Chapter 0 Prologue

THE NEW PROPHECY WARRIORS TWILIGHT ERIN HUNTER #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

《新预言 猫武士 暮色》 艾琳·亨特 《纽约时报》畅销书榜首作家

PROLOGUE "No! There must be some mistake!" The cat looked up from where it crouched by the water's edge, its fur glowing in the moonlight. "There is still so much I have to do!" A broad-faced cat with blue-gray fur padded around the pool, her eyes soft with sympathy. "I'm sorry," she meowed. "I know you expected many more moons with your Clanmates before coming to join us." The crouching cat looked down into the water. The moon's reflection trembled like a floating leaf, and the surface of the pool glimmered with starlight cast by the countless shining shapes that lined the hollow. For a moment the only sound was the waterfall that splashed down the steepest part of the rocks. The cats of StarClan waited in watchful silence, as if each one shared the grief of the cat at the water's edge. "You have served your Clan more faithfully than some cats manage in a long lifetime," the blue-furred cat went on. "It must seem very

序章 “不！一定是哪里出错了！” 那只猫蹲在水边，抬起头，皮毛在月光下闪闪发亮。 “我还有好多事没做完啊！” 一只蓝灰色皮毛的宽脸猫轻步走到水池边，眼神满是温柔的同情。 “对不起，”她轻声说道。 “我知道你本以为还能和族伴多待好多个月，才会来加入我们。” 那只蹲着的猫低头看向水面。 月影像浮叶般轻轻颤动，盆地边无数闪亮灵魂投下的星光，在池面上粼粼发光。 好一会儿，四周只有瀑布冲下陡峭岩壁的哗哗水声。 星族的猫儿们都静静守着，仿佛每一只都在分担水边这只猫的悲伤。 “你对族群的忠心，比许多猫活一辈子做到的还要多，”蓝毛猫继续说道。 这一切想来实在太

unfair that you should have to leave them." The crouching cat raised luminous eyes to face the starry warrior. "Bluestar, I know this isn't your fault. There's no need to apologize." Bluestar twitched her tail. "Of course there is. You should know how much your Clan owes to you." "All the Clans." A black and white tom with a long tail rose to his paws and padded around the edge of the pool to stand beside Bluestar. "StarClan too. None of us would have found our new home without your help." He dipped his head in a gesture of respect, and the starlight on the surface of the pool wavered. The cat blinked at him. "Thank you, Tallstar. I've made mistakes, but I have always tried to do what I believed to be right." "StarClan asks no more from its warriors." A lean, black tomcat began to pick his way over the moss-covered rocks. "If we could change your fate, we would." "But remember," Bluestar warned, "not even StarClan can turn aside the paws of destiny, however much we might want to."

不公平，你不得不就这样离开他们。” 蹲着的猫抬起明亮的眼睛，望向这位星光闪闪的武士。 蓝星，我知道这不是你的错。 不需要道歉。” 蓝星轻轻甩了甩尾巴。 当然需要道歉。 你该知道，你的族群欠了你多少。” 所有族群都欠你。” 一只长尾巴黑白公猫站起身，轻步绕到池边，站在了蓝星身旁。 星族也一样。 没有你的帮助，我们谁都找不到新家。” 他低头致敬，池面的星光也跟着晃动起来。 那只猫朝他眨了眨眼。 谢谢你，高星。 我确实犯过错，但我一直努力问心无愧。” 星族对武士的要求，从来就不过如此。” 一只精瘦的黑色公猫，小心地踩着覆满苔藓的岩石走来。 如果我们能改变你的命运，我们一定会做。” “但你要记住，”蓝星提醒道，“哪怕我们再想帮忙，就连星族也无法改变命运的脚步。”

The cat at the water's edge nodded. "I understand. And I will try to have courage. Can you tell me when—" Bluestar shook her head. "No. Even we cannot see the future so clearly. But when the time comes, you will know, and we will be waiting for you." A fourth warrior spirit rose from his place farther up the slope and padded down between the shimmering ranks of StarClan. He was a light-colored tabby with a twisted jaw. "Whenever the Clans tell stories of the great journey, your name will be honored," he promised. "Thank you, Crookedstar," the cat meowed. All four of the shining warriors gathered around, four who had been Clan leaders when their paws walked the earth. "Know that the strength of StarClan will be with you," Bluestar meowed. "We will not leave you to face this alone." The cat looked up to meet the intense blue gaze. "StarClan has always been with me." "You say that, even though your life has been

