Waking up was never really an issue for me. When my alarm went off, I generally reached to cut it off and sat up. A few moments later and I was already heading for the bathroom to get ready for the day, taking it all in stride without much dallying around. Today, however, I woke up a little groggy and a lot sore. My whole body ached from the hours spent cleaning yesterday, and something else that hit me as soon as I tried to get out of bed: hunger. I had gone most of the day on nothing but some snacks I had brought for the bus ride, and my stomach was protesting violently for it.

Stardust II

By: Satashi

I didn't expect there to be literally no place to eat nearby. There were no truck stops, gas stations, or little stands anywhere near my farm. Town was, form my knowledge, at least two miles from the bus stop. This left me a little over five miles from the closest place to get something to eat, and I had no transportation other than my bike, which wouldn't be delivered until a few days from now when the rest of my belongings were scheduled to arrive.

Walking to my bathroom, I quickly tried to make my hair look presentable with one hand while unsuccessfully trying to brush my teeth at the same time. A healthy dose of deodorant followed before grabbing my bra off the floor and putting it on. My clothing choice was dreadfully small, and I chose a simple white shirt with a large smiley face on it. The jeans I wore yesterday were pretty dirty from all the cleaning the day before, but smelt lemony fresh thanks to the wood cleaner. Shrugging, I did the jean hop to get them on all the way up.

I used to be forced to wear makeup every day for my work place, despite not having to interact with any customers. Now that I was free from that, I gave myself a look over in the mirror. I was plain, pretty simple, and average looking. No dress shirt, no skirt, no heels, no earrings or necklaces. Just me. I gave my reflection a smile and my heart filled with the promise of a new life. Today I would head into town, get some food, and see if I could find Abigail's store.

My walking seemed to make whatever animals sharing the house with me run and hide as I went into the living room. I briefly debated leaving the door open in hopes of them running out, but quickly dismissed it. Abigail has already been using my farm as her personal sword training ground, so I wasn't sure if anyone else came around or not. I didn't really mind, at least I got to meet someone my age out of it. The thought made me touch my nose, feeling a little scab there. Resisting the urge to pick at it, I locked the door behind myself and trotted out into the early morning sun.

The air was crisp still, filling my lungs with a long deserved burst of clean. The scent of grass made me feel a little better and I found the energy to go into a small sprint. Looking around, I searched my memory for places where I would used to forage as a kid. I knew there were wild berries and things growing around here, but that was years ago. My memories were foggy at best, but I still felt myself being drawn south, going on the edge of my farm and across a stream.

To my surprise, I came across a rather large farm, complete with an amazing barn and chicken coops lining the area near a house. 'I didn't know I had a neighbor,' I mused. I wasn't sure if they were awake yet, and I didn't want to impose on them at such an early hour, so I moved to the side a little, heading more toward a road.

"Good morning," a voice called over to me. Turning, I looked over my shoulder and saw a pretty girl holding a basket with both her hands. She wore a light green fitted short sleeve shirt with what seemed to be a blue tank top under it. She had on baggy blue jeans that didn't even seem to want to stay on her, despite a belt. Suspenders clipped onto the fashion accessory, keeping them up at a decent level. She had wonderfully blue eyes and very light brownish orange hair that went into a long braid. She was also very petite, and seemed full of positive energy "I take it you're the new farmer that was moving in?"

"Word travels fast, huh?" I smiled and nodded. "I'm Kim!"

"Nice to meet you!" She greeted, trotting over to me. "I'm Leah."

"Leah, nice name." I tried to repeat it in my head, not confusing her with the other name I just learned. "What brings you out so early? Working the farm?"

"Oh no, That's Marnie's. I'm just out getting breakfast." She motioned with her basket, which I now noticed was full of strawberries, blueberries, and several oranges. "Marnie and I try to take care of the wild plants out here, so we share them when they bloom."

"I see." My stomach chose that moment to cramp, making me wince slightly and put a palm over it when a long gurgling sound came. The noise made my new friend laugh. "Sorry," I managed out. "I was so busy moving in yesterday that I forgot to eat."

"That's not good, you need to eat to keep your energy up!" Leah looked a little concerned, even though we just met. "Here, as a welcome to the valley." She held out the basket.

"I couldn't-" I held up a hand, but she put the basket handle in it and let go, forcing me to grab it before it fell.

"It's okay, really. I'll just grab some more for myself, I know right where they are!" She held up a hand to her head in a playful wave. "I'll let you get going, it looks like you were going into town?"

"Yeah, I need to shop some."

"Okay, stay on the road and you'll get right to it!" She pointed behind me and I turned to look. "That's my little cottage over there. Stop by and say hi anytime! We're neighbors now."

"I will, thank you. You too, even though I don't have much yet."

"Thanks!" Leah hopped a few steps back. "I'll see you around then!

