他希望，鼠毛不会真的以为她身上跳蚤成灾了。
“奇怪的事？”鼠毛喷着鼻息，“对我来说，现在族猫干的很多事情才奇怪呢！”
“我记得。”长尾插话道，“大约就是那时候，叶池给你吃那种味道奇特的草药。”
松鸦羽的耳朵抖动着：“什么奇怪的草药？”
“哦，我怎么会知道啊？”鼠毛嘟囔着，“叶池给我带了些艾菊，就像平常一样。我觉得，她是希望我每个秃叶季都靠这种草药活着。当时艾菊里边就混着那种草药的奇怪气息。”
松鸦羽脚垫上的刺痛告诉他，这种奇怪的草药一定很重要：“叶池告诉你那是什么了吗？”
鼠毛伸着懒腰，抖了抖皮毛：“没有，我从来没问过她。当我抱怨那个味道的时候，她只是拿走了剩下的。她说反正那个不是给我准备的。”
“它像什么的味道？”松鸦羽追问着，走到长尾身边，开始给他检查皮毛。
“很怪，不过并不难闻。”鼠毛说道，“如果叶池给我吃什么恶心的东西，我早就把她的耳朵撕下来了！它尝上去很清凉，就像皮毛上的霜，而且像草一样新鲜，即便干了，成了粉末。我猜，它就藏在叶池储藏草药的地方的最后面。”
“真奇怪！”松鸦羽又咬断了另一个小树枝，“把草药弄混，可不像叶池的做派。”
鼠毛哼了一声：“她一直都在那里，用尽全力帮松鼠飞照顾你们几只小猫！她那担心的样子让任何一只猫都以为，松鼠飞是有史以来第一只生幼崽的猫后！”
“是吗？”松鸦羽喃喃道。
他飞快地检查完长尾的皮毛，结果真的找到了一只跳蚤，用牙齿咯嘣一下结果了它。他跟两位长老说了再见，然后走进树林收集苔藓。他用牙齿在一棵树的树根间拽着苔藓，思索着鼠毛提到的神秘草药到底是什么。真奇怪，叶池没跟鼠毛说那是什么草药，或者是给谁准备的。而且更奇怪的是，一向小心谨慎的叶池居然犯了错。
我得弄明白那是什么草药。松鸦羽想着，把苔藓收集到一起，带回营地。
他返回巫医巢穴的时候，发现叶池在他跟长老说话的那段时间里，已经收集了更多的铺垫。“你是去河族找苔藓了吗？”她问道，“还是说又到树林里闲逛了？”
“哦……没有。”松鸦羽放下苔藓，开始把它放在自己的窝里，“我觉得应该先去看看长老。”看到叶池没回应，他补充道，“鼠毛给我讲了一个奇怪的故事。她说你给过她一种味道奇特的草药，是跟她的艾菊混在一起的。”
一丝警惕从叶池身上散发出来，但她只是轻轻地说道：“我不记得了。是什么时候的事儿？”
“噢，很久以前了。”不知怎么的，松鸦羽觉得自己不能说得太具体。他不想让老师知道，他在调查自己的身世，“你记得它是什么吗？”
叶池发出一声烦躁的嘶嘶声：“我怎么知道那是什么？看在星族的分上，你觉得我没有更重要的事情要担心吗？”
“我只是……”
“如果你无聊得必须询问上个秃叶季的事情，我立刻就能给你找活儿干。我们这儿的苔藓还不够，你可以再去弄一些。”
“好的。”松鸦羽巴不得赶快离开。但是我并没有提到上个秃叶季啊！他想着，走过了空地。他已经感觉到了老师的恐惧。叶池在撒谎。她知道那种草药是什么，她知道它很重要。我肯定很接近真相了。叶池不想让我发现它。
CHAPTER20
CHAPTER20
Jayfeather wriggled around and sniffed wheresome scraps of the herb still clung to his pelt. The scent was sharp, and as he pushed his nose against the dried leaves, he felt a crinkled edge. He had no idea what the herb was. Leafpool must hardly ever use it; she certainly had never told him about it.
Rapidly he finished spreading yarrow ointment on Purdy’s pads. “That should be fine,” he meowed. “I’ll fetch you some more tomorrow.”
He whirled around and slipped out of the den, ignoring Purdy’s plaintive cry of “What was all that about?”
Racing back to his own den, he found Leafpool curled up in her nest. “Leafpool, what—?” he began, skidding to a halt beside her. Then he broke off. He remembered how defensive Leafpool had been the first time he had questioned her about the mysterious herb. Better keep quiet, and find out what I can by myself.
“Jayfeather, why are you rushing around like that?” Leafpool mewed; she sounded bone-weary. “I want to have a quick nap before sunset. The Clan is sitting vigil for Honeyfern tonight.”
“Sorry,” Jayfeather mumbled. To his relief, Leafpool didn’t ask him what he had been about to say.
“This is the night we should travel to the Moonpool,” she went on. “You’ll have to go by yourself. I can’t leave the vigil.”
Jayfeather nodded. “Okay.” He made himself sound calm, but he wanted to bounce up and down like an excited kit. Without Leafpool, surely he could find out something about the mystery herb from the other medicine cats?
A brisk evening breeze rattled the bare branches as Jayfeather padded through the forest. His earlier excitement had faded; he set his paws down confidently, but inwardly he was full of doubt. What would the other medicine cats say about Sol?
When he reached the top of the ridge, he found Barkface and Kestrelpaw waiting for him beside the stream. Just as he reached them, Littlecloud came bounding up from the direction of ShadowClan. Jayfeather’s ears pricked with surprise as he picked up another cat’s scent along with him. “Flamepaw!” he exclaimed.
“You remember me!” Flamepaw was bubbling over with excitement, like a pool in a rainstorm. “I saw you when Tawnypelt brought me to your camp with Tigerpaw and Dawnpaw. We’re kin,” he added proudly.
No, we’re not. A pang of regret shook Jayfeather. He liked the three eager young apprentices.
“Flamepaw is my apprentice now,” Littlecloud announced. “Tonight I’ll introduce him to StarClan.”
“Congratulations,” Jayfeather meowed, touching the young cat on the shoulder with his tail. He remembered how disappointed Flamepaw had been when he and his littermates came to the ThunderClan camp, because Sol had convinced Blackstar that ShadowClan didn’t need a medicine cat. It was great to hear that he was happy now, following the path StarClan had laid out for him. This wasn’t the right time to tell him that they weren’t kin after all.
There won’t ever be a right time, Jayfeather thought.
By the time the other cats had exchanged greetings, there was still no sign of Mothwing and Willowshine from RiverClan.
“We won’t wait,” Barkface decided. “We’ve a lot to get through tonight.”
“Maybe they’ll catch up,” Littlecloud meowed.
And maybe Mothwing doesn’t feel like trekking all the way to the Moonpool just to catch up on her sleep,Jayfeather thought. She usually sends Willowshine, though.
The medicine cats were beginning the last scramble up the steep slope toward the bushes that surrounded the Moonpool, when they heard a breathless yowl from behind them. “Wait! Wait for us!”
Jayfeather turned and caught the scent of Mothwing and her apprentice, growing rapidly stronger as the two cats raced to catch up.
“Sorry,” Mothwing panted as they reached the bottom of the rocks. “We got held up. Petalkit got a thorn in her eye.”
“Poor little thing,” Barkface murmured. “I hope you got it out.”
“Yes, it just took a good lick,” Mothwing replied. “I left her asleep in the nursery.”
“I don’t know if you’ve tried this,” Littlecloud meowed, “but I’ve always found celandine good for damaged eyes. Just trickle a bit of the juice into her eye to ease the pain.”
“Oh, thank you!” Mothwing exclaimed. “I didn’t know that. I’ll try it as soon as we get back. Willowshine, do we have any celandine in the store?”
“I think so,” the younger cat replied. “There’s not much left, but it should be enough.”
“Let’s keep going,” Barkface mewed. “We’re wasting moonlight.”
Jayfeather clawed his way up the rocky hillside and pushed through the bushes to the rim of the hollow where the Moonpool lay. He could hear the gentle plash of the waterfall, and pictured the surface of the water dappled with the light of countless stars.
“I’ve something to say,” Barkface announced as the cats settled down beside the pool. “Jayfeather, I know our leaders visited your Clan to talk about Sol.”
Jayfeather’s belly clenched; he braced himself for what he thought was coming.
“I want to say that it must have been a very hard decision for Firestar to make,” the old medicine cat went on. “I don’t think any of us should say that it was the right or the wrong thing to do.”
The other medicine cats murmured their agreement.
Jayfeather’s ears twitched; that was the last thing he had expected to hear, and he was surprised and touched by his companions’ sympathy. “It—it’s in the paws of StarClan,” he stammered.
“And it’s time for us to share tongues with StarClan.” Jayfeather heard Littlecloud rise and pad to the very edge of the water. “But first, I must present Flamepaw to the spirits of his warrior ancestors. Flamepaw, are you ready?”
“Yes.” The word came out as a squeak; Jayfeather felt Flamepaw’s embarrassment mingled with his awe.
“Flamepaw,” Littlecloud went on, slipping into the words of the age-old ritual, “is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?”
“It is.” Now the young cat had control of his voice, though excitement still vibrated through it.
“Then come forward.”
Flamepaw padded past Jayfeather until he stood in front of his mentor.
“Warriors of StarClan,” Littlecloud meowed, “I present to you this apprentice. He has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant him your wisdom and insight so that he may understand your ways and heal his Clan in accordance with your will.” He paused, then added in a whisper, “Crouch down and drink from the pool.”
As Flamepaw obeyed, Jayfeather and the rest of the medicine cats stretched out their necks, too, and lapped a few drops of water from the Moonpool. As the icy liquid trickled down his throat, Jayfeather curled up and tried to relax. Please, StarClan,he begged, show me something useful. My Clan is tearing itself apart.
His eyes opened and he found himself on a narrow forest path, with lush ferns arching over his head on either side. Sunlight warmed his fur and dappled the grass around his paws. But he couldn’t see any other cats, and when he tasted the air all he could pick up was the scent of green, growing things.
“Where are they all?” he muttered to himself, beginning to pad forward.
Suddenly he heard a rustling from the undergrowth ahead of him, and the fern fronds dipped and swayed. Jayfeather sniffed eagerly, but the scent he picked up wasn’t any of the ones he had hoped for.
“Flamepaw!” he exclaimed, as the young apprentice burst into the open and stood gazing around with wide eyes, his fur fluffed up in a mixture of excitement and fear.
“Jayfeather, it’s you!” he exclaimed. “Where are we? Is this what’s supposed to happen?”
“Calm down,” Jayfeather responded. “Everything’s fine.”
Mouse dung!he added inwardly. I’m inhis dream! What good willthat do?
“I was hoping to meet Tigerstar,” Flamepaw confessed, gazing up and down the path with bright, curious eyes. “He’s my kin, and I’ve heard so much about him!”
“I’m not sure where Tigerstar is,” Jayfeather replied, careful not to tell the new apprentice about the dark forest. “You should be glad to meet any warriors of StarClan.”
“I know, but…will they be glad to meet me?” Flamepaw crouched down, looking very small and scared. “I don’t know what to say to them!”
Jayfeather touched the apprentice’s shoulder with the tip of his tail. “When you see them, you’ll be fine,” he promised. “You just have to listen.”
Flamepaw gave him a doubtful look, but he rose determinedly to his paws and set off down the path. “See you later, then,” he mewed.
Right now, I’d be happy to see any of the StarClan warriors,Jayfeather thought. Are they deliberately hiding from me?
He padded down the path in the opposite direction from Flamepaw until he reached a clearing where sweet-smelling herbs grew around a small pool. He remembered finding this place before, when he had spoken with Spottedleaf, but there was no sign of the tortoiseshell she-cat now.
Bounding over to the pool and looking down into the water, Jayfeather froze with shock. Though the sun still shone, the green depths glittered with countless stars.
“What are you doing down there?” he yowled, clawing at the grass. “Come talk to me!”
The only answer was a thick, stifling pelt of darkness falling over him; disoriented, he staggered and found his claws scraping on stone instead of grass. He was awake again, back beside the Moonpool. The other medicine cats around him were beginning to rise to their paws.
Still frustrated and troubled by his dream, Jayfeather stood up with the other cats and climbed back up the spiral path. When they had scrambled down the rocky slope to the moorland, he found himself padding next to Littlecloud.
“I think Flamepaw managed very well for his first time,” the ShadowClan cat meowed. “He met Nightstar, who was our leader back in the old forest.”
“That’s good,” Jayfeather murmured, not mentioning that he had seen the young apprentice in his dream.
“I think he’ll be a great medicine cat,” Littlecloud went on. “He already knows a good number of herbs.”
Herbs!In his desperation to meet with StarClan, Jayfeather had forgotten about the question he had meant to ask.
“I came across this herb,” he began, “and I don’t know what it is.” Please, StarClan, don’t let him wonder why I haven’t asked Leafpool!
“What sort of herb?” Littlecloud queried.
“It has a sharp scent, and the leaves feel crinkly,” Jayfeather meowed, wishing he could have told the ShadowClan medicine cat what it looked like; even if he had been able to see it, the shriveled stalk wouldn’t have given him much of a clue to the fresh herb. “It tastes cold, like frost on fur, and even the dried leaves taste fresh like grass,” he added, remembering what Mousefur had told him.
“Hmm…” Littlecloud padded on thoughtfully for a few heartbeats. “It sounds like parsley to me. Its leaves have a very distinctive shape, like tiny shallow claws around the edge, and it tastes the same fresh or dried.”
“And what’s that used for?” Jayfeather struggled to keep the excitement out of his voice.
“Not much,” Littlecloud replied. “But it’s good for stopping milk in nursing queens if their kits die.”
Jayfeather stopped dead.
Or if their kits didn’t die, but were given to a different cat!
His heart was pounding so hard that he thought it would burst out of his chest. All the separate scraps of knowledge that he had gathered about his birth suddenly tumbled together into a terrifying pattern.
“Are you okay?” Littlecloud asked anxiously.
“What? Oh—yes, fine.”
Jayfeather forced his paws forward again. His mind was spinning and filling with flashes of light, and he hardly remembered to say good-bye to the other medicine cats when they reached the border of their territories.
He had always been told that Squirrelflight had no milk, so Ferncloud and Daisy had nursed him and his littermates. Which meant Squirrelflight wouldn’t have needed to take parsley. So maybe our real mother had to eat it to hide that she’d just given birth!
Jayfeather’s memory carried him back to when he was a tiny kit, struggling through the snow. He had to remember! Think about the scents,he told himself. That’s where the answers lie. His sense of smell had never before let him down when it was important. It couldn’t fail him now.
There was a cat close to him, walking slowly through the snow with the scent of milk clinging to her fur. It wasn’t Squirrelflight—it couldn’tbe Squirrelflight. Suddenly, Jayfeather took a deep breath. He knew exactly which cat’s scent it was.
Everything added up. Which cat could depend on Squirrelflight’s loyalty, knowing she would carry out the deception for moons and moons, even if it meant lying to her own mate? Which cat had always poured out love and concern around him and his littermates? Which cat could never admit that she had borne kits?
Leafpool! Leafpool is our mother!
第十三章
 第十三章
冬青叶吃惊地眨着眼睛，她醒来的时候发现，自己正睡在两脚兽巢穴的石墙之间，而不是雷族营地里武士巢穴的枝条下。然后，她才想起他们还在寻找日神的旅途中，以及金戈如何把他们带到了这个废弃的两脚兽巢穴，从群狗爪下救了他们。
冬青叶坐起来的时候，狮焰打了个哈欠，伸了伸懒腰。“我不喜欢这个地方。”他嘟哝着，“我们该离开了。”
冬青叶低声附和着。对武士来说，离两脚兽的东西这么近是不对的，即使这里并没有两脚兽。
黎明淡淡的光线从墙上的缝隙里倾泻进来。冬青叶环顾四周，看到桦落和榛尾还在睡着。蕨毛睡在虎萨昨晚坐过的缝隙旁。没看到黑莓掌的身影，但是过了一会儿，他就从外面进来，挤进缝隙，坐在蕨毛的身边。
“一切都很平静，”他报告道，“不过狗的气息很浓。”
冬青叶抖了抖胡须，即使在这里，她也能闻到那股恶臭。
“我们必须出发了，”蕨毛说道，“你见到金戈了吗？”
黑莓掌摇了摇头。褐斑和她的幼崽聚拢成一堆，蜷缩在一个柔软的巨石上。弗利兹和豆荚睡在另一个柔软巨石上。没看到其他两脚兽领地上的猫。
“她应该在这里的某个地方。”黑莓掌跳下巢穴的台子，“我觉得我们可以信任她。”
他走过去推醒桦落和榛尾。就在这两位年轻武士正眨着睡眼时，金戈穿过入口，走进了巢穴。
“早上好！你们已经准备好了！”她说着，友好地点了一下头，“我们走吧。”
她领着大家穿过墙上的缝隙，进入两脚兽的领地。“这趟旅程会有点不同，”当所有猫都站在秃叶季清晨清爽而潮湿的空气中时，她提醒族群猫，“我们不会把爪子放在地面上，直到我们到达我们要去的地方。”
冬青叶吃惊地看了一眼族猫，看到所有的族猫都很惊讶。如果爪子不接触地面，他们怎么去别的地方呢？金戈要让他们飞起来吗？
“自从那场猫狗之战后，在地面上行走就不安全了。”金戈解释道，“那些狗总是伏击我们，然后像狩猎一样追我们。”
冬青叶颤抖着，不由得往狮焰身边靠了靠：“昨天它们就是这么干的。”
她的哥哥点点头，他琥珀色的眼睛闪闪发光，爪子曲了起来，就好像他要给攻击他或者族猫的狗一记重击。最好别碰上它们。冬青叶想。
“因此，我们找到了另一种在领地里行走的方式。”金戈继续说着。她优雅地跳到两脚兽栅栏的上面。“准备好了吗？”她叫着，回头看着族群猫。
黑莓掌迅速跳上去，站在她的旁边，远征队的其他猫也跟着跳了上去。金戈动身了，她轻松地在狭窄的栅栏上保持着平衡，然后转过一个拐角，轻轻地走过几个两脚兽巢穴，那些两脚兽巢穴四周都有狭窄的雷鬼路。
冬青叶吓得一哆嗦，看到其中有一个两脚兽巢穴的门开着，一只小白狗冲了出来，凶狠的吠叫声在周围回荡。
“没事，”金戈安慰着族群猫，“那是一只看门狗，是个十足的蠢货，就像所有别的看门狗一样。它不像野狗那么危险。”
冬青叶不得不相信她的话。不过当她看着狗沿着栅栏的底部跳着，还在灌木下边的泥土中乱刨时，很庆幸自己没走在下面狗能够到的地方。她的爪子紧紧地抓住下面狭窄的木条，全部注意力都放在狮焰的尾巴尖上。
栅栏在一排有平坦顶部的小巢穴前结束了。“这是怪物的巢穴。”金戈告诉他们，然后跳到了离得最近的巢穴顶部。
“怪物有巢穴？”榛尾大叫道。
“当然了。”金戈用尾巴指着正走向雷鬼路边缘的一只两脚兽，“看。”众猫跳上巢穴顶部，在她的身旁站着，看着那只两脚兽。只见它打开其中一个巢穴的门，然后消失在了里面。过了一会儿，他们听到了怪物低沉的咆哮声，怪物用鼻子探路，走出了巢穴，向雷鬼路跑去，刚才的两脚兽就坐在它的肚子里。
“伟大的星族呀！这是它们睡觉的地方！”桦落脖子上的毛竖了起来。
“是的。不过它们爬不到上边来，”金戈说道，“我们走吧。”
远征队轻松地跳过那些平坦的巢穴顶部，最后来到另一排栅栏前，那里有更多的两脚兽巢穴。日光慢慢变强，一阵刺骨的寒风吹了起来。冬青叶每次移动爪子都要抓紧栅栏，唯恐从窄小的高处掉下去。原来这就是金戈说的，不把爪子放在地面上——不是飞起来，只是一直走在高处，野狗够不到。她努力想象着在森林里不把爪子放在地面上是怎样的，那就不得不从一棵树上跳到另一棵树上，才能避免被追上和杀死。
猫可不能这样生活。
到了一个拐角，栅栏变成了红石头建造的墙。墙顶变宽了，走在上边要容易些。雷鬼路也变宽了，在路的两旁都长着石头树，有几只怪物正沿着路前行。在每两段石头墙中间都有一段低矮的木头栅栏。金戈溜了下去，快速走过木栅栏，然后跳上另一边的墙。族群猫跟在她的后边。冬青叶害怕得竖起了毛，她记得昨天那群狗就跳过了低矮的栅栏。不过并没有狗出来，每只猫都安全地到达了木栅栏的另一边。
沿墙又走了一段路，金戈才停了下来。冬青叶从她身边向前张望，发现有一段木栅栏倒了下去，在他们身边延伸过去的墙和另一段墙中间留下一个豁口。就像是收到了一个信号一样，一阵狗吠从身后某个地方传来，而且风也带来了一股狗的气息。
“我们必须跳过去，”金戈做出决定，“往后退一点，给我留出一段助跑距离。”
雷族猫往后挪了挪，金戈沿着墙向前奔去，在这段墙的终点猛地跃起，然后干净利落地落在另一段墙上。族群猫你看看我，我看看你。冬青叶看到，榛尾和桦落看起来都有些紧张。
“接下来我跳。”她说道。她觉得在族猫之前跳过去，比在他们后面看着要好。她沿着墙向前飞奔，然后跃入空中，没去想豁口有多宽，也没去想附近的狗。
她的爪子撞击在墙上的红石头上，金戈跳上前来，帮助她站稳。
“干得漂亮！”暗棕色虎斑母猫说道，“往前走，给其他猫腾个地方。”
冬青叶从她的旁边挤过去，转身时正看见蕨毛轻松地跳过豁口。接着是桦落，年轻武士的前爪落在墙上，后爪却掉了下去。这时狗吠声越来越大，有两只狗已经冲过了墙角。桦落吓得睁大了眼睛。蕨毛快如闪电，用牙齿叼住他的脖子，把他拖上了墙顶。他飞快地卷起尾巴，将将躲过跳起来的狗的牙齿。
桦落浑身颤抖着：“谢谢你，蕨毛，我还以为我肯定要成为狗的猎物了。”
榛尾站在豁口对面的墙上，恐惧地俯视着狂叫的狗——它们支起后腿，在墙上抓挠着——吓得浑身战栗。“我不行，黑莓掌。”她低声说，“我真的不行，我知道我会掉下去的。”
“不，你不会的。”副族长鼓励她，“你很擅长跳跃，你会没事的！”
“如果你掉下去了，我就跳下去，跟它们拼了！”狮焰向她保证道。
榛尾绝望地看着两只猫，向后退了两三只狐狸身长的距离，然后朝墙的尽头跑去。她跳起来的时候，两只狗猛地向她扑去。可是她跳了过去，还多跳了一条尾巴长的距离。桦落在另一边迎着她，站在她的身边，飞快地舔了一下她的耳朵。
接着狮焰跳了过去，最后是黑莓掌。众猫再次出发。群狗在一只狐狸尾巴长的下方一路跟着，失望地咆哮着，尖叫着，看着够不到的猎物。冬青叶想知道有没有办法甩掉这些狗，因为他们迟早要下到地面去，那时候他们就会被撕成碎片了。
“你们想去哪里？”
一个不熟悉的声音从前面响起。冬青叶看到一只巨大的蓝色皮毛的公猫正跟金戈脸对脸站着。他皮毛上泛着光泽，有着宠物猫吃得很好的体形。不过他脖子上的毛开始竖了起来，蓝色的眼睛里流露出不友好的光芒。
“只想从这里经过。”金戈平静地回答。
“嗯，那就继续走吧！”那宠物猫低吼道，“我正要回家睡觉。我不想整天听着这些吵闹声。要不是你们把它们带过来，这些狗就不会来到这里。”
怒火从狮焰的眼中升起。他迈步上前，沿着墙走到金戈身旁。冬青叶的毛竖了起来。如果在这里开战，最后的结局很可能是——两只猫一起掉进正等在墙下的狗嘴里。
黑莓掌举起尾巴制止了狮焰。“别冲动，如果宠物猫不轻举妄动，”他下令，“就让金戈处理这件事。”
狮焰依令而行，但他仍恶狠狠地盯着宠物猫。
“是你挡住了我们的路，”金戈回答道，仍旧很平静，“要不是你挡着路，我们已经离这里很远了。”
长着蓝色长毛的公猫愤怒地哼了一声，不过没再说什么。他跳下墙，走进了两脚兽领地，跑向巢穴，最后钻进门上的一个小洞，消失了。
冬青叶放松下来，他们还有更重要的事情去做，没必要在这里教宠物猫懂礼貌。在狗的跟随下，他们沿墙向更远的地方走去，最后来到了另一个墙角。
“这就是我们甩掉那些恶狗的地方。”金戈告诉他们。转过拐角，她带头沿着两脚兽巢穴间的一道狭窄木栅栏向前走。狗没办法跟过来，只好使劲地撞着栅栏下部的缝隙。冬青叶和族猫靠近那些巢穴的时候，身后传来狗们沮丧的叫声。
“这条路——注意你的爪子落上去的地方。”金戈跳上两脚兽巢穴入口上方狭窄而平坦的地方，然后一路爬上巢穴边缘伸出的藤蔓，最后到了巢穴顶部的边缘。“这不是很难！”她向下喊着，用尾巴招呼雷族猫爬上去。
“看来刺猬就要会飞了！”桦落嘟囔着。
不过轮到冬青叶往上爬的时候，她意识到金戈说得很对。这株藤蔓很粗，主干扭曲着，上面有许多可以放爪子的地方。而且它非常结实，甚至可以承受黑莓掌和蕨毛的重量。但是巢穴顶部的边缘却让她感觉不稳固。冬青叶试着把她的爪子插进边缘，但没有成功。她很怕风会把她吹走。
“接下来往哪儿走？”黑莓掌喘息着，停在巢穴顶部的边缘，站在金戈身旁。
作为回答，暗棕色虎斑母猫沿着巢穴顶部的斜坡向上爬去。“这是一条捷径。”她说道。
“我们爬不上那里，”榛尾倒抽一口凉气，“我们会掉下去的！”
“如果金戈做得到，那我们也做得到，”蕨毛自信地说道，“你先上，榛尾，我就跟在你的身后。”
不断地滑下来，再四肢并用地爬上去，族群猫沿着斜坡向金戈爬去。她正坐在巢穴顶部很高的地方，尾巴环绕在爪子周围，身边是两根用石头建造的树干。
当冬青爪挣扎着爬完剩下的一只狐狸身长的距离，来到她的身边时，金戈说道：“上边的感觉太好了！有时候我爬上这儿，就是为了看看。”
如果不是迫不得已，你也会爬上来吗？冬青叶不禁想道。刚才拼命往上爬时，她的爪尖都磨掉了。而且尖尖的巢穴顶部向两边延伸开去，看起来太窄了，很难在上面保持平衡。风吹乱了她的皮毛，胡须也吹得紧紧地贴在脸上。
她不想让金戈知道她有多么不安，她强迫自己从紧紧抓着顶部的爪子间抬起头来。突然间，她忘记了害怕。她能看到无边无际的远方！她可以从两脚兽破烂的巢穴顶部，看到太阳沉没之地上方平坦地延伸开去的草地。更远的地方，是直达地平线的汹涌的灰色巨浪。
“看啊！”狮焰把自己拖上巢穴顶部，在冬青叶旁边稳住身体，大喊道，“我能看到山地啦！”
冬青叶转头看着相反的方向。在森林远处的边缘上，山地像一大团云彩卧在地平线上。她甚至能分清灰色的山坡和悬崖，覆盖着白雪的山顶高耸入云。
“你觉得我们现在和山地是在一个高度吗？”她惊叹着问道。
“当然没有。”狮焰的声音里有一丝不屑，“我们那次可是爬了很久，才爬到那座瀑布跟前。”
冬青叶意识到他说得对。可是山地看起来离得这么近，她觉得她跳下屋顶，就可以落到瀑布后边急水部落居住的洞穴里。
“我想知道他们正在干什么，”她低声说着，几乎就像是在对自己说话，“我们还会遇见暴毛和溪儿吗？”
没有猫回答她的问题。其他猫一爬上巢穴顶部，金戈就站了起来：“接下来这一小段路，你们必须万分小心，”她警告道，“往下走远比往上爬难。如果谁滑下去了……哦，还是不要滑下去吧。”
金戈半蹲着，小心翼翼地带头沿着另一侧的斜坡往下走。冬青叶的爪子在巢穴顶部光滑的石头上直打滑。这里没有什么东西可以阻止你滑下去，而且向下的斜坡似乎在半空中就没了。她下到一半的时候，一只白色的大鸟从她的身边飞过，发出一声刺耳的尖叫，空气里充满拍打翅膀的声音。冬青叶僵住了，使劲把爪尖嵌进石头里，一直等到大鸟飞走。
“这样的事我可不想经历第二次了！”桦落在她的身后嘶嘶地叫道。
他们来到屋顶边缘，停留在一个堆积着一半树叶和碎屑的小沟里。冬青叶不停地颤抖着。下边两三只狐狸身长的地方是平坦的巢穴顶部，再过去就是一条狭窄的雷鬼路。
“那是另一个怪物巢穴吗？”榛尾问道。
金戈点点头。“我们在这里必须下到地面去。”她说道，“因为我们必须穿过雷鬼路。不过我觉得现在很安全。那些野狗一般不会跑这么远。”
冬青叶来到雷鬼路边的草地，嗅了嗅空中的气息。她闻到了几只狗混合在一起的气味，不过它们都不在附近。金戈停下来听了听，没有怪物出现，就挥动尾巴招呼族群猫穿过雷鬼路。
众猫刚到雷鬼路的另一边，金戈就跳上了另一堵墙，这堵墙是用灰色的石头建造的。冬青叶在墙上走着，发现这里的两脚兽巢穴都比较小，后边领地里的草地也比较窄。有两只两脚兽的幼崽在其中的一片草地上玩耍，不过众猫经过时，它们并没有发觉。
“这里离波弟的巢穴还很远吗？”蕨毛问道，“我想大家都又累又饿了。”
冬青叶低声附和着。她身上的每块肌肉都在疼，感觉肚子像是一个巨大的空洞。天空上笼罩着乌云，但她感觉太阳早已经越过中天，自从昨晚在废弃的两脚兽巢穴里吃了猎物之后，他们还没有吃过什么。
“现在离得没多远了，”金戈回应道，“我们可以……”
这时一阵大风从他们身边呼啸而过，带来了一阵猛烈的冰雨，金戈只好闭上嘴巴。桦落发出一声惊叫。冬青叶忙伏在墙上，生怕风把她吹得掉下去。
“走这边！”金戈下令道。
她沿着墙顶，向隔开两脚兽巢穴的栅栏跑去。墙边有一棵枝条繁盛的松树。金戈跳上最近的枝条，挤进了松针里。她探出头，喊道：“过来！我们需要避一避。”
族群猫被连续不断的风吹得站立不稳，艰难地沿着墙前行，然后爬上了树。冬青叶进去的时候，身上已经湿透了。她纵身跳上枝条的时候，松针插进了她的皮毛，但她仍然紧紧地抓住树枝，往更高处爬去。
“她觉得我们是什么？松鼠吗？”狮焰奋力往上爬的时候，气喘吁吁地说道。在他的身体重压下，枝条向地面垂下去。冬青叶突然觉得整棵树都旋转起来。她用爪子拼命抓紧树枝，闭上眼睛，直到眩晕感消失。
“你们来自森林，”金戈说道，她正抓在冬青叶上方一条尾巴的地方，“还不习惯爬树吗？”
“我们不常爬树。”黑莓掌答道。他待在松树较低的位置，那个地方只比墙高一点儿，“如果我们在森林里遇到下雨，我们更愿意躲在一棵树的树根下，或者是灌木丛下。”
“哦，你们每天都能学习到新东西！”金戈回应道，听起来有打趣的意味。
这时候，暴风雨停了。冬青叶能看到日光正在变淡。我希望夜幕降临前能到达波弟的巢穴。我可不想在黑暗中的两脚兽地盘游荡。跟在其他族猫身后钻出松树，她试图梳理掉皮毛上的松针，但是她全身的皮毛都湿了，乱糟糟的。我可能很像一只泼皮猫，根本就不是族群猫。
接着一阵更剧烈的痛苦袭上心头：说不定我真的就是泼皮猫！
远征队跟着金戈又走过很多墙和栅栏，跳过一个个怪物巢穴的顶部。直到阴影铺满了大地，黄昏降临时，金戈终于在墙的一个拐角处停了下来。
“看见那丛冬青了吗？”她说着，用尾巴指了指远处一团黑色的灌木丛，灌木丛是从一条狭窄雷鬼路另一边的栅栏上伸出来的，“波弟的巢穴就在它的后面。”
“谢谢你，金戈，”黑莓掌说道，“没有你，我们永远也找不到这里。”
“你太客气了。”母猫回答道，“你们可以在那里狩猎和过夜。不过一定要当心。”她又严肃地补充道，“日神有办法让别的猫相信他。我清楚这一点，因为我也相信过他，相信到离开了我的主人。我在那里本来很快乐的。”在逐渐聚拢的黑暗中，她的眼睛里闪烁着忧伤。
“那你为什么不回到主人的家里呢？”桦落问道。
“因为其他猫需要我。”金戈回答道，“每只猫都需要一个领袖，一些猫需要跟随领袖，一些猫需要领袖做出艰难的选择。这就是我们为什么要听命于日神。不过现在这是我的职责了。我不能离开他们。”
她的声音里透出孤独。冬青叶从心底同情她。一个族群的族长根据武士守则被选出来，再由星族授予九条命。这是一个巨大的荣誉。而且族长也会得到副族长、巫医和资深武士的支持，但是金戈一样都没有。
虎斑母猫抖了抖皮毛，似乎要甩掉这些无意义的遗憾。她跟每只族群猫都碰了碰鼻子。“再见，祝你们好运。”她说道，“如果你们再从我们的巢穴边经过，一定要进来看看我们。”
“我们会的，”蕨毛保证道，“再见，也祝你好运。”
当其他猫纷纷再次道别时，金戈向他们低头致意，然后转过身顺墙踏上了来时的路。她的头和尾巴都高高地抬着。
“再见了，金戈星！”黑莓掌低声说道，他的声音太小，离去的母猫根本无法听见，“愿星族照亮你前行的路。”
冬青叶就蹲伏在黑莓掌身后阴影里的冬青丛下。灌木丛后的两脚兽巢穴看上去比金戈和其他猫居住的地方还要荒凉。黑洞遍布在墙壁上和顶部。
“记得我们去山地时遇到波弟的情形吗？”狮焰在妹妹的耳边低声说，“他说他的两脚兽已经死了。”
“也许波弟根本就不在这里。”冬青叶说道。她不确定自己是高兴还是伤心。她渴望再见到那只古怪的老猫，可又担心遭遇日神后发生的事情。
“只有一种办法可以找到答案。”黑莓掌说道，然后开始挤开一条路，穿过巢穴四周散乱的灌木。冬青叶闻到浓烈的老鼠气息，口水顿时流了下来。
“有猎物！”榛尾饿得声音都变得尖细了，“黑莓掌，我们可以狩猎吗？”
副族长犹豫了一个心跳的时间。“好，”他说道，“但是一定要快点儿，而且我们绝不能离开这片领地。”
远征队在灌木丛中散开了。冬青叶很快就追上了一只从枯叶中跑过的老鼠，然后一爪子杀死了它。“感谢星族。”她嘟囔着，吞下第一口美味的食物。这感觉就像她一个月亮圆缺都没吃东西了。她听见黑莓掌召集大家的时候，刚好吞下最后一口猎物。她溜过树丛时，另一只老鼠从她的爪子边跑过去。她按住了它，咬断了它的喉咙，然后叼着瘫软的猎物回到族猫中间。
其他猫正在等着她。狮焰吞下了最后一口猎物，桦落伸出舌头舔着嘴巴周围，一副满意的神情。
“都吃饱了吗？”黑莓掌问道，“冬青叶，你要吃那只老鼠吗？”
冬青叶摇了摇头。“我吃过了。”她站在老鼠旁边解释道，“我觉得我们可以把它带给波弟。”
黑莓掌赞许地点点头：“好主意。那我们走吧。”
他带领众猫小心翼翼地朝两脚兽巢穴走去，每走几爪子，就要停下来听听动静，嗅嗅空中的气息，最后穿过黑乎乎的敞开的入口。冬青叶走了进去，不住地颤抖着。这里甚至比外边还冷，是一种从潮湿的石头地板下冒出来的寒冷。黑莓从墙缝里长了出来，仿佛外面世界正入侵着这个巢穴。空气中有一股陈旧的猎物、腐烂的树叶和霉菌的混合味道。但是也有一股猫的气息，比其他味道更浓，更新鲜。
“波弟？”黑莓掌喊道。
但没有回答。副族长向前走去，远征队的其他猫紧紧地聚拢在他的身后。冬青叶身上的每个毛孔都在刺痛。这个地方有一种奇怪的东西——使她心生恐惧必须远离的东西。
然后，一个新的声音在他们的身后响起：“你们是在找我吗？”
CHAPTER21
CHAPTER21
Hollyleaf blinked wearily in the mistydawn as the elders and Purdy carried Honeyfern’s body out of the camp. The sun had vanished and the sky was covered with thick gray clouds. The breeze carried a tang of rain to come. All the Clan stood silently watching while their Clanmate went to her burial.
When the elders had disappeared through the thorn tunnel, Brambleclaw began organizing the day’s patrols. Hollyleaf spotted Sorreltail padding sorrowfully toward the warriors’ den, her head bowed and her tail trailing in the dust. She bounded after her, catching up to her beside the outer branches of the thornbush.
“I’m so sorry,” she meowed. “I’m really going to miss Honeyfern.”
“We’ll all miss her.” Sorreltail’s voice was choked with grief. “She was so gentle as a kit. And so quick to learn! She knew most of the hunting moves even before she was apprenticed.”
“She was always lots of fun to play with,” Hollyleaf told her, touching her nose to Sorreltail’s shoulder.
Sorreltail blinked. “She enjoyed being with you and your brothers. And she was always so worried that you wouldn’t get enough milk, because Squirrelflight couldn’t feed you.”
Hollyleaf began to bristle at the mention of the cat she had believed was her mother, and tried hard to make her fur lie flat again. She wouldn’t think about that betrayal when it was more important to comfort Sorreltail.
“It wasn’t Squirrelflight’s fault,” the tortoiseshell queen went on, obviously misunderstanding what was bothering Hollyleaf. “And you were well looked after. Ferncloud and Daisy fed you, and I don’t think Leafpool was ever out of the nursery, bringing them borage to make their milk come, and all the strengthening herbs she could find!”
“Leafpool did all that?” Hollyleaf asked.
“Oh, yes, she was always fussing over you! Maybe because you were her sister’s kits, or maybe because she was with you when you first came to the hollow.”
“I didn’t know that.” Hollyleaf felt a prickling in her fur. If Leafpool was with us, she must know who our real mother is!
Sorreltail nodded, then arched her back in a long stretch. “I’m going to see if I can get some sleep,” she murmured. “Maybe Honeyfern will walk in my dreams.”
As soon as Sorreltail had disappeared into the warriors’ den, Hollyleaf looked around for the medicine cat. She had vowed never to ask Squirrelflight anything more about her real parents; she didn’t want to speak to the cat who had lied to her ever again. But maybe Leafpool would tell her.
She spotted Leafpool talking to Firestar near the entrance to the thorn tunnel, and padded across to them, hovering a couple of tail-lengths away as she waited for a chance to get the medicine cat alone.
“You’ve been keeping vigil all night,” Firestar was meowing. “You’re exhausted. Why don’t you go out into the forest and get some air? Stretch your legs and maybe find a quiet spot to have a sleep, without any cat to interrupt you.”
“I shouldn’t leave the Clan…,” Leafpool protested.
“Jayfeather’s back from the Moonpool,” Firestar pointed out. “We can do without you for a little while.” He stretched forward and touched noses affectionately with Leafpool. “I could make that an order.”
Leafpool yawned. “All right, Firestar, but I’ll be back before sunhigh.”
“Take as long as you want.” Firestar dipped his head and padded away.
Hollyleaf waited until Leafpool had gone out through the thorn tunnel, then followed her into the forest. The medicine cat was out of sight, but Hollyleaf tracked her by her scent until she joined her at the top of a treeless rise overlooking the lake. Leafpool was sitting with her tail wrapped around her paws, gazing out across the water.
She sprang to her paws as Hollyleaf bounded up beside her. “Hollyleaf! Were you looking for me?”
“Yes, I—I wanted to ask you something.” Now that the moment had come, Hollyleaf didn’t feel so sure about what she was about to do. The answer would change her life forever. Was that what she wanted? I have to know the truth!
Leafpool’s eyes were wary as she mewed, “Go on, then.”
She knows we’ve found out about the lie!Hollyleaf guessed, her belly lurching. Squirrelflight must have told her what happened that day on the cliff
“Well?” Leafpool prompted.
Hollyleaf took a deep breath. “Tell me what you know. All of it. I have to know the truth!”
Leafpool’s amber eyes brimmed with sorrow. She took a pace toward Hollyleaf, sweeping her tail around as if to lay it on the younger cat’s shoulder, but left the gesture unfinished.
“You don’t have to worry,” Leafpool meowed. “I will never tell any cat. But please tell me why you did it.”
Hollyleaf felt as if a massive piece of fresh-kill were stuck in her throat. This wasn’t how she had intended their talk to go. “Did what?” she managed to choke out.
Leafpool let out a long sigh, closing her eyes as if she had to nerve herself for what she was about to say. Then she faced Hollyleaf again.
“Why did you kill Ashfur?”
No!Hollyleaf dug her claws hard into the ground. That wasn’t what she had asked! Leafpool couldn’t know!She opened her jaws to reply, but the words of denial wouldn’t come.
“I know, Hollyleaf,” Leafpool mewed gently. “When I was preparing Ashfur’s body for his vigil, I found a tuft of your fur caught in his claws. But I hid it away where no cat would find it. I think I wanted to hide it from myself.” She paused, swallowed, and repeated, “Why?”
“He had to die!” Fury made Hollyleaf hiss through gritted teeth. “You know why!”
“No, I don’t.”
Leafpool’s eyes were genuinely mystified, and Hollyleaf realized that Squirrelflight had never told her about revealing the terrible secret to Ashfur.
