PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

      The little cat stretched lazily, “Oooo Mommy, not sure what my doctor just gave me but I feel sooo much better! I actually feel young and healthy.” Just then he heard a familiar chuckle and his eyes flew wide open in surprise. As he looked around he saw so many he hadn't seen for a long time. His sister, Star, chuckled again, “Are you awake now?”

   Skittles looked around in amazement. He saw Dracula keeping the rest all together, his little sisters Button and Star, his Momma Wink, and so many others. Some had left so long ago. He hadn't seen Button since they were both still juveniles, Wink and Star had both been gone for several years, and all of the ferals from the backyard pride had been gone for a while. “How are you all back? Why did Mommy let me outside, after all this time? She hasn't let me outside for YEARS except just recently, and that was on a leash.”

    Soot eased up next to him and curled up to him like they had for years, Skittles was his buddy and protector. Skittles felt the familiar companionship of his friend's closeness and looked around at so many other friends he had thought had been lost to him forever.

     At length Dracula spoke. “I wish the Silver One were still here, he did this so much better than me – but he was so happy to see his Papa, Papa Lobo, to know he as going to be united with his Momma and little sister Shi Shi.” He looked around at Momma's babies and some newer friends who had gathered around. Then he looked back at Skittles. “What is the last thing you recall before you woke up here?”

      Skittles looked around. Here? As he looked he began to wonder, where was here? It was not, as he had assumed, the backyard or even his beloved woods beyond. He had always felt the woods beyond that touched the edge of the backyard was the most wonderful place, a place he loved to play in and explore. This place was more beautiful than any place he had ever imagined, and the sky was a huge glorious rainbow – the loveliest he had ever seen. But where were Momma and Daddy? He looked back at Dracula, “I was at the doctor's, I felt so tired - too tired to eat or even purr. And Momma and Daddy were both there – Daddy doesn't usually go with us. Then my doctor came in and talked so nice to me and gave me something that made me sleepy. And when I woke up I felt so much better.” Now he began to wonder. Dracula had mentioned The Silver One? He had heard Momma talk about a pup named Pooky that she called 'The Silver One', and a man called Papa Lobo, but he thought Momma had said both were gone now.

     Skittles looked around again – and slowly began to tally, Each one here had caused Momma's eyes to leak, and had broken Momma's and Daddy's heart, So many of the Backyard Pride had simply disappeared, and Momma had said that was how it sometimes was with ferals. Those in what Momma called the Furball Gang and some of the ferals had held Momma's and Daddy's tears in their fur like diamonds. But they all looked so healthy now.

Punky pushed forward and wrapped around Skittles, then smiled at him - “Look, I have teeth again, And they don't hurt me!” Skittles smiled at the small torti cat, “So, maybe you won't drool all over me now?”

     Skittles began to realize where here was, “But what of Momma and Daddy? How will Daddy keep things the same as they should be without my help? Who will give Momma warm fuzzies when she needs them? How can I leave them to wonder where I am?”

     Littlebit looked up into Skittles' eyes, her golden eyes glowing with health and love, “They know. And for a time they will feel they cannot bear the pain, but you can send them your love to help them heal. We all worried the same when we got here but with time they realized we could not have stayed with them but also that we really never left.” Skittles wondered how they could leave Momma and Daddy but still be with them.

    Skittles began to notice more and more of Momma's and Daddy's babies joining them, even those he never met he somehow felt he knew. He recognized every one of them. Some whose names Momma and Daddy could not know until they joined them here, many with names Momma and Daddy had called them. He understood all they were saying, but he still worried, how would they cope? How would they deal with this change? And how could he help if he was not there?

      A large white and orange cat strode to where Skittles stood then turned and looked sternly at the gathered crowd. “Are you all gonna keep this one waiting? You know how you felt when you first arrived, how confused you were.” Goldie turned to Skittles, “This place is special, even within Rainbow Bridge. It is a place where things that cannot happen elsewhere can and do happen. Momma and Daddy may not be able to see you, but they can feel you in their hearts and hear you in their minds. You can send them your love and they will know, and you can send them signs and they will know you are okay and that will help them heal. They knew you were weary and making you stay would only mean pain and suffering for you. So they chose to take away your pain even though it meant they would hurt because they love you. They have for each of us fought for us so long as there was hope, then when there was no hope they set us free with their love.”

      As if by some plan Skittles heard a familiar voice, then another and their crying. He ran toward the sound of his Momma and Daddy only to find himself at the edge of a beautiful pond. When he looked into the waters he saw, not himself but his Momma and Daddy, “We did what was right for him.”

    The rest of Momma's and Daddy's babies joined him at the edge of the reflecting pond. Goldie spoke, “From here you can always see them whenever you wish, And we will show you how to send them signs and your love.”

      Skittles reached out and touched the waters. Momma looked up in surprise, “He is whole again, no more pain.” She looked around, half hoping to see him just out of her view, “We will always love you Little Man. For now, be happy and free.”

© Candace /  Silver Dawn