"Run! Now! Make this count, Violetpaw!" |
— Needletail's last words to Violetpaw in Shattered Sky, page 218 |
Needletail is a sleek, silver-gray she-cat with white chest fur.[10] She has a lithe,[11] long body, a thick tail,[12] a small gray nose,[13] and bold green eyes.[10]
Needletail was a ShadowClan apprentice under Rowanstar's leadership in the lake territories and previously a rogue in the Kin under Darktail. She was born to Berryheart and Sparrowtail, and as Needlepaw, she was apprenticed to Tawnypelt. She joined Alderpaw's quest to find SkyClan, and the two apprentices discovered two orphaned kits whom they named Violetkit and Twigkit. When Violetkit was taken to join ShadowClan, Needlepaw befriended her, but being frustrated with Clan life and the warrior code, Needlepaw and other apprentices rebelled against Rowanstar. Needlepaw joined the Kin renaming herself Needletail and unofficially mentored Violetpaw. She grew close to a rogue named Rain, but after his death, Needletail had second thoughts on Darktail and was imprisoned. When it was discovered that Violetpaw was working against the Kin, Needletail sacrificed herself to save her against Darktail, Sleekwhisker, and Roach, who drowned her. She became a ghost, leading Violetpaw to Tree, and reuniting with former Clanmates and Alderheart. After giving a message, she ascended to StarClan. She took part in the battle against Ashfur in the Dark Forest where she reunited with Violetshine and killed Darktail's spirit with the help of her friend.
History[]
Looking for a longer overview? Find one here!
A Vision of Shadows[]
- "I'm sick of living in a Clan that only cares about peace. The rogues would have made us strong. But, if you don't want them to join us, I'm going to join them!"
- ―Needlepaw deciding to go live with the rogues Thunder and Shadow, page 176
- Initially, Needlepaw ignores Violetkit, but after being pressured by Alderpaw, the two become friends, and Needlepaw allows Violetkit to meet in secret with her sister, Twigkit. She aligns herself with Darktail when a rebellion arises among the ShadowClan apprentices, leaving the Clan to join the rogues and taking Violetkit with her. Changing her name to Needletail, she unofficially mentors Violetpaw and is shocked when she returns to ShadowClan. However, Needletail convinces her to join the Kin after Darktail takes over ShadowClan.
- After Darktail kills Rain and the cats who attempt to flee his Kin, Needletail realizes her mistake. She allows Mothwing and Alderheart to recover herbs from their camp, causing her to be starved in the prisoners' den. When Violetpaw is caught sneaking poppy seeds into Darktail's prey, Needletail is nearly drowned. Darktail tells her to earn her life by killing Violetpaw, but Needletail instead attacks him, Sleekwhisker, and Roach, allowing Violetpaw to escape. She is killed, but her spirit leads Violetpaw to Tree, a cat prophesied to help the Clans, before joining StarClan.
The Broken Code[]
- Coming Soon
Character pixels[]
Main images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Alternate images[]
The pixel artwork is fanart based on the canon description; undefined traits are left to the artist's interpretation. |
Official art[]
Please do not edit this gallery |
Killed victims[]
This list shows the victims Needletail has killed:
Personality[]
- Needletail is a rebellious, careless, and risk-taking young she-cat.[source?] She does care for some cats, and eventually forms a close friendship with Violetkit when she was brought to ShadowClan by Rowanstar.[source?] She ultimately sacrifices herself to save Violetpaw from Darktail, Roach, and Sleekwhisker.[5]
Relationships[]
Violetshine[]
- Needletail: "All this that's happening to me...it's not your fault, Violetpaw. All the mistakes we made were mine."
- Violetpaw: "That doesn't matter now. Don't worry about anything. I'm going to get you out of here."
- Shattered Sky, page 169
Alderheart[]
- Needletail: "Hi there."
- Alderheart: "Needletail! You made it to StarClan!"