“He had to die because he knew!” Hollyleaf snarled. “That night, on the cliff in the storm, Squirrelflight told him that we weren’t her kits. He was going to tell all the Clans, at the Gathering, and I couldn’t let him do that! They think we’re true Clan cats, forestborn like they are. I couldn’t let them find out the truth—that Firestar’s Clan was even less pure than they thought. Ashfur would have destroyed ThunderClan.”
As she spoke, Leafpool’s eyes had grown wider with dismay. “Oh, StarClan, no!” she whispered. “This is all my fault….”
Hollyleaf’s mind was whirling. She couldn’t think beyond this moment; she only knew that the cat who held the truth in her paws was standing in front of her. “Squirrelflight told you about us, didn’t she? You were there when we first came to the hollow. You must know who our real mother is.”
Leafpool faced her calmly now. “Yes, I know.”
“Then you have to tell me—please!”
For several heartbeats, Leafpool didn’t reply. She stood blinking, her muscles tensed as if she were about to leap over a vast chasm. Then she spoke.
“I am your mother, Hollyleaf. Squirrelflight was trying to protect me.”
For a moment that lasted a heartbeat or a maybe a moon, Hollyleaf stared at her. No, it can’t be!But she knew that Leafpool had spoken the truth.
Whipping around, she bounded away, her paws slipping on the dead leaves so that she slid to the bottom of the rise in a tangle of legs and tail. Scrambling to her paws, she pelted toward the deepest places of the forest, as far from the hollow as she could get. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she wanted to outrun the lies, and the taste of Ashfur’s blood in her mouth.
It was all for nothing! I did it to save us all, but it was no use! Everything has been ruined….
第十四章
第十四章
冬青叶迅速转过身。暮色中，她身后的拱形入口中，出现了一只高大、强壮的猫的轮廓。他皮毛上的白色斑点闪着亮光。
“日神！”榛尾失声叫道，声音里充满了吃惊和恐惧。
她真的认为日神就是凶手！冬青叶想。
冬青叶感到身边的猫都竖起了毛，绷紧了四肢。不过一看到日神闪烁的琥珀色眼睛，她就让自己放松下来。她怎么能忘记，日神是那么智慧、冷静，有着未卜先知的本事。没有什么能困扰他，因为他早就知道会发生什么。
“你好，日神。”黑莓掌迈步向前，“是的，我们正在找你。你需要和我们一起回到雷族。”
日神逐一看了看众猫的眼睛：“我知道有事情发生了！”
冬青叶心头一震，就好像被石头击中了一般。他知道蜡毛的事吗？
“我们只是需要你跟我们回去一趟，”黑莓掌说道，“火星想和你谈谈。”
日神的眼睛眯了起来。“你们认为发生的这件事跟我有关。而且还是坏事情。你们大老远跑到这儿来肯定不是为了感谢我。”他停下来思索着，“一只猫死了……”
冬青叶身后的桦落屏住了呼吸。
“不！”日神又纠正自己刚才的话，“有一只猫被杀害了，而且你们认为是我干的。”他的尾巴尖抖动着，但是他没有露出其他表情。
如果有猫这样指控我，我一定会害怕的。冬青叶想着，爪子抓挠着冰冷的石头。不过日神只是平静地看着远征队，等着他们再次开口说话。
“一定是他干的！”榛尾悄悄地对冬青叶说，“他甚至没问谁死了！”
“日神？是你吗？”一个虚弱的声音打破了沉默，接着波弟出现在入口处，他的身后拖着一只皮包骨头的兔子。他比上次见面时更瘦了，虎斑皮毛也比上次更乱。
“看看我弄到了什么！”波弟放下猎物，然后抬起头来。他认出了族群猫，惊讶地眨着眼睛。“这不是黑莓掌吗？”他大喊，“还有冬青爪和狮爪！希望你们这两只年轻猫没有调皮捣蛋。”
“没有。我们表现得很好。”狮焰回答着，走上前去，跟这位年老的独行猫碰了碰鼻子，“而且我们现在是武士了，叫狮焰和冬青叶。”
“哦，谁能想到啊？”波弟的眼睛里放着光，“干得好，孩子们。”
有几个心跳的时间，冬青叶觉得自己又像是一位学徒了。波弟仍然把他们当作喜欢调皮捣蛋的年轻猫，她没有感到被冒犯。相反，她很怀念那些时光，那时候所有的事情都那么简单，她需要做的只是努力成为最优秀的武士。
“你们的弟弟怎么样了？”波弟问道。
“他现在叫松鸦羽了。”冬青叶回答，“他已经成为一位真正的巫医了。”
波弟再次摇了摇头。“谁能想得到啊？”他重复道。
黑莓掌走上前去，向这只老独行猫低头致意：“你好，波弟，很高兴再次见到你。来见见我的其他族猫。这是桦落，这是榛尾和蕨毛。”
“很高兴见到你们。”波弟嘟囔着，站在这么多陌生猫面前，他看起来有一点窘迫。
“我很抱歉，波弟。”日神走上前来，站在他的面前，“我必须走了。”
波弟惊讶地眨着眼睛。“什么？为什么呀？”看日神没有回答，他补充道，“我知道你在这里只待了两三天，不过我觉得我们相处得很好。这个旧巢穴也不像你没来的时候那么空荡荡了。而且你看……”他摇晃着尾巴，指着刚才拖回来的兔子，“我还找到一些猎物。虽然它有点老，也有点瘦，不过也可以美美地吃一顿了……”他的声音渐渐变小，肩膀也抽动着。
“波弟，你还是自己享用这只兔子吧！”日神轻轻地说道，他淡黄色的眼睛也闪着亮光，“我想，这些雷族猫想立刻启程。”
“干吗这么着急？”波弟转向黑莓掌，“你们为什么要日神现在就跟你们走？你们就不能多待一会儿吗？你们是稀客啊！”
让日神留下来吧！冬青叶想大声地说出这句话，我们不需要把他带回去。波弟比我们更需要他。不过她知道这不可能。
“我们今晚留在这里，”黑莓掌做出了决定，“但是我们黎明的时候必须离开。”
“太好了！”波弟的耳朵竖了起来，“来吃些兔子肉。”他自豪地邀请大家。
“谢谢你！”黑莓掌答道，他的声音很柔和，“不过我们可以自己抓一些猎物，放在你的猎物堆上。”
“我给你带了一只老鼠。”冬青叶补充道，她叼起她的猎物，放在波弟的爪子旁边。
老虎斑猫的眼睛顿时发亮。“你真是太好了。”他俯下身子，吃了起来。
族群猫向巢穴的入口处走去。蕨毛回头看了一眼日神，他正站在巢穴中央。
“不用担心！”日神说道，“等你们回来的时候，我还会在这儿的。”
蕨毛看上去仍然不放心。他们走出入口时，黑莓掌挤到蕨毛身边，凑到他的耳朵边低声说：“你留下来看着他，但是别被他发现。”
蕨毛点点头，让他放心，然后匍匐着爬进附近灌木丛中繁茂的枝条下。他蜷伏在那里，眼睛紧紧地盯着巢穴。
他们在里边的这段时间，天色已经黑了下来。从两脚兽巢穴发出的刺眼的橙色光芒笼罩着天空，遮住了天空的星星。冬青叶希望能看到武士祖灵，以确定它们仍在守护着她。
一到外面，她就向先前抓住老鼠的那片绿叶灌木丛走去。榛尾跟在她的身旁。
“我很高兴，我们找到日神了。”她低声说道，“现在我们可以回家了。”
冬青叶点点头。“一想到我们要把日神从波弟身边带走，我就感觉很难受。”她坦白道。
“可是日神是谋杀犯啊！”榛尾停了下来，吃惊地瞪大了眼睛，“要是他也杀了波弟，那该怎么办？”
“他不会这么做的。”冬青叶回答道。
“你怎么知道？”榛尾坚持说道，“我们需要尽快把他带回营地，以免他害了更多的性命。火星知道该怎么处理他。”
冬青叶无助地摇了摇头。她没办法回答榛尾的问题。另外，如果日神不跟他们回到雷族，调查蜡毛死因的事该如何了结呢？火星会被迫调查族猫吗？一想到指控在雷族营地上空飞舞，她的肚子就一阵冰冷。
她钻进灌木丛开始狩猎。但是这次猎物并没有轻易地跑到她的爪子边。最后她不得不带回一只鼩鼱，尴尬地走回波弟的巢穴。不过远征队的其他猫也只是捉到了一些瘦小的猎物。
“这附近的猎物十分稀少。”当他们蜷伏下来开始吃猎物时，波弟承认道，“不过我可以找到足够我和日神在秃叶季吃的猎物。我以前也从没饿过肚子！”
他肯定是太孤独了，所以才会愿意跟一只陌生猫分享猎物。冬青叶伤心地想着，吞下了她那小小的鼩鼱。
她一吃完，就安顿好自己睡下了。巢穴里的石头地面又湿又冷，而且风正从墙上的缝隙里呼啸着钻进来。冬青叶紧挨着狮焰取暖，开始怀念营地中她窝里厚厚的苔藓和蕨叶，还有武士巢穴上面遮风挡雨的枝条。
冬青叶睡得很不安稳，醒来时看见秃叶季黎明冰冷的日光已经照在地面上。黑莓掌和蕨毛已经起来了，榛尾和桦落昏昏欲睡地翻着身。波弟睡在对面角落里一个肮脏的杂物堆上。
日神蜷缩在一个隐蔽的浅洞穴里，洞穴的内墙上有两块石头已经脱落。黑莓掌走过去，推醒了他。
“该走了。”黑莓掌说道。
日神抬起头，淡黄色的眼睛眨了眨，然后站起身：“好的，我们走吧。”
“他让我毛骨悚然。”一个声音在冬青叶的耳边低声说道。
冬青叶吓了一跳，转身看到了桦落。“别这样悄无声息地靠过来！”她呵斥道。她很气恼自己，因为日神也让她感到害怕：“他只不过是一只猫。”
她刚说完，日神就从她身边走过，朝巢穴入口走去。“我跟你说过，我会回来的。”他低声说道，低得只有冬青叶听得到。
冬青叶努力平复着自己不安的情绪，叫醒了狮焰。她的声音也把波弟惊醒了，他睡眼惺忪地蹒跚着走到吃剩下的兔子旁。“你们走之前吃点东西吧。”他说道。
“可是你比我们更需要它。”蕨毛反对道。
“我可以再去抓一只。”波弟坚持道，他脖子上的毛都立了起来，“你们还要走很长的旅途，需要保持体力。”
雷族众猫互相看了看，很显然，如果他们拒绝了，波弟会觉得受到了侮辱。所以他们聚在剩下的猎物旁，勉强吃了一些。波弟看着他们，日神则等在入口处，仰望着天空。
“不要靠近那些怪物，”波弟警告他们，“它们眨眼间就会把你们踩扁。而且那些狗也会时不时地制造麻烦。它们知道不能跟我捣乱，不过像你们这些年轻猫……”
“我们已经遇到那些狗了，波弟。”榛尾告诉他，“你说得对，它们很危险。我们会小心的。”
老虎斑公猫舔了一下胸部的皮毛，好像很高兴能帮上他们忙。对于冬青叶而言，这里的每口猎物都像尘土一样难以下咽。她希望他们能做点什么，好让波弟不会被孤零零地留在这里。
等所有的猫都吃完了，冬青叶跟波弟说了再见。老猫仍然一副高兴的样子，不过冬青叶能从他的眼睛里看到孤独和恐惧。她轻轻地碰着老猫的鼻子。“愿星族和你同在，波弟，”她喃喃道，“我希望我们还能再见。”
“也许吧。”但是冬青叶能听出，波弟自己其实并不相信，“从现在开始，小心点，听到了吗？”
黑莓掌带头走向巢穴入口。日神抬起爪子，走在副族长的身旁。众猫来到了花园。这时，太阳已经升起来了，天空中是一片秃叶季特有的干净的淡蓝色。一阵微风吹过，灌木丛的叶子沙沙作响。
在走向栅栏的半途，黑莓掌停了下来，回头看着波弟——他正站在最近的墙上的缝隙里看着他们。
“跟我们一起走吧，波弟！”他急切地说，“长老巢穴会有你住的地方。火星也会欢迎你的。”
波弟注视着他：“哦，我……我不知道怎么说才好。”
冬青叶为这只老猫感到难过，觉得心都在颤抖着。这么做是不对的！波弟不是族群猫，族群的其他猫会怎么说？然后她打了个寒战。我可能也不是族群猫。这是不是意味着，我也应该独自生活，没有朋友帮我狩猎？
日神面无表情地看着。他真的关心波弟吗？冬青叶很想知道。
“怎么样？”黑莓掌催促着老猫。
“不，我会很好的。”波弟抖了抖凌乱的皮毛，“你们不需要替我难过。我已经独自度过了不止一个秃叶季了。”
“你知道的，我们会非常感激你帮我们走出两脚兽领地的，”蕨毛说着，向巢穴的方向走去，“你远比我们了解这片地区。”
“而且我们一旦回到了营地，你还有很多经验可以教给我们的学徒。”黑莓掌插话道，“我觉得冬青叶和狮焰也不会忘记你是怎样从狗嘴下救下他们的。”
狮焰点点头。冬青叶想起在他们去山里的路上，那些狗是怎么把他们困在谷仓里的，感到不寒而栗。如果没有波弟的快速决断，她、哥哥和风皮早就被撕成碎片了。
“长老对族群的未来会产生很大的影响。”黑莓掌继续说道，“你能跟我们一起生活，是我们的荣幸。你阅历丰富，熟悉两脚兽——哦，我指的是直行兽。”
冬青叶的爪子深深地插进了土里。她知道这两位高级武士在撒谎。让一只独行猫融入族群并非易事，而且族猫也并不需要知道怎样在两脚兽的领地生活，因为湖边很少有两脚兽。为什么不让波弟留在这里呢，既然他觉得这样很快乐？为什么族猫总以为自己懂得最多？
“哦，好吧！”波弟从墙缝中爬了出来，走过来加入了远征队，“至少我可以跟你们走到两脚兽领地的边缘。我估计你们也需要我帮忙带路。”他转向日神，又说道，“我还没给你讲完那个狐狸的故事呢……”
黑莓掌带领众猫来到前晚远征队进来时通过的栅栏上的缝隙。他停了下来，抬起头，竖起了耳朵，又嗅了嗅空气。其他成员静静地等着。冬青叶闭上眼睛，集中心神，直到感觉爪子拖着她，告诉她湖的方向。
“你知道走哪条路吗？”榛尾很焦急，很明显不相信她自己的感觉。
黑莓掌点点头：“我想是的。我正在尽力回想我们在巢穴顶上看到的地形。”
“我可不想再爬到那上面去！”桦落叫道。
“不，我们不用爬到那上面去。”黑莓掌安慰他，“但是得有一只猫爬到树上，观察一下我们走的方向对不对。我们走吧！”
冬青叶缩着身子钻过栅栏上的缝隙，紧紧跟着副族长。很快，她就发现自己来到了一条雷鬼路旁覆盖着青草的路肩上。他们前晚走过这里时，又黑又静。现在，怪物正在雷鬼路上匆忙地跑来跑去。它们明亮的颜色让冬青叶有些眼晕，空气中充满了它们的吼声和刺鼻的臭味。
“我讨厌它们，”她对狮焰喃喃说道，“不管我们穿行过多少回，我都会担心有些猫会被压扁。”
黑莓掌一直走到雷鬼路的最边缘，他的皮毛都被穿梭往来的怪物带起的风吹乱了。“我说‘跑’的时候，你们要像身后有一大群狗追着似的跑。”
狮焰叹了口气：“好的，我们已经这么干过很多次了。”
冬青叶注意到，蕨毛站到波弟身旁，仿佛打算跑的时候照看老猫。日神站在波弟的另一侧，眼睛紧紧地盯着雷鬼路的对面。
一只巨大的怪物像风一样掠了过去。从它肚子里发出的吼声比整个族群的猫同时号叫还响。等怪物消失了，周围又归于寂静，黑莓掌飞快地扫视了一下雷鬼路的两个方向，下令道：“开始，跑！”
冬青叶向前跃去，察觉到狮焰就在她的身边，桦落则在另一边。她飞舞的爪子下，雷鬼路的表面非常坚硬。接着，她穿越了雷鬼路，满心庆幸地跌倒在另一边的草地上。
冬青叶转过身，发现大多数猫都已经安全地过来了，只有波弟没过来。他正慢慢悠悠地走在雷鬼路的中央，蕨毛走在他的身边，拼命地催着他。
“放轻松，年轻猫，”波弟说道，“没有怪物了。”
“可是……”蕨毛近乎绝望地说道。
他的话被怪物正在逼近的吼声打断了。当怪物吼叫着转过拐角，跳进了视野，他从后边使劲推了波弟一把。老虎斑猫发出一声惊呼，跌跌撞撞地向前冲去，安全地坐到了草地上。怪物呼啸而过，离他只有一只老鼠身长的距离。蕨毛也将将安全地跳到了他的身边。
“波弟，别再像这样吓我们了！”黑莓掌恼怒地嘶嘶叫着。
老猫爬起身，眨着眼睛。“什么？这根本就没事嘛。而且也没必要推我。”他用很受伤的口气对蕨毛说。
蕨毛叹了口气：“对不起。”
“你们这些小猫，总喜欢制造恐慌的气氛。”波弟嘟囔着。
冬青叶眼珠转了转。“这一路上会很有趣的。”她轻声对狮焰说。
黑莓掌摇着尾巴，把远征队召集在一起，沿着雷鬼路出发。很快，冬青叶就听到了两脚兽幼崽的动静，它们的声音在干冷的晨风中显得非常刺耳。“那是什么？”她问道，好奇地抖动着爪子。
“没什么可担心的，”波弟安慰她，“你很快就会知道的。”
冬青叶不确定她是否可以信任波弟的判断。转过另一个拐角后，她看见了一个有着宽敞的石头地面的大两脚兽巢穴。一排由细长的闪闪发光的树组成的围篱将它和雷鬼路隔开。一群两脚兽幼崽——她从没看到过数量这么多的两脚兽——正在又跑又跳，互相投掷东西。
“这是什么地方？”她好奇地问道。
波弟耸耸肩：“不知道，它们大多数时间都会来这里。”
当老猫走到栅栏前，把鼻子伸过一个缝隙时，冬青叶紧张得肚子揪在了一起。几只两脚兽幼崽立刻跑向波弟，伸出了它们的爪子。
“他在干什么？”蕨毛低声嘟囔道，“波弟！”
波弟仿佛没听见。两脚兽幼崽从栅栏的空隙间伸出前爪，轻轻地抚摩着他。波弟的喉咙里发出咕噜咕噜的声音，响亮得站在几条尾巴外的其他猫都能听到。
“记得吗？他以前是只宠物猫，”桦落低声说道，“他有时候肯定会表现得很古怪。”
黑莓掌什么也没说，只是用尾巴示意远征队站到离亮闪闪的栅栏很远的安全处。他们分散在几只狐狸身长的雷鬼路边等待着波弟。他们走过栅栏的时候，冬青叶注意到其中一只幼崽从皮毛里拿出一个东西递给了波弟，波弟起劲地舔着。
难道他没脑子吗？
一阵刺耳的叮当声从两脚兽巢穴里传来，然后所有的两脚兽幼崽都向巢穴跑去，排成一排穿过了入口。波弟转过身，跳到了远征队旁。
“你们在看什么？”他呼哧呼哧地问道。
“波弟，你刚才那么做好吗？”黑莓掌问道。冬青叶能听出他正竭力忍着心中的不满，“那只幼崽给你吃的是什么东西？”
“不知道。”波弟的眼睛闪闪发亮，他伸出舌头舔着嘴巴周围，“但是真的很好吃。”
黑莓掌叹了口气：“好吧，我们走。”
又走了一小段路，两脚兽巢穴的间隔越来越宽了。当雷鬼路的两边都变成了林地，他们才停了下来。当黑莓掌带领众猫离开雷鬼路，走进树林，轻松感从头到尾巴尖地淹没了冬青叶。黑莓掌又往树林里走了几条尾巴远，然后停了下来。
“这里是确认我们前行方向的好地方。”他说道，“谁愿意爬树？”
“我来！”狮焰自告奋勇。
“不，还是我来吧！”榛尾争论道，“我体重比较轻，能爬得更高些。”
黑莓掌点点头：“好，榛尾来。”
当榛尾跳上最近一棵树的树干，爪子插入树皮中时，狮焰很不爽地看着。冬青叶看到她的朋友在光秃秃的枝条上越爬越高，终于到达树顶，紧紧地附着在那里随风摇摆着。冬青叶的心快速地跳动着，她不由得想起在森林里时，炭心是怎样从树上跌下来伤了腿的。
要是榛尾受了伤，我们怎么办？现在还有这么远的路要走。
但是过了几个心跳的时间，榛尾开始往下爬，很快就爬到了最低的树枝上，跳下来，站在了族猫身旁。
“我能看好远啊！”她大叫道。
“我们走的方向对吗？”黑莓掌问道。
“是的！”榛尾的皮毛兴奋得蓬松起来，“我看不到湖，但是我能判断出它在哪里，就在风族的小山后边。我们需要向这个方向走。”她用尾巴向树林示意着，“而且我们不用经过任何两脚兽巢穴，就能到达那里。”
“这绝对是个好消息。”黑莓掌向年轻武士赞许地点了一下头，“干得好，榛尾。”
榛尾的眼睛闪着自豪的光芒。远征队再次出发了。小路开始变宽了。冬青叶注意到，蕨毛和桦落分别走在日神两侧。
日神看了看他们俩，淡黄色眼睛里闪着打趣的光芒。“你们没必要把我看得那么紧，你们知道的，”他说道，“我不会逃跑的。”
波弟停下来，茫然地看着日神：“看得那么紧？这是什么意思？”
黑莓掌也不得不停下来。他回头看了看，胡须不悦地抖动着：“没什么。我们继续前进。”
“雷族觉得我做了什么事。”日神回答波弟，没去搭理黑莓掌，“这就是他们为什么要让我回去。”
“什么？”波弟倒吸了一口冷气，“这也太鼠脑子了！”他转向黑莓掌，补充道，“你们错了，你们该知道的。日神是一只正派的猫。他不会做坏事的。”
黑莓掌没想解释。他只是摇了摇尾巴，示意远征队继续前进。这时，一只野鸡被惊动了，随着一声刺耳的惊叫，从蕨丛中惊慌地飞了出来。与此同时，一只显然是受到野鸡惊吓的松鼠猛地冲出躲藏地，跑向离它最近的树。冬青叶纵身上前，截住了它，伸出爪子一个猛击，把它打落下来。
“漂亮的扑击！”桦落叫道。
所有的远征队成员聚在一起，分享这只意外得来的猎物。波弟也把那个尴尬的问题抛到一边。但是冬青叶知道，他还会再问的。到时候我们中谁会来告诉他真相呢？
远征队一直在森林中穿行。但是过了日高后不久，冬青叶注意到波弟累了，不是被蕨丛绊倒，就是跌进了黑莓丛。她走到波弟身旁，想用尾巴指引他。不过很显然，他已经无法坚持到夜幕降临了。
冬青叶紧走几步，追上黑莓掌：“波弟太累了，我们怎么办？”
黑莓掌回头看了看：“老鼠屎！我们不能把他独自留在这里。”很显然，副族长已经后悔邀请波弟一起回来了。“好吧，我们一会儿就休息。”他做出了决定，“冬青叶，你要尽可能帮帮他。”
“没问题。”冬青叶等波弟摇晃着走到跟前，然后再次走在他的身边。“你想靠着我走吗？”她提议道。
波弟瞪着她：“你觉得我走不动了吗？走开，自以为是的小猫！”
“对不起！”冬青叶猜到波弟生气，是因为他明白自己需要帮助，可是自尊心又让他不愿意接受其他猫的帮助。冬青叶走在波弟身后两三爪子的距离，这样她就能一直盯着他。直到黑莓掌命令停下，她才放松下来。
“这么快就停下了？”狮焰问道，抬头看着树林上方的太阳，“天黑前，我们还能走很远。”
“我知道。”黑莓掌说着，瞟了一眼波弟，“不过我们在两脚兽的领地上都走得比较辛苦，所以需要休息和狩猎。这里的猎物应该很充足。”
黑莓掌选择停下来的地方是一棵橡树下的小空地。枯叶覆盖着地面。在空地的一边，一条小溪穿过长满苔藓的石块，流进了一个小水池。波弟摇晃着走过去，舔了几口水，然后一下子坐在一片凌乱的草丛上。一个心跳的时间过后，响亮的鼾声就传了出来。
日神走向地面上一片有太阳的地方，然后坐了下来，尾巴环绕着前爪，淡黄色的眼睛在金色的阳光下闪闪发亮。他显然不想自己去狩猎。
冬青叶走进了灌木丛。猎物的气息很浓，很快她就抓到了一只老鼠和一只画眉鸟。或许早早停下来，也不是什么坏事。她想着，刨土盖住猎物。这时天还比较暖和，因此猎物正在四处走动。
当她在自己的猎物中又增加了一只老鼠后，急忙赶回了空地，发现族猫们已经在水池边堆起了一个猎物堆。
桦落拖回来一只硕大的兔子，尾巴得意地翘着。“那边还有猎物，”他用尾巴指了指，“今晚我们会美美地吃一顿。”
冬青叶把一只老鼠和画眉放在猎物堆上，带着另一只老鼠来到波弟身旁，推醒了他。
老虎斑猫惊慌地喷了一个鼻息，朝四下张望着：“什么事？有狐狸？我来对付它们！”
“没事，波弟，”冬青叶把尾巴放在他的肩膀上，“我给你带来一只老鼠。”
波弟眨着眼睛。“你真是太好了！”他咽了一口唾沫，就狼吞虎咽地吃起来。可接着他就停住了，尴尬地往后退着：“这个……你也吃点吧！”
“不，这是给你的。”冬青叶说道。波弟有多久没吃过像样的猎物了？“我们还有很多猎物。”
等所有的猫都吃完了——黑莓掌还特意给日神也分了一份——他们都在树林里安顿下来。现在太阳已经落下去了，暮色正在降临，冷风吹着光秃秃的枝条。
冬青叶发现波弟正在发抖。她摇了一下尾巴，把榛尾叫到跟前。“波弟真的没法儿照顾自己了，”她凑近榛尾的耳朵，低声说道，“我们睡在他的两边，让他暖和点。”
“好的。”榛尾说道，尽管她看着有点迟疑，“我希望他的身上没有跳蚤。”
我敢肯定他身上一定有跳蚤，当冬青叶和榛尾把干树叶抓到一起做窝的时候，心里暗想，还有虱子。我们让他跟鼠毛待在一起之前，一定得用老鼠胆汁给他好好清理一下。
冬青叶醒来的时候，天还黑着。她只能分辨出映衬在天空上的光秃秃的树枝，但是星星仍在头顶闪烁。波弟的呼噜声比以前还要响亮，榛尾蜷缩在他的身边，用尾巴盖住了耳朵。
冬青叶知道，她再也睡不着了。她轻轻地站起来，以免吵醒别的猫。她站起来，四处张望着。她眨着眼睛，让蒙眬的睡眼清醒过来。黑莓掌、蕨毛和桦落的窝靠在一起，就在水池另一边。他们仨都安静地睡着。桦落的尾巴扭来扭去，好像正在做梦。
三只猫……不是四只……日神不见了！冬青叶的目光迅速扫视着空地，但是没有发现那只与众不同的白棕相间的身影。她嗅了嗅空气，闻到了日神的气息，他的气息还很新鲜，但是已经很微弱了。
冬青叶的第一个反应就是去叫醒黑莓掌。不过内心的某些东西却驱使她的爪子去了另一个方向，循着日神的那一缕气息走去。她尽可能轻地穿过树林。每当爪子靠近易碎的树叶，她都会往后缩一下。很快她就听到了流水的声音。等她来到树木稀少一些的地方，流水的声音更大了。地面倾斜着，一条小溪在乱石中汩汩流淌着。日神坐在斜坡顶上，背对着她，仰头盯着暗淡的星星。
“你仍然觉得它们什么都知道，冬青叶？”日神问道，头根本就没转过来。
冬青叶身上的每根毛发都立了起来，最后才意识到她正站在小溪的上风向，日神一定是闻到了她的气息。“我……我不知道。”她回答道，“我现在什么都不知道。”
日神转向她，淡黄色的眼睛同情地眨着：“为什么？”
冬青叶叹了口气。“如果我相信其他猫的话，所有的事情都要简单得多。”即使她说话的时候，还是不敢相信自己会跟另一只猫说出这种想法。她甚至都没跟她的同窝猫说出这些疑惑。
“你必须学会相信自己，冬青叶。”日神说着，他的声音低沉浑厚，似乎能激励每只猫的自信，“只有你知道什么是正确的。”
“有时候，我也非常困惑。”冬青叶的声音颤抖着，“我不希望每件事都要自己做出决定。”
“慢慢地就会容易了，小家伙。”日神站起身，“走吧，我们回去找其他猫。”
冬青叶跟着日神走向空地，肚子止不住地翻腾着。他几乎毁灭了影族！每只猫都认为，是他杀害了蜡毛！可是为什么我觉得我可以相信他，甚至可以把性命托付给他呢？
他们到达空地的时候，远征队的其他猫已经醒来。黑莓掌正在整理皮毛，他抬起头，琥珀色的眼睛里露出了惊讶。不过他走过去查看波弟的时候，只是说道：“我还正在想你们去了哪里呢。”
虎斑老猫爬出窝。“我好得就像一只松鼠。”他固执地说着，抖落背上的枯叶，“你们这些小猫不要老是大惊小怪的。”
他们吃完前天晚上剩下的猎物，又上路了。经过冬青叶之前看到日神的地方时，她意识到他们快要到森林边缘了。很快他们就站在森林的最外缘，注视着田野上移动着的灰白色东西。冬青叶认出那是绵羊。
“我不喜欢这些东西，”他们穿过田野的时候，波弟嘟囔着，一脸怀疑地看了一眼绵羊，“它们是些什么动物？”
“是绵羊，波弟。”冬青叶回答着，走到他的身边，“我们上次遇到你的农场里没有吗？”
波弟嗅了嗅。“我从来没见过。”当一只绵羊离开羊群，慢慢向他们走来时，波弟慌忙跳开，身上的毛也奓开了，“快——跑！”
“没事儿，”冬青叶说道。那只羊停了下来，开始在另一块草地上吃草，“它们根本不会注意我们。”
“这里的空间……太大了！”波弟抱怨着，躺在了地上，“没有树，没有直行兽——哦，就是你们说的两脚兽。”
“你的意思是，你需要两脚兽？”冬青叶心里涌出一股怒气，就像树叶上落下的雨水，“如果你想要跟雷族住在一起，这样可不行。”
“嘿，别担心！”狮焰转身过，把尾巴在波弟的肩膀放了一个心跳的时间，“波弟巴不得想成为族群猫。”
我们也巴不得呢！冬青叶险些就冲哥哥嚷出了这句话，不过她及时停住了。我们中的某一个，迟早会说出这个秘密的。这一天还会有多久？
她费了很大劲才让自己放松下来：“我知道。对不起，波弟。”
日高的时候，冬青叶发现那只老猫又累了。很快，黑莓掌就在一个有着大树遮蔽、金雀花丛围着的地方，叫停了远征队。波弟侧躺在地上，大口喘着气。日神走开几爪子，然后坐了下来，出神地凝望着地面。
“嗨，看这个！”榛尾闻着一团金雀花上粘着的像是蓟花冠毛一样的东西，“这是什么？”
冬青叶走过去看了看。桦落也好奇地跟了过去。“它闻起来有绵羊的气息。”冬青叶说道。她四处看了看，发现其他树上也有很多。“肯定是那些羊走过这里的时候，皮毛被荆棘扯掉了。”
“它非常软。”榛尾用牙齿拔下那团皮毛，叼着满满一嘴巴走开了，“我要带一些去育婴室。”
桦落强忍着才没笑出声来。“你看起来好像吞了一朵蓟花！”当榛尾用尾巴猛击他的时候，他躲开了。“这是个好主意，”他轻快地补充道，“我也收集一点，带给我的孩子。”
冬青叶让他们扯着树丛上的羊的皮毛，自己走回到波弟身边。老猫正在恢复，看起来平静多了，那些羊也在安全的距离之外。
“我们有时间狩猎吗？”她问黑莓掌。
副族长的耳朵惊讶地抖了抖：“你现在已经饿了？”
“没有。”冬青叶回答道，她压低声音说道，“我只是想捉一只老鼠，取出老鼠胆汁。如果我们让波弟带着跳蚤和虱子走进营地，我们将永无宁日了。”她抬起一只后爪，挠了挠侧腹，补充道，“我觉得我身上可能已经有了从他身上跑出来的跳蚤。”
“好的。”黑莓掌的眼睛里闪动着好笑的光，“但是别太久。我想让大家继续前进。我们现在离湖边不远了，我的爪子已经感觉到了。”
当远征队离开身后的田野，来到一条窄小的雷鬼路时，暮色已经降临。冬青叶嗅了嗅空气，闻到了马的气息。“是马厩！”她大叫道，“我们就快到家了！”
黑莓掌领着路，在闪光的栅栏下潜行，然后穿过有着白石头的田野，走过两脚兽的巢穴和马厩。当他们进入田野的时候，冬青叶四处寻找着马，可是这里根本没有马的影子。“它们肯定是被关在马厩里了。”她对狮焰低声说。
她也没看见小灰和丝儿，不过她闻到了他们的气息。她的爪子焦急得颤抖着。她想回到温暖、熟悉的石头山谷，尽管她知道那里并不是真正安全。
或者还有别的地方可以去。她伤心地想，到底哪个地方才没有谎言和背叛呢？
CHAPTER22
CHAPTER22
Jayfeather struggled through snow that reachedup to his belly fur. Frozen lumps of it stuck between his pads, making every step painful. Just ahead of him was another cat; he recognized her tabby-and-white pelt, and wailed for her to come back and help him, but she never turned her head. Then the snowy ground gave way beneath his paws, and he was falling, falling….
He woke in his own nest, the bedding tossed about by his thrashing limbs. Sitting up, heart still racing from his dream, he heard Leafpool scrabbling about in the depths of the store. A throbbing tide of anguish came from her, so strong that for a heartbeat he thought she was shrieking aloud.
Jayfeather sprang to his paws and padded over to the cave entrance. A flame of desperation burned inside him, to ask the medicine cat if she really was his mother, but he couldn’t ignore such deep distress. “Leafpool?” he meowed. “What’s the matter?”
Leafpool backed out of the store. “I…I told Hollyleaf something I shouldn’t have,” she confessed.
Jayfeather understood at once; now all the secrets were gushing out like water breaking through a dam. He raised his chin in a challenge. “You told her that you’re our mother, didn’t you?”
He heard Leafpool’s gasp of shock. “How long have you known?”
“I didn’t know, until just now. But I’ve been putting things together, and last night everything fell into place. Squirrelflight’s loyalty to the cat who gave birth to us. The vague memories I have of that journey through the snow. The way you behave toward the three of us. And the fact that Mousefur remembers parsley accidentally mixed with her tansy about that time. Parsley is used to stop the milk in nursing mothers. You would have needed to take it to stop your own milk.”
There was a long silence after he had finished speaking, in which Jayfeather almost thought he could hear his own heart beating.
“If you know so much,” Leafpool mewed at last, “then do you know what happens next?”
“No.” Jayfeather felt a strong sensation that there was something else Leafpool wanted to say to him, but she kept silent. He thought about entering her mind to find out what it was, but he didn’t quite dare. He didn’t like the idea of what he might discover.
“You have to help your littermates,” Leafpool told him, her voice sharp and urgent. “You mustlearn to live with this, for the sake of the Clan.”
You’ve got no right to tell us what wemust do.But Jayfeather did not speak the thought aloud. Part of what the medicine cat said was true. Sooner or later, they all had to find a way forward.
“Please,” Leafpool mewed, and there was a note of desperation in her voice. “Find Lionblaze and Hollyleaf, before anything else happens.”
Is there anything else that could go wrong?Jayfeather wondered. But he nodded and backed out of the den. Leafpool was scared for her kits—all three of them—just as she had always been when trouble came to the Clan.
He scanned the clearing until he located Lionblaze approaching the fresh-kill pile with a mouthful of prey. Jayfeather bounded over to him. “Leave that and come with me,” he meowed, jerking his head. “We have to talk.”
Jayfeather could feel Lionblaze’s confusion, but his brother didn’t protest, just dropped his prey on the pile and padded beside him toward the camp entrance.
“Where’s Hollyleaf?” Jayfeather asked. The sense of approaching disaster loomed even closer as he realized that this new knowledge would hurt her hardest of all. The warrior code means so much to her!
“I’ve no idea,” Lionblaze replied. “I think she left camp, but I haven’t seen her since the end of the vigil.”
“We have to find her,” Jayfeather mewed as they emerged from the tunnel into the forest. “She…she’s found out something that could upset her.”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you when we find Hollyleaf.” Jayfeather lifted his head to taste the air, searching for a trace of their sister’s scent.
“Tell me now,” Lionblaze insisted. “Haven’t there been enough secrets? Even the three of us hardly seem to talk anymore.”
Jayfeather turned to face him. “Leafpool is our mother.”
He sensed shock like a bolt of lightning flashing through his brother. “I don’t believe it!” Lionblaze gasped. “She’s a medicine cat. It’s impossible!”
“You’d better start believing it,” Jayfeather mewed bleakly. “She told me so herself. And we have to decide what we’re going to do about it.”
After a long search through the forest, trying to follow confusing traces of their sister’s scent, they discovered Hollyleaf at the top of the mossy bank that sloped down toward the lake. Jayfeather sensed her tension as soon as he bounded up to her. “Hollyleaf, we need to talk,” he meowed.
“There’s nothing to discuss.” Hollyleaf’s voice was distant. Jayfeather could tell that she hadn’t turned to face him and Lionblaze. Instead she was gazing across the water as if the answers were hidden among the waves. “We have to find out who our real father is. And that will be the end of all the secrets.”
“What do you mean?” Lionblaze asked, padding up to join them. “No cat knows yet who killed Ashfur, not unless Sol confesses. That’s one secret that the Clan won’t let rest.”
“Too bad.” Hollyleaf’s voice was dismissive, though Jayfeather detected a new surge of tension within her. “There are more important secrets than that. We mustknow who our father is.”
“You’re right,” Jayfeather agreed, curiosity prickling in every hair on his pelt. “But it’s not going to be that easy figuring it out on our own. Did you ask Leafpool?”
“No, and I don’t think she would tell us if we did.”
Jayfeather realized she was right. He couldn’t imagine that Leafpool would want to tell the truth about their father now, when she had kept the secret for so many moons. Once the rest of the Clan found out what she had done—and they would find out, because Jayfeather couldn’t see how the secret could be contained any longer—her life would be ruined. She wouldn’t want that to happen to another cat as well.
“Wait a moment,” Lionblaze meowed. “Do we really want to do this?”
“What do you mean, mouse-brain?” Hollyleaf hissed. “Are you going to live the rest of your life never knowing who fathered you?” Jayfeather heard her claws tearing at the moss. “Because I’m not!”
“Just think about what you’re saying.” Lionblaze sat down beside Jayfeather. “We never wanted the secret to come out, and now that Ashfur’s dead it doesn’t have to. Leafpool won’t tell any cat the truth.”
“I want to know!” Hollyleaf’s tail lashed through the dead leaves that covered the ground.
“But why?” Lionblaze argued. “If we keep quiet, everything will go back to how it was before.”
If you believe that, you’ll believe anything,Jayfeather thought, but he said nothing.
“Haven’t you realized what this means?” Lionblaze went on, his voice growing excited. “Leafpool’s our mother, and Firestar is her father. We’re still part of the prophecy!”
