Hi, All. I met a little guy coming across the worn wooden planks of the Bridge. His name was Critter, and he was very happy to make his crossing. A little sad to leave his Mommy behind, he was worried about her because his crossing had her so upset. He wants her to know that he was so very, very ready to cross! His body was just worn out. It was time to go. His Business of Rascal, Moose, and Buster stood with me to Greet him. There was lots of pouncing and war-dancing! Actually, they accidently war-danced into me and knocked me over but hey, it's not like that never happened before. I just rolled back up onto my feet and bounced right on into them, I like a good war-dance! Well, something happened right about then. I could feel a vibration in the wooden planks of the Bridge. Someone was coming across, someone unscheduled. I could feel the vibration of feet, but too *many* feet all at once. What was happening? First one, then a second ferret came across. After a space of about thirty seconds, a third, much older ferret came across. All three huddled together protectively. They looked dazed, and frightened. Critter, Rascal, Moose, and Buster considerately moved back and stopped their wrestling immediately. I knew that something terrible, just terrible had happened. I walked up to the three carefully and let the breeze blow my scent before me. Once the three had it, I walked a little closer and said "Hi, my name is Sandee. Do you know where you are?" The eldest, maybe six years old walked a few steps toward me, lowered his head, and said quietly "Did my friends and I just cross the Rainbow Bridge?" I said that yes, they had just done that. He winced, dropped his head, and said "My friends were so young..." I did not know what to say. None of us did, so the eight of us just stood there in silence for a few moments. The two younger ferrets pressed their sides together tightly, and looked scared. Finally I said "Please tell me what happened." And he did. It was a sad story of Hoomins in conflict with themselves, and in conflict with one another. The three had lived with their Mommy and Daddy for a long time, until those two were forced to give the three up. Do the reasons why ever matter? Not really. Once given up, the three were given into the custody of Hoomins who solved animal problems by sending their littlest Brothers and Sisters in Fur on a journey across the Rainbow Bridge. Is it ever the answer? It is always one answer. There are many answers. Sometimes it depends on which questions you ask, doesn't it? And here the three were. Unprepared for what happened to them. Unscheduled for the journey, so ungreeted by family and friends. But not unmourned. I heard a special little voice in my ear, one I almost never heard. It was the Big Boss. That voice is so small, so faint, you always have to listen very carefully to make sure that you aren't just attributing your own wishes to it...but this sounded like the real thing. The Big Boss told me that Hoomins had tried to save the three, and failed. Let the three know. Someone cared. I told them. I told everybody. Everybody was pretty overwhelmed by what had just happened, the story that had just been told. We pretty much just stood there, sorting out our thoughts. Then Critter cleared his throat with a dry little cough. "Ahem! We would be proud to stand in for their Business and Brothers and Sisters in Fur until you can round them up for a proper Greeting." He looked around at Rascal, Moose, and Buster, who all shook their heads in the affirmative. He padded up to the old ferret and said "Hi! MY name is Critter, and these are my friends!" And the old ferret smiled, just a little smile, but it was a beginning, and the healing has to start somewhere. Sandee More Greetings Tomorrow [Posted in FML issue 4582]