The stars are falling [Stardew Valley]

Chapter Seven: Egg Hunt (P.1)

Spring had been in the valley for a few weeks, maybe. The air was warming up and getting more humid as I started to lose track with the countless late night ventures into the mines, fishing and farming that crowded my schedule on the daily. I got in the occasional conversation with some of the others and even met a few more the townspeople but my schedule was to cramped for any kind of real discussion or hang out.

Which maybe was partially some of the reason of why I was surprised to find a crisp letter with a wax seal of the towns insignia from Mayor Lewis in the mailbox inviting me to the yearly egg festival in town square which would be happening later today. The skeptical 'trust-no-man' part of me said that it was just going to be some stupid hazing for new town members but I quickly realized how insane that sounded and started getting prepared to go.

I had fond memories of the egg hunt. There were few times I was allowed into town and helped my dad set up where to hide the eggs as I got older, it was like a treat with each start of spring. He even let me hunt for all the remaining eggs that the villagers hadn't spotted when I was younger and even though I already knew where they were all hidden I still had fun finding them and looking at the hand-painted designs me and my dad had worked on earlier in the season.

Today I would be part of the hunt. I half-heartedly wondered if I would be able to talk to my dad but quickly shut down the hope. We were never there during the egg festival, and if we ever were it was outside the borders of the challenge and I wasn't allowed to talk to him while I still lived on the farm. I bit the inside of the cheek as I thought before heading back inside to get properly dressed. I got changed quickly into what I deemed to be weather and occasion appropriate which was a simple cotton t-shirt and my normal work pants and boots. My cat mewed at me expectantly and I quickly filled up his water bowl and put in some scraps from last nights dinner into his food bowl, though he probably wouldn't eat it and wind up catching some bird for breakfast instead.

I headed back outside. The farm was in less of a drastic state then I had originally found it, with most the weeds having been painstakingly cleared and small stone pathways I found myself very proud of for making leading to the different farm areas, a small well being my only current decoration with Robin's work on the coop being laid abandoned for today's activities. I took a walk through the property, watering the beds and picking up forage for dinner and to sell later.

My schedule had become a normal for me and I found myself getting more comfortable with being on the farm as the days passed by, though I still took walks through Cindersap. Sunnyveil was becoming a second home for me. I finished up the last of the crops and with a scowl realized I had ruined my clothes. Probably should have thought that one out.

I ran back into the house and changed again into a different pair of jeans and just opted for an old band t-shirt my dad gave to me when I turned sixteen, though I had no idea what type of music the band had made or listened to their music. Maybe I should add that to my to-do list.

Deciding to not smell like a stinky rat after I found the right clothes I took the fastest shower known to man in the old tub and got dressed again pulling my hair back in attempt to hide the wetness (it did not work) and headed back outside, towards town.

The walk to town was short, maybe five minutes but I found myself anxious to go in, despite being in the town for a fair amount of the season so far I still didn't feel I was fully accepted by all the townsfolk. But in such a small town it would make sense for people to be wary of others.

As I entered the town square I saw it bustling with celebration. Balloons were tied to lamposts and confetti had been scattered around the ground for extra celebration, Pierre had even set up a stand which he seemed excited to wave me towards.