DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of it's characters.

Thank you so much for the reviews guys! They mean so much when I read them. I'm introducing a lot more characters in this chapter and I'll have a few more new ones in the next. Hope you like it!

Chapter 2

"Ow!" I muttered rubbing my head, as a rather loud rooster continued its call from somewhere around the farm. I groaned at the low ceiling rafter that I'd just hit my head on. It took me a second as I looked around the small room to remember where exactly I was. The Bird Farm right...

Fumbling out of my covers I shuffled through the articles of clothing in my suitcase decided on a pair of ripped shorts I'd gotten in Australia a few summers ago, and a simple white T-shirt that read 'No Worries, Mate' across it's chest. I brushed out my long hair putting it into its loose side braid before finally leaving my room to explore the rest of the morning.

Down stairs I could hear a few clanging of dishes in the kitchen before I peaked my head in. "Morning," Lillia greeted me with a smile from the table that she was setting. Next to her Cayenne was at the stove cracking eggs over a pan. "Would you like your eggs scrambled?" she asked. "They're fresh I can tell you that."

I nodded, "that sounds great is there anything I can help with?"

Lillia nodded excitedly handing me some fine china plates and I got to placing them around the table. "Have you seen the town yet, Cyri?" Cayenne asked quietly.

I was a little surprised at her voice but shook my head, "no I can't say I have."

Lillia was soon on the subject, "well you should show her around Cayenne. Dahlia can handle your chores for the day."

Cayenne didn't exactly look like she agreed but nodded turning to finish off the eggs. Soon the rest of the family was coming down to gather around in the kitchen table for breakfast as well.

"Thank-you Cayenne for the eggs they look wonderful," Rick smiled at his daughter.

"We always have eggs," Dahlia grumbled poking her meal with her fork.

"If you don't want to eat breakfast you don't have to," Lillia looked sharply at her granddaughter, "but don't expect to get feed again until lunch."

Dahlia simply grumbled something I couldn't catch and stuffed the meal ungratefully into her mouth. After breakfast was finished, Cayenne silently led me outside in to the cool morning air. "I figured we'll head around the town in a little bit, I just want to get the chickens and ducks over with first. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," I smiled, "but didn't Lillia say Dahlia would.."

Cayenne shook her head at me, "from what you've seen of your cousin so far do you really think that she'd take care of the animals?"

I had to agree there, it was obvious that the farm life wasn't exactly for my cousin Dahlia. Or much of any life for that matter.

I followed Cayenne through the coops watching her drop fodder into each of the boxes, collecting any stray eggs as she did so. "Why are some of the eggs blue?" I asked curious as I watched her lean to pick up one from the side.

"Duck eggs," she smirked.

I nodded as she finished up her rounds running inside to deposit the eggs before returning to my side. "Are you the only one who cares for the animals then?" I asked.

"Well Dahlia helps me," she paused and I could easily pick up her white lie. "Dad helps too, when he's not running orders though and Mom and Grandma mostly just take orders inside."

"Oh," I replied following her down the path now.

"That's the Blacksmiths Old Siabara lives there though I have to say its grandson Gray does most of the work now a days.." she walked up to the door with a small knock on its surface she cracked the door open and slipped in. "Siabara?" she asked.

"He's sleeping," came a grumpy reply.

"Oh sorry Gray," Cayenne looked slightly at her feet as I entered into the musty shop. Behind the counter was a man in a baseball cap, Gray I guessed.

"Who's your friend?" Gray asked eying me.

"My names Cyri," I tried to introduce myself.

"My cousin," Cayenne put in shyly.

"You wouldn't be Kai's daughter then wouldn't you?"

I nodded.

"I thought you guys ditched this small town years ago," he said skeptically.

"Excuse me?" I asked anger flaring inside me as I took a small step forward.

Before either of us could reply Cayenne was pulling me out the door saying her good byes over her shoulder. "What was that about?" I asked glaring back at the shop door as if it was Gray himself.

Cayenne shook her head, "I'm sorry Grays a grumpy one I should have warned you."

"What does he mean 'ditched'?" I demanded not comforted in the least.

"I'm not sure," Cayenne confessed. "I guess since you haven't shown your face around here in so long.." her voice trailed off and we walked in silence for a while. It wasn't my fault my parents never took me back here. But they can't blame us we need money as much as they do! And Mineral Town doesn't exactly look like the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow of life, now does it?

Soon a bigger more promising building came into view on the right. "That's the winery," Cayenne explained shyly trying to talk again. But we skipped over it not ever going inside, I decided not to question her as an even bigger building came into view after it. "The Inn," Cayenne announced opening the door for me as I stepped inside. "Hi Doug," Cayenne smiled walking up to the red graying haired older man behind the counter. Besides the man the Inn looked like a rather deserted place.

