It was snowing again in the Lantern Waste. Watching the crystals of ice drift down, Tumnus wondered if the same snow was falling on all of Narnia. He folded his umbrella and shook it off. Wet slush and water sprayed across the white forest floor, leaving damp droplets that sank into the snow.
The Faun unfolded his umbrella, twirling in his hand, and continued to head home. The fresh volley of the snow would cover his hoofprints. The Queen's secret police, which enjoyed "surprise inspections", on any creature they could find, had nothing to tract. It looked like he was going to havea quiet evening.
Silence blanketed the wood as heavily as the constant snowfall. He tried to remember when the forest was full of sounds, even when in the grip of winter. But those were in the days when winter had an end. The mere thought made Tumnus feel the cold he had grown so accustomed to. Shivering, he tightened his scarf and hurried through the forest.
He ducked under branches and jumped over upraised roots, quick and quiet as a shadow. The thought of a fire cackling in the den, hot tea, and his old copy of Is Man A Myth? waiting to be reread speed him forward. The cave opening to his home was in sight when a dark figure appeared in front of him. An instant later he was on the ground, head ringing with pain.
"Oh dear…" Tumnus muttered, struggling to sit up, colors bouncing across his vision. When the pain of impact subsided, he saw a goat-legged man was standing over him, offering him his hand. It was rough and calloused when he accepted it.
"I'm terribly sorry", Tumnus said, brushing the snow off his legs and looking around for his umbrella. "I really should watch where I'm going".
After his umbrella remained unfound for half a minute, he looked up and realized the person he had crashed into was holding it in front of him. The Faun blushed with embarrassment and took it from him. The goat-legged man simply smirked.
His legs were like Tumnus's, but the black hair that covered it was thicker and shaggier. His horns were far longer and curled around behind his head, like those of a ram. Tumnus quickly realized that he was not standing in front of a Faun. This was a Satyr, a wilder and rougher cousin of his race.
"I think I could forgive you, little faun", the Satyr murmured, still smirking. "I'm just perishing of thrist, you see…"
The Satyr let the words hang in the air. He tilted his head slightly and looked at Tumnus with dark brown eyes. The Faun blinked for a moment before realizing he was expected to say something.
"Of course I'd be happy to invite you over for some refreshment", he gave the stranger a nervous smile. "My name is Tumnus. How do you do?"
Tumnus's father had always told him Satyrs were quick to anger, and the best way to deal with them was to be polite.
"Tumnus, huh? Well, aside from thirsty, hungry, lonesome and cold", the Satyr wrapped his arms around himself, and Tumnus noticed they were nearly as hairy as his legs," I'm simply wonderful".
"Perhaps it would be best if we made to my home. It's just down that way", Tumnus pointed to his cave a few yards away. "But I'm afraid I haven't caught your name"
"That's because I didn't let you catch it". The Satyr grinned. His teeth were very white and only a little crooked. "I go by Belspur. Bel to friends".
"It is certainly a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Belspur"
"You call me Bel. Anyone who offers me a drink is my friend"