Chapter Text
“It’s just dead,” Hershel said.
The cow layed on the ground, motionless. Maggie and Beth stood over it.
“Poor thing,” said Beth. “How could this happen? There's no blood or anything.”
“Welp, there's only one thing to do now,” Maggie announced. “Feed it to them coyotes.” Like many people living in this area, she pronounced ‘coyote’ like ‘koy-oat.’
“How could you be so heartless, Maggie?”
“Well I’m sorry we can’t do a funeral service for every cow we lose these days! We’d be digging graves all day long!”
“But Becky was special!”
“Yeah, in the sense that she would’ve tasted especially good with gravy.”
Beth gasped.
“Girls, girls, please!” Hershel interjected. “We have enough problems with all this supernatural activity! We don’t need the two of you fighting.”
“For the last time, Daddy, it’s not supernatural activity,” Maggie argued.
“Okay, Maggie,” Beth turned to her indignantly. “What do you think is causing all our animals to go missing or die? Ever since the government stopped funding us, everything's been getting worse and worse! I wouldn’t be surprised if we go broke and can't feed ‘em anymore!”
“Don’t you think feeding ourselves is the priority here, Beth?”
“Not if the animals are going hungry!” They continued arguing over the logistics of farm animals, until Hershel took out his phone.
“I think I have to call someone about this,” Hershel said.
“Who? Its not like anyone official will step in to help.”
“Well, what if we called someone unofficial? I saw an ad on Craigslist last night. It said there was a troupe of paranormal investigators that we could hire to come help us.”
“Do you think they were legit?” Beth asked.
“...I can only hope so,” Hershel concluded, typing in the number.