Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27 Fireheart limped over to the clump of nettles and began to lick his wounds. He would go and see Yellowfang later, when she had finished tending to the other cats. The weak rays of the setting sun threw long shadows across the clearing. Dustpaw had been relieved from his guard duty by Longtail. Tigerclaw had taken the rest of his unscathed raiding party out in search of fresh-kill. Fireheart's stomach growled. He looked up at the sound of pawsteps, but it was only Sandpaw and Swiftpaw returning from their burial duty. The two cats padded over to Bluestar, who was sitting beneath the Highrock with Whitestorm. Fireheart pushed himself to his paws and walked over to join them. With a flick of his tail he beckoned to Dustpaw, who was licking his own scratches beside the tree stump. Dustpaw flashed him a doubtful look but got up wearily and followed him. "We've buried Clawface," meowed Sandpaw. "Thank you," Bluestar replied. The ThunderClan leader looked directly at Swiftpaw.

第二十七章火心一瘸一拐地走到荨麻丛中，开始舔自己的伤口。 等小黄牙照顾好其他猫之后，他就去看她。 夕阳的微光在空地上投下长长的影子。 长尾巴接替了尘埃爪的看守职务。 虎爪带着他那支没有受伤的突击队的其他人出去寻找新鲜的猎物了。 火心的肚子咕咕叫。 他抬头一看，听见了脚步声，原来是沙爪和雨燕爪完成了丧事回来了。 两只猫蹑手蹑脚地走到蓝星身边，他正和白风暴坐在海岩城堡下面。 火心站起身来，走过去和他们会合。 它甩了甩尾巴，向正在树桩旁舔自己抓的东西的箕爪示意。 尘埃爪疑惑地看了他一眼，但疲倦地站起来跟着他走了。 “我们把爪脸埋了。”沙爪叫道。 “谢谢你。”蓝星回答。 雷霆氏族的首领直视着Swiftpaw。

"You may go." The black-and-white apprentice dipped his head and headed for his den. Fireheart signaled to Dustpaw again to come closer. The tabby apprentice narrowed his eyes and padded forward to stand beside Sandpaw. "Bluestar," Fireheart began hesitantly, "Sandpaw and Dustpaw fought like warriors when Brokentail attacked. We would have been in much more trouble without their strength and courage." Dustpaw's eyes widened and Sandpaw looked at the ground as Fireheart spoke. A purr rumbled from Whitestorm's throat. "It's not like you to be shy," he meowed to his apprentice. Sandpaw's ears twitched uncomfortably. "Fireheart's the one who saved the Clan," she burst out. "He was the one who alerted the camp so that we were ready for Brokentail's attack." It was Fireheart's turn to feel embarrassed. He was relieved when Tigerclaw and the hunting party trotted into the camp at that moment, carrying plenty of fresh-kill. Bluestar nodded at Tigerclaw and then turned to face Dustpaw and Sandpaw. "It makes me

“你可以走了。”黑白相间的学徒低下头，朝他的窝走去。 火心再次示意尘埃爪靠近一点。 虎斑猫学徒眯起眼睛，蹑手蹑脚地走到Sandpaw身边。 “蓝星，”火心犹豫地说，“当布罗肯泰尔进攻时，Sandpaw和Dustpaw像战士一样战斗。 如果没有他们的力量和勇气，我们的麻烦会大得多。” 灰爪睁大了眼睛，看着地面，火心说话了。 白风暴的喉咙里发出咕噜声。 “害羞可不像你，”他喵喵地对徒弟说。 Sandpaw的耳朵不安地抽搐着。 “是火心救了氏族。”她脱口而出。 “是他通知了营地，让我们做好了迎接布罗肯泰尔进攻的准备。” 轮到火心感到尴尬了。 这时，虎爪和猎人们带着许多新鲜的猎物快步走进营地，他松了一口气。 蓝星朝虎爪点了点头，然后转身面对尘埃爪和沙爪。 “这让我

proud to know that ThunderClan has such fine warriors," she meowed. "It's time you both took your warrior names. We shall have the naming ceremony now, while the sun is setting, and then we can eat." Sandpaw and Dustpaw looked excitedly at each other. Fireheart lifted his chin and purred. Bluestar called to the Clan, and Fireheart felt even happier when he saw Graystripe appear from the warriors' den. He hadn't left the camp after all. The Clan gathered around the edge of the clearing. Elders and queens sat with the apprentices and kits on one side; Fireheart waited with the warriors on the other. He looked at Cloudkit nestled beside Brindleface. The kit's eyes shone with excitement, and Fireheart felt a rush of pride that his kin-kit could see him sitting with the Clan warriors. Bluestar stood in the center with Sandpaw and Dustpaw. The last arc of sun glowed pink on the horizon. The Clan waited silently as it dipped out of sight, leaving the darkening sky pricked with stars. Bluestar looked up and fixed her eyes on the

知道雷霆族有这么优秀的战士，我感到很骄傲。” “你们俩是时候取个武士的名字了。 趁太阳落山的时候，我们可以举行命名仪式，然后我们就可以吃饭了。” Sandpaw和Dustpaw兴奋地看着对方。 火心抬起下巴，咕噜着。 蓝星召唤氏族，当火心看到灰条纹从战士的巢穴中出现时，他感到更加高兴。 他根本没有离开营地。 氏族们聚集在空地的边缘。 长老和王后与学徒和小工具箱坐在一边；火心和战士们在另一边等着。 他看着依偎在布林德脸旁边的云kit。 工具包的眼睛里闪烁着兴奋的光芒，火心感到一阵骄傲，因为他的工具包可以看到他和部落的战士们坐在一起。 蓝星和Sandpaw、Dustpaw站在中间。 太阳的最后一道弧线在地平线上闪着粉红色的光芒。 氏族默默地等着它消失在人们的视线之外，只留下一片布满星星的黑暗天空。 蓝星抬起头，眼睛盯着

brightest star in Silverpelt. "I, Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." She gazed down at the pair of young cats in front of her. "Sandpaw, Dustpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Sandpaw stared back, her eyes gleaming. "I do," she replied. Dustpaw echoed her words, his voice strong and low. "I do." "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Sandpaw, from this moment you will be known as Sandstorm. StarClan honors your courage and your spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Bluestar stepped forward and rested her muzzle on top of Sandstorm's bowed head. Sandstorm licked Bluestar's shoulder respectfully before she turned and walked toward Whitestorm. Fireheart saw her eyes flash proudly at her mentor as she settled down beside him in

