In Loving Memory Of BRANDY

Eatbugs stood peering over the Rainbow's edge. The world below turned in its steady pace,

though time meant little here. He only vaguely understood the passage of the years any more.

He knew that some kiddens had long marches of days and some had only a precious few.

He sighed. He knew, too, that the pain in the hearts of the humans below didn't care about the length of time.

 But here the sun rose and the sun set and one day blurred peacefully into another.

"Good morrow, Eatbugs. Why so serious today?" Noki looked out over the earth and then back at his furiend.

"I don't know. I was just trying to figure out how long I've been here. I mean...well...my humans still love me.

Does that mean I haven't been here long?"

Noki shook his head. "Now you know better than that. Time and love aren't related.

 Love never fades. That's what the Great Promise is all about."

"I know that...but I mean...well, just today Mommy Consta thought about me. I felt the stroke

of her love on my fur. How long do they do that?"

"As long as they breathe, my furiend...as long as they breathe." Noki squeezed his eyes shut and sent

 his love back to the Earth...and purred as his human returned it. "See? The Creator gave us our march of days

in the sun, and when that march is over? Well she gave us memories to hold all the love we knew in

those days. We have those to hold onto until we meet again."

Eatbugs looked back down to the earth and purred with all his might.

He looked up sheepishly at Noki. "I just want to make sure they remember."

Noki laughed. "Don't worry about it, kid. They will."

The two furiends padded their way to the kibble bowls. They'd promised to give the peepers rides

 and wanted to bolster their energy. Eatbugs didn't mind Pouncequick wanting to play cowkidden

and Injuns, but he was still trying to convince him that "spurs" were NOT required. For a peeper he had

a mean set of dewclaws.

They made their way to the clearing, and chuckled as the peepers started bouncing in anticipation.

"I don't suppose I could convince you to take Pouncie?" Eatbugs did his best to look hopeful.

"Forget it. Little Dots slapping my butt and hollering 'Giddyup old doogie" is bad enough.

They'd loped (and winced) around the grassy field several times when Eatbugs stopped suddenly

 in his tracks. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. He could feel it down in his whiskers. He turned

 his head and saw Pouncequick's sorrowful face. He felt it too. Eatbugs tried to focus, to understand,

 when he felt Isolde's gentle touch in his mind. "Come, Little One, you are needed."

He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, the ache in his heart growing stronger.

 Breathlessly he reached the Circle of the Elders, and gasped. Isolde and Priscill lay in the center of the Circle.

Little Bit, Jenny, Wookie, Wort and Astoreth stood around them. His humans! Isolde motioned him to join her.

As he settled down he suddenly understood. He lowered his head for a moment.

He never met Mr. Tristram Sir, but Pounce had told him all about him. He felt a tiny paw

touch his, and looked up to see Pouncequick's solemn little face.

They all closed their eyes and turned their voices to the earth below.

Isolde sang her song of love to her sister, easing her fear and soothing her spirit. Priscilla sang her song

to her daughter, smoothing away all pain and wrapping her in love. Pouncequick lifted his little voice,

singing of the sunny days of the Rainbow Bridge and all the fun games and happy times.

Eatbugs smiled at the peeper, then lifted his voice into the song. He sang of the Great Promise, of love

that never dies. He sang of the gentle touch of his humans' hands and the warmth of the memories still

to be savored. He sang of the time to come when human and kidden would be together once more.

They twined their love around the kidden below, holding her close in their hearts, easing her way.

At last Eatbugs felt the thread spinning away from him. A tear trickled down his cheek as Isolde said,

"It is time" in a voice husky with love. Slowly they rose and made the now too familiar journey.

 As they walked, the Company of Kiddens fell into step with them. AJ and Noki walked with Vito and Gypsy.

Phillip and Ginger walked with Spice and Ebony. All the kiddens of the bound by the love of their humans

came to welcome a grand old woman home.

They came to the Gate as the Welcoming Song swelled in the air around them.

They formed a circle and lifted their paws of welcome into the Song.

At last the blue light flickered over the Gate, and in its wake sat an elder.

Brandy blinked for a minute, then closed her eyes and sighed. It was time.

 She tried to stay, but was just so tired. She remembered her mom holding her and telling her it was okay to sleep,

 then nothing but sweet release. She stood to take a step and stopped. She looked down at her stomach

and laughed. She had a waggy bag again. It had been so long, she felt a little funny as it swung from side

to side. Her legs were strong again, her eyes clear. The weariness of her last few days drifted away

from her, and the strength flooded back into her body. It was time. She was home.

Eatbugs stood gaping at Brandy laughed. "Close your mouth, Little One, you'll catch flies."

"But...but...but...she looks like me!"

Brandy laughed. "You have that backwards kid."

Isolde nuzzled her brother, then turned to Eatbugs. "Do you remember what Mommy Consta called you?"

Eatbugs nodded. "Baby Bubbies."

"Well, meet the one, the only, the original Bubbies."

"Hello Brandy" Eatbugs gave him a shy nosie noodle.

"Hello, kid."

One by one the Company came to make their greetings. They offered games of chasies,

and to show her the best sleepy spots and the freshest food spots.

 AJ offered to show her where the kibble bowls were and Brandy laughed. A kidden had to have his priorities.

When the last of the Company made their welcome, Isolde and Eatbugs led

 her to the Rainbow's edge. She looked down at the earth and ached for her mother below.

She knew how much she loved her, and how very much she wanted her to stay.

She had tried for as long as she could, but it just got to be too hard. She stood there for a moment,

gathering her thoughts and pursing her whiskers in concentration. She felt Isolde and Eatbugs' purrs supporting her

 as she turned her thoughts home. "Mom, I am here. I am whole. I have my waggy bag back! I tried,

I really did, but it was time. Thank you for all the years we had and thank you for letting me go. I am here. I am waiting."

She turned to cross into the Rainbow Fields, when she stopped in her tracks.

She padded back to the Rainbow's edge and pursed her whiskers again.

"Hey, Gwyds, can you hear me? Keep working on her, kid. One day she just might kiss those drooly lips."

And with that she turned and made she way home.

In Loving Memory of Brandy who will be greatly missed