He smiled back at Cayenne as she walked up, "oh hello sweetie have you ran across my daughter anytime this morning?"

"Can't say I have, is Ann running late from the farm?"

Doug nodded, "and who's this?" He asked his eyes landing on me.

"This is Cyri," Cayenne smiled grabbing my arm and pulling me forward a little.

I forced a smile, "nice to meet you." I reached my hand over his polished counter top to shake his.

"Nice to meet you too.." he replied warily. "If you don't mind me asking Miss Cyri why do seem so familiar?"

I bit my lip nervous after Gray's reaction, "you probably know my parents," I replied.

"She's my cousin, Kai and Popuri's daughter," Cayenne put in to Doug and I warily watched his reaction.

"That'd be it," Doug smiled. "I'm glad to here the Snack Shack will be opening once again, it'll be just like old times. Tell your parents they're welcome here for a free dinner on the house tonight."

My face flushed a little, "actually I'm here alone. I believe my parents are heading to Paris at the moment. Thank you for the offer though, it's very kind of you."

Doug looked a little flustered and confused but he didn't have time to question as the Inn doors flew open and a bouncy red head popped through the door quickly pouring out apologizes for being late paying no mind to either me or Cayenne.

Slowly we stunk out without another word, "who was that?" I asked Cayenne once we were walking again.

"Ann," Cayenne answered as if common knowledge. "She's Doug's daughter. Married to Jack the farmer down at Skywind Farm. We can stop by there later if you'd like."

"That would be nice," I smiled slightly as we turned up another pathway. My head was now spinning in directions, I was glad I had Cayenne with me other wise I would have no clue where in the world I was would be going or where home might be. Which was a sad thing to say since I'm normally quite good with directions after moving so many times, from place to place.

"Cayenne!! Cayenne!!"

We both turned to see a girl probably twenty four or so, older than us to be sure. Yet still young and youthful compared to many mineral town residents I'd meet so far. As she came closer I was quick to noticed her jet black hair cut neatly to her shoulder length pin straight with full black eyes to match.

"May?" Cayenne asked slightly worried, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," May quickly blew her off. "But did you hear about the new girl in town? I hear she's Ka-" May's eyes cast along me and her mouth snapped shut.

"May… this is Cyri my cousin. Or I suppose the new girl," Cayenne mumbled her introduction obviously embarrassed.

"Oh," May's eyes grew big. "Hello I'm May," she smiled easily regaining her stature. "You look a lot like your father, Kai I could have been able to tell even if I didn't already know. I used to see him all the time when I was growing up, you know. Seeing him meant summer to us kids at the time," she giggled a little. "It makes sense you'd show up now in this season. Is he here with you? What about your mother?"

She had quiet an over power personality which took me back a little after the mellow one of Cayenne I'd been following all day. It was easy to tell she was completely comfortable in her little town. "Uh," I staggered to a start, cursing myself slightly as I did so. "No I came alone, my parents aren't here with me."

"Oh, that's odd.." May commented.

"Not really," I shook my head pointing out fact. "Summers our busy season and they have to cover as much ground as possible. I'm shocked I made my way out of it..."

"Then why are you here?" May asked curious. And it was now that I noticed curiosity flicker in Cayenne's eyes as well. The curiosity that was probably filling all Mineral Town residents at the moment; why would a traveler, a daughter of a traveler really come to a little run down town place in the middle of know where such as Mineral Town without her parents? Even thinking to myself I didn't know the answer. I wanted to stay stationary but could there be more of a pull to this little place than I yet knew?

"I'm not sure to tell the truth.. I guess I just want to stay put for a while ya no?"

"No," May shook her head and Cayenne though silent seemed to agree.

I quickly gazed at my feet feeling like biggest outsider in the world as I stood there in front of the two girls. I had been in many places different cultures even and still fit in better than this moment.

Cayenne bit her lip, "we should probably head back to the farm for a little Cyri. I don't want the chickens to hungry under Dahlia's watch.."

I nodded slowly regretting not being able to meet the rest of the town.

"Well have you seen the rest of the town yet, Cyri?" May asked as if reading my thoughts exactly.

Cayenne answered for me, "no we haven't, we barely got past the Inn.."

"Then you go home Cayenne, I'll take care of Cyri." May flashed a perfect smile at me, and I gave a shy one back not exactly sure what to do. When Cayenne looked hesitant May pushed on, "go off with you." She waved her hands in the air for Cayenne to go, standing in the same place until she was out of our site. "Okay then dearie lets get started on the tour," May smiled skipping forward slightly. "Have you been to the Clinic yet?"

"No," I admitted.

