From Andre Norton’s SF/Fantasy novel The Moon of the Three Rings. [The speaker here is Maelen, an alien humanoid witch-woman, a "Thassa", who uses her psychic powers to lead a troop of small animals in a very sophisticated "beast show". She and her familiars are attacked, and they join in her defense.]:
[Simmle] still lived, which I had not thought possible. I tended her wound again, but looking upon it I knew that life such as would be left to her would not be enough.
Then I took her head between my two hands as we had often sat. And I asked her the Question. For a long moment we sat so, and then she gave me the Answer. Around us the rest of the company whimpered and cried a little. For the little ones are not Thassa, and it takes great courage for them to make such an Answer, their belief not being ours.
Now I made memories for Simmle, all the best ones, and let her wander in them, while all the pain of her body was gone. And she was happy and content. When she was most happy and content I gave release according to the Answer. But in me a sword was thrust, for memory is sour as well as sweet, and this one added more to my burden.
I wrapped the husk of Simmle, the part which was no longer of any matter to us, certainly not to her who was free. And I put it among the rocks.
Tex’s passing was…not so nice. A long illness (rather than Simmle’s valiantly fought battle), ending with a long car ride stuffed in a carrier, to a place filled with dogs, bad smells, dogs, other cats, dogs, and strangers who always hurt him; never understanding why someone he thought he could trust (as much as a suspicious grumpy old cat can ever trust anybody) was doing that to him.
I’ve done this too many times, not always with my own. The hardest thing, the very hardest thing, is that they don’t know why.
One left, Razor Girl, aka Squeeks. She’s young and vigorous and I hope I won’t have to do anything like this with her for a long time.
The quote is from the Baen ebooks edition of Moonsinger, which combines both Rings and a sequel, Exiles of the Stars. I first read Rings back in Junior High, and it is my favorite of Ms. Norton’s novels.
The link to the Baen edition was very kindly provided by James Nicoll of More Words, Deeper Hole, who, if he knows me at all, knows me as a very occasional commenter with very contrary political views. Nevertheless, he answered my query promptly. Baen owes him a commission.