#needlestorm

[warriorcatsauclan]

AlderSky AU Part 1

So, when I was reading AVOS, I was always kind of expecting for Alderpaw/heart to join SkyClan as a poetic full circle kind of situation: His grandparents Fire and Sand were the ones to reform the lost Clan, he has SkyClan blood through Bramblestar (being a descendant of Cloudstar and Birdsong’s kits), and he raised Twig - it all just seemed so perfect!

But then the Erins decided to stick with the status quo and I could not help be feel like it was a huge wast of potential on Alderheart’s end. So, I decided to write my own version of Alderheart and Needletail joining SkyClan.

(There will be multiple parts and will be written in more of a summery style, so let me know if anyone wants a more story-like version) Now, let’s start!

Things are mostly the same up until the quest to find SkyClan, though it does happen a litter earlier, so Alderpaw and Needlepaw are a little bit older. During the quest, both Alderpaw and Needlepaw are taken by a Twoleg and are driven away from the quest group. Alder and Needle eventually escape, but are so far from Clan territory that they have no idea where they are. Thankfully, by StarClan’s wish, they do manage to find the now wandering SkyClan. (This is about right before the events of Pebbleshine’s Kits)

When Alder and Needle introduce themselves, Echosong realizes that, Alderpaw being Firestar’s grandson, might be the “Spark that Remains” prophecy.

Leafstar and others (mainly Hawkwing), are suspicious after everything with Darktail, and while they agree to let Alder and needle travel with them, they will not be part of SkyClan until they either stay with the group for a moon or prove their loyalty. Alderpaw thinks that is reasonable while Needlepaw thinks it is excessive.

Alderpaw and Needlepaw are able to guide SkyClan in the general direction they came from, but since they came to the area via kid/catnapping they do not know they specific way. One pointer is that they are able to prevent Pebbleshine from being taken, which earns them Hawkwing’s support.

When Plumwillow goes into labor by the lake, Alderpaw is there to help and Plumwillow is grateful to the apprentice for his help. Alderpaw is also there to assist in Pebbleshine’s birth of Twigkit and Violetkit. And when the dogs burst into the camp, Needlepaw helps fight them off.

By the time Curlypaw and Parselyseed leave to become kittypets, both Alderpaw and Needlepaw have proven that they can be loyal SkyClan warriors.

Leafstar makes both cats the offer to join the SkyClan as full members. Needlepaw says yes immediately, having already been disillusioned to ShadowClan and feeling more connected to SkyClan. Alderpaw has to think about it a bit more, admitting that while he loves SkyClan and already feels massive amounts of loyalty to the cats, he still loves and misses his kin back in ThunderClan.

He later has a dream that night where he is visited by Firestar and Sandstorm. Firestar tells his grandson that even though he left his kittypet life behind, that does not mean he forgot or stopped loving his kin who were still kittypets and he applies that logic to Alderpaw’s dilemma. This gives Alderpaw the resolve to tell Leafstar that he will also be joining SkyClan.

With Curlypaw having left, Needlepaw become Hawkwing’s new apprentice and the two get along like a dry bush on fire. Alderpaw starts training under Echosong, but the SkyClan Medicine Cat is already training Fidgetpaw and she also leaves soon after to follow her vision.

Alderpaw allows Fidgetpaw to continue to be SkyClan’s main Medicine Cat Apprentice since the SkyClan cats are more used to him. Alderpaw, meanwhile, tends to spend his days helping Plumwillow and Pebbleshine with their kits: playing with them, helping keep the nursery clean, keeping an eye on the health of the kits and their mothers. He also ends up filling the role of a father to Reedkit, Finkit and Dewkit since Hawkwing is with his own daughters and Sandynose is still missing.

This continues until the other cats are captured (including Fidgetpaw and Waspwhisker). Now Alderpaw is left as SkyClan’s Medicine Cat and Hawkwing is made deputy. This is also when Leafstar decides that Needlepaw is more than ready for her warrior name.

Leafstar decides to name her Needlestorm, in honor of both her strong personality and fighting skills and also in memory of Sandstorm. Needle loves her new name and both Hawkwing and Alderpaw are very proud.

