When Leafpool has her kits, Squirrelflight agrees to claim and raise them as her own, both cats agreeing to take the secret to their graves. Unfortunately, Ashfur obsesses over Squirrelflight, and starts a fire in the camp to threaten her kits and convince her to leave Bramblestar for him. Not only does Squirrelflight refuse, but she defends her kits with her claws, still refusing to spill her and her sister's secret.