Funny how nature works. Two of its creatures on opposite ends of the food chain spending quality time together, and respecting each other. As hard as it seems, and as tough as we portray ourselves to be, the hard/painful times are what shape us into who we are. All of us could be great and strong (or at least appear to be) if everything always went right in our lives. But the strong are strong because they've been through the tough times. You don't become strong due to the absence of conflict or hard times, it is these hard times that shape you into who you are. I'm sorry that you lost your friend sir.
God Bless