第十五章
 第十五章
“谢谢，松鸦羽！”当松鸦羽把一包千里光放在白翅的面前时，白翅发出高兴的呼噜声。
育婴室里温暖安静。黛西和米莉已经带着幼崽去锻炼了，只留下白色猫后在这里休息。
“一定要全部吃下去，”松鸦羽叮嘱道，“你的孩子马上就要出生了，你需要积蓄力气。”
“我知道。”白翅叹了口气，“只是希望不会等得太久，我觉得肚子太大了！”
“你会没事的。”松鸦羽安慰着她。他说了再见，就挤出了育婴室。今天早晨非常干冷，但是他能感觉到冬天太阳微弱的光线，正在消融昨晚的霜雾。
“现在，”他低声自言自语道，“只要叶池还在外面寻找蓍草……”
他钻过黑莓屏风，走进巢穴的时候，没有闻到老师的气息，但是有另一只猫在那里。他的心中不由得涌起一股愤怒。
老鼠屎！松鸦羽想，现在我还得先打发掉他。
“莓鼻，”他说道，“我能为你做点什么？”
“我的尾巴很疼！”年轻的武士告诉他，“而且闻起来也有点不对劲儿。”
松鸦羽嗅着莓鼻残留的尾巴，然后差点儿被腐烂的气息熏得往后退。“尾巴感染了。”他说道。
“怎么回事？”莓鼻听起来非常生气，“叶池说过，我被捉狐狸的夹子夹过的伤口已经痊愈了。”
“是痊愈了。”松鸦羽说道，“你一定又把伤口弄开了。你记得最近蹭到什么上了吗？”
莓鼻犹豫着。“我追兔子的时候，困在黑莓丛里了。”他最后承认道。
“可能就是这个原因。”松鸦羽说道，“不过没必要太担心。你需要敷一点金盏花糊。在这里等一会儿。”他走进储藏草药的洞穴，找到了金盏花。他咀嚼着草药，回到莓鼻身边。“别动，我把这个给你敷上。”他满嘴是草药，说话有些含混不清。
“我可以不做事吗？”乳白色武士一脸期待地问道。
松鸦羽生硬地说道。“不，你不是用尾巴巡逻和狩猎的。不过明天要再到这里来，我会给你敷上新的草药。”
“好吧，”莓鼻说道，“谢谢，松鸦羽。我感觉好多了。”
好了！他走了，松鸦羽心想，现在可以实施我的计划了……他返回岩缝，找到了一些山萝卜、蒲公英和琉璃苣的叶子。他蹦跳着来到长老巢穴，把叶子放在鼠毛的面前。
“是这里面的什么草药吗？”他盘问道。
鼠毛发出一声恼怒的嘶吼：“什么草药？”
放下嘴里的叶子，松鸦羽闻到了猎物的气息。他猜到他打扰了他们吃东西。“就是你告诉我的那种草药，叶池跟你的艾菊混在一起的。”
“噢，那个呀！”这只瘦骨嶙峋的老猫听起来心情不佳，“你想知道什么？”
“只是好奇而已。”松鸦羽意识到自己太心急了。他不希望鼠毛告诉叶池，自己正在干什么。“说不准哪天就用上了呢。”
鼠毛发出一声呼噜，闻了一下那些草药。
“让我也闻闻。”长尾建议道，“我没尝过那种草药，不过我可能会记得气味。”
“怎么样？”两位长老仔细地闻着那些草药时，松鸦羽问道。
“不，这里面没有。”鼠毛说道，“我认识这些草药。叶池一直用这些草药退烧，或者防止伤口感染。”
“是的，”长尾补充道，“对不起。”
松鸦羽沮丧地叹了口气。“这个也不是吗？”他又往前推了推山萝卜，问道。
“我都说了不在这些里面，你没听明白吗？”鼠毛低吼着，抬起尾巴弹了一下松鸦羽的耳朵。
“好啦好啦。”松鸦羽又收起了那些草药，“谢谢，我晚点会再带些来的。”
“让我们先吃完这只兔子吧！”当他离开的时候，鼠毛冲着他的背影喊道。
松鸦羽回到自己的巢穴，决定再找些草药给鼠毛和长尾试试。不过他刚把山萝卜、蒲公英和琉璃苣放回原处，就听到叶池走进了巢穴，一股浓浓的蓍草气息随着她飘了进来。
“松鸦羽，你在干什么？”她厉声问道，“你为什么闻起来，就像在我的草药里睡了一觉？”
“哦……我摔倒在草药里了，”松鸦羽结结巴巴地说道，“我的皮毛上沾上了草药。”
叶池发出一声长长的叹息：“真是的，松鸦羽，你简直就像一只幼崽！你为什么要去翻储藏的草药呢？”
松鸦羽感受到了老师心中汹涌的恐慌和焦虑，这让他也不安起来。她为什么不让我看储存的草药？他感到很奇怪，在这里，我跟她有同等的权利！她正在隐瞒什么呢？
“我没有乱翻，”他反驳道，“而且我正在清理这里。”
叶池嗅了嗅。“那就把这些蓍草放好，”她命令道，“我想去看看米莉的呼吸状况。她在外面和她的幼崽玩耍，这很可能会让她吃不消。”
叶池刚一走出去，松鸦羽就把蓍草收拾好，然后抽出一片雏菊叶子和一段牛蒡根。如果这两个还不是，那我就是十足的鼠脑子！他确认叶池在育婴室里查看米莉，就赶紧回到了长老巢穴。
“你又来了！”鼠毛嘟囔着，“这次拿的是什么？”
她简单地闻了闻松鸦羽放在她面前的每种草药，然后尝了尝雏菊的叶子。“不是。”她说道，“这些都不是。”
长尾走过来闻了一下，但是也没闻出来那种草药。
松鸦羽叹了口气：“好吧，我再找找吧。”
“我觉得你的脑子里进蜜蜂了。”鼠毛躺下去开始打盹儿的时候说道。
松鸦羽正在猎物堆附近吃着一只田鼠，听到火星从身边经过，走向了巫医巢穴。他三两口咽下剩下的田鼠肉，跟了上去。他站在黑莓屏风外，这样就能听清族长说的话了。
“叶池，我想问你……”火星听起来有点尴尬。
“什么？”叶池催促着，声音有些尖锐。
“我只想知道，你有没有机会跟星族谈过。”松鸦羽能听出来，族长想让自己的声音同平常一样，好似他的问题并不重要，可惜他失败了。
松鸦羽想知道叶池会怎么回答，心里不由一紧。接着，他就放松下来。如果叶池跟蜡毛说过话，那整个雷族早就都知道了！
“没有！”叶池厉声说道，“如果我做了，我会第一个告诉你。”
“哦，好的……谢谢。”火星走出了巫医巢穴，稍停片刻，然后就离开了，他甚至没注意到松鸦羽。
为什么叶池不想跟星族谈话？松鸦羽有点奇怪，她担心什么呢？
他的爪子发痒，非常渴望走出营地，也许可以走到湖边，找到木棍，然后看看岩石会不会再跟他说说话。不过岩石已经跟他说过，答案就在这里，在自己的族群中。星族呀，为什么你们不愿帮我呢？松鸦羽默默地问道，难道指引族群不是你们的职责吗？
就像是知道他在想什么，沙风穿过空地，停在他的身边：“你想和我一起去树林里走走吗？”
松鸦羽惊讶地抽动耳朵：“去干什么？”
沙风发出了笑声。“我不能让你陪我一会儿吗？不，你是对的。”她又说道，“我的确得和你谈谈，我们找个不会被打扰的地方吧。”
“好的。”松鸦羽同意了，“不过我得先问问叶池。她……嗯，她现在有点儿爱发脾气。”
“我知道。”沙风告诉他，“你等我一下。”她穿过黑莓屏风，然后松鸦羽听见她说道：“叶池，我借用松鸦羽一会儿，我跟他要去森林里。”
“好的，”叶池回答道，不过，她似乎有些勉强，“告诉他采些艾菊回来。”
松鸦羽跟着沙风穿过荆棘通道，沿着前往风族边界的小路走着，兴奋得爪子都有些刺痛。他一直很尊敬这只姜黄色母猫，尽管他现在知道她不是他的至亲，但是他仍然很相信她。
沙风沿着标记风族边界的小溪走的时候，并没有说多少特别有用的话。松鸦羽耐着性子听她说着猎物怎么样，风族是不是有可能制造边境冲突之类的话。不过他没有反驳，他知道这只母猫准备好之前，是不会说的。
最后，他们走到了通往荒原的树林，冷风呼啸着从一直通往月亮池的山脊吹来。
“我们休息一会儿。”沙风提议着，然后坐在了溪边。
松鸦羽走过去，坐在她的旁边，侧过身体让风吹拂在脸上。他很享受带着雪的气息的风把他的皮毛吹得贴紧身体的感觉。
“松鸦羽，”沙风开口说话了，“你觉得叶池最近好吗？她最近似乎非常紧张。”
这就是她要和我谈的了！“我也注意到了。”他小心地回答道。
“是因为要治疗绿咳症吗？”沙风猜测道，“还是别的更糟糕的事？你……你觉得有没有可能，她是为蜡毛的死感到自责？”
松鸦羽的爪子插进草地，让自己平静下来。我觉得不是！他想告诉沙风，蜡毛的死跟叶池没有任何关系。我可以保证！不过他知道，如果这么肯定地告诉她，该有多么愚蠢。这样做只会让沙风提出更多的问题。如果他如实说出一切，将会导致雷族四分五裂。
“我想不是。”他低声说道。
“或许她觉得她应该预测到蜡毛的死，或者用某种方式制止这件事。”沙风继续说道，“也可能她觉得，她应该到星族去见他，然后找出真相。”
松鸦羽呆住了。看来火星并没有告诉沙风，他让叶池去星族找蜡毛，和他谈谈的事了。究竟还有多少只猫彼此之间保留着秘密？
“我觉得，叶池一直忙着应付绿咳症，所以太累了。”他说道。他知道他不得不说些什么以解释老师的异常情绪。“而且我知道，白翅的幼崽在这么寒冷的季节出生，她也一直很担心。再说了，每只猫都在为蜡毛的事悲伤。”哦，或许不是每只猫。松鸦羽说出这句言不由衷的话时，不禁缩起了爪子。
“或许你说得对，”沙风叹了口气，“火星和我都很担心她。毕竟她不只是我们的巫医，还是我们的女儿。如果你遇到麻烦了，黑莓掌和松鼠飞也会有同样的感觉。”
或许不会！松鸦羽发现他很难严肃地点头，只希望自己的表情不会泄露内心的矛盾。
“如果你发现了别的情况，会告诉我吗？”沙风说道。
“当然了。”其实他心里想的是当然不会！当他跟着姜黄色的母猫返回营地时，松鸦羽想知道，接下来还会有哪只猫来刺探他的秘密，他知道的那些可怕的事情还能隐瞒多久。
“到育婴室去，孩子们，”黛西温柔地说道，“该睡觉了。”
“可是风族正在进攻我们！”小玫瑰抗议道，“我要当族长，然后把他们赶跑！”
“你可以明天再当族长。”黛西向她保证道。
松鸦羽听着幼崽们爬进育婴室后，他们尖尖的声音渐渐消失了。一阵阴冷的夜风吹乱了他的皮毛，他伸了伸懒腰，向他的巢穴走去。
跟沙风的谈话已经过去两个日升的时间了。叶池依然情绪暴躁，而且松鸦羽还是不知道为什么。他的老师正在害怕什么事情，这一点他非常确定，不过他不敢去问她。
他刚走到黑莓屏风前，就听见守卫着荆棘通道的云尾高声喊道：“黑莓掌！蕨毛！嗨，他们回来了！”
众猫跳出巢穴，来到空地的时候，沙沙声从武士巢穴的方向传来。有几只猫从松鸦羽身旁掠过，去迎接归来的远征队。松鸦羽跟了过去，不过却落在了后边。当众猫穿过荆棘通道，走进营地的时候，松鸦羽努力分辨着混杂在一起的味道。黑莓掌在最前边，后面跟着蕨毛。松鸦羽认出了日神的气息，身子抖了一下。独行猫平静地走出通道，停在通往营地的入口前。他的身上散发出自信，一点都不像是被缉拿回来问罪的罪犯。
一阵兴奋的议论声从猫群中爆发出来。
“那是日神！”
“他们找到他了！”
“他看起来很平静，”亮心说道，听上去很困惑，“如果他真的杀了蜡毛，看上去不应该是这样的吧？”
“我不会放过那只猫，”尘毛低吼道，“看看他对影族做了什么。”
“火星会怎么处置他？”那是狐爪的声音，他兴奋得声音都在发抖，“我觉得，会剥了他的皮，然后扔到外面喂乌鸦。”
“不。”灰条的声音压住了众猫的声音，“那不是火星的做法。他会跟日神谈谈，然后找出真相。”
我希望不要这样。松鸦羽心想。
另一只猫跟着日神进入了空地，带有一股松鸦羽无法辨认的气息，虽然他觉得应该闻过这种气息。榛尾跟在后边，然后是冬青叶和狮焰。松鸦羽意识到他的同窝猫毫发无损地归来，顿时放松下来。
看到火星从松鸦羽身边走过来，众猫顿时安静下来，聚拢到火星身边，皮毛几乎挨着皮毛。“你好，日神，”火星的声音冰冷，但是不失礼貌，“很感谢你能来。”
“我愿意做任何能帮上忙的事情。”日神回答道，他显得彬彬有礼。
“我让你今晚先休息一下，”火星继续说道，“走了这么远的路，你一定非常累。莓鼻，蜜蕨！”
“我们在，火星！”两位年轻武士跳了起来。
“给日神做个窝，可以吗？巫医巢穴和武士巢穴之间就是个不错的地方。那里遮蔽良好，还有悬崖挡风。”
而且那里的入口狭窄，因此守卫起来也很容易。松鸦羽心中默默地补充道。
“干得好。黑莓掌，还有你们各位。”火星继续说道，这时蜜蕨和莓鼻已经匆匆离开了，“我知道这趟旅程有多么艰辛。”
“比我们预料的难。”黑莓掌承认道，“我们在一片两脚兽领地上找到了日神，他和……”
“和我！”一声大吼打断了黑莓掌。这时松鸦羽忽然记起了那只一直没认出来的猫。是波弟！他来这里干吗？
“我也想知道，你们为什么把日神带到这里来！”老猫继续说道，“我希望你们不要把他没有做过的事诬陷到他头上！”
一阵吃惊的低语从旁听的猫群中爆发出来。松鸦羽不确定这是因为波弟的出现呢，还是因为他大胆为日神辩护的行为。
“黑莓掌，这位是谁？”火星问道，声音里充满了惊讶。
“他叫波弟，”黑莓掌回答道，“是我们第一次前往太阳沉没之地时遇到的独行猫。波弟，这是我们的族长，火星。”
“欢迎你，波弟。”松鸦羽想象火星向老虎斑猫颔首致意，欢迎他来到营地的样子，“你可以待在长老巢穴。狐爪，你能带他去，并把他介绍给鼠毛和长尾吗？”
“多谢，火星，”独行猫说道，“日神，如果你需要我，只要喊我一声就行，好吗？”说完，他就跟在狐爪身后走向长老巢穴。
老独行猫刚一离开，叶池就走上前去，嗅了一遍日神的皮毛。“你在路上受伤了吗？”她问道，“你的腿感觉酸疼吗？”
“没有，”日神的声音里带着一丝玩笑的味道，“我早就习惯了四处奔波。”
是的，因为没有猫愿意跟你长期相处。这句讽刺的话冲到松鸦羽的嘴边，但是他最终把它咽了回去。
“来吧，日神，我带你到你的窝里去。”蕨毛告诉他。
当两只猫离开后，火星平静地叫过蛛足。“你来站第一班岗，看好日神。”他低声说道，“给他带点猎物，确保明天早晨之前，他都待在窝里。”
“没问题，火星。”蛛足跳向了猎物堆。
火星走回自己的巢穴，留下其他猫继续聚集在营地入口。
“我敢肯定他就是凶手！”罂粟霜大叫道，“你们看到他的眼睛了吗？他看起来就像是能看透你。”
“我太害怕了，会睡不着的！”冰爪说道，“如果他冲进我们的窝里，杀了我们怎么办？”
“说得对，”鼠须补充道，“我不知道火星为什么让他待在这里。”
“火星需要找出真相。”亮心说道。
“我敢肯定，这没有什么可担心的，”栗尾轻松地补充道，“蛛足会确保日神不走出他的巢穴。”
尽管有了这只母猫的安慰，松鸦羽的爪子仍在发抖，身上的毛竖了起来，仿佛空地上就要降下暴风雨。空气中弥漫着恐惧和怀疑的气息，仿佛每只猫都知道将会有大事发生。
松鸦羽竭力不理会内心的惶恐，走到冬青叶和狮焰一起坐着的荆棘通道旁。
“嗨，旅程怎么样？”他问道。
“说来话长。”狮焰的声音很忧郁，“我还以为我们永远回不来了呢。”
“我们遇见了一些别的猫，”冬青叶补充道，“狗骚扰他们，日神便鼓励他们与狗战斗。结果有几只猫被杀了，从那时候起，这些猫每次从窝里出来，都得跟狗作战。”她发出一声厌烦的叹息，“日神把事情搞得更危险了。”
“他是个麻烦制造者。”狮焰表示同意，随即打了一个哈欠。
松鸦羽想问，你们觉得是他杀了蜡毛吗？但是他最终没有问出口。他能从同窝猫身上感觉到的，只有疲倦、恐惧和痛苦。他不想更深入地探测他们的内心世界。
“你们能回来真好。”他跟他们说。
狮焰和冬青叶都没回应。松鸦羽意识到，他思念哥哥和姐姐，思念得就像被利爪抓着一样痛。但是现在他们回来了，蜡毛的死仍旧横亘在他们之间。
“来吃点东西吧！”他建议道，把纷乱的思绪放到一边，“然后你俩需要好好睡一觉。”
我不知道我们有没有机会跟日神谈谈。跟着同窝猫来到猎物堆跟前时，他想道。毕竟日神是他们三只猫之外唯一知道那个预言的猫。一个新的想法突然从他的心里冒了出来：日神谈到那个预言时，好像我们就是预言中提到的那三只猫。但我们不可能是，因为松鼠飞不是我们的母亲！
这件事难道日神不知道吗？还是说，日神也一直在欺骗我们？
CHAPTER23
CHAPTER23
Lionblaze slid out of the campthrough the dirtplace tunnel and skirted the rim of the hollow until he came to the place where he and his littermates had nearly been burned alive on the night of the storm. The grass was still blackened, and debris from charred branches was scattered around. Lionblaze shuddered as he remembered the leaping flames and the mad glare in Ashfur’s eyes.
Above his head the moon floated in the indigo sky, waxing toward full and surrounded by the frosty glitter of stars. No clouds blurred their light. Does that mean you approve of what I’m doing, StarClan?Lionblaze silently addressed his warrior ancestors. He had made this plan as soon as he realized that he and his littermates were still part of the prophecy, but it had taken him another day to decide to put it into action. Whatever you think, I have to do this.
Looking down into the hollow, he could see the thornbush where Sol was a prisoner, and Birchfall, crouched on watch just beyond the outer branches. The thick, criss-crossing growth of the thorn hid Sol from Lionblaze’s sight, but Sol’s scent drifted up to him as he tasted the air.
“Right,” Lionblaze whispered. “Let’s go!”
Paw step by paw step, he crept down the cliff face, testing each foothold before he dared put his weight on it. He wasn’t just afraid of falling; if he dislodged a stone, or slipped and had to scrabble to save himself, he would alert Birchfall. He froze once as he brushed against a straggling bush growing from a crack, and once when a shower of grit spurted up from under his paws and pattered down into the camp. But Birchfall didn’t move.
Snoozing on watch?Lionblaze wondered.
Moons seemed to have passed before he leaped down the last fox-length to land lightly on the ground beside the bush. His legs trembled. With a swift glance toward the slumbering shape of Birchfall, he crawled underneath the branches of the thornbush.
In the dim light that filtered through the twigs, he saw Sol curled up in a mossy nest, his tail wrapped over his nose and his sides heaving with the rhythmic breathing of sleep. Lionblaze crept over to him and prodded his shoulder. Sol’s eyes flew open, and for a heartbeat Lionblaze thought he saw surprise flicker in their amber depths. His jaws opened, but Lionblaze slapped his tail over the loner’s muzzle before he could utter a sound.
“Quiet!”
Sol nodded, and Lionblaze took his tail away.
“I’m sorry, Lionblaze. For a moment I thought you were that snake.” Sol was composed once more, his hushed voice barely reaching Lionblaze’s ears. “What can I do for you?”
“I…I need to talk to you.” Now that Lionblaze had succeeded in coming face-to-face with his Clan’s prisoner, it was harder than he had expected to say what he had to say. “I’ve found out that my mother isn’t who I thought she was, and I need to figure out if it affects the prophecy.”
“Good,” Sol mewed softly. He sat up and began to groom moss out of his fur. “You can start by helping me get out of here.”
“I—I can’t do that!” Lionblaze only just remembered to keep his voice down.
“Of course you can. You must have climbed down the cliff to get here without Birchfall seeing you. You can show me the way to get back up. I didn’t kill Ashfur. You know I didn’t.”
“As far as ThunderClan is concerned, you’re the only cat it could have been,” Lionblaze retorted. He wasn’t sure what he thought himself. He couldn’t forget how Sol had promised to help him fulfill the prophecy—and how much he needed that help now—but he also shrank from betraying his Clan by letting the loner escape.
“Why should I help you if you won’t help me?” Sol gave Lionblaze a long look from glowing amber eyes, then calmly licked one paw and started to wash his face.
Lionblaze stared at him in frustration. I can’t make him talk, but I can’t show him the way out, either!
“Okay,” he muttered. “I’m leaving. I can’t help you escape, it would cause too much trouble.”
“For you?” Sol queried.
“For my Clan,” Lionblaze hissed. It was too easy to imagine what the other Clan leaders would think when they heard Sol was on the loose. They’d blame ThunderClan, that was for sure. He flattened himself to the ground so he could wriggle out under the thorn branches.
“Wait! Don’t you want to know who your father is?”
Lionblaze stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “You knowthat?”
“Of course.” Sol passed his paw over one ear.
“So who is he?” Lionblaze asked, his belly churning.
Sol’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Nothing for nothing, Lionblaze. I’ll tell you the truth when you get me out of here.”
“And how do I know I can trust you?” The words came out louder than Lionblaze had intended; he froze as a scuffling sound came from outside the den.
“Sol?” Birchfall called. “Are you okay?”
Sol paused, his whiskers twitching. Ants crawled through Lionblaze’s pelt and he held his breath as he waited to be discovered. Firestar will strip my pelt off and throw it out for the crows!
“Sol?” Birchfall’s voice came again, sounding more anxious
“I’m fine, Birchfall,” the loner replied. “Just talking to myself.”
“Okay, good night.”
Lionblaze relaxed as he heard Birchfall settling down again, though his pelt still felt hot with tension.
“How do you know you can trust me?” Sol went on. He sounded amused. “You don’t. But knowledge is power, Lionblaze, and right now I have more knowledge than any of the Clan cats.”
“All right,” Lionblaze mewed slowly. “I’ll show you how to get out. But you must promise to tell me about my father…and advise me about the prophecy.”
Sol dipped his head. “You have my word.”
Whatever that’s worth…“Okay, follow me,” Lionblaze whispered. “Put your paws where I put mine. It’s a tricky climb, and it’ll be ten times harder because we mustn’t be spotted.”
He pushed his way out through the thorns with Sol hard on his paws and began to haul himself up. The cliff seemed to stretch above his head forever, and Lionblaze couldn’t believe that no cat would see them splayed out against the rock in the bright moonlight. But no accusing yowls came from the clearing, and at last he pulled himself up to the cliff top and turned to wait for Sol to join him.
The loner huffed out a breath as he hauled himself over the rim of the hollow, then gestured with his tail for Lionblaze to follow him away from the edge. He halted a few fox-lengths away.
“Well?” Lionblaze demanded. “You’re free. What about your part of the bargain?”
“Not here,” Sol replied. “It’s too dangerous. Besides, if you stay away too long, some cat might notice you’re missing. You should get back to the warriors’ den.”
“But you promised!”
“And I’ll keep that promise.” Sol flicked his ears in the direction of ShadowClan territory. “I’ll go to that old Twoleg nest beyond the ShadowClan border, and wait for you there. Come with your littermates as soon as you can.”
“Okay.” Lionblaze’s belly churned with frustration. “But you’d better be there.”
Sol flicked his tail dismissively. “I will be.” Turning, he bounded off toward the ShadowClan border.
Lionblaze watched him until the undergrowth hid his blotched pelt from sight. Then he slipped down to the thorn barrier and back into the camp the same way he had left it. He hoped no cat would ask why it had taken him so long to make his dirt.
I did the right thing,he argued with himself. Hollyleaf said we have to find out who our father is. And even more important, Sol is the only cat who can help us fulfill the prophecy!
“Firestar! Firestar!” Birchfall’s yowl dragged Lionblaze from a deep sleep. All around him in the warriors’ den, his Clanmates were rousing.
“Is there an attack?” Brightheart’s fur bristled. “Birchfall sounds terrified!” She scrambled out of her nest and pushed her way out into the open, with Cloudtail just behind her
“Firestar!” Birchfall’s screech sounded right outside the den.
“What’s got into him?” Dustpelt grumbled, rising to his paws and shaking moss out of his fur. “Can’t a cat get a decent night’s sleep around here?”
More warriors were shouldering their way out, loudly demanding what was going on. Lionblaze knew exactly what was bothering Birchfall, but he realized he had to seem just as concerned as every cat. He sprang up and slid out through the branches into the gray dawn light. Shadows still lay deep around the edges of the clearing, and the ground was dusted with frost.
Firestar was bounding down the tumbled rocks. Birchfall raced across the clearing to meet him at the bottom.
“Firestar!” the young warrior gasped. “Sol has escaped!”
Firestar’s ears flicked up. With Birchfall panting behind him, he raced over to the thornbush and thrust his head inside. More of the ThunderClan cats followed him, and Lionblaze crowded up with them, making sure that he left his fresh scent at the bottom of the cliff where he and Sol had begun their climb.
“He’s really gone?” Brambleclaw asked, rushing up to join his leader as Firestar backed away from the bush.
Firestar nodded.
“Hey, there are marks on the cliff!” Hazeltail stretched up with her paws to point at a spot where a couple of pebbles had been dislodged. “Sol must have escaped this way.”
“Good riddance, if you ask me,” Cloudtail growled, giving a single lash of his tail. “It’s not like we could have kept him here forever.”
There was a murmur of agreement; Lionblaze saw relief in the eyes of more than one cat.
“You’re not going to track him down, are you, Firestar?” Sandstorm asked. “He’s caused us enough trouble, and we could never have punished him enough for killing Ashfur.”
“He’s obviously guilty,” Spiderleg put in. “He wouldn’t have risked his neck climbing the cliff to escape, otherwise.”
“That’s true,” Thornclaw meowed as Firestar looked thoughtful. “He must have been scared of what we would do to him. We sure taught him a lesson!”
Firestar took a couple of paces away from Sol’s den and gazed at the cats who stood around him. “You’re right,” he murmured at last. “Let’s hope that Sol has learned the Clans can’t be messed around with, and doesn’t try to cross any more borders. Brambleclaw, we’ll double the patrols for now, until we’re sure he’s not still in the territory.”
“Sure, Firestar,” the deputy meowed with a brisk nod.
“What will you tell the other Clans?” Graystripe asked, a worried look in his amber eyes. “If we say he escaped, they’ll think we were too weak to hold on to him. And they might blame us for letting him out to cause more trouble.”
Firestar twitched his ears. “I’ll tell him we banished him from our territories and made him promise never to set paw here again.”
“But that’s not true.” Sandstorm looked uneasy. “Should we really be lying to the other Clans?”
“Like they always tell us the truth!” Cloudtail snapped.
“I think Sandstorm’s right,” Brightheart put in, with a sharp glance at her mate. “What if Sol isstill around? What would the other Clans think of us then?”
Firestar hesitated, his gaze fixed on his paws, then raised his head again. “We’ll do as I said. It’s for the sake of ThunderClan,” he meowed. “We need to show that we’re strong and committed to the warrior code, and that we deal with our own Clan’s affairs in our own way. And we’ll make sure that Sol isn’tstill hanging about,” he finished.
As the cats began to move away, and Brambleclaw began to organize the patrols, Lionblaze spotted Hollyleaf standing at the edge of the clearing. Her eyes were like green flames, but it was impossible to tell what she was looking at.
Slipping between Sandstorm and Hazeltail, he padded to her side. “I have to tell you something,” he mewed softly.
Hollyleaf didn’t seem to hear him. “He escaped!” she hissed, her claws flexing in and out.
Lionblaze couldn’t tell if she sounded glad or sorry. He didn’t dare tell her what had really happened with so many of his Clanmates close by. “Where’s Jayfeather?” he asked.
Hollyleaf’s ears flicked. “How should I know?”
“I’ll find him,” Lionblaze meowed. “Go into the forest and meet us by the training clearing. Don’t argue!” he added as Hollyleaf opened her jaws. “Just do it. It’s important.”
His sister rolled her eyes, but she set off toward the camp entrance, staying in the shadows. Once he was sure she was on her way, Lionblaze headed for the medicine cats’ den, but before he reached it, Jayfeather emerged from the nursery. Lionblaze bounded over to him.
“What’s all the yowling about?” Jayfeather demanded.
“Sol has escaped.”
“Hashe?” Jayfeather’s eyes stretched wide with surprise. Then the young medicine cat sniffed. “How convenient.”
“We have to talk,” Lionblaze muttered, glancing back to where his Clanmates were splitting up into patrols. “Come with me into the forest. We’re meeting Hollyleaf beside the training clearing.”
To his relief, Jayfeather didn’t argue. “I’ll tell Leafpool I’m going to look for yarrow. We’re running short, and Purdy’s pads are still giving him trouble.” He trotted off toward his den.
Lionblaze didn’t wait for him; it was best if all three of them left the camp separately. Hating the need for deception, he tagged on to the end of a patrol that was just leaving, with Sandstorm at its head. Once out in the forest he dropped back; in case any cat had spotted him he pretended to have picked up a thorn in his pad. As soon as the patrol had vanished, he raced for the training clearing.
Hollyleaf was crouched in the hollow under a tree root. “Well?” she demanded as Lionblaze approached.
“Let’s wait for Jayfeather.”
Not many heartbeats had passed before Lionblaze heard a rustling in the undergrowth and picked up his brother’s scent. Jayfeather shouldered his way out of the long grass and joined them.
“Nowwill you tell us what all this is about?” Hollyleaf meowed.
As briefly as he could, Lionblaze told them how he had managed to get into Sol’s den to talk with him, and how he had shown him the way up the cliff. “He’s gone to hide in the old Twoleg nest where he stayed before,” he finished. “We have to go there so he can tell us who our father is—”
“Have you got bees in your brain?” Hollyleaf growled with a lash of her tail. “You let a ThunderClan prisoner escape? That’s completely against the warrior code! What do you think Firestar will do if he ever finds out?”
“There’s no reason why he should find out,” Lionblaze replied steadily. “I thought you were the one who wanted to find out the truth about our father! Now we can. Are you coming with me or not?”
Jayfeather was looking uneasy, but he nodded. “We’ll come.” He nudged Hollyleaf. “There’s no sense in complaining about it. You know we’ve got no choice. We can’t live with only half the truth, and this looks like our only chance of finding out.”
The sun had risen above the treetops by the time they reached the end of ShadowClan territory and struck out into the unknown forest. It was so long since they had been there that Lionblaze wasn’t sure of the way, but Sol’s scent trail led them onward.
It looks as if he headed straight for the Twoleg nest. So maybe hedoes mean to keep his part of the deal.
Eventually the crumbling walls of the old Twoleg nest came into sight, hardly visible among tall clumps of seeding willow-herb, bracken, and thistles. Sol’s scent was strong and fresh. Lionblaze led the way up to the entrance and peered inside. Weeds sprouted through cracks in the stone floor, and cobwebs stretched across the corners.
“Sol?” he called. “Are you there?”
“Greetings.” The voice came from above Lionblaze’s head. He looked up to see Sol sitting on top of one of the walls, half-hidden by the branches of a holly bush stretching in from outside.
The loner rose to his paws and jumped down beside Lionblaze and his littermates. “Greetings,” he repeated. “I see you came—”
“We came to find out the truth!” Hollyleaf shouldered her way past Lionblaze. “Tell us what you know.”
Sol blinked. “It won’t help you, you know. As long as you’re part of the prophecy, why does it matter who your father is?”
“It matters,” Hollyleaf growled.
“Wait.” Lionblaze stepped forward to stand alongside his sister. “I agree with Sol. I’d like to know the truth about my father, but it’s the prophecy that’s important.”
“But we need to know,” Jayfeather argued. “One name, that’s all we want.”
A gleam of cold amusement lit in Sol’s eyes. Lionblaze knew he was enjoying the power he held over them. Suddenly he wasn’t sure that Sol knew anything about their father. Perhaps he was just taunting them, knowing they couldn’t take him back to the Clan. But he had known who they were from the start, and had offered to help….
“This is our chance to fulfill the prophecy,” Lionblaze mewed desperately, turning to his littermates. “Sol knows so much…he even knew when the sun was going to vanish!”
Neither of his littermates responded. Jayfeather just looked stubborn, while Hollyleaf had tensed her muscles as if she was about to pounce on Sol and force him to tell the truth.
No! If she lays a claw on him he’ll never tell us!
Sol’s amber gaze traveled slowly over Hollyleaf; her bristling hostility didn’t ruffle a single hair on his pelt. “Think about what I can offer you,” he meowed softly. “So much more than merely knowing your ancestors! Real power takes much more than that. Listen to me, and I’ll teach you how to truly hold the power of the stars in your paws.”
Hollyleaf let out a furious hiss and crouched to spring.
“No!” Lionblaze yowled. He leaped on his sister, gripped her by the scruff and dragged her outside, ignoring her flailing paws and her screeches of outrage. “Are you mouse-brained?” he demanded, releasing her among the dead bracken outside. “If you make Sol angry, he’ll never help us.”
“Why do we need him?” Jayfeather padded out to join them; his voice was calm, his head tilted on one side. “The prophecy doesn’t say anything about needing help. How can Sol be more powerful than we are?”
“We don’t have the power of the stars yet, do we?” Lionblaze’s belly churned as he tried to make his littermates understand. “Let him teach us what he knows. What harm can it do? And then he’ll tell us who our father is.”
Frustrated, he realized that there had been no point in coming to the Twoleg nest. Neither Hollyleaf nor Jayfeather was prepared to talk sensibly with Sol. They probably believed he killed Ashfur, like the rest of the Clan. They might as well go straight back to the hollow.
He looked back at the entrance to the nest to see Sol standing there; his glowing amber gaze swept across them. “You are not ready to listen to me yet,” he mewed. “When you are, come again. I’ll be here, waiting for you.”
第十六章
 第十六章
狮焰在周围兴奋的说话声和走动声中醒了过来。他抬起头，看见族猫都走出武士巢穴，走进了空地。他艰难地站起身来，浑身的肌肉仍酸疼无比，他不由得瑟缩了一下。他挤过枝条，跟着族猫走了出去。
天空晴朗，但是太阳还没升到照进山谷的高度，巢穴上方依旧阴影重重，蛛足蜷伏着看守日神的窝的地方也仍然在阴影中。虽然天还很早，但似乎大部分雷族猫都已经聚集在空地上了。黛西、米莉和白翅正坐在育婴室的外面。狮焰看见她们都圈起尾巴，把幼崽拢在身前。幼崽们都睁大了眼睛，惊恐地盯着石头山谷。狐爪和冰爪跳过来，站在武士们中间，似乎需要离这些年龄大、经验多的猫更近一点儿。
冬青叶已经起来了，正跟榛尾和蕨毛站在一起。她没有看狮焰一眼，而狮焰不知道为什么，也不太愿意走到她的身边。
似乎我们的一部分，我们曾经的一部分，已经随着蜡毛的死，一起逝去了！
火星从他高石台上的巢穴里露出头来，然后轻轻地跑下落石堆，来到高石台下的灰条身旁。随着族长的出现，空地上的猫更加兴奋了。
“火星来了！”
“马上就有大事要发生了！”
狮焰活动着肌肉，试图赶走全身的酸疼。他听到了一阵爪子落地的声音，接着黎明巡逻队飞快地回到了营地。跑在最前面的是刺掌。
“怎么回事？”金棕色武士气喘吁吁，打着滑停在了空地中央，“我们错过什么了吗？”
黑莓掌向他走了过去。“你们这么早回来干什么？”他问道，“你们不可能已经走完了影族的边界。”
“哦，一切都很平静，”莓鼻说道，朝黑莓掌的肩膀后面张望着，“那里没什么可担心的。”
黑莓掌甩了甩尾巴尖。“好吧。”他低声吼道，“不过下次要巡逻得更远点。”他转身走向武士巢穴外聚集着的武士。“狩猎巡逻队，”他宣布道，“沙风，你来带一队。还有亮心，你可以……”他意识到没有猫听他说话，于是停下来，恼怒地甩了甩尾巴。
他尴尬地看着火星，火星正和灰条向他走来。“他们都无法安定下来，”黑莓掌说道，“甚至没有猫想吃东西。”
灰条点了点头，然后在火星的耳边低声说着什么。狮焰只隐约听到一句话：“你最好现在就处理日神的事。”
火星的耳朵抖了抖：“你说得对。黑莓掌，去把日神带来。”
众猫的目光都落到了副族长的身上，看着他走进了日神睡觉的灌木丛。他飞快地和蛛足说了一句话，然后就消失在树枝下。几个心跳过后，他又出现了，身后跟着日神。
当独行猫向火星走过来的时候，清晨的第一缕阳光滑过山谷的边缘，照在他的皮毛上。独行猫看起来皮毛光滑，仿佛过去的一个月亮圆缺的时间里他一直都在整理皮毛，而不是在两脚兽的领地上游荡，然后又翻山越岭来到了雷族营地。与他相比，狮焰觉得自己实在是累得要命，身上也脏兮兮的。
当黑莓掌带日神到空地中央的时候，雷族猫都向两侧退开，他们瞪大了眼睛，身上的毛竖了起来。
他们是怎么回事？狮焰感到了一丝不快。日神只是一只猫而已！为什么族猫表现得像一群胆小的兔子呢？
“日神！等等我！”波弟的喊声从长老巢穴传来，在山谷里回荡。鼠毛和长尾跟在他的身后走了过来。他们在榛树丛的外面停了下来，波弟则颤巍巍地向空地走来。他的毛竖着，上面沾满了苔藓碎屑，眼里闪烁着怒火。
黑莓掌截住了他，没让他靠近日神。“别担心，波弟！”他平静地说道，“没有猫会伤害日神。跟其他猫退到一起。”
波弟震惊得张大了嘴巴。但是还没等他回应，榛尾就走上前去，轻轻地推着他坐在她和桦落身边。
火星面对着日神，站在众猫围成的圈子中央。“你知道我们为什么要把你带到这里吗？”他问道。
日神将头偏向一边。“有一只猫被杀害了，你们认为是我干的。”他自信地迎上火星的目光，他的皮毛在寒冷苍白的日光下闪闪发光。
“是你杀了蜡毛！”刺掌向他咆哮道。
“就是，”云尾低声咆哮，“有猫看到你出现在风族边界附近。你别想抵赖！”
“你为什么要杀他？”栗尾质问道，“他对你做了什么？”
日神没理会这些充满敌意的咆哮，只是盯着火星。火星挥动尾巴示意大家安静。
“我们的一位武士死在风族边界的小溪中，他的喉咙上有咬伤。”火星等喧闹声都停了下来，这才说道，“你还要否认这是你干的吗？”
日神盯着他，眼睛一眨不眨：“想想你正在说什么，火星。等时间到了，真相自然就会大白。”
狮焰在火星绿色的眼睛里看到了一丝沮丧。日神既没有承认，也没有否认这个指控。
“让他承认！”一些猫从圈子外发出嘶嘶的喊声。
火星没理会这些言辞激烈的话，他的眼睛仍然盯着日神。“那你在风族边界做什么？”他问道。
日神耸耸肩：“我怎么会记得？那是好多个日升前的事了。”
“你在那里见到蜡毛了吗？”狮焰能感觉到，火星问这只独行猫的时候，声音已经无法保持平静了。
“蜡毛……”
“一只很强壮的公猫，身上有厚厚的淡灰色皮毛。”火星的声音里流露出难以掩饰的恼怒。狮焰猜测，其实日神非常清楚蜡毛是谁。
日神摇了摇头：“我在那儿没见过任何猫。”
“你有没有闻到什么？”
狮焰看到，日神的眼里闪过一丝戏谑的神情，似乎这只神秘的独行猫已经发现，火星越来越绝望了。“我闻到了雷族猫和风族猫的气息，”他回答道，“不过我没发现任何特别的气息。”
“你有没有听到打斗的声音？”
日神慢慢地眨着眼睛：“没有。”
火星停了下来，尾巴尖沮丧地抖动着。狮焰意识到，即使是族长，也没法刺探日神的秘密。他觉得仿佛有一只冰冷的爪子按在了他的肚子上。
“去拿点东西吃吧，”火星最后说道，“不过不要以为这件事就这么结束了，”他警告日神，“我们还要再谈谈的。云尾，接下来由你来执行守卫任务，好吗？”
“我很荣幸。”白色皮毛的武士低声咆哮道。当副族长护送着日神来到猎物堆，然后返回巢穴的时候，他都跟在他们身后。最后，他在灌木丛最外层的树枝下坐下，满脸严肃，全身的毛竖着。
等日神离开后，黑莓掌就开始组织狩猎队。众猫也开始各自散去。
“所有去寻找日神的猫可以休息一个早上，”副族长对狮焰说道，“要确保自己好好休息一下。”
但是狮焰发现这不可能。因为此时，他的族猫已经围着他和参加这次旅程的其他猫，都急切地询问路上发生的事情。
“把日神带回来一定很难吧？”罂粟霜问道。
“对，他有没有试图逃走？”狐爪也兴奋地问。
“没有，”狮焰回答道，“他很愿意回来。他完全按照我们的要求做了。”
这的确很奇怪，他又对自己说道，他有什么理由跟着他们一起来到这里呢？他身上的每根毛都竖了起来。难道他以为，他能像对待影族那样对待我们吗？
“你们害怕吗？”鼠须低声说道，他的眼睛瞪圆了，仿佛正在臆想着各种灾难，“那只猫可是什么事都做得出来的。”
“说话当心些，年轻猫！”波弟的声音突然响了起来，然后老猫冲进了猫群里，“你们知不知道自己说了什么。日神是一只好猫。他是我的朋友。”
鼠须向后跳开，他被这只虎斑老猫的强烈抗议吓了一跳。
“可是有猫看到他……”炭心开口道。
“日神永远不会伤害任何一只猫，”波弟坚持说道，他扫视着这些年轻猫，“是不是你们的脑子里都塞满了绒毛？”
“好啦，波弟！”狮焰开口道，他努力想着该怎样说服这只老猫。
沙风打断了他的话：“没事儿的，波弟。如果日神是清白的，没有猫会伤害他。来吧，让我带你去看看猎物堆。”
波弟低声嘟囔着，看了看这些年轻的武士，跟着姜黄色母猫离开了。
“呸！”狮焰看着冬青叶，“我还以为他像狗一样的气息会把我熏倒呢。”
冬青叶则显得更加同情波弟：“嗯，现在他是唯一为日神辩护的猫。别的猫都已经断定日神有罪了。”
狮焰正想张开嘴问，你是怎么想的？不过冬青叶已经走开了，这个问题就没有问出口。他仔细地想着，并不确定自己是不是真的想知道答案。
他正走向武士巢穴想要去休息一下的时候，听到了火星的呼喊。只见族长站在落石堆下，用尾巴招呼其他留在营地的武士聚集到他的身旁。狮焰看着他走上高石台的时候，觉得他看上去很焦躁——他伸缩着爪子，似乎想行动，但是却不确定该不该这么做。
“叶池，”族长发现巫医正站在猫群的边上，于是开口了，“你有什么方法可以让我们确定，是不是日神杀害了蜡毛？”
巫医摇摇头。
“咬痕怎么样？”栗尾提议道，“我们可以让日神咬一片树叶，然后对比他齿痕和蜡毛的伤口。”
“好主意！”火星赞许地看着玳瑁色母猫，“我将……”
“这没有用，”叶池打断了他，“蜡毛已经埋葬很久了。”
“还有其他的事情，我们也要考虑，”灰条补充道，“还记得在旧森林里的时候，雷族把断尾囚禁起来的事情吗？结果他却跟虎掌成了朋友，从内部袭击了雷族。日神在我们营地的时候，我们也不能相信他！”
“那我们就要惩罚他。”桦落抽动着尾巴，“我们不能让他制造更多的麻烦。”
“我们让他收集老鼠胆汁！”罂粟霜的眼睛闪烁着。很显然，她想起了自己做学徒时要完成的繁重任务。
“我们可以让他为族群狩猎。”蕨毛建议道。
“但是那样一来，他可能会逃跑。”狮焰提醒道。
“在确定他有罪之前，我不能惩罚他。”火星说道，“我们能做的只有等待。叶池，你可以从星族那里找到一些启示吗？我们的武士祖灵肯定知道真相。”他的爪子划过，潮湿的泥土上留下深深的痕迹，“为什么它们不给我们一些启示呢？”
叶池的神情非常谨慎：“在合适的时机，星族会告诉我们它们愿意告诉我们的事情。”
火星低下了头，接受了巫医的话。“那么日神就留在这里吧，要严加看守，直到我们有了更多的证据。”他做出了决定，然后又看了一眼叶池，补充道，“直到星族决定帮助我们。”
接下来的几天里，雷族有了一个不寻常的日常规范：给日神送吃的，看着他到空地上伸展腿脚，护送他去排便。日神一如既往地镇静自若，而且始终如一地友好对待每一只猫。
狮焰焦急地等着能单独跟他谈话的机会。他不顾一切地想要讨论那个预言。他忘不掉面对群狗时感受到的力量和支配战局的能力。这让他仍然确信他就是那三只猫中的一只。但是日神一直没有独处过，而且只有资深武士才会被派去看守他。
虽然每天早晨树木上都结满了白霜，但是天气却一直晴朗干燥。有时太阳到达日高点的时候，甚至暖和得可以让猫在悬崖下两块平坦的石头上晒太阳。鼠毛特别喜欢在那里舒展筋骨，晒晒太阳。
“长老应该被允许随时来这里晒太阳，”她宣称道，“我们的老骨头需要阳光。”她叹了口气，抖了抖耳朵，“原来在旧森林的时候，我们有太阳石。所有族猫如果愿意，都可以聚在那里晒太阳。”
自从波弟到来以后，鼠毛就常常带着他在石头上躺着。狮焰很惊诧他们的友情，不过他推测，他们所谈论的无非是现在的年轻猫多么粗鲁，以及以前的猎物多么好吃。
远征队归来后的一天，大约是太阳到达日高点前后，狮焰正跟着蜜蕨和莓鼻慢慢地走回营地。那天上午，他们一直跟着松鼠飞、蕨毛以及两位学徒一起训练。蕨毛接任了冰爪的老师，因为白翅马上就要生幼崽了。
“他们都做得很好。”蜜蕨满意地呼噜着，“你看到冰爪跳得有多高了吗？”
“而且狐爪闪避得也很快。”狮焰同意道，“松鼠飞让他们一遍又一遍地练习那个动作，现在两只猫都已经学会了。”
莓鼻停下来，张开嘴巴打了个哈欠：“我真想在阳光下躺一会儿，喘口气儿。我不知道鼠毛是否同意我们轮流在那块石头上躺一躺，晒晒太阳。”
“好主意。”狮焰说道。
他穿过荆棘通道，看见鼠毛、波弟和长尾正在表面平坦的石头上打盹儿。莓鼻热切地向他们跳了过去。狮焰和蜜蕨跟在他的后面。
不过波弟根本就没在打盹儿。“所以我的直行兽，”他们走近的时候，他正在说着，“它跟我说，‘波弟，这里只有你可以把这只老鼠赶走，而且……’”他眨了眨眼睛，看到了这几只年轻猫，于是停了下来。
狮焰注意到，听波弟讲故事的鼠毛和长尾早就睡着了。
“你好，波弟！”他向这只虎斑老猫问好，“我们想问一问，我们能不能和你们一起晒一会儿太阳。我们整个早上都在训练，我们太累了。”
“现在的年轻猫！可真没毅力！”波弟嘟囔着，不过他还是站起身，伸着懒腰，然后推醒了鼠毛和长尾。
“怎么了？”鼠毛被惊醒了。
“这些年轻猫想来晒晒太阳。”波弟解释道。
鼠毛的尾巴尖抖动着，但是让狮焰惊讶的是，她没有反对。“我觉得可以，”她小声嘀咕道，“我们可以把这些石头都让给你们，不过你们中的一只猫要给我们的巢穴送一点猎物。我想吃一只肥美的田鼠。”
“我去送。”蜜蕨提议道，她跳起来，走向了猎物堆。
鼠毛把尾巴放在长尾的肩膀上，引导他离开石头。然后三位长老向榛树丛下的长老巢穴走去。
“谢谢！”狮焰在他们的身后叫道。
“你们睡着了，所以没听到后面的故事。”他们向回走的时候，波弟对鼠毛说道，“我最好从头讲一遍。有这么一只老鼠，看……”
狮焰和莓鼻爬上晒太阳的石头，过了几个心跳的时间，蜜蕨也加入进来。长老们躺过的平坦的表面很温暖，金色的阳光还在不断地洒在石头上。狮焰伸展着身体，让热量滋润着皮毛。我真希望我能永远地这样躺着，他心想，再也不用担心任何事情。
在他身边的那块石头上，莓鼻和蜜蕨正在互相舔着皮毛，看着米莉的幼崽在不远处的空地上玩耍。
莓鼻低下头，凑近虎斑母猫的耳朵。“有一天，我们也会像他们一样，有我们自己的孩子。”他呼噜着说。
蜜蕨抬头看着他，害羞地眨着眼睛：“我也那么想。”
莓鼻的声音非常温柔，狮焰很是惊讶。他已经习惯了这位年纪稍长一些的武士的专横跋扈。一直以来，只要他认为他可以推掉一项工作，他就会推掉，或者命令周围的其他猫替他做。或许有了蜜蕨这位伴侣，对他来说是件好事。
至少他可以离我远点儿了。
乳白色武士伸出舌头，舔着蜜蕨的肩膀：“你会成为优秀的母亲的。”
看着他们在一起，一阵孤独感揪住了狮焰的肚子。谁是我的母亲？为什么她不要我了？他闭上眼睛，想知道母亲是什么样子，也想知道她是否会想起被她抛弃的孩子。
“看我！看我！”小梅花的声音从穿过空地的一条小路传来，“我能比任何一只猫跳得高！”
“不，你不能，我能！”小黄蜂争辩道。
狮焰睁开一只眼睛，看到米莉的三只幼崽正在两三只狐狸身长之外的地方跳着，打着滚。小荆棘倒在地上，然后翻滚起来，眼看就要滚到岩壁的缺口上了。她用后腿支撑着身体，前爪使劲地向空中伸去。
“我打赌你不能这样做！”她得意地说道。
就在此时，狮焰发现一个长长的黑影从幼崽身后的岩石里现出身来。它沿着灰色的石头直起身来，但是小荆棘太兴奋了，根本没看到。狮焰一下子坐直了身子。
蛇！
他肌肉一紧，身子弹了出去。不过蜜蕨比他更快。她从岩石上跳下来，把小荆棘推了出去。蛇弓起脖子，不等蜜蕨躲开，飞扑了过去，将带钩的尖牙扎进了她的肩膀。
蜜蕨疼得尖叫着向后跳开：“救命啊！”
CHAPTER24
CHAPTER24
Hollyleaf’s pelt prickled with frustration asshe and her brothers headed back toward their own territory. They had been so close to discovering who their father was! But Sol had enjoyed holding his knowledge out of their reach, like a juicy bit of prey that he meant to keep for himself.
