A New Herd

By: SouthwesternCrunchwrap

Chapter 1: Fresh Beef

The crisp cool winds quietly howled as it curled and rolled through the towering wooden flora of an assorted formation. The unarranged melodies of the perching birds followed the ever so rustling winds in the autumn air: my tired eyes flickered. The warm colors swirled as my two oval lids gazed upon the natural scenery that was foreign to my tired sight. Glancing around these new surroundings my eyes darted to my clothes that contradicted to what I wore the last two times I felt conscious.

Dingy denim overalls with scuffed boots and a muted grey shirt were such a stark contrast to my form fitting pressure suit and that gaudy armor I wore in that dream. I was befuddled by my situation that I was oblivious to the trio that loomed over my still body.

 “Is she dead?" one bluntly asked.

“Nah I think she's moving, or maybe that's all the remaining air being let out." “Do you think she has a wallet full of money?" one sternly stated as their eyes scanned my limp form.

 The audacity of these three as they picked at me with their eyes like carrion birds, I began to plan to devise a plan to stop their gaze. Clambering to my feet and rubbing my sore head I got a good look at them: The first and closet one was quite bright both in personality and fur as it shined a blonde hue; the one that followed looked to be more daring and active fitting her auburn fur; the final one whom was birthed in dark hues was reserved and hid her disinterest well. The three loosely dressed heifers gazed upon my distorted state awaiting any words to leave my dry lips.

“Really Ness?" the blonde one said with concern.

“What? I'm hungry let me be Bess," she crosses her arms trudging away from the other two. The blonde one shakes her head, leaving her concerned-irritated look behind. She reached around herself drawing out a towel, offering it to me once she doused it with water. I was hesitant to accept her offer, but after a bit of reluctance I applied the moist towel onto my sore head. My senses rammed into me with such a striking speed that for a split moment the smell of iron, the sharp ringing squeal, and the wavy sight was all I felt.

Then a hand like mine rested itself upon my shoulder, “Hey, uh Miss…are you okay?"

 I looked towards the gentle heifer behind those round glasses of hers', “Yeah I'm fine, just had a nasty run in with this tree," I muttered in embarrassment.

Jess gradually came up to view my condition, “So you're saying that you likely ran into this tree," she uttered with her low raspy voice.

“Yes, I thought someone called my name and Boom! I ate some bark," I lied.

My mind raced as it danced around different stories culminating into reasonable alibis to cover my uncertainty. The awkward silence felt like an eternity of stress, but a smirk and laugh from the two reassured me that I would be alright.

 “You're no better than us; we took a shopping cart down a hill once and never forgot about it. Come on we'll introduce you to Shane," Ness said as she strolled off towards the picnic table.

I've never found the eyes of a group to be worrisome as the attention has always felt intoxicating, but this table meeting was something else. Stunned at the lack of any alibi to cover my tracks, the four awaited my words with baited breath.

I'd never seen a being like Shane, despite knowing furless beings existed back home. This hairless apish creature with a jet black mane was adjusting the sleeves on his navy colored jumpsuit. His sight was set on me and his words attempted to lift my spirit.

“So Jess told me that you made love to a tree and ended up content from its sweet bark. Is that true?"

“Yes, he was definitely the assertive type, but I must ask…where am I?" my eyes darted around the parks luscious scenery.  

 “Domino landing, how have you not heard of this place. Are you from out of town?"

“I-I am from out of town as I came here for a… festival."

Bess' chirp kept me from sounding like a lying loon to the four, “Oh! You mean the concert that they held here the other day?"

“Y-yeah, that concert, I just came back to enjoy the scenery. That one bench that overlooks the river was quite nice."

Jess and Shane showed some trust, but pressed for more information, “We can take you to your car if you like.

“And we can help you with the drive back if need be."

I was surprised that they bought my story that I conjured out of my rear, maybe it was these new clothes, maybe it was my cheery demeanor, or my experience of telling stories as a reporter. Even paces come to an end and I felt like my time was running thin. I clenched the side of my overalls and suddenly it hit me.

“I appreciate that just let me make a…wait where's my phone… Awww hilkun (Hilkun: the Tarven curse word akin to shit)!"