"Then off we go, I'm sure you'll want to meet Trent our doctor and his wife Elli. Ya know just in case those chickens beat you up," she laughed a little at herself as if to reassure it was a joke. "And Stu.." she paused oddly on his name something I couldn't yet pick up in the meaning behind it. "Oh, and of coarse Elli and the Doctor's son Ross and daughter Aspen" she gave a quick nodded as if in reassurance before she skipped off to a building on the left.

Walking in with out a second thought, "May's here!" she announced loudly making me jump a little.

"Honestly May.." came a grumbled voice from behind a screen. "Do you remember the day we were a quiet little girl playing in the church yard at all?"

"Nope sorry Doc," May smirked as a dark haired man stepped out from the screen clearly dressed for his job.

"Who's this with you?" came a new gentle voice from behind the counter ahead of them. A nice looking woman in a pale blue dress, with short brown hair.

"This is Cyri," May announced. "And I bet you can guess who's daughter she is," May beamed a wide toothed smile at me.

"Kai's definitely," the Doctor said looking me over.

"I'm Elli," the woman introduced herself coming over to wrap her arms around me. "Did you mother come with you? We we're quiet good friends."

For some reason I couldn't see my mother with such a laid back lady as a close friend but I was not one to judge. I shook my head, "no I'm sorry I've come to Mineral Town alone my parents are still on the road."

The Doctor nodded as if it made perfect sense, "that'd be Kai for you." I was ready to jump to my father's defense before realizing that no offense was intended by the doctors comment. "I'm the doctor here in Mineral Town if you couldn't tell already," he chuckled. "But you can call me Trent," he held out his hand and I shook it firmly quite at good from practice of many, many introductions in my life.

"Ross, Asp!" Elli called up the stairs backing away from the crowd. And soon came down a boy about my height a thick head of dark brown hair and the dark eyes of his fathers. Rather tall, taller than me that's for sure but I was a rather short girl anyway.

His eyes cast around the room catching on mine; he looked rather confused as he entered the rest of the room. "Ross where's your little sister?" Elli asked a little annoyence hinting her her voice.

"Out back," he replied his eyes still looking me curiously.

"I'll get her," May announced wandering out of the room only to return seconds later with a girl trailing behind her. She was noticeably shorter than her brother and May slightly shorter than me as well. Light brown hair sprawled across her face in curls, mud was splattered on her jean cuffs and dirt seemed to be smudged on her face as well. She could have been wrestling pigs back there and I wouldn't have been surprised.

"Aspen what were you doing?" Trent wandered over to his daughter fusing over her as she wined and backed away. Muttering something to herself.

"Who's this?" Aspen asked obviously curious, but I couldn't help but think it was the quickest way to get her father distracted away from her as well.

"This is Cyri," May introduced me. "She's Cayenne and Dahlia's cousin. I don't know if you'd remember Popuri and Kai when you were young."

They both shook their heads no, "how long will you be staying Cyri?" Elli asked.

"Right now just for the summer," I said quite shyly. I have never been one to be shy at all. But somehow in this place like this it was hard not to be. Everyone already knew one another and it wasn't like a city where I could walk out the door I know I may never see the person to my right or left ever again in my life. Here it was rather clear I would be seeing many of these people on daily biases.

"Cool!" Aspen was nearly jumping up and down next her brother. "A new friend, I love new friends." She was smiling brightly around the room now, though looking slightly distracted.

Though no one else seemed to notice as the Trent slowly backed to his office and Elli back to her desk. Soon Aspen was floating out the back leaving me with Ross and May. Though May was looking around the room through hallways by leaning back and forth.

"Whats wrong?" Ross finally broke the silence asking May.

"Wheres Stu?" she asked.

"I don't know," Ross shrugged. "Maybe he went to the Church or Mother's Hill."

May sighed, "I guess you'll meet him later. Come on Cyri we've got lots more ground to cover."

I took a single step forward before turning back to nod a farewell to Ross but he had already turned his back heading up the stairs. "Rude.." I muttered under my breath hopefully too low for anyone else to hear her.

Following May out the door she informed me the building we were passing was the General Store. And that we'd skip over it for now, as it was closed.

"Karen's parents Jeff and Sasha live there," May had explained. "And I'm sure you'll meet them soon enough."

They moved on down the street to a Library as May had said. Popping her head in May smiled and waved me in behind her. It was quite and cozy inside the perfect reading environment I supposed.

"Hi Mary, I've brought a friend." May announced to the woman behind the counter. "This is-"

"Cyri I'm guessing," Mary gave me a kind smile.

"Yes.." May nodded a little surprised but seemed to be getting over it.

"Word gets around fast in a small town," Mary smiled.

"Where's Theodore? I'm sure he'll be happy to meet our new girl."

Mary laughed a little, "yes especially when the boys already seventeen without a single interest in a girl in this town yet! I'm telling Gray to let the boy take his time but he's-" she stopped hearing footsteps at the top of the stairs. And soon a smaller boy appeared rusty blonde hair swept around his head and eyes.

