Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 For a moment, none of the cats moved or spoke. Then Deadfoot growled, "Any of the Clans could see those clouds. We can't be sure that the message is for us." Hopeful mews spread through WindClan. Tallstar surveyed his Clan, then meowed calmly, "Whatever StarClan has planned for us, today we return to our home. I can smell more rain in the air. It's time we set off." Fireheart felt relieved at the leader's practical tone. The last thing they needed was hysteria at an ominous prophecy. Tallstar led the way out into the chilly morning air. Fireheart and Graystripe followed. The WindClan leader was right: the wind carried the promise of more rain, and soon. "Shall we scout ahead?" Fireheart offered. "Yes, please," replied Tallstar. "Let me know if you see dogs, Twolegs, or rats. My Clan is stronger this morning, but we had trouble with dogs on the way out. We must stay alert." Fireheart could see from the worried look in the leader's eyes that Barkface's warning had disturbed him more than his confident words suggested. His Clan might be

有那么一会儿，猫谁也不动，谁也不说话。 然后死脚咆哮道：“任何部落都能看到那些云。 我们不能确定这条信息是给我们的。” 充满希望的消息传遍了WindClan。 Tallstar打量了一下他的部落，然后平静地喵喵叫道：“不管StarClan为我们做了什么计划，今天我们都要回家了。 我能闻到更多的雨在空气中。 我们该出发了。”火心对领导务实的语气感到宽慰。 他们最不需要的就是看到不祥的预言而歇斯底里。 高斯塔尔领着他们走出去，走进早晨寒冷的空气中。 火心和灰条紧随其后。 风氏族的首领是对的：风预示着更多的雨，而且很快。 “我们在前面侦察一下好吗？”Fireheart提供。 “是的，谢谢，”塔尔斯特回答。 “如果你看到了狗、狗腿或老鼠，请告诉我。 我的家族今天早上更强大，但我们在出去的路上遇到了狗的麻烦。 我们必须保持警惕。”火心可以从首领忧心忡忡的眼神中看出，巴克脸的警告比他自信的话语更让他不安。 他的家族可能是

stronger, but it was in no state to fight off attackers. Fireheart raced away with Graystripe at his heels. They took turns going back to the Clan, telling Tallstar that the way ahead was clear, or warning him to stay back while a Twoleg passed by with a dog. The WindClan cats wordlessly obeyed their leader, plodding on heavy paws in spite of their night's rest. By sunhigh dark clouds had gathered once more, and the first drops of rain were beginning to fall. The ground began to slope upward, and when Fireheart pushed his way through a hedge, he recognized the red dirt track that led away from Twoleg territory and into WindClan's hunting grounds. His spirits soared, and he met Graystripe's gaze with a look of triumph. Nearly there! The muffled tramp of pawsteps sounded behind the hedge. Fireheart spun around and darted back into the field. The WindClan cats had caught up with them. Deadfoot was at the head of the group. He looked startled by Fireheart's sudden appearance.

更强大了，但却无法击退攻击者。 火心飞奔而去，灰条纹紧跟其后。 他们轮流回到氏族，告诉塔尔斯特前面的路是畅通的，或者警告他在特沃莱格人带着狗经过时退后。 风氏族的猫们一言不发地服从了他们的首领，尽管他们已经休息了一夜，但仍然用沉重的爪子步履沉重地走着。 太阳出来的时候，乌云又聚集起来，开始下起了第一滴雨。 地面开始向上倾斜，当火心穿过树篱时，他认出了那条从特沃莱格领地通往风氏族狩猎场的红土小道。 他的情绪高涨起来，面对着格雷斯特的目光，他露出了胜利的神情。 近!树篱后面传来低沉的脚步声。 火心转过身，冲回了战场。 风之家族的猫追上了他们。 死脚走在队伍的最前面。 火心的突然出现似乎使他吃了一惊。

"This way," Fireheart meowed, showing him the gap through the dripping leaves. He was eager to see WindClan's reaction when they glimpsed the uplands on the other side. With Deadfoot leading, the cats began to file slowly through. Fireheart followed close behind the last cat, but Deadfoot and two warriors had already leaped the ditch and crossed the track, and were pushing into the hedgerow on the other side. Their pace had quickened—they clearly knew where they were. Fireheart had to sprint to catch up. He followed them through the hedge and kept up with them as they bounded toward the long slope that led to the uplands, and their home. At the foot of the slope, Deadfoot and his warriors paused to wait for the rest of the Clan. They closed their eyes against the rain but held their heads high. Fireheart could see their chests rising and falling as they breathed in the familiar scents sweeping from the uplands. Fireheart ran back to the rest of the Clan, looking for Morningflower. He spotted her walking beside a tabby warrior who held her kit in his mouth. Every few steps the tortoiseshell queen

“这边走。”火心喵喵地叫着，指给他看树叶滴水之间的缝隙。 当风氏族瞥见另一边的高地时，他很想看看他们的反应。 在“死脚”的带领下，猫们开始慢慢地走过去。 火心紧跟着最后一只猫，但死脚和两个战士已经跳过了壕沟，穿过了小路，正在向另一边的树篱推进。 他们的步伐加快了——他们清楚地知道自己身在何处。 火心不得不冲刺才能赶上。 他跟着他们穿过树篱，跟着他们奔向通向高地和他们家的长长的斜坡。 在斜坡脚下，死脚和他的战士们停下来等待部落的其他成员。 他们闭上眼睛迎着雨，但却昂着头。 火心可以看到他们呼吸着从高地飘来的熟悉的气味，胸口上下起伏。 火心跑回氏族的其他成员那里，寻找晨花。 他发现她走在一只虎斑猫旁边，虎斑猫叼着她的工具包。 每隔几步就有龟甲女王

