Chapter 0 Prologue

LONG SHADOWS ERIN HUNTER NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

《长影》 艾琳·亨特 《纽约时报》畅销书作家

PROLOGUE Wind swept across bleak moorland, carrying with it flurries of rain. The tough grass was sodden and water had burst the banks of a stream, spreading out in a wide pool; its surface bubbled as raindrops splashed into it. At the edge of the pool a badger crouched, apparently oblivious to the icy wind and rain. For a long time she gazed into the water as if she could see something there, beyond the broken reflection of gray cloud; then she raised her head and looked around. "I have come," she announced. A black she-cat emerged from behind an outcrop of rocks. She was barely more than a shadow; starlight flickered at her paws. She was followed by a silvery gray tom whose green eyes stretched wide as he approached the badger. The starlight that shone around him made him seem a cat formed out of rain. "Why are we here?" The silver tom's voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't used it for a long time. "On a day like this we should be curled up in a

序章 狂风扫过荒凉的荒原，夹着阵阵冷雨。 硬草泡得透湿，溪水漫过岸，积成了一大片水洼； 雨滴落进去，水面咕嘟咕嘟冒着泡泡。 水洼边蹲着一只獾，看样子完全没在意冰冷的风雨。 她盯着水面看了好久，好像能透过灰云破碎的倒影，看见藏在那里的什么东西； 接着她抬起头，环顾起四周。 “我来了。”她开口说道。 一只黑色母猫从岩堆后面走了出来。 她淡得几乎像个影子，爪边闪着点点星光。 跟在她身后的是只银灰色公猫，他走近獾时，绿眼睛睁得大大的。 环绕在他周身的星光，让他看起来就像雨水凝成的猫。 “我们为什么来这儿？” 银灰色公猫的嗓子哑沉沉的，好像很久没说过话了。 这种鬼天气，我们本该蜷在

warm den." "True, River," the black she-cat meowed. "Whose idea was it to drag us out here in weather not even fit for foxes?" "Mine." A third cat appeared from behind a gorse bush, a broad-shouldered ginger tom with white paws. Starlight gleamed in his amber eyes, yet he seemed as insubstantial as a flame. "As you know very well, Shadow. We have to meet." Shadow snorted. "I don't have to do anything you tell me, Thunder." Thunder dipped his head. "Of course not. But we have been summoned by the danger to our Clans. They are on the brink of being lost forever —and it's your fault, Midnight." His voice sharpened. Before Midnight could reply, River spoke. "Where is Wind? We can't discuss this without her." "I'm here." The voice came from farther up the stream. The wiry brown she-cat was barely visible against the drenched moorland grass; only the shimmer of silvery light around her revealed her outline. She sprang down the slope toward

温暖的窝里。” “没错，河，”黑色母猫轻声说道。 这种连狐狸都不想出门的天气，是谁把我们拽到这儿来的？ “是我。” 第三只猫从金雀花丛后走出来，是宽肩膀姜黄色公猫，长着白爪子。 星光在他琥珀色的眼睛里闪烁，可他虚得像一团火苗。 “你明明清楚原因，影。 我们必须碰面。” 影哼了一声。 “我才不用听你的吩咐，雷。” 雷低下了头。 “当然不用。 可我们的族群遭遇危机，召唤我们前来。 他们就要彻底消失了——这都是你的错，午夜。” 他的声音变得尖锐起来。 午夜还没开口回答，河就先说话了。 “风在哪儿？ 少了她，我们没法讨论这件事。” “我在这儿。” 声音从溪流上游更远的地方传来。 这只精瘦的棕色母猫，被泡湿的荒原草遮得几乎看不见； 只有她周身的银色微光，透出了她的轮廓。 她顺着斜坡跳下来，奔向

the pool, her paws scarcely touching the ground. "Why are you all huddling here like lost kits?" she asked, a hint of mockery in her tone. "It's only a bit of rain and wind." Shadow opened her jaws, but Thunder interrupted her. "We're not all used to living in the open, Wind. But that doesn't matter now. We need to know why Midnight has revealed the secrets of the Clans." "But why us?" River complained, shivering. "There are younger cats than us in StarClan. Why call us back from the very beginning?" Wind nodded. "Haven't we done enough? We formed the Clans and guided them through their first seasons. They have owed us a debt in all the moons since we walked the forest." "We must still watch over our Clans," Thunder murmured. "This is a danger like none they have ever faced before." He turned to the badger. "Midnight, why did you tell our secrets?" "Yes, and tell them to that mange-ridden, crow-food-eating loner?" Shadow spat, tearing at the grass with her claws. "My Clan has abandoned their warrior ancestors since he forced

