Chapter 0 Prologue

WARRIORS THE DARKEST HOUR ERIN HUNTER

勇士，在最黑暗的时刻

PROLOGUE Rain fell steadily, drumming on the hard black Thunderpath that led between unending rows of stone Twoleg nests. From time to time a monster snarled past, its eyes glaring, and a single Twoleg scurried along, huddled into its shiny pelt. Two cats slipped silently around the corner, keeping close to the walls where the shadows were deepest. A skinny gray tom with a ragged ear and bright, watchful eyes went first, every hair on his body slicked dark with the wet. Behind him prowled a huge tabby with massive shoulders and muscles that slid smoothly under his rain-soaked pelt. His amber eyes glowed in the harsh light, and his gaze shifted back and forth as if he expected an attack. He paused where the dark entrance to a Twoleg nest offered a little shelter and growled, "How much farther? This place stinks." The gray tom glanced back. "Not far now." "It had better not be." Grimacing, the dark brown tabby padded on, ears twitching irritably to flick away the raindrops. Harsh yellow light angled across him, and he flinched as a monster

雨不停地下着，敲打着坚硬的黑色雷道，这条雷道通向一行行没有尽头的双爪龙石巢。 不时有怪物咆哮而过，眼睛炯炯发亮，一只特沃列格匆匆而过，蜷缩在闪闪发亮的毛皮里。 两只猫悄无声息地溜过拐角，紧靠着阴影最深的墙壁。 头一个走的是一只灰色的瘦汤姆，耳朵粗糙，眼睛炯炯有神，身上的每一根头发都被雨水打得乌黑发亮。 在他身后徘徊着一只巨大的虎斑猫，它有着巨大的肩膀和肌肉，在被雨水浸透的皮毛下平滑地滑动。 他琥珀色的眼睛在刺眼的光线下闪闪发光，他的目光前后移动，好像他在等待攻击。 他停在一个特沃莱格巢穴的黑暗入口，那里有一个小小的庇护所，他咆哮道：“还有多远？ 这地方臭死了。”灰色的汤姆回头看了一眼。 “现在不远了。”“最好不是这样。” 这只深棕色的虎斑猫做了个鬼脸，蹑手蹑脚地往前走，耳朵不耐烦地抽动着，想拍拍雨滴。 刺眼的黄光照在他身上，他畏缩了一下，像个怪物

roared around the corner, throwing up a wave of filthy water that reeked of Twoleg rubbish. The cat let out a snarl as the water slopped around his paws and the spray drizzled down on his fur. Everything about the Twolegplace disgusted him: the hard surface under his paws, the stench of monsters and the Twolegs they carried in their bellies, the unfamiliar noises, and most of all, the way that he could not survive here without a guide. The tabby was not used to depending on another cat for anything. In the forest he knew every tree, every stream, every rabbit hole. He was considered the strongest and most dangerous warrior in all the Clans. Now his sharpened skills and senses were useless. He felt as if he were deaf, blind, and lame, reduced to following his companion like a kit trailing helplessly after its mother. But it would be worth it. The tabby's whiskers twitched in anticipation. He had already launched a plan that would turn his most hated enemies into helpless prey in their own territory. When the dogs attacked, no cat would suspect that they had been lured and guided every step of the way.

在拐角处咆哮着，喷出一股散发着特沃莱格垃圾臭味的脏水。 猫发出了一声咆哮，水溅到它的爪子周围，水花细雨般地落在它的皮毛上。 双膝地的一切都令他厌恶：脚爪下坚硬的地面，怪物的恶臭和它们肚子里的双膝腿，不熟悉的噪音，最重要的是，没有向导，他无法在这里生存。 虎斑猫不习惯依赖另一只猫做任何事情。 森林里的每一棵树，每一条小溪，每一个兔子洞，他都认得。 他被认为是所有氏族中最强壮、最危险的战士。 现在他的技巧和感觉都没有用了。 他觉得自己好像又聋又瞎又跛，沦落到像一只无助地跟在妈妈后面的小羊羔一样跟着同伴。 但这是值得的。虎斑猫的胡须在期待中抽搐着。 他已经启动了一个计划，要把他最痛恨的敌人变成自己领地里无助的猎物。 当狗攻击时，没有猫会怀疑它们是被诱骗的，而且每一步都是被引导的。

And then, if things went according to plan, this expedition into Twolegplace would give him all he had ever wanted. The gray cat led the way along the path and across an open space reeking of Twoleg monsters, where a swirl of color from unnatural orange lights floated on the puddles. He stopped by the entrance to a narrow alley and opened his jaws to draw in the scent of the air. The tabby halted and did the same, disgustedly swiping his tongue over his lips at the stink of rotting Twoleg food. "Is this the place?" he asked. "This is it," the gray warrior replied tensely. "Now—remember what I told you. The cat we're going to meet holds command over many cats. We must treat him with respect." "Boulder, have you forgotten who I am?" The tabby took a step forward so that he towered over his companion. The skinny gray cat's ears flattened. "No, Tigerstar, I haven't forgotten. But you're not Clan leader here." Tigerstar grunted. "Let's get on with it," he growled.