Alderpaw, meanwhile, struggles with the responsibilities of being the only cat with Medicine training. He has gotten steadily more and more stressed and it shows. While this does not stop him from successfully treating the sickness and saving both Rileypool and Firefern from dying, it is clear that his nerves and the stress of it all is getting to him.

Echosong eventually returns and expresses her pride and gratitude to Alderpaw for treating her Clanmates while she was away as well as her grief at Fidgetpaw’s capture. Alderpaw is grateful that Echosong is back, but the events have made Alderpaw question if being a Medicine Cat is really the right choice for him...

Meanwhile, Sandynose is finally able to reunite with SkyClan and his family - though instead of his kits being more attached to Hawkwing, now they are more attached to Alderpaw - and cat Sandynose has never meet.

This leads to Sandynose being a bit hostile to Alderpaw, which the younger tom understanbds, but it does not help his stress levels. Needlestorm sees this has a word with both Alderpaw and Sandynose.

She tells Sandynose off for taking out his misplaced frustration out of Alderpaw, who has done nothing but love his and Plumwillow’s kits like they are his own and cared for them when Sandynose could not. She also reminds him that Alderpaw is the Medicine Cat Apprentice and it is his job to look after the well-being of the Clan’s kits, and even if he is still getting used to her and Alderpaw, that is not excuse to treat them unfairly.

Sandynose is stunned by the she-cat’s words but admits that she is is right and will put in more effort to be kinder to Alderpaw.

Later, Needlestorm talks to Alderpaw, concerned about his recent stress levels and constant nervous attitude. Alderpaw kind of ends breaking down right in front of Needlestorm and in his ramble induced panic admits that he did not even choose to be train as a Medicine Cat, Leafpool and Jayfeather received a vision about him and he was doing so poorly in warrior cat training that his father decided to push into the Medicine Cat role.

This surprises Needlestorm, but she does not say anything, just cuddles close to Alderpaw as he just, lets all his pent up emotions out. He eventually falls asleep on her shoulder and she stays there, not wanting to disturb him.

It does get her thinking though... Is there a role that might suit Alderpaw better?

And that’s all for part 1 for now. Check out part 2 for more!

[needlesmercy]

jonrya, daenarya, jonerys…so many ways the song can be one of ice and fire…why must we limit ourselves…

[bladecyberstrike]

I got my first solo dungeon clear!! (Shattered Throne)

Until less than 6 months ago I hadn't actually seriously tried any dungeons, and hadn't cleared anything dungeon or higher in terms of challenge (at least as far as I reckon challenge).

So I'm pretty hyped still!

Total time was something like 102 minutes across 2 sessions, with the successful final fight being under 4 minutes and 19 seconds. Pulled it off in a single damage phase, with about 23 seconds of attacking the boss.

Tumblr isn't big enough to post the full video, but I have a clip from the very end--I was sure I would lose when I realized how low my timer had gotten so I was firing on autopilot. I was not expecting to get the clear right after I died lol

[Video ID: Video of Destiny 2 showing combat against a dungeon final boss. The status effect timer counts down to zero as the player fires repeatedly at the boss's face. The timer reaches zero and the player dies right as the boss also dies, resulting in a win. End ID]

Normally I run a purely damage super (Needlestorm my beloved) but I ended up clearing with Song of Flame for the absolutely fantastic damage resistance it provides

[abidethetempest]

Top five favorite Supers to use? Over both Destiny games ::3

This is the part where I admit I pretty much exclusively play Warlock lol so this list is basically just “fav warlock supers”

Nova Bomb

Needlestorm

Chaos Reach

Radiance from D1 (didn’t use this one much but the resurrection mechanic was supreme, I wish we still had it)

Ward of Dawn (I was doing a replay of D1 and all the expansions w my brother and Bubble Titan was by far my fav)

[talonclann]

current allegiances post

Leader: Birdstar – Red tabby she with long fur and green eyes.

Deputy: Shyhare – Light tabby tom with dark blue eyes and long fur.

Medicine Cat: Rosyquiver – Red bengal she with green eyes and a frostbitten tail.

Warriors: Alderdawn – White tom with blue eyes and large orange splotches.

Fallenrunner – Large tabby tom with green eyes.

Leopardfleck – Fluffy spotted orange she with green eyes.

