I had a piece coming from for a while now, and for a while it was uncertain what I would have done, to replace the Painted Leather Coins, that were supposed to come. The coins were done, but lost in a move, so I waited until the right time, to have a piece done of myself, as a hooman, and my daughter, Ruby the Rsttie, as an Anthro.

There are many pieces of Ruby and me, together, throughout my Gallery, but this one is the most like my dreams, irl. Ruby was a pet Fancy Rat, but she was more like a daughter to me, than a pet. She went everywhere with me, and I've continued to have this recurring dream, of her and I walking in a meadow, hand in hand, while she picks a bouquet of flowers for me.

Sadly, Ruby had to be put to sleep, right before my last Spinal Cord Surgery, in 2013, because she had suffered a stroke, after the loss of two of her sisters, within 1 week, and my ex-husband, leaving us. Her sister, Pixie, passed peacefully, at home, but Clover was taken, by my ex. Everything happened very abruptly, and it took its toll on her. I fully expected Ruby to pass in the night, as a result of her stroke, and I took her to bed with me, and slept with her on my chest. I awoke to a very happy Rattie Girl, lying on my chest, and I carried her with me the rest of the day, as I packed my apartment up, to go and live at my Mom's. I slept with her again, not expecting her to survive another night, but she surprised me again. Unfortunately, my surgery was scheduled for the following day, and I knew I'd be away from her, for too long, and I knew she wouldn't survive without me. I had to take her to the vet. It was the most heart-wrenching thing I've ever had to do. But I knew it was also the kindest thing I could do. I knew she wouldn't understand if I left her, too, even if it was just for a few days. I knew she would feel like I had abandoned her, just like my ex had, when he cruelly took her sister away from her, only because Clover had been HIS favorite rat. He hadn't even wanted to keep her, when we first got her, but while we were trying to find her another home, he grew attached to her, as I had, the first day she came to us.

Anyway, while we were at the vet, my closest friends, at the time, and my Mom, we're surrounding us. Everyone said their goodbyes, and gave Ruby their love, in the car, and also in the room, at the vet. Slowly, everyone trickled out of the room, except for me, and my best friend, Chris. They gave Ruby her medicine, and she struggled. She tried to fight the medicine, so that she could stay with me. I cried so hard. I didn't want her to leave me, and she didn't want to leave me. I told her that it was alright, and that when she woke up, she would be with all her sisters, again. I told her that I loved her so much, and that I wished she could stay with me forever. I told her that if she was able to, to come and find me, again, someday. I told her I would never, ever stop loving her. And I never have. I even wear a ring with her name on it, and her exact lifespan on it. I miss her so much! And I still have this dream, of us, as pictured.

Thank you, Tate, for capturing this, so well. It's certainly far better than my pathetic sketch that I did. But at least that sketch got my point across, to several artists, who have rendered similar pieces, from it. I truly love how this turned out!

MiLayna & Ruby ©

Artwork ©  Sea-Pancake