The next thing Snufkin remembered was being outside, downwind as to not smell the carnage from his tent. He didn't flinch at the steps coming behind him, knowing the heavy footfalls was Moomin.

"If there was anything irreplaceable, it's gone." Moomin's voice was sympathetic. "Come on, I have an idea." He held a paw out, Snufkin taking it gratefully, his body weary.

Moomin hurried them across the other side of the shore, to where Moominpapa's boat was tied. "Actually…come inside. We need to pack a sack. We're getting you out of here."

It might've taken Snufkin a bit longer to react than he would've liked, but he listened. "Why? Why send me away by boat?"

"Don't play dumb, Snufkin." Moomin gave him a tired look, almost pained.

"What about you?" Snufkin asks as Moomin tosses some necessary bags into the boat. Mostly a spare tent and some replacements for things Snufkin had in his own pack. He had been so lost in his thoughts about whether to say goodbye or to even leave at all when they were at Moominhouse, when the thought occurred to him.

They both knew who it was that did it. Really there could only be one.

Snufkin wasn't sad for The Fae leader. No. He was frightened. Frightened for himself…and for those in the valley.

"Will he leave the Valley if he knows you're not here?" Moomin asked, not looking at Snufkin as he made sure Snufkin had what he'd need.

Snufkin gripped Moomin's paw, having a feeling Moomin would stay. "C-come with me this time. If-if he thinks someone knows where I went, he won't be merciful. Especially since he knows we're close."

Moomin released a humorless laugh. "The one time. The one time you ask me to come with…" he didn't dare look to Snufkin as he held his paw out to help Snufkin get inside.

"Moo-"

Suddenly Moomin's eyes widened and he lurched forward, bringing a paw up to his shoulder. He hissed at the pain and Snufkin tried moving to see what happened, when he gasped, seeing the albino pointing another arrow. "NO!" He pushed Moomin out of the line of fire, which worked in the next arrow landing in the sand.

Faeden snarled, taking out another and aiming at Moomin.

Next thing Snufkin processed other than that blanket of rage in pink eyes, was landing harshly into the boat and light blue eyes looking at him determinedly before Moomin pushed the boat far out into the water, hissing as another arrow hit his back.

"M-Moomin!" Snufkin yelled, trying to get passed his cast and bags and get to Moomin, who didn't see their assailant running at them from up the hill, a large hunter's knife in his hands.

Noise stuttered out. Muffled to his senses. The timing of the waves and the horror of what he saw was about to happen, was both astonishing and heart wrenching.

He couldn't even bring himself to close his eyes as a wave assisted in pulling him farther and the last thing he was close enough to see, was the glint of a knife as Faeden stabbed Moomin in the chest.

6 Years…

"Papa! Papa! Look what I found!" A scaled youngling ran up to a resting Murmrik, holding a smooth, light green rock.

They had caught some large fish, a rarity in recent times. The Seas had gotten worse and ever sense Faeden had control over The Fae magic, Snufkin could see how brittle the forests began to look, as if on the constant shift of late Summer, turning Fall.

Turned out, Siren and Fae magic was vastly different. As The Fae had an item, Sirens were the power source themselves. So embarrassingly, that "marble", was a Siren egg that needed to wait till Snufkin was of age before it could start growing in his belly. Literally. A Mymble doctor ended up helping and since then Snufkin was a Papa to a Siren youngling. The only one. Even each Hemulan doctor he'd spoken to was baffled and when he'd actually spoken to Mymblemama, because of course he'd ask HER, she shrugged and suggested it was because of his Mymble genes.

Snufkin sighed, yawning largely. At least he found a Hemulan obsessed with extinct beasts, so he even explained a Siren's role and why his Youngling looked more Murmrik than what Snufkin remembered them looking like and how they were like "gardeners" of the waters. An example the Hemulan decided to use was using a watering can to water flowers, versus scooping up the water to water the flower itself.

