Read from chapter 1 here!          

Read all the chapters in this gallery!

A red Corvette barreled down a country road, and a middle-aged man with a snow-white handlebar mustache and a bald head scrunched his brow while muttering. "Heavens… Why must they jump to such drastic measures?"

He eventually approached a blockade with multiple military vehicles and soldiers standing guard. A quick scan from left to right confirmed what he knew: a makeshift electric fence with razor wire stretched as far as he could see before curving out of sight. It had been half a year since an overnight incident irreparably changed the small town and surrounding areas.

He slowed to a stop and rolled his window down. "Sergeant Wilson! May I have a moment of your time?"

A tall, muscular man with tanned skin and a squared face scowled before turning from his comrades and walking toward the vehicle. "Dr. Langley. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He asked sternly yet cordially.

Dr. Langley adjusted his glasses and let out a sigh. "Is all of this truly necessary? This great barrier-- and all of this nonsense," he scoffed as he gestured to a nearby tank.

The Sergeant crossed his arms. "With all due respect, we are dealing with a complete unknown. Walling off the county and preventing anyone from entering or leaving is the only way we can ensure the safety of our great nation."

Dr. Langley cursed under his breath and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I can understand being weary, but I see more artillery and weapons carted to the perimeter daily. Tell me, have you suffered such hostility from within the barrier to warrant all of this nonsense?"

"You are fully aware of what really happened inside. Are you trying to tell me that over three thousand people devolving into abominations is a minor concern? Do you honestly think we should shrug and let our guard down around a threat to national security?"

The Doctor's face turned red. "Abominations? Please tell me, Sergeant. Of the changed individuals you and your men unlawfully abducted from their homes, how many of them expressed regret or anguish toward what they became?" After a moment of silence, he continued. "And how many requested they be allowed to return to their homes?"

"For God's sake, doctor." Anger dripped from his every word. "Society has completely collapsed within these walls. A damned alien entity brainwashed the population and stripped them of their humanity. Do you honestly think everyone would have wanted this to happen? That everyone was just inherently okay with this?"

"The specimens we were able to communicate with clearly laid out how troubled they were in life," the professor started while trying to remain calm. "They were coherent and happy, living outside the norms of human Society, a life without hunger, loneliness, or disease. Just because their lifestyles fall outside typical human understanding doesn't mean they are inferior or wrong for wishing to enjoy existence differently than you or I."

"You're delusional," Sgt Wilson retorted with rising frustration. "I know plenty with a mountain of problems, but none of them would want to be a goddamn horse or pig. E The fact you're downplaying and justifying the actions of a terrorist from space sickens me."

"Frankly, I don't care what your opinion of me is," the professor plaintly stated. "I am trusted enough to hold the position I do. I technically outrank you, so you should show me proper respect."

Sgt. Wilson winced. The Doctor's contributions to medicine and biology quickly earned him the government's trust, having spent most of his life working with the military. "Yes. You like to remind me of that," he plainly replied. "That's beside the point. We haven't attacked anyone or anything-- we haven't waged war. The call for this defensive perimeter goes above your jurisdiction, so I don't care how you feel."

"You think you're clever for redirecting that 'frankly line back at me,' don't you?" It mattered not. "What are the efforts to establish mutual understanding with the being? To collaborate and share our knowledge?"

"I'm done with this conversation. Do you have an actual reason to be here? You have no sway here unless you have orders from someone above the Secretary of Defense."

The Doctor glared silently before looking forward and away from the Sergeant. "I have news that likely won't please you." A slight grin spread across his face as he spoke. As he turned toward the military man again, a red gleam briefly flashed in his eye.

Cass yawned as she sat in bed and rubbed her eyes, the morning sun shining through the closed curtains. Smiling, she pulled the blinds open and gazed at the farm. Scarlet grass stretches across the fields, replacing the verdant green that once coated the land. She can already see cows, horses, pigs, and other animals out grazing, playing, and generally having a good time.

That was one of the great benefits of having once-human animals; they had enough intelligence to care for themselves more or less as long as food and shelter were provided. And, with Rynn's sanguine-esque power bolstering the fruits, vegetables, and foliage the animals ate, most could get a whole day's worth of nutrition from merely grazing for a short while.

