Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20 The sun had begun to set over the river, turning the water to a moving sheet of flame and sending a comforting warmth through Firestar's fur. He stood on the top of Sunningrocks, looking out over RiverClan territory. "I wonder what tomorrow will bring," he murmured. Beside him, Sandstorm shook her head, not replying in words but pressing her warm flank close to him. After their return from the devastated WindClan camp, Firestar had asked the pale ginger warrior to patrol with him. He had felt the need to get away from the rest of his Clan for a while to prepare himself for the meeting with Tigerstar. Yet he had not wanted to be completely alone, and Sandstorm's presence comforted him. They had skirted Snakerocks and followed the Thunderpath up to the border with ShadowClan to renew the scent markings as far as Fourtrees; finally they returned along the RiverClan border. There was no sign of TigerClan intruders. The borders were secure, and yet Firestar knew that if

第二十章太阳开始落在河上，把水面变成了一团移动的火焰，从火星的皮毛里传来一股温暖的暖意。 他站在太阳岩山顶，眺望河族的领地。 “我不知道明天会发生什么。”他喃喃地说。 沙暴在他身边摇了摇头，没有说话，只是把温暖的胁腹紧贴在他身边。 在他们从被摧毁的风氏族营地回来后，火星邀请这位淡黄色的姜色战士和他一起巡逻。 他觉得有必要离开他的部落一段时间，为与虎星的会面做准备。 然而，他并不想完全独自一人，沙暴的出现安慰了他。 他们绕过蛇岩，沿着雷霆之路来到了暗影部落的边界，在四树村重新找到了气味标记。最后，他们沿着河族边境返回。 没有虎帮入侵者的迹象。 边境是安全的，但火星知道

they had to fight TigerClan the battle would be about so much more than borders. It would be the climax of his conflict with Tigerstar, which had lasted almost since he had first set paw in the forest. Firestar lingered on the rocks, savoring the comfort of being alone with Sandstorm. "Tigerstar is determined to make himself ruler of the whole forest," he meowed. "We must expect a battle." "And ThunderClan will bear the worst of it," meowed Sandstorm. "How many warriors can WindClan offer us after today?" Her voice was troubled, but Firestar knew that, with or without WindClan, every cat in ThunderClan would fight beside him bravely. The fiery light was dying. Firestar turned to gaze across his beloved forest. A single star glittered in the violet sky. Is that you, Bluestar? Firestar asked silently. Are you still watching over us? Fervently he hoped that his former leader was still protecting the Clan she loved. If they survived the next day's meeting with Tigerstar, and managed to stay free from his quest for absolute

他们必须与虎族战斗，这场战斗将远远超过边界。 这将是他与虎星的冲突的高潮，这种冲突几乎从他第一次在森林里站稳脚跟以来就一直持续着。 火星在岩石上徘徊，享受着与沙暴独处的舒适。 “虎星决心要成为整个森林的统治者，”他喵喵地说。 “我们必须做好战斗准备。” “霹雳氏族将承受最坏的后果。”沙暴叫道。 “今天过后，风氏族能给我们提供多少战士？”她的声音有些不安，但火星知道，不管有没有风氏族，雷霆氏族的每只猫都会勇敢地与他并肩作战。 炽热的光芒正在熄灭。 火星转身凝视着他心爱的森林。 一颗星星在紫色的天空中闪烁。 是你吗，蓝星？火星默默地问。 你还在照看我们吗？ 他热切地希望他的前领袖还在保护她所热爱的氏族。 如果他们在第二天与虎星的会面中幸存下来，并设法摆脱他对绝对的追求

power, it would be because StarClan knew that the forest needed four Clans. Everything was still and silent. There was no breeze to ruffle the cats' fur, no sound of prey scuffling among the rocks. Firestar felt as if the whole forest were holding its breath, waiting for the coming dawn. "I love you, Sandstorm," he murmured, pushing his muzzle against her side. Sandstorm turned her head to meet his gaze, her green eyes glowing. "I love you, too," she replied. "And I know that you'll bring us through tomorrow, whatever happens." Firestar wished her could share her conviction. But he let himself be soothed by her trust in him. "We need to go and rest," he mewed. The chill of night was gathering by the time they reached the ravine. Frost already sparkled on the grass and the surface of the rocks. As Firestar emerged from the gorse tunnel, a white shape loomed out of the darkness. "I was starting to worry about you," Whitestorm meowed. "I thought you might have run into trouble."

因为StarClan知道森林需要4个氏族。 四周一片寂静。 没有微风吹乱猫的皮毛，没有猎物在岩石间挣扎的声音。 火星觉得仿佛整个森林都在屏住呼吸，等待黎明的到来。 “我爱你，沙暴。”他低声说，用嘴抵住她的侧身。 沙暴转过头迎向他的目光，绿眼睛闪闪发光。 “我也爱你，”她回答。 “我知道无论发生什么，你都会带我们度过明天。” 火星希望她能分享她的信念。 但她对他的信任使他感到宽慰。 “我们需要去休息，”他叫道。 当他们到达峡谷时，夜的寒意正在积聚。 霜已经在草地和岩石表面上闪闪发光了。 当“火星”从金雀花隧道出来时，一个白色的东西从黑暗中隐约出现。 “我都开始担心你了，”怀特斯托姆叫道。 “我想你可能遇到麻烦了。”

