Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 From the corner of his eye, Lionblaze spotted movement on the Highledge. Firestar had appeared with Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting," he yowled. He ran nimbly down the tumbled rocks, halting on a boulder just above the heads of the assembling cats. Even on such a gray day, his flame-colored pelt gleamed. Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt picked their way down more slowly, until they stood just behind him. Mousefur and Longtail emerged from the elders" den; Foxpaw and Icepaw followed them, each with a bundle of soiled bedding. Lionblaze noticed Mousefur's bristling fur and suspicious gaze, and realized that the apprentices must have told her what was going on. Graystripe appeared from the dirtplace tunnel and padded over to join the group around the fresh-kill pile, giving the ShadowClan apprentices a friendly nod. Leafpool came to sit outside the

第七章 狮焰用眼角瞥见高岩上有动静 火星和黑莓掌、褐皮一同出现了 “让所有能独自捕猎的猫都到高岩底下集合，参加部族大会。”他大声吼道 他灵活地跑下错落的乱石，停在一块巨岩上，正好在集合猫群的头顶上方 哪怕是这样阴沉沉的日子，他火焰色的皮毛也闪闪发亮 黑莓掌和褐皮放慢脚步，小心走下来，站在了他的身后 鼠毛和长尾从长老巢穴走了出来； 狐爪和冰爪跟在他们身后，各自叼着一捆脏垫草 狮焰注意到鼠毛毛发倒竖，眼神充满怀疑，便明白肯定是学徒把发生的事告诉她了 灰条从溺便通道出来，缓步走到猎物堆旁的猫群中，友好地朝影族学徒点了点头 叶池走过来，坐在

bramble screen in front of her den, while Daisy appeared at the entrance to the nursery with the four kits peering curiously from behind her. Whitewing and Birchfall pushed their way out of the warriors" den, and bounded across the camp to sit at the foot of the boulder where Firestar stood. Lionblaze spotted Thornclaw poking his head out between the branches of the den. Sorreltail and Squirrelflight stood side by side, flicking the tips of their tails. As the cats gathered, Lionblaze was aware of uneasy looks cast at Tawnypelt and the three apprentices. He could hear muttering, too, as if many of the warriors were unhappy at seeing ShadowClan cats in their camp. Berrynose stalked over to the fresh-kill pile. "Surely Firestar's not bringing more outsiders into the Clan?" "I hope not," Spiderleg agreed. "That's what caused the battle with RiverClan and WindClan in the first place." "And where would you be, Berrynose," Lionblaze asked, his neck fur beginning to rise with annoyance, "if Firestar hadn't taken you in

她巢穴前的荆棘屏障外，黛西则出现在育婴室门口，四只幼崽好奇地从她身后探出头张望 白翅和桦落挤出战武士巢穴，蹦跳着穿过营地，坐到火星所站巨岩的脚下 狮焰瞥见棘松从巢穴的树枝间探出头 焦尾和松鼠飞并肩站着，轻轻甩着尾尖 猫群集合的时候，狮焰注意到大家都不安地打量着褐皮和那三个学徒 他也能听到嘀嘀咕咕的声音，看来很多武士都不乐意看到影族猫待在他们营地里 莓鼻大步走到猎物堆旁 “火星该不会又要把更多外来猫接进部族吧？” “我可不希望这样。”蜘蛛腿附和道 “当初就是因为这事，才会跟河族和风族开战的。” “那你当初又在哪，莓鼻，”狮焰恼火得颈毛都竖起来了，问道，“要是当初火星没有收留你

when you were a kit?" Berrynose snorted and turned his back. "That's different." Jaypaw leaned over to whisper into Lionblaze's ear. "Yeah, he's such a special cat." "Cats of ThunderClan," Firestar began when all the Clan had gathered around him, "you can see that Tawnypelt of ShadowClan has come here with her kits—" "We're apprentices," Flamepaw muttered. "—and she has asked for shelter because of the way her own Clan has changed." "And are you going to agree to that?" Mousefur called out from her place in front of the elders" den. "Hasn't there been enough trouble because of taking in other cats?" Before Firestar could reply, Graystripe sprang to his paws. "These cats are part of ThunderClan," he hissed. "They deserve to have a home here." "No cat forced Tawnypelt to leave," Mousefur retorted. "If you ask me, cats should decide where they want to live and stay there." There was a murmur of agreement; Lionblaze

你还是幼崽的时候呢？” 莓鼻哼了一声，转过身去不理他 “那不一样。” 松鸦羽凑过去，对着狮焰的耳朵小声说 “可不是嘛，他可真是个特别的猫呢。” “雷族的猫们，”等全族都聚齐了，火星开口说道，“你们都看到了，影族的褐皮带着她的幼崽来这儿——”“我们已经是学徒了。”焰爪小声嘟囔 “——她的部族变了样子，所以她来这儿求我们收留。” “那你打算答应他们吗？” 鼠毛站在长老巢穴前的位置大声喊道 “收留外来猫惹的麻烦还不够多吗？” 火星还没来得及回答，灰条就一下子站了起来 “这些猫本就该是雷族的一份子，”他低吼道 “他们理应在这儿有个家。” “又没有猫逼褐皮离开，”鼠毛反驳道 “要我说，猫选好了自己想住的地方，就该一直待在那儿。” 不少猫都小声表示赞同；狮焰

saw dismay in the eyes of the three apprentices. "They don't want us here," Tigerpaw muttered. "Some cats don't," Lionblaze admitted, resting his tail-tip on the young cat's shoulder. "But it'll be okay. Firestar will talk them around, you'll see." "I understand your worries," Firestar went on. "But Tawnypelt isn't asking for a permanent home in ThunderClan. She and her kits—" Dawnpaw rolled her eyes. "How many more times?" "—are only here while Sol holds sway in ShadowClan. If she has seen through his lies, others will too, and he won't be allowed to stay for long." "Then we should take a patrol across the border and drive him out," Cloudtail meowed. "The lake would be well rid of him." "Yes!" Birchfall agreed. "ShadowClan helped us, so we should—" Yowls of protest drowned out his last few words. "There's been enough fighting," Sorreltail meowed, glancing at Squirrelflight. "Some cats

