Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25 He doesn't believe what he's saying. Jaypaw lifted his muzzle toward Firestar. He's not sure at all that this darkness will pass. He felt Lionpaw tense beside him, uncertainty prickling beneath his brother's pelt. Hollypaw's tail whisked the ground. "Can't we get rid of Sol?" Dustpelt called. "Blackstar has to make his own choices," Firestar answered. "Even if it affects all the Clans?" Sandstorm demanded. "We shall go on as usual," Firestar declared. "We shall hunt and take care of our kits and our elders. We shall patrol our borders the same way we did in the forest. The same way we have done here. Whatever change comes, we will listen to StarClan and use the warrior code as our guide." Hollypaw let out a slow breath. "The warrior code," she murmured. "The warrior code." She repeated it as though it were the answer to everything.

第25章 他连自己说的话都不信。 杰爪抬起口鼻望向火星。 他完全不确定这片黑暗会过去。 他感觉到身旁的狮爪绷紧了身体，弟弟的皮毛下翻涌着不安。 冬青爪的尾巴扫着地面。 “我们就不能除掉索尔吗？” 尘爪大声问道。 “黑星必须自己做选择，”火星回答。 “哪怕这件事会影响所有族群吗？” 沙风追问道。 “我们会照常生活，”火星宣布。 “我们照常狩猎，照顾幼崽和长老， 我们还会像从前在森林里那样巡逻领地。 和我们在这里一直以来的做法一模一样。 无论发生什么改变，我们都会聆听星族的旨意，以武士守则为指引。” 冬青爪慢慢呼出一口气。 “武士守则，”她低声念道。 “武士守则。” 她反复念着，好像这就是所有问题的答案。

Jaypaw envied his sister's faith. And her ignorance. She didn't realize that Firestar was taking as much comfort from his words as his Clanmates. He has to believe things are going to be all right, for the sake of the Clan. Firestar shifted on his paws. "I have good news to share today as well as bad." Jaypaw looked up, surprised. What good news? "ThunderClan is still strong. We have proved ourselves in battle, and we know that StarClan still watches over us." His tail brushed the ledge. "There are three new warriors to be named." Jaypaw flinched as excitement blazed from Lionpaw and Hollypaw. It was like sitting between two suns. "Lionpaw, Hollypaw, and Cinderpaw." Pebbles cracked as Firestar bounded down the rocks and into the clearing, where the Clan was already making space for the naming ceremony. Brackenfur darted over to Hollypaw and smoothed her fur with his tail. "Well done," he purred.

杰爪羡慕妹妹拥有这样的信念。 也羡慕她的懵懂无知。 她没有发现，火星说这些话，其实和族猫一样，是在给自己打气。 为了族群，他必须相信一切都会好起来。 火星挪动了一下爪子。 “今天我既有坏消息，也有好消息要分享。” 杰爪惊讶地抬起头。 会是什么好消息呢？ “雷族依旧强大。 我们在战斗中证明了自己，星族也依然守护着我们。” 他的尾巴扫过岩架。 “有三位新武士将要接受命名。” 狮爪和冬青爪瞬间迸发出兴奋，杰爪不由得瑟缩了一下。 那感觉就像坐在两个太阳中间一样燥热。 “狮爪、冬青爪，还有炭爪。” 火星跳下岩石跑进空地，鹅卵石被踩得咔咔作响，族猫已经腾出位置准备命名仪式了。 桦落冲到老冬青爪身边，用尾巴理顺她的毛发。 “干得好，”他满足地呼噜着说。

Ashfur weaved past Lionpaw. "You'll be a fine warrior." "I'll make you proud of me," Lionpaw promised. Squirrelflight was shining with happiness. Leafpool sat beside her, a purr rumbling in her throat. She must be pleased for Cinderpaw, thought Jaypaw. Cloudtail weaved around his apprentice. "I told you it wouldn't be long before you joined your denmates, Cinderpaw." Jaypaw closed his eyes. It was a long time since he imagined he could be a warrior. But the dream had never left him. He let jealousy surge and ebb away. Then pride blossomed inside him. His littermates would be warriors! "Congratulations," he purred. Hollypaw rubbed her muzzle against his cheek. "Thank you." Lionpaw flicked Jaypaw's ear with his tail. "I hope Icepaw keeps her promise to Mousefur, because I'm not cleaning out the elders" den anymore." Ashfur's tail twitched. "If your Clanmates"

蜡毛绕到狮爪身边。 “你会成为一名出色的武士。” “我一定会让你为我骄傲，”狮爪承诺道。 松鼠飞浑身都洋溢着幸福的光芒。 叶池坐在她身边，喉咙里发出低低的呼噜声。 她肯定是为炭爪高兴，杰爪心想。 云尾绕着自己的学徒转了一圈。 “我说过用不了多久你就能和同伴们一起住武士窝了，炭爪。” 杰爪闭上了眼睛。 他已经很久没幻想过自己能成为武士了。 可这个梦想从来没有真正离开过他。 他任由嫉妒心涌起，又慢慢褪去。 接着，骄傲在他心底慢慢绽放开来。 他的同窝弟妹就要成为武士了！ “恭喜你们，”杰爪轻声呼噜道。 冬青爪用口鼻蹭了蹭他的脸颊。 “谢谢你。” 狮爪用尾巴弹了弹杰爪的耳朵。 “我希望冰爪遵守对鼠毛的承诺，我可再也不想清理长老窝了。” 蜡毛的尾巴抽动了一下。 “如果你的族伴

bedding needs changing, then you'll change it." Brambleclaw padded toward them. "Does Lionpaw think that Firestar's making him leader already?" he purred. "I was just joking!" Lionpaw protested. "Of course." Brambleclaw circled his kits and stopped beside Jaypaw. "I'm proud of you all." Hazeltail and Berrynose came bouncing toward them. "Well done!" Hazeltail mewed. "I suppose we can make room for you in the warriors" den," Berrynose teased. "I'm glad I'm not in there anymore," Mousefur called. "It'll be noisier than a nest full of starlings." The old warrior was sitting outside the nursery while Toadkit and Rosekit skittered around her. Warmth glowed from her pelt as Millie squeezed out of her den behind her. Jaypaw smelled the fresh scent of a kit dangling from the queen's jaws. She dropped Briarkit between Mousefur's paws. "Will you watch this one while I fetch the other two?" Millie's mew was husky, as if her throat was sore. Jaypaw reminded himself to fetch the last of the honey for her after the ceremony. "I