然后，如果一切按计划进行，这次到双勒格place的探险将给他想要的一切。 灰猫在前面领路，穿过一片散发着特沃列格怪物气味的空地，水坑上飘着一圈不自然的橘黄色灯光。 他在一条狭窄小巷的入口停了下来，张着嘴吸着空气的气味。 虎斑猫停了下来，也做了同样的事情，厌恶地用舌头舔嘴唇，闻到特沃列格食物腐烂的味道。 “是这里吗？”他问。 “就是这里。”灰衣武士紧张地回答。 “现在——记住我告诉你的话。 我们将要见到的这只猫控制着许多猫。 我们必须尊重他。” “巨石，你忘了我是谁吗？”虎斑猫向前迈了一步，比它的同伴高了一步。 那只瘦小的灰猫的耳朵压扁了。 “不，虎星，我没有忘记。 但你不是这里的部落首领。” Tigerstar哼了一声。“我们继续干吧。”他咆哮道。

Boulder turned into the alley. He stopped short after just a few paces when a huge shape loomed up in front of them. "Who goes there?" A broad-shouldered black and white cat stepped out of the shadows. Strong muscles were outlined under fur plastered to his body by the rain. "Identify yourselves. We don't like strangers here." "Greetings, Bone," the gray warrior meowed steadily. "Remember me?" The black-and-white cat narrowed his eyes and was silent for a few moments. "So you've come back, have you, Boulder?" he meowed at last. "You told us you were going to find a better life in the forest. What are you doing here?" He took a step forward, but Boulder held his ground, unsheathing his claws against the uneven ground. "We want to see Scourge." Bone let out a snort, half contempt, half laughter. "I can't imagine that Scourge will want to see you. And who's this with you? I don't recognize him." "My name is Tigerstar. I've come from the forest to speak with your leader."

博尔德拐进了小巷。 他刚走几步就停住了脚步，这时一个巨大的身影出现在他们面前。 “谁去那儿？”一只宽肩黑白相间的猫从暗处走了出来。 他身上被雨水打湿的皮毛下面露出了强壮的肌肉。 “确定自己。我们这里不喜欢陌生人。” “你好，骨头，”灰衣战士稳定地喵喵叫道。 “还记得我吗?”那只黑白相间的猫眯起眼睛，沉默了一会儿。 “这么说你回来了，是吗，博尔德？”他终于喵喵叫道。 “你告诉我们你会在森林里找到更好的生活。 你在这里做什么？”他向前走了一步，但博尔德坚持住了，在凹凸不平的地面上伸出爪子。 “我们想看看天灾。”骨头哼了一声，半是轻蔑，半是大笑。 “我无法想象天灾会想见你。 和你在一起的是谁？我不认识他。” “我叫虎星。我是从森林里来找你们的首领的。”

Bone's green eyes flicked from Tigerstar to Boulder and back again. "What do you want with him?" he demanded. Tigerstar's amber gaze burned like the Twoleg lights reflected on the shining wet stones around them. "I'll discuss that with your leader, not his border patrol." Bone bristled and extended his claws, but Boulder quickly slipped between him and Tigerstar. "Scourge needs to hear this," he insisted. "It could be to every cat's advantage." For a few heartbeats Bone hesitated, and then he stepped back, allowing Boulder and Tigerstar to pass. His hostile glare scorched their fur, but he said nothing. Now Tigerstar took the lead, treading cautiously as the light faded behind then. On either side, skinny cats were slinking behind piles of rubbish, eyes gleaming as they followed the progress of the two intruders. Tigerstar's muscles tensed. If this meeting went wrong, he might have to fight his way out. A wall blocked the end of the alley. Tigerstar stared around, looking for the leader of these cats

伯恩的绿眼睛在虎星和博尔德之间来回扫视。 “你找他干什么？”他问道。 虎星琥珀色的目光燃烧着，就像特沃莱格灯反射在他们周围闪闪发光的湿石头上一样。 “我会和你们的领导人讨论这个问题，而不是和他的边境巡逻队讨论。” 骨头竖起鬃毛，伸出爪子，但博尔德很快滑到他和虎星之间。 “天灾需要听到这些，”他坚持说。 “这可能对每只猫都有好处。” “骨头”犹豫了几下，然后向后退，让“巨石”和“虎星”通过。 他那充满敌意的目光炙烤着他们的皮毛，但他什么也没说。 现在虎星走在前面，小心翼翼地走着，身后的灯光渐渐消失了。 两边，瘦骨嶙峋的猫躲在一堆垃圾后面，眼睛闪闪发光地盯着这两个闯入者。 虎星的肌肉绷紧了。 如果这次会面出了问题，他可能不得不杀出一条血路。 一堵墙挡住了小巷的尽头。 虎星环顾四周，寻找这些猫的首领