"There you are Theo!" May breathed rushing up to the stair case, "we were just talking about you!"

He looked a little passive maybe he knew what his mother was just talking about. I knew if I'd heard my own mother talk about such a thing in front of others especially ones I hadn't met yet, I'd probably want her head off. Though then again he might just be passive these Mineral Town residents were so vastly different from each other for such a small town!

"This is-" May started but I put my hand on her shoulder I was tired of being introduced to person after person.

"My names Cyri," I answered looking up at him.

He looked back at me, "I'm Theo," he answered quietly. Finishing his way down the stairs, he made his way over to his mothers desk. "Who checked out that book about Italy?" he asked his voice still calm and hard to rather read on what he was thinking.

"Theo we have guest.." Mary replied embarrassed.

"Maybe we should.." May suggested but I stopped her.

"What do you need to know about Italy?" I asked stepping forward to Theo, finally I seemed to be ack to myself around people. After being at the Clinic I was starting to think this town was getting to me.

He slowly turned a puzzled expression on his face for a second, turned back to his mother for his answer.

"Are you going to make me stand her all day?" I asked.

This time her turned quicker a little shocked. What'd I do?

"Nothing I bet you could answer," he mumbled.

"Try me," I challenged. "I promise I could probably tell you more than that little book."

"Oh really?" he asked, I smiled I was now starting to get a reaction out of him. "And what makes you say that?"

"Well I've lived there for three months." The longest time I've stayed station in one place, I added to myself.

His eyes widened a little or so I thought the movement was so quick it was hard to tell.

"And that makes you an expert on Italy?" he asked.

"More than you probably know," I muttered. "What ever though, you don't want my help then fine. You don't get it," I shrugged a little. "Guess you'll just have to wait until who ever has that book out to return it.."

I waved a small good-bye to Mary and motioned for May to follow me out and we stepped outside into the now coolly air of evening. We were a few steps down the path when I heard the library door peek open behind us.

I turned a smile swept across my face, as Theo stood there scratching his sandy hair a little. "Where did you stay in Italy?" he asked.

"Florence," I replied simply.

"Ugh," he muttered under his breath.

"What not what you need?"

"No," he muttered, "that's exactly it.."

"Well then I guess you need someone's help.." I smiled.

"Listen I need to get a good grade on this essay for collage can you just," his voice I could tell wasn't exactly happy.

"And if I don't want to.." I tested. This town was getting more fun by the second.

"Please?" he muttered almost to low to hear.

That made me laugh looking at the boy, "you act like it pains you so much just to ask for someone else help."

"Stop beating around the bush, will you help me or not?"

"Fine, but not today." I agreed.

"Tomorrow then?" he asked.

"Sure first thing the darn rooster won't let me sleep anyway."

"Six?" he asked eyes widening a little.

"Hay I just moved here be happy I'm helping you at all," I retorted.

"Fine," he grumbled quickly sliding through the door back into the library.

"Wow," May looked at me eyes widened. "Do you realize what you just did?"

"Maybe.." I answered a little wary from the look on her face.

"You just planned to hang out with Theodore, Mary and Gray's Theodore!" May exclaimed. "No one does that!"

"No one?" I repeated.

"That's right no one, I've been trying to crack that old egg shell for years. So have his parents, he just prefers to be up in his room painting or reading and whatever else he does up there. The only time I've even seen him out is.. well now and a few festivals that Gray has dragged him to!" May looked awed.

"Maybe you should steal the books he needs more often," I mumbled.

We continued down the path, "so I'm thinking we just head in for the night it's almost time for super and my Grandfather wont like it if I'm late." May rolled her eyes a little at that.

"Okay," I agreed.

"An tomorrow, I'll come with you to meet Jack and Ann's sons. And anyone else we skipped in the town, okay?"

"Sure," I nodded as we slowly came up on the Bird farm. That surprised me a little bit. It felt like we were forever away form it a bit little ago but here we were right in front of it in no time. "Oh May?" I asked as I saw her walking away down the path.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Maybe you would want to come tomorrow?"

"You mean with Theo?"

"Yeaa if you wouldn't mind.." I nodded. It felt weird asking May but I liked her and I didn't what to be alone with Theo. Especially when he didn't seem completely social or welcoming at all really, oh and the fact I didn't know where the library was seemed like a good reason as well..

"Sure Cyri," May smiled before skipping down the path, I watched her take her leave for a little before turning to go inside the house to help with dinner.

Tomorrow sure was going to be interesting..

I hope you liked this chapter, I feel like Cyri was really starting to show her parents in her as she spoke out with Theo. what do you think.

Make sure to tell me what ya'll think!

Oh and I turned on the anonomus review thingy, so those of you who havn't been reviewing because you don't have an account can now tell me what you think and I really hope you do!