I could have made him tell us, if Lionblaze hadn’t interfered!
She was so angry that she was hardly aware of her surroundings; suddenly Jayfeather nudged her hard in the side, nearly knocking her off her paws. “What—?” she began.
Lionblaze slapped his tail over her mouth. “ShadowClan!” he hissed. “Hide!”
All three cats dived for cover into a bramble thicket. Hollyleaf spat in annoyance as a thorn pierced one of her pads, and she tried to lick it out as ShadowClan scent wreathed around her.
“Ivytail, Smokefoot, and Owlpaw,” Lionblaze reported, peering out through the bramble tendrils. “They’re patroling the border. I hope they didn’t scent us.”
No challenging yowls came from the patrol, and the scents gradually died away, leaving only the smell of the border markers.
“I guess it’s safe to come out now,” Lionblaze mewed after a few heartbeats. “Let’s get back into our own territory as quickly as we can.”
He took the lead, racing over the rough grass, weaving his way around hazel thickets and clumps of fern, until they flashed past their own border markers and drew to a panting halt several fox-lengths into ThunderClan territory.
“We’d better hunt on our way back,” he told them. “That way we can pretend we went out to restock the fresh-kill pile.”
Jayfeather nodded. “And I’ll look for yarrow. If I come back empty-pawed, Leafpool will want to know why.”
Though she did as Lionblaze suggested, padding softly through the undergrowth with her ears pricked and her jaws gaping for the first scent of prey, Hollyleaf’s pelt crawled with resentment. We shouldn’t have to lie and deceive like this! Why can’t we be proud of what we can do?
While stalking a squirrel, she thought about how she could make Sol tell them the name of their father. I’d do anything. Anything!she thought fiercely. She remembered how easily her jaws had met in Ashfur’s throat….
No, don’t think of that! Ashfur had to die because he would have ruined everything. He’s not important now. We’re the ones who matter!
Hollyleaf’s claws tore at the mossy ground under her paws; alerted, the squirrel started up and shot to safety in the nearest tree.
“Mouse dung!” Hollyleaf spat.
“What’s the matter with you?” Lionblaze asked, padding up with a blackbird in his jaws. “Do you expect the prey to come and throw itself onto your claws?”
Hollyleaf shrugged and turned away. When our father learns who we are, he’ll be so proud of us! Maybe he doesn’t even know about us! Maybe he’s always wanted kits, and now he has three warriors to be his kin for the rest of his life.
Closer to the camp, she managed to catch a mouse, though she had to admit to herself that it looked ready to die of old age and hadn’t even tried to run. Prey was scarce, and by the time they reached the stone hollow she and Lionblaze hadn’t caught anything else, but Jayfeather had found a clump of yarrow and now padded along with a bunch of the herb in his jaws
When Hollyleaf pushed her way into the clearing, followed by her littermates, she spotted Spiderleg, Birchfall, and Hazeltail clustered together near the fresh-kill pile.
“I don’t think Sol’s gone,” she heard Birchfall meow as she padded across with her prey. “He’s lurking about somewhere.”
Hazeltail shivered. “I hope not. I knew all along we should never have brought him back.”
Spiderleg shrugged. “He can’t do any more harm. Let him go where he likes.”
“And kill more cats?” Hazeltail’s neck fur rose. “That’s mouse-brained!”
“If he’s here, our patrols will find him,” Birchfall reassured her, touching her shoulder with his tail. “And Firestar—”
He was interrupted by a call from Dustpelt, who came bounding over from the barrier around the snake’s hole. “I’m alerting every cat,” the brown tabby warrior meowed. “That mouse with the deathberries hasn’t been touched. The snake must be still around.” He dashed off to warn Brambleclaw and his patrol, who had just appeared through the tunnel.
A sense of power thrilled through Hollyleaf from ears to tail-tip. ThunderClan had never felt so alive! Every cat was working together to face the threats that surrounded them. There was nothing they couldn’t do! And I could do anything too, if I could lead them!
“Hollyleaf.” The black she-cat started as Leafpool spoke behind her; dropping her prey on the fresh-kill pile, she spun around to see the medicine cat with Squirrelflight at her side.
“We need to talk,” Squirrelflight mewed.
Hollyleaf stared at Leafpool, her heart suddenly thundering in her chest. Is she going to tell the others what I did?
Then Leafpool gave a tiny shake of her head, and Hollyleaf relaxed.
“What do you want to say to us?” Lionblaze asked; he had come up to deposit his prey in time to hear what Squirrelflight had said.
“Yes, what have we got to talk about?” Jayfeather added, his challenging tone muffled by his mouthful of yarrow stems.
“Not here,” Leafpool murmured with a glance at the cats close by. “Come with us into the forest.”
Hollyleaf hesitated, exchanging a glance with Lionblaze. He seemed to be waiting for her to decide. Then she nodded. “Okay. We’ll talk to you.”
When Jayfeather had deposited the yarrow in the medicine cats’ den, Squirrelflight led the way into the forest as far as a huge oak tree with moss-covered roots.
“Well?” Jayfeather demanded, an edge to his tone. “What’s this all about?”
Squirrelflight and Leafpool gave the three littermates a long look. Hollyleaf realized that although they were such different cats, the expression in their eyes was the same. She didn’t want to recognize it; she didn’t want to admit that it was love.
Finally Squirrelflight took a deep breath. “Leafpool is your mother,” she began, “but I want to say that I couldn’t have loved you more if I had given birth to you myself. We raised you together, and surely that’s what matters.”
“You raised us to believe in a lie!” Hollyleaf hissed, not giving her brothers a chance to respond. “We have nothing to say to either of you.” Ignoring the shocked looks on Lionblaze’s and Jayfeather’s faces, she added, “Come on. There are no mothers here. A mother would love her kits enough to tell them the truth.”
She stood for a moment longer, savoring the anguish her rejection had called up in the two she-cats, then whipped around and began stalking back to the camp.
“Hollyleaf, wait!” Lionblaze called.
Hollyleaf glanced over her shoulder; fury surged through her and she bared her teeth in a snarl. “Come on!”
Lionblaze bounded after her, followed a heartbeat later by Jayfeather. “This is mouse-brained,” he protested. “We could at least talk. They might be prepared to tell us things we need to know.”
“Like the name of our father?” Hollyleaf snapped, not breaking stride. “No, there’s no point in asking them. We’d only get more lies.” She lashed her tail, trying hard to dismiss Squirrelflight and Leafpool from her mind. “Sol will tell us,” she declared.
“Bring the moss over here,” Hollyleaf directed. “Whitewing’s kits will come soon, and she needs a really comfortable nest.” Since the disastrous meeting with Sol the day before, she had struggled to put her sense of betrayal out of her mind and concentrate on her Clan duties, but she couldn’t manage it. How could she make herself a good warrior when she knew she should never have been born at all? Every cat knew that medicine cats weren’t allowed to have kits. She and her littermates were nothing more than a mistake. One that Leafpool had been too ashamed to own up to. Maybe their real father would feel differently….
The nursery seemed full of queens and wriggling kits as Foxpaw and Icepaw staggered through the entrance with huge balls of moss. Whitewing was curled up nearby.
“Thanks, Hollyleaf,” she mewed. “You’ll make a great mentor when you have an apprentice of your own.”
“I hope so,” Hollyleaf replied. How can I have an apprentice? How could I teach a young cat about the warrior code, knowing what I know?
She was helping the two apprentices to spread out the moss when she was startled by a sudden yowl of alarm from the clearing. Before she could do more than look up, Rosekit shot into the nursery with every hair on her pelt fluffed up. “It’s ShadowClan!” she squealed. “ShadowClan cats are in the camp!”
While Daisy reached out to comfort the terrified kit, Hollyleaf thrust her way outside, her claws bared to fight off an attack. But once she was in the open, she relaxed. Only three cats were entering the camp, flanked by Spiderleg and Mousewhisker: Russetfur, Oakfur, and Ivytail. Firestar was already crossing the clearing to meet them, his flame-colored pelt gleaming in the scarlet light of the setting sun, while the rest of the Clan gathered behind him.
Hollyleaf padded over to join Lionblaze and Jayfeather. “What’s all this about?” she whispered. “More trouble about Sol?”
Lionblaze shook his head. “I’ve no idea.”
“Greetings.” Firestar dipped his head to the patrol. “Sol has gone.”
“We’re not here about Sol,” Russetfur informed him curtly. “Three of your cats were spotted near the ShadowClan border yesterday—well outside your territory. What were they doing?”
“Fox dung!” Jayfeather muttered, while Hollyleaf felt her pelt beginning to bristle. If Firestar finds out what we were doing, we’re crow-food!
“Three ThunderClan cats?” Firestar asked. “Are you sure?”
“We know ThunderClan scent when we smell it,” Russetfur retorted. “And Ivytail got a good look at them. Ivytail, point them out.”
The ShadowClan she-cat stepped forward and swept her tail around to point at Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather. “Those three.”
A gasp went up from the other ThunderClan cats. Hollyleaf faced them defiantly. We weren’t bothering ShadowClan! Why do they have to make trouble?
Firestar gave the three littermates a thoughtful glance. Hollyleaf felt her fur grow uncomfortably hot, and she tried not to twitch. Then the ThunderClan leader turned back to the ShadowClan patrol.
“I’m sure my warriors had a very good reason to be there,” he meowed. “You should know that a medicine cat is hardly likely to be part of an invading patrol. Have you considered that they might have been looking for herbs?”
All three cats nodded; Jayfeather added, “Yarrow,” as if he was daring the ShadowClan cats to contradict him.
“Herbs…” Russetfur hissed the word just loud enough to be heard; clearly she didn’t believe it, but she wasn’t prepared to accuse the ThunderClan cats of lying.
“I apologize that they strayed so close to your border,” Firestar continued. “It won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t,” Russetfur retorted. Turning, she gathered her patrol together with a flick of her tail and headed toward the thorn tunnel. Spiderleg and Mousewhisker followed, to escort them out of the territory.
At the camp entrance, Russetfur glanced back. “Firestar, I hope you get your Clan under control again soon,” she mewed, and vanished into the tunnel before any cat could reply.
Hollyleaf knew her Clanmates were staring at her and her brothers as Firestar stalked across the clearing to confront them. She forced herself to meet his searing green gaze.
“Whatever you were doing, I don’t want to know.” His voice was tight with tension. “Just don’t do it again. Do you think I haven’t got enough to deal with right now?”
What about us?Hollyleaf thought resentfully. You have no idea what we’re going through.
“Sorry, Firestar,” Lionblaze mewed.
Firestar just let out a sigh before bounding off to join Sandstorm, Graystripe, and the other cats around the fresh-kill pile.
Once he was out of earshot, Hollyleaf turned to her brothers. “We’ll have to—”
She broke off at a warning touch on her shoulder from Lionblaze’s tail, and glanced around to see Brambleclaw padding up.Oh, great.
The deputy halted and raked the three cats with a cold yellow gaze. “Are you going to tell me what you were doing?”
Hollyleaf clamped her jaws shut and stared mutinously at the tabby warrior. Beside her, Lionblaze and Jayfeather were silent, too.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately.” Brambleclaw sighed. “You’re all—”
“Hey, Brambleclaw!” Dustpelt interrupted from outside the warriors’ den. “I’m leading the evening patrol. Which cats do you want to go with me?”
“I have to go,” Brambleclaw meowed to Hollyleaf and her littermates. “Just try to keep out of trouble, okay?”
Hollyleaf watched him go, then drew her brothers into a tight huddle. “We’ll go back to Sol tomorrow. I don’t care what ShadowClan thinks. We have to know the truth!”
Lionblaze was gazing warily at her, as if he was wondering whether she would lose her temper with Sol again, but Jayfeather just looked thoughtful. At last he nodded. “I agree. This time, he’s gotto talk to us. And if he refuses, we’ll makehim. The prophecy belongs to us, remember. Not to him.”
第十七章
第十七章
冬青叶嘴巴下挂着一只田鼠和两只老鼠，穿过了荆棘通道。她的狩猎队收获颇丰，但是当她走向猎物堆的时候，鼻子和爪子已经被冻得失去了感觉。秃叶季的阳光穿不透树下的阴影，森林里的大地仍然没有解冻。
当听见巫医巢穴另一边的悬崖下传来一声惨叫时，她正把猎物放在猎物堆上。她猛地转过身，看见狮焰冲进空地中央，毛竖立着，仿佛身后有整整一个族群的敌猫正追着他。
“救命！快点呀！”他尖叫道，“蜜蕨被蛇咬了！”
冬青叶冲过空地的时候，感觉恐惧几乎冻住了血液。以前石头山谷从来没有过蛇。她来到悬崖下时，看见小荆棘正蜷缩在崖壁下，浑身发抖，眼睛吃惊地瞪大了。米莉跳到她跟前，用尾巴圈住她，保护着把她带走了。
莓鼻蹲伏在蜜蕨四爪张开的身体旁。蜜蕨侧躺着，呼吸变得又快又浅，眼里充满着恐惧。一丝细细的鲜血从肩膀被蛇咬过的地方渗了出来。
栗尾和蕨毛从武士巢穴里飞奔而来，他们看到受伤的女儿，眼睛里流露出同样的惊恐。蜜蕨的姐姐炭心紧紧地跟在他们的身后。
他们打着滑停了下来，栗尾把脸埋进了蕨毛的胸膛。“不……噢，不……”她低声说道，“我不能再失去一个孩子！痣爪已经不在了！求求你，星族……”
“罂粟霜在哪儿？”看到哥哥跑回来，冬青叶低声问他。现在，栗尾需要她所有的孩子都在身边。
“出去巡逻了，”狮焰回答道，“她……”
他没再往下说，因为叶池已经从猫群中挤了过来。“往后退，给我腾一点儿地方。”她命令道。
莓鼻盯着她。“我不会离开的。”他咆哮道。
叶池没理他，她蹲伏在蜜蕨身边，把一只爪子放在她的肩膀上。“尽量不要动。”她说道。
冬青叶满心期待地等着叶池开始给蜜蕨治疗。她肯定知道怎么做吧？但是她没带来任何草药，而且只是坐在瑟瑟发抖的虎斑武士身边，什么都没做。
叶池抬起头，眼睛扫过众猫，最后停在炭心的身上，眼中满是央求。她是那么绝望，那么不甘心。这让冬青叶吃惊得缩起身子。她不明白，叶池想让炭心做什么呢？
“救救我！”蜜蕨痛得蜷起身子，满地打滚，“我感觉好热啊！救救我，拜托了！我感觉好痛呀！”
莓鼻盯着叶池。“快做点什么吧！”他恳求着，扫视着聚集在周围的猫，“你们哪只猫能帮忙？”
叶池似乎没听见他的话。她只是把目光从炭心的身上移开，然后低头看着蜜蕨。蜜蕨正吃力地喘着气。
栗尾跌倒在地，用绝望的目光盯着巫医：“你为什么不做点什么？”
叶池低下了头。“我非常抱歉！”她低声说道，“我什么都做不了，毒液已经流遍了她的全身。”
栗尾抬起头，发出一声痛苦的号叫。蕨毛用尾巴裹住她的肩膀，把她拉到自己身边。
蜜蕨的腿蜷缩在肚子上，挣扎着弓起了后背。抽搐结束之后，她无力地躺在那里，胸部几乎没有起伏，看不出她是否还有呼吸。她的腿继续抽搐着，眼睛开始变得呆滞起来。
冬青叶和其他猫都默默地向后退去，给莓鼻腾出地方，让他陪着蜜蕨踏上前往星族的旅程。乳白色的公猫伏下身，颤抖着，用一只爪子抚摩着蜜蕨的身体。“我们本来可以一起生一群可爱的孩子的，”莓鼻喃喃地说道，“就像你一样强壮漂亮。总有一天，我会在星族跟你重逢的。”
蜜蕨的嘴巴动了动，一个刺耳的声音正从喉咙里发出来，好像她正在努力地回答他。
“你救了小荆棘的命，”莓鼻继续说道，低下头，舔着垂死的母猫的头，“星族所有的猫都会以你为荣。”
蜜蕨发出一声长长的叹息。冬青叶无助地看着，她的朋友的四肢开始僵硬，胸部的起伏正在慢慢停止。最后，她蓝色的眼睛失神地望向天空。
一阵像那条蛇的毒牙一样尖利的痛苦穿透了冬青叶的身体。她盯着炭心恐惧的样子，想象着如果自己失去了同窝猫会是怎样的感觉。
不！冬青叶把爪子插进了土里，那种事永远不能发生！
叶池走向蜜蕨的尸体，但是蕨毛阻止了她。相反，他走向了莓鼻，把尾巴放在年轻武士的肩膀上。“她走了，”蕨毛告诉他，“现在她要跟星族一起去狩猎了。”
他轻轻地推着莓鼻站起来，让莓鼻离开了。他的动作很轻，就好像他是莓鼻的父亲。然后他向叶池点了点头。叶池蹲伏在蜜蕨的身旁，将一只爪子放在蜜蕨的胸部，查看呼吸的迹象。她轻轻地摇了摇头，对狮焰说道：“找一些武士帮忙，把她的尸体抬到空地上去。我们得把她从悬崖抬走，也许那条蛇还在附近呢。”
“我来帮忙。”冬青叶立即提议道。
狮焰用尾巴召唤蛛足和刺掌。然后四只猫一起抬起蜜蕨还未僵硬的尸体，走到武士巢穴附近的阴影里。
就在他们穿过空地时，灰条从荆棘通道里出来了，他的嘴里叼满猎物。罂粟霜和鼠须跟着他走进了营地。罂粟霜一看到姐姐的尸体，就扔下猎物冲了过来。
“发生了什么事？”她哀号道，“蜜蕨，你醒醒啊！”
栗尾走到她的身边，领着她跟在蜜蕨的尸体后。母女俩的皮毛紧紧挨在一起。众武士放下死去的母猫，她的至亲立即围在她的周围，互相安慰着，为她守灵。
太阳依旧照耀着，可是冬青叶却觉得似乎寒冰已经浸入身上的每根毛发，她不住地战栗着。“你没事吧？”她问狮焰，“你看到了事情的整个经过。”
狮焰沉痛地点点头，但是没有说话。
“蜜蕨的死是族群的巨大损失。”
听到日神的声音，冬青叶不由得一愣。她扭过头，看到独行猫已经离开了他的巢穴。一定是刺掌跑过来看发生了什么事，没有看守日神。日神淡黄色的眼睛里闪动着悲伤，他的头垂了下去，他似乎是真诚地悼念这位年轻母猫。
“一个生命这么年轻就逝去了，真的是很难接受。”他又说道。
冬青叶知道，她应该把他送回他的巢穴，不过她根本提不起劲。所有的猫似乎都陷入悲痛之中，没有谁有心思担心日神会干什么。
他也可以留下来，她想，他做了什么有害的事吗？
波弟和其他长老也出现了，他们都走上前来，悼念他们的族猫。
“没有什么比失去一只年轻猫更糟糕的了。”波弟说道，“她本来还有很长的路要走。”
“她是一只很好的猫，”鼠毛同意道，“她做的最后一件事情，是给我带了些猎物。”
所有猫都在空地的中央乱转，不知道该干什么。这时，灰条迈步走到他们中间，扬起尾巴示意安静，冬青叶这才松了一口气。
“鼠须，”他下令道，“赶紧去把火星找来。他带着狩猎队去两脚兽废弃的巢穴了。黑莓掌正在边界巡逻，我们必须等他回来，因为我也不知道他现在在什么地方。”等鼠须离开后，他又说道，“叶池，你可以给小荆棘检查一下看看她怎么样了吗？”
叶池点点头。终于有事情可以做，她看起来很欣慰。米莉领着她的幼崽来到巫医面前等待着。米莉用爪子抓着地面，眼睛里满是焦急。黛西跟在她的身后，警惕地照看着其他幼崽，他们看上去都跟小荆棘一样，吓得不轻。
叶池嗅着那只幼崽的全身时，冬青叶跟狮焰嘟囔道：“她一定得好好的，蜜蕨不能死得毫无意义。”
最终，叶池点了点头。“她没事。”她告诉米莉，“我会给她一些罂粟籽，这样晚上她就能睡个好觉了。”
“但是那条蛇怎么办？”黛西哀号道，“我们以前从来没在营地里见过蛇。”
“是的，它怎么办？”米莉也说道，“我们得做点什么。要不然，可能会有更多的猫死去。”
灰条转向狮焰：“给我指出蛇钻出来的确切位置。”
冬青叶跟着哥哥和灰条离开空地，向晒太阳的岩石走去。她很佩服灰毛武士处理事情的方式。在旧森林的时候，他肯定是一位不错的副族长。她心里想。
“那条蛇就是从那个裂缝钻出来的。”狮焰用尾巴指着崖壁上一个深深的裂缝，“不知道它是不是又回到了那里。”
灰条非常小心地靠上前去，沿着悬崖嗅着，向每条裂缝里边张望。“没看到蛇的影子。”他回到了狮焰身边，说道，“但是它可能藏在某个地方。这些裂缝有的非常深，里面有很多可以藏身的地方。”
冬青叶吓得脚爪都刺痛起来。他们还能继续生活在石头山谷吗？死神可能随时悄悄地溜出岩缝，夺走另一只猫的性命。
“米莉说得对，”她说道，“我们必须做点什么。”
灰条还没来得及回答，一道火焰色的皮毛从入口闪出，火星冲进了营地。灰条马上跳过去跟他会合。冬青叶看着族长的表情由焦急变成了恐惧，然后他走向蜜蕨的尸体，蹲伏在她悲痛万分的至亲旁边。
冬青叶离他很近，能听到他说的话。“对不起。”他的声音颤抖着，“蜜蕨待在这里本该是非常安全的。我向你们保证，我再也不会让这样的事情发生。”
可是你又怎能阻止它呢？冬青叶想道，这不是你的过错。你不可能知道悬崖下边藏着一条蛇。
鼠须跟在火星后面返回了营地，一起回来的还有尘毛和桦落，他们都是火星率领的巡逻队的成员。亮心和松鸦羽很快也回来了，各带着一束猫薄荷。他们惶恐的表情告诉冬青叶，鼠毛肯定已经见过他们，并告诉了他们这个可怕的消息。在所有猫之后，黑莓掌的巡逻队完成风族边界的巡逻回来了。他们震惊和悲痛的叫声在石头山谷里回荡。冬青叶渴望回到她的窝里，闭上眼睛，把自己埋在苔藓和蕨叶中，或许蜜蕨的死只是一场噩梦。
还没等她向巢穴走去，就看见火星跳上落石堆，站在了高石台上。“雷族众猫们！”他提高声音，以便石头山谷的每个角落都能听见，“发生了一件非常可怕的事情，但我们必须保持冷静。蜜蕨为了保护她的族群的幼崽，牺牲了自己的性命。她是真正的武士。我们将怀念她，不仅在今晚，而且在今后的所有月亮圆缺。另外，我们必须确保那条蛇不再回来，伤害其他的猫。”
“告诉我们怎么做，我们一定会照做的。”黑莓掌大喊。
火星低头看着他的助手。“首先，我们做一个黑莓屏障，隔开那段悬崖。尘毛，你可以负责这件事吗？”暗棕色虎斑武士爽快地点了一下头。“任何猫都不能靠近那里。米莉和黛西，确保你们的孩子明白这件事。另外，我们最好不要再使用晒太阳的石头。在秃叶季，蛇一般都是睡着的，所以我认为，这条蛇一定是被在石头上晒太阳的猫给惊醒了。”
冬青叶看见波弟和鼠毛震惊地相互看了一眼。“很可能是我们惊醒蛇的！”波弟惊呼道。
鼠毛低下头，她的眼睛里充满了悔恨。“要是它攻击的是我，而不是那只可怜的年轻猫，那该多好啊。”她喃喃地说。
“好了。”火星说道，“继续各尽其责，所有的猫。今晚，大家要为蜜蕨守夜。”他又轻轻地跳下落石堆，跳向黑莓掌。
“狮焰！”尘毛叫道，“来帮我做屏障。你可以带狐爪和冰爪去林子里收集黑莓藤。”
“来了！”狮焰答道。他稍作停留，跟冬青叶碰了碰鼻子，然后跑着去跟两位学徒会合。
黛西和米莉把幼崽叫到一起，然后拢着他们回到育婴室。“你们谁都不要去那边的悬崖，”米莉严厉地说道，“你们也应该听到火星说的话了。”
“我们不会去了。”因为惊吓，小梅花的声音又尖又细，而且所有的幼崽看起来都很顺从，跟往常大不一样。
白翅跟着他们回到育婴室，桦落跳到她的身边，把鼻子埋进她的肩膀中。“你会很小心的，是不是？”他不安地说道。
白色母猫对他眨着眼，眼睛里充满爱意：“我当然会啦，你不要大惊小怪。”
桦落用耳朵指了指莓鼻。莓鼻仍旧默默地蜷伏在蜜蕨的尸体旁。“我不会让你去星族的，”桦落坚持道，“不管多久。”
白翅和桦落互相依偎着，他们的皮毛相擦，尾巴缠在一起。
其他猫都离开之后，冬青叶仍站在那里。她不知道该做什么。她想去安慰炭心，但又不敢打扰处于悲痛中的炭心。她心烦意乱地向武士巢穴走去。这时叶池快步向她走来。
“冬青叶，你能帮亮心把这些草药放好吗？”她问道，“松鸦羽和我要去检查一下猫后和幼崽，看他们有没有受到惊吓。”
“当然。”有事可做，让冬青叶顿感轻松。她找到松鸦羽带回来的猫薄荷，带进了巫医巢穴。亮心正在整理一束草药的根茎。冬青叶去给她帮忙。闻着巫医巢穴内的草药气息，这种感觉真好。这让她想起给叶池当学徒的日子。我一直担心记不住每种草药的用途。如果我现在只需要担心这个，那该有多好啊！
“我真希望，能找到一种治疗蛇毒的草药。”亮心伤心地喃喃着，她正用前爪翻拣着叶子，熟练地摘掉枯萎或者破碎的叶子。
冬青叶点点头。不过她知道，再多的“希望”也挽不回蜜蕨的性命。听到黑莓屏风那边传来一只猫穿过时的沙沙声，她竖起了耳朵。一回头，看见叶池走了进来。
“我需要给黛西一些罂粟籽，”巫医解释道，“她变得有些歇斯底里。”
“也难怪她这样，”亮心说道，“如果我现在有孩子，我也会害怕。”
叶池用树叶包了些罂粟籽，然后准备离开武士巢穴，这时火星从黑莓屏风外探进头来。
“什么事？”叶池问道。她的声音里有一种冬青叶不明白的意味。
“我们必须确保那条蛇不再威胁族猫。”火星平静地说道。
叶池眨着眼睛，有些困惑：“你想让我做什么？我又不能把蛇从它的洞里叫出来。”
“不是。”火星回答道，“不过你可以确保，它永远不再到营地的主要区域来。我想让你在那条蛇出没的地方放上死亡浆果。”
冬青叶觉得族长一提到死亡浆果，自己的爪子就被冻在了地上。她和亮心震惊地交换了一个眼神。每只猫都知道，叶池拒绝在营地里使用死亡浆果，因为它太危险了。
“火星，你知道……”叶池开口说道。
“给幼崽们以及每只猫解释清楚，这种浆果是什么东西，为什么它千万不能摸，也不能吃，”火星打断了她，“他们会明白的。我们必须这么做。我不想再因为蛇的攻击失去另一只猫。”
叶池犹豫着，最后勉强点了点头。“非常好。松鸦羽和我今天会收集一些的。不过我不喜欢它。”她非常严肃地补充道，“如果在一个月亮圆缺之内，死亡浆果没有杀死那条蛇，我们就得试试其他的办法。”
CHAPTER25
CHAPTER25
Sunhigh had come and gone bythe time Hollyleaf and her brothers were able to slip away and head for the old Twoleg nest. Clouds had gathered during the night, and by the time they reached the border of their own territory, rain was hissing down steadily.
Once they had crossed the border, Lionblaze led them by a roundabout route through the spindly trees, keeping as far away as possible from the ShadowClan border. All three cats stayed alert for any sign of a ShadowClan patrol.
There’ll be real trouble if we’re caught this time,Hollyleaf thought.
When they reached the old Twoleg nest, Sol was sitting in the entrance as if he had been expecting them.
“Greetings,” he meowed, rising to his paws as the three cats picked their way among the dripping brambles to reach the nest. “I thought you would come today.”
“Let’s get this straight.” Hollyleaf drew ahead of the others. “We don’t want any more arguments. We’ll let you help us fulfill the prophecy, as long as you tell us the name of our father.”
Sol’s eyes glowed as he gazed at her, and Hollyleaf shivered. Once she had felt as if she could spend her whole life looking into this cat’s eyes and hearing his voice. Even though she knew how dangerous he was, she still wasn’t quite free from the snare of his charm.
“Shall we go inside?” Sol offered, as if this was nothing more than a friendly visit.
Hollyleaf and the others followed him into the damp interior and shook the raindrops from their pelts before finding a place to crouch on the cracked stones.
“You might need to find a new place to stay,” Hollyleaf warned the loner. “ShadowClan sent a patrol to report us to Firestar for being outside our territory.”
“What?” Sol’s fur began to bristle. “Blackstar dared to do that? Is he allowed to dictate where cats go outside his own borders?”
“Well, he thinks he is,” Jayfeather muttered.
“You were doing nothing wrong!” Sol declared, his fur fluffing up even more and his amber eyes burning. “Blackstar is using this as a way to humiliate ThunderClan.”
“I’m not sure.” Lionblaze was looking uneasy. “I think Blackstar is just being a bit overly keen to prove that he’s keeping the warrior code again.”
Sol gave a snort of contempt. “The warrior code! Belief in StarClan! I can’t understand why you cats think all that is so important.”
Hollyleaf’s belly lurched. No! The warrior code matters more than anything!But she knew that she had to stay calm. If they quarreled with Sol, they would lose the chance of discovering who their father was.
“I know so much more than StarClan does,” Sol continued. “Did they tell you that the sun would vanish? You know very well they didn’t. Doesn’t that make me more powerful than your warrior ancestors? And if I’m so powerful withouta prophecy, then the powers you three share must be magnificent!”
Lionblaze’s eyes glowed, and Jayfeather was unconsciously flexing his claws in and out. Hollyleaf had to make a huge effort not to be enthralled by Sol’s voice. So far he’s given us nothing,she reminded herself. His words are nothing but mist and sunshine, impossible to hold down.
“That’s all very well,” she snapped, “but what do we have to do?”
“ShadowClan cats are worthless!” Sol went on. “They have no right to their territory—and if they are left alone, they’ll soon be invading yours. You need to fake evidence that ShadowClan is stealing ThunderClan prey, so that your Clan leader can launch an attack on them. Once you have ShadowClan’s territory, you can invade RiverClan and WindClan.” He glanced around, lowering his voice to a deep, vibrating purr as he continued, “That’s what absolute power is. Controlling every cat in the territories by the lake!”
Hollyleaf stared at Sol, feeling her paws tingle. Was this really what they had to do to gain power—fight against every cat in the rival Clans? She tried to imagine Firestar allowing that to happen, and couldn’t.
“I don’t think—” she began uncertainly.
But Sol wasn’t listening to her. He padded off into a far corner of the den and hauled a rabbit out of the shadows. As he dropped it in front of her, Hollyleaf picked up the scent of ShadowClan mingled with the smell of fresh-kill.
“I caught this in ShadowClan territory, and rubbed it on their scent markers,” Sol explained. “You can take it back to the camp with you, and tell your Clan that you chased off a ShadowClan patrol.” His eyes glinted with cold amusement. “What can ShadowClan do to deny it? Those stupid cats, they’d rather believe in nursery tales about dead ancestors than try figuring things out for themselves. All that nonsense about signs from StarClan!”
Hollyleaf glanced at Lionblaze; he was staring at Sol with narrowed eyes, and his neck fur was slowly rising.
“You’re no different from Tigerstar,” Lionblaze growled. “You don’t want this for our sake. This is yourambition.”
Bunching his muscles, he launched himself upward, his claws extended toward Sol. Hollyleaf flung herself at him, just managing to knock him away before he slashed into Sol’s pelt.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, pinning her brother to the floor.
“This isn’t part of the prophecy.” Lionblaze shook Hollyleaf off and sat up, glaring at Sol. “He just wants to use us. The power is ours, not his!”
“You’re right.” Jayfeather rose to his paws and flicked his tail toward Sol, who had not flinched at Lionblaze’s attack or tried to respond to his accusation. “Sol doesn’t care about us. He’s still fighting his private battle with ShadowClan because Blackstar made him leave their territory. That battle has nothing to do with us. The truth about our father exists somewhere, but this is not the way to find it.”
Lionblaze rose to his paws. “We’re leaving,” he announced. “And we’re not coming back.”
Hollyleaf stared at him in disbelief. “We can’t!” she protested. “We need to know—”
“We don’t need anything that Sol can tell us,” Lionblaze insisted. “We’ve been fools to trust him, when we knowwhat he’s done to other cats. Can’t you see that he just wants war between all the Clans? The prophecy says nothing about that. It says we were bornwith power—we shouldn’t have to fight for it! Come on.”
He strode out of the den with Jayfeather hard on his paws. Hollyleaf took a pace after him, then glanced over her shoulder at Sol, but the loner simply stared back at her, giving her no help.
With a hiss of mingled fury and desperation, Hollyleaf sprang after her littermates. We’re the Three! I can’t do this on my own!
Lionblaze and Jayfeather stood a few fox-lengths away from the den, waiting for her in the pouring rain. As she joined them, Sol appeared in the entrance.
“Wait!” he called. “Don’t you want to know who your father is?”
Lionblaze ignored him. “Come on,” he meowed to Hollyleaf. “This isn’t the only way to find the truth. We have to do this for ourselves, not for any other cat.”
Hollyleaf bowed her head, giving in, but as she picked her way through the soaking grass beside Lionblaze she could still feel Sol’s amber gaze burning into her pelt.
