[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/kNmO8zV.png[/img] [b][color=DarkOrange]wordcount:[/color][/b] 3,007 (+4) (+4 rapport with Pit) [b][color=DarkOrange]Amaterasu: level 8[/color][/b] EXP: [color=DarkOrange]/////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (24/80) [b][color=DarkOrange]Location:[/color][/b] The Avenger [/center] Treachery! Betrayal! After all Sandalphon had done for her, namely letting her use the spare bed in her room overnight, she’d gone ahead and just gave her such a silly, inappropriate name! She could see her symbols of divinity. The red markings, the artful swills, the massive flaming disk and divine weapons, and she went with ‘Snowball.’ Disgraceful. Indigent. She’d have to rectify this on the double! Such were the thoughts of Amaterasu, she who had not thought about the fact that she should have just given her name at some point before now. As it was, she was left glancing around, hackles raised as she tried to work out a way to correct this misstep. There was at least one other Seeker who could see the goddess' true form and shared her confusion over the name, if not her ire. Upon first seeing the wolf and her fiery divine disc, Pit had blinked in surprise. Even if he hadn't been able to see it, his angel sense clued him in to the fact that one of the crew's newest recruits was no normal wolf. She wasn't even just a wolf with super powers. She was genuine divinity. And her name was Snowball. It took a fair bit of control not to utter even a giggle, but the angel managed just barely. Instead he coughed into his fist, and only once everyone was dismissed for departure did he approach the goddess. Despite her being a wolf and showing some warning signs in her behavior, Pit was not wary. He couldn't actually sense if someone was good or evil, but this was a goddess who had, apparently, decided to join up with the Seekers. Ergo, she must be a benevolent deity. And there was the fact that she didn't feel particularly powerful, at the moment anyway. Maybe she just wasn't in her element up here. Either way, now the Seekers had two goddesses on their side! They were pretty much guaranteed to succeed. Speaking of, the Goddess of Light turned curious attention to her ward's situation, as she often did. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Hi, uh, Snowball?"[/color] Pit called to get the wolf's attention. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Kind of a weird name for a god. Unless you're a god of snow?"[/color] He glanced at the flaming diving weapon hovering over her back. Maybe... it was for warmth in the cold...? [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Anyway, welcome to the team! I'm Pit, and I'm actually a servant of the Goddess of Light, Lady Palutena."[/color] He said it proudly, but after a moment added, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"and I'm a one goddess guy, but if you need a servant I guess we could find one of yours out there?"[/color] The divine wolf just looked more distressed as he started talking about her ‘name’ till salvation came on a different set of angel wings, namely those of a middle aged man who had been chanting some spell or other, and who now pulled out a small scythe out of a sheath, the blade of which was crackling with magical flame. Which was perfect. Time stopped for all but her as she reached out with her divine brush to borrow that flame. Thrice it rushed in a line towards her, and then thrice it swirl above her as she wrote her name and divine domain in fire for all to see. [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/YW1hdGVyYXN1IA/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/SSBhbSBhbWF0ZXJhc3Ug/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65[/img] [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/c29sYXI/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65[/img] [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/Z29kZGVzcw/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65[/img] The sudden appearance of fire in the air surprised Pit, but he was more than used to rolling with the weird by now. The message, though bright and obvious, was fleeting; and though Pit had definitely seen it, he was almost unaware it was a message at all. Sure he could read print now, but calligraphy written in flame? That was still beyond him, understandably so. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Fire god then?"[/color] he guessed, which would make the name even more strange. Then he tilted his head, seemingly even more confused about something. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Can't you talk in your wolf form...?"[/color] [color=lightgreen][i]Hmm, I don't think she can. When she's incarnated like this, she doesn't just appear in that shape - she is both wolf and goddess.[/i][/color] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]Ooh, so you know who she is, Lady Palutena?[/i][/color] [color=lightgreen][i]Actually, I just read her message and looked her up. Her true name is Amaterasu, and as the goddess of the sun she's one of the most important gods back where she comes from. She also doesn't have any of her own angels as far as I know.[/i][/color] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]Wow, that's pretty impressive, but I guess she has nothing on you, the Goddess of Light then, huh?[/i][/color] [color=lightgreen][i]Hehe. Well, I [b]do[/b] have the benefit of having my own personal Pit and being able to communicate directly, but she does have fellow brush gods that help her out… and we have a few things in common too. For one, her abilities aren't limited to just her domain. She can harness any of the elements around her, among other things.[/i][/color] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]So like your Power of Cooling or Caging... Hopefully she doesn't have telepathy.