"Yeah, see you! Thanks again, really." I help up the basket. "I'll bring it back later."

"If my lights are on, I'm up." With that, she turned and went back where she had come from.

I couldn't help but start eating right away. I first attacked the strawberries, trying to enjoy the rich flavor but ending up stuffing them in my mouth one after another. I waited until I was a little farther away to drop the remains for the birds to enjoy and then finished up everything else before making it to the village.

I knew it was a small place, but I wasn't really expecting it to be this small. It was a more of a collection of houses rather than a full blown town. I somehow remembered in the back of my mind that this was a small branch off of a larger town a few miles down the road and was more of a hub for farmers and fishers to gather and sale their wares. Despite the small nature of the town, it was up kept pretty well. The roads were generally trash free, and there was enough nature around to really make me feel at ease.

Finding the store was as simple as it could be, as it was large enough to be the courthouse. The doors made a chime sound when I walked in, and I was greeted merrily from someone behind a single cash register. "Hello there!" He bellowed out. "Oh, a new face. Are you the new famer?"

That phrase was going to become a trend, I could already tell. "That's me." I smiled at him. "Kim."

"Welcome to the store, Kim. I'm Pierre." He motioned to himself. "We have everything you could need for your farm."

"Awesome!" His happiness was contagious. "I need a lot, but I'm a little broke from moving so I'll have to be a little careful."

"What would you like?" He came out from behind the counter to assist me.

"I'm not entirely sure. I need some seeds for sure… some fertilizer…. uhm…" Even though I have been reading farming magazines for weeks now, I still didn't know a whole lot. "A watering can… some food for sure…"

At that moment, I heard a door open and Abigail peeked around a shelf. "Hey Kim, you came!"

"I did," I confirmed with a small wave. Abigail's hair was damp and her clothes were sticking to her a little, probably fresh out of the shower. "Thanks for the invite."

"Oh, friends already?" Pierre nodded to himself. "Good, good, Abby needs some good influences.

"Not funny, Dad." Abigail instantly looked annoyed. "I'm sure Kim is fine with me just the way I am."

Before anything else could be said, the chime rang again and two new people came into the store. The first was a tall man with chestnut brown hair and glasses. A professional looking green business suit was very classily worn, complete with a tie. "Oh, hello there," He greeted me and I could already see the words forming.

"I'm the new farmer in town," I used my thumb to point to myself with a smile. "Take the words right out of your mouth?"

"You did!" He laughed. "I'm Harvey, and this here is Maru." He patted the girl next to him on the back. She was a little shorter than me with a nurse outfit on. Her hair was a nice brown with matching eyes behind red rimmed glasses. Her skin was a lovely dark tan and she really had an air of intelligence about her.

"Hi!" Maru greeted me cheerfully. "Welcome to Stardew Valley."

"Thank you, everyone is so nice!" I was really starting to like it here. I was about to say more but Harvey was suddenly looking at me very closely. "Wha…What is it?"

Leaning forward, he seemed to be looking at my nose. "You have a cut on your nose."

"Y-yeah…" My eyes darted over to Abigail, who suddenly went stiff. "I, uh, leaned forward too quick and nicked it on a tool in the shed…" Good job lying to someone you just met.

"I bet they were rusty tools, staying in that shed all these years?" He continued on.

"Yeah… they're dull and rusty, I was thinking of buying new ones."

Maru tilted her head. "When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?"

I blinked. "What's that?"

Pierre put his hand on Harvey's shoulder. "Come on now, let the little thing get her shopping done."

"She can shop after she gets a shot," Harvey denied him. "Tetanus is nothing to joke about." He turned to me and gave me a look like a mother would give a child who fell and skinned their knee. "Kim, Tetanus is something you can get from rusty metal, and can make you extremely ill. Your nose is already inflamed and looks infected."

"That's… because I put wood cleaner on it…"

Abigail gave a small chuckle. "Why did you do that, silly?"

I felt my cheeks warming. "I was… uhm…" I could almost feel the repressed laughter around me. "I don't really like shots, so…"

"It won't hurt, and you don't need to get sick."

"I don't have the money.."

"It will be a personal gift with a full check up on the house."

I tried to think of something to say. "I really need to shop, and Pierre was showing me some seeds…"

Harvey closed his eyes. "I insist. I'll even drive you home in my truck to make up for lost time."

Maru put her hands on her hips and was smiling ear to ear. "Just give up, you're not getting out of this one."

"… Thank you for your kind offer…" I couldn't help my shoulders sagging forward as I was ushered out of the store. "I'll come back Pierre, I promise." Harvey lead me outside and surprisingly to a little clinic right next door to the store. The inside was cold and smelt sterile, but not bad.

"Fill this out, I'll just get ready." Harvey gave me a form on a clipboard and Maru saw me over to a comfortable chair to sit in.