第十八章
 第十八章
狮焰领着狐爪和冰爪进入森林，去采集黑莓藤。那个可怕的场景在他眼前一遍又一遍地浮现，他神情有些恍惚。
当时我能做些什么事情呢？如果我更快一些……如果我能扑向那条蛇，我就有可能抢先杀了它。
两位学徒仍旧吓得发抖。树叶的每次沙沙声，都会把他们吓得颤抖，他们好像认为，蛇可能就藏在每一个洞里。而且据我所知，他们是正确的！狮焰心想。
“我简直无法相信，我们会让日神和一条蛇待在营地里。”冰爪说道。这时，一片橡树叶子落到身旁的地上，她的毛顿时竖了起来，赶紧跳到了一边。
“我在想，会不会是日神召唤那条蛇，杀死了蜜蕨。”狐爪补充道，他的声音颤抖着。
“别瞎说！”狮焰喝道，他也没想到自己的声音会这么大，两位学徒向后跳开了，“那条蛇本来更容易咬到日神，而不是蜜蕨。”
“我真希望它咬的是日神。”狐爪恨恨地说。
狮焰没再说什么。难道雷族死的猫还不够多吗？
他领着两位学徒来到老雷鬼路的起点附近，那里有一片浓密的黑莓丛。他钻到下边，从它那长长的无刺的根部咬了下去。两位学徒犹豫地站在石头边缘，紧张地眨着眼睛。
“快点啊！”狮焰催促他们，“你们怎么啦？”
“里面有没有蛇？”冰爪颤巍巍地问道。
“如果有，我早已经死了。”狮焰暴躁地回答道，“好吧，”他又叹了一口气，“我把茎咬断，你们把藤蔓拖出去。”
他们踏踏实实地干了一会儿，藤蔓已经堆得很高了。狐爪嘴里叼着一段藤蔓的末端，停了下来。
“又怎么了？”狮焰问道，“你赶紧把这根拖走，这样我才能弄下一根。”
狐爪放下了藤蔓：“我闻到了风族猫的气息！”
冰爪把正拖着的藤蔓放在藤蔓堆上，嗅着空气。“不，是河族猫的气息！”她惊呼。
狮焰急忙从黑莓丛下钻出来，深吸了一口气。“你们俩说对了。”他说着，脖子上的毛开始竖了起来，“而且还有影族的气息。”
狐爪放平耳朵，然后蹲伏在地上。“我们又被入侵了？”他战栗着问道。
“我觉得不是。”狮焰强迫自己冷静下来，“这气息不很浓，不像是有很多猫。”他尾巴示意一下，又说道，“待在我身后。没有我的指令，你们什么都不要做。”
那两位学徒挤在一起，紧跟在狮焰的身后。狮焰则面对着传来气味的矮树丛。一块蕨丛颤抖起来，紧接着影族的黑星走进了空地，后边跟着花楸掌。一个心跳的时间过后，豹星和芦苇须也出现了，一星和裂耳紧随其后。
三位族长都来了！狮焰盯着他们，心狂跳起来。这是什么类型的巡逻队啊？
“你好，狮焰。”黑星低头示意，“我们需要和火星谈谈。”
“好……好呀，”狮焰说道，“跟我来。狐爪、冰爪，你俩把黑莓藤带回来。”
他把任务交给了两位学徒，然后领着来访者回到石头山谷，穿过了荆棘通道。空地比他们离开的时候还要安静，蜜蕨的尸体仍旧停放在阴影中，她的至亲蜷伏在尸体周围，要单独为她守夜到夜幕降临前。日神已经不见了。刺掌回到日神的窝外，继续看守着他。猫后和幼崽已经返回育婴室。
火星正站在空地中央，跟灰条和黑莓掌谈话。狮焰和他带领的非同寻常的巡逻队走进来的时候，三只猫抬起了头，一脸的惊讶。
“各位好！”火星礼貌地向三位族长低头致意，他的声音里透着警惕，脖子上的毛竖了起来，“我能为你们做点什么？”
黑星甚至没耐着性子给他回礼。“日神在吗？”他问道。
“他还杀死了蜡毛，是真的吗？”豹星跟着问道。
一星龇出牙齿吼道：“你们打算什么时候告诉我们，你们囚禁了一个谋杀者？”
火星的耳朵立了起来，尾巴尖不住地左右抽动着。狮焰看得出，火星绿色的眼睛里充满了震惊。“你们怎么这么快就知道了？”他问道。
“我们的巡逻队看见你们的猫带着日神沿着湖边走了回来。”一星的声音里充满了愤怒，“他们告诉了河族的巡逻队，河族又把这个消息告诉了影族。”
火星的目光从一位族长移向下一位族长，冷冷地说道：“从什么时候起，这件事轮到其他族长关心了？”
“自从你把危险带给了我们的族群。”豹星反驳道。
“你非常清楚那只猫有多么危险，”一星前爪抓挠着地面，说道，“然而，你还是把他带回到我们族群猫的领地！”
黑星向前走了一步。狮焰不相信他会在雷族的营地里攻击火星，不过他还是绷紧肌肉，准备随时保卫族长。
“难道你已经忘了，日神在影族所做的一切了吗？”黑星嘶嘶地叫道，“他试图强迫我们停止相信星族！”
信你，我就是一只老鼠！狮焰心里一阵冷笑。灰条和黑莓掌也闪过同样的表情。狮焰明白，这两位资深武士跟他的想法一样。虽然在那时候，黑星非常愿意听从日神的话，但现在，他不打算承担任何责任。
“你们打算怎么处置他？”豹星质问道。
火星犹豫着，他看上去越来越恼怒，但却一直收缩着爪尖。“我还没有想好，”他承认道，“我们还在努力查明真相。”
一星张大了鼻孔，眯起了眼睛：“日神太危险，不能让他留在湖边。你应该现在就把他送走。”
“你应该把他留在他原来待着的地方，”豹星低声咆哮道，“一只猫只要不是跳蚤脑子就能明白这一点。”
“那样一来，杀害蜡毛的凶手就会得不到惩罚。”火星争辩道。
“报仇并不是最重要的。”一星厉声说道，“你带回日神，已经把我们所有族群置于危险之中。以后无论发生了什么，你都不会得到我们的支持。”
其他两个族长点点头表示赞同，跟着三只猫一起到来的猫也发出威胁的声音。虽然热血在狮焰的血管里沸腾，一股寒意却流遍狮焰的全身。他想让自己的利爪穿过这些傲慢猫的皮毛。他们没有权利这样干涉雷族的事务！
黑星抬起下巴。“下个森林大会之前，日神必须离开族群的领地，”他坚持说道，“否则，我们三个族群将联合起来，自己除掉他。”
CHAPTER26
CHAPTER26
By the time the three littermatesstumbled back into the hollow, Jayfeather was so exhausted he could hardly feel his paws, and the rain had plastered his pelt to his sides. He felt as if he were struggling in a vast cobweb woven of lies and shadows, with an unseen spider waiting to pounce.
Back in the old Twoleg nest, he had been certain that they were right to abandon Sol, but now he wasn’t so sure. What if the loner really was the only way to the truth?
And what are we going to say when Firestar asks us where we’ve been? He’ll claw us to pieces and toss us on the fresh-kill pile!
But as he staggered into the clearing, he heard a buzz of excitement rising from his Clanmates, who were clustered together near the nursery. No cat was paying any attention to Jayfeather or his littermates.
“What’s going on?” Lionblaze asked.
A sudden rush of paw steps answered him as Foxpaw raced up to them. “It’s Whitewing!” he burst out. “She’s having her kits.”
At the same moment, Jayfeather heard Brightheart calling from the nursery. “Jayfeather! Come quick—Leafpool needs you!”
Jayfeather stifled a sigh. He would far rather have crept into his nest to dry off his pelt and sleep. Instead he headed for the nursery, brushing past Birchfall, who was tearing up grass in his anxiety.
Inside, Daisy and Millie had drawn their own kits into their nests to give Whitewing and Leafpool space. The young white she-cat was lying on one side, her breath coming fast and shallow.
“You’re doing fine,” Leafpool reassured her. “And so are your kits. They’ll be born before you know it.”
“I hope so,” Whitewing panted.
Even though Leafpool sounded calm, Jayfeather could sense her fear. Leaning over, she whispered in his ear, “She’s exhausted. I’m afraid she won’t have enough strength left to deliver the kits.”
Jayfeather rested one paw lightly on Whitewing’s distended belly and concentrated. He could feel a double heartbeat inside her, frail but steady. “She’s having two kits,” he announced. “Come on, Whitewing! You can do it.”
It’s okay, little kits,he thought as he crouched over the laboring she-cat, murmuring encouragement. You’re nearly safe. Just a little farther
Suddenly his mind slid into Whitewing’s. He heard a vicious snarling and saw a vision of gaping fangs and lolling tongues, as if the young white queen was imagining her kits savaged by dogs, just as her mother Brightheart had been. He heard the screech of battle with other Clans and saw blood welling in deep claw marks, scarlet against pale fur. He felt the grip of hunger in his belly as he looked out across a forest deep under the snow.
Jayfeather started back, his mind reeling. Does a mother really imagine her kits’ whole lives before they’re born?He sensed Whitewing’s terror as she lay silently begging him for help.
Recovering, he bent close to the young she-cat. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Your daughters will be fine. They will be loved and protected by their Clanmates.” He stroked one paw gently across Whitewing’s belly. “It’s time now.”
“Yes,” Whitewing gasped.
Jayfeather felt a strong ripple pass through her belly. She let out a screech, and a tiny wet bundle slithered out onto the moss.
“Is she all right?” Whitewing panted.
“She’s fine,” Jayfeather assured her. “Now the next one.”
Whitewing lay still for a moment; then her back arched as another ripple passed across her belly, and a second tiny bundle slid into the nest.
“Well done!” Leafpool exclaimed. “Greetings, little kits. Welcome to ThunderClan.”
The first kit squeaked loudly, and Leafpool uttered a soft mrrowof laughter. “This one’s tiny, but she’s strong. There, little ones, go to your mother.”
“They’re beautiful!” Whitewing purred. “Thank you, Jayfeather. And you, Leafpool.” With one paw, she drew the tiny kits toward her and started to lick them vigorously.
A wave of triumph swept through Jayfeather as he headed for the entrance to the nursery. “Birchfall!” he called. “Come and meet your daughters.”
Birchfall brushed past Jayfeather as he stumbled inside. Jayfeather almost staggered under the wave of his relief and joy. “Whitewing, are you okay?” he choked out. “Oh, thank StarClan! What beautiful kits!”
Crouching beside Leafpool as she tended to Whitewing, Jayfeather wondered whether she had felt the same when he and her other kits were born. Did our father share that joy?
More than anything, he wanted to talk to Leafpool, to hear her side of the story and learn the truth. In the closeness of working together, he felt for a few heartbeats that it might be possible. “Leafpool…,” he began.
Leafpool turned to him. “She’ll be fine now,” the medicine cat meowed, cutting off what Jayfeather meant to say. “Go and fetch me some strengthening herbs, and a few leaves of borage to help her milk come.”
The moment was gone. “Sure,” Jayfeather replied, and slipped out of the nursery.
By the time he had delivered the herbs, the rain was easing off. Jayfeather padded over to the fresh-kill pile for a bite to eat before he went back to his den. Several cats were clustered around it, sharing prey; their delight washed over Jayfeather as he crouched to gulp down his vole.
“It’s hard to give birth to kits in leaf-bare,” Ferncloud mewed. “Whitewing has done really well.”
“She’ll raise them well, too.” That was Mousefur, sounding less crotchety than usual. “Whitewing is one of the best cats in this Clan. When she was an apprentice she always made sure we had fresh moss, and it was dry, too.”
“We’ll all have to watch our tails when these kits are old enough to leave the nursery.” Dustpelt’s voice held a hint of amusement. “They have your blood, Cloudtail, and we all know what a hard time you gave Firestar when you were a kit.”
Cloudtail snorted. “They’ll be fine warriors, Dustpelt, and I’ll claw any cat who says different.”
Jayfeather, who was eating his prey, paused for a heartbeat as Hollyleaf and Lionblaze padded up and sat down beside him, listening to the cheerful talk in silence. None of them wanted to join in, but Jayfeather sensed that all of them felt cut off from one another, too.
“I remember when you three were kits,” Brackenfur meowed; paw steps approached and the golden brown tabby flicked Jayfeather on the ear with his tail. “Chasing foxes! It’s a wonder any of you survived to be apprentices.”
“Yeah, right,” Jayfeather muttered. Suddenly the happiness of his Clanmates was more than he could bear. Without another word, even to his littermates, he swallowed the last mouthful of vole and headed for his den.
Curled up in his nest, Jayfeather woke to the sound of paw steps, and opened his eyes to see a skinny gray she-cat bending over him.
“Yellowfang!” he exclaimed, sitting up. He was still in the medicine cats’ den, bathed in the pale glow of moonlight. Leafpool was curled up asleep a couple of tail-lengths away.
The former medicine cat dropped a long dark feather onto the moss of Jayfeather’s nest. “The time for lies and secrets is over,” she meowed. “The truth must come out. StarClan was wrong not to tell you who you were a long time ago.”
“Then what—?” Jayfeather began, but already Yellowfang’s shape was beginning to fade, melting into the moonlight until she was gone. The moonlight abruptly vanished, leaving Jayfeather in darkness as he woke from his dream.
“Mouse dung! Why can’t any cat speak straight out?” he hissed. But an icy weight in his belly made him realize that Yellowfang had told him all he needed to know.
Feeling around his nest, he found the feather she had dropped, and drew his paw down the long, smooth length. He could picture how it had gleamed black in the silver moonlight.
“She brought me a crow’s feather…,” he whispered.
Scrambling out of his nest, he padded softly out of the den, taking care not to wake Leafpool. Once he was in the clearing, he bounded over to the warriors’ den. He crept around the outside of it, tasting the air until he located Lionblaze sleeping close to the outer branches.
Jayfeather scrabbled around to find a loose bit of branch and poked it through the thorns until he felt the other end prod Lionblaze.
“Uh? Get off!” Lionblaze swatted at the branch.
“Lionblaze!” Jayfeather hissed, pressing as close as he could to his brother inside the den. “I have to talk to you. Fetch Hollyleaf.”
“It’s the middle of the night!” Lionblaze protested.
“Keep your voice down! Do you want to wake every cat in the camp? This is important! We have to go somewhere.”
“Okay, okay, keep your fur on.”
Jayfeather waited impatiently until his littermates pushed their way out through the branches.
“What do you mean, ‘go somewhere’?” Lionblaze whispered. “Where?”
“Into the forest. Somewhere we can talk.”
Hollyleaf yawned. “This had better be worth it.”
“It will be,” Jayfeather promised.
All three cats slid out of the camp through the dirtplace tunnel, clinging to the shadows so as not to alert Poppyfrost, who was on watch. Then Jayfeather led them through the trees in the direction of the WindClan border.
“It’s freezing out here,” Hollyleaf complained. “I’m not going another paw step until you explain.”
“Okay.” Jayfeather turned to face his littermates. “I know who our father is.” He hesitated, almost knocked over by the sudden surge of feelings that came from his brother and sister. He took a deep breath and went on. “It’s Crowfeather.”
For a few heartbeats there was silence. The emotions that churned out of his littermates now were so complex that Jayfeather knew he could never unravel them.
“We’re half-Clan?” Hollyleaf choked out at last.
“How do you know about this?” Lionblaze sounded baffled.
“Yellowfang came to me in a dream,” Jayfeather explained. “She told me it was time we knew the truth, and she brought me a crow’s feather.”
“But that still might not mean…” Hollyleaf’s protest died away. All three cats knew the meaning of the sign. There was no point trying to pretend it wasn’t true.
“Does Crowfeather know about this?” Lionblaze demanded.
“Is that why Leafpool had to keep us a secret?” Hollyleaf put in.
Their questions battered at Jayfeather. “I don’t know,” he told them. “We have to talk to Crowfeather. Come on.”
The three cats headed silently through the forest. Drops from the recent heavy rain spattered their pelts as they brushed through the undergrowth. A chill breeze sprang up, ruffling their fur. Above his head, Jayfeather could hear the first chirps of waking birds.
His mind was spinning. How could this have happened?Their mother was a medicine cat, their father a WindClan warrior. Both of them should have known they could never be together.
How can we be part of the prophecy when we should never have been born?
Padding along by Jayfeather’s side, Lionblaze was sending out steady surges of rage, a burning fury toward those cats who had abandoned the warrior code and piled up a heap of lies for the kits who were born as a result. On his other side, Hollyleaf was dazed, her whirling thoughts still too difficult to read.
At last Jayfeather could hear the gurgling of the border stream and taste the scent of fresh water. “It’s still early,” he remarked, “but we might spot their dawn patrol.”
They drew to a halt on the bank of the stream. Jayfeather’s legs were trembling with weariness; he would have liked to sink down into the long grass at the water’s edge, but he knew he had to confront his father standing on his paws.
Birdsong grew louder around them, and the bitter cold of night gradually eased. At last Jayfeather caught a whiff of WindClan scent; at the same moment Hollyleaf exclaimed, “There they are!”
“Owlwhisker, Gorsetail, and Weaselfur,” Lionblaze meowed. “Wait here. I’m going to talk to them.”
“Wait—” Jayfeather protested as he heard Lionblaze leap across the stream, but his brother was gone, too angry to worry about crossing the border.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Owlwhisker demanded.
All Lionblaze’s suppressed rage came out in his voice. “Fetch Crowfeather. Now.”
“What?” Weaselfur exclaimed indignantly. “Who do you think you are, telling us what to do?”
“Yeah,” Gorsetail added. “Get back into your own territory, or we’ll tear your fur off.”
A low growl came from Lionblaze; Jayfeather pictured him looming over the three WindClan cats, his golden fur fluffed out until he was twice his size. “Just do it!” he ordered.
“Okay,” Owlwhisker mewed, his voice shrill as he tried to conceal his fear. “But you can wait on your own side of the border.”
Jayfeather heard the WindClan warriors bounding away, then a thud as Lionblaze jumped back across the stream and landed beside him. His claws tore up the grass as they waited, as if his fury had to find some kind of outlet.
Jayfeather’s belly churned when he caught the scent of an approaching WindClan cat on the breeze. Just one: Crowfeather had come alone. He could feel Hollyleaf quivering beside him; her tail kept twitching, brushing against his pelt.
At last Crowfeather’s voice came from the other side of the border. “What do you want?”
Words choked in Jayfeather’s throat as the three littermates faced the WindClan warrior across the stream. He heard a sharp intake of breath from Hollyleaf.
But Lionblaze didn’t hesitate. “Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight are not our parents,” he declared. “Leafpool is our mother and you are our father.”
There was a pause. Then, “Don’t be mouse-brained,” Crowfeather snapped. “That’s impossible.”
He sounded so certain that for a heartbeat Jayfeather wondered if they could possibly be mistaken. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into Crowfeather’s mind. A tangle of undergrowth faced him, and he realized that he was standing at the top of the cliff above the stone hollow. Leafpool was clinging to the edge, her face upturned pleadingly as Crowfeather grabbed her by the scruff and hauled her back to safety.
Then he glimpsed them crouched together under a bush, and heard Crowfeather meow, “Come away with me, Leafpool. I’ll take good care of you, I promise.” Now the two of them were trekking side by side up a long slope of moorland, then in a hollow, talking to Midnight the badger. “I have to go back,” Leafpool mewed.
Caterwauling ripped through Jayfeather’s vision and he glimpsed the stone hollow full of warring badgers, while his Clanmates attacked them fiercely. Last of all, Leafpool faced Crowfeather in the clearing, among the debris of the battle. “Your heart lies here,” Crowfeather murmured; Jayfeather could hardly believe the warrior could sound so gentle. “Not with me. It was never truly with me.”
The vision had taken no more than a moment, but when Jayfeather let go of the WindClan warrior’s mind, he was sure that Yellowfang’s sign had not deceived him. Just as he was sure that Crowfeather had no idea he had fathered Leafpool’s kits.
“It’s true,” he meowed. “You didn’t know, did you?”
“No….” For a heartbeat, Crowfeather sounded dazed. Then Jayfeather felt anger growing within him. “I have one mate,” he snarled. “Her name is Nightcloud. We have one son, Breezepelt. I don’t know why you’ve come to me with these lies. Go home, and don’t come back. Why should I care about ThunderClan cats? You mean nothing to me. Nothing!”
Jayfeather heard a gasp from Hollyleaf, and the sound of Lionblaze’s claws scraping against stone.
Calmly he faced his father. “The truth is out now,” he warned. “None of us can hide from it again.”
第十九章
 第十九章
松鸦羽紧跟叶池的爪子向山脊爬去。这里树木稀少，爪子下的松针扎得脚垫生疼。当他爬下另一边的山坡，走进一丛灌木的时候，他觉得地面变得潮湿起来，爪子不停地打滑。他刚站稳，就闻到了紫杉树皮和死亡浆果的气息。
“我们到了。”叶池说道，“我要爬上这棵树，然后压弯一根枝条，这样你就能够到它了。”她推着他往前走了两步，“就站在那里。”
松鸦羽听到老师爬上那棵树，几个心跳的时间过后，他感到一根紫杉枝碰到了他的头顶。他闻到了浓浓的死亡浆果的气息，身上的毛竖了起来。
“能够多高，就够多高。”叶池的声音从松鸦羽的头顶传来，“那根枝条上就长着死亡浆果。你一定要小心。”
这还要你说！松鸦羽想。
他向上伸直身体，然后从地面上抬起前爪，直到一根柔软的细枝戳到了他的脸上。他感觉一大串死亡浆果碰到了他的皮毛。他努力用牙齿紧紧地咬住枝条和树干的连接处，接着，他感到叶池靠了过来，帮他咬断了枝条。这时，他感觉自己的口鼻和叶池的口鼻挨到了一起。
一阵阵悲伤的气息从巫医身上涌了过来。松鸦羽十分震惊，差点儿就失去平衡。他不得不移动后爪，让它们在潮湿的松针堆中站稳，才继续咬着结满果子的细枝。叶池生怕会把更多的死亡带进石头山谷，因此心里异常痛苦，悲伤让她几乎无法动弹。
但是当她开口说话的时候，声音仍然很沉着。“可以了！”然后，松鸦羽感觉到那段枝条掉在他的爪子旁边的森林地面上。他放松下来，抖了抖肩膀，让僵硬的肌肉松弛下来，然后咬住枝条的末端叼起来，小心翼翼地，不让死亡浆果碰到他的嘴巴。
身边传来的轻轻撞击声告诉他，叶池已经从树上跳了下来。“你叼着死亡浆果，”叶池告诉他，“我就跟在后边，确保不会有死亡浆果掉落下来。在离营地这么远的地方掉下来倒是没事，不过我不希望死亡浆果掉在营地附近。”
当他们从荆棘通道里走出来的时候，空地上似乎挤满了猫，他们嗡嗡嗡的声音就像一群发怒的蜜蜂。松鸦羽找到了狮焰的位置，就向他走了过去。他放下死亡浆果，然后问道：“看在星族的分上，到底发生了什么事？”
“其他三个族群的族长来过这里。”狮焰用低沉的声音愤怒地吼道，“他们告诉火星，他必须在下次森林大会前把日神赶走，否则他们就自己赶走日神。”
“什么？”松鸦羽抽动着尾巴，“他们有什么权利命令雷族怎么做？”
他能感到怒火正从狮焰的身体里涌出。“他们根本就不关心蜡毛被害的事，”哥哥怒吼道，“他们就像受惊的兔子，坚信日神要跳出来把他们撕成碎片。火星不能向他们妥协！”
松鸦羽咕哝着表示赞同，不过他的爪子正不安地颤抖着。他不希望别的族群知道蜡毛遇害的事情。蜡毛死亡的影响越来越大，而且没有迹象表明，这种影响正在减弱。
他竭力想摆脱这种不安的感觉，这时，传来了叶池的喊声：“松鸦羽，把死亡浆果放在这片叶子上。我们必须确保所有的幼崽都知道死亡浆果有多么危险。”
她在松鸦羽面前放下一片光滑的叶子，松鸦羽把那串死亡浆果放在上边。然后，他的老师拖着那片叶子穿过营地前往育婴室，他紧跟在后面。“把狐爪和冰爪也叫过来！”叶池补充道。
松鸦羽嗅了嗅空气，确定两位学徒就在悬崖附近，尘毛正在那里建造屏障。“狐爪！冰爪！”他猛地转过头去，叫道，“叶池找你们。”
“来了！”冰爪喊道。
松鸦羽听到尘毛传来一声嘟囔。“我觉得，我们要拖到绿叶季才能把这边的屏障建好。等叶池那边忙完了，你们赶紧回来！”他命令着两个学徒。
“米莉！黛西！”当松鸦羽在育婴室外赶上叶池的时候，她喊道，“请把所有幼崽都带到这里来。”
“为什么？”由于黛西服过了罂粟籽，她的声音里充满了睡意。
“我需要给你们看一样东西。”
叶池和松鸦羽等着两位猫后带着幼崽出来；白翅跟在他们身后，在入口处蜷伏下来。
“现在，”叶池开口说道，“你们看到这些浆果了吗？”
松鸦羽能感到幼崽们的好奇，尽管他们很安静，也没有回答叶池的问题。
“它们看起来很好吃。”过了一个心跳的时间，小黄蜂大着胆子说道。
“不！它们不能吃！”叶池的声音因为生气和失望颤抖着，“这种浆果非常可怕。它们叫死亡浆果，哪怕你们只是吃了一颗，你们不仅会肚子痛，而且还会死掉。到时候，巫医们也无能为力。”
松鸦羽知道，她说得不完全对。鼠毛告诉过他，栗尾吃了死亡浆果，炭毛用让她呕吐的方法救了她。不过她也是只差一点就真的死了。叶池必须彻底吓住这些幼崽，使他们不敢接近死亡浆果。
“那你为什么要把它们带回营地呢？”黛西显得忧心忡忡。
“因为火星想用它们杀死那条蛇，”叶池回答道，“我要确保每只猫都知道，不能靠近死亡浆果。”
“你们听到了吗？”米莉尖声问幼崽，“看仔细了，确保你们再次遇到可以认出它们。”
“我们会小心的。”小玫瑰说道，听起来吓坏了。其他小猫崽也嘟囔着表示同意。
“狐爪？冰爪？”叶池催促道。
“我们会记住的，”狐爪说道，“我们不会碰它们。”
“我到森林里的时候，看到了它们就会离得远远的。”冰爪补充道。
“很好。那你们可以走了，不过别忘了我刚才的话。”叶池拖着放着致命毒药的叶子穿过营地，但很快又停了下来，转向松鸦羽，“请帮我从猎物堆上拿一只老鼠。”
松鸦羽跑了过去，带着一只老鼠回到了巫医巢穴。“这只老鼠又肥又大。”他说道。
“我不是要吃它，”叶池告诉他，“这是给那条蛇的。我准备在老鼠体内塞上死亡浆果。你把老鼠放在地上，然后用爪子按住它。”
“你的爪子会沾上毒液的！”松鸦羽惊呼道。
“不会的，我准备用一根棍子把死亡浆果塞进老鼠的喉咙里。”
松鸦羽用爪子紧紧地按住老鼠时，能感到老师对她正在做的事情非常厌恶。他差不多能读懂她的想法。我是一位巫医！我的职责是挽救生命，而不是杀害它们！但是，当叶池继续往老鼠的体内塞致命的死亡浆果时，他什么都没说。
我要是试图和她说话，只会被她抓掉皮毛。松鸦羽想。
最后，叶池发出一声叹息：“好了，这样应该没问题了。我还在老鼠身体里放了一些刺，它们能让毒液更快地传遍它的身体。”
松鸦羽点点头。他非常惊讶，老师竟然憎恨这样利用医术，哪怕她知道牺牲者是杀死蜜蕨的那条蛇。他一直很奇怪，有些植物竟然能用来害命，而不是救命。不知道，是不是还有别的植物……
叶池把准备好的老鼠放回到那片叶子上，再次拖着树叶来到了空地，走到尘毛正在蛇洞周围建黑莓屏障的地方。狮焰和两位学徒正在给他帮忙。
叶池向尘毛解释她做了什么的时候，松鸦羽走到了哥哥身边。
“好主意！”暗棕色虎斑武士咕哝着，“我会把它放到屏障另一边靠近蛇洞的地方。”
“一定要小心。”叶池警告他。
“我会小心的。”尘毛说道，他安慰着巫医的时候，听起来异常温柔，“看，我可以用尾巴把它拿起来。”松鸦羽听到他跨过屏障，过了一会儿，又跳了回来。“瞧，”他说道，“一切都弄好了。喂，你们还愣着干什么？”他突然转向帮忙的猫，“我们把屏障弄完吧！”
松鸦羽和叶池回到了他们的巢穴，把剩下的死亡浆果包在叶子里。“我们最好先把它们保存起来，以免第一次的老鼠没有起作用，”叶池解释道，“我不喜欢它，但是……”
一声响亮的号叫打断了她的话：“叶池！叶池！”
“又怎么了？”松鸦羽抱怨道。
他闻到了桦落的气息，年轻的武士冲过黑莓屏风。“叶池，你马上来一下！”他喘着粗气说道，“白翅肚子疼得厉害。”
“好的，不要担心。”叶池站了起来，“我敢肯定没什么大事。可能她快要生了。松鸦羽，把这个叶子包放好。”她从松鸦羽的身边走过时指示道，“把它放在储藏物后边，放在没有猫会拿错的地方。”
松鸦羽小心地推着面前的叶子包，慢慢地来到了储药的石缝后面，那里有一个更小一点儿的折起来的旧叶子和几堆枯萎的草药。“我们需要把这些东西清理出去。”他把死亡浆果推进最里边的角落里时，嘴里嘟囔着。
他重新爬回巢穴，厌恶地抽动着胡须。他的皮毛上覆盖着一层草药粉末和茎秆。他刚开始梳理皮毛，叶池就走了进来。
“白翅没事。”她通报道，“只是肚子疼。我给她拿两个杜松果。”她飞快地躲进了储药室，出来的时候，叼着一个包着杜松果的叶子包。“我刚想起来，”她嘟囔道，“光顾着这个麻烦事了，都忘了检查波弟的脚垫。你现在能去看看吗？”
“可以。”松鸦羽叹了口气，只好强迫自己再多容忍一会自己乱糟糟的皮毛了。他从储藏室里取出蓍草药糊，走向长老巢穴。
他刚走到榛树丛外的枝条下，就听见了波弟的声音：“我不明白的是，你们为什么都要针对日神。今天来这里的那三位族长，他们想让火星把他除掉！”老虎斑猫听起来义愤填膺，“我告诉过你们，他是一只好猫，你们怎么都不相信我呢？”
“波弟，别的猫给你讲日神在族群里做了什么的时候，你也没有听啊！”听起来，鼠毛的耐心已经快要用完了。
而且她一向是没有耐心的。松鸦羽想着，停在了长老巢穴旁。
波弟喷着鼻息：“告诉别的猫该相信什么，本来就没有什么用。如果他们不想听，就根本不会听。”
确实如此！松鸦羽差点笑出声来，波弟并不像有些猫想的那么笨！
“波弟，星族对我们非常重要，”长尾低声说道，“如果你跟我们待在一起，你就会明白的。”
“在天上的猫！”波弟又喷着鼻息，“如果我相信这个，刺猬都会飞了！无论如何，”他继续说道：“这跟火星怎么处置日神一点儿关系都没有。像现在这样关着他，根本就没有道理。火星需要恢复理智，让日神跟雷族其他猫住在一起。”
松鸦羽往前走了走。他能感到鼠毛的怒气正在增加，就想阻止一场争吵。鼠毛看见了他，发出一声恼怒的嘶吼，然后走到巢穴里最远的角落。
“嗨，波弟，我来检查一下你的脚垫。”松鸦羽解释道。
“来得正好！”老猫抱怨道，“我的脚垫感觉像在燃烧一样。”他侧躺下来，伸出脚垫让松鸦羽检查。
松鸦羽仔细地感受着老猫的四个脚垫。它们都裂开了——可能是因为长途跋涉——而且它们又烫又肿。“这种药糊很有效，”他说着，开始往波弟的脚垫上涂抹，“尽量别把脚垫放在地上。学徒们会给你带猎物来的。”
波弟发出一声长叹：“现在好多了，年轻猫。你可能是个皮毛光滑肚里空的年轻猫，不过你知道自己该干什么。”
“非常感谢！”松鸦羽小声说道，“我每天都会来，而且……”看到长尾抻长脖子闻自己的皮毛，松鸦羽没有继续说话。
“松鸦羽，那种草药……”
“什么草药？”
“沾在你的皮毛上的。我不敢肯定，不过我觉得——鼠毛，到这里来一下。”盲眼长老喊道。
“什么？”鼠毛听起来仍然很不高兴，不过她还是走到了松鸦羽跟前，嗅着他的皮毛。然后他感到她从自己身上舔下一个叶梗，那个叶梗肯定是他爬回储藏室的时候沾上的。鼠毛慢慢咀嚼着。
“你在干什么？”松鸦羽问道。
“就是这个！”鼠毛惊讶地尖叫道，“松鸦羽，这就是叶池混在我的艾菊里的那种草药！”
CHAPTER27
CHAPTER27
The rest of the day passedin a haze of pain, and when Hollyleaf finally curled up in her nest, her dreams were full of darkness. Thick undergrowth surrounded her, leaving scarcely a glimpse of the sky. She heard cats yowling at a distance, but however fast she ran toward them, she never managed to catch up with them.
When she woke to see dawn light filtering through the branches of the den, she still felt exhausted, as though she had really been running through that dark forest. She staggered to her paws and prodded Lionblaze.
“What are we going to do?” she demanded in an urgent whisper as her brother blinked up at her. “I can’t go on like this!”
“I don’t know.” Lionblaze gave a quick glance around the den, as if he was afraid that some cat would overhear. “We’ll talk later.” He pushed his way out through the branches; convinced that he was trying to avoid her, Hollyleaf followed hard on his paws.
“Hollyleaf! Lionblaze!” Brambleclaw spotted them as soon as they emerged from the warriors’ den. “Sandstorm is taking out a hunting patrol. Can you go with her?”
“Sure,” Lionblaze meowed, swerving across the clearing to where Sandstorm waited beside the deputy with Berrynose and Hazeltail.
Hollyleaf was still dazed as she followed, as if her paws belonged to some other cat. How could she fit into the Clan’s everyday routine, now that she knew the terrible secret of her birth? She felt as if the sky should have cracked open or the moon fallen down into the hollow.
“Don’t forget, it’s the Gathering tonight,” Brambleclaw reminded them. “The Clan needs to eat well before the journey.”
“We will—don’t worry,” Sandstorm promised, her whiskers twitching as she signaled to her patrol with her tail and headed for the camp entrance.
Hollyleaf followed, but she couldn’t concentrate on hunting. Pain dazzled her mind like lightning splitting the sky. She had built her life on the warrior code, and now it had failed her. It didn’t matter anymore; it had been broken too many times. Squirrelflight had broken it by lying; Crowfeather, by falling in love with a medicine cat; but most of all, Leafpool had shattered the code and trampled it into dust. She had betrayed her Clan, her duty as a medicine cat, and her kits.
A mouse darted out in front of Hollyleaf’s paws and instinctively she leaped on it, her claws sinking into the soft body. A picture of Leafpool flashed in front of her eyes in a pulsing red haze, and she tore at the prey, imagining that she was clawing the life out of the cat she hated so much.
“Hollyleaf, stop!” Hazeltail’s voice was shocked. “What are you doing?”
Hollyleaf’s vision cleared. She saw her paws dripping with scarlet: The prey she had caught was reduced to a red pulp. There was nothing left to take back to the fresh-kill pile.
Fury surging through her, she rounded on Hazeltail. “Stay out of my fur!”
Hazeltail backed away, her eyes wide and scared, then whipped around and plunged away into the bracken.
After the hunting patrol returned, Hollyleaf was too disturbed to stay in the camp. She didn’t want to talk anymore, especially not to Lionblaze or Jayfeather. Instead she headed out alone, down to the lake and then along the WindClan border until she reached the ridge and could look out across the rolling moorland.
Somewhere out there was the WindClan camp and the cat who was her father. His WindClan blood ran in her veins. But I don’t feel half-WindClan!
Hollyleaf knew her home was under the trees, hunting mice and squirrels. The WindClan rabbits looked scrawny and tasteless from running across the hills. She hated the open spaces and the unrelenting wind.
Gazing out across her father’s territory, she yowled silently, No! No! No!
As shadows fell across the stone hollow, Firestar called together the cats who were going to the Gathering. Hollyleaf padded up to join Jayfeather and Lionblaze, deliberately not looking at Squirrelflight and Leafpool a few paces away. Graystripe, Brambleclaw, and Sandstorm bounded up, followed by Cinderheart, Poppyfrost, and Berrynose.
“Let’s go,” Firestar meowed. “And the less we say about Sol, the better, okay?”
He led them down to the lake and along the edge of the water, splashing through the border stream. Hollyleaf felt every hair on her pelt prickle with disgust as she set paw on WindClan territory. I don’t belong here! I want nothing to do with WindClan!
More rain had fallen earlier in the day, but now the clouds had cleared away, leaving the full moon to shine brightly. Hollyleaf stopped and stared up at it. Do you approve of what I’m going to do, StarClan?
With every paw step she was alert for the sight or scent of WindClan cats. She wondered if Crowfeather had been chosen to go to the Gathering. Why should it matter?she thought fiercely. He’s nothing to me. Nothing!
Just ahead of her, Firestar was flanked by Graystripe and Sandstorm. “You know, I still miss Fourtrees,” Sandstorm murmured. “The moon seemed brighter there, somehow.”
Firestar gave her an affectionate nudge. “You sound like an elder!”
Sandstorm swatted at him with her tail. “You wait. I’ll be the crankiest elder the Clans have ever seen. Mousefur will seem sweet and gentle next to me!”
“And hedgehogs will fly,” Graystripe meowed. “But I miss the old forest, too,” he added. “It’s the place we were born. These younger cats will feel just the same about the lake. Isn’t that right?” He glanced over his shoulder at Lionblaze and Hollyleaf.
Lionblaze managed a brief nod, but Hollyleaf couldn’t reply at all. Sheer envy surged over her, jealousy of these cats who knew where they belonged, who had good memories of living by the warrior code, season after season.
They don’t know it’s all a lie!
The horseplace was dark and silent when the ThunderClan cats padded past. There was still no sign of WindClan; Hollyleaf assumed they had already made their way to the island.
When they reached the tree-bridge, they found RiverClan in the middle of crossing; Firestar held back his warriors with a polite nod to Leopardstar. While she waited, Hollyleaf flexed her claws in and out, her belly churning.
This will be a Gathering none of them will ever forget!
Leaping from the roots at the other end of the tree-bridge, she paused to taste the mingled scents of the other three Clans.
“We’re the last,” Cinderheart meowed, landing beside her. “We’d better be quick.”
Hollyleaf followed her Clanmate across the strip of pebbles and into the undergrowth. There was no need to hurry. She had set her paws on the path she had chosen, and the time for her to act would come as surely as one season gave way to the next.
When she pushed through the bushes and into the clearing around the Great Oak, she hesitated, awed in spite of herself by the mass of cats in front of her. Clan mixed with Clan as the cats found themselves places around the tree. Then Hollyleaf’s paws carried her forward, weaving a path through the crowd. She was scarcely aware of Tawnypelt greeting her, or of the ShadowClan queen’s affronted look as she brushed past. She ignored the snatches of gossip that she picked up as she padded past. What has all that got to do with me now?
She found a place to sit, close to the Great Oak, where she could look up and see the Clan leaders crouched among the branches: Onestar, comfortably settled in the fork of a branch; Blackstar, crouched on the lowest branch with his tail hanging down; Leopardstar, standing a tail-length higher, impatiently scratching at the bark. Firestar leaped up to join them, scattering a few late acorns as the branch he chose swayed under him.
Lionblaze had followed Hollyleaf across the clearing, and sat down next to her. “Crowfeather’s here,” he muttered.
“I know.” Hollyleaf had already spotted the WindClan warrior, but he hadn’t seemed to notice her. Now she glanced to where Lionblaze was pointing with his tail, and she saw her father sitting close to Nightcloud and Breezepelt. His head was turned away, but Hollyleaf guessed that he knew exactly where she and her brothers were. All his kits together at once. How nice for him.
A shrill yowl sounded from the branches of the tree, and Leopardstar stepped forward. The noise in the clearing stilled as the cats fell silent and turned to look up at her.
“The Gathering has begun,” she announced. “RiverClan will report first. Prey is running well. Mistyfoot, Reedwhisker, and Rainstorm drove a fox out of our territory.” She stepped back with a curt nod to Blackstar.
The ShadowClan leader rose, while below him Hollyleaf drove her claws into the ground, her whole body quivering with tension. Suddenly she wasn’t sure she would know when her time to act had come. StarClan, give me a sign! If you’re even watching….
“ShadowClan is thriving,” Blackstar reported. “Littlecloud has taken Flamepaw as his apprentice, and introduced him to StarClan at the Moonpool.”
A murmur of congratulation rose from the assembled cats, with a few yowls of “Flamepaw! Flamepaw!” Hollyleaf spotted the young cat sitting with Littlecloud and the other medicine cats, his eyes shining with pride. Claws tore at her heart. I felt like that once.
Onestar followed Blackstar, but he had nothing to tell them about except a dead sheep in the border stream, which his warriors had dragged out to keep the water clean.
Then it was Firestar’s turn. Rising to his paws, he balanced on his branch and looked down into the clearing with his green eyes glowing in the moonlight. “Sol has left the forest,” he began. “We—”
“About time, too,” Blackstar growled.
Leopardstar dipped her head to Firestar with cold courtesy. “I’m glad you saw sense at last, Firestar.”
Firestar returned the nod equally politely, though Hollyleaf could see his claws tighten on his branch. “Besides that—”
Now!
“Wait!” Hollyleaf leaped to her paws. “There’s something that I have to say that all the Clans should hear.”
“What?” Lionblaze reached up and dragged at her with one paw, trying to get her to sit down again. “Are you mouse-brained? Warriors don’t speak here!”
“This one does,” Hollyleaf hissed, shaking him off. She spotted Jayfeather among the other medicine cats, his expression utterly horrified, but she ignored him.
“You think you—” she began.
“Hollyleaf!” Firestar’s voice rang out from the branch where he stood looking down at her; his eyes smoldered with green fire. “If you have anything important to say here, it should have been discussed with me first. Be silent now, and whatever’s troubling you, I’ll talk to you about it tomorrow.”
Moons spent following the warrior code almost forced Hollyleaf to clamp her jaws shut and sit down. I have to obey my Clan leader!Then she braced herself. The warrior code is dead! There’s no point in trying to follow it anymore.
“No!” she meowed, ignoring the gasps of shock from the cats around her. “I willspeak now!”
“Yes, let her speak.” Leopardstar stepped forward again, looking down curiously at Hollyleaf. “I’d like to hear what she has to say.”
“So would I,” Onestar growled.
“Or has ThunderClan got secrets that they’re too scared to reveal?” Blackstar taunted, flicking his tail contemptuously at Firestar.
Yowling broke out all around the clearing as the cats from the other three Clans challenged ThunderClan. Hollyleaf stood in the middle of the uproar, feeling strangely calm; she knew she needed to wait only a few heartbeats more.
At last Firestar raised his tail for silence. “Very well, Hollyleaf,” he mewed when the noise had died down. “Say what you have to. And StarClan grant you don’t regret it.”
Now the clearing was so quiet that Hollyleaf could hear a mouse scuttering among the dead leaves under the Great Oak. “You think you know me,” she began again. “And my brothers, Lionblaze and Jayfeather of ThunderClan. You think you know us, but everything you have been told about us is a lie! We are not the kits of Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight.”
“What?” Brambleclaw shot to his paws from where he sat with the other deputies among the roots of the Great Oak. His amber eyes flamed. “Squirrelflight, why is she talking such nonsense?”