水边的那只猫点了点头。 我明白。 我会努力鼓起勇气。 你能告诉我什么时候——”蓝星摇了摇头。 不行。就算是我们，也没法把未来看得那么清楚。 但时机到了，你自然会知道，我们会一直等着你。” 第四位武士灵魂从斜坡上方起身，轻步走下星族闪闪发亮的队列之间。 他是浅毛虎斑猫，颌骨有些扭曲。 “每当族群讲起那次大迁徙的故事，你的名字都会被永远铭记，”他承诺道。 “谢谢你，钩星，”那只猫说道。 四位闪亮的武士围了过来，他们都曾在凡间做过族群族长。 “你要知道，星族的力量永远和你同在，”蓝星说。 我们不会让你独自面对这一切。” 那只猫抬起头，迎上蓝星坚定的蓝眼睛。 星族一直都与我同在。” 你都能说出这样的话，哪怕你的一生一直都

so hard?" Tallstar's voice was surprised. "Of course." The cat's eyes glimmered in the starlight. "I have made good friends in all the Clans. I've seen kits born and watched elders leave on their final journey to Silverpelt. I've made the long journey to the Clans" new home. Believe me, I wouldn't change a single day." The cat paused and looked down into the pool again. "I know it is not in your power to give me longer with my Clan. But I can't help wanting more." Bluestar's eyes narrowed. "It hurts us all when a young cat is called to join StarClan. I know you would continue serving your Clan loyally for many seasons more." Her voice rasped with pain, and the cat looked up at her, stretching out one paw in a comforting gesture. "Don't grieve, Bluestar. I know my Clan will be well cared for after I am gone." A murmur of respect rose up from around the hollow. Bluestar bent her head over the crouching cat, bathing the moon-bright fur with her scent. "We are with you always," she mewed. In turn, each of the others bent over and added their scent, filling the air with the tang of

过得这么辛苦？” 高星的声音带着惊讶。 当然。” 那只猫的眼睛在星光下闪闪发亮。 我在所有族群都交到了好朋友。 我见过幼崽降生，也目送过长老踏上前往银带的最后旅程。 我也走完了前往族群新家的漫长旅途。 相信我，我一天都不想更改。” 那只猫顿了顿，再次低头看向池面。 我知道你们没能力让我多陪我的族群更久。 但我忍不住奢望能多留一阵子。” 蓝星眯起了眼睛。 这么年轻的猫就被召唤来星族，我们也都很难过。 我知道你本来还能忠心为族群再效力好多个季节。” 她的声音因为痛苦变得沙哑，那只猫抬起头，伸出一只爪子安慰她。 别难过了，蓝星。 我知道我走后，我的族群会被好好照顾的。” 盆地四周响起一片充满敬意的低语声。 蓝星俯下身挨近蹲着的猫，让自己的气息覆在它月光般发亮的皮毛上。 “我们永远和你在一起，”她轻声说。 其他武士也挨个俯身留下自己的气息，空气中满是

stars and ice and the night wind. More warriors followed—a graceful tortoiseshell, a sturdy bracken-colored tom, a tabby she-cat with a silver-striped pelt—wreathing the cat with the strength and courage of StarClan. Their voices swelled to a low keening of sorrow that drifted up to the stars. The shimmering forms began to fade one by one, until the hollow was empty. And the stars shone down on a single cat who crouched unmoving beside the pool.

星星、寒冰和夜风的清冽气息。 更多武士跟了上来——优雅的玳瑁猫、健壮的蕨棕色公猫、带银纹的虎斑母猫——他们把星族的力量与勇气环绕在了这只猫的身上。 它们的声音汇作低沉悲伤的哀歌，飘向天上的群星。 那些闪闪发亮的身影开始一个接一个消失，最后盆地变得空无一人。 星星静静洒下光芒，照着那只一动不动蹲在池边的猫。