When he opened his eyes again, his face was buried in white fur that smelled of berries and baked pastry puff. Possibly a bit of flowers and-taking a deep breath- something distinct he couldn't name. He blinked a few times, waking groggily. There was a calm, safe feeling over him which concerned him greatly, though his body didn't react the same.
He did tense at the feeling of a large paw scraping sharp claws through his hair, down his back and so gently having his tail fall from its palm when it reached. The action caused a visible shiver to go down his spine.
Then a deep chuckle, the paw petting his head more and he saw on the other side of the fur, another paw setting a book down.
"How're you feeling?" Moomin's voice whispered, possibly not to startle him first thing.
He moved his leg, it definitely wrapped in some sort of cast when he looked down. He wasn't in much pain, just some dull throbbing. "Much better than last time." He tensed, not having meant to say that out loud.
When he glanced up, moving his arms from where he must've snuggled into the Moomin, and sitting up, seeing Moomin with his hat on his head, it no longer fitting him right, but it was obviously to help Snufkin rest, he was almost nose to nose again.
They were in Moomin's bed, some medicine Snufkin would need, on the nightstand.
"I'm sorry, Mama didn't tell me she added a lot of the medicine. But luckily we got a better look at your leg and was able to cast it." Moomin still looked worried, which in turn worried Snufkin.
"Moomin?" He asked, trying to be eye level with him. "If it's in a cast, it'll be fine and heal, then we can play with everyone and it's still Spring so you won't have to worry when Winter rolls around." Yes, his leg throbbed achingly up to even his hip, but he knew to read Moomin sometimes and though this Moomin was new-the height, physical change, deepened voice, mature eyes-it was still his Moomintroll. He rarely was one to hide things, unlike Snufkin.
Moomin sighed, caressing Snufkin's face in his paws. He looked pained, like he wished he could take away all of Snufkin's pain as to rid him of anything unfortunate. "I don't think you realize how much medication is still in your system keeping the pain at bay."
Snufkin furrowed his own brow, confused. "I'm lucid though." He looked around, or tried, but Moomin kept his paws there.
"I know. Just…try not to lose faith when I tell you." Moomin pleaded, his grip tightened.
"Moomin…you're worrying me. I…I can't flee right now." Snufkin admitted. It was surprisingly easy. To show his vulnerability, to voice it, he only felt safe enough to do in front of Moomin. He knew Moomin would never harm him with the intention to do so outside of games.
That didn't mean he couldn't still feel his body begin to react. His hands tensing on the Moomin's shoulders, eyes flickering to find the quickest exit.
"A fracture would be merciful, Snufkin. From ankle to femur, your bones are close to being fragments." Moomin said slowly, so Snufkin could understand the weight, knowing he wouldn't like Moomin beating around the bush. So he didn't overwhelm the Mumrik with too much at once. He loosened his grip, so if Snufkin wanted to try and "flee", Moomin wouldn't be an obstacle. "That's why Mama's been dosing your body so much, to bide you the pain." He added, just so Snufkin truly understood the weight of the situation.
Snufkin, for the most part, couldn't even move. How was he supposed to feel? "Fragments", is what Moomin said. Meaning it would either be long work with surgery, surgery that would trap him MORE and probably wouldn't help in the finality, or…Snufkin wasn't sure, his mind still trying to keep up. "You have to be lying. Moomin, you're lying!" He yelled at the white troll, who didn't get angry. He didn't even let go of Snufkin's face.
Snufkin glared into the soft blue eyes in front of him, his own brown ones confused and blown wide in fear and disbelief, looking for the lie. "Tell me this is a lie to keep me here! Please!" He yelled louder, gripping Moomin's forearms tightly, his body shaking as his throat tightened, breath becoming ragged.
Moomin just gazed sympathetically into his eyes, knowing Snufkin had every right to accuse him of such an underhanded trick. Moomin knew he was a selfish, clingy youngling. In the Winters he ended up waking up had given him years worth of reflecting. It made him understand Snufkin a bit, made him want to learn to love selflessly, hoping then he'd never push the Murmrik away. "I wish it was." He whispered, eyes filled with sorrow.
They both knew what a useless leg meant for the Vagabond.
Snufkin's lip wobbled as he fought to keep some composure. His body shook. At some point, as they stayed silent, Moomin released Snufkin to give him space, no matter what his loving nature told him to do otherwise.
The longer he thought, the longer he took to process, Snufkin felt the overbearing weight called sorrow. Like during the comet, when the sea dried.
He began to sniffle and his composure began to crumble. He latched onto Moomin as the feeling began to be too much. He buried his face in Moomin's fluff and took a deep breath.
