Poppy - Stardew Valley Penny

1 - Welcome to the Valley

"Welcome to Stardew Valley!" the short old man beams at me as I survey the overgrown junkyard of a farm which now lies in my soon to be dirt caked hands. If I'd known it would be in this condition I would have lived out what was left of my miserable life selling my soul to Joja Corporation.

"House is all fixed up!" the woman whose name is some type of bird shouts from the decrepit timber farm house. "I did my best to clear out all of the wild animals for you." I attempt to smile but I imagine it looks more like I'm bracing for the angry evicted animals to lunge at me. She smoothly inserts her tools back into her belt, a refined grace to the movement. Her hair just about matches the dust covered terracotta tiles.

"Well Robin, we'd better leave them to it!" The springy old man clasps his hands together inching quickly towards the path leading to the town centre, desperate to clean his hands of this rundown property. I should probably at least try to learn some names if I'm to survive here, even if the only two I've met thus far seem pretty odd. Robin tried her best at encouragement, 'with just a bit of dedication-', Lewis called it rustic. My hopes are not high.

I startle at a rustle behind me as a squirrel leaps out of a nearby pine tree, and disappears into another. I really can't imagine how grandpa was able to live here. My late grandfather in his old age struggled to maintain the farm by himself, my parents were much too busy working and raising a family in Zuzu city to ever take over. I always promised I'd come by and visit from time to time but, well, that's just not how it goes. Axes and watering cans lie discarded in a pile. I pick up what is salvageable. Carefully stepping my way over fallen logs and through the thick green shrubbery I place my tools down on the splinter ridden wooden porch. I owe my grandfather this. I'm going to make Stardew Valley farm something to be proud of.

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"I hate my life" I scream at the endless void that is Stardew Valley farm. I dramatically collapse onto the dirt, allowing myself this moment of emotional weakness. Suddenly my old life working for Joja doesn't seem so bad. I shudder, no, nothing could be worse than Joja. I've spent the last six hours clearing my way through the foliage and rubble scattered throughout the acreage. I must be nearing the edge of it. I sincerely hope that is true.

"eek!" one of the bushes squeaks. I must be losing my mind. Unless it's one of those revenge plotting animals from earlier. As I reach for my tools, prepared for self defence, I halt. The bush has two pairs of eyes watching me. Upon eye contact with this bush, it lets out a loud, high pitched scream. I let out a fearful scream in return, scrambling backwards as two small children appeared from it, staring at me open-mouthed. The girl has dark hair pulled into pigtails, she pulls on the boy's arm in an attempt to pull him away. The wide eyed boy, in contrast to his friend, looks as though he's stumbled across pirate treasure. Before he gets the chance to barrage me with questions a voice, warm like honey, echoes through the forest.

"Jas! Vincent! Are you oka-" A woman appears, her emerald green eyes surveying the situation before piercing mine. Her tensed shoulders relax as she lets out a breath and tucks a stray strand of copper hair behind her ear. "You must be the new farmer." The children both study me, curiously peering down upon me like a new specimen.

I wipe the sweat beading on my forehead, nodding as I make a weak wave of my hand in acknowledgment.

She lets out a small laugh as she takes in my position, backed up against a rock, hands still held up in self defence. At this realisation I stand up immediately, raising my head high and shoulders back. The children giggle at me. This must really be my rock bottom.

"All right then Jas, Vincent, let's leave the poor farmer alone" She ushers them back towards where they came from despite their protests. "It was nice to meet you." she says to me before moving to leave.

"Wait!" I call out to her departing figure, "I didn't catch your name"

"Oh!" She pauses and turns her head to look at me, "I'm Penny." She smiles brightly, a gleam of curiosity shining in her eyes as she disappears into the trees.