的窝垫要换，你就得去换。” 黑莓掌朝他们走了过来。 “狮爪不会以为火星让他当族长了吧？” 他呼噜着打趣道。 “我就是开个玩笑！” 狮爪连忙抗议。 “那当然。” 黑莓掌绕着自己的几个孩子走了一圈，停在了杰爪身边。 “我为你们所有人骄傲。” 榛尾和莓鼻蹦蹦跳跳地跑了过来。 “干得好！” 榛尾喵声说道。 “我想我们可以在武士窝给你们腾位置了，”莓鼻打趣道。 “我可高兴我不用住那儿了，”鼠毛大声说。 “那里肯定会比满窝椋鸟还要吵。” 这位老武士坐在育婴室门外，蟾蜍崽和玫瑰崽在她身边窜来窜去。 米莉从她身后的育婴室挤出来，皮毛透着暖意。 杰爪闻到这名猫后的嘴边带着新生幼崽的清新气味。 她把荆崽放在鼠爪的脚边。 “你能帮我看住这小家伙吗？我去把另外两只接过来？” 米莉的嗓子沙哑，就好像喉咙发疼一样。 杰爪提醒自己，仪式结束后要给米莉拿剩下的蜂蜜过来。 “我

thought they might want to see their first naming ceremony," Millie added. "I'll make sure Rosekit and Toadkit don't trample him," Mousefur rasped. "Hey!" Toadkit objected. "We're not that clumsy. Anyone would think we were always..." He fell silent as Firestar addressed the Clan from the middle of the clearing. "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices." Lionpaw clawed at the ground as Firestar went on. "They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." Hollypaw was already padding into the clearing, and Lionpaw hurried after her. Cinderpaw followed, her paw steps even and strong. "Hollypaw, Lionpaw, and Cinderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?" "I do," Hollypaw breathed, quivering. Lionpaw stiffened with determination. "I do."

米莉补充道：“他们说不定也想亲眼看看这场属于他们的首次命名仪式。” “我会看好玫瑰崽和蟾蜍崽，不会让他们踩到他的。”鼠毛粗声哑气地说。 “喂！” 蟾蜍崽不服气地抗议。 “我们才没那么笨手笨脚呢。 任谁都会觉得我们一天到晚都……” 当火星从空地中央向全族讲话时，他一下子停住了嘴。 “我，雷族族长火星，恳请我的武士祖先们眷顾这三名学徒。” 火星继续往下说时，狮爪用力扒抓着地面。 “他们刻苦训练，深谙你们高贵守则的真谛，我在此请求，接纳他们成为正式武士。” 冬青爪已经迈步走进了空地，狮爪连忙跟了上去。 炭爪走在最后，每一步都走得沉稳有力。 “冬青爪、狮爪、炭爪，你们是否承诺恪守武士守则，哪怕付出生命，也要守护这个族群？” “我承诺。”冬青爪浑身颤抖，轻声回答。 狮爪绷紧身体，满怀坚定的决心。 “我承诺。”

"I do." Cinderpaw sounded as relieved and excited as a cat that had just caught its first prey. Jaypaw held his breath. They were closer than ever to their destiny. "Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior names." Firestar's fur brushed Hollypaw's. "Hollypaw, from this moment you shall be known as Hollyleaf." He stepped back. "StarClan honors your thoughtfulness and loyalty." Lionpaw padded forward. "Lionpaw, you shall be known as Lionblaze. StarClan honors your courage and skill in battle. And Cinderpaw." Firestar paused as Cinderpaw approached him, trembling with excitement. "You shall be known as Cinderheart in honor of those warriors who have gone before." Jaypaw detected sadness beneath his mew. Was he remembering Cinderpelt? If only he knew that her spirit stood before him, shining beneath Cinderheart's pelt. "StarClan honors your bravery and your determination. You are a warrior at last." "Lionblaze! Hollyleaf! Cinderheart!" The Clan raised their voices defiantly as they welcomed the

“我承诺。” 炭爪的声音既放松又兴奋，就像刚捉到第一只猎物的小猫。 松鸦爪摒住了呼吸。 他们离自己的宿命越来越近了。 “那么，以星族的力量，我现在赐予你们武士之名。” 火星的皮毛蹭过了冬青爪的身体。 “冬青爪，从这一刻起，你的名字叫冬青叶。” 他向后退开一步。 “星族赞许你的思虑周全与忠诚。” 狮爪迈步走上前来。 “狮爪，你的新名字是狮焰。 星族赞许你战斗中的勇气与身手。 还有 炭爪。” 当激动得浑身发抖的炭爪走到他面前时，火星顿了顿。 “你的新名字是炭心，以此纪念逝去的先辈武士。” 松鸦爪察觉到他声音里藏着悲伤。 他是不是想起了炭毛？ 要是他知道，炭毛的灵魂就站在他面前，在炭心的皮毛下闪耀着光芒，那该多好。 “星族赞许你的勇敢与决心。 你终于成为正式武士了。” “狮焰！冬青叶！炭心！” 全族放声高呼，无畏地迎接这些