Bella
December 2022 – April 2025 π
From the very first moment I met Bella, I knew she was special. While all the other baby rats darted away from the big scary human hand reaching into their nest, Bella did the opposite. She ran straight towards me, grabbed my finger with her tiny paws, and began to lick. From that day until her last, she was my best friend.
Bella was gentle, sweet, and endlessly loving β not only with me but with her sisters too. She had a calm steadiness about her, and yet she was also full of humour and mischief. A major foodie, she could make me howl with laughter if I dared to eat a sandwich within earshot, her little face full of determination to share in the spoils.
Life wasnβt always easy for Bella. She developed a respiratory illness when she was young and faced ongoing health struggles throughout her life. There were nebulisers, antibiotics, steroids, regular vet visits, and even daily injections towards the end. But none of it ever dampened her spirit. She faced it all with bravery, gentleness, and her typical foodie enthusiasm.
Bella was also my comfort through some of the hardest times of my life. She had a way of making everything feel lighter β sitting with me when I needed quiet, making me laugh when I needed joy, and reminding me to keep going no matter what. Her presence was a source of strength, love, and light when I needed it most.
More than anything, Bella embodied the joy and comfort that small animals bring into our lives. She wasnβt just my companion β she was the heart of Nettle & Nibble Studio and the spark behind the Nettlelands universe. Though she is no longer by my side, her pawprints are forever on my heart, and her spirit continues in every story and every drawing she inspired.
Bellaβs story is woven into every corner of my home and work. From the chewed up carpet she left behind to the sketches that began as doodles of her face, she continues to inspire me each day. Remembering her is not just about looking back β it is about carrying her joy, curiosity, and courage forward into all the critters and creations still to come.
