Jill woke up to the sound of Claire shifting to get up quietly. "Just sit up, Claire." She yawned. "I'm awake now and I'm sure Jack's a deep sleeper." Jill unzipped the sleeping bag and wiggled out.
"Sorry about that, Jill. I just wanted to get watering the plants out of the way."
Jill grabbed the watering can and gingerly stepped over Jack. "Well, what are you waiting for? The sooner we do this, the sooner we get to check out the rest of the village."
Claire quickly changed into a pair of overalls and the pair exited the house. While Jill filled the watering can in the small pond, Claire crossed over to the field to check on the seeds.
"Jill, you left the hoe out."
Jill joined Claire's side, using her free hand to cover her face in embarrassment. "Sorry. I forgot Jack was using the hoe yesterday." Handing the watering can over to Claire, Jill picked up the hoe and hoisted it on her shoulder. "I'll put it away." She walked back towards the house and pushed the door open with her foot. Placing the hoe precariously on top of the tool pile, she turned to find Claire behind her. "Whoa!"
"I finished watering the turnips. Did I scare you?"
Jill scratched the back of her neck. "N-No. Just put the watering can away so we can go to town."
Forget-Me-Not Valley was divided into two halves by a long river leading to the ocean. The farm was on the western-half of the valley, where almost everyone lived.
"Hey! That Inn has a potbelly stove!" Claire dashed ahead and started to climb the fence surrounding the Inn.
"Claire, wait!" Jill caught up to her straddling the top of the fence. "We might not be allowed there."
"Relax, I'll be in and out in a minute." Claire hopped off the fence and walked up to the stove. Jill climbed over the fence after her.
"I've never seen a potbelly stove before." Claire brushed her fingers over the stone stove and grey sparkles shimmered from her touch.
This is what happened when Harvest Sprite Karef appeared! Jill thought. "Another Harvest Sprite!"
True to her expectations, a Harvest Sprite did appear, but he looked different. The sprite was wearing a black dress shirt with a white bow tie and a grey cap. He checked himself over before speaking.
"Yes! Harvest Sprite Tep is back in business!" Tep glanced at the two girls. "I'll become useful to you guys one day and hopefully really soon." Then he disappeared the same way Karef had, gray sparkles shining and only their gleam was left behind.
"Did I just rescue a Harvest Sprite?"
"Yeah. That would be our fifth sprite now."
"What are the pair of you doing?" Claire glanced around the stove and Jill turned to meet the voice. He was a black-haired doctor, and a brown-haired woman in a blue dress stood behind him.
Claire started to climb over the fence. "Nothing."
Jill followed Claire over the fence. "Well, uh, I'm Jill and this is my sister Claire. And you are?"
"Oh, right my mistake. I am Doctor Trent," he gestures towards the woman, "and this is my assistant, Nurse Elli."
Nurse Elli tapped Doctor Trent on the shoulder. "Doctor, we don't want to be late."
"Right, yes, yes." He turned towards the siblings one last time. "A pleasure meting you both, Claire and Jill." The pair turn and enter a building across the path.
"They seem nice." Jill noted before realizing Claire had already continued farther west into town. "Wait up!"
Claire had stopped at the end of the path but not because of Jill's shout. She was staring up a large set of stairs. Jill dashed to her side.
"Whoa, that's a big house." At the top of the stairs, they could see a gray roof and the top floor of the mansion.
Claire pat Jill on the shoulder. "Well then, race you to the top." She sprinted up the stairs.
"Seriously?" Jill panted.