Friday, February 5, 2021

Fallen Heroes...

 She closed her eyes and thought of Andrew, and opened them to find herself on his lap. He petted her in just the right spots, letting her take her time to tell him what was on her mind. 

"I was looking over Mama's shoulder with the writie box.  There was a dog, covered by the American Flag.  What's that all about?"

"Ah" replied the angel. "Yes. It's quite a big thing, really. Come with me, you may watch, but not participate this time."  Andrew rose, cradling Misty, and disappeared.

When Misty opened her eyes, she found they were in a different meadow, much like hers, with Crystal Creek on one side of it ... but there were so many dogs!  Most of them Shepherds, like Storm, but there were others as well.  Malinois, Belgians, and other breeds she didn't know. All of them were at least as big as Storm, but some even bigger.

They were all lined up, in two rows.  At one end of the rows was a similar tuffet of clover, much bigger than that of Misty's meadow, and at the other end of the column of dogs, an angel mightier than the one holding Misty.  

Whispering, "Who's THAT?" she asked. 

"He is the Archangel Michael.  These dogs had special responsibilities on earth. They served in the Military, the Police, and in Search and Rescue groups.  They were specially trained, the elite of their fellow canines."

"Wow!"  Misty's normally round eyes grew even rounder.  A hush fell over all, and all eyes turned toward the tuffet of clover, and the magnificent dog asleep on it.  The dog closest to him nosed him gently.

"It is time, Brother Nico. Awake, rise, and be welcomed."

The sleeping dog stirred a bit, opened his eyes, and upon seeing another like himself, scrambled to his feet.  He looked around, seeing the two rows of dogs, and the mighty angel at the other end. 

"I don't understand ..." Nico looked puzzled.

"You will soon, Brother.  But first refresh yourself with a drink of water."

Having done as he was told, Nico turned to face the others. "Come, we have been waiting for you."

Escorted by the first dog, Nico trotted the length of dogs lined up, who all lowered their heads as he passed them.  As the two arrived at the Archangel's feet, all fell silent.

"Welcome Nico. You have served man well, both on the fields of battle and off.  On this day we honor you as you have made your final journey.  You will cross the Rainbow Bridge, to wait with your brothers and sisters for the day you will be reunited with your handler and his family."  Michael extended his hand, to rub Nico's ears, just the right way ....

"But, my family? They were all so upset.  I knew it was time to leave them, but they were not ready. What will become of them with me not there to look after them?" he asked.

Michael spoke. "Your handler and his family will continue under your protection until their length of days on earth comes to an end. There will be others on earth who will listen when you speak. All is as it was decreed by your Creator, that one day you would again be united with them, and go through the great gates of Heaven. 

"Others who have come before you will teach you how to send your love and your thoughts to those you left behind."

As Nico took all this in, the archangel rose, with Nico and his escort one on each side, and walked back through the rows of dogs who were now sitting up, as if at "attention".   As the angel and the two dogs passed by, the rows of warriors faded from view, to the end that there was nothing left but that tuffet of clover.

Misty's eyes couldn't GET any rounder.  She blinked, and when she reopened them she saw that they were once again in HER meadow, seated on "counsel rock" as Max had dubbed it so long ago.  Andrew petted her, offered a small treat.  He knew it would be a bit before she digested all that she had seen.  She grew sleepy, and Andrew placed her back in the same spot she had been in when first she called for him. He faded from sight, but hovered just long enough to watch her awaken.

"OH!  I MUST go tell Mama!" She scampered as fast as any kitty could to the edge of the meadow she loved so well, and sent her thoughts earthbound. 

"Mama!  You can't imagine what I just saw!"

He smiled as he drifted away.  Sometimes he wished he could have been human, to have had the experiences man has had with these creatures.  But then he heard her ....

"But Andrew, that way you only would have had one or two of us.  This way you have us all!"

Once again he'd been put in his place by a little cat!


©Rose Scott,

February, 2021







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