I looked up to see some confusion but was met by Shane handing his phone to me with the dial-up screen at the ready. I was left with a waning choice of furthering my façade, to call up my parents whom I knew nothing of their fate. I swallowed my pride and dialed up a random number. On the other end was a person whose language was foreign to me. I was embarrassed by that one sided conversation in which I faked my possibly deceased parent enjoying a vacation at a luxurious resort. I ended the call and sighed drooping my head towards the ground. I handed the phone back to Shane and looked over to him, he saw my plea.

“So your parents are..?"

“On vacation and my transport is nowhere in sight so…"

“You can stay with us! We have room don't we Jess?" Bess chimed in hoping to bring some assurance with my gripping reality.

Jess shrugged and looked towards Shane then Ness, who was currently busy with scarfing down two bags of chips during that entire conversation, “Eh, what harm could one extra bovine be."

 The bright azure hue with scattered puffballs rolling across the horizon as the trees shifted with the cool autumn wind eased my mind from the drive over the bridge. I sat there in the back of the transport upholding any questions the best I could. After a couple of minutes Jeremy's vehicle halts and the engine is put to rest, doors slam and I'm greeted to Ness' eyeless face as she strikes a pose.

 “So ya wanna feast your eyes upon our pad?"

I turn around and marvel at what their fine pad was: It's just an abandoned Gas Station with curtains. I keep my fake excitement as I was left dumbfounded by this absurd display.

“A-a  g-gas Station!"

Shane coming from behind with a smarmy sense of accomplishment, “Yep, isn't she just the best?"

“Suuuurreee, I was expecting maybe a small house, but a gas station wasn't on my list."

The four of them enter inside the station to a well maintained lounge that had several individual makeshift rooms and a main one where these three spend all their leisure time. As Bess and Ness rush over to slouch upon the worn cushions of the dingy couch Shane walks by me and looks at me with a smirk.

“So how do you feel about their creation?"

 I tilt my head in confusion as I fully absorb each facet of their dwelling, “So you guys put in carpet, built several rooms, brought in home furniture, and got the electricity to work in an abandoned Gas Station?"

He chuckles handing over the full truth, “Well we got the money for a bid and won it. The rest was us just filling out the pad."

 I stand there awe as Jess lay the deed on me.

 “It used to be an old joint we stopped by countless times back then. Oh! I almost forgot the bathroom is at the back of this building in case you need to fresh up."

 She points to the door before returning back to Ness and Jess who sit there immobilize by the television. I nod to her, then to Jeremy before making my way inside the bathroom.

I gaze at my form through the mirror as my hands comb over my new attire. Stripping each article I was faced with a sight I've seen many times. Precisely scanning over my bare body and seeing no sign, no clue as to where that gaudy star-kissed suit went; I pulled my face closer to the glass to look deeper. Examining every inch, I widened my eyelids to see any differences, nothing out of the ordinary. I sigh, giving myself another look over before deciding to dip my hands into the warm pool as it fills up. I see darkness and feel the warm liquid ooze over my snout. I examine over my form with each strand of fur, scar, and blemish noting the hardships I overcame these past ten years. The screams of my colleagues echo within my skull as I can remember that day war reared its head upon my people. I'm normal: despite the fact that I look like I bore two children then went on a massive workout binge after the childbirth. Everything culminated to the crumbling house that was my sanity, I wanted to scream.

The flood of thoughts started to drown me into a depression, but a knock on the bathroom door snapped me out of the trance.

Leaning close to hear Shane's voice asking for something, “Hey we're getting pizza from Costco, and do you have a specific toping you like?"

I move back to the mirror and glance over myself quickly, “The white Juifies (Ju-fees: Tarven onions)."

“What?" he squawks in confusion as an audible sigh of annoyance leaves his mouth, “You mean onions?"

 I reply in agreement and thank him for his consideration as he stumbles off to get the pizza.

 A deep breath escapes me as I slip on these newly assigned clothes, “I hope they don't comment on my hips, or my…"

I hesitate before building up the courage to open the bathroom door and join the other bovine gals in the main room. Maybe this new opportunity will give my drifting mind the catharsis it's missing.