As a kit, Buckbranch's mother never cared much for him. She fed him and raised him, but once he was weaned, she left the nursery and never looked back. He was left with his father, who tried to heal the mental scars left by Blossomclaw, but Buckkit pushed him away. He felt as if he didn't need help, and became angry and withdrawn. When he was apprenticed to Snakeheart, he felt truly happy for the first time in his life. His mentor understood his wants and needs and never attempted to console him, only train him to be the best warrior he could be. Buckpaw began to come out of his shell, and eventually grew a connection to Snakeheart as a friend and not just a mentor.

When Buckpaw was given his warrior name, Snakeheart suggest "-branch", as a reminder of how much Buckpaw had grown. Buckpaw eagerly accepted the proposal, and passed his assessment with flying colors. The next day, he and Snakeheart went on a solo patrol near the WindClan border, where they were confronted by four WindClan warriors. Believing the pair had been trespassing, the patrol attacked Snakeheart and Buckbranch viciously, only wounding Buckbranch but brutally taking Snakeheart's life. Buckbranch dragged his mentor's body back to camp and mourned for her greatly. He fell into a state of depression, only being jolted out of it by the wildfire that destroyed a good portion of ThunderClan's territory.

When Flintstar announced he would be taking another Clan's territory to replace the parts ThunderClan had lost, Buckbranch flew into a frenzy. He called Flintstar out and threatened to tell the other Clans. Sunsnow and Roaringthunder were appointed as his guards and the three were sent on a hunting patrol. Buckbranch tried and failed to escape ThunderClan but falsely pointing out a rabbit and attempting to run. He was brought back to camp and confined there under Sunsnow's watch.

A few days later, he was approached by Flintstar and asked on a walk through the territory, to get some air. The pair were attacked by a badger, and although he considered taking his chance to flee and leave Flintstar for dead, Buckbranch stayed behind and helped the leader drive it off. The pair ran back to the medicine den to have their wounds tended to, and the fight left Buckbranch without his left ear and scar beneath his right eye. During the next Clan meeting, Flintstar named Buckbranch ThunderClan's deputy.

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Unfortunately, it seemed that Buckbranch was not cut out to be deputy. Just over a moon later, Buckbranch and Flintstar got into an explosive public argument regarding a decision that was made during the Clan meeting. That argument led to Buckbranch's demotion and Duskfeather's rise to deputy-ship soon after.

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He received an apprentice, Sagepaw, whom he thought of as his son before Sagepaw mysteriously vanished one day.

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He became good friends with Sunsnow, a tom who was assigned to be Buckbranch's guard of sorts. It was later revealed that Sunsnow had developed feelings for Buckbranch. These feelings were confessed after a Gathering, and although it hurt Buckbranch to admit that he didn't feel the same, the two remained friends.

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When Duskfeather overthrew Flintstar - who returned to deputy-ship as Flintspirit - and became Duskstar, Buckbranch first began to hate her and then fear her. She seemed to have it out for him and he was determined not to attract any attention.

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Then she informed Sunsnow, who had gone missing, that if he was to return to ThunderClan, he and Sunsnow would be unable to speak to each other. Sunsnow told Buckbranch, in which the two exchanged a hearty goodbye and Sunsnow went off to WindClan.

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Buckbranch was given Cormoranpaw as an apprentice, whom he immediately took a liking to.

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He met a she-cat by the name of Buzztuft and thoroughly enjoyed her company, so much so that he allowed her to take him to her secret hangout space deep in ThunderClan territory.

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Foxbound tried to talk to him not soon after and what began as a playful chat turned into an accidental confession, which ended with Foxbound awkwardly departing as Buckbranch tried to play the "I love you, too" off as a joke.

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ThunderClan's camp was consumed by a wildfire some moons later. Buckbranch stayed behind to help cats get out, but remained in the smoke for too long. Directed by Lionstar, and due to Duskstar's injury and Softbriar's absence, he led ThunderClan away from Smallpines to Cattail Pond, where Twilightstar and a WindClan patrol arrived to dole out prey. A kit named Icekit was dropped at his paws, and the two pretty much immediately developed a father-daughter bond. He engaged in a short discussion with Twilightstar before Duskstar pulled him, Dogpaw, and Buzztuft away to search for a new camp.

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When they arrived in the new location, Buckbranch assisted a warrior in building the apprentices' den, and was reunited with Cormornatpaw, who had been taken to see RiverClan's medicine cat. He eventually went to Lionwhisker to treat the coughing attacks that had developed.

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In the next meeting that Duskstar called, he was given Icekit as an apprentice due to Cormorantpaw becoming Cormorantglide, and was named the new deputy of ThunderClan in Softbriar's place. That night, as he moved into the Dusklit Den, he helped Duskstar out of a panic attack. It was revealed that she would be resigining, and that he was to take her place as ThunderClan's new leader.

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The next day, Duskstar accompanied him to the Starcave, where he recieved his nine lives.