"No, we're fine," Firestar replied. "There isn't even a mouse stirring out there." "Pity. We could do with a few." Whitestorm gave Firestar a quick report on the patrols he had sent out and the watch he had set on the camp. "You get some sleep," he finished. "It's going to be a tough day tomorrow." "I will," Firestar agreed. "Thanks, Whitestorm." The white warrior faded back into the darkness again. "I'm going to check on the sentries," he meowed as he retreated. "You couldn't have chosen a better deputy," Sandstorm commented when he was out of earshot. "I know. I don't know what I'd do without him." Sandstorm looked at Firestar, sadness and wisdom in her green eyes. "You might find out tomorrow," she meowed. "Or any of the others. If Tigerstar makes us fight, cats are going to die, Firestar." "I know." But he had not truly thought about what that would mean until now. Some of the sleeping cats around him, the friends he loved, the

“不，我们很好，”Firestar回答。 “外面连一只老鼠都没有。” ”遗憾。我们需要一些。” 白风暴迅速向火星汇报了他派出的巡逻队和他在营地设置的守卫情况。 “你睡会儿吧，”他说完。 “明天将是艰难的一天。” “我会的，”火星同意了。 “谢谢,Whitestorm。”白衣武士又消失在黑暗中。 “我去看看哨兵。”他一边后退一边叫着。 “你找不到比他更好的副手了，”沙暴在听不见他说话时评论道。 “我知道。我不知道没有他我该怎么办。” 沙暴看着火星，绿色的眼睛里充满了悲伤和智慧。 “明天你就知道了，”她喵喵地说。 “或者其他的人。如果虎星让我们打架，猫就会死，火星。” “我知道。”但直到现在，他才真正想过这意味着什么。 他身边睡着的猫，他爱的朋友，还有

warriors he trusted, would be lost to him. Win or lose, some of the cats Firestar led out to battle would not come back. And they would die because he had ordered them to fight. A pang of grief shook him, so deep and painful that he almost wailed aloud. "I know," he repeated. "But what can I do?" "Go on." Sandstorm's voice was soft. "You're our leader, Firestar. You have to do your duty. And you do it brilliantly." Humbled, Firestar found nothing to say, and after a moment Sandstorm pressed her muzzle against his. "I'd better get some sleep," she murmured. "No, wait." Firestar found he could not face the prospect of that solitary den underneath the Highrock, full of shadows. "I don't want to be alone tonight. Come and share my den with me." The ginger she-cat dipped her head. "All right, if you want me to." Firestar gave her ear a quick lick and led the way across the clearing. Even though the curtain of lichen over the entrance to the den had still not grown back after the fire, the den lay in deep

他所信任的战士，将会输给他。 不管赢还是输，一些火星带队出战的猫都不会再回来了。 他们会死，因为他命令他们战斗。 一阵悲伤的剧痛震撼着他，如此深沉和痛苦，他几乎要大声哭出来。 “我知道，”他重复道。“但是我能做什么呢？”“继续。” 沙暴的声音很柔和。 “你是我们的领袖，火星。 你必须尽你的责任。你做得很出色。” 火星受宠若惊，无话可说，过了一会儿，沙暴把她的嘴贴在他的嘴上。 “我最好睡一会儿，”她喃喃地说。 “不,等等。”火星发现他无法面对海岩岩下那个充满阴影的孤独洞穴的前景。 “今晚我不想一个人呆着。 来和我一起住在我的窝里。” 姜黄色的母猫低下了头。 “好吧，如果你愿意的话。” 火星迅速舔了舔耳朵，带路穿过空地。 尽管大火过后，洞穴入口处的地衣还没有长出来，但洞穴已经很深了

shadow. More by scent than sight Firestar realized that one of the apprentices had left fresh-kill for him, and he remembered how hungry he was. The prey was a rabbit; he and Sandstorm crouched side by side to share it, swallowing with quick, famished gulps. "I needed that," Sandstorm purred, extending her front paws and arching her back in a long, luxurious stretch. Then she yawned. "I could sleep for a moon." Firestar arranged his mossy bedding to make a sleeping place for her, and she curled up and closed her eyes. "Good night, Firestar," she murmured. Firestar touched his nose to her fur. "Good night." Soon her soft, regular breathing told him she was asleep. For all his weariness, Firestar did not feel ready to curl up beside her. Instead he sat watching while the moon rose and spilled pale light through the entrance to the den, touching Sandstorm's fur to silver. She was so beautiful, Firestar thought, so precious to him. And yet she

的影子。靠嗅觉而不是视觉，火星意识到其中一个学徒给他留下了新鲜的猎物，他记得自己有多饿。 猎物是一只兔子；他和沙暴并排蹲在一起分享它，迅速地、饥饿地大口吞咽。 “我需要这个。”沙暴咕噜着，伸出前爪，拱起背，做了一个长长的、舒适的伸展。 然后她打了个哈欠。“我可以睡上一个月。” 火星把长满青苔的被褥整理好，给她做了一个睡觉的地方，她蜷缩起来，闭上了眼睛。 “晚安，火星。”她低声说。 火星用鼻子碰了碰她的毛。 “晚安。”很快，她柔和而有规律的呼吸告诉他她睡着了。 尽管他很累，但火星觉得还没准备好蜷缩在她身边。 相反，他坐在那里，看着月亮冉冉升起，把苍白的光线洒进洞穴的入口，把沙暴的皮毛染成了银色。 她是那么美丽，火星想，对他来说是那么珍贵。 然而她