Squirrelflight stood up. The flare of panic in her eyes faded and was replaced with—what? Regret? Guilt? Or the sorrow of a mother who was about to lose her kits forever…?
“I’m sorry, Brambleclaw, but it’s true. I’m not their mother, and you are not their father.”
The Clan deputy stared at her. “Then who is?”
Squirrelflight turned her sad green gaze on the cat she had always claimed as her daughter. “Tell them, Hollyleaf. I kept the secret for seasons; I’m not going to reveal it now.”
“Coward!” Hollyleaf flashed at her. Her gaze swept around the clearing, seeing the eyes of every single cat trained on her. “I’m not afraid of the truth! Leafpool is our mother, and Crowfeather—yes, Crowfeather of WindClan—is our father.”
Yowls of shock greeted her words, but Hollyleaf shouted over them. “These cats were so ashamed of us that they gave us away and lied to every single one of you to hide the fact that they had broken the warrior code. It’s all herfault.” She whipped her tail around to point at Leafpool. “How can the Clans survive when there are cowards and liars at the very heart of them?”
The screeches and gasps of horror grew so loud that Hollyleaf couldn’t make herself heard anymore. But there was no need. She had said what she had come to say. Her legs trembled as if she had run all the way across the territory, and she had to sit down. Inside she felt a curious peace, as if she had lanced a festering sore and was watching the poison drain away
Crowfeather’s voice rose above the rest in a furious yowl. “It’s not true!” He had sprung to his paws, his dark gray fur bristling. Beside him, Nightcloud and Breezepelt looked bewildered and angry. “She’s the one who’s lying!”
Then Leafpool stood up. The crowd of cats fell silent, their eyes turned toward her.
“It’s true, Crowfeather,” she meowed. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, but there was never a right time.”
Her amber eyes were seared with grief. Pity stirred in Hollyleaf, but she choked it down. I hate her! She lied and betrayed us all!
“You mean nothing to me, Leafpool.” Crowfeather’s voice was cold. “That moon has passed. My loyalty is only to WindClan, and I have no kits other than Breezepelt.” He glanced to where Nightcloud and Breezepelt stood beside him; the black she-cat had her ears flattened to her head, while Breezepelt’s teeth were bared in a snarl.
Leafpool dipped her head as if she wasn’t going to argue; then she looked up at Firestar, who was crouched on his branch, as still as a cat made out of stone. “I know that I cannot be ThunderClan’s medicine cat any longer,” she meowed. “I’m so very sorry to you, Firestar, and to all my Clanmates. Please know that I tried my best, and regretted what I had done with every single breath.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she paused, swallowing, before she continued. “But I couldn’t regret having my kits. They are fine cats, and I will always be proud of them.”
She gave Crowfeather one last glance, then padded across the clearing with her head bowed. Cats scrambled out of her way as she made for the bushes and pushed her way through, out of sight. Every cat stared after her, still shocked into silence
Brambleclaw was the first to move, padding forward until he stood face to face with Squirrelflight. “Why?” he meowed.
Squirrelflight’s voice was desperate. “I had to! She’s my sister!”
“And you couldn’t trust me?” Brambleclaw’s voice was shaking, and Hollyleaf saw a deep shudder pass through his body. For a heartbeat, she was sorry for what she had done. This was a noble cat, and he had not been responsible for any of the lies. I was so proud when I thought he was my father.
Squirrelflight did not reply, just held his gaze without flinching.
“You couldn’t trust me,” he repeated. “Don’t you think I would have helped you, if you’d told me the truth? But it’s too late now.”
He turned away, shouldering a path through the crowd.
“Brambleclaw—” Squirrelflight took a pace after him, then halted, her head hanging and her tail drooping in despair.
Hollyleaf turned her back. Let her suffer. She deserves it!
A cat nudged her from behind. It was Cinderheart. “What have you done?” she cried.
Hollyleaf blinked in surprise. “I did the right thing.”
The gray she-cat shook her head. “There is no right thing. Everything to do with this leads to more pain.” The wisdom in her voice seemed to come from a much older and more experienced cat. Hollyleaf waited for her to say something else, something to show how sorry she felt for Hollyleaf and her littermates. But Cinderheart just turned and padded away.
Hollyleaf stared after her. Why didn’t she understand? Surely any cat could see that they couldn’t have carried on living a lie? Besides, StarClan hadn’t sent clouds to cover the moon. Her warrior ancestors must be pleased that the secrets were out and the deceit was at an end.
But none of the cats here seemed pleased. Not even her own Clanmates. Sandstorm was staring at her, bewilderment and sorrow in her green gaze. Graystripe’s amber eyes were blank with disbelief. Poppyfrost and Berrynose had their heads close together, talking urgently and shooting hostile glances at her.
Suddenly Hollyleaf couldn’t bear to be stared at for another heartbeat. Blundering through the crowd, she thrust through the bushes, ignoring the thorns that tore her pelt, and fled across the strip of pebbles and over the tree-bridge. Racing past the horseplace, she began to climb the ridge, skirting the WindClan border until she reached the very top and could look out over the lake.
A silver path of moonlight stretched across the surface of the water. The reflections of countless warriors of StarClan glittered around it.
“Was it all worth it?” Hollyleaf wailed to them. “Being an apprentice, working hard to learn the warrior code? What could any of us have done to make things different?”
The flickering stars gave her no answer.
Hollyleaf padded along the ridge until she reached her own territory and could plunge back into the trees. When she arrived in the stone hollow, everything was quiet. The Gathering patrol had not yet returned, and the other cats were asleep, except for Brightheart, on watch beside the entrance. Hollyleaf brushed past her, ignoring the she-cat’s greeting.
She stalked across the clearing in the bright wash of moonlight and entered the medicine cats’ den. Her heartbeat quickened when she saw there was no sign of Leafpool. I know what I’m going to do. All this is Leafpool’s fault.
Crawling right to the back of the storage cave, she found the leaf wrap with the deathberries and drew it out carefully. She placed it on the floor of the den and unfolded the leaf so the glossy red berries were exposed. They had begun to shrivel, but she knew they still held their deadly poison.
Hollyleaf sat beside the berries, wrapped her tail over her paws, and waited. Soon she heard a slow paw step outside, and Leafpool brushed past the bramble screen and stood in front of her.
“Hollyleaf.” She didn’t sound surprised to find her daughter there. Her eyes were full of weariness and sorrow. “It’s all right,” she mewed. “I forgive you.”
“What!” Hollyleaf sprang to her paws. “Youforgive me? You’re the one who needs forgiveness! You abandoned your kits! You let us grow up in a web of lies, and now the warrior code might be broken forever because of your stupid, selfish actions.”
“Do you think you need to tell me that?” Leafpool asked, still with the same exhausted calm. “I can only tell you how much I love you. I’m so sorry for what I did.”
“And you expect me to forgive you?” Hollyleaf snarled. “Well, I don’t. I never will.” Fur bristling, she padded around Leafpool until she blocked the entrance to the den. “See those deathberries? You’re going to eat them—or I’ll make you!”
“What?” Leafpool sounded bewildered.
“Eat them! You deserve to die.” Hollyleaf crouched, ready to spring, when the medicine cat made no move toward the deadly berries. “I’ve killed once,” she snarled. “And I can do it again.”
A gleam of some emotion that Hollyleaf couldn’t read woke in her mother’s eyes. “Hollyleaf,” Leafpool meowed. “I have lost my kits, the one cat I loved, and my calling as a medicine cat. Which do you think would be easier for me, to die or to go on living?”
There was only one answer to that question. Silently Hollyleaf stood aside, and Leafpool padded past her and out of the den.
CHAPTER28
CHAPTER28
Jayfeather slid through the thorn tunneland stood panting in the middle of the clearing. He had raced back from the island as soon as the Gathering broke up, struggling through the mass of bewildered cats to get across the tree-bridge.
He scented Leafpool leaving their den; right now she was the last cat he wanted to talk to. Beyond her, fainter, he picked up Hollyleaf’s scent.
What’s she doing in our den? What did she say to Leafpool?
Darting across the clearing, he crashed through the brambles and confronted his littermate. “Hollyleaf! What are you doing here?” Sniffing, he detected another scent. “Why are those deathberries out here?”
“Leave me alone!” Hollyleaf screeched.
Before Jayfeather could dodge, she leaped at him, bowling him over and raking her claws across his shoulder. Jayfeather’s legs flailed and his hind paws connected with Hollyleaf’s belly. Her anger and despair flooded over him as she gave him a cuff over the ear and fled out of the den.
“Hollyleaf, wait!” Jayfeather scrambled to his paws and launched himself after her.
When he emerged into the clearing, Hollyleaf was already plunging into the thorn tunnel. Jayfeather raced after her, his belly fur brushing the ground as he broke out into the forest. The scents of more cats greeted him as the rest of the Gathering patrol returned to the camp.
“Jayfeather, what’s wrong?” Lionblaze called out. He turned and bounded along beside him. “What’s happening?” he gasped.
“It’s Hollyleaf,” Jayfeather panted. “We’ve got to catch her.”
Hollyleaf was heading deep into the forest, crashing through bracken and brambles as if she had suddenly lost her sight.
“Hollyleaf, come back!” Lionblaze yowled. “We need to talk!”
But Hollyleaf didn’t slacken her pace. Briefly she burst out onto the old Twoleg path that led past the abandoned den, then veered into the undergrowth again.
“I know where she’s going!” Jayfeather panted, feeling a chill run through him. “The old tunnels…”
“But she can’t!” Lionblaze sounded terrified. “Hollyleaf, stop!”
Racing around a bramble thicket, Jayfeather and Lionblaze came face-to-face with their sister; she had halted just inside the mouth of a tunnel halfway up the ridge, above the abandoned Twoleg nest. It wasn’t one Jayfeather had used before; there was a stale scent of fox, overlaid with the smell of water and stone drifting from the darkness behind her.
Jayfeather tried to speak calmly. “Hollyleaf, you’ve got to listen to us.”
Hollyleaf didn’t seem to hear. “I’m sorry,” she meowed softly. “I was only trying to do what was best. I couldn’t let Ashfur live! For all our sakes! You understand that, don’t you?”
Jayfeather caught his breath. Beside him, he heard Lionblaze gasp, “Youkilled Ashfur?”
If Hollyleaf replied, Jayfeather didn’t hear it. Hating his power more than he ever had before, he had reached out to his sister’s memories. She was stalking Ashfur along the WindClan border stream, treading lightly, avoiding boulders where her claws might scrape or ferns that would brush against her fur. Ashfur, intent on hunting, never noticed she was there. Hollyleaf followed him like a shadow until they came to a place where the bank was steep and slippery, and the stream was a foaming snake far below. She pounced on him from a rock, gripping his shoulders with her forepaws and twisting her head around to sink her teeth into his throat. Inside the red mist that clouded her senses, Ashfur was nothing but prey, something that had to be killed to protect the warrior code and the future of her Clan.
Ashfur clawed feebly at her, but blood was gushing from his throat. His body went limp and Hollyleaf leaped away, letting it crash into the stream. She stood watching it for a while, until the swift-flowing water had washed away the blood. Then she padded up to a pool of water on top of the bank and rinsed her paws, turning the water red. Behind her, Ashfur’s body bobbed against the bank before floating away downstream.
“He should have been swept into the lake and never seen again.” Hollyleaf’s voice wrenched Jayfeather out of her terrible memories. “But they found him, and now everything is ruined. I can’t stay here.”
Despair vibrated in her voice. “I knowI did the right thing, but no cat will ever understand.”
There was a patter of paws as she turned and fled down the tunnel. Running forward, Jayfeather could hear the roaring of the river underground, pounding hungrily against the stone.
“Hollyleaf, no!” he yowled. “We can figure this out together—” A deafening rumble interrupted him; it went on and on. He pictured wet soil and rock raining down as the tunnel collapsed, crashing onto his sister, knocking her to the floor, crushing her, burying her….
He darted forward. “Hollyleaf!”
Lionblaze charged into him, knocking him off his paws and pinning him down; Jayfeather writhed furiously underneath him. “Let me up!” he screeched. “We have to get her out!”
“We can’t help her,” Lionblaze growled. “The tunnel has collapsed. There’s no way we can follow her in.”
Jayfeather lay still, panting, as the tumult of falling earth and stones died away. In the silence, Lionblaze stepped back and let him clamber to his paws. Hollyleaf had seen the tunnels as a way to escape her Clan and everything that had gone wrong. Except she hadn’t escaped—not in the way she wanted.
“It’s over,” Lionblaze meowed, his voice shaking.
“I don’t understand.” Jayfeather was trembling with shock and grief. “She killed Ashfur to keep the secret safe. But then sherevealed it to every cat at the Gathering.”
“It wasn’t the same.” Lionblaze pressed up against him until Jayfeather felt his brother’s dismay mingling with his own. “Hollyleaf couldn’t bear the thought of being a medicine cat’s kit. She couldn’t bear the idea that she was half-Clan. The warrior code meant everything to her, and our birth smashed it to pieces.”
“We should have done something,” Jayfeather insisted. “What are we going to tell the Clan?”
Lionblaze let out an exhausted sigh. “We can’ttell them she killed Ashfur. How can we let that be the only thing she’s remembered for?”
Jayfeather nodded. After all this, there was one more secret to keep, for Hollyleaf’s sake. “Let’s say that she chased a squirrel into the tunnel, and it collapsed on her. They can remember her for being a brave hunter, feeding her Clan. They don’t need to know the truth—that she was trying to escape from them.”
Slowly they began limping back to the camp. Jayfeather felt a fresh breeze ruffling his fur, and he drew in long, cold gulps of air. A new day was beginning, but all he wanted was to go back to his den, curl up, and try to escape into sleep. How could the sun rise today, after everything that had happened?
Suddenly he halted. “The prophecy!” he burst out.
Lionblaze, who had padded on a few paw steps, stopped. “How can you think about that now?”
“But don’t you see?” Jayfeather clawed at the grass. “What happens to the prophecy if Hollyleaf is dead? It said there would be three cats, and now there are only two!”
Jayfeather stretched his cramped limbs and turned his face up to the first feeble rays of the sun. All night his Clanmates had kept vigil for Hollyleaf, even though there was no body to be buried. Cats were beginning to stir around him, and a few fox-lengths away he could hear Brambleclaw quietly calling together the dawn patrol.
A full day and night had passed since the Gathering and the death of Hollyleaf in the tunnels. The day before, Firestar had addressed the shattered ThunderClan from the Highledge.
“Last night Hollyleaf revealed secrets that shocked us all,” he meowed. “But that prey is eaten. There can be no going back. Instead we must find the way forward, for all of us.”
“What about the other Clans?” Dustpelt called out. “They all know what happened, thanks to Hollyleaf.”
“Maybe Hollyleaf should not have spoken out,” Firestar admitted. “But she has paid terribly. As for the other Clans—they think we are broken. It’s up to us to show them that we are not. ThunderClan will survive!”
Yowls of agreement rose from the listening cats; Jayfeather could feel their shock and distress giving way to a new sense of purpose.
Now he rose, gave himself a long stretch, and sat down to groom his pelt, craning his neck to reach over to the fur on his back. After a few moments he became aware of movement outside the nursery as several of his Clanmates gathered there; he padded across to find out what was going on.
“It’s Whitewing’s kits,” Lionblaze told him. “It’s the first time they’ve left the nursery.”
“Their eyes are open!” Whitewing was announcing delightedly as Jayfeather and his brother approached. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
A loud squeaking and the patter of tiny paws drew closer and then stopped. Jayfeather felt a powerful curiosity trained on him.
“Hello, little kits,” Lionblaze murmured. “Welcome to ThunderClan.”
“This one has such fluffy gray fur,” Sandstorm commented. “And the little one’s tabby-and-white pelt is so pretty. Have you given them names yet?”
“Yes.” It was Birchfall who replied, sounding ready to burst with pride. “We’ve called the gray one Dovekit, and the tabby-and-white one is Ivykit.”
“Those are beautiful names,” Brightheart purred.
The ginger-and-white she-cat was sitting close by, with Cloudtail beside her, watching their daughter’s kits; Jayfeather could feel their happiness at seeing all their kin healthy and strong. It was brighter than the sun just breaking over the trees at the top of the hollow.
Another scent wafted past him as Firestar bounded up. “This is good to see,” the Clan leader meowed. “They’ll be apprentices before we know it.”
Jayfeather suddenly felt a jolt in his belly like a blow from some cat’s paw. He clawed at Lionblaze. “The prophecy…” he whispered.
“What? Get off!” Lionblaze sounded irritated.
“There will be three, kin of your kin….” Jayfeather’s voice shook as he wondered if he could possibly be right. “Cloudtail is Firestar’s kin, Whitewing is Cloudtail’s daughter, and now Dovekit and Ivykit…. Don’t you see? The prophecy isn’t over! We aren’t the only kin of Firestar’s kin. It doesn’t matter which of Whitewing’s kits is the one. There are still three of us!”
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Cherith Baldry
第二十章
 第二十章
松鸦羽扭动着身体，嗅着仍然沾在他身上的草药残渣。这种味道很刺鼻。他把鼻子凑近那些干枯的叶子，感觉到叶子边缘起了皱。他不知道这是什么草药。叶池肯定很少用到这种草药，而且她肯定没跟他说起过这种草药。
他飞快地给波弟的脚垫涂好药糊。“你的脚垫应该没什么大碍了！”他说道，“明天我再给你带些来。”
他猛地转过身，溜出了巢穴，没理会波弟可怜巴巴的哀号：“这到底是怎么回事？”
