In honor of my sweet girl Mercedes

"Heaven's not enough
If when you get there, just another blue

And heaven's not enough
You think you've found it, then it loses you

You've thought of all there is
But not enough
And it loses you in a cloud

There (there)
Most everything is nothing that it seems
Where (where)
You see the things you only wanna see

I'd fly away (fly away)
To a higher place (higher place)
To say words I resist, to float away
To sigh, to breathe, forget

Heaven's not enough
If when I'm there I don't remember you
And heaven's not enough
You think you know it, then it uses you (uses you)

I saw so many things
But like a dream
Always losing me in a crowd

Cause I couldn't cry
Cause I turned away
Couldn't see the score

Didn't know the pain
Of leaving yesterday
Really far behind

In another life,
In another dream
By a different name

Gave it all away
For a memory
And a quiet lie

And I felt the face
Of a cold tonight
Still don't know the score

But I know the pain
Of leaving everything
Really far behind

And if I could cry
If I could live
What truth I did, then take me there
Heaven goodbye"

-Song "Heaven's Not Enough"
by Steve Conte
Wolf's Rain OST 2
Composer- Yoko Kanno

Arrie's life started when her mortal one ended. Vague images, flashes of human's face, the taste of grass, the smell of milk and corn flakes and dozens of other images sped through her mind. She could not remember her time as a mortal, glimpses and the feeling of overwhelming sadness threatened to consume her if she focused too hard.

"Do not force it, " A voice boomed in her mind, "They will return when enough time has passed, it varies for each who comes. If you try to force them you will lose yourself and eventually fade away."

Arrie froze for a moment then nodded at the voice, her mind letting the images fade. "Where am I?" She called out to the voice.

"This is the beyond. There are many names you can call you can call it. Home is what it is to you." The world came into focus with each word, clouds that were different shades of purples, blues and pinks were scattered across the sky. The sun illuminating an endless plain in front of her, while behind her a forest stretched as far as she could see. The sound of running water echoing from somewhere beyond the trees.

She closed her eyes, taking in the scents and sounds that emerged. "What're you doing back there Miss? Let's go." A familiar voice asked, a smile lighting up Arrie's face, her tongue hanging from her mouth as she galloped after the figure. Opening her eyes sadness almost overwhelmed her, a few stray tears trailing down her face.

"You were loved deeply." Sympathy filling the voice. "This is the plane where animal compainions come once their mortal life has ended. The images, sounds and smells you are experiencing are memories trying to come through. Give them time and they will return, if you force them and dwell too long on them you will lose yourself to them and eventually fade from this plane."

"Who was that?" She had to know, her heart racing, longing filling her.

"She was your human." The response quiet. "I cannot tell you more and you will have answers in time. For now explore and become familiar with your new home. As time passes you'll find others to help you."

When your pet passes away they enter the beyond. The beyond differs for each pet, representing their most cherished memories. As time passses memories of their mortal life slowly returns. Eventually helping their humans with the pain of their loss, helping them remembering the good times and making it feel as if they are there with you. The dreams you have of them after they are gone are them spending time with you, calling out. If you think you thought you caught a glimpse, heard the sound of their nails clicking on the floor or them panting at you in love it is your pet reaching out to you.

When you are reunited with your pet you get to see the paradise your pets have created for you. All of them are there excited to finally be reunited with their human.

---This is written in honor of my sweet dog Mercedes who passed away on my birthday and right before Christmas. The pain and utter devistation of her sudden loss cannot be put into words. To everyone who has experienced loss I hope this story brings a little light to your day.---

Information

Name: Arrie

Nickname: Miss

Lineage: Royal Majesty

Age: Immortal

Species: King Shepherd