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Clear View

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Spring 26, Year 4

Marlon gave Beep a heads up early this morning. The representative for The Order of the Knights of Pythagoras was arriving in a few hours. They'd be checking out Avalon Farm today, then sweeping the valley from there. Once Marlon left, Krobus said his goodbyes, gave Beep a hug, then left for the mountains until it was safe to move back to the sewers. He'd been a fantastic room mate these past few years, and Beep wished him well.

The farm had every trace of habitation removed over the course of the past few weeks. No more buildings except the farmhouse, greenhouse, and the large shed up on the hill. The only traces anyone had been here were the repairs to the buildings and bridge, the sundial, and the mushroom cave. Speaking of cave, the crack in the cliff wall leading to the Calico Desert (and Beep's lair) had a clear trail left in the grass leading up to it. Give it a few more years, and it would form a proper path, but for now the grass erosion would lead the monster hunters right to his egg and the beacon spell it powered. Beep had already cleaned out the cave except for the brazier, tucking everything necessary into his spacial pocket and giving the stored food and supplies to Krobus. As he did a once over to make sure he hadn't missed anything, he began collecting various rocks on the floor near the entrance. He began packing them into the thin crevice leading to the cave, tighter and tighter, until he couldn't pack a single pebble more. He used the Return Sceptre he'd bought from Krobus to warp back to the farmhouse, then walked back to the path to Calico Desert. He stopped where the crevice was, pulling the vines back over the disguised hole and used his wings to sweep away any sign of travel along the tunnel. A second warp back to the farmhouse, and Beep let out a heavy sign. Marlon knew that cave was there, and that it was important to Beep. Hopefully it would remain hidden while Beep was away.

Beep gave a hearty stag roar, a call to the Junimos he knew had been waiting around the farm. As Beep walked off the farmhouse steps, he gave it once last look. The interior had been cleaned out completely for a few days, save for the nest bed Robin, Marnie, and Maru had put together for him. Last night Marlon had helped him drag it outside, and Beep passed the ash pile as he took the southern path down towards Cindersap Forest. With every step, weeds, grasses, and trees grew more abundant. By the time Beep stepped off the property, nature had reclaimed Avalon Farm. He'd be back, one final time.

The only place Beep knew was safe from the monster hunters was Ginger Island, so he started walking towards the beach. Down the path South through Cindersap Forest, avoiding Pelican Town, and heading East through Blue Moon Vineyard- but he paused. Sophia and Scarlett were talking in front of the big red truck parked in front of Sophia's house. There was a picnic basket on the ground between them. Scarlett noticed Beep in the corner of her eye, and waved to him. Beep's tail raised in a happy wag in response, ears perked towards the two ladies with curiosity. They both smiled at his reaction, then started talking quietly between them as they kept looking at him. Beep picked up a hoof tentatively, still looking at the pair. When Sophia beckoned Beep over, his decision was made for him. He trotted over, deciding this was far enough away from Avalon Farm to spare a few minutes to say hi to some friends!

"Scarlett's taking her dad's truck up the coast! We were going just the two of us, but then we started talking. I can put some stuff in the back to make it more comfortable, but... Want to come with us?" Sophia was practically bouncing with excitement.

Ordinarily, Beep would say yes just for the fun of it. Today, he needed to get out of the valley, so while the reason changed, his answer remained the same! Beep bleated excitedly, tail wagging as he bounded around the truck in a clear "Yes!". Beep hopped up into the bed of the truck, eliciting a duet of laughter, and laid down to wait. Scarlett packed the picnic basket in the truck while Sophia went back inside to grab some things. Mostly a few moving blankets she had laying around, and a canvas tarp with rivets around the edge from behind the seat of the truck. Beep hopped off the bed of the truck so Sophia could lay down the moving blankets, giving padding between the hard surface and the deer who immediately hopped back up to lay on them. As Beep laid his head down and got comfortable, Sophia and Scarlett laid the tarp over him. They began tightening a rope through the rivets to the edge of the truck bed, forming a cover to hide the deer. Once the canvas was taunt, Beep tried to lift his head again, and found the tarp secure. However, his antlers still passed through the material, unrestricted and very visible.

"Oh, that could be a problem."

Beep snorted, and the antlers began to flicker, then wisp away like smoke. He was far enough forward (and facing towards the front of the truck) that neither of the ladies saw his blue clips, but the disappearing antlers still had them in awe. Over the years the townsfolk had learned Beep's antlers were intangible, either through trying to touch the crystalline antlers, or Beep just not noticing they were clipping into things (and people). This was a new one though. Regardless, Scarlett put the tailgate up, and Beep settled down for the ride. The cab doors closed, the truck started up, and they were off.

The drive there wasn't terribly long, maybe an hour, but without the sky or visual movement, Beep found out very quickly he could get carsick. Thankfully, he was able to hold back the nausea, but it was a tense battle. Once the truck was turned off, and the tailgate opened, Beep scooted backwards.

"Wait! We can undo the tarp!" But it was too late, and Beep fell out of the truck in a mockery of a breech birth. "Silly Beep!"

Beep stood up, his antlers flickering back on, and shook himself out. This was a whole new area! A long narrow strip of land (peninsula???) reaching into a mangrove, ending in a lighthouse. Beep shuffled close to the truck, looking around cautiously, but Sophia confirmed they were alone here. Beep would be safe. Standing upright to give one final look around, mindful of the pair near him, he dropped back down and gave a pleased wag of his tail. Sophia and Scarlett began walking towards the lighthouse at a leisurely pace, Beep trotting around and looping back, occasionally dropping into spurts of running before digging his hooves in and trotting around some more. The open space left the wind unimpeded, and the sky was clear all around the lighthouse. As Sophia and Scarlett laughed and smiled in their conversation with each other, Beep trotted back towards the truck. He turned, then dug his back hooves into the dirt. Bolting forward, he opened his wings wide and gave a few flaps, before leaping up into the air, beating down to get airborne. Sophia and Scarlett ducked, even though Beep gave plenty of room that his wings wouldn't have even grazed them if they were standing. Higher and higher he climbed, then spread his wings out to catch a thermal to glide on. The view was amazing, mangrove trees as far as he could see! Even after circling around the lighthouse and looking down at the two small figures walking along the path, the road they took here was almost hidden by the thick trees along the mangrove's edge. Beep had flown over the valley enough times to have every landmark memorised by heart (hart), but even then there were still mountains on one side, and a sea on the other. There was something about this space that just felt freeing. It reminded him of flying with his fledged mate, while their grounded noodle watched, happy they were enjoying time together. He'd see both of them soon, and the two little ones.

Beep remained in the air for as long as he could, while Scarlett and Sophia stood on the lighthouse balcony. The pair shared a lunch, watching the deer fly around and looking at the trees, until eventually the sun began to set, and it was time to go. Beep finally landed after four hours (he'd taken small breaks, before going right back to flying), and flopped onto the ground as the two ladies undid the tarp just enough so Beep could clamber back into the bed of the truck. He was asleep before they could even put the tarp back on, head settled on the moving blanket, antlers turning off automatically.

When they arrived back at Pelican Town, Beep was still sound asleep. Rather than wake him, they left the tailgate open, and the pair went into Sophia's house for the night. Hidden away on the vineyard, Beep dreamed of black wings dipped in gold.

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Things different from canon; (AU???)
Gramps never had an heir, or they never show/ed up.
Stardew Valley Expanded; new maps, new NPCs, new events, a LOT of new stuff.
The new “Farmer” is just a Weird Ass Deer. NPCs will respond/react accordingly.

This is my first time playing Stardew Valley Expanded. Please no spoilers if you play SVE.