The handsome young cat, red-gold against the green grass, leans against the Wolf. They both are watching The Kitten Pack as the small kits try to stalk a large tabby with a long tail.
Zappo lies, facing the Wolf and Rusty, with a huge grin on his face. That long tail of his moves. And moves a little more.
He looks into the eyes of the great Wolf.
"Now!" The kittens leap to the tip of Zappo's tail, but Zappo spins around, huge against the blue sky, roaring. Several small kittens flop backwards, screaming with delight and tumbling through the grass, tiny fat legs churning, trying to get away from their beloved Uncle Zappo.
"They've been planning that for the past two hours," whispers Rusty, and the Wolf laughs with his friend.
"It kept them busy and out of other mischief," replies the Wolf, gazing at Zappo and his tribe of small warriors that dance behind and next to the large tabby. Their small voices pipe across the Meadow, and Zappo's rumble of delight as he walks with them comes back to the two friends.
A pause.
"I miss them."
"Of course you do, Rusty."
"I will see all of them again."
"But not too soon, dear one. We will wait for them, and they will wait to see you."
The red-gold head nods, and Rusty dozes in the Meadow next to his dearest friend, the dome of heaven arching over all of them.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Soon," he whispers, and Rusty smiles with delight, his whiskers sweeping forward with anticipation.
Mrs. B, curled next to Kilroy and Max, looks over at Rusty. "Redmond is coming over now with Zappo," she calls to Rusty, "and I see Bomber, and Mavvy, and Lucky and Lady and Wilbur -- oh, and there's Jasper the Ferret and Jasper the Cat, Max, Kizzy, and Kinker, and Cheeper and Snowman, and Sam, and The Basils, The Kitten Pack, The Siamese Patrol..."
Milo, Winston and Big Buc trot to join the group, and Shaddo and Jiggs process behind them in their wonderful dignity.
Odie and Peaches and Hillies, Junior and Shea, Buck and Beau -- a swift assembly of dogs appears, Odie barking softly with excitement.
"They are all coming to welcome that sweet boy," finishes the Wolf.
His smile is radiant. Whiskers is loved already in the Meadow, in the place he has never been, and where he will wait when he comes here for his mama whom he loves in life...his brothers and sisters...so many to meet...
Warm, safe, young, healthy -- and loved forever.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Squasha and Winnie sit next to Mama Cat and sweet Emma Blue, who watches her kittens playing in the catmint beds.
"Can't find me!"
"Can, too!"
"Mommy, he pushed me!"
"Butterfly!"
And the giggles rise from the greenery like soap bubbles.
"This is so nice," and Emma rests her head on her small and lovely paws, reveling in the warm sun on her back.
Mama Cat nods, smiling at the babies tumbling over each other in one small fragrant pocket of land in the Meadow, near the hedge rows.
"When will he be coming?" asks Squasha. All day the chatter has been about Whiskers, and Rusty and Zappo are wild with excitement.
"Soon," and the trio of pretty cats look at each other, laughing to hear each say the same word.
Soon.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The beautiful cat lies between the Wolf's paws, nose to nose with Rusty.
"I missed you so much!"
"I missed you! And you're here now!"
Whiskers worries. "Will they be okay?" His head turns to look at the Wolf, smiling down at the two friends.
"They mourn for you two little rascals," he replies. "Your mama misses both of you and so do your brothers and sisters. Their friends are gathering around them now and comforting them. Yes, Rusty, they will always love you. Yes, Whiskers, they will smile again. And you will all see each other again."
Rusty looks up into the Wolf's calm gaze. "Are you sure?" he whispers.
The great creature hugs the two lovely cats gently.
"Yes," answers the Wolf of Gubbio, "for love never dies."
