SydneyFerret was asleep in her hammy when she awoke with a start. Looking around she didn't see anything amiss, no other ferrets were stirring about. She immediately felt pain in her little heart and the image of her hooman came to mind. Leaping out of her hammy and running over to her sister ferret Mia's hammy, Sydney discovered Mia was awake and was softly crying. Holding out her little furry arms to her sister ferret, Sydney climbed up into the hammy and fell into Mia's embrace. "Mia, it be DA mamma heart, it be bweaking again" SydneyFerret told her. "I knos Syd, I feels it too" MiaFerret told her sister. BabyGirl felt strange, she didn't feel like herself at all and she felt as if she was falling and tumbling into nothingness. At first it was a frightening experience, not knowing what was happening or where she was going. She had been spending a typical day with the other ferrets; running, playing, wrestling, and having fun. Suddenly she felt a pain in her neck and then everything faded away from her view. Searching for some sort of sure footing but finding none, she continued to tumble and fall. After what seemed to be a very long time BabyGirl began to feel a new warmth of love and guidance as a beautiful song of love was being sung just for her. The sad sweet melody swirled all around her and she felt the words of love cradling her. A soft calming voice spoke to her telling her "it is time for you to come home now BabyGirl, we are waiting for you." The melody now filled her heart to overflowing and she no longer feared letting go. Thoughts were centered on those she cared for and would miss; most of all her mom. In her heart she whispered a message to her: "I loves you mommy but I has to go now, I pwomise to waits for you." BabyGirl ferret now felt herself riding on some sort of strange beast flying through the dark night sky. Surprisingly she was not afraid, she was not sure where she was going but somehow she was not afraid. The softest wings of delicate colors were gently enveloping her body and she could smell the scent of jasmine, honeysuckle, and magnolias all around her. The little ferret felt loved, protected, and safe by the creature she was riding on. Speaking with her mind to her tiny passenger, Molly reassured BabyGirl there was nothing to fear. When BabyGirl spoke back to the creature transporting her, she asked who and what she was and where they were going. MoonBeam Molly then explained to the little sable ferret she was a magical unicorn and they were on their way to the Rainbow Bridge. "I hears bout DA Wainbow Bwidge" BabyGirl told Molly, "but whys we be goin dere?" she wanted to know. With tears streaming down the unicorn's beautiful face, Molly explained to the little ferret, "that will be your home now." The lights over the Bridge began to dance and swirl; colors more beautiful than ever seen on earth now painted the sky. The colors blended and then changed again; shades of pink gave way to peach and yellows then changed to a soft green that blended into a delicate blue that gave itself over to shades of lavender. A fine soft fairy dusting began to swirl all around Muldoone, Nan na, and the others. Muldoone, Nanna, Bailey, Freckles, Dude, Libby, Sydney and Mia all joined paws forming a circle of love; Sydney and Mia having been invited to be present for the arrival of BabyGirl ferret. The group of ferrets closed their eyes and concentrated on the ferret making her way to the Bridge. In the hearts of the group, they were sending their love for the little ferret known as BabyGirl, helping to light the way but also they were sending prayers of love for the human ferret mom who had loved the little sable ferret, a life cut short leaving behind a broken-hearted ferret mom. In the center of the circle stood SodaFerret, tall and handsome as he began to sing the song of love to the ferret making her way to the Bridge. His voice was deep and rich, every note sang perfectly, every word wrapped in love for the ferret who was coming. The Ferret Promise Song now filled the air with its bittersweet refrain. The melody of love told the story of hope and promise and also of sorrow and loss all tied together in the cycle of life. The song explained pain fading away, of limbs being made strong again, and eyes once more bright, it told of the sorrow of passing and the joy waiting in the Promise. As Soda sang the sad sweet song, he also sang a song of love for the human whose heart had been broke by the passing of BabyGirl. Soda offered his love to the human who was hurting; tears falling like rain inside the broken he art. Arriving at the Rainbow Bridge and after doing a perfect four-hoof landing, MoonBeam Molly lowered herself to the ground so her tiny passenger could climb down. Looking off in the distance BabyGirl could see a group of ferrets standing at the other end of the Bridge. The wooden timbers of the Bridge were worn smooth from time and also from the many ferrets that had made the crossing, having left behind a world as they knew it and coming to the Rainbow Bridge to wait to be reunited with their humans. Cautiously making her way across, BabyGirl noticed some of the wooden timbers darkened with what she was sure to be tear stains and her own eyes filled up and spilled over as she began to realize what had happened to her. Just as BabyGirl stepped off the end of the Rainbow Bridge, Muldoone offered his nose to the newcomers in a friendly greeting. "I be Misser Muldoone, officialist Wainbow Bwidge Gweeter and wees all be here to welcomes you. "Hello BabyGirl" Nanna told the little sable ferret, "my name is Nanna and I have come to welcome you to the Rainbow Bridge" and gesturing to the small group of ferrets, Nanna introduced each one to her. "There is nothing to be afraid of" Nanna told the new arrival, "your journey is at an end, you are home." BabyGirl's eyes lit up when she saw the faces of Sydney and Mia and they were immediately hugging and kissing, obviously overjoyed to be together again. "How da mamma be doin?" Sydney asked. "Tells us" MiaFerret pleaded, "tells us all about how our mamma be doin." Noticing the new comer carried a little backpack Muldoone couldn't help but wonder if she had brought any goodies from home. Nanna noticed Mully with his eyes fixed on BabyGirl's backpack and she sent him her best glare-stare; in other words, PAWS OFF. The three ferrets were laughing, giggling, exchanging kisses and tickles when Nanna, Muldoone, and the others begin to feel the reunion party deserved some privacy. "Mz Nanna" began MiaFerret, it bees ok to wets Syd and me shows BabyGirl wound here at da Bwidge?" "Oh pwease" SydneyFerret echoed, "we has wots of catches up to do. We wants to hear bout da mamma and how she be doin." "I think that would be okay" Nanna told the little ferret trio. "Mia can you take BabyGirl to get a new hammy and help her get settled?" "I bwings my hammy from home" BabyGirl exclaimed pulling out a lovely piece of bedding from her backpack. "And wook at what elsies I bwings" BabyGirl told her friends. "Da mamma sends my bear, tweats, and a pair of da mamma's feet sie covers." Handing each ferret a sock, both Sydney and Mia held it to their noses drinking in the scent from home. At the mention of treats, Nanna shot Muldoone another glare-stare reminding him PAWS OFF. The three little ferrets spent the rest of the day together getting caught up on news from back home. BabyGirl brought with her not only hugs, kisses, but also a message from da mamma, "you will never be forgotten and I will see yo u again someday." ~~Muldoone~~ Caring for your ferrets at the Rainbow Bridge. http://mrmuldoone.bravehost.com/index.html [Posted in FML issue 5245]