When Leaf-Bare came, Smallwillow's kits caught green cough and were kept in the medicine cat's den. Piperkit's younger brother, Cremekit felt sympathy for the two kittens because they weren't aloud to go outside and play. So Cremekit snuck into the den to play with them. Piperkit knew about this and didn't say anything because she didn't want to get Cremekit in trouble. Later that day, Piperkit saw Cremekit coughing, worried for her brother, she was going to tell Birdflight but she didn't want to get him in trouble, so waited. Cremekit was brought to Frostflurry's den and the old medicine cat tried his best, but in the end failed to save him. A vigil was held for Cremekit that night and Piperkit blamed herself for his death ever since. After that, Birdflight became more distant from her kits, started leaving them in camp and going on patrols. Hailfoot found time to play with the kits he'd claimed as his own. He taught them the hunters crouch and how to fight an enemy cat.

Smallwillow's kits were apprenticed. Shadepaw and Sleetpaw. Eagleclaw mentored Sleetpaw, and Frostwolf mentored Shadepaw. Excited to soon be apprenticed, Piperkit asked Hailfoot if when she was apprenticed, that he would mentor her. Hailfoot told her that it was up to Snowstar in the end, but that he would mention it to her. When the time came, Piperkit and her siblings were apprenticed. Piperpaw, Stumppaw, Stormpaw, and Petrelpaw. Hailfoot did mentor Piperpaw. Goldenblaze mentored Stumppaw. Darkfire mentored Stormpaw. Whitefish mentored Petrelpaw.

Piperpaw was determined to prove herself as the best of her siblings. She believed that each of her siblings had a strong suite of their own, Stormpaw was great at speeches, fast, and was very clever while Petrelpaw was stealthy and was great at moving without making a sound. Stumppaw has a lot of energy and could run for a long time without getting tired. Piperpaw thought hers was fighting and strength. But only time would tell. Hailfoot took her and Petrelpaw to the river and taught them to catch fish. Piperpaw fell into the river and a pike tried to get her. She fought it of on her own and was dragged out of the water by Hailfoot who preformed cat cpr on her. Whitefish went to get the pike that Piperpaw had caught and the apprentice got to take it back to camp. She ran over to Birdflight and said "Mommy! I caught this big fish! It tried to eat me but I'm to tough for it and then Father had to drag me out of the water" Birdflight makes an excuse to quickly get away leave a shattered child behind.