Silverpelt最亮的星星。 “我，蓝星，雷霆氏族的首领，号召我的战士祖先们鄙视这两个徒弟。 他们经过艰苦的训练来理解你的代码，我向你推荐他们作为战士。” 她低头凝视着面前的那对小猫。 “Sandpaw, Dustpaw，你能保证坚持战士的准则，保护和捍卫这个氏族，即使付出生命的代价吗？”Sandpaw瞪着他，眼睛闪闪发光。 “是的，”她回答。尘埃爪附和着她的话，声音低沉有力。 “我做的。”“那么，以星族的力量，我给你们起了战士的名字：沙爪，从现在起，你们将被称为沙暴。 星际战队尊重你的勇气和精神，我们欢迎你成为雷霆战队的一名真正的战士。” 蓝星走上前，把它的嘴靠在沙暴低头的头上。 沙暴恭敬地舔了舔蓝星的肩膀，然后她转身朝白风暴走去。 火心在他身边坐下时，看见她骄傲地瞪着导师

her new place with the warriors. Bluestar turned her eyes to the dark brown tabby. "Dustpaw, from this moment you will be known as Dustpelt. StarClan honors your bravery and your honesty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." She touched his head with her muzzle, and he too gave the leader's shoulder a respectful lick before joining the other warriors. The voices of the Clan rose in tribute, sending clouds of misty breath into the night air. As one they chanted the new warrior names. "Sandstorm! Dustpelt! Sandstorm! Dustpelt!" "In the tradition of our ancestors," meowed Bluestar, raising her voice, "Sandstorm and Dustpelt must sit in silent vigil until dawn, and guard the camp alone while we sleep. But before they begin their vigil, the Clan will share a meal. It has been a long day and we have reason to be proud of these cats who defended our camp against the rogues. Fireheart, StarClan thanks you for your courage. You are a great warrior, and I'm proud to count you as a member of my Clan." The cats meowed again. A purr burst from

她和战士们的新地方。 蓝星把目光转向深棕色的虎斑猫。 “灰尘爪，从现在起，我叫你灰尘爪。 星际战队尊重你的勇敢和诚实，我们欢迎你成为雷霆战队的一名真正的战士。” 她用她的口鼻碰了碰他的头，他也恭敬地舔了舔首领的肩膀，然后加入了其他战士的行列。 氏族的颂词响起，将云雾般的气息送入夜空。 他们齐声吟唱着新战士的名字。 “沙尘暴!Dustpelt !沙尘暴!Dustpelt !”“按照我们祖先的传统，”蓝星叫道，提高了她的声音，“沙暴和尘埃必须坐在那里默默守夜，直到黎明，在我们睡觉的时候独自守着营地。 但在他们开始守夜之前，氏族会共享一顿饭。 这是漫长的一天，我们有理由为这些猫感到骄傲，它们捍卫了我们的营地，抵御了流氓。 火心，星族，谢谢你的勇气。 你是一个伟大的战士，我很自豪你是我氏族的一员。” 猫又喵喵叫了。一阵咕噜声突然响起

Fireheart's throat as he looked around at his Clan. Only Tigerclaw and Dustpelt eyed him with hostility, but for once he felt untouched by their jealousy. Bluestar had praised him, and that was enough. One by one the cats stepped forward to take some of the fresh-kill Tigerclaw's party had brought. Fireheart walked over to Sandstorm. "We can eat together as warriors tonight," he meowed happily. "If that's okay with you?" he added. Sandstorm purred at him and Fireheart felt a prickle of pleasure. "Choose something for me," she called as Fireheart dashed away to the pile of fresh-kill. "I'm starving!" Fireheart picked out a mouse for Sandpaw, temptingly plump for so late in leaf-bare. He took a bluetit for himself and turned to carry his catch back to Sandstorm. Then his heart sank— Dustpelt, Whitestorm, and Darkstripe had joined her. He'd been foolish to expect they would share their meal alone. This was a time for the whole Clan to share together in celebration.

火心环顾他的氏族时，他的喉咙哽住了。 只有虎爪和达斯特尔敌意地看着他，但这一次，他觉得他们的嫉妒丝毫没有影响到他。 蓝星表扬了他，这就够了。 猫们一个接一个地走上前来，吃了一些虎爪一行人带来的新鲜猎物。 火心朝沙暴走去。 “今晚我们可以像战士一样一起吃饭，”他高兴地喵喵叫道。 “如果你不介意的话？”他补充道。 沙暴对他发出呼噜声，火心感到一阵愉悦。 “给我挑点吃的。”她喊着，火心奔向那堆刚宰杀的猎物。 “我饿死了!”火心给Sandpaw挑了一只老鼠，在这么晚的时候，光秃秃的，它显得那么丰满诱人。 他自己抓了一只蓝山雀，转身把捕到的东西带回了沙暴。 接着，他的心沉了下去——尘土飞扬、白风暴和黑条纹也加入了她的行列。 他真傻，以为他们会单独吃饭。 这是整个氏族共同庆祝的时刻。