看到三个学徒的眼里满是沮丧 “他们不想让我们待在这儿。”虎爪小声嘟囔 “确实有些猫不欢迎，”狮焰坦言，一边把尾尖搭在这只幼猫的肩膀上 “但不会有事的。 火星会说服大家的，你们等着看吧。” “我理解你们的担心，”火星接着说道 “但褐皮并不是要永远留在雷族。 她和她的幼崽——”曙爪翻了个白眼 “到底还要说多少次啊？ “——他们只是在索尔多掌控影族的时候暂时待在这儿。 既然褐皮都能看穿他的谎言，其他猫也会的，他待不了多久。” “那我们应该组织巡逻队越过边界，把他赶出去，”云尾说道 把他赶走，整个湖区就清净了。” “没错！” 桦落赞同道 “影族帮过我们，所以我们应该——”抗议的吼叫声淹没了他最后几句话 “已经打够了，”焦尾说着，看向松鼠飞 有些猫

are still recovering from their wounds." "ShadowClan should deal with their own problems," Spiderleg added. "It's no business of ours." Cloudtail whipped his head around to stare at the black warrior. "If ShadowClan cats are moving in here, then it's not their own problem anymore." "That's enough!" Firestar raised his tail for silence. "Tawnypelt is welcome to stay for as long as she wants. The apprentices—" "At last!" Tigerpaw muttered. "—will train and perform duties alongside Foxpaw and Icepaw." Lionblaze saw the two ThunderClan apprentices exchange delighted glances, and he heard some of the younger warriors let out sighs of relief at being freed from helping with the apprentice tasks. "Tawnypelt will have a place in the warriors" den, and take part in patrols," Firestar went on. "Can she be trusted?" Ashfur called out. "Especially along the ShadowClan border?" Lionblaze saw Brambleclaw's fur start to

还在养伤呢。" "影族该自己解决自己的麻烦，"蜘蛛腿补充道。 "这事和我们无关。" 云尾猛地转头，盯着这只黑色武士。 "如果影族猫要搬进来，那这事就不再是他们自己的事了。" "够了！" 火星抬起尾巴示意大家安静。 "塔娜佩特想留多久都可以， 那些学徒——" "终于！" 虎爪小声嘀咕道。 "——会和狐爪、冰爪一同训练、执行任务。" 狮焰看见这两名雷族学徒开心地交换了眼神，还听到不少年轻武士松了口气——他们不用再帮忙处理学徒的事务了。 "塔娜佩特可以住在武士巢穴，参与巡逻，"火星继续说道。 "她能信得过吗？" 蜡毛大声喊道。 "尤其是在影族边境巡逻的时候？" 狮焰看见黑莓掌的皮毛开始

bristle, but Firestar raised his tail, warning him not to retaliate. "It's time for the regular patrols," he meowed, ignoring Ashfur's comment. "The fresh-kill pile needs restocking, and we need to keep a close eye on the border with WindClan." Brambleclaw leaped down from the rocks and began calling cats to him, splitting them up into patrols. "Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, I want you on a hunting patrol with Dustpelt and Sorreltail. And you apprentices go over there and talk to Firestar." Tigerpaw, Flamepaw, and Dawnpaw sprang up, looking a bit daunted at the thought of meeting the Clan leader. "You'll be fine," Lionblaze promised them as he padded off to join Sorreltail and Dustpelt. As Sorreltail led her patrol toward the camp entrance, Lionblaze glanced back to see Firestar arranging mentors for the three ShadowClan apprentices. Flamepaw was paired with Cloudtail, Tigerpaw with Brackenfur, and Dawnpaw with Spiderleg. Sandstorm and Whitewing beckoned their apprentices, Foxpaw and Icepaw.

炸起来，可火星抬起尾巴，警告他不要还击。 "该出发定期巡逻了，"他说道，没有理会蜡毛的质疑。 "猎物堆需要补充，而且我们得密切盯紧风族边界。" 黑莓掌从岩石上跃下，开始召集族人，把他们分成了几支巡逻队。 "狮焰、冬青叶，你们和尘毛、蕨尾一起去狩猎巡逻队， 你们几个学徒去那边见火星。" 虎爪、焰爪和曙爪一下子站起身，一想到要见族长，都有些胆怯。 "没事的，"狮焰一边向他们保证，一边缓步走去和蕨尾、尘毛会合。 蕨尾带着巡逻队朝营地入口走时，狮焰回头瞥了一眼，看见火星正在给这三名影族学徒安排导师。 焰爪跟着云尾，虎爪跟着蕨毛，曙爪跟着蜘蛛腿。 沙风和白翅招呼她们的学徒狐爪和冰爪过去。