他奔回自己的巢穴，发现叶池正蜷卧在她的窝里。“叶池，为什么？”他开口问道，然后打着滑在她的身边停下来。然后他没再说下去。他记得他第一次问这种神秘的草药，叶池有多么紧张。最好什么都别说，尽量自己去查明真相。他对自己说道。
“松鸦羽，你为什么那么急匆匆跑进来？”叶池说道，她听起来累坏了，“我想在日落前小睡一会儿。族群今晚要为蜜蕨守夜。”
“对不起。”松鸦羽小声说道。叶池并没有追问他刚才准备说什么，松鸦羽松了一口气。
“今晚我们应该去月亮池了，”她继续说道，“你必须独自去了，我要守夜。”
松鸦羽点点头。“好的。”他努力让自己听起来很平静，不过他很想像一只兴奋的幼崽那样上蹿下跳。叶池不在身边，他肯定能从其他巫医那里弄明白那种草药是什么。
当松鸦羽穿行在森林中时，一阵轻快的夜风吹过光秃秃的树枝。他早先的兴奋已经消退了，他自信地迈着爪子，但是内心却充满了困惑。其他巫医会怎么议论日神的事情呢？
他到达山脊上的时候，发现青面和隼爪正在小溪边等着他。他刚走到他们身边，小云就从影族的方向蹦跳着赶来了。当松鸦羽闻到和小云一起来的另一只猫的气息时，吃惊得耳朵刺痛。“焰爪！”他大喊。
“你还记得我！”焰爪心里的兴奋似乎要溢出来了，就像暴风雨击打在池塘上冒起的水泡，“褐皮带我和虎爪、曙爪去你们营地时，我见过你。我们是至亲。”他骄傲地补充道。
不，我们不是。一丝遗憾让松鸦羽颤抖起来。他喜欢那三位勤奋的年轻学徒。
“焰爪现在是我的学徒了，”小云说道，“今晚我要把他介绍给星族。”
“恭喜你！”松鸦羽说道，他用尾巴触碰着年轻猫的肩膀。他记得焰爪和他的同窝猫来到雷族营地时，心里有多么失望，因为日神已经说服黑星，影族不需要巫医。而现在，松鸦羽能听出焰爪有多高兴，因为焰爪能够按照星族为他安排的道路前进。所以，现在不适合跟他说，他们不是至亲。
也许永远没有合适的时机。松鸦羽想。
就在其他猫互相问候的时候，仍然没有河族的蛾翅和柳光的身影。
“我们不等了，”青面做出了决定，“我们今晚还有很多事要做。”
“也许他们能追上来。”小云说道。
也可能蛾翅并不想大老远跑到月亮池睡一觉，松鸦羽想，再说，她一般都只是派柳光来的。
巫医们正准备爬上最后一段斜坡，走向环绕月亮池的灌木丛，这时身后传来气喘吁吁的喊叫：“等等！等等我们！”
松鸦羽转过身，闻到蛾翅和她的学徒的气息正飞快地变浓——那两只猫正飞奔过来。
“抱歉！”蛾翅来到岩石下面，喘着粗气说道，“我们有事儿耽搁了。小花瓣的眼睛里扎了一根刺。”
“可怜的小家伙，”青面喃喃道，“我希望你已经拔出来了。”
“嗯，扎刺的地方只需要好好舔一舔就行，”蛾翅回答道，“我把她留在育婴室睡觉了。”
“不知道你们是否试过这个方法，”小云说道，“但是，我一直觉得白屈菜治眼伤很有效。只要在她的眼睛里挤一点叶汁就可以止痛。”
“噢，谢谢！”蛾翅大声说道，“我还真不知道这个。我一回去就试试。柳光，我们储存的草药里有白屈菜吗？”
“我觉得有，”那只年轻猫回答道，“剩得不太多了，不过应该够用。”
“我们继续走吧！”青面说道，“我们浪费了很多时间。”
松鸦羽使劲爬上满是石头的山坡，然后穿过灌木丛。灌木丛围绕在月亮池所在的山谷边缘。他能听到瀑布潺潺的流水声，也能想象到水面正荡漾着无尽的光芒。
“我有话要说。”当众猫在水池边躺下后，青面说，“松鸦羽，我知道我们的族长拜访了你们族群，去讨论日神的事。”
松鸦羽的肚子一紧。他做好准备，等待着青面接下来会怎么说这件事情。
“我想说，这对于火星来说，肯定是一个非常艰难的抉择，”老巫医继续说道，“我觉得我们中的任何一只猫都不应该说，火星这么做是对的，或者是错的。”
其他的巫医也都低声表示赞同。
松鸦羽的耳朵抽动着。他没想到，他们会这么说。同行们的同情令他感到异常惊讶和感动。“这个——这个还是由星族决定吧。”他结结巴巴地说。
“而且我们也到了和星族交流的时间了。”松鸦羽听见小云站起身，然后走到水边，“但是首先，我必须把焰爪介绍给他的武士祖灵。焰爪，你准备好了吗？”
“是的。”焰爪的声音像在尖叫。松鸦羽感到了他的敬畏中夹杂的窘迫。
“焰爪，”小云用长久仪式中流传下来的话继续说道，“你是否愿意进入星族的神奇世界，成为一名巫医？”
“是的。”现在这个年轻学徒的声音终于正常了，虽然仍然透出一丝激动。
“那请走上前来。”
焰爪从松鸦羽身边走过，站在老师的面前。
“星族的武士们，”小云说道，“我向你们介绍这位学徒。他选择了巫医作为终身的职业。请把你们的智慧和远见赐予他，让他理解你们的事业，并根据你们的意愿，为他的族猫治病。”他停下来，然后低声说道，“伏下身子，喝一口池水。”
焰爪照着做的时候，松鸦羽和其他巫医都伸长脖子，然后从月亮池里喝了几滴水。当冰凉的水流下喉咙时，松鸦羽蜷缩着身子，然后努力放松下来。拜托了，星族！他乞求着，给我一些有用的信息，我的族群正在分崩离析。
他睁开眼睛，发现自己正站在一条狭窄的林间小道上，两边茂密的蕨丛成拱形，在他的头顶摇曳。阳光温暖着他的皮毛，在爪子旁的草地落下点点光斑。但是他看不到任何别的猫。他又嗅了嗅空气，只能闻到正在生长的绿色植物的气息。
“他们都在哪里呢？”他喃喃自语着，开始向前走去。
忽然，他听见前面的灌木丛下传来一阵沙沙声，然后蕨丛倒了下去。松鸦羽急忙嗅了嗅，但是他闻到的气息并不是他想见到的任何一只猫的。
“焰爪！”他喊道。年轻学徒冲进空地，站在那里环顾四周，他的皮毛因为激动和害怕竖了起来。
“松鸦羽，是你啊！”他喊道，“我们这是在哪里？这就是成为巫医后要发生的事情吗？”
“别激动，”松鸦羽回应道，“这很正常。”
老鼠屎！他在心中补充道，我在他的梦里！这有什么用？
“我想见到虎星。”焰爪坦承道，他用明亮而好奇的眼睛左右打量着这条小路，“他是我的至亲，而且我听过太多关于他的故事！”
“我不知道虎星在哪里。”松鸦羽小心翼翼地回答道，他没告诉这位新学徒关于黑暗森林的事，“遇到任何一位星族武士，你都应该感到高兴。”
“我知道，不过……它们见到我也会同样高兴吗？”焰爪蜷伏下来，看起来身子那么小，那么害怕，“我不知道和它们说什么！”
松鸦羽用尾巴尖碰了碰学徒的肩膀。“等你见到它们，自然就知道了，”他保证道，“你只要听着就可以了。”
焰爪怀疑地看了他一眼。然后，他坚定地站了起来，沿着小路向前方走去。“那就等会儿见！”他说道。
马上让我遇到一位星族武士吧，松鸦羽想，它们是在刻意避开我吗？
他沿着小路朝与焰爪相反的方向跑去，最后来到了一片空地。空地中有一个水池，周围长满了气味香甜的草药。他记得以前到过这个地方，他和斑叶说过话，不过现在没看到玳瑁色母猫的身影。
他蹦跳着来到水池边，向水中看去。他不由得惊呆了。虽然太阳还在闪耀，但是深绿色的池水中闪烁着数不尽的星星。
“你们在下面干什么？”他喊道，扯着爪子下的草丛，“来跟我说话啊！”
唯一回答他的，是厚重得让他窒息的黑暗。他失去了方向，蹒跚着向前走，然后发现爪子下不再是草地，而是石头。他再次醒了过来，回到了月亮池旁边。他周围的其他巫医也正准备站起身来。
满怀着沮丧和担忧，松鸦羽站起身来，跟着其他巫医回到了弯曲的小路。当他们爬下石头斜坡，来到荒原的时候，他发现自己正走在小云的身边。
“我觉得焰爪第一次做得非常好！”影族猫说道，“他遇见了夜星，在旧森林的时候，夜星可是我们的族长。”
“那很好呀！”松鸦羽喃喃道，但他没有提到他在梦里见过这位年轻的学徒。
“我想，他一定会成为一位优秀的巫医，”小云继续说道，“他已经认识了很多草药。”
草药！松鸦羽一直沉浸在没能跟星族武士见面的沮丧中，已经忘了他要问的问题。
“我见过一种草药，”松鸦羽开口道，“不过我不知道它是什么。”求你了，星族，别让他好奇我为什么没问叶池！
“什么样的草药？”小云问道。
“它有很浓的气息，而且叶子感觉是皱缩着的。”松鸦羽说道，他希望自己已经给影族巫医说清楚了这种草药的模样，虽然他不曾看见过它，干枯的茎也让他无法想象出它新鲜时的样子。“它吃起来凉凉的，就像皮毛上的霜，哪怕干枯的叶子，吃起来也像新鲜的青草。”他想起了鼠毛跟他说过的话，又补充了一句。
“嗯……”小云沉思着走了几个心跳的时间，“我听着像是西芹。它的叶子有很奇特的形状，边缘上好像长了很多很小很薄的爪子。而且无论是干的还是新鲜的，味道尝起来都一样。”
“那它有什么用？”松鸦羽努力掩饰着声音中的激动。
“没什么大的用处，”小云回答道，“不过如果幼崽夭折了，哺乳期的猫后吃了它，可以断奶。”
松鸦羽一下子愣住了。
或者他们的孩子没有死，而是送给了另外一只猫！
他的心跳得如此强烈，简直像要从他的胸口跳出来。他收集到的所有与他的出生相关的零零散散的信息，忽然组成一个可怕的图案。
“你没事吧？”小云焦急地问道。
“什么？哦，嗯，没事。”
松鸦羽强迫爪子继续往前走着。他的大脑飞速转着，一道道光亮闪过，以至于当他们到达边界时，他差点儿忘了跟其他巫医说再见。
他一直被告知，松鼠飞没有奶水，因此香薇云和黛西哺育了他和他的同窝猫，这就意味着松鼠飞不需要吃西芹。看来我们真正的母亲可能需要吃它，来掩饰她刚刚生过幼崽！
记忆又将他带回到自己还是幼崽的时候，他吃力地爬过雪地的情景。他必须记起那个场景！回想起那些气息。他跟自己说。答案就在那儿！但凡是重要的事情，他的嗅觉从没让他失望过。这次它也不会让他失望。
有一只猫离他很近，慢慢地走过雪里，皮毛上散发着奶水的味道。它不是松鼠飞，也不可能是松鼠飞。突然，松鸦羽深深地吸了一口气，他非常准确地知道，那个味道是谁的了。
所有的一切都明朗起来。哪只猫可以这么信赖松鼠飞，相信她能永远为自己保守秘密，甚至欺骗自己的伴侣？哪只猫一直悄悄地在他和同窝猫的身边关注和爱护着他们？哪只猫永远不能承认她自己生过幼崽？
是叶池！叶池就是我们的母亲！
第二十一章
 第二十一章
当长老们和波弟抬着蜜蕨的尸体走出营地时，冬青叶疲倦地在模糊的晨光中眨了眨眼睛。太阳已经躲了起来，天空中笼罩着厚厚的灰云。寒风带来雨的气息。所有的猫都静静地站在那里，看着族猫被抬出去安葬。
等长老们消失在荆棘通道里后，黑莓掌开始组织当天的巡逻队。冬青叶看到栗尾悲伤地走向武士巢穴，她低着头，尾巴拖在地上。冬青叶跳过去，在荆棘丛枝条旁边追上了她。
“我很难过，”她说道，“我真的很想念蜜蕨。”
“我们都会想念她的。”栗尾悲痛得哽咽起来，“还是幼崽的时候，她就那么温柔，而且学东西也很快！甚至还没成为学徒的时候，她就知道大多数的狩猎动作。”
“和她玩总是很有趣。”冬青叶告诉她，并用鼻子触碰着栗尾的肩膀。
栗尾眨了眨眼睛：“她喜欢跟你和你的同窝猫在一起。而且她一直担心你们的奶水不够吃，因为松鼠飞不能喂你们。”
听到栗尾提起那只她曾以为是母亲的猫，冬青叶的毛开始竖了起来。然后她竭尽全力，让自己的皮毛平顺下来。她不愿想起松鼠飞的背叛，现在安慰栗尾更要紧。
“那不是松鼠飞的错。”玳瑁色武士继续说道，她明显误会了冬青叶恼怒的原因，“而且你们都被照顾得很好。香薇云和黛西喂你们，而且叶池从没离开过育婴室，她给她们带去琉璃苣叶催奶，还带去所有她能找到的增强体质的草药！”
“叶池做了所有的事情？”冬青叶问道。
“嗯，是的，她一直很宠爱你们。可能因为你们是她妹妹的孩子，也可能是因为你们第一次来石头山谷时，她就跟你们在一起。”
“我不知道这件事。”冬青叶觉得皮毛一阵刺痛。如果叶池和我们在一起，她一定知道谁是我们真正的母亲！
栗尾点点头，然后弓起背，伸了个大懒腰。“我去看看我是否能睡一会儿，”她低声说道，“说不定蜜蕨会进到我的梦里。”
栗尾一走进武士巢穴，冬青叶就去找巫医。她发誓不再问松鼠飞自己亲生父母的事情；她不想跟那只曾经欺骗了自己的猫讲话。但是叶池可能会告诉她。
她看见叶池正在荆棘通道的入口处和火星谈话，就从他们旁边走过，然后在两条尾巴远的地方徘徊着，等待着和巫医单独在一起的机会。
“你整晚都在守夜，”火星说道，“早就累坏了。你为什么不去森林里透透气？活动下腿脚，说不定还能找到一个安静的地方睡一觉，别的族猫也不会打扰到你。”
“我不应该离开族群……”叶池说道。
“松鸦羽已经从月亮池回来了。”火星提醒她道，“你可以离开一小会儿，我们不会有事的。”他俯下身子，鼻子充满爱意地碰了碰叶池，“这是我的命令。”
叶池打了个哈欠：“好吧，火星，不过我会在太阳到达日高点前回来的。”
“你想待多久，就待多久。”火星点点头，走开了。
冬青叶一直等叶池走过了荆棘通道，然后才跟着她进入了森林。冬青叶没看到巫医，但她循着叶池的气息一路追踪，在一个可以俯视湖面的树木稀少的山顶找到了她。叶池坐在那里，尾巴围在爪子旁，怔怔地看着湖面。
冬青叶来到她的身边时，她跳了起来：“冬青叶！你是在找我吗？”
“是的，我——我想问你些事情。”现在，这一刻终于来了，冬青叶却不确定她该怎么做了。答案很可能会永远改变她的一生。那是她想要的结果吗？我必须知道真相！
叶池说话的时候，眼睛里闪烁着警惕：“那么，你问吧。”
她知道我们已经发现了那个谎言！冬青叶猜测着，心中不由一紧。松鼠飞肯定把那天在悬崖发生的事情告诉了她。
“说吧！”叶池催促道。
冬青叶深吸一口气：“告诉我你知道的事情，所有的事情。我必须知道真相！”
叶池琥珀色的眼睛里充满了悲伤。她向冬青叶走了一步，甩着尾巴，似乎想把它放在更年轻的猫的肩膀上，但是她在中途停住了。
“你不必担心的，”叶池说道，“我永远不会告诉任何猫的。不过请你告诉我你为什么要那么做。”
冬青叶觉得就像有一大块猎物卡在了喉咙。这并不是她想要的谈话方式。“做了什么？”她清了清嗓子问道。
叶池发出一声长长的叹息，闭上了眼睛，就像她不得不鼓足勇气，才能说出她准备好的话。然后她再次看着冬青叶。
“你为什么要杀死蜡毛？”
不！冬青叶将爪子深深地插进了土里。这不是她要问的事情！叶池不可能知道这件事！她张嘴想回应，但是否认的话最终没有说出口。
“我知道的，冬青叶，”叶池温柔地说道，“我梳理蜡毛的尸体，准备为他守夜的时候，看到他的爪子里夹着你的皮毛。不过我藏了起来，没有猫能找得到它。我想我是想瞒着自己。”她停顿了一下，喉头吞咽了一下，然后重复道：“为什么？”
“他必须死！”冬青叶愤怒地咬着牙齿，从牙缝嘶嘶地吼道，“你知道为什么！”
“不，我不知道！”
叶池的眼睛里真的很困惑，冬青叶这才意识到，松鼠飞没有告诉叶池，她已经把那个可怕的秘密泄露给蜡毛了。
“他必须死，因为他知道了那个秘密！”冬青叶怒吼道，“在那个暴风雨的晚上，松鼠飞在悬崖上告诉蜡毛，我们不是她的孩子。蜡毛准备在森林大会上，向所有的族群宣布这个秘密，我不想让他那么做！一直以来，大家都认为，我们是真正的族群猫，跟他们一样，是在森林里出生的。我不能让他们知道真相——在火星的族群里，族群猫的血统比他们原本认定的更加不纯。蜡毛会毁了雷族！”
她说话的时候，叶池一脸的惊慌，眼睛瞪得更大了。“噢，星族，不！”她低声说道，“这都是我的错……”
冬青叶头脑一片混乱。她只知道对她保守真相的猫就站在面前：“松鼠飞跟你说过我们，是不是？我们第一次到石头山谷的时候，你就在那里。你肯定知道谁是我们真正的母亲。”
此刻，叶池表情平静地看着她说道：“是的，我知道。”
“那你必须告诉我——求你了！”
有几个心跳的时间，叶池没有说话。她站在那里，眼睛不住地眨着，肌肉紧绷，仿佛准备跃过一个深渊似的。终于，她说话了。
“我是你们的母亲，冬青叶。松鼠飞只是想保护我。”
有一段时间——似乎只有一个心跳的时间，但也可能有一个月亮圆缺——冬青叶注视着她！不，这不可能！不过冬青叶知道，叶池说的是事实。
冬青叶猛地转了个身，向远处跑去，不料，爪子在枯叶上滑了一跤，滚到了坡底。她爬了起来，朝着森林最深处冲去，她要尽可能地远离石头山谷。她不知道她要去哪里，她只想离开谎言，摆脱嘴里蜡毛的血腥味。
一切都是徒劳的！我做那件事，本想拯救我们大家，但这没用了！一切都毁了……
第二十二章
 第二十二章
松鸦羽在积雪中奋力向前爬行，雪一直没到了他肚子上的皮毛处。凝结在一起的雪块卡在他的脚垫中间，他每走一步都很痛。他的前方是另一只猫，他认出了她的浅棕色虎斑皮毛，开始哭着求她回来帮忙，但是她一直没有回头。接着，雪地在他的爪子下消失了，他掉了下去，一直往下掉……
他在自己的窝里醒了过来，铺窝的苔藓被他的爪子踢打得散落在周围。他坐了起来，因为梦境，心仍然跳得很快，他听见叶池在储藏药物的岩缝深处乱翻着。一阵阵剧痛从巫医的身上散发出来，她的痛苦是如此强烈，有一个心跳的时间，松鸦羽还以为她在尖叫。
松鸦羽站起身来，向岩缝入口走去。一股绝望的火焰正在他的内心燃烧，他想问巫医，她到底是不是他的母亲。不过叶池这么痛苦，他无法置之不理。“叶池？”他说道，“出什么事了？”
叶池退出了储藏室。“我……我告诉了冬青叶一些我不该说的话。”她坦承道。
松鸦羽立刻就明白了。现在，所有的秘密就像决堤的洪水般涌了出来。他疑惑地抬起了下巴：“你告诉了她，你是我们的母亲，是吗？”
他听到叶池吃惊得倒吸了一口凉气：“你知道这件事多久了？”
“也是刚刚才知道。我一直试图把线索拼在一起，到了昨天晚上，才真正有了头绪。松鼠飞对生下我们的猫的忠诚，那段在积雪中穿行的模糊记忆，你对待我们的方式，还有鼠毛碰巧记得当时混在她的艾菊里的西芹。你当时肯定是需要吃些西芹来断奶。”
他说完这些话，巢穴里陷入久久的沉默之中。松鸦羽觉得，他几乎能听见自己的心跳声。
“如果你已经知道了这么多，”叶池最后说道，“那你知道接下来会发生什么吗？”
“不知道。”松鸦羽清晰地感觉到，叶池还想告诉他一些其他事情。不过叶池一直保持着沉默。他想进入她的记忆弄清楚她想说的是什么，但是他不太敢这么做。他也不喜欢可能发现的东西。
“你一定要帮助你的同窝猫，”叶池告诉他，她的声音既刺耳又急切，“你们必须学会面对现实，就算是为了雷族。”
你没有权利告诉我们该怎么做。不过松鸦羽并没有大声说出这个想法。从某种程度来说，巫医猫说的是真的。无论迟早，他们都不得不找到一条向前走的路。
“求你了！”叶池说道，她的声音里充满了绝望，“在其他事情发生之前，你必须找到狮焰和冬青叶。”
还会发生什么糟糕的事？松鸦羽很疑惑。不过他点点头，走出了巢穴。叶池很担心她的孩子——全部的三个孩子，就像雷族遇到麻烦时，她一直也很担心一样。
松鸦羽嗅闻着空地，嗅到狮焰正叼着猎物，向猎物堆靠近。松鸦羽跳了过去。“快放下猎物，跟我来！”他猛地甩了一下头，“我们必须谈谈。”
松鸦羽能感到狮焰的困惑，不过哥哥并没有反驳，只是把猎物放在猎物堆上，跟在他的身旁，走向营地入口处。
“冬青叶在哪里？”松鸦羽问道。当他意识到这个新消息对冬青叶的伤害最大时，一种灾难即将来临的感觉越发强烈了。武士守则对冬青叶实在是太重要了。
“我不知道。”狮焰回答道，“我想她已经离开了营地，不过从守夜结束后，我就再也没见到她了。”
“我们必须找到她，”他们走出荆棘通道，向森林里走去时，松鸦羽说道，“她……她发现了一些事情，可能心里很乱。”
“什么事？”
“我们找到冬青叶的时候，我再告诉你。”松鸦羽抬起头嗅着空气，寻找着冬青叶的气息。
“现在就告诉我，”狮焰坚持道，“秘密还不够多吗？甚至连我们三个都很少说话？”
松鸦羽转身面对着他：“叶池是我们的母亲。”
他感到震惊就像一道闪电，从哥哥全身穿过。“我不相信！”狮焰喘息道，“她是巫医。这不可能！”
“你最好从现在开始相信它，”松鸦羽冷冷地说道，“是她亲口跟我说的。我们必须决定该如何处理这件事。”
他们在森林里搜索了好长一段时间，跟随着他们的同窝猫留下的微弱的气息前进。最后，他们在通往湖边的斜坡顶上找到了她。松鸦羽一跳到她的身边，就感到了她的紧张。“冬青叶，我们需要谈谈。”他说道。
“没什么可谈的。”冬青叶的声音显得很冷漠。松鸦羽感觉到她并没有回头看他和狮焰，而是盯着湖水，好像答案就藏在波浪之中。“我们必须查明，谁是我们真正的父亲。那样的话，所有的秘密就都能解开了。”
“你这么说是什么意思？”狮焰走过来，站在他们身边，“没有猫知道谁杀了蜡毛，除非日神承认是他干的。这是整个族群都不会放过的秘密。”
“太糟了。”冬青叶的声音里充满不屑，尽管松鸦羽感觉她的内心又掀起一波紧张，“还有比那更重要的秘密。我们必须知道我们的父亲是谁。”
“你说得对，”松鸦羽同意道，他好奇得身上的每个毛孔都在刺痛，“不过我们要想弄明白这件事应该不会那么容易。你问过叶池吗？”
“没有，而且我觉得，即便我问了，她也不会告诉我们。”
松鸦羽知道她说得对。他猜叶池不会告诉他们父亲是谁，毕竟她已经保守了这个秘密这么久。一旦族群里的其他猫发现了她做的事情——他们肯定会发现的，因为松鸦羽也不知道那个秘密还能保守多久——她的一生就会毁了。她应该也不希望毁掉另外一只猫的生活。
“稍等一下，”狮焰说道，“你们真的想要知道吗？”
“你是什么意思，鼠脑子？”冬青叶嘶嘶地叫道，“你想永远都不知道父亲是谁吗？”松鸦羽听到她的爪子正在撕扯着苔藓，“我可不想那样！”
“好好想想你说的话。”狮焰坐在松鸦羽的身旁，“我们从来就不想让这个秘密泄露出去，现在蜡毛也死了，这个秘密就更不会泄露出去了。叶池不会告诉任何一只猫真相的。”
“我想知道！”冬青叶的尾巴扫过覆盖在地上的枯叶。
“但是为什么呢？”狮焰不解地问道，“如果我们都保持沉默，每件事情都会回到它原来的样子。”
如果你连这都能相信，那就没有你不能相信的事情了。松鸦羽心里暗想，不过没有说出口。
“难道你们还没发现这意味着什么吗？”狮焰继续说着，他的声音变得越来越激动，“叶池是我们的母亲，而火星是她的父亲，我们仍旧是那个预言的一部分！”
第二十三章
 第二十三章
狮焰穿过排便处通道，溜出了营地，沿着石头山谷的边缘往前，一直来到了那个暴风雨夜，他和他的同窝猫差点儿被烧死的地方。草依然黑魆魆的，被烧焦的枝条残渣散落在四周。狮焰想起四处乱窜的火舌和蜡毛发狂的眼神，不由得打了个寒战。
在他的头顶，月亮正浮动在靛蓝色的天空上，慢慢变圆，周围布满了闪着冷光的星星。天空没有一丝云。星族啊，这意味着你们同意我的计划吗？他默默地询问武士祖灵。他一意识到他和他的同窝猫仍旧是那个预言的组成部分，就制订了这个计划，不过他又花了一天时间才决定行动。不管你们怎么想，我都必须这么做！
他低头俯瞰着山谷，能看见囚禁日神的荆棘丛，还有看守日神的桦落。桦落就蜷伏在更外围的枝条下。密密的纵横交错的荆棘丛挡住了狮焰的视线，他看不到日神，但当他嗅着空气的时候，日神的气息向他飘了过来。
“好了！”狮焰低声说道，“行动吧！”
他一步一步顺着崖壁表面往下爬，在每次把身体的重量放上去之前，他都要试试落脚点的承受力。他不只是担心自己会掉下去，还担心如果他把石头蹬下去了，或者打滑的时候，不得不胡乱抓着什么来救自己，会引起桦落的注意。有一次，他蹭到岩缝里长出来的稀疏灌木，一下子僵住了。还有一次，爪子下的沙石落到营地的时候，他也不知所措。但是桦落并没有动。
看守的时候打盹儿了？狮焰心想。
他跳下最后一只狐狸身长，轻轻地落在灌木旁的地面上时，似乎已经过去了几个月亮圆缺的时间。他的腿不住颤抖着。他瞥了一眼桦落熟睡的身影，爬进了荆棘丛的枝条下。
借着透过细枝的昏暗光线，他看见日神正蜷缩在一个铺着苔藓的窝里，尾巴盖在鼻子上，身体随着沉睡中的呼吸有节奏地起伏着。狮焰匍匐着向他爬去，然后推了推日神的肩膀。日神飞快地睁开眼睛，在接下来一个心跳的时间里，狮焰看见他那淡黄色眼睛里闪烁着惊讶。日神张开嘴，刚要说话，狮焰就将尾巴拍在了独行猫的口鼻上。
“别出声！”
日神点点头，然后狮焰把尾巴拿开了。
“对不起，狮焰。有一瞬间，我以为你是那条蛇。”日神又镇定了下来。他用狮焰几乎无法听清的声音说道：“我能帮你什么忙吗？”
“我……我要跟你谈谈。”现在狮焰已经成功地跟族群的囚犯面对面了，但是说出想说的话比他预想的更难，“我已经知道，我的母亲并不是我一直以为的那只猫，我想知道，这会不会影响那个预言。”
“好的。”日神轻轻地说道。他坐起来，然后开始清理掉皮毛上的苔藓：“你可以先帮我离开这里。”
“我……我不能这么做！”幸好狮焰还记得压低声音说话。
“你当然能。你肯定是从悬崖上爬到这里来的，因此桦落才没看到你。你可以告诉我那条返回崖顶的路。我没有杀害蜡毛。你知道我没有。”
“在雷族猫看来，你是唯一有可能那么做的猫。”狮焰反驳道。他不敢肯定他是否也这样想。他没忘记，日神是怎样承诺要帮他实现预言的——现在他多么需要日神的帮助。不过他也不愿背叛他的族群，让这只独行猫离开。
“如果你不帮我，我为什么要帮你？”日神用淡黄色的眼睛看了狮焰好一会儿，然后平静地舔着一只爪子，开始洗脸。
狮焰沮丧地盯着他。我没办法让他道出真相，不过我也不能告诉他逃出去的路！
“好吧！”他低声说道，“我要走了。我不能帮你逃走，那样做会带来太多的麻烦。”
“给你吗？”日神质疑道。
“给我的族群。”狮焰嘶嘶地叫道。其他族群的族长听说日神逃掉后会怎么想，这很容易就能想得到。他们肯定会怪罪雷族。他的身子紧紧贴在地上，扭动身体准备从荆棘的枝条下爬出去。
“等等！你就不想知道你的父亲是谁吗？”
狮焰停下来，回头看着日神：“你知道？”
“当然了。”日神用爪子挠着一只耳朵。
“是谁？”狮焰问道，心里不由得一阵激动。
日神的眼里泛起戏谑的光芒：“狮焰，天下没有免费的午餐。只要你把我从这里带出去，我就告诉你实情。”
“那我怎么知道我能不能相信你？”狮焰的声音比自己预想的大。听到从窝外传来一阵窸窸窣窣的声音，狮焰的身子僵住了。
“日神？”桦落喊道，“你没事吧？”
日神稍作停顿，胡须抖动着。狮焰害怕被发现，焦急得像是有蚂蚁爬进了他的皮毛，但他只能屏住了呼吸。火星会剥了我的皮，扔出去喂乌鸦的！
“日神？”桦落的声音再次传来，听起来更着急了。
“我没事，桦落。”日神回答道，“我只是在自言自语。”
“那好，晚安。”
狮焰听见桦落重新坐下，这才松了一口气，只是皮毛因为刚才的紧张还在发烫。
“你怎么知道你能信得过我？”日神继续原来的话题，听起来很得意，“你不知道。但是知识就是力量，狮焰。而现在我知道的，比任何一只族群猫都要多。”
“好吧！”狮焰慢慢地说道，“我可以告诉你如何逃出去。不过你必须答应我，告诉我有关我父亲的事……还要给我一些关于预言的建议。”
日神低头致意：“我保证。”
无论如何，这都值得一试。“好吧，跟我来！”狮焰低声说道，“把你的爪子放在我的爪子踩过的地方。这儿本来就很难爬，而且还不能被发现，所以爬起来更是难了十倍。”
他从荆棘中钻了出去，日神紧随其后，然后开始费力地向上爬去。悬崖似乎在他们头顶永无止境地延伸着，而且狮焰很难相信在这么明亮的月光下，会没有猫看见他们在崖壁上攀爬。但是没有喝问的喊声从空地传来。最后，他终于爬到悬崖顶上，然后转身等着日神爬上来。
独行猫爬到山谷边缘时，已经喘不过气来了。他用尾巴示意狮焰跟着他离开悬崖的边缘，然后在几只狐狸身长之外的地方停住了。
“怎么样？”狮焰问道，“你自由了。该履行你的承诺了。”
“不能在这里，”日神回答道，“这里太危险了。另外，如果你走得太远，有些猫可能会注意到你不见了。你应该回到武士巢穴去。”
“但是你承诺过的！”
“我会信守承诺的。”日神向影族领地的方向弹了一下耳朵，“我会到影族边界外的废弃两脚兽巢穴等你。尽快和你的同窝猫一起来。”
“好的。”狮焰沮丧得肚子都翻腾起来，“不过你最好在那里等我。”
日神不屑地抖了抖尾巴。“我会的。”他转过身，朝着影族的边界跑去。
狮焰注视着他，直到灌木丛遮住了他带有斑点的皮毛。然后，他滑向荆棘屏障，沿着出来时的路线回到营地。他希望没有猫会问他，为什么排便用了这么长时间。
我做的是对的，他为自己辩解道，冬青叶说过，我们必须弄清楚我们的父亲是谁。而且甚至更重要的是，日神是唯一知道如何帮我们实现那个预言的猫！
“火星！火星！”桦落的喊声把狮焰从熟睡中惊醒了。在武士巢穴里，他周围的所有族猫都被惊醒了。
“遭受袭击了吗？”亮心身上的毛奓了起来，“桦落听起来吓坏了！”她爬出窝，冲出了巢穴，来到空地上，云尾紧紧地跟在她的身后。
“火星！”桦落的尖叫听起来就在武士巢穴的外面。
“他到底怎么了？”尘毛抱怨着站起身，抖掉皮毛上的苔藓，“难道我们就不能在这里睡个安稳觉了？”
更多的武士挤了出来，大声询问着发生了什么事。狮焰知道桦落为什么这么慌张，但是他明白，他得表现得像其他猫一样担心。他跳起来，从枝条下的窝里出来，来到外面。黎明时分，天色一片灰暗，黑夜的影子依然在空地的边缘滞留不去，地上还落了一层霜。
火星正在跳下落石堆。桦落冲过空地，在岩石下面跟他会合。
“火星！”年轻的武士喘着粗气说道，“日神逃走了！”
火星的耳朵抖了抖。他冲到荆棘丛旁边，探头向里张望着，桦落气喘吁吁地跟在他的身后。更多雷族的猫跟在他的身后。而且狮焰也挤进了他们中间，确保能在悬崖下和日神开始攀爬的地方留下自己新鲜的气息。
“他真的逃走了？”火星从灌木丛退出来的时候，黑莓掌跳过来，站在族长身边问道。
火星点了点头。
“喂，悬崖上有爪子印！”榛尾伸长爪子，指着两块小石头被蹬掉的地方，“日神肯定是从这里逃走的。”
“如果你问我对此事的看法，我会说‘他逃跑真是太好了’，”云尾大声叫道，尾巴狠狠地抽动了一下，“我们不可能永远留住他。”
大家纷纷表示赞同。狮焰看见不止一两只猫的眼睛里露出轻松的神情。
“你不打算把他追回来吗，火星？”沙风问道，“他给我们带来了那么多的麻烦，他杀害了蜡毛，我们怎样惩罚他都不过分。”
“他明显是有罪的，”蛛足插嘴道，“否则，他不会冒着生命危险爬上悬崖逃走。”
“说得很对！”就在火星若有所思时，刺掌说道，“他肯定是害怕我们对他做什么。我们确实给了他一个教训！”
火星离开了日神的巢穴，走了两步，然后看着站在身边的猫。“你们说得对，”最后他小声说道，“我们希望日神已经知道族群不可能被摧毁，从此不要在边界线上到处乱窜。黑莓掌，从现在起，我们要派出双倍的巡逻队，直到我们确定，他已经不在领地里了。”
“好的，火星。”副族长飞快地点了一下头。
“那你怎么跟其他族群解释呢？”灰条问道，他黄色的眼睛里充满了担忧，“如果我们说他逃跑了，其他族群会认为我们太弱了，竟然连一只猫都看不住。而且他们很可能会怪我们让他跑出去，带来更多的麻烦。”
火星抖了抖耳朵：“我会告诉他们，我们把他驱逐出了我们的领地，还让他发誓，永远不会再踏进湖边一步。”
“可这并非实情。”沙风看起来有点不安，“我们真的要向其他族群撒谎吗？”
“就好像他们一直在跟我们说实话似的！”云尾大声说道。
“我觉得沙风说得对。”亮心狠狠地瞪了伴侣一眼，“如果日神仍旧在附近怎么办？那时候其他族群会怎么看我们？”
火星犹豫着，目光盯着自己的脚垫，然后再次抬起头来。“就按照我说的做。这是为了雷族，”他说道，“我们需要证明我们是强大的，而且遵守着武士守则，我们按照自己的方式处理族群的事情。但是，我们一定要确保日神没有在附近逗留。”
当众猫开始离开，黑莓掌组织巡逻队的时候，狮焰发现冬青叶站在空地的边缘。她的眼睛就像绿色的火苗，不过他看不出来她在看些什么。
他从沙风和榛尾中间滑过，走到她的身边。“我必须给你说件事。”他轻轻地说道。
但冬青叶好像没听见他说话。“他逃走了！”她嘶嘶地叫着，不住地伸缩着爪尖。
狮焰分辨不出她的声音是开心还是难过。旁边有这么多的族猫，他不敢告诉她到底发生了什么。“松鸦羽在哪里？”他问道。
冬青叶的耳朵抖动着：“我怎么知道？”
“我去找他。”狮焰说道，“到树林里去，在训练山谷等我们。别问为什么！”看到冬青叶张开了嘴，他补充道，“照我说的去做，事关重大。”
他的妹妹眼珠转动了一下，但是仍然开始向营地入口走去。然后消失在阴影里。确定冬青叶已经出发，狮焰就向巫医巢穴走去。但是他还没走到那里，松鸦羽就从育婴室走了出来。狮焰向他走了过去。
“这么吵闹是怎么回事？”松鸦羽问道。
“日神逃走了。”
“他逃走了？”松鸦羽的眼睛惊讶得瞪圆了。接着年轻的巫医吸着鼻子：“这下好了！”
“我们必须谈谈，”狮焰低声说道，回头向族猫分成不同巡逻队的地方看去，“跟我到森林里去。我们在训练山谷和冬青叶碰面。”
让他松了一口气的是，松鸦羽没有争辩。“我去告诉叶池，说我要去找些蓍草。我们的蓍草就要用完了，而且波弟的脚垫还是不舒服。”他小跑着向巫医巢穴去了。
狮焰没有等他。如果他们三只猫能分头离开营地，那是最好的。尽管他反感欺骗，但还是偷偷跟在一支刚刚出发的巡逻队后面，领头的是沙风。一走出营地，进入树林，他就落在了后面。为了不让别的猫看见，他假装被一根刺扎到了脚垫。等巡逻队一消失，他就冲向训练山谷。
冬青叶正蜷伏在一个树根下的坑里。“什么事？”狮焰靠近的时候，她问道。
“我们再等一等松鸦羽。”
没过多长时间，狮焰听见灌木丛中传来沙沙的声音，然后他闻到了弟弟的气息。松鸦羽挤开高草，来到了他们身边。
“现在你可以告诉我们到底发生什么事了吧？”冬青叶问道。
狮焰尽可能简明地告诉他们，他是如何设法进了日神的巢穴，跟他谈话，又如何教他爬上悬崖。“他躲在他以前待过的废弃两脚兽巢穴。”他说道，“我们必须去那里，这样他就可以告诉我们，谁是我们的父亲了……”
“你的脑子里进蜜蜂了吗？”冬青叶甩了一下尾巴，怒吼道，“你放走了雷族囚犯？这完全违背了武士守则！你知道一旦火星查明了真相，他会怎么做吗？”
“他不会知道的，”狮焰自信地说道，“我觉得你们和我一样想查清楚我们的父亲是谁，现在，机会来了。你们到底和不和我一起去？”
松鸦羽看上去表情凝重，不过还是点了点头。“我们去！”他推了推冬青叶，“抱怨没有任何意义。你也知道我们别无选择。我们没法忍受只知道一半真相，而且看起来这是我们找到真相的唯一机会。”
太阳已经升到树顶的时候，他们到达了影族领地的边缘，进入了一片不熟悉的林子。距离上次来这里，已经过去了很长时间，狮焰不记得准确的路线。不过日神的气息引导着他们一路向前。
看起来日神似乎径直去了两脚兽的巢穴。所以，或许他真的打算信守承诺。
终于，废弃的两脚兽巢穴摇摇欲坠的墙进入了他们的视野，墙掩映在结满果实的柳兰、蕨草和蓟草丛里，几乎看不见。日神的气息浓烈而新鲜。狮焰走在前头来到入口处，向里面张望着。杂草长满了石头地面上的缝隙，蜘蛛网在角落里延伸着。
“日神？”他喊道，“你在吗？”
“你们好。”一个声音从狮焰的头顶传来。他抬起头，看见日神正坐在一堵墙的顶上，半掩在从外面伸进来的冬青枝后面。
独行猫站起身，跳下来，走到狮焰和他的同窝猫身边。“你们好，”他重复道，“我看见你们来了……”
“我们是来查明真相的！”冬青叶挤过狮焰身边，“把你知道的告诉我们。”
日神眨了眨眼睛：“要知道，这对你们没有帮助。既然你们成了预言的一部分，为什么还要在意父亲是谁呢？”
“这很重要！”冬青叶咆哮道。
“等等。”狮焰走上前去，站在妹妹身边，“我同意日神的说法。我也想知道父亲是谁，但更重要的是预言。”
“但是我们必须知道，”松鸦羽争辩道，“一个名字就行，我们只想知道他的名字。”
一丝戏谑的亮光在日神的眼里闪烁。狮焰知道，他正在为拥有驾驭他们的力量而扬扬得意。突然，他不敢确定日神是否真的知道他们父亲的事情。或许他只是在戏弄他们，知道他们不会把他带回族群。但是他从一开始就知道他们是谁，还提出要帮忙……
“这是我们实现预言的机会，”狮焰绝望地说道，他转向他的同窝猫，“日神知道那么多……他甚至连太阳什么时候会消失都知道！”
他的同窝猫都没有回答。松鸦羽看起来很坚决，冬青叶则绷紧了肌肉，似乎正准备扑向日神，逼他说出真相。
不！如果她敢动日神一爪子，日神就永远不会告诉我们了！
日神淡黄色的目光慢慢从冬青叶的身上移开。尽管冬青叶身上的毛早已充满敌意地竖起，但日神的皮毛依然平顺。“猜猜我能告诉你们什么，”他轻轻地说道，“我知道的比最了解你们的祖灵都多！真正的力量比这还要多。听我的，我就会教你们如何真正地把群星的力量握在爪子里。”
冬青叶发出一声怒吼，伏下身子准备跃起。
“不！”狮焰号叫道。他跳向妹妹，咬住她的脖子，把她拖到了外面，根本没理会她乱挥的爪子和歇斯底里的尖叫。“你是鼠脑子吗？”他质问着，把她放到外面枯死的蕨丛里，“如果你惹怒了日神，他就永远不会帮我们了。”
“我们为什么要他帮忙？”松鸦羽走出来，站在他们的身边，他的声音很平静，头向一边歪着，“那个预言并没有说任何需要帮助的事情。日神怎么可能比我们还强大？”
“我们还没有群星的力量，不是吗？”狮焰竭力让他的同窝猫明白的时候，肚子翻腾着，“让他把他知道的教给我们。这有什么坏处？然后他就会说出，我们的父亲是谁。”
他沮丧地意识到，来到废弃的两脚兽巢穴根本没有意义。冬青叶和松鸦羽都不准备和日神理智地谈判。他们可能跟族群里的其他猫一样，相信是日神杀了蜡毛。或许他们应该直接返回山谷了。
他回头看着巢穴入口，发现日神正站在那里。他闪烁的淡黄色目光扫视着他们。“你们还没准备好听我的，”他说道，“等你们准备好了，再过来吧。我还会在这里等着你们。”
第二十四章
 第二十四章
当冬青叶和狮焰、松鸦羽向营地走去的时候，失望得皮毛一阵阵刺痛。他们离弄清楚父亲是谁，是如此接近！但是日神很享受藏起答案、让他们够不到的乐趣，就像把一小块美味多汁的猎物留给自己独自享用一样。
如果不是狮焰把我拉开，我可能已经逼他说出来了！
冬青叶非常生气，所以几乎没有注意到周围的环境。突然，松鸦羽在她的腹部狠狠地推了一下，差点儿把她推倒在地。“干什么？！”她开口喊道。
狮焰的尾巴拍在了她的嘴巴上。“影族！”他嘶嘶地说道，“藏起来！”
他们三个都伏下身子，藏在一片黑莓丛下。一根刺扎进了冬青叶的脚垫里，她气恼地低声骂了一句，使劲地把它舔了出来。这时，她周围的影族气息已经非常浓了。
“藤尾、烟足和枭爪，”狮焰一边向黑莓丛外张望，一边跟他俩汇报道，“他们正在边界巡逻。我希望他们没闻到我们的气息。”
巡逻队并没有发出挑衅的号叫，他们的气息渐渐消失了，只有边界标记的气息还在。
“我觉得现在出去安全了。”过了几个心跳的时间，狮焰说道，“我们尽快回到我们自己的领地吧！”
他带头冲过粗糙的草地，穿过榛树丛和几丛蕨叶，冲过雷族领地的边界标记，在距离雷族边界几只狐狸身长的地方停下来，大口喘着气。
“我们最好在回去的路上抓些猎物，”他告诉他们，“这样我们就可以装作是去外面狩猎了。”
松鸦羽点点头：“而且我也得去找蓍草了。如果我空着爪子回去，叶池就想知道为什么了。”
尽管冬青叶听从了狮焰的提议，轻轻地穿过灌木丛，竖着耳朵，张开嘴巴搜寻着猎物的气息，可是她的皮毛因恼怒而抖动着。我们不该这样撒谎！为什么我们不能为我们做的事感到骄傲？
在跟踪一只松鼠的时候，她仍然在想怎样才能让日神告诉他们父亲的名字。我会做任何事情。任何事情！她的脑子里不停地思考着。她想起她是多么轻松就咬进了蜡毛的喉咙……
不，别想那件事！蜡毛必须得死，因为他会毁掉一切。现在他不重要了，我们才是重要的那些猫！
冬青叶不自觉地撕扯着爪子下的苔藓，那只松鼠被惊动了，它跳起来，安全地冲到了最近的树上。
“老鼠屎！”冬青叶骂道。
“你到底怎么了？”狮焰嘴里叼着一只画眉走了过来，“你是想让猎物跑过来，钻到你的爪子下吗？”
冬青叶耸耸肩，然后转身走开了。我们的父亲知道了我们是谁，他一定会非常自豪！或许他还不知道有我们！或许他一直想要幼崽，那么现在，他有三位武士至亲，将陪伴他的余生了。
离营地更近的时候，她设法抓到了一只老鼠。即使连她自己也不得不承认，那只老鼠看起来太老了、已经快要死了，甚至都不准备逃跑。猎物太稀缺了，他们到达石头山谷的时候，她和狮焰再也没抓到别的猎物。不过松鸦羽已经找到了一大丛蓍草，现在正叼着一大束草药走过来。
当冬青叶走进空地的时候——后面跟着她的同窝猫——发现蛛足、桦落和榛尾正聚在猎物堆旁。
“我觉得日神并没有离开。”当冬青叶带着猎物，从他们旁边经过的时候，她听到桦落说道，“他一定还藏在什么地方。”
榛尾颤抖着说：“我希望不是那样。我一直觉得我们不应该把他带回来。”
蛛足耸了耸肩：“他不可能再做任何伤害雷族的事了。他喜欢去哪儿就去哪儿吧。”
“然后杀死更多的猫？”榛尾脖子上的毛立了起来，“那么想才是鼠脑子！”
“如果他还在附近，我们的巡逻队会发现他的，”桦落安慰着她，用尾巴碰了碰她的肩膀，“而且火星……”
他被尘毛的一声大喊打断了，尘毛跳过蛇洞周围的屏障。“我警告过每一只猫了，”暗棕色虎斑武士说道，“那只塞了死亡浆果的老鼠不能碰。那条蛇一定还在附近。”他冲出去警告黑莓掌和他的巡逻队，他们正要从通道走出来。
一股力量从耳朵到尾巴流过冬青叶的全身。雷族从来没有这样有活力！每只猫都在工作，共同面对周围的威胁。没有什么是他们不能做的！如果我能领导他们，我也可以做任何事情！
“冬青叶！”叶池在她的身后喊着，黑色母猫被吓了一跳。她把猎物放进猎物堆，回头看见了巫医和她身边的松鼠飞。
“我们需要谈谈。”松鼠飞说道。
冬青叶盯着叶池，心突然怦怦地跳了起来。她要把我做的事告诉其他猫吗？
然后叶池对她轻微地摇了一下头，冬青叶这才如释重负。
“你想跟我们说什么？”狮焰问道。他过来放下猎物的时候听到了松鼠飞说的话。
“是啊，我们要谈什么？”松鸦羽补充道，他嘴里塞满了蓍草，挑衅的话语有些含混不清。
“不是在这里。”叶池看了一眼附近的猫，低声说道，“跟我们到树林里去。”
冬青叶犹豫着，跟狮焰交换了一个眼神。狮焰似乎也正在等她的决定。冬青叶点了点头：“好，我们就和你们谈谈。”
松鸦羽把蓍草放在巫医巢穴后，松鼠飞走在前头进入了森林，一直走到了一棵巨大的橡树下，橡树的树根上长满了苔藓。
“说吧，”松鸦羽问道，语气有些尖锐，“这一切到底是怎么回事？”
松鼠飞和叶池久久地注视着这三只同窝猫。冬青叶意识到，虽然她们两个的差别是如此大，但是眼神却是一样的。她不想承认，不想承认那就是爱。
最后松鼠飞深深地吸了一口气。“叶池是你们的母亲，”她开口说道，“不过我想说的是，我一直像对亲生骨肉一样爱你们。我们一起抚养了你们，这才是最重要的事情。”
“你是用谎言抚养我们的！”冬青叶嘶嘶地叫道，她的兄弟都没来得及做出反应。“我对你们都无话可说。”她没理会狮焰和松鸦羽脸上的震惊，又补充道，“走吧，这里没有母亲。一个母亲应该用讲出真相来爱她的孩子。”
她又站了一会儿，享受着她的拒绝给这两只母猫带来的痛苦，然后猛地转过身，开始向营地的方向大步走去。
“冬青叶，等等！”狮焰叫道。
冬青叶回头看着，愤怒涌过她的全身，她龇着牙咆哮道：“走啊！”
狮焰跳过去追她，一个心跳的时间过后，松鸦羽也追了过来。“真是鼠脑子！”他反对道，“我们至少可以谈谈。她们或许正准备说出我们想要知道的事情。”
“比如父亲的名字？”冬青叶咆哮着，她没有停下爪子，“不，现在问她们也毫无意义。我们只会得到更多的谎言。”她抽动着尾巴，拼命让自己不去想松鼠飞和叶池。“日神会告诉我们的。”她宣称道。
“把苔藓弄到这里来，”冬青叶指挥着，“白翅的幼崽很快就要出生了，她需要一个真正舒适的巢穴。”自从前一天跟日神经历了悲惨的会面后，她就一直努力地想忘掉被背叛的感觉，把精力集中在族群职责上，可是她做不到。当她知道自己根本就不该出生后，她还怎么让自己做一位优秀的武士？每只猫都知道，巫医不允许生幼崽。她和她的同窝猫的出生是一个错误，是叶池一直羞于承认的错误。或许他们真正的父亲不会这样想……
狐爪和冰爪带着巨大的苔藓球，摇摇晃晃走过入口进入育婴室。育婴室里挤满了猫后和打闹的幼崽，白翅在不远处蜷缩着身子。
“谢谢，冬青叶。”她说道，“当你自己收了学徒的时候，一定会是个很优秀的老师。”
“我也希望是这样。”冬青叶回答道。我怎么会有学徒？他们要是知道了我的事情，我还怎么教年轻的猫学习武士守则？
她正在帮两位学徒把苔藓铺开，突然被空地传来的一声惊叫吓了一跳。还没等她抬头细看，小玫瑰就冲进了育婴室，身上的每根毛都竖了起来。“是影族！”她吱吱地叫道，“在营地里有影族猫！”
黛西走过去安抚受到惊吓的幼崽，冬青叶转身猛冲出去，弹出爪尖，准备发起攻击。不过她一来到开阔地，就放松下来。只有三只猫来到了营地，蛛足和鼠须在两侧押送着，他们是黄毛、橡毛和藤尾。火星正穿过空地，去迎接他们，他火焰色的皮毛在落日绯红色的光下闪闪发亮，雷族的其他猫都跟在他的身后。
冬青叶走到狮焰和松鸦羽的身边。“这到底是怎么回事？”她低声问道，“日神又惹麻烦了？”
狮焰摇了摇头：“我不知道。”
“你好。”火星低头向影族巡逻队致意，“日神已经离开了。”
“我们来这里，不是为了日神。”黄毛直截了当地说道，“昨天我们在影族边界附近看见了三只雷族猫——就在你们的领地外。他们在干什么？”
“老鼠屎！”松鸦羽低声骂道。冬青叶觉得她的毛开始立了起来。如果火星查出了我们正在做的事情，我们就得变成鸦食！
“三只雷族猫？”火星问道，“你们确定吗？”
“我们闻到他们留下的气息，知道是雷族猫的，”黄毛反驳道，“而且藤尾还仔细地看过他们。藤尾，把他们指出来。”
影族母猫走上前来，用尾巴指着冬青叶、狮焰和松鸦羽：“就是这三只猫。”
其他雷族猫倒吸一口凉气。冬青叶挑衅地面对着他们。我们没有骚扰影族！为什么他们要来找麻烦？
火星若有所思地看了三只同窝猫一眼。冬青叶觉得她的皮毛开始发热，让她很不舒服，但是她忍住了颤抖。然后雷族族长转回去看着影族巡逻队。
“我敢肯定，我的武士出现在那里一定有很重要的事。”他说道，“你应该知道，巫医不可能成为入侵队的一员。你们有没有觉得他们可能是在找草药？”
三只猫都点点头。松鸦羽补充道：“是蓍草！”似乎他正在等着影族猫的反驳。
“草药……”黄毛嘶嘶地叫出这个词，声音小得刚好能被听到。很明显，她并不相信这个说法，可是她也不打算指责雷族猫撒谎。
“我很抱歉，他们错误地走到了离你们边界如此近的地方，”火星继续说道，“这种事以后不会再发生了。”
“但愿不会了！”黄毛反驳道。她转过身，甩了一下尾巴，把巡逻队召集到一起，然后向荆棘通道走去。蛛足和鼠须跟在他们身后，护送他们离开营地。
