It took Moominmama to convince Snufkin to take the medicine in coffee or tea. They kept an eye on him, just to be sure, though Snufkin was more at ease about taking it once he saw the medicine itself, knowing it was a common Fae medicine they used for serious injuries. It was probably a no brainer that they would carry some while traveling.
Snufkin had decided to help in informing the Moomin's of Fae New Year traditions to help when he was forced to "stay still".
Both Moominmama and Moominpapa were hesitant when Snufkin and Moomin told them of the deal that was made, but they were good Trolls and decided to help, of course knowing that if it helped Snufkin as well, they would do this new celebration right.
Snufkin sat on the front porch, waiting for the medication to kick in, smoking his pipe and debating how far he could travel before getting caught.
"Hello, Kitten." The voice of The Joxter made him jump, looking up and see said Murmrik lazily slide down from the roof. Who knew how long he was up there.
Snufkin gave a halfhearted glare. "Moominpapa is out."
"I'm aware. I came to see you." He sat on the railing, pulling out his own pipe.
"Me? Why, so you can steal something else for a quick buck?" Snufkin asked suspiciously.
Yes, he was still mad about the Siren scales. He had wanted to let the poor woman Rest In Peace down in the depths, but she couldn't the moment The Joxter stole her scales.
The Joxter laughed. "Wow. Still a bit sour over that? I told you, "you snooze, you lose", I thought you would've understood. It is a strange time for a celebration here in Moominvalley, isn't it?"
"Made a deal." Snufkin replied simply, not wanting to speak too much to The Joxter.
The Joxter snickered. "How pissed are The Fae? I mean, putting their magic source in the body of a youngling? What were those fish thinking? Oh well, at least the job got done and I didn't have to do shit."
Snufkin fought a sneer. He knew the timing of The Joxter showing up when he was little wasn't coincidence. "Oh? Not sure a scavenger should be worried."
"I hope you know what you're doing. The Fae have a strange sense of equal value." He hummed, not offended in the slightest.
"Worry about your own skin, Joxter." Snufkin took a deep drag and heard Moominpapa's voice from around the house. "Moominpapa is here." He grabbed the makeshift walking stick and hobbled inside to see if Moominmama needed any fish for dinner.
"You know your trade wasn't equal. They'll get what they want, Kitten. Don't say I didn't warn you." The Joxter yelled after him.
What The Joxter said still swam in his head. Even as he played with his friends, even as he was able to get more freedom as the pain stayed farther away longer. It was still as bad as Moomin warned him, he seeing it for himself when the Hemulan checked it and changed the cast.
"Snufkin?" Moomin asked, bringing him some juice.
Snufkin glanced over, having shut his eyes near the riverbank for a moment. "Hm? Yes?" He took the drink thankfully.
"I could wrap your leg if you'd like to go for a swim with me later? It's been getting warm and I haven't really spent much time with you, or the others, but mostly you alone. Would you…would you care to?" He asked nervously.
A warm feeling settled in Snufkin's belly. "I'd be delighted to." And he was. Moomin had been busy as of late and had been secretive about it as well. "Are you going to tell me why you've been so secretive? Even from me?" Just because he wouldn't push, didn't mean he wasn't going to pry. He was a curious creature after all.
Moomin's face contorted to surprise. "Oh-uhm-well-just an odd job, really. It's not all that much interesting, so I haven't said much about it." He rubbed the back of his neck and avoided eye contact for a moment.
Snufkin hummed. "If that's all. Why didn't you tell me?" He handed the cup back.
Moomin shrugged. "Didn't think about it. Thought maybe you'd be bored by it. So…see you by the beach tonight?"
Snufkin nodded. "What time?"
Moomin leaned closer, a devious smile on his lips, crinkling his pink nose. "Witching hour, of course. Bring something to swim in."
Snufkin blushed when Moomin's hand reached by his head, his face so close to Snufkin's, pulling it back with a soft look and a satisfied sigh. On his finger was a light colorful spider. Snufkin smiled too. "Why did you bother it?" He asked softly.
Moomin chuckled deeply, getting closer. "A Snufkin head isn't where it's home is. I'm simply moving the small thing. I'd like to think I'm better than that."
Snufkin opened his mouth to reply, but the soft, lovingly teasing words were caught in his throat, lost in Moomin's eyes again.
Moomin was once again oblivious to how hard Snufkin's heart beat. How he could twist, turn, forge and cut paths with just his friendship alone. He uprooted Snufkin's tree and Snufkin didn't know how to put it back.
He made sure to arrive a bit before the time they were supposed to. Mainly to see if he could wrap his leg himself. Though he began to wonder if he'd eaten something, his abdomen clenching painfully now and then. It began to happen more frequently since the markings began to appear a year or so back. But again he decided to ignore it. He had more pressing issues, like his damaged leg and his sudden realization of how his love for Moomin was turning out. At first, he had assumed it to be "best friend" love, especially since that's what they'd been for so long. With their bodies aging, so came the deeper thoughts of what it meant to love. The different kinds and reflecting on what he felt for each person he knew.
