FROM THE JOURNAL OF

Hello my dear friends, Welcome back.

I'm sorry I've been gone so long. I've been trying to make sense of this new story. Some of you know this is the story based on the songfic. The song it's based on is "Savin' Me" by Nickelback. That part of it won't come until way later though. I can't promise where I'm going with it because I'm breaking the rules and writing purely from heart. Wow, that kinda sounds cheesy. My new entries will unfortunately be far and few between, since I'm not sure what's really going on. If there are spelling mistakes, forgive me and let me know. Reviews would be SUPER appreciated!

Also, a few small things, Scanra, as Tammy said, is based on Scandinavia. Scandinavia is primarily made of Sweden so I used Swedish words and names in place of Scanran ones. I hope this all makes sense.

And remember, please REVIEW!

Disclaimer: Anything recognizable is Tammy's, the rest is mine.

BEING THE JOURNAL OF REBEKAH COOPER
DWELLING AT MISTRESS TROUT'S LODGINGS
NIPCOPPER CLOSE, THE LOWER CITY
CORUS, THE REALM OF TORTALL

Sets place about two months after the first entry in Beka's journal in Bloodhound, Tamora Pierce's official excerpt. Nothing important happened between then and now, she probably wrote something in between but I want to start here.

Tuesday, October 14, 247

At Night.

Written afore bed, on my day off.

This morning I dressed in skirts. I even turned my hair in a light bun at the back of my head but I didna put on the lace veil, (Pounce thinks I'm trying to bait my Lord Gershom's wife). It's a pretty yellow petticoat with a plain cotton shift covered by an ivy green dress that my Lady Teodorie gave to me. Its vest like straps leave my shoulders bare, but my arms were covered by the blown out sleeves of my bodice. It belonged to my ma afore she was took away to the Peaceful Realms. Though I miss her, I know she's not suffering the hand of lung rot or rusher scuts who'll beat her. Today I went to my Lord Provost's home and all of us was taken to one of the Black God's temples outside the city.

Nine years ago today, my mama was buried in her grave, as far and as close to Corus as possible. We couldn't lose her by moving her away; after all, she was a Lower City mot. Regardless, the only decent places to set her down belonged to the merchant guilds and the nobles. She was decent, but Ilony Cooper ain't no blueblood. I remember seeing her dust feather pigeon say its farewells. Gods, I miss her. I asked for her to be freed of the likes of the Cesspool, and my kind hearted lord Gershom had her placed near the temple in the outer fields of Corus. I've never left the city afore and this place is still within its technical boundaries. I checked it one of the maps in my lord's study.

My siblings greeted me like I was their sister, all except Diona. I'm afeared I will never win her back like this. They was dressed in mourning grays as our party set out, and at the sight of my cheery day gown, she glared. She nodded stiffly to me afore walking ahead to our mother's resting place. I wonder if she even noticed how her beloved Lady gave me a nod of approval. The silly gixie may not recognize it, but my lady Teodorie knew why I wore what I did. As a tribute to my ma. On the cart, our lord Provost and his wife left us in the day market when we came back; Diona didna seem to want to come but my lady gave her a stern look. I do believe the woman grows on you if you don't live with her. A course, the next time I show up with a bruise upon inspection she will turn her nose up to me. I'm a lost case as a lady's maid regardless. I am of the Lower City; my siblings are as well, even if they do stay in the Patten district.

Lorine walked with her arm looped through mine, she is but three years my junior but the clever seamstress is gaining height on me. My brothers walked just ahead of us; Will with his new, brave strut and little Nilo bubbling at the pasties. Giggling, the five of us went to Gemma Noll's baker's stand. She had taken up the business after her douser mother was hung. She handed us free turnovers and refused my payment, in honor of the healer. My mama wasn't a mot with the Gift, but she was an herb woman. Her kindness made us glow with pride but it sobered us some. Nilo was quieter, as was Will. They don't remember her much. Lorine can name a song or pick out things like the plants mama used. Only Diona and I remember her to any extent. I was eight and she was seven. I bet she could even recognize her voice, but I'm the only one who hears the dead. Our mama is the same, but our fathers are different.

I was bringing them back to the manor and I got my supply of hugs and kisses from Mya. After a while I went on a short walk around the orchard with my Lord afore returning to my family. Afore I left, I asked Diona to make a round about the trees with me. Lorine watched us go with her worried glimms; I should have taken the hint. We strolled silently and as we came under a large pear blossom, we sat upon a bench tentatively. Eventually I spoke, "Do you remember her at all? You look like her you know, I go on my pa's side." She sighed wearily.

"I do, she smelled like tiger lilies and her hair would tickle you if you sat in her lap. She always kept us safe from all those sarden coves who would be around. She'd take any hits for us. I miss her Beka." My sister's lip quivered and I hugged her shoulders.

"Aye, even in the Cesspool she held out for us, what I wouldn't give to hobble those ducknobs." Diona stiffened in my arms and turned her hazel eyes on me. I thought we was getting along fine so I wasn't expecting the hostility in them.

"Yes, you knew that Beka, and you became a dog. Not a respectable position but at least you weren't dipping in the Rogue's hand. Then what do I hear from the hostlers but the City's Terrierlives with a lodge full of rushers. Are you trying to disgrace us? Trying to dishonor Mama? They say you're bedding the Piper. The King rat." Her voice was full of a haughty, arrogant tone. I raised my own icy glims until she cringed. My readiness to be in her good books is gone. She's a snake, that gixie. She don't know who she is, trying to demean her big sister.

"Listen here Diona, shame on you. I never want to hear you accuse this of me ever again. I ain't conoodling with no rogue and asides, I'm my own mot and who's in my bed is my business." Her face turned red.

