In Loving Memory Of KATIE

Eatbugs opened his eyes and blinked at the sun. He'd slept far longer than he had intended and hurriedly

 washed his whiskers and patted down his fur. Today was a very special day on the Rainbow Bridge.

The elders had held a Circle for hours and murmured quietly among themselves and then had pronounced that

 today would be a day of great rejoicing and celebrations. They had not said precisely why, but no kidden

questioned the pronouncements of the elders, especially when they called for fun, food and good companionship!

Eatbugs trotted along to the kibble bowls and hoped he hadn't missed any of the events yet. He was relieved

to see so many of the Company still lingering over the food dishes. He found a vacant bowl beside Skunk and started to eat.

"Well, I see you decided to join the world of the conscious", laughed Grace.

"Well, Imbri and Tinky and Boo Boo and I took Spunky out to dance among the stars last night and well....",

said Eatbugs looking sheepishly at his paw paws.

"...and you played tag until the sun came up", laughed Jasmine.

Eatbugs' nose leather turned a deep pink, "well, ummm, sort of".

"Well, I'm glad you decided to wake up", said Rocky, "Today of all days is not the time to snore away

 your morning!". The kiddens murmured in agreement.

Over in the grassy field, Dino, Picnic and Mister were merrily giving peeper rides. Eatbugs knelt

to help Pouncequick onto his shoulders and then trotted brightly around the field. "Can I say it Unca Eatbugs?

 Can I? Can I, huh?".

Eatbugs laughed, "Okay, go ahead". "Gets along little dog dogs!" whooped Pounce at the top of his lungs.

In the tall grass a rousing game of hide and swipe was in session.

 "Hey, how come my taiw am getting bopped so much. It alweady been swiped three times!", bemoaned Nickie.

"Have you LOOKED at your tail lately, kid", lauged Pitty Pat.

"Oh", said Nickie casting a baleful look at his plumed appendage and diving back into the fray.

In the south field, just beyond the catnip patch, the hockey game was in session.

 The puck flying fast and furious as fuzzy paw paws thwacked it hither and yon. Freyja gave it a mighty

slap and Dino went off whisker and nose leather with Katie after it.

The chirps had gathered in the willow branchs to offer up a chorale to those who wanted respite

 from the games. Miss Pepper and Pris were lounging with Miss Kitty and Ebony listening to a particularly lovely passage.

And so the day went, with laughter and fellowship and friendly competitions. As the day drew to it's close

and the horizon shifted in color to the purple hues of sunset, the Elders sent for the Call to Gathering. From their

games and resting they came, the Company of Kiddens. They gathered into a circle and Virginia stepped quietly t

o the center. She laid out a book and lit a candle, whose light danced in the gathering twilight. The other

elders passed among the crowd handing out kibble. When all had been served, Virginia cleared her voice. "Well met to

all the Company", she said, "it is time now to end our revels. We gather now in the Circle of Bards as a final celebration

 of our life here on the Bridge and make clear the meaning of today's celebration". With that, Virginia

stepped back from the candle and Isolde stepped forward. In a soft voice she told the story of the Creation of All Things,

of how the Creator had twitched her whiskers and brought forth all light and goodness. The kiddens sat enthralled

as she finished her tale. When Isolde was through, Picnic stepped forward and told the story of the Great Promise,

of how the loss of the love bond between her children and their humans had so saddened the Creator that she created the

 Rainbow Bridge and had twitched her tail and made the bond unbreakable. The kiddens all sighed and thought with great love

 on their humans as Picnic finished his story. Then Grandpa Max stepped into the the light and told the story of the Elders,

 of how in the earliest days before even the time of remembering, the Company of Kiddens had been formed and the Elders called

 upon to protect and nurture all kiddens and to keep the ancient mysteries, to ease the time of passing and to remember the old stories.

 The kiddens listened in awe as he finished his tale. Then Virginia stepped back into the light. She looked from face to face among

the Company and began to speak, "Today we celebrate with love and laughter the coming of an Elder" The kiddens all gasped....a

Welcoming? They looked at their paw paws and were embarrassed that they had played games and made merry on such a day.

 Virginia smiled, "No, my friends, it is right that we welcome this very special kidden with laughter and love. She has lived a

very long march of days in the sun. Her life has been filled to overflowing with love. There is sadness for her humans,

who must now wait the time they can know again the warmth of her fur, but for our friend, joy. She will be whole again.

 She will once more be able to truly savor the feel of sunlight on her fur and the grass beneath her paws.

It is right that we bring her to our Company with revels and song".

Virginia's eyes sought out a face in the crowd and when she found the kidden she stretched out her paw,

 "Come, Taureen, lead us now to the Gate and let us all make Welcome your beloved Katie".

Taureen's eyes lit up, "Katie? I will see Katie again?".

And together they rose and with Taureen at their front, the Company made their way towards the Gate.

The Welcoming Song rang out in the willow branchs, filled with joy and love. The bittersweet refrain of the loss

to her humans played quietly as a counterpoint. Taureen closed her eyes and purred her love to them as she walked.

They came at last to the Gate as the Welcoming Song reached its peak and just as they settled into their circle,

the blue light flashed upon the Gate. In it's wake sat Katie. Her fur was sleek and shiny, her eyes bright. She took a step

and looked down at her paw paws in disbelief. There was no stiffness now, she did not hurt.

 She looked up and saw her beloved Taureen running towards her and her heart leapt. They nuzzled noses and licked faces.

"Oh Katie!" Taureen cried, "I have waited so long for you!".

Katie smiled and headbutted her old friend, "I am here and now we will be together always".

As Taureen took her by the paw to lead her to her new home, she paused and pursed his whiskers.

 She concentrated her thoughts and lifted her head to the wind and quietly in the night, her message drifted its way to the earth,

"I am home Mom and Dad. I am whole...and I am waiting".

In Loving Memory of MISSY who will be greatly missed