Tears blurred his vision as he went through each person he knew. Even those he'd grown to dislike. At a large wave, the memory of that woman came to mind. He knew her for but a moment, but she gave him care and truly looked at him like he was there. Like he was someone, not another mouth, not a shadow or object against the wall. He saw the emotions on her face as she had to force things on a youngling.
With a finger, he doodled what he remembered the marble looking like. Then tried her face.
"Who's that?"
Snufkin jumped and turned, heart thumping wildly, seeing Moomin with a small picnic basket, the sky behind him darkening from a pink and purple hue, to the indigo and deep blue, stars showing their beauty and Snufkin swore he saw some bathing in Moomin's eyes as the troll smiled gently to him.
He gulped. "Just a Siren I'd met long ago."
Moomin tilted his head. "I thought Sirens went extinct ?" He sat beside Snufkin.
Snufkin nodded, eyes downcast. "Yes. Now the Seas are slowly paying the price." He went quiet, years of seeing the reefs lose their color, the rivers and lakes losing their clarity, fish becoming more scarce, rocks and shells more brittle. Sea foam not as pearly white. It weighed on him.
"Will you tell me? About the Siren?" Moomin asked, trying to bring Snufkin back.
Snufkin smiled small. "I only knew her for a moment, so it won't be interesting." He was surprised to see Moomin still staring intensely, ready. Snufkin giggled. "Fine. It's not a happy story though."
Moomin scooted closer. "I like all of your stories. Even the sad ones. I'm here if it makes you sad." He gave Snufkin some space, but kept his tail closer enough for comfort.
Snufkin's heart clenched, catching his breath. He cleared his throat. "Well… I was very little. Still looked like a Mymble child. Ran from home one night and came across a wounded Siren. Let's just say I couldn't save her and soon after I heard that Sirens were officially extinct."
"Then why are these creatures after you? I've heard on multiple occasions that they've mentioned you having something." Moomin asked, worried and curious.
"That Siren gave me something important. She said something along the lines of "It will not dissolve", and "until it is needed again", something along that. I was little. Far too little to understand what I'd done and what she thrust me into." Snufkin replied, his tail unconsciously wrapping around Moomin's. He held himself. "I just wanted to be free." He whispered.
"So…you can't give them this important thing, but they won't leave you alone until you do? Do you know what the thing is?" Moomin asked after a moment of thought.
"Some sort of magic. Like The Fae's own, I think. I don't know why they want it." Snufkin stared out to the mesmerizing waves.
"Let's go to a cave to swim. I'm not the best swimmer and you have a hurt leg. I bet with the moon that bright, the cave should be a sight all its own." Moomin stood, not bothering to untwine their tails and he helped Snufkin up, who smiled at him gratefully.
Moomin let Snufkin walk himself for the most part, only lending an arm on a decline or a unstable area. Snufkin couldn't bring himself to say anything, even as his abdomen pinched a few times.
Moomin had been right about the cave being beautiful. The small crack in the top of the rock let the moonlight in, reflecting off the crystals and limestone, creating layers of colors and light, the smell of salt and water heavy as droplets landed slowly into the water. The water was so clear Snufkin couldn't even tell it was there at first.
He saw Moomin begin to unpack their midnight snack and finding a spot for Snufkin to get in.
Snufkin himself decided to dress down a bit, wanting something dry to wear to his tent later on. Moomin hadn't corrected his wrap job which meant he must've done well enough. "What's the special occasion bringing me to such a place?"
Moomin looked over, moving a few larger rocks. He blushed. "Just wanted to spend some time with you and I had the idea that maybe having a change of scenery would help your restlessness. I could leave-"
"No! I-uhm-I mean…no, you're fine. Your company is…nice." Snufkin hid his face in his hat, curling in on himself in embarrassment. He hadn't meant to shout and be so impulsive. He could've at least let Moomin finish talking!
Moomin chuckled before breaking into giggles. "What's wrong, Snuf? I wouldn't make you walk back alone."
Moomin's giggling didn't help Snufkin's embarrassment. "That's not…it." he let out quietly. He hid his face more when he heard Moomin walking towards him.
"Can you stand for me?" He asked kindly.
Snufkin chanced a look and nodded, taking his hat off, the light showing his freckled shoulders, neck, and torso. He gazed at Moomin, who looked to him as well, helping him up and Snufkin swore his heart was going to jump out of his throat and through the water when Moomin lifted him with one arm, mostly holding his good leg and allowing the other to sit loosely against his warm palm, only to have Moomin give a mischievous grin and gently toss Snufkin into the lake water, jumping in after with loud boasting laughter.
After the initial shock, Snufkin couldn't help but burst into laughter as well, especially after seeing Moomin look like a drowned bear, his longer fur being weighed down. The water was truly nice, Snufkin floating and no pressure on his hurt leg.
Absentmindedly, he zoned out staring at Moomin. Moomin had told him it wasn't age that made him fluffy. It made Snufkin curious, as not many beasts in the valley had thicker fur, not even any Moomins or Snorks. "Moomee." He curled a finger to usher the Moomin over, who of course obeyed.
