Seeing Jazzy doing a celebrative romp, reminded her she had not danced unless she saw a rainbow. Her dear friends were signalling her from the bridge of rainbows that everyone had been reunited.

She was happy for them, however, it was not time to join them, there was still more to her journey. And it lightened her burden to know she would no longer stroll alone.  She smiled to know Sammy would be beside her.

Hearing of Sammy’s finicky appetite similar to Zoe’s, alerted Bea’s full awareness she needed to hunt for something special for Sammy, and fast. She brought him along on an escapade to the dumpsters where he could pick out his “be good to himself” treat. 

She needed to find a way to give him enough motivation to agree to go along with her. Whatever it was, it worked. Willow had cautioned her if she disliked the one solution she had, it was time to look for another one, and another until she found one that did work. 

Since all of the sled dogs were at the bridge of rainbows, Bea assumed the honorary role of a sled dog. What a strange sight that must have been, a bear pulling a sled and a raccoon kitty in tow. 

No one was afforded the opportunity to witness the spectacle because cautious Bea planned these trips just before the morning mist formed. Although bears, cats, and dog have adequate night vision, this at times became problematic.

She still set up piles of stones, so they would never lose their way. This was the system she learned ancient stone pilers had created. Since she had used their technique, she never went the wrong way again. She wanted to tell Sammy of the wet failed attempt. But stopped. 

He wasn’t listening and probably didn’t care. He was not going to be interested in her old memories. He was very young. It would take time. With Billie bear warning her to be cautious, it would be necessary to practice the on-guard exercise as her mom had taught her.

The new mom was sad to realize she and Sammy would have to make their own adventures to hold in their hearts to remember.  This was the hard part of learning to begin again. 

Sometimes she wanted to curl up in a ball. She wished she could walk through an old remembered darkened strolling path and when she came out into a bright clearing, she’d be back with Doolie and her crew along with Scruffles and Sweet Puppy. 

Accompanied by his new mom, Sammy, the champion jumping and diving kitty, disappeared into the third dumpster After rustling around inside it, he jumped up, and sat upon the edge with a curious bag of something. 

It didn’t look like anything he might be interested in. As Bea neared the mystery bag, she had the widest bear grin on her muzzle showing many whites, soon to be golden coated teeth.

That sweet boy, later to be nicknamed such, had found a bag of many twig-sized tubes, filled with honey. His next vault through the air was a rewarding one for him. As he landed on the dumpster cover lid, he spotted the treasured bag of goodies. 

Someone had left it outside of the dumpster, so all he had to do was push it off, as kitties are wont to do. It landed hitting its target, the middle of the sled. Unsure when they’d return, the resourceful bear coaxed Sammy onward, hoping he’d find more good stuff for each of them.

Bea was happy for the weightiness of the sled, filled with two almost full torn bags, and three cracked jars nearly brimming with honey. Sammy was justifiably proud and already feeling better about himself. Bea could tell this by his tone and his light-stepping dance.

She wouldn’t bother tell him, but Bea couldn’t help remembering how she’d gotten the sled and what led up to it. She could still feel the tomatoes and bananas squishing between her toes, claws and paws. 

Doolie had directed them to the first dumpster. Counting as her mom had taught her, there were three dumpsters. Impulsively choosing what she thought was the first, turned out to be the third.

The first being the third and the third being the first, did not bode well for Bea. Stepping down into the darkness of the dumpster her feet met some mealy mushy stuff. In an effort at flight, she needed Scruffles to heft her high enough to be able to grab onto the lip of the trapping box.