- River of Fire, pages 99-100
Darktail[]
- Needletail looked up to Darktail and deeply respected him, desiring to be as tough and powerful as he is.[source?] She joined his Kin and is cruel to the weaker cats in it, like he was.[source?] However, she later realizes the full extent of Darktail's bloody ways, and ultimately sacrifices herself to help stop him, admitting she should never have followed him.[5]
Tree[]
- As an apprentice, Needletail is caught by an owl and dropped far away from her home. There, she meets Tree, and she thinks he is weird. Tree helps her get back to ShadowClan, and opens up to her about how his mother and sister abandoned him. When they arrive in ShadowClan, Needletail asks if Tree can join the Clan, but her Clanmates are strongly against it. Needletail doesn't understand why they have to treat outsiders this way, but Tree explains that he's fine being a loner.[17] As a ghost, Needletail leads Violetpaw to Tree, who is the six-toed cat said to fend off the storm in a vision.[18]
Kin[]
Members[]
Mother:
- Berryheart:[19] Living (As of Thunder)
Father:
- Sparrowtail:[19] Living (As of Thunder)
Sister:
Brothers:
- Hollowspring:[20] Living (As of Thunder)
- Spireclaw:[20] Living (As of Thunder)
Aunts:
- Cloverfoot:[19] Living (As of Thunder)
- Mistcloud:[22] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Beenose:[23] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Yarrowleaf:[23] Living (As of Thunder)
- Bluebellkit:[blog 1] Deceased, verified StarClan member
- Dewkit:[22] Deceased, residence unknown
- Gullswoop:[21] Living (As of Thunder)
- Frondwhisker:[21] Deceased, verified StarClan member
Grandmothers:
Grandfather:
Great-uncle:
First cousins:
- Flaxfoot:[26] Living (As of Thunder)
- Hopwhisker:[26] Living (As of Thunder)
Tree[]
Unknown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kinkfur ♀ | Scorchfur ♂ | Snowbird ♀ | Ratscar ♂ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dewkit ♀ | Mistcloud ♀ | Sparrowtail ♂ | Berryheart ♀ | Cloverfoot ♀ | Beenose ♀ | Yarrowleaf ♀ | Nettle ♂ | Buster ♂ | Gullswoop ♀ | Frondwhisker ♀ | Conefoot ♂ | Bluebellkit ♀ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See more | Fringewhisker ♀ | Spireclaw ♂ | Sunbeam ♀ | Hollowspring ♂ | Needletail ♀ | Flaxfoot ♂ | Hopwhisker ♀ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
= Tom
= She-cat
= Gender unknown
Appearances[]
- Onestar's Confession (Mentioned only)
- Pebbleshine's Kits
- The Apprentice's Quest (First appearance)
- Thunder and Shadow
- Shattered Sky †
- Darkest Night
- Tigerheart's Shadow (Mentioned only)
- River of Fire
- The Raging Storm (Mentioned only)
- Lost Stars (Mentioned only)
- Daisy's Kin (Mentioned only)
- A Light in the Mist
- River (Mentioned only)
- Shadow (Mentioned only)
- The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
Trivia[]
Interesting facts[]
- In an earlier draft of the allegiances for The Apprentice's Quest, Needletail was originally the daughter of Stonewing and Wasptail along with Puddleshine, Beenose, and Yarrowleaf.[blog 2]
- Needletail is one of the few single-litter kits in the series.[19]
- Needleclaw is named after her.[27]
Author statements[]
- Kate has sympathy for Needletail, but she can't understand why she was so crabby.[blog 3]
- Kate has said she wouldn't be surprised if Needletail named herself after Darktail.[blog 4]
Mistakes[]
- Needletail was mistakenly called a ShadowClan warrior, despite never earning the rank.[28][29][30]
- Needletail is depicted without white chest fur and a gray nose on the cover of Shattered Sky.[31]
Quotes[]
- Main article: Needletail/Quotes
External links[]
- Needletail's profile on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- The deaths we remember on the Warriors official website (backup link)
- A Vision of Shadows Main Characters Artwork on the Warriors official website ([none backup link])
- Needletail's death artwork on the Warriors official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed in River of Fire, page prologue
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, pages 176-177
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, allegiances
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Revealed in Darkest Night, page 300
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Revealed in Shattered Sky, page 218
- ↑ Needletail's profile on the Warriors official website (screenshot)
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, page 198
- ↑ Revealed in Shattered Sky, chapter 11
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, page 13
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, page 46
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 164
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, chapter 12
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 138
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, pages 246-247
- ↑ Revealed in Darkest Night
- ↑ Revealed in Lost Stars, page 273
- ↑ Revealed in Thunder and Shadow: Bonus Scene
- ↑ Revealed in Darkest Night, page 280
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow comic
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 371
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Revealed in Shattered Sky, allegiances
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Revealed in Night Whispers, page 241
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, page 336
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Revealed in Tigerheart's Shadow, page 336
- ↑ Revealed in The Last Hope, page 279
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Revealed in River of Fire, chapter 17
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 210
- ↑ Revealed in Darkest Night, pages 95-96
- ↑ Revealed in A Light in the Mist, page 139
- ↑ Revealed in The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition, page 89
- ↑ Revealed on the cover of Shattered Sky
- ↑ Needletail's kit name, Needlekit, has only ever been revealed on the Warriors website.
Author references
- ↑ Thunder and Shadow Spoiler Page on Kate's Blog (backup link) (screenshot)
- ↑ EXCLUSIVE: Complete Allegiance List for The Apprentice's Quest! on Kate's Blog (backup link) (screenshot)
- ↑ Darkest Night Spoiler Page on Kate's Blog (backup link) (screenshot)
- ↑ The Raging Storm Spoiler Page on Kate's Blog (backup link) (screenshot)
Kin cats | |
---|---|
Leaders | Darktail |
Members | Rain • Raven • Nettle • Roach • Dragonfly • Flame • Silt • Thistle |
ShadowClan defectors | Needletail • Juniperclaw • Sleekwhisker • Violetshine • Berryheart • Cloverfoot • Beenose • Sparrowtail • Mistcloud • Buster • Birchbark • Lioneye • Slatefur • Puddleshine • Strikestone • Dawnpelt • Stonewing • Grassheart • Whorlpelt • Snaketooth • Flowerstem • Snowbird • Scorchfur • Yarrowleaf • Conefoot • Frondwhisker • Gullswoop • Ratscar • Oakfur • Pinenose • Spikefur |
Kittypet recruits | Max • Zelda • Loki |
RiverClan prisoners | Reedwhisker • Mintfur • Icewing • Brackenpelt |