"It's lovely, Toivotroll. Don't forget to get plenty of water. We'll be passing an area where it's sparse." He shook his head to the grinning child.

Toivotroll, he had named her. She was no troll, but he still wanted it part of her name. He hadn't went near Moominvalley since that night, believing his Moomin wasn't there anymore. He couldn't bear to think of going back. No matter how his heart clenched at wanting to see Moominmama and Moominpapa. Snorkmaiden. My. Even Sniff. But this was safer. With the albino on the search for him, he wouldn't be terrorizing Moominvalley.

"Okay, Papa! I'll fill the canteens." She waved, her belly light and back covered in greenish scales. She had webbing on her hands and feet, as opposed to a tail. Her eyes were black with caramel brown irises. He had used the ribbon Moomin gave him to tie up her long hair, sea-foam green it was. She was around 5 years of age, still figuring out what she could do.

He sighed, using that same old walking stick to assist him. He stared at it for a bit. He missed the Moomins. Maybe they would…visit…if the Moomins were still there. He had to go more North to find someone to assist him in finding a new, durable prosthetic leg anyhow. Toivotroll was getting old enough to see places he so frequented when he was younger.

"Actually, let's make our way North. This old thing is breaking down on me. Plus…it has been awhile since I've went North."

Toivotroll perked up, smile wide. "New places?! Yay!" She danced around giddily.

He smiled fondly. "Let's get something warmer for you first. It is almost Spring there up North-". he frowned, having not even realized the time of year it would be. His throat clogged up and his breath shuddered when he tried shaking it off.

Toivo grasped his hand, a sweet smile on her face, trying to comfort, though she had no clue why he got upset. "Oh! I heard there's a crew of pirates up North! Old Widow Filly said they're the only pirates who head so far up North. Do you think they'll have trezure?! I heard pirates look fer trezure." She jumped around excitedly, her light smock dancing about. She had her own tiny pack carrying her own belongings.

Snufkin laughed, taking out his pipe. "Pirates up North? Perhaps a bit, but pirates don't head too far up since even in Summer sometimes the winds can be chilly. There isn't many left, so I hear, because of the Seas becoming unpredictable."

His little one frowned a bit. "Yeah…why are the Seas so bad, Papa?"

He ruffled her hair, making it a mess, it coming loose. "Just an accident that happened a long time ago. It's nothing to worry about for now." He wasn't necessarily guarding her from it. She was only 5, he wouldn't dare put the weight of the Seas on her shoulders. When they figured it out, then they could go forward. Though it made him wonder if Sirens had to teach their young the ways to keeping the Seas healthy, or if it came naturally. 'Moominmama would have it in her book, I bet.' A small voice said in his mind.

With that, she smiled and began to babble again.

They were able to get her something warm, including pants. Apparently his youngling wasn't wrong. There were plenty rumors of a crew more North, even some saying they were hunting someone or even on a vigilante spree, whatever that meant.

The two sat around the fire, enjoying some fire roasted fish and vegetables, even some potatoes that a merchant had extra of.

Laughing, he had to warn her multiple times of eating slowly.

"I see you have an extra fish. I could take it off your paws." A familiar, lazy voice spoke from above them, causing Toivo to gasp and jump to behind her Papa and Snufkin to let out a warning noise as he looked up to The Joxter.

"No. That fish is for Toivo when she wakes up. Catch your own meal." He felt his tail swishing agitatedly.

The Joxter tilted his head. "Never saw you as the parenting type. Or, like the Woodies, are you babysitting?" He blew smoke towards them.

Snufkin didn't grace the question with an answer. Seeing creatures he knew, was hard. Besides, it was none of The Joxter's business.

"Papa, who's this?" Toivo asked, peeking to see the Murmrik who'd jumped down from the branch he was on.