"Are you hurting, Snuf? What do you need?" He asked worriedly, having his arms out in case Snufkin needed him.
Snufkin hated hormones. He had to bite his tongue hard as to not speak impulsively, not wanting to admit his instincts purred at Moomin's attentiveness. "Why is your fur so thick? I've never seen a Moomin with fur like your's." He fought his hand to not reach out to pet it, the fur already drying from being out of the water from Moomin's shoulders and up.
Moomin blushed. "Mama and Papa have a theory thanks to Too-Ticky. For awhile now, I'll wake up at some point during Winter, so they think my body tried adapting to the snowier weather to protect myself. Hence the longer, fluffier fur and bigger build." He scratched his nose a bit embarrassed, though Snufkin didn't have a clue why he'd be so.
Snufkin hummed. "Won't it make you too warm during Summer?" Pain shot up his side as he turned to float on his belly.
Moomin didn't answer right away, swimming over to grab some wood Snufkin could float along so he wouldn't push himself, then, still not answering, he grabbed a small thermos, most likely holding medicine. "I'll just have to cut it down or brush well. Papa said it's supposed to be hot. Here. Floating only helps so much." He poured the serving in the lid and handed it to the reluctant Murmrik.
Snufkin must have subconsciously let out a pout because Moomin smiled at him fondly and snickered. "Please?"
Sometimes Snufkin had to think. 'I'm too soft on Moomintroll', as he downed the medicine, scrunching his nose after, though it was worth it, having Moomin run his soft knuckles against Snufkin's cheek, both in a way, unaware of how intimate the act.
"Why don't you let us whittle you a walking stick? That one is a sad one, Snuf." Moomin said as the dawn began to brighten the sky and they walked back to drop Snufkin off to his tent, Moomin on high alert, even though he tried acting nonchalant.
Snufkin let out a big yawn. "If you'd like to, Moomin. I would only need it until we find out how to fix my leg."
"Are you sure we can trust their word?" Moomin asked, slowing his pace so Snufkin would have to as well.
"Not much, I'm afraid. They don't lie, but they value equal exchange. A celebration, even one such as this, isn't equal to healing a shattered limb. Even if it was, there's no magic or surgery I know of that could heal it completely. So…I'm not sure what kind of information they'll give you." Snufkin spoke solemnly.
"I already promised you I'd find a way before Winter. So…do you at least have some trust in my word?" Moomin asked, obviously nervous to know what Snufkin thought.
Snufkin's answer was slowly swiping his tail under Moomin's nose, the troll seeing the yellow ribbon still tied to it and broke into a bashful grin.
Snufkin chuckled and went to bring up another conversation when Moomin's smile dropped, sniffing deeply with his attention forward. Snufkin tried doing the same, but his nose wasn't as keen as Moomin's.
"What is it?"
"I smell blood." He said hesitantly, putting one arm out in front of Snufkin.
"Something might be hurt. Come on." Snufkin pushed by Moomin, who decided if he couldn't stop Snufkin, he might as well go in front to act as some sort of shield.
They got passed a few trees, the critters quiet. They both knew that was a bad sign, but trudged forward.
"I'd prefer you stay back, Snufkin. Something is wrong." Moomin looked over his shoulder back to the Murmrik.
Snufkin gulped. "It's my tent. Besides, I've seen plenty of things while traveling. I'm not fragile, Moomin."
Moomin took a deep breath. "We're talking about this later."
Snufkin didn't reply as they both kept walking. Only when his tent came into view did Snufkin smell the heat of blood. Fresh. He heard his instincts telling him to halt, but the stubborn and curious side of him urged them both along.
Blood droplets left a trail to inside Snufkin's tent, his body feeling heavy and sluggish with cold sweat and nausea.
Neither heard anything, so it had to be decent to assume it was safe to peek inside.
Moomin's breath hitched in horror as when Snufkin peeked, he froze.
On a familiar staff, white eyes even more faded, once mossy skin, now so covered in gore it looked like dust covered fake plants the Fillyjonks would use.
It was The Fae leader and along the sides of Snufkin's tent, hooked up, were The Fae's wings. In a panic, Snufkin looked to the bloodied staff, seeing no magic marble. The Fae magic marble wasn't there.
Snufkin gripped the walking stick with all his strength. Pain shot through his abdomen, it felt like electricity throbbing against his guts.
Blinking rapidly, even through the horror and pain, he saw his things strewn about. He couldn't tell yet if anything was missing, but someone had done this.
He wanted to run. He wanted to get away. He had to. Someone was trapping him. They knew his tent. He didn't want to be trapped again.
'Run' his instincts screamed.
Snufkin couldn't move. His eyes strained with how wide they were, his body taunt as his abdomen and leg throbbed with it. He wasn't sure what Moomin was doing, his attention solely on the old being in front of him, his nose becoming clogged with the scent of blood and flesh. His breathing became ragged and frightened.
'Run…'
Snufkin let out a whimper turned sob.
He couldn't run.
He couldn't hide.