Needlestorm – Long-furred black tabby tom with blue eyes.

Hopestripe – Sokoke tabby she with blue eyes.

Brokensong – Black spotted tom with a cream-coloured underbelly and unusual eyes.

Paleash – Pale grey tabby tom with striking copper-coloured eyes. 

[zinogirl]

I got nothin against Needlestorm, I'm just not impressed by warlocks and their High Damage Single Use Supers (Nova bomb, Chaos Reach)

[drifterslittlemuffin]

hmmm okay fine. I cast needlestorm i guess. My needles storm you like the Whitehouse. Boom, your move

@drifterslittlemuffin duels are meant to be more public than replies smh

First of all, I am picturing you're holding ikora over your head brandishing her as a weapon bc of your phrasing. Love that

Second of all I run like hell and cast hammer of sol bc all my titan ass knows is Big Hammer Hit Things

We're dueling over drifter and saladin and if you missed the leadup how unfortunate bc it is very funny

[lordgheleon]

guardian games 2023 Thoughts since we're half-ish way thru week 1: i am actually very entertained with the Hypernet Current nightfall thingy you can launch from the tower. the gold boon that boosts ur stats makes it very fun. also i didnt realize how much i missed Supremacy, its a v nice change of pace from control and rift. i wish titans would stop shield bashing me in the middle of casting my needlestorm but other than that its been Great

tldr: guardian games are good and fun??? (for now???)

[squirrelcrow-po3]

Oooooo tell me more about needlestorm 👉👈

yeah!! so she plays more of an antagonistic role towards tigerpaw/spirit. when tigerpaw joins shadowclan, she doesn’t necessarily trust him and he doesn’t trust her. needlestorm is also a cat who isn’t really loyal to murkystar or sol

i need to develop her more but yeah. sunchaser kills her, which actually does horrify tigerspirit even if he disliked her

[confessionsofawarriorcat]

If i were on the erin team i simply would have put my foot down and told the publishers that Needletail deserved better,, if -claw and -fang are boring how about Needlestorm, Needlesting, Needlesmoke, Needleblaze, ect. Not to mention she shares a suffix with the cat who led to her murder so even after she was dead and in starclan she could have changed her name to reflect something better than being constantly reminded of Darktail everytime someone says her name

.

[warriorcatsauclan]

AlderSky Au Part 2

Echosong begins training Alderpaw in earnest. She is both impressed by the young tom’s talent, but also worried as she can see the stress of dealing with the sickness lingering in him. She also tries to get him to distance himself from Reedkit, Finkit and Dewkit because the kits tend to look at him for fatherly advice and affection when they should be bonding with Sandynose and also because Medicine Cats are not suppose to have kits.

This however, begins to rub Alderpaw the wrong way. He begins to wonder 1) why are Medicine Cats forbidden from having mates or kits and 2) once again, if this is really the right path for him. He finds himself drawn more and more back to the nursery, even if it is to do something as simply as change the queen’s bedding. Echosong begins to notice this as well.

 It all comes to ahead when Reedkit, Finkit and Dewkit sneak into Alderpaw’s nest one night when Sandynose is sleeping in the nursery with them. They express to Alderpaw that they miss him and are uncomfortable around Sandynose because they do not know him or recognize him as their father, even telling Alderpaw that he is their father, not Sandynose.

Alderpaw is touched by this. He never once considered himself a father to the kits, but he cannot deny that he loves them as if they were his own. But he also knows that Sandynose deserves to has somekind of relationship with them as well.

He tells the kits that he loves them - he will always love them, but that Sandynose loves them too, and all he wants is the chance to get to know them. Dewkit asks how can Sandynose love them if he does not even know them? Alderpaw explains that a parent’s love is so strong that they will love their kits even before they meet them. Sandynose has loved them before they were even born, and is was that love that encouraged him to continue looking for them.

Alderpaw tells the kits that he will always love them, but they should give Sandynose a chance, because there is nothing wrong with having more love in their lives.

The kits think about it and agree, but they do ask Alderpaw to walk them back to the nursery, which Alderpaw happily obliges.

The next morning, Alderpaw is thinking about the conversation with the kits. He knows the work of a Medicine Cat is important, especially now with Fidgetpaw missing, but he can feel his heart pulling him in another direction.