"Don't worry," she tried to console me. "Doesn't hurt at all. Just a little prick and a little sting. But for future reference… wood cleaner doesn't help on cuts."

I couldn't help but laugh a little. "I was cleaning the house and had the rag in my back pocket when she nicked me. I instinctively dabbed it when it bled and instantly regretted it."

"She?"

I hesitated. "Oops… I mean…yeah, busted. It was an accident, promised not to tell anyone. "

Maru didn't press it."Luckily for you, you need this shot anyway."

"I really don't like-" My words were cut off when Harvey came back out into the waiting room.

"Miss Kim, I'll see you now." He thumped a syringe with a needle at least three inches long. A clear liquid squirted out the tip and almost touched the ceiling before it fell back down. I could vaguely hear Maru laugh beside me, but the room was already getting a bit dark. I took in a small breath of air and felt as if sand was pouring over my body from my head down. A hand touched my shoulder and then I fell forward.

When I came to, I found myself laying on a hospital bed, slightly inclined. I felt groggy and confused, my mind not wanting to cooperate with my thoughts of moving. "Hey, take it easy," A voice soothed me. A wet washcloth was dabbed on my forehead and I could make out the face of Harvey close to mine. "You fainted. Can't say I've ever had that happen before, but I apologize for scaring you."

"Scaring…?" I managed to speak, trying to sit up but was gently pushed back down. "I.. the needle…"

"Was fake," Harvey assured me. "Maru gave it to me as a gift a little after she started working here."

"I see…" I closed my eyes. "The real one?"

"I need your permission."

"…Yeah, before I really wake up."

Harvey got up and I heard him talk to Maru for a moment before she came over to me. "On the hip, pull your jeans down?" I undid the three buttons on my pants and scooted them down a bit. "Whoa, easy there girl." She laughed and I realized I was still mostly out of it from fainting. "Though I do fully approve of cherry prints." The joke made me chuckle and after a moment Harvey was back.

"Here goes…" I winced slightly and held my breath. "And done! That wasn't bad was it?"

"Horrible," I wheezed out.

Maru laughed. "Don't be a baby." She put a Hello Kitty bandage on the tiny pin prick on my side and then reached over to get a lollipop for me. "Does Kimmy want a sucker?"

"Only if it's cherry," I sat up and smiled woozily.

The sun was just starting to set when my shopping was done for the day. I had several bags full of food to stock my kitchen, multiple kinds of seeds to plant, fertilizer to help them grow, and a watering can to help me get started. My Springtime crops were going to be small, but it was a start. I knew it'd probably be a year or two before I could work the full farm, and even that seemed to be an impossible task. There just simply weren't enough hours in the day to do it all… How my grandpa managed it was beyond my comprehension.

I made my way to the saloon near the middle of the small village and somehow managed to open the door with my hands completely full of plastic bags. The inside was well lit for a bar and several people were talking merrily to each other. I placed Abigail on an arcade game, staring furiously at the screen as her hands did the gaming dance of elegance on the controls. I was about to admire her skills as a gamer when her character died and she howled in frustration.

Besides her, I saw Harvey at a table talking to someone I didn't know. As I approached him, I was met with a genuine smile and a big welcome. "Kim, the new kid in town!" He bellowed out, making almost everyone look over at me. Thankfully they didn't all come over like I thought they would. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out what seemed to be coupons. "Here kiddo, five coupons good for free meals. Anything you want."

"W-Wow!" I took the after setting my groceries down. "Thank you!" I looked at him. "What was your name, sir?"

"Sir!" The man laughed. "Call me Gus! I own this little saloon. Whatever you need, you just let me know and once you get that little farm of yours going, let me know and I'll buy your produce at a high price. We have to keep our money in our little village you know. Good economy for everyone!"

"Now, now," Harvey smiled and put a hand on Gus's shoulder. "Don't overwhelm her with our town's money problems." He picked up his cup and downed the remainder of his coffee in two large gulps. "I promised this pretty lady a ride home, and I need to make due on that."

"You do that," Gus agreed before turning to me. "And you, 'pretty lady', come back any time!"

"I'll get the truck," Harvey told me. "Come on out in like five minutes."

"Sure." I watched him leave and Gus go to tend to other tables. Someone new came in the door and I glanced over at him. He had on shorts and a polo, covered with a battered JoJa corporation jacket. His hair was unkept and he had a five o'clock shadow on his face. His eyes looked over at me as he got close so I smiled at him. "Hi, I'm new in town. My name-"

"Do I know you?" He asked, not breaking his stride.

"N-no…"

"Then don't talk to me." He passed by without even looking back while speaking. "Gimme a beer, Emily."

I took in a breath "Okaaaay." Picking up my things, I headed out the door.