The Calls
Joe heard his phone ringing, though it was 5 a.m. Still, he was busy working in the fields and couldn’t answer. He’s a down-to-earth man and thought they’d call back if it were important, but he’d pay a high price for that mistake.
The Calls
Coming to Light
The day went normally for Joe. He worked the land, ate lunch at his usual time, and didn’t expect anything untoward to happen. Overall, Joe liked his routine, so when things took an unexpected turn, he wasn’t sure how to proceed.
Coming to Light
Hesitation
When the phone rang again, Joe had his hands free and answered. Hesitantly, he said, “Hello, can I help you?” Joe wasn’t used to people calling him. Then, he heard a voice he recognized.
Hesitation
Old Intern
His old intern was on the other end of the phone. Joe listened because he had been working when the cow disappeared. However, the intern was taking his time, asking the typical questions without giving a hint as to why he was calling. Finally, the farmer got him to the point.
Old Intern
Fearful
Harry said he saw a cow standing in the woods by a swamp. Joe was shocked to hear this and asked for the cow’s description. In fact, he wanted to go there, but he felt Harry was scared of something.
Fearful
Just Be Honest
Harry wouldn’t respond to the request of visiting Joe that day. He made an excuse, but Joe felt there was no reason for that, assuring him that he could discuss anything. Finally, Harry decided to come clean.
Just Be Honest
No More Information
Harry claimed it wouldn’t be safe for Joe to see the cow, and Joe finally lost his temper. He wanted to know what was happening. Finally, he asked directly, but Harry hung up the phone, giving Joe no further information.
No More Information
The Forest
Joe decided to visit the forest himself, saying that the swamp side couldn’t be that large. However, when he arrived, he knew it wouldn’t be easy because the forest was huge. Still, he began searching.
The Forest
A Different Forest
The forest wasn’t the same as Joe remembered as a child. Now, it was deserted and had bare trees, though it had been green and lively before. How could a cow survive in this environment for eight months?!
A Different Forest
Going Home
Though he had no phone or watch with him, he knew dusk was coming. He decided to go back home because he didn’t want to get lost in the ominous forest and wasn’t sure he even believed Harry. Therefore, he’d return tomorrow morning.
Going Home
Returning
The following morning, Joe tended to the animals and started out for the forest again. First, he called Harry, but he received no answer. Therefore, he decided to head out and pick a place to search; he got lucky!
Returning
Sees Something
Soon after he got to the woods, he saw something in the distance. There was some land and trees lined with ribbons. It appeared to be animal control, and he noticed a cow. What was happening? He had to know and started running forward.
Sees Something
He’s Stopped
Before he got close enough to determine if it was a cow, someone stopped Joe. It was the employee for animal control, and he demanded the farmer keep his distance. This worried Joe, and he asked to hear the identity code for the cow.
He’s Stopped
You Must Leave
The animal control employee said it wasn’t important at that point, and something worse was happening than the cow’s ownership data. Then, the man asked Joe to leave the premises. He did so, but an idea struck.
You Must Leave
His Cow
Joe got a good look at the cow and realized it was his. That cow was the same as the one that went missing eight months ago. Now, he had to get closer to find out what was happening!
His Cow
The Detour
The forest was quite large, and the animal control employee was on one side. Therefore, Joe might catch his cow using a different route. Though it would likely get him in trouble, he didn’t care, as he wanted his cow back.
The Detour
Harry
Joe took his detour to see the cow, and he remembered Harry. What did Harry know about all this, and why was he anxious and desperate? Surely he could have been honest about what happened.
Harry
Different Angle
Joe finally walked long enough to see his cow and know where animal control was, though he was at a different angle. Therefore, he got closer and closer without anyone seeing him. Things started to unfold!
Different Angle
Unnatural Behavior
Joe got closer to the cow and realized that it had an unnatural behavior about it. He couldn’t understand, so he rushed to get as close as he could. However, animal control noticed him; still, he did what he had to do!
Unnatural Behavior
Stopping Joe
Though the animal control employee couldn’t catch him, there were other men in the forest. He shouted for others to stop Joe, and three men wearing the same uniforms appeared in front of him. Knowing he couldn’t escape, he put up his hands.