stretched her head to sniff the wet little bundle. It would not be long now before she could settle her kit into the WindClan nursery. Fireheart fell into step beside Graystripe at the rear. They glanced happily at each other but didn't speak, too caught up in WindClan's excitement at coming home. Even the elders were moving swiftly now, keeping their bodies low and their eyes narrowed against the rain. As the Clan joined Deadfoot at the foot of the slope, the deputy got to his paws and Tallstar took the lead. Without pausing, Tallstar began to follow a narrow sheep trail through the rough grass and heather. As the Clan neared the top, some of the warriors raced ahead again. At the brow of the hill, they made proud silhouettes against the stormy sky, while the wind sent ripples through their fur. Ahead stretched their old hunting grounds. Suddenly two apprentices charged past Fireheart and bounded away into the familiar heather. Tallstar stiffened. "Wait!" he yowled. "There might be hunting parties from the other Clans

伸出她的头去闻那湿的小包裹。 过不了多久，她就可以把她的工具箱放进风氏族的育儿室了。 火心在后面跟着灰条纹。 他们高兴地互相看了一眼，但没有说话，都沉浸在风氏族回家的兴奋中。 就连长老们现在也在迅速行动，他们低着身子，眯着眼睛挡着雨。 当氏族在斜坡脚下与死脚会合时，副手用爪子抓住了他，高星走在了前面。 高斯达没有停顿，开始沿着一条狭窄的羊道，穿过粗糙的草地和石南丛。 当部落接近山顶时，一些战士又跑在前面。 在山顶上，它们在暴风雨的天空下勾勒出骄傲的剪影，风在它们的皮毛上掀起涟漪。 前面是他们以前的狩猎场。 突然，两个徒弟从火心身边冲了过去，跳进了熟悉的石南丛。 Tallstar僵硬了。“等等！” “可能有其他氏族的狩猎队

here!" As soon as they heard him, the apprentices skidded to a halt and pelted back to join the Clan, their eyes still bright with exhilaration. From a rock-strewn ridge Fireheart saw the dip in the ground that concealed WindClan's camp. With a purr of delight Morningflower took her kit from the mouth of the tabby warrior and hurried toward the hollow. Tallstar flicked his tail and three warriors raced forward to escort her as she disappeared over the edge and down into the camp. The WindClan leader paused while the rest of his Clan rushed into the sheltering bushes below. He turned to Fireheart and Graystripe, his eyes shining. "My Clan is grateful for your help," he meowed. "You have both proved you are warriors worthy of StarClan. WindClan has come home, and it is time for you to return to yours." Fireheart felt a pang of disappointment. He'd wanted to see Morningflower settled in the nursery with her kit. But Tallstar was right: there was no need for them to stay here any longer. Tallstar spoke again. "There may be hostile

在这里!”学徒们一听到他的声音，就急忙停下脚步，冲回部落，他们的眼睛里仍然闪烁着兴奋的光芒。 从布满岩石的山脊上，火心看到了隐藏着风氏族营地的地下凹陷处。 晨花高兴地咕噜了一声，从虎斑猫战士的嘴里拿过她的工具箱，急忙向洼地走去。 高星甩了甩尾巴，三个战士冲上前去护送她，她消失在悬崖边，进入了营地。 风氏族的首领停了下来，他的氏族的其他成员冲进了下面的灌木丛中。 他转向火心和灰条，眼睛闪闪发光。 “我的家族非常感谢你的帮助。”他喵喵地说。 “你们都证明了你们是配得上星际战队的勇士。 风氏族回来了，你也该回去了。” 火心感到一阵失望。 他本想看到晨花带着她的工具箱在育儿室安顿下来。 但塔尔斯特是对的：他们没有必要再呆在这里了。 高星又说话了。“可能会有敌意

hunting parties around. Onewhisker and Deadfoot will escort you to Fourtrees." Fireheart bowed his head. "Thank you, Tallstar." Tallstar called to his warriors and gave them their orders. Then he turned his tired eyes once more to Fireheart. "You have served WindClan well. Tell Bluestar that WindClan will not forget it was ThunderClan who brought them home." Deadfoot padded away in the direction of Fourtrees. Fireheart and Graystripe walked after him with Onewhisker at their side. They stayed close together as they followed a narrow path through a solid mass of gorse that provided good shelter against the rain. Suddenly Onewhisker stopped and sniffed the air. "Rabbit!" he called out joyfully before charging away into the gorse. Deadfoot stopped and waited. Fireheart could see a glint in the deputy's tired eyes. There was a rush of pawsteps in the distance and the rustle of gorse, then silence. A moment later Onewhisker returned with a large rabbit dangling from his jaws.

四处狩猎。一须和死脚会护送你去四棵树。” 火心低下了头。“谢谢你，高个子。” 高星召集他的战士们，向他们下达命令。 然后他又把疲惫的目光转向火心。 “你为风氏族服务得很好。 告诉蓝星，风氏族不会忘记是雷霆氏族把他们带回家的。” 死脚朝四树村的方向走去。 火心和灰条纹跟在他后面，一须跟着他们。 他们紧紧地靠在一起，沿着一条狭窄的小路，穿过一大片坚硬的金雀花，这片金雀花可以很好地避雨。 突然，一个胡须停了下来，嗅了嗅空气。 “兔子！”他高兴地叫了一声，然后冲进了鹅窝。 死脚停下来等着。 火心从副警长疲惫的眼睛里看到了一丝光芒。 远处传来了急促的脚步声和金雀花的沙沙声，然后是寂静。 不一会儿，胡须回来了，嘴里叼着一只大兔子。