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Winter 17, Year 1

The final Junimo bid Beep farewell, and departed with a flash of magic. Friends of Chicken, who had seen Beep gathering wood and moving from the farm house to the tunnel leading to Calico Desert multiple times within an hour, even with Robin hammering away at the siding.

The first day the shortcut had been opened, Beep noticed a faint breeze against his ear where no breeze made sense. He ignored it as a particularly strong gust from the farm's side and moved on. However, on his way back, he felt it again around the same spot. He paused and looked around, seeing nothing in the shadows of the tunnel. It was barely two Beep's across, a Beep-and-a-half in some places, and there were no visible branching. Still, there was wind where there shouldn't be.

After dropping off the bundle of forage and shedding the blanket and boots, Beep flew back to the tunnel. (Mostly to minimise his time outside in the cold.) Once back inside, he ruffled his feathers and thick winter coat, trotting back and forth until he narrowed down the smallest area where he could still feel the breeze. It still took him several more passes before he located the source; A small crevice within the tunnel, hidden within a shadow. The natural vegetation hid it even further, and without Beep being a species specialised to be sensitive to wind currents, he never would've found it. He nudged his head through the leaves, seeing the faintest gleam of light ahead. Mindful of the sides of the crevice, as well as anything below him, he found the path generous and level.

Deep within the tunnel, untouched for who knows how long, was a cave. Three openings in the ceiling, the gaps woven over and shielded with roots from the trees above, coincided with the divots in the sand caused by rainwater dripping in. While the centre was soft sand covering packed dirt, the rim of the cave was solid and ungiving. The air was fresh thanks to the natural skylights, but this natural formation hadn't been touched outside of plants for decades. Maybe even centuries.

This was perfect.

The cave easily accessible on the farm wasn't safe. The bloodstain beneath the snow was proof of that. The farm house was easily entered or broken into, and the new nest (while lovely for the moment Beep saw it) was further indication the building wasn't private. This, however, was just what he needed. Secluded. Hidden. The entrance just barely Beep-sized even after squeezing through the knots of vines and roots.

When Beep went back to the farmhouse, he paused long enough to investigate the new nest. It looked sturdy, though smelled unfamiliar and of many humans. The details on the side were familiar shapes, and clearly done with care. Beep would love to curl up in it, but he had things to do. Tonight would be a good sleep.

It took many back and forths, much to the confusion of Robin and the Adventurer keeping an eye out for her, but Beep started moving some of the resources he had accumulated over the year so far. On one such trip, he entered the tunnel to spot a little Junimo. Thanks to the Wizard's magic potion he threw at Beep, Beep understood the Junimo was a friend of Chicken, and there were more who wanted to help with whatever he was doing.

With the help of several Junimo, over the next couple days, the cave became a lair. Barrels for future food storage, and shelves grown into the cave walls. The Junimo warped the preserved meats here on Beep's fear they'd be taken away or destroyed again, tucking them away on the hard surface away from where moisture could ruin them. Next came the central focus Beep had spent the whole time making while the Junimo set up the rest. A brazier, build from deep stone and a bowl of a mixture of metals. It didn't matter specifically; the harmony was the purpose.

Once the final Junimo left, leaving behind a promise to help if he needed them again, Beep took one final look around the lair and felt his body trembling with anxiety. He hadn't used magic like this since arriving, and he had no safeguard if it went wrong. Still, he shifted his wing away from his body and tucked his nose underneath. He felt his nose hit something hard, and after gently grabbing it, he extracted a book from the space between his fur and his wing. He carefully set it on the southern table, then reached back for another. Even as his fur tickled his nose, he kept the magic open, pulling tome after tome from some secret place. Books on magic he had been studying before he got stuck here. Now he hoped they were enough for him to find his way back. Or at the very least help his friends find him.

It was just before sunset when Beep was able to find what he needed to execute the spell. Even longer to figure out if he had what he needed. As the light began to swirl and shimmer in the brazier, his heart pounded loud in his chest.

The light began to waver and flow, gas-like as it poured from the brazier. Beep collapsed to the floor, tears pouring from his eyes in relief? Happiness? Hopefulness? Even if the spell was too weak, and he could barely hear the familiar voice of his friends, he knew he had made a huge step in getting home. And his friends were looking for him!

It felt good to hear his real name again.

This spell was just the beginning, but he'd have to work hard to find out how to strengthen it so he could communicate with them. And even harder to figure out how to return. But now he had hope.

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Some people were asking about Beep lore, so here's something for the 'B-plot' of StarDeer Valley. This has no baring on the video game side of stuff; literally the only thing that happened this day in the log was Robin finished the second floor of the farm house, but I figured I could use this dull day to fill in some details and hints about Beep.

Also I spent literal fucking hours individually building that fucking room. Every single sprite, placed by hand. Searching for the right ones, readjusting placements, editing some together. I don't care if nobody gives a shit about the lore part, I'm just proud of the background.

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Things different from canon; (AU???)
Gramps never had an heir, or they never show/ed up.
Special new farm map; Frontier Farm!
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, so I’m learning as I go. (Please no spoilers if you play SVE)