"Papa"? You did have a youngling? Huh, I always thought you'd pair with the Moomintroll you were pining over." The Joxter shrugged, reaching for the fish anyway, which resulted in Snufkin yowling at him and scratching his paw away. "Ow. Didn't have to-"

"One. Leave me and my youngling be. Neither of us are your business. Two. That fish is her's for breakfast so don't you dare. Three. You have no right to insinuate what I know you were going to. And four, never speak of Moomin in front of me when you know nothing." Snufkin hissed, brown eyes slit and hair raised. Truthfully, he was more hurt than angry. Even to this day, Snufkin had never felt so deeply, longed and grieved so hard as he did for his Moomintroll. It had taken him that long just to think of heading more North.

"Know nothing? Perhaps, but Moomint-I mean, Moominpapa is my friend and the whole valley has been worried about where he is and why you haven't been back." The Joxter said after a bit.

Snufkin froze. "Wait. M-Moomin isn't…isn't dead?" His voice shook as tears threatened to burn his eyes. He'd thought…

His throat clenched and he felt Toivo rub his back, confused, and Snufkin felt guilty for letting her see him like that.

"They got a letter from him once after you disappeared. Saying he was okay and looking for you or something. That's all the indication they got that he was alive." The Joxter poked at the potatoes he stole.

"Papa?" The Siren child asked.

Snufkin jumped, looking down to his sweet youngling. She technically wasn't "his", but it felt that way. He smiled at her, still shaky. "I'm alright, Sweetling. Just…just heard some big news. This is The Joxter. Your…grandpa."

Her eyes glinted in curiosity, running up to The Joxter, thinking it was safe, though Snufkin was ready to pounce should his father get ideas. "Grandpa? I didn't know I had one of those!" She walked around The Joxter, inspecting. "You're shorter than Papa. Wow~!"

The Joxter looked back, a bit uncomfortable being crowded by the child, but putting up with it.

"Toivo. Bed. I'll be in in a bit." Snufkin said, sensing Joxter's unease.

The Siren pouted. "But Papa…" she looked at him with large eyes.

Snufkin smirked, finding it funny. "No, Sweetling. Better yet, go for a swim, your gills aren't looking well."

She perked at that, not wanting to sleep yet, and ran towards the river, jumping in. "Wahoooo!"

Snufkin chuckled before turning his attention to The Joxter. "I hope you know she's the only Siren left that we know of. If you lay a harmful paw on her, I swear, I will go feral." He stared The Joxter down, who smirked.

"Alright, Kitten." He put his paws up. "I'm not gonna. I am surprised at how protective you are though. The aloof Snufkin, a Papa." He snickered, making fun.

Snufkin took a deep breath, rubbing under his sternum, where the scar was and tried calming. "It's not that simple. I can't put her under that kind of responsibility. She has to figure out how to do it herself or I'll find a book, but I'm not letting her know how serious it is." He looked down and away. He didn't want her to have his childhood. He wanted her to have Moomin's childhood. Full of love and adventures and friends.

The Joxter hummed, smoking his pipe and relaxing by the fire. "You should go to Moominvalley. You're far too tense. You owe it to The Moomins at least…right?" He side glanced Snufkin with those icy blue eyes.

Snufkin sighed. "You spending the night?"

The Joxter nodded. "I wanna get to know this little Siren who's my grandkit." He gave a toothy grin.

Snufkin let his mind wander as he stared into the embers. He was missing his friends…if they still considered him that. He missed Moomin…

It took a few days, even with Toivo's growing excitement spurring them faster, even as Snufkin hid his nerves and anxiety. He was nervous. He didn't know who was there and who had left. They came upon a hill and he stopped her from running down it, trying to fix her hair to distract himself.

He looked around to the familiar scenery. He saw the bridge, his heart hurting painfully.

He took a deep breath, grabbing her hand with one hand and his mouth organ with the other. He decided to play an old tune, hoping he hadn't destroyed everything by staying away.

With one pull from his Sweetling, they were headed downhill, towards Moominvalley, near Moominhouse.