'Dr. Langley will be here shortly,' Rynn's voice echoes in Cassie's head.

"Oh! I'm glad to hear that," Cass warmly chimed. It had been nearly half a year since Laura turned into a cow. Mere days after she transformed, Dr. Langley showed up out of nowhere.

As Cass absentmindedly walked to her father's room, she reminisced on her first encounter with the aging man. He apparently took a solo expedition into 'ground zero' without making his superiors aware. His burning desire to learn and research had pushed him to investigate before military action made it impossible to get in without some kind of permit.

"I wonder how he's been," she mused as she opened her father's room door. "Hey, Dad. How are you feeling today?" She asked the massive, bloated chicken that quietly clucked.

The swollen fowl cocked her head toward Cassie. “B-- Baw…” She clucked with a glazed look.

"It looks like you laid quite a few!! You've been a busy girl, huh?" Cass laughed, shaking her head as she gathered the eggs.

The massive chicken eyed her daughter curiously, fluttering her wings slightly as she adjusted, making retrieving her eggs easier. She quieted and tried to gather her thoughts, which often proved difficult.  “I-- I’m… Sorry… For e-- ev--," she began to speak into Cassie's mind before interrupting herself. "B-- Bawk!" Her eyes momentarily lost their spark of intelligence.

“F-- For everything… For-- being a bad father…"

Cass finished putting the eggs into a basket as she looked sad at the oversized avian that used to be her father. "I know. But you don't need to worry about that anymore," she promised. "To be honest, I hated you for the longest time. But, over the last few months, I've grown endeared toward the new you," she said with warmth.

“C-- Can… You forgive… Me?" 

Cassie gently touched the chicken's head and rubbed her softly. "I'm not sure how I feel about my father. I'm also unsure if I can forgive him yet," she admitted. "But, you're not my father. You're our prized hen, Gertrude-- a low-maintenance and gentle bird who lays eggs and constantly contributes to the family."

Gertrude silently stared at Cass. "I'm-- Gertrude? You don't h-- hate… Me?..."

"I love you. You're a precious member of our family, Gertrude," Cass stated lovingly as she kissed the bird's head. "You don't need to think about your old life anymore. You are perfect the way you are, and everyone here cares for you deeply."

“But-- I… I was-- human… I’m-- I’m not…”  Gertrude trembled as she projected her thoughts.

"Shhhhh…" Cass carefully brushed her fingers over Gertrude's beak. "You're such a good, beautiful girl. You'll have some new chicken friends soon, so you won't be as lonely. The new chicken coop will be built next week, so you won't be holed up here."

“B-- But I--,” “Bawwk!!” Gertrude was once again cut off by her own clucking.

"You're Gertrude. It's the best egg layer we've ever had. You've existed for six months, and there's nothing before that," Cass assured. "As long as you learn to accept this, there won't be anything to forgive or for you to worry about."

“B-- Bawwwk…” Gertrude quietly clucked. She was a beloved egg-laying hen. Everyone seemed happy with her new role as livestock; wasn't it better to give in and accept her new life?

"I'll come to check on you later, sweetheart," Cass promised, offering another gentle kiss on the head before taking her leave. She hoped Gertrude would fully embrace her new role and accept that she'll never again be human.

Cass spent the next thirty minutes doing some basic chores. Thanks to Rynn, the animals were intelligent enough to primarily care for themselves as long as they were fed. The crops abundantly grew without intervention, with all fruits and veggies clean of parasites or blemishes. The fact their crops now gave off a reddish hue was of no concern; Rynn was their friend and ally, after all.

She went to check on her cows and saw Laura lazily grazing far out into the grassy pasture. She briefly contemplated having a chat but decided to leave her be. There would be plenty of time later for sisterly bonding.

"Beep beep!"

A car horn suddenly sounded, causing Cass to turn toward the driveway with a wide smile. Upon seeing the red Corvette pulling up the dirty driveway, she nearly hopped excitedly before briskly trotting off to greet her guest.

"Dr. Langley!" Cassie waved as she approached the vehicle.

The Doctor rolled his window and looked toward Cass with a kind smile. "My dear! It's so good to see you again." He exited his car and straightened his button-up shirt before approaching Cassie. "I hope you and your lovely animals are doing well."

Cass nodded. "We're all great! Why don't you come inside? I'll get you something to drink."