He goes to talk to Needlestorm about this. Needlestorm listens to him and asks him a question: where does he find himself feeling the most calm and at peace? Alderpaw does not have to think long before he says the nursery helping the queens and their kits. Needlestorm says than that might be where he is meant to be. Alderpaw then says that toms are not usually in the nursery. Needlestorm then snort, waving her tail around asking what part of the last few moons has been “normal”? She was born in ShadowClan, he ThunderClan, and now they are both in SkyClan, far from their birth Clans guiding SkyClan to the lake. SkyClan is clearly unique, from their names, to their history, to their rules, but it works for them. And besides, she adds, why is it a bad thing to have a tom who is knowledgeable about queen and kit health? Why would it be a bad thing to have a cat who stays in the nursery a lot helping with queen and kit care?

This takes Alderpaw back for a minute, remembering something. He suddenly asks Needlestorm if she has even heard of the ThunderClan cat Daisy? Needlestorm admits she has heard her name, but did not think much of her. Alderpaw explains that Daisy stays in the nursery full-time, staying to help queens through birth and kit care. There are generations of ThunderClan cats who’s earliest memories include Daisy, including his.

This gets Needlestorm’s attention. She says it sounds like what Alderpaw was doing before Fidgetpaw went missing. Alderpaw nods. Needlestorm then suggests that maybe he should talk to Leafstar and Echosong about making it an official position within the Clan. This surprises Alderpaw, who reiterates that he is a tom, but Needlestorm rebukes this, pointing out that if he was a she-cat, no one would bat an eye at him wanting to be in the nursery and care for kits, so why should it be any different because he is a tom? He can still learn about kit care and health, he can help raise them, why should he not be allowed to have a position like this?

Alderpaw thinks for a moment. He admits that his friend has a point, and that he is not really happy as a Medicine Cat Apprentice. Needlestorm tells him to talk to Leafstar and Echosong, and that she can with him if he wants. Alderpaw says yes.

Little do they know that Leafstar and Echosong are already talking about something.

Echosong brings up her concerns about Alderpaw’s stress levels to Leafstar, who has also noticed. While Alderpaw does a good job at not snapping any any cat, it is clear from just looking at him (un-groomed fur, jumpy attitude, loss of appetite) that the apprentice is close to the edge, which is concerning form both a well-being and logistic stand point. No one wants a young cat to die from stress and also Alderpaw and Needlestorm are their only connections and guides to the lake territories and they cannot afford to lose either of them.

This when Alderpaw and Needlestorm asks to speak with them. Both she-cats asks what they can do for them. Alderpaw is nervous as he admits to Echosong he does not think he is meant to be a Medicine Cat. Both she-cats blink and Alderpaw begins to stumble over himself trying to explain. Echosong silences him before he can begin to spiral. She tells him that while he has talent to be a Medicine Cat, she respects his choice to choose a different path.  Leafstar agrees with this and asks if this means Alderpaw wishes to train as a warrior?

Alderpaw says no and he and Needlestorm tell them about how he feels more drawn to the nursery than anything, how he loves caring for kits and helping the queens and about Daisy in ThunderClan and what she does. He and Needlestorm then propose a new Clan position, one where a cat is trained to learn how to care for queens and kits. Whether that means health, watching kits so their mothers can take a break, maintaining the nursery or anything else. He also says that his Medicine training does not have to go to wast, as kits get sick a lot and he will know what herbs to use to help them. Both Leafstar and Echosong agree that this is a good idea.

Alderpaw is taken aback at how quickly they agree, but is happy. He then nervously asks what this new position would be called? Leafstar purrs that she will think of something.

Later, when SkyClan arrives at the twolegplace and Leafstar makes Plumwillow’s and Pebbleshine’s kits apprentices, she also preforms a new ceremony for Alderpaw. It goes similarly to a warrior’s ceremony, only instead of asking him to protect his Clan, it is asking him to protect and care for the kits of SkyClan. Alderpaw affirms this and Leafstar renames him Alderheart and announces him as SkyClan’s first Nursery Cat. She explains to the Clan what this means. The whole Clan loves this new position. Needlestorm asks Leafstar if Nursery Cats are allowed to have mates and kits and Leafstar confirms that they are. Both Needlestorm and Alderheart are happy about this.

