Armored Goddess

The war was about to start. Any night and the beasts of the mountains would be launching their attacks on the wolven lands. Long ago, the felines of the mountains had attacked, but the war was won by the wolves, if just barely.

Matsi's pack had become the meeting point of the packs preparing to fight for their lands. Her reputation had spread far and wide for her battles with the Venom wolf, for accepting all of the gifteds, and for looking like the death goddess of the long past.
But she didn't feel brave. With Midknight beside her, she looked down at the large number of wolves in her lands. She sat on the hill on the far edge of the lake, watching.
"I cannot lead this, Midknight," She said softly as her eyes shifted to the younger wolf. Midknight only looked back at her, confidence in her blue gaze.
"Of course you can, Matsi. They all look up to you, and are determined to keep those beasts from our lands," She said with much inflection to her words.
"I am not a god. I am flesh and blood. I cannot achieve the impossible,"
"Maybe you should go to Diety Peak. That is where the Water God blessed me with armor. Maybe one of the gods will help you."

With that Matsi took Midknight's advice. She was in dire need of something to help protect her own strength and confidence.
As she wandered to the hidden peak, memories flashed in her mind.....

"Mama, Why am I named 'Matsi'?" She asked her mother.
"What do you mean, Matsi?"
"Well.. Moon is named Moon because he was chosen to be the next Water God when he is older, and the moon pulls the water to it's destiny..." Matsi spoke softly as she looked at her much larger brother playing with some older pups.
"And Tala is named after your mama who she looks like... Mika is named after the raccoon shounds that she would make when mad, and the fact that she is a bandit in the night... But why am I named Matsi?"
Ebonira looked at her daughter with much compassion and a bit impressed at the pup's knowledge.
"Well, long ago, when the Feline-Wolf war happened, there was a goddess that ruled death. She was young when the war started, but she came to earth to help fight with the wolves. She came to the battle, clad in iron and gold, glittering with rubies. Fire danced at her heels and her fangs were strong as diamonds. Though she was young, she fought with skills that made the strongest alphas look like pups."

"How did she become a goddess, Mama?"

"Like your brother, the death goddess before her chose her to be her heir. When she died from an illness, she was reborn as the next death goddess."

"What does this have to do with my name??" Matsi flopped at her mother's paws. Ebonira laughed and continued with her story.

"During the war, the god of Fire, who loved the goddess of death, decided to fight with the felines. So, he took form of a feline and swore to the feline lord to take care of all the other gods that fought with the wolves. Well, Inferno never breaks a promise, and when he was faced with the Death goddess, he had no choice but to fight her."

"Did he kill her?" Matsi's eyes were wide as he mother nodded slowly.

"He did. You see, only Gods can kill other Gods. But, as she took her last breaths, She was able to steal the leading Feline's soul, sending their pack into panic, and eventually failure. As she passed from DietyLife, into darkness of death, she told Inferno to choose her next successor, though she defeated his side in war."

Matsi was confused.
"So, the deathgoddess was the reason we won the war?"
"Yes, Matsi. She was."
"But... What's that have to do with my name?"

"Well, you see, the Death Goddess was black. Black as night, but starlight blessed her pelt over her head. You look just like her, Matsi,"

Matsi blinked and smiled. She looked like the heroic Goddess!

Matsi shook her head and snapped out of her memories as she reached the top of the peak.
"Gods and Goddesses! Please! Hear me!" She called to the skies as she looked around. A few stars flickered, but nothing else.
"Please! A war is coming! I cannot lead these packs without confidence. Help me get confidence!"
A wind blew, then fell silent. Matsi lowered her head and sighed and sat back. Then a rumbling started and a cloud of embers and smoke started to form behind her. She jumped and turned, but relaxed slightly. She knew that cloud. It was Inferno, the same god that protected her pack.
"Inferno! Please. Hear me!" She yelped out as his massive figure started to appear and the smoke lessened.
His golden-red eyes looked at her, inspecting her with a warmth and strength.
"Matsi. Why do you fear? Why do you lack confidence? You are marked like my love. You are named the same as my life. Why do you not stand with her confidence?"
"Because I am not her. I am not a beacon of hope. I am not one to pour strength into my companions," She lowered her head in defeat.
Inferno snorted and walked to her. He touched her with his nose and fire exploded around them. Matsi tensed with fright. Was he going to end her life for being so frightened?



Midknight looked at the horizon as dawn started to cover the land. The other packs were getting anxious since the alphess of the land had not returned. Where was she? Was she alright? Panic was starting to take hearts, for the sounds of the Felines were getting closer. Blood would be spilled before the sun was high.

Midknight let out a howl of excitement as a figure started to come over the hill that loomed just over the wolves. Matsi looked down at her kind, confidence was back in her heart, if just barely. Yet, the wolves below her were speechless. Their leader of this war, was covered in the Iron and gold, glittering with rubies, just as the goddess of old. Slowly, one by one, starting with Matsi's partner and pups, howls started. Matsi stood tall. They would win this war....


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WOOT finally finished Matsi's armor. The armor is based on a story I wrote with her long time ago, and I just added it into her history a bit. I think she looks good, though I was doubting the gold. I am quite happy with her!
Her and Midknight will look like true soldiers! <3

I just did very basic and quick shading on this.... Yeah


Midknight and shadow (c) ~hochia
Art, story and all other characters (c) MEEE