"You're too kind," Dr. Langley replied, following Cassie up the front porch.

After entering the farmhouse and sitting on the couch, Dr. Langley let out a low sigh and idly brushed a finger over the curl of his mustache. "The sergeant wasn't too cooperative, so it took me a moment to get here."

Cass entered the living room with two glasses of iced tea, handing one to her guest before sitting on an adjacent chair. "You received clearance to come here, didn't you?" She asked curiously.

"Of course! My position holds a lot of clout, so it's easy enough to convince the powers that I should be allowed money, resources, and permission to enter the exclusion zone for research," the Doctor insisted.

"I'm sure a certain little red shard helped, too; am I right?" Cass teased with a sly grin.

Dr. Langley blushed with a red glint in his eye. "I'll have you know it wasn't easy!"

"How'd you do it, anyway?" Cass curiously inquired.

Dr. Langley adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "I'm rather proud of myself. I had this made with Rynn's shard." He pulled a heavily worn, plain silver ring off his finger and held it up to Cass. "Look on the outside of the band. Right here." He pointed out a small circular hole. "I affixed a shard of Rynn's crystal to the ring here. When I shook his hand, it cut him, and trace amounts entered his bloodstream."

Cassie tilted her head. "Who is he in this story?"

"The Secretary of Defense," the Doctor jovially cheered, his lips curling into a wide grin. He then took a big swig of iced tea and sighed content.

"Oh, really???" Cass asked with wide eyes. "What a wonderful ally to have. You're truly amazing, Doctor."

"Thank you. I do try my best."

Cass eyed the ring and placed two fingers on her cheek. "Didn't he find getting pricked from a handshake odd?"

"Take a look at the ring," the Doctor coolly replied, handing it to the young woman.

She nodded and examined the band, noting its rough, tarnished texture. There were cracks and chips with some particularly jagged bits. "I think I get it. How simple," she laughed.

"Believe me. I profusely apologized for wearing an old, janky ring that can hurt others with a mere handshake."

Dr. Langley let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "As Rynn's grace reaches higher up the ladder, our government should grow increasingly cooperative."

Cass took a slow breath and rested her head back. It seemed everything was coming together, and they might not need to worry about military intervention. "I understand from an outside perspective why they're so weary of us," she confessed. "I can't be upset at them for worrying, but it's reassuring to have you keeping us safe."

The Doctor faintly blushed. "Well, I do try my best," he stated simply as he brushed his fingers through his mustache.

"I appreciate it! We all do, I assure you."

After another minute of small talk, the Doctor cleared his throat. We should discuss our plans for the future. I have some ideas for getting more resources inside the border. I also have some good news regarding the second farm."

Cassie perked. "The one in Kansas you mentioned before?"

"That's right. Your cozy little town will soon have a sister in arms," the Doctor grinned, excitement in his voice.

Laura lazily watched as Dr. Langley entered the farmhouse with her sister. The cow sat in a grassy pasture, idly flicking her tail as she basked in the sun and enjoyed the warm summer air.

'I wonder what they're up to today,' she mused before letting her mind wander back to simpler, more enjoyable thoughts. One of her favorite pastimes was to alternate between grazing and lazing while allowing her mind to fog over. She'd go hours without a single genuine thought, going on autopilot as she operated in a state of bovine zen. From an outside perspective, that might seem like a coping mechanism for someone who lost their humanity, but that wasn't the case. It was blissful-- peaceful, even. During these sessions of lazing and grazing, she'd occasionally step out from the mental haze and think about how much she enjoyed going for walks with Britney and having sex with Brock.

She still left time in her schedule to make crucial decisions every day! For example, she'd have to decide whether to sit under the shade of an oak tree or in a flowery patch under the sun. There were also other important choices to be made. For example, this morning, she had to decide between hay and alfalfa. With such tempting options, it took a lot of work to pick.

"Hey, hey!!!" Brittney cheered, trotting toward Laura with her tail wagging. "I found some pretty rocks down near the creek! Wanna come see me?"

Laura swiveled her neck to face the excited dog. "Mmmm… That sounds great. Do you mind if we go in a couple of hours?"

Brittney panted and ran in a circle before nodding. "Yeah! These are the best sunbathing hours, huh?" She asked.