[/i][/color] [color=lightgreen][i]She also relies on the people's belief in her for her power. The more praise she receives, the more powerful she is.[/i][/color] The internal conversation didn't last more than a couple of seconds, and to most it would have just appeared like an angel and white wolf staring at each other for those few seconds. At the end of it Pit blinked, a sympathetic look in his electric colored eyes. So that was why Amaterasu didn't seem all that powerful for a god - if hardly anyone could tell she was one, and she had a hard time telling them herself, then she probably hadn't been appreciated for a while. Especially in this world, if she didn't have people to watch over like Lady Palutena did. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Okay, I got it now - Amaterasu,"[/color] he told the goddess. Considering she was also a literal wolf if he understood Palutena correctly, and a wolf was sort of like a dog, he also reached out with the intent to pet her head, above her divine markings between her ears. Upon hearing her name, the divine wolf calmed, adjusting her footing with a pad pad pad of paws as she returned to a more neutral pose. She was very much relieved things had been cleared up a bit, especially after he’d seemed so clueless before. Before she could wonder what had caused that change, the angel reached a hand out towards her head, clearly intending to pet her. She could accept children blind to her nature doing that, but this one really should know better than to pet without asking permission first, as she informed him with a short little growl. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Okay, sorry! Guess you're more deity than dog."[/color] [color=lightgreen][i]Your way with words never ceases to amaze, Pit.[/i][/color] Pit had pulled his hand back, instead folding both arms behind his head and starting for the deployment area. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Don't worry, I'll tell Sandalphon and everybody else your real name. And I guess we're gonna have to get you powered up before we find the Guardian."[/color] The divine’s aggression had dropped as soon as the hand was pulled back. Not on the mark on the first shot, this one, but quick to adapt, and that was a virtue all of its own. She could work with that. She’d have too, given she was fairly sure he was the only one who saw her for what she really was. As for how they’d her up, well, she’d need to step up her game when it came to helping people. She would, in three words, need to be a notable part of performing: [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/Z3JhbmQ/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65[/img] [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/Z29vZA/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65[/img] [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/ZGVlZHM/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65[/img] Also, finding a way to actually communicate that did not involve borrowing fire from a man who wasn’t going to even be on their team would probably help, she thought. The same issue came up in that Pit glanced at the flames, guessed there was some kind of message in them, but could not decipher it. Luckily his own goddess read it out to him. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"So it's not gonna be as easy as, like... Saying your fur and shield is really cool? Or thanking you for joining the team or something like that?"[/color] He got to thinking, eyebrows pulled together in the middle. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Well we do all kinds of good deeds, so that shouldn't be a problem..."[/color] He figured that of course it had to be genuine praise, but it made sense if the level of gratitude correlated to the level of power the goddess received. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Oh, and I think we'll have to figure out a better way for you to talk to us. Lady Palutena might not always be able to translate. Maybe like one bark for yes, two for no, and howl for something else,"[/color] he said next, unwittingly picking up on Amaterasu's own thoughts. The wolf shuffled in place a few moments, and then gave a half hearted bark of confirmation. It felt far too much like being a dog who had been taught to “speak” but it would do for now, nevermind how much she disliked it. [color=lightgreen][i]From divine power to trained puppy... As a fellow goddess, I feel for her.[/i][/color] There was an undeniable hint of amusement in Palutena's words. That, and Amaterasu's apparent approval, brought a small grin to Pit's face. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]What, but it worked! It'll just make it easier for her to speak to us![/i][/color] [color=lightgreen][i]But at what cost... Hmm, why don't you at least throw a little praise her way? It might make up for the bruised ego I'm sure she's feeling.[/i][/color] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Oh, right,"[/color] Pit said, seemingly out of nowhere. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][i]You won't get jealous, will you Lady Palutena?[/i][/color] [color=lightgreen][i]Hmm, I'll let it slide for now.[/i][/color] The angel looked at Amaterasu once more, dropping his arms back to his sides and considering the best way to go about it. This wouldn't be in return for a 'grand good deed' but... maybe it would work? [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I dunno how you get your praises Amaterasu, but... um..."