Bitterpaw blinked open his eyes, panting and sweating. The other apprentices were sleeping peacefully, tails occasionally twitching as they dreamt of less terrifying things. Bitterpaw staggered out of the den for some fresh air.

Frostmouse, the medicine cat, sat alone outside of the medicine den. He glanced distractedly at Bitterpaw. His eyes were concerned. He tried to blink away the distress as he registered the apprentice. "What's wrong, Bitterpaw?" Frostmouse asked. Bitterpaw padded carefully over to him, pelt twitching with paranoia.

"Would you like to come into the medicine den so I can check you out?" the medicine cat offered, forced friendliness and authentic concern in his voice.

Bitterpaw shook his head, still bewildered by his dream. "Only a nightmare," he managed.

Frostmouse nodded, yellow eyes still anxious. "What about? Unless you don't want to talk about it, of course," he added. Bitterpaw hesitated.

"It was about Badgerpaw. Well, Badgerpaw was in it… there was this puddle… and it… it…" Bitterpaw shuddered as he remembered the destruction the strange water twister caused—toppling trees, uprooting undergrowth, whisking prey off their paws and into their endlessly swirling depths… and how no cat could come to Bitterpaw (or Badgerpaw)'s aid.

Frostmouse purred sympathetically. "You don't have to tell me any more than that," he meowed.

Bitterpaw nodded, relieved. He noticed that Frostmouse seemed quite scared about Bitterpaw's dream. Well, he is the medicine cat, he thought sensibly, knowing his paranoia was making Frostmouse's empathy seem heightened. Maybe he's just worried about me.

"Should I get something to help calm you down?" Frostmouse asked. Bitterpaw shook his head.

"No, it would be a waste of herbs." Frostmouse seemed to think this was reasonable. "I think I'll go see Pigeonwing," Bitterpaw continued. "Maybe we can go hunting." The sky was lightening as the sun—and the cats of ThunderClan with it—rose.

Bitterpaw trotted to the gorse tunnel leading out of camp as Frostmouse nodded.

"Good morning!" Badgerpaw meowed cheerily. Pigeonwing smiled at his apprentice and flicked his tail in greeting.

Bitterpaw was relieved nothing bad had really happened to his brother. He purred and licked Badgerpaw's shoulder. Badgerpaw licked Bitterpaw's shoulder back and stretched.

"Well, I'm gonna go take a nap before Blackice takes me to do some battle training," Badgerpaw meowed, padding away and leaving Pigeonwing and Bitterpaw outside.

"How'd you sleep?" Pigeonwing asked. Bitterpaw shuddered as, yet again, the horrible images flashed through his mind. "Rather not talk about it?" Pigeonwing meowed. Bitterpaw nodded gratefully.

"Can we go hunting?" he asked hopefully. He needed something to distract him from his dream.

Pigeonwing yawned, glancing sympathetically at his apprentice. "I think I'm gonna rest a bit, Bitterpaw," he told him, dipping his head apologetically. "Ask Icefang if you can join the hunting patrol."

Bitterpaw was disappointed, but he didn't argue. He wanted to spend more time with his mentor. If only I hadn't been so tired last night…

Bitterpaw followed Pigeonwing into the warrior's den. Icefang, the ThunderClan deputy, was sharing tongues with his mate, Ivyblaze. Pigeonwing exchanged mews of greeting with the she-cat before settling into a nest.

Icefang glanced up as Bitterpaw entered, raising an eyebrow. "What is it, Bitterpaw?" he asked, pausing from grooming Ivyblaze's flank.

Bitterpaw cleared his throat nervously. "Can I join a hunting patrol?" he squeaked. Icefang considered it for a second before nodding. Bitterpaw flashed a smile. "Thanks!"

He turned to go. "Wait, who's—"

"Foxfang is leading the next hunting patrol. Go talk to her," Icefang meowed.