Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18 A gasp like the wind in the trees rose from the cats around Jaypaw. "No! No!" Broken Shadow wailed. "Fallen Leaves, I didn't mean it! I want to stay with you!" Another wail of distress rose from some other cat; Jaypaw felt a claw of guilt tear briefly at his heart, but he did his best to ignore it. I know that this is the right decision for them. He padded away from the circle, aware of the glowing look in Half Moon's eyes. "We're going to travel together!" she whispered. Furled Bracken stepped forward. "The stones have been cast," he announced. "I can no longer be your leader. Stone Song, it is only fair that you lead us into the mountains." His gaze traveled around the assembled cats. "If any cat thinks Stone Song should not be our leader, speak now." They choose their leaders? Jaypaw wondered, astonished. Leaders can retire, and become ordinary sharpclaws again? Silence followed Furled Bracken's words, except for the muffled wails of Broken Shadow.

第十八章 松鸦爪身旁的众猫倒抽一口冷气，声响如同穿林的风声。 "不！不要！" 残影哀号着。 "落叶，我不是故意的！ 我想留在你身边！" 另一只猫也发出痛苦的哀号； 松鸦爪心头被愧疚的爪子狠狠揪了一下，但他努力装作不在意。 我知道，对他们来说这是正确的决定。 他缓步走出猫群，清楚地感觉到半月眼中闪动着光芒。 "我们要一起出发赶路了！" 她轻声说道。 卷蕨走上前来。 "石头已经落定，"他宣布道。 "我不能再做你们的族长了。 石歌，理应由你带领我们进入山区。" 他的目光扫过聚集在一起的众猫。 "如果有谁不同意石歌当族长，现在就说出来。" 他们居然自己选族长？ 松鸦爪惊讶地暗暗诧异。 族长居然可以退休，重新变回普通的锐爪？ 卷蕨说完后全场一片安静，只有残影压抑的哀号声

Rising Moon was beside her, comforting her by licking her ear. "Everything will be all right," she encouraged the grief-stricken she-cat. "Fallen Leaves won't know you've gone." You're wrong, Jaypaw thought. Fallen Leaves will live in the tunnels for moons and moons and moons, in agony that he was abandoned. Stone Song dipped his head to Furled Bracken. "I will do my best to lead our cats to safety," he promised. Then he glanced around at the others, meeting the expectation in their eyes. "We shall rest until dusk," he ordered. "We will leave while the Twoleg monsters are sleeping." Cats looked at each other, a flurry of confusion arising even among those who had wanted to leave. "So soon?" Chasing Clouds asked. "We have waited long enough," Stone Song replied with a grief-filled glance at Broken Shadow. "There is nothing more to keep us here. Jay's Wing has told us of the stone hills that are ready for us. They will be our home." Chasing Clouds straightened up. "Then let's hunt," he suggested. "We'll make sure that every

升月陪在她身旁，舔着她的耳朵安慰她。 "一切都会好起来的，"她劝慰这个伤心欲绝的母猫。 "落叶不会知道你走了的。" 你错了，松鸦爪心想。 落叶会在地道里住上好多好多个月，一直承受被抛弃的痛苦。 石歌向卷蕨低下了头。 "我会尽全力带大家找到安全的容身之处，"他承诺道。 接着他扫过其他猫，迎上他们眼中的期待。 "我们休息到黄昏，"他下令道。 "我们趁两腿兽的怪物睡着的时候出发。" 猫们面面相觑，就连原本想要离开的猫都泛起一阵困惑。 "这么快？" 追云问道。 "我们已经等够久了，"石歌回答，悲伤地扫了残影一眼。 "已经没有什么能留住我们了。 杰翼已经告诉我们，石山已经为我们准备好了。 那里会成为我们的新家。" 追云挺直了身子。 "那我们去捕猎吧，"他提议道。 "我们要确保每只

cat is full-fed before we set out." Several cats bounded out of the glade as soon as he had finished speaking, looking relieved to have something to do. Chasing Clouds followed them, pausing beside Rising Moon to touch her ear with his nose. "We will raise strong, healthy kits in the mountains," he promised her. Rising Moon hesitated for a heartbeat, then twined her tail with his. "I know. I'll look for some useful herbs," she added. "Running Horse will help me." Memories flooded over Jaypaw of the preparations he and his Clanmates had made before their own journey into the mountains. He wondered if there was any more advice he ought to give these cats, like watching out for the dogs in the barn that had nearly torn Hollyleaf and Lionblaze to pieces. Mouse-brain! he told himself. The barn probably isn't even built yet. Standing alone in the midst of the flurry of activity, Jaypaw couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something missing, something essential for the cats to find their new home and

猫在出发前都吃饱肚子。" 他话音刚落，好几只猫就立刻跑出林间空地，终于有事可做，个个都松了口气。 追云跟着他们离开，经过升月身边时，用鼻子碰了碰她的耳朵。 "我们会在山里养出强壮健康的幼崽，"他对她承诺道。 升月犹豫了一瞬，随后把尾巴缠在了他的尾巴上。 "我知道。 我去找点有用的草药，"她补充道。 "跑马会来帮我。" 松鸦爪不由得想起，当初他和族群动身前往山区前，也做过一模一样的准备。 他不知道要不要再给这些猫多提点建议，比如小心谷仓里的狗，那些狗差点把冬青叶和狮焰撕成碎片。 鼠脑子！ 他骂自己。 那时候谷仓估计连影子都还没建呢。 独自站在忙忙碌碌的猫群中，松鸦爪总觉得缺了点什么，那是这些猫找到新家并

