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fate and ellie in exalted
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And then: tiger!

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She bounds to the city, running and laughing a bit. It's a good size - smaller than the metropolises of the Scavenger Lands, but big for the Hundred Kingdoms. People seem to know to respect the slightly oversized white tiger. She drops to a light lope as they approach, and then a gentle walk just outside the walls, where the road becomes crowded enough she's having trouble getting a proper run in, even with people paying attention and getting out of her way.

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Luc' slips off to walk beside her, ruffling the fur at the base of her neck.

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Happy rumble.

"Wanna just explore?"

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"Yeah, I think so."

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There's some interesting places to eat, which she leads Luc' to first, a nice little park with some statues including three of Wyld, a pretty temple...

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"I see you're leaving your mark on the place."

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"I know. Aren't I lovely?" She preens a bit.

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Ruffle!

"You are!"

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Purrrrrr.

"The loveliest around."

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"I could commission statues of myself..." She says thoughtfully.

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She headbutts Luc'. Gently. "I'll commission statues of you. Make sure they're properly gorgeous."

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"You're the best."

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Heeeeeeeeee!

"A title I share with you."

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"So you're not going to replace me?"

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"Never."

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Tiger hugs.

"Love you."

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Awwwwwwwwww.

She purrs, leaning into Luc'. "Love you too. Lots."

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"So what else is good in this town?"

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She laughs, flips back into human so she can take Luc's hand, and leads her off to the town's assorted entertainments.

(There's actually a good bit, at least.)

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The next three months - go, mostly, some smoothly, some not. Wyld seems hesitant to integrate Luc' properly into her chain of command - not obviously so, but over time a pattern emerges. 

Wyld starts out shoring up her position like she promised her lieutenants she would - which comes with a crackdown on Yozi worship. Several of Luc's followers get flushed out, and whoever Wyld has on that is apparently working themselves up the hierarchy.

And then - 

After a few weeks of no attacks from her, an opportunity presents itself, one Wyld feels compelled to seize (there's an itch under her skin, a knowledge that every day she spends on preparation is another day slaves are under their masters' yoke - ). Wyld moves, pushing into her neighbors with all of her best troops, even as she continues working hard to train up the irregulars, recruit more troops, train officers so she can delegate 

It's stressful. She barely sleeps, and when she does she drops off into unconsciousness almost immediately. She does her best to make time for Luc', but, well - the fire in her skin seems to be getting worse.

The slaves of one of the major trade cities - the second biggest in the Hundred Kingdoms - rebel, and ask to be brought under her wing. It's a massive change in her capabilities - and her threat profile - and the territory she needs to defend, a narrow stretch of controlled territory stretching along a single road between her largest city and her new one. She works on expanding, digging in, even as she commands Ling to continue the push.

Three months after Luc' came back to Wyld's burgeoning nation, Wyld has over twice the territory - and a larger chunk of the population. A gain it took her six months to manage, the first time. She has mercenaries and militias of ex-slaves flocking to her banner - eager people, who want to take the fight to her enemies. Hard to train the fire out of them, even though Wyld strives to bank their fervor and drill them enough they won't be a liability. Wyld's cult burgeons faster than Luc's, spreading even outside of the large bite she's taken out of the Hundred Kingdoms' side.

And, distantly, like a clock ticking down - 

Luc's network reports rumors of a solar, working her way toward Wyld's position. Helping people, as she goes, freeing slaves - this close to Wyld's territory, her movements get entangled with Wyld's freedom cult. An agent of the tiger, people whisper.

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Ah, damn. Here's hoping she's tied herself tight enough.

She takes the news to Wyld.

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"...Hm, you think it's that solar you met a while back?" Wyld asks, after some thought.

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"Probably. The methods and actions fit, and it's not like there are that many Solars wandering Creation."

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