...And Thus the Twilight Descends.

[Hyraxylos]

Despite how prepared we can often trick ourselves into thinking we are, there are damages all the preparation in the world cannot protect us from, and I'm certain we probably shouldn't really strive to acquire such protection in the long run.

Today I lost one of my closest friends, the wisest being I've ever met thusfar in my lifetime. Last month when my cat Kali had mysteriously stopped eating, we got suspicious and took her to the vet. Since there wasn't enough time before our "vacation" then, we had to leave her there for almost two whole weeks. When we got back and went in to the vet to pick her up, she was looking like she was on her last legs but then immediately got more energetic at my approach.
Unfortunately she still didn't eat after that, and time was AGAIN running out, and this time we'd be gone for THREE weeks as I said in the News section. We took her in to get her surgery so she could have a feeding tube installed which made it a lot easier to feed her, but we'd still have to leave her at the vet for a month and I was positive she wouldn't survive the heartache. We've still got some packing and planning to do and feeding her was taking too much time. We'd planned to take her in today for a checkup and then board her at the vet tomorrow, which meant today would be the last day I'd get to see her alive (though my parents kept trying to assure me she'd be all right without saying either outcome outright). Then Mom spontaneously proposed that we just let them board her today and "save ourselves the trouble."
I felt a sense of dread just THINKING about the idea, and apparently Mom and Dad felt the same, because we wordlessly changed our plans back to the original and took her home today after getting her checked on. Once home she seemed a bit lethargic. She drank some water and both times after feeding her I stayed around to pet her and talk with her. She barely moved at all and could no longer purr, but she bonked my hand a few times and her tail still moved up and down. Then tonight, about an hour and a half ago as of this post, I heard Dad yelling something at Mom from downstairs. I ran down to the bathroom and saw Kali convulsing strangely. I'd seen her do this before a few days ago (actually the first time I saw it was MUCH more painful), but this time she finally just stopped breathing altogether.

I'd been bracing myself for this but Dad isn't taking it too well. Weldon probably won't either once he figures out that she's actually gone, and I don't even want to imagine how my sister will react. Kali was something of a saintly figure to our household. She was highly intelligent, expressive, and effortlessly forgiving. A bit over a year ago she stopped me from considering suicide, and from there continued to inspire me all the way to the end. Even the timing of her death was perfect since we were planning on boarding her at the vet's office tomorrow morning, and she departed instead from the comfort of her own home. I think I'm going to be all right. :\

Goodbye Kali, my friend. I thank you eternally, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you taught me.

My Guide.

My Guardian.

1 March 1999 - 5 June 2009
No Doubtful Regrets
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[Ragnarok]

My condolences. I've lost a few pets of my own over the years, and it's never easy... I can only imagine what you and your family are going through now.
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To win against an opponent stronger than yourself, you must not be weaker than that opponent. - Takamachi Nanoha

[OnyxCrescent]

I am sorry to hear of this lose. I have had companions, both human and non, depart from this life, and it is never easy, nor should it be. One animal that I loved the most of all was a cat named Ginger. She was mean as all get out, but she liked me. That was years ago now, and I still remember her fondly.
The Onyxcrescent
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One if by land, two if by sea, and if by missile, forget about three

[Namhias]

My condolences, it's never easy to lose a pet that you've known for years. She died happy, with those who loved her around her. I wish you strength.

[Hyraxylos]

My thanks to everyone. ^_^ This isn't as agonizing as I once thought it would be, but then I'd already unloaded myself the day before yesterday. Following that came acceptance and I just sorta hung around with her on and off for the rest of our time together. Also now I won't have to spend my time in Slovakia worrying myself sick over what's going on with Kali being in questionable condition in an alien facility filled with strange-smelling humans and dogs. I honestly can't help but wonder if she might have PLANNED this all out for everyone's convenience.
As much as I may not like it, our loved ones die someday, and so do we. Science, technology, and modern medicine gave us just under a month of extra time to take care of Kali when otherwise she'd have starved to death, and for that I'm all the more grateful for what Master refers to as "Human Magic", but death's just something that has to show up in one capacity or another. It's all just part of the natural process. Maybe I'll meet her again and maybe I won't, I don't know. But I do know that I'm hungry and I want that bacon I'm smelling.

My father's still shaken up and Mom's just kinda being.... blank. I'm apparently the quickest to recover for some reason, despite being closer to her than they were.

As for Weldon, our other cat, I think it just clicked inside him. He's not pleased. At all.
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[Roark]

I'm sorry for your loss Hyra I know it must of been tough regardless of the preprations. Both Auroara and I wish her safe passage on the border of the here and after, and to the next life as well.
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The blood of that which you beleive run deep within, if you feel this then there is no need to doubt.