Snufkin wailed. Others were bound to hear him, but he didn't care. With no solution in sight, Snufkin felt trapped. He had never wanted to be trapped again…
How was he going to leave or go along mountains and lakes? Traveling was part of him. Like the ocean drying up, how was Snufkin-Snufkin if he wasn't to leave and explore? Visit others or to simply be on his own?
"Snufkin?" Moomin whispered softly when Snufkin finally calmed down. He still sniffled and hiccuped a couple times.
He lifted his tear stained face to the troll, unable to speak, his voice raw and body exhausted.
"Don't give up completely just yet. I'll find a way to make sure you can still travel alone again. I'll try…" he brushed his lips against Snufkin's knuckles, looking him in the eyes with that breathtaking determination Snufkin's had come to care for. "I'll try my hardest to find a way. I promise…" he looked around, finding a bright yellow ribbon that had been tied to a jar. He wrapped it in a neat bow on Snufkin's tail. "That ribbon is a promise. By Winter, I'll find some way for you to go on your journey safely." He made sure he was looking Snufkin in the eye, his snout so close, his words so direct to Snufkin's heart, it caused Snufkin's breath to catch.
"Y…you'd do that?" He asked breathlessly. "I thought you'd try and use this to your advantage. Not intentionally, but…you always wanted me close-"
"I do. But not at the risk of driving you farther away. I…" he blushed. "I want you to be here willingly. You're dear to me. I won't argue or whine about you leaving anymore, but…that doesn't mean I won't miss you even more terribly so." He gulped thickly, knowing the burden of what he'd confessed.
A sharp jolt of pain shot up his leg, making Snufkin gasp and bury his head in Moomin's chest, the spell they were under broken.
Snufkin's breath gradually became ragged with the pain, Moomin catching on.
"Can't…breath…"
"Here. We'll get you something for the pain that won't make you sleepy. I'm going to carry you again." Moomin got up, careful to not jostle the whimpering Murmrik.
Snufkin nodded, just wanting the dizzying pain to go away.
He had borrowed a large walking stick Moominpapa had, so then he wasn't sitting longer than what he'd like. Even though, he began to push himself not even a day out and about. It had been a week, his leg no closer to healing. He tried hobbling about, just to feel some normalcy. He was aware of My "secretly" looking after him, which he wouldn't admit he felt grateful.
Moomin had went somewhere, Snufkin didn't know where, which was odd, but if Moomin had a surprise or something to do, Snufkin wouldn't pry.
He tried walking around and as far as he could even with the pain beginning to return a few hours later. He had forgotten to grab medicine from Moominmama before heading out.
"Snufkin! Don't go too far without saying anything!" My yelled after him.
He stopped, having been in his own mind and trying to fight the pain. "I'm fine, Little My. I'm not going far so you don't have to follow."
"Don't tell me what to do." Little My grumbled. "It wasn't just Moomin you worried during all this. Not me though, I figured you got hurt doing something reckless again. But those Moomins you know." She hopped down from a rock.
Snufkin smiled at her lie. "Speaking of, who found me?" Really, telling her or asking about it to her wasn't the smartest plan.
She gave him a scowl. "I did…but I was too small to carry you and no matter what I did, you wouldn't wake."
"I'm sorry." He apologized softly, knowing it must've been a horrible sight.
She smacked his good leg. "Don't say sorry, just damn well tell me what happened. Have you told Moomin? Never mind, I know you didn't." She waved her small hand about.
"You didn't tell them, Snufkin?" A sickly sweet voice asked from above.
Snufkin felt his veins go cold and he looked up fast, almost tripping, Little My only being able to help lean him to the rock she jumped off of. His instincts shouted for them to run, but the moment he put pressure on his leg to do so, he crumpled, his adrenaline running as he felt like prey.
"Hey, who the fuck are you?!" Little My yelled, pointing a finger at the Murmrik in the tree.
"Just an old roommate of Snufkin's." He replied, nonchalantly.
Little My hummed, not believing that for a moment.
Snufkin tried standing again, failing. He hated feeling weak, like he couldn't do anything.
"Even if I had what The Fae want, I don't know how to give it to them! They've tried!" He was at his limit, beginning to sweat.
"Pfft-hahahaaaa! No, no, no. Stop thinking I'm here for that. Though, now that you have a useless limb, just return to us. You're useless to try and travel alone now, but I bet there's magic to heal your leg and they can get that little thing they wanted. See? Perfect." The albino giggled, no one could tell he was actually older than Snufkin. "Then you'll stay my lovely Snufkin, never to leave again." He spoke lowly.
"Fae-Din. What are you doing?" A whispery voice sounded near and all three looked to a tall cloaked figure coming from deep in the brush. Their skin was moss green, speckled and ears pointed, long and tilted. Their eyes were similar to a Siren, though white aside from black.
