**Special note from SodaFerret** The story about this little guy touched me so deeply, I came out of retirement to greet him and let you all know he made it safely to the Rainbow Bridge, Thank you, SodaFerret Early one morning SodaFerret was taking a quiet stroll along the shores of the Rainbow Bridge. How beautiful he thought to himself as the reflection of the sunrise danced and glimmered on the water. Everything had been relatively quiet as of late at the Rainbow Bridge, not many recent arrivals which made him happy; it was always such a sad time when a little fuzzy left their families behind and came to the Rainbow Bridge. The sweet scent of jasmine was thick in the air as Soda walked along. Times like this when he was alone with his thoughts he couldn't help but look up at the beautiful clear blue sky and wonder when he would see his family again; the family he was blessed to have the remaining few days of his life; the family he longed to see, the loving hands once again stroking his coat, holding him close whispering secrets to him, giving him the softest bedding in which to sleep, and the unconditional love he was gifted with by the mom who held him in her arms as he left one life for the next. As Soda continued his early morning walk along the shore, a faint whisper drifted on the breeze to him; "Another is coming today" and Soda's heart felt so sad; another ferret had lost the brave fight they had fought, another heart ached, a torrent of tears falling inside it, another loss but that broken heart would hold fast to the Promise given by the Creator; the human and ferret would be reunited. The kind person and the little ferret had been blessed with a brief period of time together but it was long enough for a strong bond to be formed. The scent of this precious we-one was left on the heart of the kind human and the little ferret had taken the memory of the soft loving hands; the one who had loved him for an hour; he took that memory and tucked it away in his heart. SodaFerret made his solemn journey to the Bridge and upon arrival he found SunnyFerret and some of the other Bridge Helpers already there. The breeze began to shift and the sky took on new colors that seemed to be carried on the wind. The colors danced and the little group watched them change from one shade to another. As the breeze danced and the colors swirled, tiny flecks of color from the rainbow began to sprinkle down on the little group of ferrets who were there to welcome the wee-one that was due to arrive. The group of ferrets joined paws as they closed their eyes and began to send all their love and strength to the one who was making his way through the stars. The little Bridge group was also sending their love and prayers to the kind human who had gifted this wee-one with the last and final hour of love he would experience. The wee-one who was making his way through the stars had been rescued in the final hours of his life. In better times he had been a handsome albino with a nice fully coat but due to neglect he was completely emaciated, too weak to raise his head to look at his new surroundings as the surrender was made. But what about Henry and BabySister? It had been Mr. Ferret's job to look after his younger cage mates. If he was not there to look after them who would make sure they were ok? Mr. Ferret was in such a condition he couldn't care for himself much less another ferret; a prayer sent floating into the air that somehow Henry and BabySister would be cared for. Mr. Ferret felt so warm and snug in the soft baby blanket the nice human cradled him in. The human spoke gently to him, reassuring him over and over that he was loved and what a wonderful ferret he was. Going on another car ride Mr. Ferret became worried, where are they taking me? Maybe they don't like me after all, 'specially after they saw how skinny I am and the bugs I have crawling on me. Crying out in his heart, the wee-one apologized to the nice human he was sorry for how he looked and so sorry he had ugly biting bugs crawling all over him. Mr. Ferret remembered feeling a sharp pain and then the earth began to spin away from underneath him. At first he was frightened, not knowing what was happening or where he was going. He then began to feel something new; a warmth of love and guidance as the Ferret Promise Song was being sung for him. The sad sweet melody swirled all around him and he felt he was being cradled in the warmth of love and protection; that same feeling of love he had felt when he was being held by the nice lady. Mr. Ferret then began to hear a beautiful soft voice whispering to him, "come home child, we are waiting for you." The deep clear voice filled the air with the bittersweet refrain of the Ferret Promise Song. 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 and seeing, it told of the sorrow of passing and the joy waiting in the Promise. Arriving at the Rainbow Bridge, MoonBeam Molly lowered herself to the ground and then patiently waited for her tiny passenger to gather his strength and climb down from the basket from which he had streaked across the night sky; a bright light hurling its way to the heavens, a wee little ferrety angel making his way to the Rainbow Bridge. The little ferret climbed down from the basket and looked all around with big round eyes drinking in all the sights. What bees dis pwace, who all dese fewest bees he wondered to himself. Almost immediately the little ferret's eyes filled with tears when he remembered he had been forced to leave behind his two cage mates; Henry and BabySister. SunnyFerret immediately went over to the new arrival and placed a protective arm around him. "What is it Mr. Ferret, why are you so sad?" she asked. "I bees misting Henwy and BabySistur" he explained. "And wheres be dat nice wady who holds me and makes me feels safe, I wikes her and would wikes to go back dere now plwase." "I am very sorry but you can't do that" SunnyFerret explained to the new arrival. "But you did a very special thing, you hung on until you were sure the three of you were out of that terrible place and only when you were assured they were safe, only then did you let go and allow your spirit to escape your sickly body. That was a very brave thing you did" SunnyFerret told him. "Pwease" the little ferret asked Mz SunnyFerret "pwease wets me goes back to dat nice wady. She habs da softiest bwankets, and she not minds da way I wooks, she say she woves me anyhows, I would wikes to go back dere now pwease" and as if he was too weak to go on, the little albino ferret collapsed in a heap on the ground. Taking the little ferret's face in her two paws, SunnyFerret looked to the heavens and nodded. Almost instantly a delicate dusting of fairy dust began to sprinkle over the new arrival. Placing a delicate kiss on each cheek of the little ferret, the little ferret seemed a bit surprised. "You not minds da way I wooks eider?" he asked Mz SunnyFerret. "Minding the way you look" SunnyFerret sang out to him, "just look at yourself. Helping the little albino ferret to his feet, he was able to see himself in one of the tiny mirrors dotted all over the place on trees at the Rainbow Bridge. He was healthy again, he was back to his chubby self and his coat was so white it seemed to glisten in the sunlight. "Wook at me!" he cried out to everyone, "wooks at me. Who dooes dis to me?" Mr. Ferret wanted to know, "dids you dooes dis to me" he asked SunnyFerret. With tears in her eyes SunnyFerret took Mr. Ferret in her arms. "Remember the nice lady that helped you and then told you Henry and BabySister were safe?" she asked him. "It was her love for you that brought you here and for making Henry and BabySister safe. She did all that because she loved you so much" SunnyFerret explained. Approaching SunnyFerret and Mr. Ferret was SodaFerret, standing so tall and handsome, with the most gentle look on his face. "Mr. Ferret, my name be SodaFewet, and I gots sick. My odder hoomans not wants me anymore and dey frew me away but den I gots a new mom and she woved me." Lowering his head in hopes the others wouldn't see the tears in his eyes Soda went on to explain. "Da new mom she woved me and takes care of me till I comes here. You will gets to sees yur new mom 'gain, I pwomise. Come on, I will teaches you how to wooks in on yur mom in da wefwecting pool we has her [Posted in FML 5933]