SkyClan soon sets off again to look for the lake...

[jayietheriverwarrior]

This is a headcanon I've had ever since I read Squirrelflight's Hope. Since we learned that Tree was born from the Sisters, I've been thinking about his kits. We know that the huge-and-fluffy genes of the sisters seem to have skipped him - I designed him to have his mother Moonlight's fluff, and he's got some of her muscle, but he's rather small. I imagine Rootpaw/Rootspring being on the small side when he grows up as well, but he's not the only kit of Tree. I started thinking - what if the huge-and-fluffy Sister genes for whatever reason skipped the toms in Tree's family, but showed up in the she-cats? And thus my headcanon was born - Needlepaw growing up to be the very image of a huge, muscular, fluffy Sister just like her grandma Moonlight. After a few days of work, here is my artistic depiction of huge!Needlepaw. :D

I've always pictured Tigerstar and his lookalike descendents as being the very largest cats in the Clans. So when Moonlight and the other Sisters were described as so large they loomed over Bramblestar, I immediately started picturing them as ridiculously, completely over-the-top huge. The Sisters claim to be descended from kittypets, so I decided to headcanon them as Maine Coons, with maybe a smidge of some sort of wild cat ancestry, like Savannah Cats or something, to add in some height. So adult Needlepaw as drawn here completely dwarfs her family, and has the bulky, fluffy, tufted-ear build of a Maine Coon. Granted, Tree, Violetshine, and Rootpaw are all kinda on the small side, but it's still clear how completely huge Needlepaw is compared to her family here.

Needlepaw seems more chill than her brother, so I showed her as looking calmly content with her family here. Tree is looking at his daughter with a fond expression. He's perfectly aware of how much she resembles his mother, who he still can't forgive for abandoning him, but he would never blame his daughter for resembling Moonlight so much. He's proud of her and loves her no matter what she looks like, hence his loving expression to her here. Violetshine is a good mama, so she's chatting happily with Needlepaw here. Rootspring is looking off in the distance worrying about plot-related drama, as is the fate of a protagonist like him. :P

Depicted here also is a ghostly Moonlight checking in on her son's family. She seemed rather proud in life, and rather snappish at her son even after he called her out on abandoning him, but she did seem at least a little guilty for it. So I decided to show her here looking with regret on the granddaughter who shares so much of her appearance, but who won't remember her fondly becaue of how she treated Needlepaw's father. I had fun playing with the ghostly effects for Moonlight and figuring out how to make them differ from my StarClan designs. ^^

Overall, I'm really happy with how this turned out. :D I hope Needlepaw gets a cool warrior name when her time comes. Needletuft, maybe? Needlestorm? Needleleaf?

[agrosnarl]

I hope rootpaw's warrior name will be rootwing. And needlepaw's maybe needlestorm or needleflower?

[canon-notcanon-warriorcats]

What're some other good suffixes that sound right for Needle- other than -tail? All I can think of is Needleclaw, Needlewhisker, Needleleaf (like pine needles!), Needlefang, and Needlefur/pelt

Needletooth, Needlestorm, Needleberry, Needletongue, Needlesong, Needlebreeze, Needlecloud, Needlewind, Needleheart, Needleear, Needlenose

[squirrelcrow-po3]

can we see the name changes for the characters?

you can see all the current arc name changes in the allegiances but the main ones for future arcs and characters are

fireheart -> maplefire

onewhisker -> beetlefrost

brackenfur -> brackenshade

thornclaw -> thornsnap

cloudtail -> mallowtuft

ashfur -> ashflake

sootfur -> sootcloud

sorreltail -> sorrelskip

stormfur -> stormheart

tawnypelt -> tawnyspark

hazeltail -> hazelsmoke

hollyleaf -> cherryflight (technically not the same character but share the same role)

lionblaze -> sunchaser (same as above)

jayfeather -> feathermist (same as above)

breezepelt -> squallstrike

antpelt -> antslip

flametail -> flamewind

dawnpelt -> dawnswipe

tigerheart -> spruceheart

needletail -> needlestorm

think i got them all