True Friends never Die

A/N, this is a tribute to the strength of the friendship between Lirael(Abhorsen in waiting) and her companion the Disreputable dog.

this is my first fic. I want your feedback so please review but if you only want to say "The dog died" I won't listen to you, if you think the dog is truly dead reread the epelog of "Abhorsen".

The river of death was as chilling as always, Lirael gritted her teeth and plunged on.

This was just a simple mission, a rogue spirit causing problems in a small village that needed the Abhorsen's, or in this case the Abhorsen in Waiting's, attention.

Breathing deeply Lirael scanned the river.

Suddenly she noticed the lack of sound from the first gate, this, with luck should be what she'd come to deal with.

Lirael drew her sword with her charter spelled gold hand, cocked Saraneth, the binding bell, with the other and prepared.

More than anything she wished she had her faithful companion the Disreputable Dog at her side but the dog was gone, she'd sacrificed herself so the ninth and most powerful spirit of the beginning could be bound anew.

A stab of pain entered Lirael's heart when she thought of that,

"No, she's gone and if she were here she'd nip me for mourning her when there's work to be done." She chided herself.

She squared her shoulders, then tensed, her death sense had twinged, whatever it was was aproaching.

She saw a faint ripple, then it was looming above her, it's arms reaching for her.

Lirael stabbed with her sword, propelling the creature back, it was not slowed by very much but enough for Lirael to ring the bell.

As Saraneth boomed out over the silent river Lirael felt a sense of uncontrollable pride and power that swelled with in her, giving her a, dangerous, sense of bravado.

She would dominate this creature, she Lirael the Abhorsen in Waiting.

As she was distracted by this grand feeling of dominance, the river tugged her with an unusual amount of force, causing the bell to discord.

As it had done months ago when she travelled in the fifth precinct, her attention began to wander.

Lirael knew then, through her wandering mind that she was in trouble, the discord of the bell dulled her mind and slowed her reflexes leaving her helpless.

The creature recovered and started another attack, Lirael knew she could not stop it.

It knocked her into the river and bent over her, it's shadow arms clasped her chest squeezing the breath from her.

Lirael knew she'd been stupid, with her last few frantic seconds she berated herself.

"How could I be so stupid! Now because of me there will be no Abhorsen in Waiting, no future for the kingdom, once Sabriel is gone the dead will triumph. Because of me.", were the thoughts racing through her mind.

With what she knew was her last breath Lirael cried out the name dearest to her heart "Dog, please help me!" all though she knew this was a futile hope, the dog was gone.

Just as Lirael's eyes closed she thought she saw a flash of tan and black behind the creature, then the arms crushing her loosened. Lirael feebly fought to free herself struggling with her last strength she got to her feet. The creature hardly noticed, it had spun round its back now to Lirael.

It was busy battling something, it's bulk obscured Lirael's view so she could not see what it's opponent was.

Then, with a burst of hope, Lirael whipped out her sword and stabbed the creature through the back.

It fell struggling and writhing into the river where it was swept away, with disbelief Lirael watched it vanish.

Finally she recollected her saviour and looked around, no one was there but disappearing into the gloom of the first precinct she thought she saw again that glimpse of black and tan fur and maybe the hint of a wagging tail.

A/N I hope you liked it, please r and r.