The albino straightened. "Nothing." He turned nervously, the cloaked being giving no sign of either falling for it or knowing it was a lie.
It looked to Snufkin. "Unfortunate One. It has been…a long while."
It approached slowly, Little My immediately getting in-front of Snufkin, her teeth bared. "Don't come near him or else I'll bite more than just your ankles!"
The being stared at the small Mymble, not moving. Snufkin tried speaking. "I don't…I don't know how to get you…what you want." The pain was spreading, making his mind dizzy.
'I hate this. I just want to be left alone!'
None of them were prepared for the whistling of a knife as it flew and landed by the albino Murmrik's neck, embedded deep in the bark, followed by a deep growl as some thing white and tensed came out from another area, more where the clearings and rivers were, berries in a basket against their back, hackles raised and blue eyes bright in the sun.
"Moomin! Where have you been you big fat Oaf!" My yelled, anger pointed at the still growling Moomin.
Moomin either ignored them or hadn't even acknowledged they were there. He went right for the albino, claws extended, teeth bared so much so they could see his gums. "You!"
Snufkin saw the albino pull a knife from his belt, a grin on his mouth. Before Snufkin could yell, before blows could get anywhere, a large, oaken staff with runes and a small purple and pink gem got between the Moomin and Murmrik, a small wave stopping them. The being held a stern gaze. "I came only for one thing. The sooner I find it's whereabouts, the sooner we shall leave. Cease your reckless fury, Moomintroll."
Moomin's nostrils flared, still angry, but seeing Snufkin struggle to stand, distracted him enough, his focus solely on the Murmrik. "Snuff…"
The being stared at the couple, tilting its head. "Unfortunate One. Let's strike a deal. I will end what causes you pain and in turn, a party. One of these ones I've heard so well thought of in this valley." It approached, a long skinny hand held out.
Moomin grasped Snufkin's shaking hand, glaring at The being. "Why do you want a party?"
"A party…isn't equal value…to a broken leg." Snufkin whimpered.
The being hummed. "Maybe. Maybe not. Take it or leave it."
"What kind of party?" Moomin asked.
"A Summer one." The Fae replied simply.
"It's close to the-the Fae New Year. As well for-for the Siren's." Snufkin replied for Moomin to understand, shocks of pain rippling up his leg.
"That is correct. It is not only Snufkin that we had heard of such festivities. Would your family be our honorable hosts? Or… we could allow his leg to grow infected." The Fae spoke matter of fact.
"Did you put that-that- trickster up to hurting Snufkin?" Moomin asked, trying to avoid cursing in front of Snufkin.
The Fae shook its head. "No. He acted on his own desires. Snufkin knows that as well."
Snufkin nodded, not looking at the albino as he buried his face in Moomin's chest to avoid breaking into a scream.
Moomin resisted grasping Snufkin tighter. "And you promise, you can fix Snufkin's leg?"
"I can make a deal that I will provide what he needs to not be in pain any longer." The Fae said, stretching its hand to Moomin.
"Are you sure, Moomin?" Little My asked, her face scrunched in concern.
Snufkin could see Moomin thinking hard, trying to find the lie or trick. "Fae don't lie, Moomee." He tried staying awake, hating how tired the pain made him. "Be…careful." He groaned.
He felt Moomin caress his face gently, seeing soft blue eyes beyond his own tears of pain.
"A party for a healed leg?" Moomin asked, clarifying, though it was obvious he just wanted it to be over so he could get Snufkin help.
"A celebration for a solution." It clarified itself. It's hand was in front of Moomin's face, it's own face not giving any sign of truth or trickery.
Snufkin felt Moomin nuzzle his head, just below where his hat lay. "Deal."
"Here. Give this to him once a day until the festival is over. Then, I will have your solution ready. Come." It spoke to the albino after giving the instructions, the other growling lowly, not liking having to leave Snufkin behind with Moomin.
"Come on, dummy! Let's get him back to Moominhouse!" Little My yelled ahead as Snufkin felt himself being lifted with ease.
"I saw a lovely bird today. The weather was nice." Snufkin tried making idle chat.
"Good." Moomin replied with a small smile.
There was silence.
"I hate not being able to walk. Not able to explore. Not able to think." Snufkin said finally.
"I know. I promise, we'll get you to walking in no time. Besides, Snufkin isn't Snufkin unless he has stories to tell and tunes to make. Not that I wouldn't care for you otherwise." He smiled fondly. "But I sure do care so much for the Snufkin who's eyes glitter in day and night of stories and adventures. Of tunes and songs. Of deep thoughts and a deep care for all that is around him. I sure do care for the Snufkin in my arms." He said softly.
All Snufkin could do in response, was pull his hat down over his face, hiding the blush and smile, Moomin distracting him from the searing pain.