It was 6:45 am when I finally started my day's work, which put me behind schedule, but not by a lot. I treaded over the dusty road to the chicken coop and laid out the food for the birds that occupied it, narrowly avoiding the duck that flew at me enthusiastically. I collected the eggs from the nesting boxes and carried them over to the shipping box in the corner, before thinking twice about it and taking one over to the incubator. The chickens flapped about my feet and I stepped around them to reach the doorway watching over my shoulder as they trailed out after me. I unlatched the door of the barn as Finn hurriedly shooed away the chickens and the unruly duck from the entrance. Appreciative sounds came from inside when I rung the bell to bring out the cows and sheep to the pasture, petting each one of them as they passed by me. It took me a while to clean and brush the large animals and ensure that they were well and healthy, and once I was happy with how the livestock were faring, I made my way over to the plot of land by the large lake to tend to the crops.
I cautiously walked over the slightly rotted planks of wood that acted as a bridge over the shallow stream and looked over the field. A variety of spring crops sprouted in even rows across the entire length of the fertile ground, wavering in the whispers of the wind. I stood with Finn resting on my shoulder and cherished the serenity of the moment, breathing in the delicate scent of springtime blossoms, before reluctantly dragging myself off to the watering hole. After half-an-hour of back and forth between the watering hole and the rows of vegetables, I wiped the perspiration from my forehead and looked at my work, feeling rather pleased with myself, though the moment didn't last too long; there was a loud crash and I winced at the sound, knowing immediately that it was one of the wooden boards that had fallen from the roof of the ancient, run-down chicken coop. I really had to talk to Dale about getting that fixed up.
I looked over my farm once more and sighed blissfully, setting the orange watering can down by the shipping box; stretching my arms up to relieve the ache in my back. Deciding that the roof of the chicken coop was my main priority, I skipped off over the bridge and around the large pond on the dirt path leading to the Garmon Mine district, collecting a few wild raspberries that grew in the undergrowth as I went. The trek up the rocky hillside tired my legs greatly, but I didn't mind, at least I was getting exercise, something that could never really be said back in the big city. After a few minutes, the large wooden rope bridge came into my view and I giggled, my mind flashing back to when I first arrived on Castanet Island. My first instruction from Finn was to make my way to the Goddess Spring to see the Harvest Goddess, but that very bridge over the river had been broken. Upon approaching, we had found Bo, the carpenter's apprentice, inspecting the damage and then spinning on his heel suddenly and almost colliding with us. We laughed it off and, after our brief introductions; I offered to go get his toolbox for him, which he had left in the Town Hall. The memory tugged at my mind as I advanced ever closer to the bridge. So much had changed in the few years that I had been here. I listened to the rush of the water beneath my feet when I crossed and hummed along with the melody that Finn was singing with all his heart. The first building I came across when my feet finally hit gravelled road again was the carpenter's, so I opened the door and let myself in, hearing the bell above their door chime cheerfully.
"Hey, Akari," Bo waved from behind the work bench he was standing at, and Dale looked up from the books he was writing in.
"Mornin' Akari! How can I help ya today?" he asked, a warm, amicable smile showing on his face below his bushy, blue moustache.
"Hey, Dale, I just came about my chicken coop. it needs fixing up real bad." I replied.
"Ah, so the old thing's finally given in, huh?" I nodded. Dale opened the door to the living area and bellowed up the stairs.
"LUKE!" Bo and I both grimaced at the volume of the yell. Finn covered his ears and complained about the noise.
We could hear footsteps running and a voice shouting something that sounded something like 'I'm coming', followed by a loud thump and muffled groans. Then Luke appeared in the doorway, rubbing his back.
"Yes, dad?" his voice was breathy and he was gasping; he'd most likely winded himself when he fell. His dad merely snorted at his son, before turning seriously and instructing him to fix the roof of the coop on my farm. Luke nodded enthusiastically at me and picked up his tool box, heading to the front door.
"Don't worry, Akari, I'll make it EXTREME!" he yelled the last word and I shook my head in amusement.
"I'm sure you will, Luke," he grinned at me gleefully before running off back in the direction of my farm. I sincerely hoped he wouldn't cause too much destruction. I was aware of Dale sighing and chuckling behind me.
"That boy, what am I going to do with him?" Dale smiled fondly, his expression softening significantly. I handed over the money for the repair of my coop and went on my way, nodding and smiling at the two before I left. The moment I closed the door, I caught sight of the ocean below glittering in the sunlight, and my breath caught in my throat. I couldn't believe that I had come from a place where there was almost no nature at all. Memories of the city flooded back into my head, but I shook them away, not wanting to think about it while I clambered into the mine cart and headed towards Harmonica Town.
A/N: Ahhh it's been so long I'm sorry, I completely forgot about this D: