Disclaimer: I sooo totally don't own Alanna or any other characters written by Tamora Pierce. So don't sue me!

Authors' note: My first written fic so please forgive me if it's so bad! Oh yes, review please and this takes place after Lady Knight (soon to be released) and everything! I'm not sure if anyone else has written this kind of genre for Alanna. So if someone has. Tell me!

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Alanna entered her room in the Pirate's swoop residence. It had been quite a peaceful autumn and winter was approaching soon.

She was sure of that. Her scarred hands ached every time it got colder. It seemed like yesterday that she had trudged into the snowstorm at the roof of the world.

Times like those were long gone.

Alanna wasn't as young as she used to be when she went on her quests.

Seating herself on a chair facing the window, she sighed.

"Time was when I would be able to go with the Barzhir tribes during the winter… hello Faithful…" Alanna said without turning to look at him.

"Hello Alanna…" he answered, leaping to her lap.

"I'm surprised it's you here instead of the Black God" she stated as she rubbed Faithful between the ears.

"Well, aren't you glad to see me instead? Besides, everyone's waiting for you there…" Faithful purred and licked a paw.

George had died three years earlier and the rest of the 'batch' including Jonathan was gone before him. Every funeral was not forgotten. Her friends were what legends were made of. Even George was honoured by the present Rogues of the kingdom.

It was Alanna's turn now.

"By the way, your great-granddaughter, Alanna, seems to follow your footsteps. If the evil immortals were still around she might have been training to fight them by now" continued Faithful.

"Yes, it was a great thing that the bad immortals were killed ten years ago. I left her my sword and shield just for her use if another calamity occured. I was going to give her the necklace when she turned fifteen. Guess I won't stick around for that" she said wryly.

"Just leave it on her desk. It'll turn up when she least expects it. I'm sure of that. Come on, can't keep them all waiting, can we?" asked Faithful as he hopped on her shoulder.

"Alright… let's go…:" Alanna smiled as she placed the necklace on her desk.

"By the way, how is George going on with Liam?" she asked.

As the first snowflakes fell on her window, she left.

~End~