Early morning at the Rainbow Bridge and Muldoone was already up and about, he was on his way to greet three more ferrets who would be arriving at the Bridge. Mully as well as the other ferrets always felt the tugs of pain in their hearts when a fuzzy came to the Bridge; on one paw their struggle was over; old broken bodies traded in for younger healthy ones, years of abuse and neglect undone in a moment, but it also meant their time on earth was over, their march on the Creator's soil had come to an end and here they would wait. Arriving at the Bridge Muldoone found Nanna, SodaFerret, and the rest of the welcoming crew. "Mornin Nanna" Mully told his boss. "Good morning Muldoone, we have three ferrets to greet this morning" Nanna told him. Looking down at the ground so hopefully Nanna or the others wouldn't see the tears welling up in his eyes, Mully replies with a yes, he knew about the ones due to arrive that morning. 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, Nanna, and the others. Muldoone, Nanna, Bailey, Freckles, Dude, and Libby all joined paws forming a perfect circle of love. The groups of ferrets closed their eyes and concentrated on those making their way to the Bridge. In the hearts of the group, they were sending their love for those being brought by MoonBeam Molly, the magical unicorn who brought ferrets to the Rainbow Bridge after they had passed. The group of ferrets were not only helping to light the way for those coming but also they were sending prayers of love for the humans who had loved the fuzzies; precious little lives cut short, leaving behind broken-hearted ferret moms and dads. In the center of the circle stood a tall and handsome sable ferret named Soda. With both an expression of pain and incredible love on his face, he closed his eyes and began to sing. SodaFerret sang a song of love to the ferrets making their way to the Bridge. His voice was deep and rich, every note sang perfectly, every word wrapped in love for those who were 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 toget her 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 had tears rolling down his furry cheeks. The song he sang was also a song of love for the humans whose hearts had been broke by the passing of those that were making their way to the Bridge. Arriving at the Rainbow Bridge, MoonBeam Molly lowered herself to the ground so her tiny passengers could climb down. The ferret group disembarked cautiously, not exactly sure where they were. Off in the distance the new arrivals 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. Stella, Gabriel, and Little Man all joined paws and began to make their way across the Bridge to the group at the other side waiting to greet them. Just as the three ferrets 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 be here to welcomes you. "Hello Stella, Gabriel, and Little Man" Nanna told the three new arrivals, " 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 the three new arrivals. "There is nothing to be afraid of" Nanna told the new arrivals, "you each have touched the horizon with your heart, your journey is now at an end, and you are home." Just then Clancy came running up, he was huffing and puffing out of breath. "Is I too wate, is dey here?" Muldoone rolled his eyes and growled at the little ferret, "yes Quancey dey bees here. Why you bees here?" Mully demanded to know. Ignoring Muldoone, Clancy turned to Nanna, "Mz Nanna, can I shows da new fewets awound here at da Bwidge? I takes dem to gets a new hammy, and I takes dem to da bweakfast bar, and den I takes dem to..." Laughing Nanna told the little ferret "Clancy slow down, yes you may help with showing them around and getting them settled but give them a few minutes to adjust, they just got here." Gabriel and Little Man seemed to be doing okay but Stella stood off from the other two ferrets a bit and she looked very sad. SodaFerret with his huge heart went to the little ferret and took one of her tiny paws into his enormous ones. "Stella, pwease not bees sad. I bees sad too when I comes here but den I not bees sick and I not hurts affer I gots here. I cwinb da wings on da wainbow and I peeks in on my familee and I sees my mom and my dad and all da odder fewets. I misses dem but I sneaks back and give my mom whiskery kisses when she sweeps, she tinks she be dweaming but she not, I bees dere in da dark. Stella, I will shows you how to dooes dat and you sees yur familee again, I pwomise." With tears in the little ferret's eyes she looked up at SodaFerret so adoringly and with all her heart she thanked him and felt a little better. "Any fewets be hungwry?" Muldoone called out. "It be time for bweakfast, follows me to da fwuit bar and den I shows you where da 'Tone stweams be." Gabriel and Little Man both in unison said "dere be 'Tone stweams here?" "Yup, come on guys, I shows you da way" and down the path the new arrivals went. Nanna stood watching Muldoone and shaking her head, he could be one exasperating ferret but he always came through. ~~Muldoone~~ Caring for your ferrets at the Rainbow Bridge. http://mrmuldoone.bravehost.com/index.html [Posted in FML issue 5254]