Laura nodded. "Yeah. We'll look at the rocks when the sun moves to a less optimal position." She enjoyed structuring her day. "Can I invite Macy along? She's struggling to adjust."

Brittney looked past Laura, staring at a pure brown cow sitting under the shade of a tree. She seemed somewhat troubled as she glanced around the pasture. "Of course! She's only been a cow for-- uhh… I can't remember when she got here."

"A few days, I think? A week?" Laura mused. Time bled together pretty fast after living as a cow. She usually didn't know what day of the week it was anymore, not that it mattered.

"Well, she wouldn't be a cow if it wasn't what's best for her! I'm gonna cuddle with you, okay?"

"Of course," Laura let out a content moo, shifting as the German shepherd laid against her. The two closed their eyes while Laura briefly thought about Macy. She was having such a hard time adjusting; wasn't there more she could do for her? It wasn't like Macy didn't want to be a cow. But that didn't mean it wasn't an adjustment after living as a human for more than two decades.

As Laura fell asleep, she fell into a land of dreams. She found herself on two feet, walking through a massive inside enclosure with shops. The mall? When was the last time she found herself here? In her dream, she walked with a group of girls who laughed and spoke amongst themselves.

"And I laughed abou eshh mmmphaa ahm ma tah," one of the girls spoke.

"Well, Laura is do-oooing dsshh omff lahnf…" The other one added.

Laura tried her hardest to pay attention, but their words turned to vague gibberish mid-sentence. Their faces were blurred when she tried to make eye contact with them. On top of that, her surroundings were all fuzzy and out of focus. Despite the situation being uncanny, it didn't seem too unusual within the logic of her dream.

"I… I don't really feel right. There's something wrong with my body," Laura muttered, holding her hands before her face. Her fingers appeared to contort and twist before her eyes but reverted to normal as she blinked.

"What do you mean?" One of the unidentifiable girls asked.

"I should be-- bigger? I don't think I should be on two feet," she muttered, shaking her head in confusion.

"You're the perfect size. A normal human like the rest of us, don't you understand?" She asked in puzzlement, tilting her head to the side.

Laura still couldn't see any of them clearly. The mall around her contorted unnaturally, and she couldn't help but feel uneasy. "I-- I don't know… I should be on all-fours-- shouldn't I?" She meekly asked, taking a step back. Patches of grass erupted from the ground as the mall warped and twisted. She smelled the scent of human food wafting from the food court and the fragrance of grass ebbing into her senses.

"You're just hungry and confused. Why not get a slice of pizza?" One of the vaguely defined friends suggested.

Before Laura could protest, the group were all sitting around a table, plates of pizza before them. 'How did I get here? Wait-- no…’ She shook her head. They walked over here, of course, and ordered pizza. But that didn't make any sense to her.

"Dig in!" One of the friends insisted as they began to eat their food. As they conversed, their words once again faded into a garbled mess. "I thought that I shshhuu amm-- amma varhshff."

Laura gave up on trying to understand those around her. She glanced over at their still blurred faces and noticed that the table appeared to elongate, with her three friends on the opposite side of her. As the seconds passed, the gap between her and the others widened, the table unnaturally stretching and creaking.

"Eat the pizza already, Laura!" One of the friends shouted from the opposite end of the table. By now, they were at least one hundred feet away.

Laura swallowed and trembled, glancing at the cheesy slice before her. The scent disturbed and disgusted her. If she was supposed to be human-- if she was supposed to inhabit this body, then why did the thought of consuming a typical meal disturb her so? She awkwardly lifted the pizza slice, feeling deeply confused and upset by how her human fingers navigated the food item. Human hands were a marvel, weren't they? Because of their prehensile qualities, they could deftly navigate and manipulate various objects. Most reveled in their humanity-- in their ability to move and behave in ways that transcended the rest of animalkind.

Why did Laura feel a profound emptiness as she held the greasy, dripping pizza piece before her mouth? More grass sprouted from the ground around her, poking through the tiles as it gradually spread. Portions of the roof faded, allowing the sun's light to shine through, which Laura found vastly preferable to the artificial lighting of the awful building she found herself trapped in.

'You don't have to eat it.'