[/color] Pit closed his eyes and dipped his head slightly, praying to Nippon's Goddess of the Sun as he would Angel Land's Goddess of Light. After he was done he peeked one eye open, looking to see if he could tell if anything had changed. Before him, and visible only otherwise to the eyes of those divine, the angel found a floating [url=https://i.imgur.com/jj5udyD.jpeg]orb[/url] with a symbol meaning happiness/fortune upon it. It bobbed in the air for a moment till the divine wolf stepped forwards and tapped it with her snout, causing it to bounce away, only to then be pulled right back and into her chest. There, it joined a pool of power scrounged from revived plants, entertained beasties, delighted children, making the divine being just a little more deserving of the title of goddess. Enough, indeed, to push her over her baseline, forming a singular package of power that she invested into a fourth inkpot, giving her just a little more of a reserve of power before her divinity ran dry. She’d not expected this show of, well, faith from someone she’d only just met, especially not another divine for whom this held actually tangible value (or at least as far as she was aware anyway). She owed him, but had ever so little to give in return. As such, she stepped closer, raised up and presented her forehead, before using the power he had just granted her to write an ever so slightly longer sentence. [img]https://see.fontimg.com/api/rf5/8MKB/MWM2Y2FlZjkwZjczNGM4ZWJkODc1NzIwODQ3YTYxNDgudHRm/eW91IG1heSBwZXQgb25jZQ/missbrooks.png?r=fs&h=65&w=1000&fg=E88E14&bg=FFFFFF&tb=1&s=65[/img] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"It worked! I think!"[/color] Pit had never seen a prayer take a physical shape before, hadn't even known it was possible, and definitely could not read the character in the little bubble, but after it was absorbed into Amaterasu what else could it have been? He found it to be neat, but before he got the chance to ask Palutena if they could figure out how to do that with the people of Overworld, she informed him of the content of the other goddess' latest message. Pit smiled again, reaching out before the wolf changed her mind. Honestly respecting gods was not something Pit was particularly concerned about (the gods of his home world hardly commanded or frankly deserved it, save for one of course); still, he didn't pet her like he would Caesar or Scamp, instead placing his hand on her head and gently stroking once down toward her neck. A more dignified sort of pet, if that was even possible. Her fur was warm. He gave her some space afterward, overall pleased with (sort of) figuring things out with the non-verbal goddess. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Well now that we know what to call you and how to communicate, guess we're good to go! ...actually there's a ton of other Seeker-stuff that usually gets explained, but if Sandalphon didn't already tell you then I guess we'll just deal with it when it comes up."[/color] The divine wolf supposed this would do. It wasn’t as if she could ask any kind of detailed questions. She did, however, have one more thing she’d need help with, unfortunately, the wolf reaching back, nuzzling her own fur, and somehow pulling out the focus sash she’d fetched earlier but, due to having paws and all that, wasn’t able to affix. As such she needed a squire to put on this (thin) piece of armor, and if her holding it up for Pit to take was any indication, she’d decided he’d fit the bill. Luckily Pit was much quicker to pick up on motions and gestures like this than he was on calligraphy. His own focus sash was already tied around his arm, replacing the kerchief that had been there, and so he easily guessed what Amaterasu wanted. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Oh, sure, I can do that for you."[/color] He took the ribbon and knelt down so that he could wrap it around one of her forelegs, as close to an arm as the wolf had. The divine wolf patiently kept her paw raised and still as the sash was tied to her front leg, before giving the binding a nose, confirming that it was solid and not likely to slide down and trip her up. Satisfied, she set the paw down and glanced at him approvingly, now set to go out there, and do some good in the world. Right on cue, the call to descend was called, bringing the little pre-mission talk to an end and it was time to depart. Something they did in just the worst way in Amatarasu’s opinion. It didn’t help that the things were made for bipeds, and that the divine wolf did not appreciate being stuck in a cramped confined place one bit. It was just unnatural. Combine that with the noise and the rattling and… well, suffice to say, if she’d thought going up had been bad then this was about 10 times worse. Still, finally, eventually, it ended, and Amatarsu rose from the earth, forced to stand on her hind legs as she did so, front paws walking up the sides of the impact crater till the touched down on the actual surface of the ground and she could walk herself forward back onto a standing position. It could have been worse. She could have flopped down face first after the ride as the girl who introduced herself as Sakura had. Despite her undignified first impression however, Sakura turned out to be a wellspring of information that the divine wolf sat herself down to listen too, doing her best to not zone out during the exposition and being rewarded for it with a new plan. To impress these ‘Stream Monsters’ and win their praise. Less righteous than doing grand good deeds certainly, but as a bonus to what she was going to be up to anyway, it was nothing to be sniffed at. Nor was the money, which could help her fill her belly with food, and fill her soul with prais for spending it charitably. All in all, this seemed like it would be a far better time than traipsing through the snow like the other team were going to be doing, and so she was eager to set off, popping back up onto her paws, ready to begin her journey. Just as soon as Pit properly introduced her to everyone. She could hardly have them going around calling her Snowball afterall, and she’d now lost the convenient force source with which she had been writing with before, which would make repeating the introductions a bit more difficult. So he'd better not let her down!