Bramblestar's son, Juniperkit, doesn't die and Jayfeather is constantly suspicious of him for some reason, though he claims it was Rock. Juniperkit shows a close bond with his nervous littermate, Alderkit, and has a friendly rivalry with his sister, Sparkkit. The three kits are very close with each other.
Alderpaw and Sparkpaw still get Molewhisker and Cherryfall like normal. Juniperpaw gets Sorrelstripe, who is extremely excited about it. Alderpaw and Sparkpaw still detick the elders, while Sorrelstripe takes Juniperpaw to see the territory.
At the ShadowClan border, Juniperpaw sees Beepaw for the first time and he just seems to be curious. Beepaw is lagging behind on her short legs.
The next day, Alderpaw and Sparkpaw see the territory, while Juniperpaw cleans out the nursery. Daisy offers to leave, while Lilyheart has a harder time herding her three kits out.
About a quarter moon later, Juniperpaw and his littermates see their first gathering. Sleekpaw and Needlepaw disturb Sparkpaw, Alderpaw, Juniperpaw, and even Beepaw with their attitudes. Beepaw tells Juniperpaw that she doesn't trust Sleekpaw and Needlepaw one bit.
Soon after, Alderpaw gets his prophecy and becomes a medicine cat. Juniperpaw comforts his brother.
Juniperpaw also defends his brother when Jayfeather chews Alderpaw out for helping Cherryfall with her poultice. He also encourages Alderpaw when he saves Sparkpaw. Sparkpaw shows the first stirrings of respect for Juniperpaw than her mocking attitude towards him.
Juniperpaw decides to stay with ThunderClan, rather than join Alderpaw's quest, to comfort his mother. Alderpaw seems to feel regret, while Sparkpaw is disappointed.
Eventually, the next gathering happens and Beepaw asks to meet Juniperpaw on the border the next night. Intrigued, Juniperpaw agrees. Sleekpaw apparently knows what Needlepaw is up to and she's angry that Needlepaw left without her. Juniperpaw is shocked that Needlepaw ran off with the questing cats. Sleekpaw hopes that a hawk gets her, while Juniperpaw hopes that Sleekpaw is being sarcastic. Beepaw edges away from Sleekpaw, while Berrypaw(Juniperclaw) informs Juniperpaw that Beepaw is very distant in her own Clan. Yarrowpaw, Beepaw's sister, nods in agreement.
Juniperpaw meets Beepaw the next night and the two spend time playing like Lionpaw and Heatherpaw, or Dovepaw and Tigerheart, would. They sleep late and Beepaw freaks out about being spotted. Juniperpaw is a bit more calm, but he is also internally panicking.
The two apprentices rush back to their own camps, just in time for the questing cats, minus Needlepaw and Alderpaw, to return. Juniperpaw is heartbroken when Alderpaw isn't there and he blames himself. Sparkpaw tries to comfort him by mentioning that Alderpaw was only trying to find a way to help them escape, but then stops speaking. She tells him that it was supposed to be a secret and backs away apologetically.
Juniperpaw doesn't get to despise Sparkpaw, because Alderpaw and Needlepaw returned the next day with two young kits, Twigkit and Violetkit. Needlepaw and Alderpaw get into a short fight about who will raise the kits, before Cherryfall proposes a better agreement that calms Needlepaw.
Juniperpaw tells Alderpaw that he was worried sick, especially when Sparkpaw wouldn't give all the details. Alderpaw tells Juniperpaw that it was indeed a secret.
Juniperpaw is shocked when the kits were separated at the next gathering. Beepaw promises to help care for Violetkit because she is completely helpless in Clan matters. Beepaw also tries to help Juniperpaw comfort Alderpaw. Alderpaw is taken aback by Beepaw's kindness, especially when her denmates were so rude.
Juniperpaw tries to help raise Twigkit when Sorrelstripe isn't training him, but with secretly seeing Beepaw most nights, he is often tired. Sorrelstripe is concerned. After one more night, Juniperpaw and Beepaw agree to meet every quarter moon instead. Then, she warns him of Needlepaw's influence over Violetkit. Beepaw explains that she tried to stop Needlepaw from taking Violetkit out of camp, but now Violetkit despises her.
Juniperpaw soon realizes that it's just Alderpaw taking Twigkit to meet Violetkit when Alderpaw invited him along. Juniperpaw is relieved for the time being.