"Well, you live in the same lodgings don't you? And look at that low cut doxy dress of yours! I bet you're only doing so well because you make extra nobles in some room over a gambling den." She was snarling. I glared back at her, standing up and towering above her. Diona's shorter than I am by quite a few inches.

"You Stormwing's scummer, you don't know nothin! This is Mama's dress you jinglenob, I can't believe I have to call you my sister." I left there in a rage of tears, but I didna care. My vision was swimming in moisture itself. I hurried back and slipped through the gates. Mya won't be happy with me next time I come. Luckily, I have a week until then. Since it is further in the fall; I had a heavy brown cloak with me as I passed the streets. Most of the city folk don't see me in skirts so they don't recognize me and for that I was grateful. Tears still marked my cheeks shamelessly and smudged the face powder Kora had me put on afore I left. We skipped breakfast, but she still liked to make me dress more like a gixie. She'd do the same for Aniki but the mot's smarter than me because she knows how to refuse.

Fortunately, no one was expecting me at home yet since I try to have supper when I visit. Today especially, since it's the anniversary. Storming up the steps, I locked my self in my room and calmed down some. I guess being angry gets you heated up because I shoved the clasp of my cloak and threw the sarden thing on my bed. Pounce licked my hand and nudged me with his nose. What's wrong? Pounce hadn't accompanied me; he'd told me afore that the Black God's not very pleased with him. Something about sleeping on his throne.

"Diona, who else?" I growled as he moved onto my lap. Don't worry about her; she'll come around in her own time.

"Pox rot! She ain't changing; she's more stubborn than a sleepy Kora. Asides, you didna hear her. She thinks she's such a high fine lady, too good for the likes of humble city folk like me. Calling me a Rusher's doxy. Honestly, where do they hear these things?" She's just a young girl herself and oblivious to a world of hard work now. Her hands are soft with the years at the provost's house. As for the rumors, those are your fault. At that point I had about enough of Pounce and his wise talk. He may be a constellation, but he's an annoying one. Pushing him off of me, I gave a player's bow and glared at him, but I realized the hot clogging feeling in my throat was returning.

"D'you think it's a joke? My own sister condemns me! If that weren't bad enough, my other siblings haven't turned on me, yet, but she's got them around her finger. She's the oldest there now, not me. They don't need me…" I ran out the room, my jaws clasped tight. It seemed my cat finally decided I was best left to myself. Out in the court yard, I just stood and looked up at the sky. It was getting darker and my friends would be home soon. I didna feel like returning to the streets or back to my home, if anything I wanted to fly away like my pigeons. A course, I'm no bird and my feet are rooted to the ground.

I'm not sure why I did it, but I technically broke the king's law then. I climbed up on the stones of the wall and scaled it to the ceiling. I pacified myself by remembering that it was my lodgings after all and I ain't stealing anything. I'd been on the roof afore but it wasn't something I was used to. Drying my tears, I sat on the edges at stared at the sinking sun as it hid behind the peaks of the Lower City. Mistress Trout's building ain't very big but it gives you a fair view.

I don't know how long I sat there, but the stars were out afore I heard them calling. Rogue hours are different from Dog hours so I was mighty surprised to hear my friends. I cursed silently, they must be worried but I wasn't quite ready to leave. Down below I saw four silhouettes. Ersken was there too. He'd done near moved in since he started canoodling with Kora. When I saw them in the court yard, Aniki hollering, I snuck away from the ledge and swung my feet back up. Holding my breath, I closed my eyes and waited for them to search somewhere else. Mayhap I could sneak into my rooms afore they come back and I won't have to explain till morning.

Now admittedly, I know I'd be dead if I was on watch; with me forgetting everything and losing track of time. Well, I broke one more rule this night; I forgot to stay on my guard. Imagine my shock and horror when a firm hand gripped my shoulder. I promised to beat myself up about it later, trying to concentrate so I could disarm my attacker without a weapon. I was still in Mama's dress.

Grasping the callused hand on my collarbone, I twisted it back in a movement that should've snapped the cove's arm. Crone Witness it, I thought when I realized I was dealing with no minnow. The man had twisted with me so that the pressure shifted onto my shoulder. I was still disoriented enough that I didna move out from under the blow, but my captor didna seem interested in harming me. On the contrary he pinned my arms down. I was ready to give him a kick between the legs, just to remind him that no one messed with the Terrier, when he moved sideways and whispered in my ear.

"Will you please stop trying to kill me, Cooper? I'll let go if you don't hit me." I drooped as I heard the voice, weariness and irritation came up together as I dislodged myself in somewhat more peaceful way. Turning to face him, I reached to whack Rosto lightly at the side of his head. Grinning, he ducked out of the way; you don't become The Rogue with slow reflexes. In all honesty, rats of all sizes I could handle but I've an itch that my Scanran rusher friends would not be thieves I'd ever want to encounter.

"Don't bite." he told me, a cocky smile on his lips, but his dark eyes were careful. He was good at reading people and no doubt he was playing light, as I was in a mood. I frowned at him; he still had my wrist in his grip.

"I'll snap at whom ever I please Rosto the Piper, now let go! I won't hit you, by the Goddess; just give me my arm back. How'd you find me anyway?" he released me. "I looked up and saw your feet, you should be more careful up there with those skirts of yours." I gaped at him until he said, "Joking." Pox rot, if he's joking then I'm the King's daughter! Miffed, I moved back and sat on the ledge again. I was self-conscious enough to be teased by his words as I gathered the petticoats and sat on them firmly so my legs were tightly bound. Smirking at me, he came and sat and we stayed quiet for a moment.

So I promised, I went back and fixed spelling and grammar, there shouldn't be any more errors on that part, but keep me posted. So, to make it easier for people to read, I'm eperating the original 1st chapter into 2 parts. Oh, and please leave me a REVIEW!