establish themselves securely in the mountains. He just couldn't think what it was. I'd better try to catch some prey, he decided. I'll need strength for the journey. At least I'll be able to see when I leap over the gaps in the mountains! Before he reached the edge of the glade, he was intercepted by Stone Song. "Jay's Wing, I need to talk to you." Puzzled, Jaypaw followed him into the shadow of the trees that fringed the glade. The dark gray tabby stood over him, an earnest expression in his blue eyes. "I need your help, Jay's Wing," he explained. "We've never had a cat like you before, who sees things in their dreams. Have you done it before? Do you think it will happen again?" Jaypaw didn't know what to answer; certainly he couldn't tell the truth. In the end, he nodded awkwardly. Relief crept into the new leader's eyes. "This is unknown for all of us. I know your dreams may be wrong, but I am willing to trust you—and wherever your dreams came from."

在山区安稳扎根必不可少的东西。 可他就是想不起来到底缺了什么。 我最好还是去抓点猎物，他打定主意。 路上我需要力气。 至少我跳山间裂隙的时候眼睛能看得见！ 他还没走到空地边缘，就被石歌拦住了。 "杰翼，我有话跟你说。" 松鸦爪满心困惑，跟着他走到空地边缘的树荫下。 这只深灰色虎斑站在他面前，蓝色眼睛里满是诚恳。 "我需要你的帮助，杰翼，"他解释道。 "我们从来没有过你这样，能在梦里看见未来的猫。 你之前做过这样的梦吗？ 你觉得还会再出现吗？" 松鸦爪不知道该怎么回答，他当然不能说出真相。 最后，他局促地点了点头。 这位新族长的眼中露出了释然的神情。 "这对我们所有人来说都是未知的前路。 我知道你的梦可能不准，但我愿意相信你——也相信你的梦来处。"

Understanding blazed down on Jaypaw like a burst of sunlight. Now he understood what these cats needed more than anything else. They needed StarClan, and a medicine cat to help them listen to the cats that had walked here before. "Your... our ancestors," he blurted out. "The dreams are sent by our ancestors." Stone Song looked startled. "You mean cats who have died?" Jaypaw nodded. "They will guide us, if we're prepared to listen. They'll.... they'll speak to us in dreams, and send us signs that certain cats will understand." Stone Song's eyes widened and his neck fur began to rise. "Do you mean they speak to you?" "Yes, but they'll speak to other cats, too—if they're willing to hear what they have to say." Stone Song tipped his head on one side. "We have always wondered whether our lost cats can still see us and hear us. I know Broken Shadow wishes for that more than anything." He hesitated, then added, "You're sure it's not just dreams of your mother?"

恍然大悟像一束阳光骤然照在松鸦爪身上 现在他明白了，这些猫最需要的是什么 他们需要星族，还需要一名巫医，帮他们聆听曾经住在这里的先人的声音 "你的……我们的祖先，" 他脱口而出 "这些梦就是我们的祖先送来的。" 石歌看起来吃了一惊 "你是说已经死去的猫？" 松鸦爪点了点头 "如果我们愿意聆听，他们就会指引我们。 他们会.... 他们会在梦里对我们说话，还会给我们征兆，让特定的猫读懂。" 石歌睁大了眼睛，颈后的毛都竖了起来 "你是说他们会对你说话？" "没错，但他们也会对其他猫说话——只要他们愿意听祖先要说的话。" 石歌歪了歪头 "我们一直想知道，那些离开我们的猫还能不能看见我们、听见我们。 我知道碎影比任何人都更盼望这件事。" 他犹豫了一下，补充道： "你确定这不只是你想念母亲做的梦？"

"I know it isn't." The new leader's blue eyes seemed more piercing than ever. "If we find the stone hills, I will know you are right." Turning to leave, he glanced back over one shoulder. "Thank you, Jay's Wing." When he had gone, Jaypaw flopped to the ground, his head spinning. Have I just made myself the first-ever medicine cat? He didn't even know if these cats had the same sort of ancestors, in some kind of StarClan or Tribe of Endless Hunting. Have I just set myself an impossible task? The sound of approaching paw steps roused him from his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Half Moon appearing from behind the nearest tree, a vole dangling from her jaws. She set it down in front of him. "Here," she mewed. "I know your paws are still too sore to hunt." When Jaypaw hesitated, she pushed it closer with one paw. "Go ahead. I've had mine." "Thanks." Jaypaw tore hungrily into the vole. "You're a great hunter, Half Moon," he mumbled

"我确定不是。" 这位新首领的蓝眼睛比以往任何时候都更锐利 "如果我们找到石山，就能证明你是对的。" 他转身要走，回头从肩膀上方向后瞥了一眼 "谢谢你，杰翼。" 石歌走后，松鸦爪瘫倒在地，脑袋晕乎乎的 我难道就这样成了这群猫的第一位巫医？ 他甚至不知道，这些猫的祖先是不是也住在星族或者无尽狩猎部族那样的地方 我这是给自己揽了个根本完不成的任务吗？ 越来越近的脚步声把他从思绪里拉了出来 他抬头一看，半月从最近的树后走出来，嘴里叼着一只田鼠 她把田鼠放在松鸦爪面前 "给你，" 她轻声说 "我知道你的爪子还疼，没法打猎。" 松鸦爪犹豫的时候，她用爪子把田鼠推得更近了些 "吃吧。 我已经吃过了。" "谢谢。" 松鸦爪饥肠辘辘地大口啃起田鼠 "你真是个好猎手，半月，" 他含着食物嘟囔道