走到营地入口，黄毛回头看了一眼。“火星，我希望你能迅速恢复对雷族的掌控。”她说完，没等任何猫答话，就消失在通道里。
冬青叶知道，火星穿过空地，向他们走过来的时候，族猫们都在盯着她和她的兄弟。她强迫自己直面他灼灼的绿眼睛。
“不管你们在那里干什么，我都不想知道。”他的声音严厉而烦躁，“只是不要再这么做了。你们不觉得我现在要处理的事情已经够多了吗？”
那我们呢？冬青叶愤恨地想着，你根本不知道我们正经历着什么。
“对不起，火星。”狮焰说道。
火星只是叹息了一下，然后跳到沙风、灰条和其他猫身边，和他们一起围在猎物堆旁。
看到火星走远了，冬青叶就转向她的兄弟：“我们必须……”
狮焰用尾巴警告地碰了一下她的肩膀，她停止了说话，转头发现黑莓掌正走过来。哦，这真是太好了！
副族长停下来，用冰冷的琥珀色眼睛打量着三只猫：“你们要不要和我说说你们干了什么事情？”
冬青叶闭紧了嘴巴，叛逆地看着虎斑武士。她身边的狮焰和松鸦羽也都默不作声。
“我不知道你们最近怎么了。”黑莓掌叹了口气，“你们都……”
“嗨，黑莓掌！”站在武士巢穴外的尘毛打断了他，“今晚，我来带领黄昏巡逻队。你想让哪些猫跟我一起去？”
“我得走了。”黑莓掌向冬青叶和她的同窝猫说道，“只是别再惹乱子，好吗？”
冬青叶看着他离开，把兄弟俩拉到一起：“明天我们就回去找日神。我不在乎影族怎么想。我们必须知道真相！”
狮焰警惕地看着她，好像想要确认她是否会再次对日神发脾气。但是松鸦羽看起来却是一副若有所思的样子。最后，狮焰点了点头：“我同意，这一次他必须告诉我们。而且，如果他拒绝了，我们就要逼他说。记住，预言属于我们，不属于他。”
第二十五章
 第二十五章
太阳升到了日高点，然后躲了起来。这时，冬青叶和她的兄弟们溜出去，向废弃的两脚兽巢穴进发。夜里的时候，云就开始慢慢聚积，他们到达雷族领地边界上的时候，雨开始沙沙地下起来了。
他们越过边界，狮焰就带着他们穿过一丛丛小树，尽量与影族边界保持着足够的距离。三只猫全都警惕地注意着任何影族巡逻队的影子。
如果我们这次再被抓住，那就真有麻烦了。冬青叶心想。
当他们到达废弃的两脚兽巢穴时，日神正坐在入口处，好像正等着他们。
“欢迎你们！”当三只猫穿过低垂下来的黑莓藤，来到巢穴跟前的时候，日神站起身说道，“我知道你们今天会来。”
“我们这次有话直说吧！”冬青叶在其他猫开口前说道，“我们不想再争论什么了。只要你说出我们父亲的名字，我们就让你帮助我们实现预言。”
日神盯着她，眼睛闪闪发亮。冬青叶心里一颤。她曾经觉得她可以用一生来看着他的眼睛，听他的声音。虽然她知道他有多么危险，但是她仍然摆脱不了他的魅力诱惑。
“我们要进到里边吗？”日神提议道，好像觉得这只是一次友好的拜访。
冬青叶和其他猫跟着日神进到潮湿的巢穴里，然后抖落皮毛上的雨滴，最后在裂开的石头地板上找了个地方，蜷伏了下来。
“你可能需要找一个新住所，”冬青叶警告独行猫，“影族派巡逻队去见火星，汇报说我们走出了雷族的领地。”
“什么？”日神的毛开始竖了起来，“黑星怎么敢这么做？他有什么权利命令其他族群的猫到哪里去？”
“是呀，他觉得他可以。”松鸦羽低声说道。
“你们没有做错任何事！”日神大声说道，他的毛竖了起来，淡黄色的眼睛里闪着怒火，“黑星在用这种方式侮辱雷族。”
“那倒不一定。”狮焰不安地看着他们，“我觉得黑星只是过于急切地想证明，他一直遵守着武士守则。”
日神轻蔑地哼了一声：“武士守则！信仰星族！我不明白，你们这些猫为什么总觉得这很重要。”
冬青叶心里一紧。不！武士守则比什么都重要！但是她知道，她必须保持冷静。如果他们跟日神吵了起来，他们可能就会失去知道父亲是谁的机会。
“我知道的比星族多得多，”日神继续说道，“它们能告诉你们太阳会消失吗？你们很清楚，它们不能。那不就意味着，我比你们的武士祖灵还要强大？而且，我不依靠什么预言就已经这么强大，你们三只拥有预言力量的猫，又该有多么厉害的力量啊！”
狮焰的眼睛放着光。松鸦羽下意识地伸缩着爪子。冬青叶费了很大的劲才没让自己被日神的声音迷惑。到目前为止，他什么也没告诉我们，冬青叶提醒着自己，他的话就像迷雾和阳光，没有一点明确的东西。
“这些都很好，”她厉声说道，“可是我们该怎么做呢？”
“影族猫一无是处！”日神继续说道，“他们没有权利拥有他们的领地——如果不干涉他们，他们很快就会入侵你们雷族。你们需要伪造证据，说影族正在偷雷族的猎物，这样一来，你们族长就可以对他们发动攻击。一旦你们获得了影族的领地，你们就可以入侵河族和风族。”他继续往下说的时候，环顾着四周，把声音降低成一种低沉而颤抖的呼噜声，“那才是绝对的力量，控制湖边领地上所有猫的力量！”
冬青叶盯着日神，觉得自己的爪子刺痛起来。这真的是他们为了获得力量，必须要做的事吗？和敌对族群的每只猫战斗？她试图想象火星会允许这么做，但马上就觉得这不可能。
“我不认为……”她不确定地开口道。
可是日神没听她说话。他走到巢穴的另一个角落，从阴影里拖出一只兔子。当他把那只兔子放到冬青叶的面前时，她闻到猎物的气息里混杂着影族的气息。
“我在影族领地抓住了这个，然后在影族的气味标记上擦了几下，”日神解释道，“你们可以把它带回营地，然后告诉你的族猫，你们追丢了一支影族巡逻队。”他的眼里闪烁着冰冷的笑意，“影族怎样否认这件事呢？那些愚蠢的猫，他们宁愿相信死去的祖灵讲述的育婴室故事，也不愿努力分辨真相。关于星族预兆的说法全是胡说八道！”
冬青叶看了看狮焰。他正眯起眼睛盯着日神，脖子上的毛慢慢地竖了起来。
“你跟虎星没什么不同，”狮焰低声咆哮道，“你这么做不是为了我们，你只是为了自己的野心。”
狮焰绷起肌肉，纵身向前跳起，爪子向日神伸去。冬青叶急忙向狮焰扑去，在他的爪子刺进日神的皮毛之前，把他撞开了。
“你在干什么？”她喘着粗气，把哥哥按在地上。
“这不是预言的内容。”狮焰把冬青叶甩开，然后坐起来盯着日神，“他只是想利用我们。那力量是我们的，不是他的！”
“你说得对。”松鸦羽站起身，向日神弹了一下尾巴。日神一点也没害怕狮焰的攻击，也没回应他的指责。“日神并不关心我们。他仍然在和影族进行秘密的战斗，因为黑星使他离开了他们的领地。那场战斗跟我们没关系。我们一定可以找出父亲是谁，但不是在这里。”松鸦羽说道。
狮焰站起身来。“我们就要走了，”他大声说道，“而且我们不会再回来。”
冬青叶半信半疑地盯着他。“我们不能这样！”她抗议道，“我们需要知道……”
“我们不需要日神告诉我们任何事情，”狮焰坚持说道，“我们一直那么傻，竟然会信任他。难道你还不明白，他只是想挑起族群之间的战争吗？预言里根本没提到这些内容。预言说我们的力量是与生俱来的，我们不应该为获取它而战！走吧！”
他跨着大步，走出了巢穴，松鸦羽费力地跟在他的身后。冬青叶走了一步，然后回头看了看日神。但是独行猫只是看着她，没给她任何帮助。
发出一声混杂着狂怒和绝望的嘶叫，冬青叶向同窝猫追了过去。我们三个是一体的！我不能自行其是！
狮焰和松鸦羽站在巢穴外几只狐狸身长的地方，在瓢泼大雨中等着她。她来到他们身边的时候，日神出现在了巢穴入口处。
“等等！”他叫道，“你们难道不想知道你们的父亲是谁吗？”
狮焰没理他。“走吧，”他对冬青叶说道，“这不是找出真相的唯一方法。我们是为自己去做这件事，而不是为了别的猫。”
冬青叶低下头，妥协了。不过她跟在狮焰身边穿行在湿滑的草地上时，仍然能感到日神淡黄色的目光在盯着她。
第二十六章
 第二十六章
三只同窝猫跌跌撞撞地返回石头山谷时，松鸦羽早已筋疲力尽，爪子几乎没有感觉，而且大雨也让他的皮毛贴在了身体上。他觉得自己就像挣扎在谎言和黑暗编织成的巨大蜘蛛网里，一只看不见的蜘蛛正在等着扑上来。
在废弃的两脚兽巢穴时，他一直很确定，放弃相信日神是正确的。但是现在，他却不敢肯定了。如果独行猫真的是找到真相的唯一途径，他们该怎么办？
而且，如果火星问我们去了哪里，我们该怎么说？他会把我们撕碎，扔到猎物堆上的。
但是当他蹒跚着走进空地，却听到一阵兴奋的嗡嗡声正从族猫中间传来。族猫们正在育婴室附近聚在一起，没有猫注意到松鸦羽和他的同窝猫。
“你们在干什么？”狮焰问道。
一阵突然的爪子落地声回答了他的问题——狐爪正向他们冲过来。“是白翅！”他匆忙道，“她正在生幼崽。”
就在同一时间，松鸦羽听见亮心从育婴室里喊道：“松鸦羽！快点过来！叶池需要你！”
松鸦羽忍住了叹息。他更希望溜回自己的巢穴，把皮毛弄干，然后睡一觉。但事与愿违，他只能无奈地走向育婴室，从桦落身边擦过——桦落正焦急地撕扯着草地。
他走进里边。黛西和米莉已经把自己的幼崽赶回了他们的窝里，给白翅和叶池留出空间。年轻的白色母猫侧躺着，呼吸变得又快又浅。
“你做得很好。”叶池安慰着她，“而且你的幼崽也很好，我们会让你不知不觉中生下他们的。”
“我也希望是这样。”白翅喘息着。
即使叶池听起来很平静，松鸦羽也能感觉到她的恐惧。他走近了些，叶池在他的耳边低声说：“她已经耗尽了力气。我担心她没有足够的力气生出幼崽了。”
松鸦羽把一只爪子轻轻地放在白翅鼓起的肚子上，然后集中精力。他能感觉到她的身体里有两个心跳，微弱但是很平稳。“她肚子里有两只幼崽，”他告诉她们，“加油，白翅！你做得到的。”
没事的，小幼崽们，他蹲伏在白翅的身边，默默地鼓励着，你们很快就要生出来了，只差一点点了。
突然，他的思绪滑进了白翅的脑海里。他听见了凶狠的吼叫声，看见张开的大嘴和垂在外面的舌头，好像年轻的白色猫后正在想象她的幼崽被狗群进攻，就像她的母亲亮心经历的那样。他听见了雷族猫与其他族群作战时的尖叫，看见深深的爪印中汩汩地流出鲜血，在苍白的皮毛中显得格外刺眼。他远眺着被大雪覆盖的森林，感到饥饿的利爪正在揪着他的肚子。
松鸦羽慢慢收回思绪，大脑里充满了震惊。一个母亲在生下孩子前，真的会想着孩子的一生吗？当白翅静静地乞求他的帮助时，他能感觉到她的恐惧。
他回过神来，弯下身子，靠近这只年轻的母猫。“别担心！”他低声说道，“你的孩子不会有事的。她们会被族猫宠爱和保护。”他伸出一只爪子，轻轻地抚摩着白翅的肚子：“现在，时间到了。”
“是的。”白翅喘息道。
松鸦羽感觉一股猛烈的波浪滚过白翅的肚子。白翅发出一声尖叫，然后，一团又小又湿的东西滑了出来，滚落在苔藓上。
“她一切都好吧？”白翅喘息着问。
“她很好，”松鸦羽安慰着她，“现在另一个要出来了。”
白翅静静地躺了一会儿，然后她的背弓了起来，另一股波浪滚过她的肚子，接着，又有一团小东西滑到了窝里。
“太棒了！”叶池大叫道，“你们好，幼崽们！欢迎来到雷族。”
第一只幼崽大声地尖叫着，然后叶池发出一声轻柔的欢快的叫声。“这只幼崽看起来很小，但是很强壮。来，小家伙，到妈妈那里去。”
“她们太漂亮了！”白翅满意地呼噜着，“谢谢你，松鸦羽。还有你，叶池。”她用一只爪子把小猫崽拉到身边，然后开始仔细地舔着她们。
松鸦羽向育婴室的入口走去，一股满足的波浪传遍了全身。“桦落！”他叫道，“过来见见你的女儿们。”
桦落冲过松鸦羽的身边，跌跌撞撞地跑了进去。松鸦羽被他身上溢出的轻松和喜悦的情绪惊得趔趄了一下。“白翅，你没事吧？”他哽咽道，“噢，感谢星族！多漂亮的孩子呀！”
他蹲伏在叶池身边——她正在照料白翅——松鸦羽不知道，他和自己的同窝手足出生的时候，叶池是不是也有同样的感觉。我们的父亲也那么开心吗？
他比任何时候都更想和叶池谈谈，听她是怎么说的，然后了解真相。他们正一起亲密地工作，有几个心跳的时间，他觉得这行得通。“叶池……”他开口道。
叶池转向他。“她现在很好，”这位巫医说着，打断了松鸦羽想说的话，“去给我找些补充体力的草药，再带些琉璃苣的叶子给她催奶。”
时机就这样过去了。“好的。”松鸦羽回答道，然后他悄悄走出了育婴室。
他送完草药时，雨慢慢地停了。松鸦羽走向猎物堆，想找一点东西吃，然后再回到巢穴去。有几只猫正聚在猎物堆周围分享猎物。松鸦羽蹲伏下来吃田鼠的时候，他们的快乐感染了他。
“在秃叶季，生幼崽是很艰难的，”香薇云说道，“白翅做得真好。”
“她也会把她们抚养得很好。”说话的是鼠毛，她听起来没有平时那么尖刻，“白翅是族群里最好的猫。她还是学徒的时候，一直都保证我们有新鲜的苔藓，而且还是干的。”
“这些幼崽长大到离开育婴室的时候，我们一直都得当心自己的尾巴。”尘毛的声音里带着一丝玩笑，“她们有你的血统，云尾。我们都知道，你还是幼崽的时候，可是没少给火星惹麻烦。”
云尾咆哮道：“她们会成为优秀武士的，尘毛。任何一只猫敢不赞同，我就抓掉他的耳朵。”
松鸦羽正吃着他的猎物，冬青叶和狮焰走了过来，坐在他的身边静静地听着开心的谈话。松鸦羽停住了一个心跳的时间，然后才继续吃猎物。他们都不想参与这个话题，但是松鸦羽感觉到，他们都觉得彼此之间的亲密不复存在了。
“我记得你们仨还是幼崽的时候，”蕨毛靠近几步，金棕色的虎斑猫用尾巴弹了一下松鸦羽的耳朵，“居然去追狐狸！你们三个当中有一只能活下来当上学徒，都得算是奇迹。”
“是呀，你说得很对。”松鸦羽嘀咕道。忽然，他再也无法忍受族猫的快乐了。他没再说一句话，甚至没搭理他的同窝猫，吞下最后一口田鼠肉，然后朝自己的巢穴走去。
松鸦羽蜷缩在自己的窝里，被爪子落地声惊醒了。他睁开眼睛，看见一只精瘦的灰色母猫低头看着他。
“黄牙！”他大叫着坐了起来。他还在巫医巢穴，苍白的月光洒在自己的身体上。叶池蜷缩着身子，在两三条尾巴之外的地方熟睡着。
前任巫医猫将一根长长的黑色羽毛丢在松鸦羽窝里的苔藓上。“是揭开所有谎言和秘密的时候了，”她说道，“我要把真相说出来。这么长时间了，星族都没说出你们的真实身份，这是错误的。”
“那么……”松鸦羽张口问道。但是黄牙的身影已经开始消失，最后融合在月光中，不见了。月光也突兀地消失了。松鸦羽从梦里醒来的时候，发现自己正待在黑暗中。
“老鼠屎！为什么每只猫都不能有话直说呢？”他嘶嘶地说道。但是，肚子里沉重冰冷的感觉让他意识到，黄牙已经说出了他想知道的事情。
他触摸着巢穴周围，找到了黄牙丢下的羽毛，然后把爪子放在又长又滑的羽毛上。他能想象出，羽毛在银色的月光下会反射出多么黑的光。
“她带给我一根乌鸦的羽毛……”他小声说道。
他飞快地爬出窝，轻轻地走出巢穴，小心翼翼地行动着，并没有惊醒叶池。一走进空地，他就冲向武士巢穴。他匍匐到武士巢穴外，嗅着空气，直到确定了狮焰的位置——他正睡在比较靠外的枝条下。
松鸦羽摸索着周围，找到了一小段掉在地上的树枝。他把树枝探过荆棘丛，直到感觉另一端戳到了狮焰。
“谁呀？走开！”狮焰猛拍着那根枝条。
“狮焰！”松鸦羽嘶嘶地叫道，尽量靠近武士巢穴里的哥哥，“我得跟你说件事。带上冬青叶。”
“现在是午夜时分！”狮焰反对道。
“声音小一些！你想吵醒营地里的每只猫吗？这很重要！我们必须找个地方谈谈。”
“好的，好的，别那么着急！”
松鸦羽耐心地等着，直到他的同窝猫钻出了灌木丛。
“你是什么意思？找个地方？”狮焰低声说道，“去哪里？”
“到森林里去。我们再找个说话的地方。”
冬青叶打了个哈欠：“希望你要说的话值得我们这么做。”
“肯定会的。”松鸦羽保证道。
三只猫穿过排便处通道，溜出了营地，他们一直走在阴影中，以免惊动了正在警戒的罂粟霜。然后松鸦羽领着他们穿过通往风族边界的森林。
“外面太冷，”冬青叶抱怨着，“你要是再不说，我连一爪子都不走了。”
“好吧。”松鸦羽转身面对着他的同窝猫，“我知道我们的父亲是谁了。”他犹豫着，差点儿被哥哥和姐姐迸发的激情惊倒。他深吸了一口气，继续说道：“是鸦羽。”
有几个心跳的时间，周围一片沉默。他的同窝猫心里翻滚的感情是如此复杂，以至于松鸦羽知道，他永远都无法弄清楚。
“我们是混血猫？”最后，冬青叶哽咽着说。
“你是怎么知道的？”狮焰听起来有些难以相信。
“黄牙在梦里找到了我，”松鸦羽解释道，“她告诉我，现在是我们知道真相的时候了，而且她还带给我一根乌鸦羽毛。”
“可是那也不一定意味着……”冬青叶的反驳停止了。三只猫都知道那个征兆意味着什么。竭力假装那不是真的，已经没有意义。
“鸦羽知道这件事吗？”狮焰问道。
“那就是叶池对我们保密的原因吗？”冬青叶插嘴道。
他们的问题难住了松鸦羽。“我不知道，”他告诉他们，“我们必须跟鸦羽谈谈。走吧。”
三只猫沉默着穿过森林。他们穿过灌木丛时，之前大雨形成的水珠溅湿了他们的皮毛。一阵寒风吹过，吹乱了他们的皮毛。松鸦羽听见，醒来的鸟儿在他的头顶发出第一声鸟鸣。
他的大脑飞速旋转着。这是怎么发生的？他们的母亲是一位巫医，他们的父亲是风族的武士。他们应该明白，他们永远不可能在一起。
如果我们根本不该来到世上，怎么可能是预言的一部分？
狮焰走在松鸦羽的身边，怒火中烧。他对那些猫非常愤怒，他们背弃了武士守则，又编了一大堆谎言欺骗自己生下的幼崽。在松鸦羽的另一边，冬青叶感到一片迷茫，她混乱的思绪仍然难以解读。
最后，松鸦羽听见了边界小溪传来的潺潺水声，还闻到了新鲜湖水的气息。“天还很早，”他提醒道，“不过我们可以拦下他们的黎明巡逻队。”
他们在岸边停下来。松鸦羽的腿累得直发抖。他很想一头栽进水边的高草里，不过他知道，他必须站着，勇敢面对自己的父亲。
鸟儿的歌唱在他们周围越来越响亮，寒冷的夜正在渐渐退去。最后，松鸦羽闻到了一股风族猫的气息。就在此时，冬青叶叫道：“他们在那儿！”
“是枭须、金雀花尾和鼬毛。”狮焰说道，“你们在这里等着。我去跟他们谈谈。”
“等……”松鸦羽听到狮焰跳过了小溪，连忙喊道。但是他的哥哥已经走了，他太愤怒了，所以没有注意到他已经越过了边界。
“你这是要干什么？”枭须喝问道。
狮焰所有压抑着的愤怒都在声音里爆发出来：“把鸦羽带来，快点！”
“什么？”鼬毛惊呼道，“你以为你是谁，敢命令我们做什么？”
“对！”金雀花尾补充道，“回到你们自己的领地上去，否则我们就剥了你的皮。”
狮焰发出一声低吼。松鸦羽能想象到，狮焰正向三只风族猫逼近，金色的皮毛蓬松开来，身材变成了原来的两倍大。“照我说的做！”他命令道。
“好吧！”枭须说道，他的声音变得很尖细，似乎正在竭力掩饰着内心的恐惧，“不过你们只能等在你们边界那边。”
松鸦羽听见风族武士跳着离开的声音，然后是狮焰跳回来，跃过小溪时发出砰的一声，站在了自己的身旁。他们等待的时候，狮焰的爪子撕扯着草地，好像他的怒火必须这样才能发泄出来。
松鸦羽闻到风中的风族猫靠近的气息，心里翻腾起来。只有一只猫——是鸦羽独自走了过来。他能感到身边的冬青叶正在颤抖。她的尾巴一直颤抖着，摩擦着他的皮毛。
最后鸦羽的声音从边界的另一侧传来：“你们找我干什么？”
三只同窝猫面对着小溪对面的风族武士，松鸦羽紧张得说不出话来。他听见冬青叶也在急促地喘息着。
但是狮焰并没有犹豫。“黑莓掌和松鼠飞不是我们的父母，”他对鸦羽说道，“叶池是我们的母亲，而你是我们的父亲。”
时间仿佛停住了。过了一会儿，鸦羽呵斥道：“别鼠脑子了，这不可能。”
他说得如此肯定，有一个心跳的时间，松鸦羽甚至怀疑他们是否弄错了。他深吸一口气，进入了鸦羽的大脑。他的面前是一簇灌木，他意识到他正站在石头山谷上方的悬崖上。当鸦羽叼住叶池的脖子，把她拖回到安全的地方时，她正贴在悬崖边上，祈求地仰着脸。
然后他看见他们一起蜷伏在一株灌木下，只听鸦羽说道：“跟我走吧，叶池。我会好好照顾你的，我保证。”接着，两只猫肩并肩地爬上荒原的一段长长的斜坡，然后是在一个山谷里，跟那个叫午夜的獾谈话。“我必须回去。”叶池说道。
猫的尖叫声传来，接着松鸦羽瞥见石头山谷里全是獾，而他的族猫勇猛地向獾发起攻击。这一切的最后，在狼藉的战场上，叶池面对着鸦羽站在空地上。“你的心在这里。”鸦羽喃喃道。松鸦羽几乎无法相信，这位武士听起来是如此温柔：“不在我身上，从来就没有真正和我在一起。”
这个场景只不过是瞬间的事。不过松鸦羽从风族武士的思绪里离开时，他确信黄牙没有欺骗他。正如他断定的那样，鸦羽不知道他是叶池孩子的父亲。
“这是真的，”他说道，“你不知道，是吧？”
“不！”有一个心跳的时间，鸦羽听上去很困惑。然后松鸦羽感觉一股怒气正在鸦羽的心里升起。“我有伴侣，”他咆哮道，“她的名字叫夜云。我们有一个儿子，叫风皮。我不知道你们为什么要向我说这些谎话。回家去，别再回来了。我为什么要担心雷族猫？对我来说，你们什么都不是。什么都不是！”
松鸦羽听见冬青叶喘息着，而狮焰听上去正在用爪子抓着石头。
他平静地面对着他的父亲。“现在真相已经大白，”他警告着鸦羽，“我们都不能再隐瞒下去了。”
第二十七章
 第二十七章
这一天的剩余时间里，冬青叶是在痛苦的迷雾中度过的。她终于躺在了自己的窝里，但梦里却充满了黑暗。厚厚的灌木丛包围着她，几乎看不到一丝天空。她听见有猫在远方号叫，可是不管她跑得有多快，都没法追上他们。
她醒来时，看见曙光正透过武士巢穴的枝条照射进来，她还是觉得没有力气，仿佛她真的一直在黑暗的树林里奔跑一样。她挣扎着站了起来，然后戳了戳狮焰。
“我们现在该怎么办？”当她的哥哥眨着眼睛看着她时，她焦急地小声问道，“我再也不能就这样活下去了！”
“我也不知道。”狮焰飞快地扫了一眼周围的巢穴，就像他担心某些猫偷听一样，“我们等会儿再说。”说完，他钻过了枝条。冬青叶确信他正躲着自己，就紧紧跟了上去。
“冬青叶！狮焰！”他们刚从武士巢穴走出来，黑莓掌就发现了他们，“沙风要带一支狩猎巡逻队出去。你们能跟她一起去吗？”
“没问题！”狮焰说着，转身穿过了空地，来到沙风等着他们的地方，副族长、莓鼻和榛尾就站在旁边。
冬青叶跟在他的身后，仍旧一副失魂落魄的样子，就像她的爪子是其他猫的。既然她知道了关于她的身世的可怕的秘密，她怎么还能适应族群里的每天例行生活？她觉得就像天空裂开了，或者月亮掉到石头山谷里了。
“别忘了，今晚要召开森林大会，”黑莓掌提醒他们，“族猫出发前一定要吃饱。”
“我们会的，别担心！”沙风答应道，她的胡须抖了抖，用尾巴示意狩猎巡逻队向营地入口走去。
冬青叶在后面跟着，但是她没办法把精神集中在狩猎上。痛苦就像闪电撕裂天空一样，让她的脑海一片混乱。她把生命建立在武士守则之上，而现在，武士守则使她失望了。它不再那么重要，而且已经被打破过很多次了。松鼠飞用欺骗打破了它。鸦羽跟一只巫医猫坠入了爱河。不过最重要的是，叶池破坏了守则，然后还把它踩在了泥里。她背叛了她的族群，背叛了巫医的职责，也背叛了自己的孩子。
一只老鼠从冬青叶的爪子前冲了出来。她本能地扑到它的身上，把利爪插进了它柔软的身体。一片跳动的红色薄雾中，叶池的形象出现在她的眼前，她拼命撕扯着那只猎物，想象自己正用力扼杀她如此痛恨的猫的生命。
“冬青叶，停下！”榛尾的声音里充满了震惊，“你在干什么？”
冬青叶的视线又清晰起来。她发现殷红的鲜血沾满了她的爪子，她抓到的猎物已经变成了一团红色的肉酱，没有剩下什么可以带回到猎物堆上了。
怒气涌遍她的全身，她转头看着榛尾：“离我远点儿！”
榛尾倒退两步，恐惧得瞪大了眼睛，猛然转过身，跌进了蕨丛中。
狩猎队回来之后，冬青叶的心里很乱，根本无法待在营地里。她不想再说什么，尤其是对狮焰或者松鸦羽。因此她独自走了出去，下到了湖边，然后沿着风族边界一直走到山顶，在那里眺望起伏的荒野。
那里有个地方就是风族的营地，营地里有一只猫是她的父亲。他的风族血液在她的体内流淌。但是我一点也感觉不到我有风族猫的血统！
冬青叶知道她的家就在森林的下面，她可以追捕老鼠和松鼠。风族领地的兔子总在山上奔跑，看起来又瘦又不好吃。她厌恶这种开阔的地方和狂暴的风。
她出神地盯着父亲的领地，默默地哀号着：“不！不！不！”
当阴影笼罩了石头山谷时，火星召集起所有准备参加森林大会的猫。冬青叶走过去，站在松鸦羽和狮焰的身边，她刻意不看几步之外的松鼠飞和叶池。灰条、黑莓掌和沙风跳了过来，后边跟着炭心、罂粟霜和莓鼻。
“我们出发吧！”火星说道，“对于日神的事，我们还是少说为妙，明白吗？”
他领着雷族猫下到湖边，然后沿着水边，蹚过边界的小溪。冬青叶刚把爪子放在风族领地上，就觉得身上的每根毛都充满了厌恶。我不属于这里！我不想跟风族有任何关系！
这一天早些时候下了大雨，但是现在云已经散尽，只有一轮满月照亮了大地。冬青叶停下来，然后抬头盯着月亮。星族，你们同意我准备做的事情吗？
她每走一步，都警惕地注意着风族猫的身影和气息。她想知道，鸦羽是否也会被选中参加森林大会。那有什么大不了的？她恨恨地想，他对我来说什么都不是！什么都不是！
就在她的前边，火星的身边走着灰条和沙风。“你们知道的，我还是很想念四棵树，”沙风低声说道，“不知怎么的，总感觉那里的月亮更亮。”
火星充满感情地推了她一下：“你怎么听起来像一位长老！”
沙风用尾巴轻轻地拍了他一下：“你等着。我将会成为族群前所未有的最古怪的长老。和我相比，鼠毛会显得更可爱而且温柔！”
“要真是那样，刺猬都会飞了，”灰条说道，“不过我也很想念旧森林。”他又说道，“那里是我们出生的地方。这些年轻些的猫也会同样地看待湖区，是这样的吧？”他回头看着狮焰和冬青叶。
狮焰敷衍地点了点头，冬青叶理都没理他。一阵妒意从她的心底升起，她嫉妒这些知道自己属于哪里的猫。他们清晰地记得在武士守则下生活的日子，一个季节又一个季节。
他们不知道这些全都是谎言！
当雷族猫经过马场时，那里又黑又静。仍然没有风族猫的影子，冬青叶猜想，他们多半已经在前往小岛的路上了。
他们到达树桥的时候，发现河族正在过桥。火星让雷族众武士停下来，冲豹星礼貌地点点头。冬青叶在原地等待的时候，不停地伸缩着爪子，肚子也在抽搐着。
这将会是一个没有猫会忘记的森林大会！
跳下树桥另一端的树根时，她停下来嗅着混杂着其他族群气息的空气。
“我们是最后到的，”炭心说着，在她的身边落地，“我们最好快一点儿。”
冬青叶跟着族猫穿过一片鹅卵石，然后钻进灌木丛中。没必要匆匆忙忙。她已经让自己的爪子走上了自己选择的道路，她采取行动的时间即将到来，就像一个季节结束，下一个季节开始那样确定。
她穿过灌木丛，进入大橡树周围的空地。她犹豫着，看着眼前黑压压的群猫，不由得生出几分敬畏。众猫在树的周围找位置的时候，族群和族群混合在一起。然后冬青叶的爪子带着她往前走，挤开一条路，从众猫身边经过。她几乎没注意到褐皮的问候，也没注意到擦身而过时，影族猫后流露出的被冒犯的表情。她走过去的时候，也根本没去听耳边的闲话。这些现在跟我有什么关系？
她在离大橡树很近的位置找了个地方坐下来，一抬头就看见蹲伏在枝条间的各位族长：一星正舒服地待在一根树杈上；黑星蹲伏在最下面的枝条上，尾巴向下垂着；豹星站在比黑星高一条尾巴的地方，不耐烦地抓着树皮。火星跳上去，和他们坐在一起。枝条在他的爪子下颤动着，几颗晚熟的橡子掉了下来。
狮焰跟在冬青叶身后穿过空地，坐在她的旁边。“鸦羽也在这儿。”他低声说道。
“我知道。”冬青叶早就看见了风族武士，不过他似乎并没注意到她。现在，她看着狮焰尾巴所指的地方，然后看见父亲正坐在夜云和风皮的身旁。鸦羽的头转开了，不过冬青叶猜测，他非常清楚地知道，她和哥哥在哪里。他所有的孩子马上就要在这里聚齐了。对他来说，这是多美好的事啊！
一声刺耳的号叫从树枝中间传来，然后豹星走上前。空地上的吵闹声安静了下来，众猫都静静地抬头看着她。
“森林大会现在开始。”她宣布道，“河族先进行通报。我们的猎物情况良好；雾脚、芦苇须和雨暴从我们的领地上赶走了一只狐狸。”她向黑星简单地点了一下头，退了回去。
影族族长站了起来。冬青叶在他的正下方把爪子插进泥土里，全身紧张得瑟瑟发抖。突然她不确定自己应该什么时候行动。星族，如果你们正在看着我，就给我一个征兆吧！
“影族正在壮大，”黑星通报道，“小云已经挑选焰爪做他的学徒，并在月亮池把他引荐给了星族。”
道贺的低语声从猫群中升起，还有几只猫呼喊着：“焰爪！焰爪！”冬青叶发现这只年轻猫正坐在小云和其他巫医旁边，眼睛里充满了自豪。她的心就像被无数爪子撕扯着一般。我也曾经有过这种感觉！
黑星过后，就轮到了一星。但是他什么都没有告诉他们，只说在边界的小溪里有一只死羊，他的武士为了保持溪水干净，已经把它拖了出来。
接着就轮到了火星。他站起来，在树枝上稳住身子，然后看向下面的空地，绿色的眼睛在月光下闪闪发亮。“日神已经离开了森林，”他开口说道，“我们……”
“他也该离开了。”黑星低声咆哮。
豹星低头礼貌而冷淡地向火星致意：“我很高兴你终于明白了事态的严重性，火星。”
火星也同样礼貌地点头回礼，不过冬青叶能看出，他的爪子紧紧地抓着树枝：“此外……”
就是现在！
“等等！”冬青叶跳了起来，“有些事情我不得不说给所有的族群听。”
“什么？”狮焰冲上前，用一只爪子拉着她，试图让她再次坐好，“你是鼠脑子吗？武士不能在这里讲话！”
“我就可以！”冬青叶嘶嘶地叫着，挣脱了他。她看见松鸦羽坐在其他巫医中间，一脸的恐惧。不过她没有理会。
“你以为你……”她开口说道。
“冬青叶！”火星的声音从他俯视着冬青叶的树上传来，他的眼睛里燃烧着绿色的火焰，“如果你有什么重要的事情要在这里说，就应该先和我讨论。现在闭上嘴，不管是什么事困扰着你，明天我会跟你谈的。”
长久以来，冬青叶都是遵循着武士守则生活，这差点儿就迫使她闭上嘴，重新坐好。我必须服从族长的命令！但接着她就站稳了。武士守则已经死了！再试图遵守它，已经没有任何意义。
“不！”她说道，没有理会周围众猫发出的惊讶的喘息声，“我现在就要说！”
“让她说！”豹星重新走上前来，好奇地俯视着冬青叶，“我很想听听她究竟要说什么。”
“我也是。”一星低声吼道。
“难道是雷族有什么秘密，不敢当众说出来？”黑星奚落着，轻蔑地向火星甩了甩尾巴。
来自其他三个族群的猫都挑衅着雷族，号叫声从空地周围爆发出来。冬青叶站在喧闹之中，感到出奇的平静。她知道她只需要再等几个心跳的时间。
最后火星扬起尾巴，示意众猫安静。“非常好，冬青叶！”等吵闹声消失的时候，他说道，“把你必须说的话说出来吧。愿星族保佑你不会后悔。”
现在，空地如此安静，冬青叶甚至能听见一只老鼠从大橡树下的枯叶中跑过。“你们以为，你们了解我，”她再次开口道，“还有我的兄弟，雷族的狮焰和松鸦羽。你们以为你们了解我们。不过你们告诉我们的关于我们的所有事情都是谎言！我们不是黑莓掌和松鼠飞的孩子！”
“什么？”和其他副族长一起坐在大橡树的树根中间的黑莓掌一下子跳了起来，他琥珀色的眼睛闪烁着怒火，“松鼠飞，她为什么要胡说八道？”
松鼠飞站了起来。她眼睛里的惊慌已经消失，然后代替它的是什么？悔恨？自责？或者是一位将要失去孩子的母亲的悲伤……
“对不起，黑莓掌，不过这是真的。我不是他们的母亲，而且你也不是他们的父亲。”
副族长盯着她：“那么谁是他们的父亲？”
松鼠飞转过她悲伤的绿眼睛，看着这只她一直称为女儿的猫：“告诉他们，冬青叶。我已经保守这个秘密好几个季节了，我现在也不想说出来。”
“懦弱！”冬青叶扫了她一眼。她的目光扫视着空地，看到每只猫的眼睛都注视着她。“我不怕说出真相！叶池是我们的母亲，而鸦羽——对，风族的鸦羽——是我们的父亲。”
她的话引起了一片惊呼，但是冬青叶的声音盖过了他们：“但这两只猫以我们为耻，把我们抛弃，然后再通过向你们每只猫撒谎，隐瞒他们破坏武士守则的事实。这都是她的错。”她挥动尾巴，指着叶池，“族群内部都是懦夫和骗子，那族群靠什么生存？”
惊恐的尖叫和喘息声变得越来越大，最后冬青叶都听不见自己的声音了。不过也没有必要说什么了，她已经说了她要说的话。她的腿颤抖着，仿佛她一直在领地里奔跑，现在不得不坐下来休息。与此相反，她的心里有一种莫名的安静，就像是她已经刺破了溃烂的伤口，正在看着毒液排出来。
鸦羽的声音升高了，盖过了其他猫喧闹的号叫。“这不是真的！”他跳了起来，深灰色的毛直立着。他身边的夜云和风皮看上去既困惑，又愤怒：“她才是那只说谎的猫！”
叶池站了起来。群猫的喧闹声沉寂下来，都把视线转向了她。
“这是真的，鸦羽！”她说道，“对不起。我一直想告诉你，但是一直没找到合适的机会。”
她琥珀色的眼睛里流露出凄苦的神情。一股怜悯之情在冬青叶的心里蠢蠢欲动，但是她将它压了下去。我恨她！她欺骗和背叛了我们所有猫！
“你对我来说什么都不是，叶池。”鸦羽的声音非常冰冷，“那段岁月已经成为过去。我只忠诚于风族，而且我除了风皮，没有别的孩子。”他看了一眼身边的夜云和风皮。这时，黑色母猫的耳朵贴在头顶，风皮则龇着牙齿，发出一声怒吼。
叶池低下头，似乎并不想争辩，然后她抬头看着火星。火星正蹲伏在树枝上，安静得像一只石头猫。“我知道，我不能再做雷族的巫医了，”她说道，“火星，真的非常对不起，也对不起我所有的族猫。不过请相信，我已经做了最大的努力，而且我对自己做的事情一直非常后悔。”她哽咽着说完了最后一句话，然后她稍停片刻，咽下一口唾沫，这才继续说道：“可我并不后悔生下了我的孩子。他们都是很优秀的猫，而且我一直为他们骄傲。”
她看了鸦羽最后一眼，然后低着头穿过了空地。众猫急忙让路。她走到灌木丛前，挤开一条路，随后便消失得无影无踪。每只猫都盯着她离开的方向，震惊得说不出话来。
黑莓掌第一个动了起来，他走上前去，直到与松鼠飞面对面地站着。“为什么？”他问道。
松鼠飞的声音里充满了绝望：“我必须这么做！她是我的姐姐！”
“你就不能相信我吗？”黑莓掌的声音颤抖着，而且冬青叶看见，一阵剧烈的战栗袭过他的全身。有一个心跳的时间，她为自己做的事情感到内疚。这是一只高尚的猫，而且他不该为任何谎言承担后果。以前，一想到他是我的父亲的时候，我是多么自豪啊！
松鼠飞没有回应，只是毫不退缩地迎上他的目光。
“你不相信我。”他重复道，“你是不是认为，如果你告诉我真相，我不会帮助你？可是现在一切都已经太晚了。”
他转过身，从众猫中间挤开一条路，离开了。
“黑莓掌……”松鼠飞跟在他身后向前迈了一步，然后停了下来，她绝望地低下头，尾巴垂在地上。
冬青叶转过了身。让她痛苦吧，这是她应得的！
一只猫从身后推了她一下，是炭心。“你这是在干什么？”她叫道。
冬青叶吃惊地眨着眼睛：“我在做正确的事情！”
灰色母猫摇了摇头。“你这么做不对，你做的每件事情都只会带来更多的痛苦。”她声音里的睿智仿佛来自一只年纪更大、经验更丰富的猫。冬青叶还期待她说些别的什么，比如为冬青叶和她的同窝猫感到难过之类的话。但是炭心只是转过身，然后就走开了。
冬青叶凝视着她的背影。为什么她就不明白呢？难道没有一只猫明白，他们不能在谎言下生活吗？另外，星族并没有让乌云遮住月亮。她的武士先灵一定很高兴秘密被揭露，谎言已经被终结。
但是这里没有哪只猫看起来很开心，哪怕是她自己的族猫。沙风正盯着她，绿色的眼睛里满是困惑和悲伤。灰条黄色的眼睛里充满了难以置信的茫然。罂粟霜和莓鼻正把脑袋凑在一起，急切地谈论着，用充满敌意的目光瞪着她。
过了一个心跳的时间，冬青叶再也忍受不了这样被盯着了。她烦躁地穿过群猫，冲进了灌木丛，顾不上荆棘划开了她的皮毛，跑过鹅卵石湖滩，冲过了树桥。她跑过马场，开始爬上山脊，绕过风族领地的边缘，一直跑上最高的山顶。在那里，她可以俯瞰湖面。
一条银色的月光小路在湖面上延伸开去，无数星族武士的倒影在小路周围闪闪发光。
“这一切都值得吗？”冬青叶向它们喊道，“作为一位学徒，有必要刻苦地学习武士守则？我们要做些什么，才能让结果有所不同呢？”
闪烁的繁星没有给她任何答案。
冬青叶沿着山脊走着，一直回到了自己的领地，跳进灌木丛中。她回到石头山谷的时候，所有的一切都静悄悄的。参加森林大会的队伍还没回来，其他猫都睡着了，只有亮心在入口旁警戒着。冬青叶从她身边擦过，没搭理母猫的问候。
她大步穿过月光如洗的空地，走进了巫医巢穴。她没有看见叶池，心跳顿时加快了。我知道我该怎么做了。这一切都是叶池的错！
她爬到储药岩缝的最里边，发现了装着死亡浆果的叶包，然后小心翼翼地把它拉了出来。她把叶子包放在巢穴的地面上，打开了树叶。闪着光泽的红色浆果露了出来。它们已经开始变干了，不过她知道，它们仍然是致命的毒药。
冬青叶坐在死亡浆果旁边，把尾巴绕在爪子周围等待着。很快她就听见外面传来缓慢的爪子落地的声音，然后叶池穿过黑莓屏风，站在了她的面前。
“冬青叶！”看到女儿在那里，叶池听起来并不惊讶。她的眼里充满了疲倦和悲伤。“事情都过去了，”她说道，“我原谅你。”
“什么！”冬青叶跳了起来，“你原谅我？你才是那只需要被原谅的猫！你抛弃了自己的孩子！你让我们在谎言下长大。现在，由于你那愚蠢、自私的行为，武士守则可能永远被破坏了！”
“你觉得你有必要跟我说这些吗？”叶池问道，她依然带着精疲力竭后的平静，“我只能告诉你我有多么爱你。我真的为我所做的事感到抱歉。”
“那么你希望我原谅你吗？”冬青叶咆哮道，“好吧，我不原谅，我永远也不！”她的毛奓了起来，绕过叶池，堵在了巫医巢穴的入口处，“看见那些死亡浆果了吗？你把它们吃下去——否则我会让你吃下去！”
“什么？”叶池听起来充满了困惑。
“吃了它们！你只配去死！”她看到巫医没有走向死亡浆果，就伏下身子，准备扑过去。“我已经杀死过一只猫，”她咆哮道，“而且我可以再杀死一只！”
一种冬青叶难以读懂的情感在母亲的眼里闪烁着。“冬青叶，”叶池说道，“我已经失去了我的孩子、我爱的那只猫，以及作为巫医的职业。你觉得对我来说哪个更容易，死，还是继续活下去？”
这个问题只有一个答案。冬青叶静静地站在了一边。叶池从她的身边走过，走出了巫医巢穴。
第二十八章
 第二十八章
松鸦羽滑过荆棘通道，喘着粗气站在了空地的中央。森林大会一结束，他就挤开困惑的众猫，冲过了树桥，飞奔回了营地。
他闻到叶池正在离开他们的巢穴。目前叶池是他最不想交谈的猫。走过她的身边，他闻到了冬青叶淡淡的气息。
她在巫医巢穴里干什么？她跟叶池说了什么？
他冲过空地，撞开了黑莓屏风，然后面对着自己的同窝猫。“冬青叶！你在这里干什么？”他嗅了嗅，闻到了另一种气息，“这些死亡浆果为什么会在这里？”
“别管我！”冬青叶尖叫道。
在松鸦羽躲开之前，她向他跳去，把他撞翻在地，然后用爪子抓向他的肩膀。松鸦羽的腿使劲乱蹬，后爪蹬到了冬青叶的肚子上。冬青叶在他的耳朵上打了一爪，然后逃出了巢穴。松鸦羽感到冬青叶的愤怒和绝望。
“冬青叶，等等！”松鸦羽爬起来，然后向她追去。
他来到空地的时候，冬青叶已经钻进了荆棘通道。松鸦羽紧追在她的身后，当他冲进森林的时候，肚子上的皮毛摩擦着地面。前面出现更多猫的气息，参加森林大会的其他猫正在返回营地。
“松鸦羽，发生什么事了？”狮焰喊道，转身跳到他的身边。“到底发生什么事了？”他倒吸一口冷气。
“是冬青叶，”松鸦羽大口喘着气，“我们得追上她。”
冬青叶正往树林深处跑去，她使劲地撞在蕨丛和黑莓丛上，就好像她突然失明了。
“冬青叶，快回来！”狮焰大叫道，“我们需要谈谈！”
但是冬青叶并没有放慢脚步。很快，她就冲到了通往废弃的两脚兽巢穴的那条路，然后又转身冲进了灌木丛。
“我知道她要去哪里！”松鸦羽气喘吁吁地说道，觉得一股寒意蹿过全身，“旧隧道……”
“但是那里不能去！”狮焰听起来非常害怕，“冬青叶，站住！”
松鸦羽和狮焰飞快地绕过一片黑莓丛，正好来到了冬青叶的面前。她就停在半山腰上的一条隧道的入口处，山下就是废弃的两脚兽巢穴。松鸦羽之前从未进入过这个地方，隧道里边有一股陈旧的狐狸气息，还混杂着她身后黑暗处飘来的水和石头的气息。
松鸦羽尽量用平静的语气说道：“冬青叶，你必须听我们说说。”
冬青叶似乎没听见他的话。“我很抱歉，”她轻轻地说道，“我只是想做对大家最有利的事！我不能让蜡毛活着！那是为了我们所有猫！你们能理解，是吗？”
松鸦羽屏住了呼吸。他听到身边的狮焰倒抽了一口冷气：“是你杀了蜡毛？”
此时，即便冬青叶回答了，松鸦羽也听不到了。他比以往更加憎恨自己的能力，因为他已经进入了姐姐的记忆。她跟着蜡毛，沿着风族边界的小溪前进，轻轻地踩着地面，避开爪子可能会擦到的圆石，或者会擦到皮毛的蕨草。蜡毛正在专心地狩猎，根本没注意到她在那里。冬青叶像影子一样跟着他，直到他们来到溪岸又陡又滑的地方。溪流就像一条泛着泡沫的蛇。她从一块岩石上朝蜡毛扑去，前爪抓住了他的肩膀，一扭头，牙齿插进了他的喉咙。在那团红色的血雾里，蜡毛只是一只猎物，是必须被杀死的东西，只有这样才能保护武士守则和雷族的未来。
蜡毛的爪子无力地向她抓来，但是血已经涌出他的喉咙。他的身体变软了，冬青叶跳开了，让他滚到了溪水里。她站在那里看了一会儿，直到急流冲掉了血迹。然后她走到溪岸上的一个水池边，洗净了爪子，鲜血染红了池子里的水。在她身后，蜡毛的尸体轻轻地撞向溪岸，然后向下游漂去。
“他应该被带进湖里，永远不会被发现。”冬青叶的声音把松鸦羽拉出了她那可怕的记忆，“但是族猫们发现了他的尸体，现在一切都毁了。我不能留在这里了。”
她的声音里充满了绝望：“我知道我这么做是对的，但是没有猫会明白。”
她转身顺着隧道往下逃走，一阵爪子落地的啪嗒声从里边传来。松鸦羽追了上去，他能听到地下河水咆哮着，猛烈地拍打着石头。
“冬青叶，不！”他号叫道，“我们可以一起解决……”一阵震耳欲聋的轰隆声打断了他的话。那个声音一直不停地响着。当隧道坍塌的时候，他想象着潮湿的泥土和石头像下雨一样落下来，砸向姐姐，把她砸倒在地上，压碎她，最后埋住了她……
他向前冲去：“冬青叶！”
狮焰挡住了他，把他撞翻，然后摁在地上。松鸦羽在他的身下愤怒地扭动着身体。“让我起来！”他尖叫着，“我们必须把她救出来！”
“我们帮不了她！”狮焰低吼道，“隧道已经塌了。我们没办法走到她的身边！”
泥土和石块落下的声音消失了。松鸦羽一动不动地躺在地上，喘息着。狮焰默默地退开身子，让他爬起来。冬青叶把隧道当成了逃避族群和所犯错误的地方。可惜的是，她没有如愿——事情没能以她想要的方式结束。
“一切都结束了！”狮焰说道，他的声音仍然颤抖着。
“我不明白。”松鸦羽颤抖着说，声音里充满了震惊和悲伤，“她为了保住秘密，杀了蜡毛。可是她接着却在森林大会上把这个秘密告诉了每一只猫。”
“这不一样。”狮焰靠在他的身上，直到松鸦羽觉得，哥哥的悲痛跟他自己的融在了一起，“冬青叶不能接受自己是巫医的孩子这一事实。她不能忍受自己是混血猫。武士守则就是她的一切，但是我们的出生把武士守则撕成了碎片。”
“我们本应该做些什么的，”松鸦羽坚持说道，“我们跟族猫怎么说呀？”
狮焰发出一声精疲力竭的叹息：“我们不能告诉他们冬青叶杀了蜡毛。我们不能让这件事成为大家对她的唯一记忆。”
松鸦羽点点头。这一切发生之后，需要保守的秘密又多了一个——为了冬青叶。“我们就说，她追着一只松鼠跑进了隧道，结果隧道垮塌了，她被埋在了里面。这样族猫们就会记住，她是一位勇敢的狩猎者，为族猫捕捉猎物时献出了生命。他们不需要知道真相，不需要知道她正在竭力逃离他们。”
他们开始慢慢地走回营地。松鸦羽觉得一阵清新的风吹拂着他的皮毛，他深深地吸了一口冰冷的空气。新的一天就要来了，不过他想要的只是回到他的巢穴，蜷缩着身子，然后逃进睡梦中。发生了这么多事情之后，今天的太阳还能照常升起吗？
突然他停住了。“那个预言！”他脱口说道。
刚走了几步的狮焰也停住了：“你怎么突然想起这个来了？”
“你还不明白吗？”松鸦羽撕扯着草地，“如果冬青叶死了，预言会怎样呢？预言说的是三只猫，而现在只有两只了！”
松鸦羽伸展着麻木的四肢，仰起脸迎接太阳第一缕微弱的光芒。虽然没有尸体可以埋葬，但是他的族猫整晚都在为冬青叶守夜。族猫开始在他的身边走动，他可以听见几条狐狸尾巴之外，黑莓掌正平静地召集黎明巡逻队。
距森林大会和冬青叶死于隧道到现在，已经过去了一天一夜。前一天，火星站在高石台上对深受打击的雷族众猫发表了讲话。
“昨夜，冬青叶透露了一个让我们所有猫震惊的秘密，”他说道，“但是事情既然已经发生，也就无法挽回了。相反，我们必须找到一条向前的路，为了我们所有的猫。”
“其他族群怎么办？”尘毛嚷道，“全拜冬青叶所赐，他们都知道发生了什么事。”
“或许冬青叶不应该说出来，”火星承认道，“但是她已经付出了惨痛的代价。至于其他族群，他们会觉得我们雷族已经崩溃了。我们接下来要做的就是，证明给他们看雷族并没有崩溃。雷族一定能继续生存下去！”
赞同的号叫声从高石台下的众猫中升起。松鸦羽能感到，他们的震惊和悲痛正被一种新的坚定的使命感所代替。
现在，他站起身，伸了个长长的懒腰，然后坐下来整理皮毛，甚至还扭着脖子，舔净了背上的皮毛。过了一会儿，他感觉到育婴室外有动静，几只族猫正聚在那里。他就走过去，准备看个究竟。
“是白翅的孩子，”狮焰告诉他，“这是她们第一次离开育婴室。”
“她们的眼睛睁开了！”当松鸦羽和哥哥走近的时候，白翅开心地宣布，“她们漂亮吧？”
一个响亮的吱吱声和微弱的爪子啪嗒声靠近了，然后停了下来。松鸦羽觉得非常好奇。
“你好，小家伙！”狮焰小声说道，“欢迎来到雷族。”
“这只幼崽的灰毛真软和，”沙风说道，“这个小家伙白色的虎斑毛可真可爱。你给她们取名字了吗？”
“是的。”回答她的是桦落，他的声音里透着自豪，“那只灰色的叫小鸽，白色的虎斑猫叫小藤。”
“名字真好听！”亮心呼噜着。
有着姜黄色斑块的白色母猫坐在旁边，身边坐着云尾，看着女儿的幼崽。他们看到自己的至亲都健康、强壮，因此满心欢喜，比刚穿过树梢照耀着石头山谷的阳光还要明亮。
另一种气息从他的身边飘过，火星走了过来。“这看起来真好，”族长说道，“她们很快就能成为学徒啦。”
松鸦羽突然觉得心中一动，就像某只猫的爪子捅了一下他的肚子。他抓了抓狮焰。“那个预言……”他低声说道。
“什么？拿开爪子！”狮焰听起来有些恼怒。
“你的族群里有三只猫，是你的至亲……”松鸦羽的声音颤抖着，他不知道自己是不是对的。“云尾是火星的至亲，白翅是云尾的女儿。现在小鸽和小藤……你还不明白吗？预言并没有结束！我们不是火星唯一的至亲。究竟白翅的哪个幼崽是预言中的猫，这并不重要。重要的是，我们仍然是三个！”
特别感谢基立•鲍德卓