Mama had been very attuned to wildlife. Most of them "met with untimely ends" on the highways where she had lived, and many were buried in the little cemetery Mama had. When possible she simply moved them off the roads, and into more suitable resting spots, accepting that the dead became food for the living. She didn't like that part, but she understood.
And though so many of the rescued at the facility where Magnolia had been were comfy and warm, with full tummies, yet another had come whose future looked bleak. Misty thought to herself "I must go find An ...."
"I'm here, sweetheart," the Angel replied.
"How DO you do that! Mouse and Peanut told me you just appear when we think of you but I didn't realize just what they meant!"
Picking up the puzzled kitty he spoke soothingly to her. "It's the way things are. I see you're worried about the little fox. It is time for us to go and get her."
"You mean they are going to stop her heart like Magnolia?"
"No, Dear One, she is slipping away on her own. Her injuries were too severe for the medical team to fix."
With that, Andrew and Misty vanished. The people huddled around Mistletoe were too busy to notice that anything was different in the room, and as quietly as they came, Andrew gathered Mistletoe in his arms, and with a little cat beside him, faded from sight.
"When will she wake up?" Misty asked.
Andrew was sitting on the big rock, with the Grey fox curled up on his lap. "Soon."
And even as they waited, several more foxes joined them. Each watched silently, ready to help when the time was right. Soon, she stirred, and looked up at Andrew. Though she should have been afraid, for some reason she wasn't.
"Hello Little One!"
Mistletoe's eyes grew wide as she looked around her. There were other foxes nearby, who seemed glad to see her as well. "Where am I?"
"Your time on earth was cut short by an accident. Some very good people tried to help you, but your injuries were too severe. SO, now you are here with us, for all eternity!"
One of the other foxes piped up "It's the promise made by our Creator! He knows about all of us, every one! and if one of us falls, He knows, and then we come here, and we're safe all day, and there's lots to eat, andmeadowstoplayin ...."
And the more excited he got the more his words ran together, and the others joined in, creating quite a din. Andrew laughed at them, this was always the part of things he liked best.
Mistletoe looked first at Andrew, then the foxes, then the little cat, and back at Andrew who reached into his pocket and pulled out fox sized treats and shared them with the others as well.
"So we take you to the Bridge, and then you jump off, and then ..." Misty hadn't worked enough on her presentation, and again got all jumbled up.
"She's right. While the people you left behind are sad, this is a joyous day for you, come, let us go meet the others." With that, the odd assortment of foxes, cat and angel disappeared ...
.... and came to rest on a beautiful bridge made of every color. He lowered Mistletoe to the Bridge. Misty and the other foxes jumped off and joined the waiting group of animals. What a sight THAT was! More foxes, deer, beaver, woodchucks ... and others Misty couldn't identify.
"Ya gotta jump off!"
This, from a little fox standing by a lovely doe. The doe smiled at him, lowered her muzzle to lick the top of his head. She then looked up at Mistletoe and said "Yes, dear, you must accept the promise made for you at the beginning of time. Come down from there, and join us. We all are family here, there are others of your kind waiting to meet you."
Mistletoe looked up at Andrew. She thought to herself what a strange turn of events. First it was the noisy machine that hit her on the road. Then darkness, and pain. She remembered how tired she was. But now, all of that was gone, she felt warm and alive, pain free and happy. She knew she had much to learn, but this gentle person had made her feel safe. Looking back at the assembled animals (there were so MANY!), she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and jumped!
Mouse had joined Misty, along with Peanut the dachshund. "Where did you guys disappear to?"
"I was watching Mama. She was using the writie box, and water came out of her eyes. So I asked Andrew, but he already knew, and then we were there, and he picked up Mistletoe and we went to the rock, and then came here and ...
Mouse giggled. Yup, Misty was getting the hang of things here. The two felines slipped away from the group and went to the meadow's edge.
"We've got her, Mama, tell them she's safe with us, and is with the other foxes. Um, and Mama? We love you, and miss you ...."
As the woman typed, tears slid down her cheeks ....
©Rose Scott
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