In Loving Memory Of TASHA

There was light.

It wasn't sunlight or the light from the things that mom called "lamps".

Tasha tried to focus her eyes, but there was only light. She felt as if she was floating,

 carried on the wind weighing nothing at all. She thought for a moment

that she should be afraid. Her paw paws weren't touching anything

and she felt so very, very light--but she knew there was nothing to fear.

Then, in what felt like the blink of an eye, the pale irridescent light around her shimmered.

Colors appeared where none had been, deep rose, sunny yellow and finally a crystal clear blue.

It grew so bright that Tasha closed her eyes against it.

 When she opened them, she sat on a soft mat of green grass and stared in wonder.

There were kiddens--more kiddens than Tasha had ever seen in one place. There were

 toy poodles and maltese and sheepdogs, just about every breed she could think of

sat smiling gently at her. She blinked.

A handsome amber and cream colored shepherd stepped forward and offered his nose

 in greeting. Tasha sniffed it gingerly at first, then felt her muscles relaxing. Friend...he

 smelled like friend.

"Welcome, Tasha, to the Rainbow Bridge," said the kidden, "I am Eatbugs."

Tasha gasped. The Rainbow Bridge? "NO!" she cried.

 She struggled to remember, but there was nothing. She was crossing the road, then there was

 nothing but the light. She hung her head and whispered, "no."

"I am sorry, friend, but it is so. We come to welcome you." Eatbugs gestured to the kiddens

 gathering around him.

"But, but my mom?"

Eatbugs' pale blue eyes held such sorrow that Tasha felt something catch in her chest.

"My mom? Please, is my mom all right?"

"She misses you." Eatbugs stared at his paws for a moment. "Tasha, this will be so

very hard for her. She does not know."

"But..."

"She does not know you have made the journey. She misses you and waits."

Tasha turned her face toward the Earth and a tear trickled down her cheek.

"Can't she know? Can't I tell her?"

A stately girl kidden nuzzled her ear. "I am Virginia," she said, "one of the Counsel of Elders.

 We will help you, but it will take time. She does not know you are here, she does not

 know to listen."

"Mom," Tasha whispered.

"All things in their time," purred Virginia. "Come now, let us show you your new home."

The days past, one after the other. Tasha was amazed with her new life.

 Eatbugs had roped her into giving peeper rides and her long fur was a rousing success.

She's almost convinced Little Dots *not* to use it as reigns.

She  played chasies with Creamsickle and Beethoven. Every day brought new friends and new

 offers, to join in Moki's hockey game, to share a sunny spot with Gypsy and Ariel.

She sat under the shade of the willow and traded tall tails with Picnic and Rummie.

Every night, though, she'd go to the edge of the Rainbow, or dance through the stars

 with Eatbugs to look down on the Earth. Every night she'd send her love and her

 thoughts drifting toward the Earth. "I am here, Mom. I am home."

Each morning, she'd make her way slowly home. "All things in their time,"

Virginia would whisper to her.

It was easy to lose herself in the love of the Rainbow Bridge. Her days were full of companionship

 and laughter. Pouncequick regaled him with questions about his sister Tabbitha, and while

 it first gave Tasha a pang to think of it, she found quickly that the memories

 brought only joy. AJ and Noki played the best Hide and Swipe Tasha had ever encountered,

and Dusty-kidden wrestled better than Hacker even. Still, there was a tug at her heart.

The morning sun crept over the horizon painting the sky in brilliant hues.

The Rainbow Fields gleamed in all it's glory as the new day sprang to life. Eatbugs stood

 and yawned; Tasha couldn't help but join him. She arched her back and stretched long and hard,

finishing with a quick stompy feet in the velvet grass.

She turned to ask her furiend if he wanted to hit the kibble when he felt it.

There was a strange tingling in her nose. She looked up at Eatbugs and saw a sad

smile start to creep over his face. "All things in their time," Eatbugs said softly.

"Mom!"

"She knows." Eatbugs nuzzled his furiend. "Come, it is time."

Eatbugs lead tasha towards the Gate he'd landed in. As they walked the entire Company of

 Kiddens fell into step with them. Max walked with Gypsy. Jasmine and Putt Putt walked with Isolde and

 Persefino. Together they made their solemn journey.

Tasha cocked an ear; there was music, sad and sweet, drifting on the wind.

"Beautiful," she whispered.

"It is the Welcoming Song," said Eatbugs, "for you and for your Mom. It is her sorrow that sings

 and the Great Promise that answers. Come on, we sing the counterpoint, the love bond

that never ends." Eatbugs closed his eyes and lifted his voice into the Song.

Tasha stepped up to the edge of the Rainbow. She felt the love of the Company of Kiddens

behind her, around her. She closed her eyes and lifted her voice.

She sang of morning snuggles and sunny afternoons, of the tender scritches and quiet moments,

 but mostly she sang of the Promise and of waiting.

At last the music reached a crescendo and faded gently into silence. "She has accepted," said Virginia.

 "She understands."

Tasha nodded and smiled. She sat as the Company of Kiddens turned to make their way

 back to the Fields. "You coming?" asked Pouncequick.

"In a minute," she said. She felt a warmth spreading through her as the tugging in her

 heart faded. She looked out over the Earth and smiled, then she pursed her nose and

gathered her thoughts. She let the love for her humans swell within her and turned her

 message homeward. "I am here, Mom. I'm all right. I love you and I am waiting."

Then she turned and made her way home.

In Loving Memory of TASHA who will be greatly missed