Juniperpaw participates in the fight with the rogues that killed Furzepelt and Alderpaw seems frightened. Juniperpaw has no idea what's wrong.
A moon later, Beepaw receives her warrior name, Beenose, after she stayed rather than leave with Yarrowpaw, Berrypaw, Sleekpaw, and a sad Violetkit. It's only a couple days later when she realizes that she is expecting Juniperpaw's kits.
Beenose blames herself for losing Violetkit at the next quarter-moon meeting. She also tells Juniperpaw that she is expecting his kits. Juniperpaw is shocked for a moment before deciding that it's probably better to join ShadowClan to help raise Beenose's kits.
Rowanstar is surprised and upset, but he allows Juniperpaw to stay as an apprentice under Tigerheart, who had recently lost Sleekpaw to the rogues. Juniperpaw is pleased.
Squirrelflight, Sorrelstripe, and Thornclaw arrive in ShadowClan to bring Juniperpaw home, but Juniperpaw confesses to the patrol that he is mates with Beenose and is now ShadowClan. Squirrelflight is deeply upset and the patrol leaves.
Rowanstar is so pleased with Juniperpaw's commitment as a ShadowClan apprentice, that he gives Juniperpaw his warrior name, Juniperdusk. Juniperdusk is surprised, but then he realises that ShadowClan has been having issues with apprentices. Lionpaw and Birchpaw are upset, so they leave to be with the rogues.
Pinenose is upset, so she blames Juniperdusk and Beenose. Juniperdusk feels some guilt about his actions, but he pushes it back for his new family. Besides, he does have kin in ShadowClan! He has Tawnypelt, Strikestone, Dawnpelt, Tigerheart, and his mate, Beenose! Violetpaw returns shortly after.
Beenose has her kits the day Darktail decides to take over ShadowClan on the night of the gathering. Beenose's kits, Turtlekit and Violetkit, are too young to travel, so Juniperdusk and Beenose regretfully decide to stay with the rogues.
Juniperdusk tries to keep up with Darktail's orders, even though he doesn't want to. He notices Needletail and Sleekwhisker, having chosen their own names, constantly glaring at eachother. Juniperdusk also notices how Violetpaw is very jumpy and nervous. Snowbird also has her kits.
Juniperdusk is concerned when one of his daughters, Violetkit, is seen admiring Darktail, shortly after opening her heather-blue eyes. Beenose feels very guilty and mentions that she wants to leave for a safer place. Juniperdusk gives a slight nod. Meanwhile, Turtlekit is afraid of most cats in 'The Kin'.
Soon after, Dawnpelt approaches Juniperdusk and Beenose, along with Strikestone and Berryclaw, to ask them to leave with her, her kits, and maybe Violetpaw. Juniperdusk and Beenose agree.
Juniperdusk, Beenose, Strikestone, Berryclaw, Turtlekit, and Violetkit barely manage to sneak away from 'The Kin', but Dawnpelt and Violetpaw don't make it.
Juniperdusk's siblings, Alderheart and Sparkflame, are cautious of the former ShadowClan patrol, but Juniperdusk tells them that he was only trying to protect his newborn kits. He did not agree with Darktail's actions. Sparkflame really hates Juniperdusk now. Twigpaw is curious of Juniperdusk.
Rowanstar greatly distrusts the group of former Kin cats, but grudgingly lets them back into ShadowClan. Twigpaw decides to go on her near-death journey soon after.
Violetpaw does come back, but when she mentions that Yarrowleaf has died of sickness, Beenose breaks down. Turtlekit is alarmed, while Violetkit glares at Violetpaw. Juniperdusk dips his head in sorrow.
Eventually, Darktail is killed and the family returns to ShadowClan. The Darkest Night happens as normal with nothing important happening, but by River of Fire, Sparkflame has allied with Sleekwhisker and Darktail's remaining rogues to destroy Turtlekit and Violetkit. They fail, but Rowanclaw dies.
Sparkflame is also exiled. She swears that she and Redwillow will return. Tawnypelt eventually tells Juniperdusk that Redwillow was a traitor in ShadowClan who joined with the Dark Forest cats. She also tells Juniperdusk that Redwillow was killed by Blackstar.
Eventually, Turtlekit and Violetkit get their apprentice names, Turtlepaw and Violetpaw. They are now training under Whorlpelt and Cloverfoot.