Laura paused in her tracks, her mouth open as her whole body shook with fear and revulsion. Did someone say something? Her friends had insisted she behave like a good little human; was there another option for her?

'Be yourself. The real you, Laura,' the voice continued.

Tears welled and slid down her cheeks as she stared at the food before her eyes. Was it really okay to say no? Could she reject humanity? All around her, large creatures appeared, blurred by the general haze that had plagued her dream. Despite the lack of focus, she could make out they were walking on four legs and appeared to be contently grazing on the grass strewn about.

As the fantastic beasts came into focus, she recognized them immediately. Cows. Beautiful, innocent creatures were afforded the luxury of living easy, peaceful lives while still serving a pivotal function. They could laze about, eat, sleep, defecate, and have sex without a care in the world, all while serving as a tremendous milk-producing boon for the farm they lived on.

"Eat the pizza already! It's sishh ufffhr jsjshig usahdj…."

Laura ignored the increasingly garbled words of her friend and stared at the pizza slice with a look of pure defiance. "I will not!" She screamed, unceremoniously throwing the food to the floor.

Her friends were now a football field away, the table having inconceivably stretched into the distance. As Laura discarded her food, the other three got up and began to scream and holler in protest, slamming their fists on the table and hurling insults at Laura.

"Eat theshh-shsii! Jjjshh jjjjshh pizza--afsdfhhhh h-- human!! Asjjsah! Ashfbmnf fm… fmmsh…” They screamed, but their words quieted by the second.

Laura watched her ex-friends scream and cry as they grew blurrier and more muffled. The table cracked and chipped away before quickly crumbling into dust. Immediately after, the ceiling and walls dissipated, the mall melting into nothingness and leaving Laura in a sunny, grassy pasture amongst faithful companions.

'Eat. Indulge.'

Her heart skipped a beat as adrenaline-fueled giddiness coursed through her. She gladly stood from her chair, which immediately dissipated, and got down on her hands and knees. “Yes-- this is right…” She leaned over and bit down on the verdant grass, her body quickly thrown into the thralls of ecstasy. As she chewed, her body creaked and popped, starting to grow. Faint memories flitted through her head, reminding her of the many months of servitude on the farm and how difficult life had proved through those difficult days.

She had been granted a reprieve from that suffering, hadn't she? As she devoured the grass, her body bloated and fur sprouted, quickly coating her body. 'This feels right…' She mused in giddiness. When her hands fused and darkened, forming into hooves, a sense of sweet relief washed over her. She didn't need hands; they no longer served a purpose.

“Mmmm--oooooh…” She moaned and shuddered as her abdomen swelled and a hefty, pink udder formed. Even when her neck, shoulders, and spine lurched forward and grew to meet bovine needs, she felt no fear-- no indecision. This shape was natural to her; it allowed her to live without strife or regret. Her refined, pure taste buds could enjoy flavors as Mother Nature intended. She wouldn't be bound by clothes, makeup, or the tribulations of human convention.

"Mrroooooo!" She gleefully lowed as her newly formed tail flicked about. As her transformation completed, she found herself surrounded by like-minded friends. They mooed pleasantly while dining and basking in the sun.

This was life. This was perfection. The more people that joined them in this utopia, the more friends she would have to share her oasis with.

Laura's eyes shot open without warning as she awakened from her dream. The hot summer sun shone overhead, and she found herself in the grassy pasture of her farm. She glanced around and saw Brittney happily playing and speaking with the new, weary cow, who seemed to be enjoying herself more than before.

"Laura! I have some new-- or 'old' new friends for you!" Cassie's voice suddenly called as she waved over with a wide grin.

As Laura looked over, she saw three uncertain cows entering the pasture. One made eye contact with Laura and stopped in her tracks, eyes widening. "Laura?" She asked, projecting her thoughts.

It immediately dawned on Laura that she knew these three. Individuals she had thought to no longer be friends-- but here they were. Laura trotted toward the group with boundless excitement, letting out a gleeful moo. She had so much to teach them and share with them. Loneliness would never be an issue in this paradise.











Bloodbarn END

While Bloodbarn has reached its end, a new FTF cow serial has begun!  The 4000-word prologue to 'Life Stock,' has dropped two months early on Patreon!  You can find all the info about the new serial on my public post here:



https://www.patreon.com/posts/life-stock-is-94906576