Bitterpaw yawned widely. His eyelids drooped heavily, his head kept lolling to the side, and he repeatedly had to shake himself awake. He was helping guard the camp with his mentor, Pigeonwing, for the first time. They hadn't seen much action, not even an owl, and despite all the nothing they were doing, Bitterpaw couldn't remember ever being so worn out.

"Tired?" Pigeonwing asked, glancing at his apprentice sympathetically. Bitterpaw answered with another yawn. "You can go to sleep if you want," Pigeonwing offered kindly.

Bitterpaw shook his head stubbornly. "I need to do this," he meowed firmly. "I have to be a great warrior."

Pigeonwing smiled. "You will be. I was tired the first time I did this, too," he told him. Pigeonwing had guarded the camp several times since then, of course. He'd also gone to Gatherings, so he was more accustomed to staying up well past moon-high.

Bitterpaw couldn't imagine Pigeonwing ever being tired. He seemed so wide awake, not just at the moment but all the time, always full of energy and ready to defend his Clan. Bitterpaw didn't know if he could ever be as good a warrior as his mentor.

"You know, going to sleep won't make you a bad warrior," Pigeonwing meowed, somewhat sternly. "It'll probably make you a better warrior, actually." He sounded thoughtful. "You're no longer doing your best when you're exhausted. And at least you tried your hardest."

Bitterpaw nodded sleepily, still a bit disappointed, but in agreement nonetheless. I couldn't argue with that, he thought. He stood up slowly and padded into the apprentices' den, too tired to say goodnight to his mentor.

"You were too tired to keep guarding camp?"

Bitterpaw jumped at his denmate's voice. He looked over to see Badgerpaw, his brother, looking fully awake. "Couldn't sleep," Badgerpaw explained, standing and stretching. "Mind if I helped guard camp with Pigeonwing instead?"

Bitterpaw shook his head and flopped into his moss bedding. Badgerpaw grinned, eyes shimmering with excitement. "Great! Thanks, Bitterpaw!"

Bitterpaw was already asleep as Badgerpaw ran out of the apprentice's den.

When Bitterpaw opened his eyes, Badgerpaw was back in the apprentice's den. He stood, saying nothing but flicking his tail for Bitterpaw to follow. Bitterpaw, confused, obeyed and trotted quickly after his brother. Bitterpaw noticed with a surprised flick of his ear that none of the other ThunderClan cats were in the clearing. Normally everyone started the morning eating fresh-kill, sharing tongues, and gossiping.

They left camp, and when it felt like they had been walking for at least a moon, Badgerpaw stopped next to a large puddle. Bitterpaw glanced at him, becoming more confused by the second. "Why'd you take me here?" he asked. Badgerpaw frowned and stared at the puddle, like he couldn't remember why he'd taken Bitterpaw to it.

Bitterpaw gasped and stepped back as the water began swirling, steadily growing faster. As it gained speed, the water began rising into a column of cold droplets. Bitterpaw, confusion forgotten as fear took its place, yelled for Badgerpaw to run. His brother remained where he was, frowning at the tornado of water.

Bitterpaw tried running forward to drag his brother away from the bizarre twister, but his paws would not move. He yowled for help, but no cats came. The water tornado, now as large as a tree and whirling rapidly, left the puddle and sucked up Badgerpaw.

"No!" Bitterpaw screamed and struggled and fought, but his paws stuck to the ground firmly. The twister carried on, avoiding Bitterpaw but destroying the forest.