It’s the Thought That Counts
© 2025 by Walter Reimer



Wolf Queen and Westersloe Winterbough V ©  eocostello
Tali Hartoh-Mason and the Temporal Corps ©  marmelmm
The Realm of Faerie by  tegerio
Art by the talented  rabbi-tom
Warhammer 40K © Games Workshop



“What are you doing?” the Wolf Queen, also known as ‘Missy Sage-Hartoh’ asked, as Tali held up both paws, thumb and forefingers making ‘L’ shapes and peering at the wolfess through the rectangle thus constructed. “If you use your – what did you call it, an ‘imager?’ – it might last longer.”

The feline chuckled. “Well, I was thinking of your armor.”

“My Regalia?” She looked down at the two minimalist pieces of incredibly old and deeply magickal metalwork. “What about it?”

“It looks great on you.”

The Wolf Queen smiled. “Flatterer.”

“But I was just thinking – “

“Yes?”

“I’ve seen that the Regalia’s pretty good against most weapons and can even keep you alive in both hard vacuum and reentry,” Tali said, “but I was thinking that we have a suit of armor in the Temporal Corps’ inventory that might suit you.” She swished her tail. “I was thinking that, if it suits you, I would give it to you as a gift.”

The wolfess’ ears perked and her tail swished. “Sure, then. I’ll try it.”


***


Almost an hour later, after multiple verifications and authorizations, a suit of black power armor with gold and silver highlights stood in the middle of Tali’s mobile. The suit was accessorized with a red cape and one gloved fist held a red banner bearing a stylized skull.

Giving the armor a critical eye as she inspected it, the Wolf Queen inspected it as she asked Tali, “What did you say this was again?”

“Power armor,” Tali replied. “A gift from the Sisters of Battle, and properly sanctified. Of course, it’ll be a little limited in its abilities since you don’t have the requisite openings – “

“First time I’ve ever heard you say that,” the Wolf Queen said, wiggling her eyebrows at Tali.

“Oh, YOU.” The two laughed before Tali added, “Even limited, it should increase your strength and mobility, and the ceramite plate is good against most projectiles on its timelime, so you could walk through a blizzard of arrows and not get a scratch. Care to try it on?”

“Sure,” and Missy began to divest herself of the Regalia, tucking the pieces in her Elfintory.


***


“Hmm,” the wolfess said a few minutes later as she moved about in the Adepta Sororitas powersuit, swinging her arms and flexing her paws. “It’s a little confining – “

“Tali? Are you in here?” A roebuck in a mint-green uniform paused just inside the door. “I was wondering – “ Westersloe Winterbough’s voice trailed off as he saw the Wolf Queen standing in the middle of the room, dressed in gleaming black armor.

The roebuck froze.

“Snnnnrrrkkk . . . “

He promptly hugged his arms around his torso, doubling over as he laughed raucously.

The Wolf Queen glowered at him. “I despise you with every fiber of my being,” she growled.

Winterbough just kept laughing until, wiping tears from his eyes, the roebuck asked, “What the Netherhells are you wearing, wolfess?”

Tali replied, “It’s a suit of what’s called power armor. It’s not at its full potential, since Missy doesn’t have any augmentations."

"You're telling me?" This sally was greeted by a loud growl, and Winterbough added, "Do you get a matching purse with that? I like how you accessorize with the banner."

"Oh, YES,” Missy said sarcastically. “It's quite USEFUL,” and she lunged in an attempt break the staff over Winterbough’s antlers. He dodged, and she began chasing him around the room.

Tali watched, muttering to herself, “I’m glad I didn’t give her the matching chainsword . . . or the bolter gun,” and the feline shuddered at the memory of the last time they’d let the wolfess near a gun.

Missy threw the banner onto the floor. “Tali?”

“Yes?”

“Get me out of this. NOW.”

“Sure. Let me get the instructions – “

“Never mind.” Missy manifested her double-bardiche, Sun-and-Moon, and swung the Moon-blade at her back and sides. The armor collapsed off her, the Regalia manifested, and she chased Winterbough out of the mobile.

Tali looked at the heap of armor. “Funny,” she mused, “Ceramite shouldn’t break like that.” She teleported it back to the Musashi’s armory as she smiled. “Still, she looked nice in it . . . “