水洼，爪子几乎没碰到地面。 “你们怎么全都挤在这里，像丢了家的幼崽？” 她问道，语气里带着一丝调侃。 “不过就是一点风雨而已。” 影刚张开嘴，雷就打断了她。 “不是谁都习惯住在露天，风。 不过现在这不重要。 我们要问清楚，午夜为什么要泄露族群的秘密。” “可为什么找我们？”河冻得发抖，抱怨道。 星族里比我们年轻的猫多的是。 为什么要把我们从远古召回来？” 风点了点头。 “我们做的还不够吗？ 是我们建立了族群，领着他们度过了最初的时光。 自从我们离开森林，这么多月来，他们一直欠着我们的情。” “我们依然得守护自己的族群，”雷低声说。 这是他们从来没遇到过的巨大危机。” 他转向那只獾。 “午夜，你为什么要把我们的秘密说出去？” “对呀，还要告诉那只长疥癣、啃乌鸦腐肉的独行猫？”影啐道，爪子狠狠抓着草地。 自从他硬闯进我的族群，我的族猫就

his way among them." "On sandy cliffs I met Sol," Midnight began calmly. "First time of meeting, that was." "And do you give away secrets to every stranger who happens to pad by?" Wind growled. "Can't you see that you gave him power over the Clans when you told him so much about us?" Thunder pressed. "Knowledge not always power," Midnight replied. "Clans not need secrecy to protect themselves. Rogues and loners stay away; they know Clan life is not for them." "This loner didn't stay away," River pointed out. "Clans not need to hide," Midnight insisted. "If did, not strong enough to meet challenges from outside." "My warriors can meet any challenge," Wind snapped. "Challenges not always from teeth and sharpened claws," the badger commented. Wind let out a hiss. Her neck fur bristled as she unsheathed her claws. "Don't talk to me as if I'm stupid! You're only trying to avoid admitting

抛弃了他们的武士祖先了。” “我在沙崖遇见了索尔，”午夜平静地开口。 那是我们第一次见面。 “随便来个路过的陌生人，你都要给人家泄露秘密吗？” 风低吼道。 你难道看不出，你告诉他这么多我们的事，就是把掌控族群的权力给了他吗？ 雷追问道。 “知识不一定就是力量，”午夜回答。 族群不需要靠保密保护自己。 泼皮猫和独行猫自然会走开，他们知道族群生活不适合自己。” “这只独行猫就没走开，”河提醒道。 “族群不需要躲躲藏藏，”午夜坚持道。 “要是靠躲才行，那说明他们不够强，没法应付外界的挑战。” “我的武士能应付任何挑战，”风怒冲冲地说。 “挑战可不总是来自尖牙和利爪，”獾说道。 风发出一声嘶叫。 她脖颈的毛炸了起来，亮出了爪子。 “别把我当傻瓜似的跟我说话！ 你不过是想逃避承认

that you made a huge mistake. The warriors of StarClan revealed their secrets to you, and you told them to a stranger! There wouldn't be any trouble in ShadowClan right now if it wasn't for you." Midnight rose to her paws. "Sheathe your claws, small warrior." Her voice was a rumbling growl. "Stupid is to pick a fight with someone not your enemy." For a few heartbeats, Wind stood her ground, only stepping back and sheathing her claws when Thunder rested his tail on her shoulder. "Quarreling won't help," the first-ever ThunderClan leader meowed. "The secrets are out. We have to decide what we can do now to help our Clans." River shook his head. "Well, I don't know." "Nor do I." Shadow lashed her tail in frustration. "I'd like to rip the throat out of this ungrateful badger, but it's too late to change anything." "We don't understand," Thunder meowed, meeting Midnight's gaze. "We shared our secrets with you, and you have done so much for our

你犯了一个天大的错误。 星族武士对你吐露了他们的秘密，你竟然告诉了陌生人！ 要不是你，影族现在根本不会有这些麻烦。” 午夜站起身来。 “把爪子收回去，小战士。” 她的声音是低沉的轰鸣低吼。 “去找非敌人的人挑事才是愚蠢。” 风坚守了片刻阵地，直到雷把尾巴搭在她肩头，她才后退一步收起爪子。 “争吵解决不了问题，”史上第一位雷族族长开口说道。 “秘密已经泄露了。 我们得决定现在能做什么来帮助我们的族群。” 河摇了摇头。 “唉，我也没头绪。” “我也没有。”影烦躁地甩了甩尾巴。 “我真想撕碎这只忘恩负义的獾的喉咙，但现在已经来不及改变任何事了。” “我们不明白，”雷迎上午夜的目光，开口说道。 我们对你倾吐了秘密，你也为我们