Stopping Joe
Suffering Cow
Joe could see his cow and realized it had been suffering. In fact, it almost didn’t resemble the animal he had seen eight months ago. Still, he knew it was his, and he wanted answers from these animal control guys.
Suffering Cow
Can’t Arrest Him
Animal control personnel couldn’t arrest Joe for being there, and he wasn’t breaking the law. In fact, it wasn’t their cow or their land, so he didn’t have to obey their warnings. Still, he was alone with them, and anything could happen.
Can’t Arrest Him
Talking to Them
Joe knew it was wise to cooperate, so he decided to be friendly when the first man approached him and shouted angrily. He had to work with the men instead of being against them, so he apologized.
Talking to Them
Sympathy
Now, Joe tried to explain the situation and why he was there. Hopefully, they would see reason and sympathize with him. Since he used a calming demeanor and spoke softly, he knew the strategy worked.
Sympathy
No One Near the Cow
The animal control employees said they’d been told not to let others near the cow, and there was no way he could go to it, even though he was the rightful owner. However, they also thought he might help with the investigation.
No One Near the Cow
Informed By a Hiker
They’d only learned about the cow a few days ago when a hiker called animal control after seeing it. They realized how bad it was doing, though they weren’t sure how long it had been there.
Informed By a Hiker
Managing to Survive
The cow had been eating the plants and grass, but food was getting scarce. Therefore, it lost too much weight and was struggling to survive. However, there was a water source close by, so that was lucky.
Managing to Survive
Why Now
Joe wasn’t sure why the cow stayed in the forest without leaving and begged to be told by the animal control employees. They looked at him hesitantly, and it made the farmer wonder even more. Finally, they freely gave the information.
Why Now
Free Will
Joe thought the animal might have gotten hurt in a bear trap, making it impossible to leave. However, he got a totally different explanation. In fact, it wanted to be there! Why would this cow wish to be in the forest?!
Free Will
Protecting Something
The animal control personnel said the cow wasn’t alone, and it didn’t want to leave or have people close to it. Joe wanted to know who the cow was protecting, but no one would tell him. That was classified!
Protecting Something
That’s His Cow
That was his cow, and he could prove it because of the numbers and burn mark on the rear. Plus, he had the documentation. In a few hours, he could give animal control the information and get a ruling from the court system.
That’s His Cow
No Other Options
Overall, the animal control employees would be violating the law if they refused to give him his property. Joe began explaining this, but it made the people angry, and they felt he wasn’t trustworthy. Still, they had no choice!
No Other Options
Joe Gets Closer
Against their wishes, Joe was allowed to go to his cow, but he couldn’t touch it or what it was protecting. In fact, they got rowdy and loud, hoping it would scare the cow into attacking him as it did for them.
Joe Gets Closer
Angry and Scared Cow
As Joe got closer, the cow reacted. She was experiencing anger and fear, and he knew immediately that she didn’t recognize him as her owner. That’s not abnormal because he hadn’t seen her in eight months!
Angry and Scared Cow
Something Changed
The cow charged at Joe when he walked into her area, so he took a few steps back. However, something in the animal seemed to change, and she actually calmed down a little. Did she recognize Joe?
Something Changed
The Second Approach
When Joe approached the cow again, it seemed to feel comforted and welcoming. The animal control employees were in disbelief. They’d been trying to get close for days, and the farmer did so with ease.
The Second Approach
The Answer
Finally, Joe saw what the cow was protecting, and it made sense. He understood why it ran away, why it was aggressive, and why the animal control employees wished for it to remain a secret.
The Answer
The Wolf Cub
Under the cow, a small wolf cub was drinking milk from the udders. Joe realized that wolves were rare and protected, but it was shocking because most of them would kill a farmer’s livestock without batting an eye.
The Wolf Cub
No Mom
The wolf didn’t have a mother, which had probably been killed by a farmer. Therefore, the cub would die if it wasn’t protected. Motherly intuition brought his cow to the cub, and she decided to care for it.
No Mom
A Happy Ending
After losing a calf, the cow ran away. It probably saw the wolf cub as a new chance to nurse a child. Since the wolf was old enough, the animal control employees could catch it and release it into the wild. Joe got his cow back, and everyone was happy.
A Happy Ending