Alanna didn't know why she missed Corus so much; she didn't understand why she would want to leave the warmth of the Desert to go to somewhere cold. It was these thoughts that annoyed her most, in the early morning of Midwinter's day, the thoughts about going home, leaving the tribe.
It wasn't until later that afternoon when she was with her apprentices that she realized the answer. She wanted to go home because George and Jon were there. Because that's where her home was. She shook the thoughts out of her mind as she messed up her weave, pushing the contemplations to the back of her mind for then.
Visitors rode into the tribe late that night, waking Alanna. She had left her tent with Faithful silently, shooting an annoyed glare at the cat when he told her she'd like this surprise. Muttering back something about not liking any surprises, the lady knight stopped. There stood George talking softly to some of the young men of the tribe, turning when they heard Faithful yowl.
George caught her up in a hug laughing at the shocked look on her face, a joyful grin on his face as he held her close. Faithful trotted off laughing at Alanna who looked a bit like a shocked fish, due to her expression.
"How…" she was at a loss for words and was relived when George spoke.
"Coram, darlin' lass. He wrote me and Jon and told us you were gettin' a bit homesick for Corus." He let her go a tiny bit, staring down at her intently. "Jon came to me, an' here I am. In the desert, on Midwinter's, with you." His voice softened as he pulled her into a hug again. "I've missed you, Alanna."
Without thinking, Alanna kissed him once on the mouth, blushed furiously and ran off, leaving a shocked Coram, laughing Faithful and grinning George in her wake.
"'Twas only a matter of time 'till ye wore her down, lad." Coram commented wryly, picking Faithful up with a grimace. "No to see if she comes near ye ever again."
George laughed. "She will. You watch."
(So, a sweet little 'lanna/George to tide you over.)
