Somewhere in the distance he heard the piercing scream of a fox. It was cold despite his old blanket. He hadn't dared to lit a fire. The chance that he might be seen were still far too high. They could still catch up with him if he wasn't careful and chose the right paths and shortcuts.
In fact, he hadn't want to sleep at all, but clearly his body had had other plans. After running for so long, he had simply collapsed into the bush, burying himself from sight in the fresh, green leaves. The ground was dry and the leaves would protect him from rain. He fell into restless slumber, haunted by unsettling dreams.
He wasn't exactly known for being a nervous person and it wasn't the first time he had been on the run. But this time felt different. Pulling up a few signs here and there… that was nothing, but this…
He clutched the blanket until his knuckles whitened.
He hoped none got hurt.
About 12 hours earlier:
It was a far too lively city, Snufkin thought to himself as he absentmindedly wandered towards its centre. People fussed about in a certain way that made him think that they were preparing for some big festival or the like. The buildings were being decorated with fine garlands and flowers and creeps were sweeping the streets. The air hung mild and smelled of burnt sugar. Someone was making candy. The smell was so delicious that he began looking around for the candy maker, but couldn't spot him. Instead he noticed that some of the inhabitants were staring questionably at him, as if asking: "Why aren't you helping?" Snufkin grunted and disappeared into the shadows. As he kept walking along the walls, a Sniff-like creature scurried past him with a whole load of goods in their arms.
"Excuse me!" Snufkin. shouted The Sniff-kind were usually friendly so maybe he could ask it what was going on.
The creature stopped abruptly and in doing so, accidently dropped all its things to the ground.
"Oh no!" it cried and at once he was on all four to collect them again. Snufkin walked up to him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you."
"It's allright. It happens all the time." The creature seemed to have trouble collecting his things as well. Each time he succeeded in picking some of them up, he dropped something else. And when he bent down to pick that thing up, he dropped everything and had to start all over again. The creature whined and fussed nervously with its frantic paws.
"Can I help you?" asked Snufkin.
"Oh." The creature looked up at him, a big smile forming on its soft face. "Yes, please!"
They ended up sharing the stuff between them and started walking again.
"Where are we going?" Snufkin was carrying a box that smelled of newly baked buns, and on top of it a spiderweb of entangled ornaments and layers of purple silk.
At least none is staring now, he thought with a huff.
"Sorry, did I forgot to tell you? I am to deliver these things to the baker house close to the mansion."
"What mansion?"
The creature looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know?"
Snufkin shook his head.
"That was why I stopped you. To ask what everyone here is preparing for."
The creature lit up as realization dawned upon him.
"Ah, I see! You're not from here? Well, it's the major's birthday today and there's going to be a big garden party at his mansion tonight! There'll be champagne and food and fireworks and a speech and…" he went on talking but Snufkin only listened with half an ear after the mention of "garden party". It was partly because he felt like he had to lead the way, even though he had no idea where this mansion or baker house was. The little creature would often run into the street with no thought whatsoever and nearly being run over on several occasions, had Snufkin not pulled him out of the away. They crossed a square with a huge statue in its middle.
"That's him!" the creature cried and pointed. "The major!"
Snufkin looked. The sunlight marked the statue's silhouette, where it towered over the other nearby buildings. This stone version of said major was a tall, rather lean figure with long, looming ears and long, neat whiskers. Yes, they had even cared to make the whiskers out of stone. It was a fine piece of work.
"What's he like, the major?" The statue might look nice, but Snufkin always carried a certain scepticism towards authority figures.
"What he's like?" said the creature. "Ehm… well, he's allright, I guess." Then he leaned closer and whispered in Snufkin's ear:
"It's his guards you want to look out for!"
"Hm", said Snufkin, but the next second he caught sight of high gates raising up towards the sky and he could just make out the walls of a big, white building inside them.
"Is that it The mansion?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The creature jumped up and down with joy. Of course he dropped some ornaments in the process and before he bent down to pick them up, Snufkin beat him to it and quickly handed them over.
"Thank you!"
The creature pointed to a street corner, from which the most lovely smell emerged.
"That's the baker house!"
"Yes, I see that." Snufkin had noticed it already. A sign in the shape of a huge pretzel waved at them, and towers of bread and cinnamon buns tempted them through the windows. The house itself had a yellow-ish colour, bleached by many years of weather and resembled nearly the colour of a light baguette.
The baker came out to greet them and Snufkin got a small paper bag of fresh buns as thanks. That was a most welcome gesture, since Snufkin hadn't have anything to eat that day yet, except for a very light breakfast consisting of nuts and oatmeal.
"Are you coming to the garden party tonight?" asked the creature. "It starts at six!"
Snufkin hadn't really thought about that. Truth be told, he wasn't too uninterested. Exploring other places were part of why he traveled so much, after all.
"I don't know. Maybe", he said thoughtfully. "Does one need money to come?"
"Entrance is free", said the baker. "But the food and other activities inside usually costs."
Snufkin didn't mind that. Of course, to afford food might have been nice, but he could always eat before going.
He decided that he would take a stroll by the gates at six o'clock. If the party looked inviting, he would go in. Otherwise… well, he would just pass.
With that thought in mind he said goodbye to the baker and the creature and went to search for a suitable camping spot. There was still the whole afternoon to go before the clock striked six.
Between a few high rocks just at the end of the town, he made camp. Or well, he didn't put up the tent straight away. Mainly he wanted a place to stay until the evening. He wasn't even sure yet if he would stay the night. The spot he had chosen though was discreet and hidden from any curious glances. Also, there was a small stream of excellent, clean water hidden behind the very same rocks. The pouring sound made Snufkin thirsty and he drank mouthfulls of fresh, cold water. Then he sat down on the soft grass and opened the paper bag of buns the kind baker had given to him. A delicious scent filled his nostrils. The buns were still a bit warm and when he dug his teeth into one he felt the taste of sweet, butter baked bread. With newfound apettite he gulfed down two of the buns and saved the other two for later. Smiling with content, he took out his sun warmed his face as he lay down and closed his eyes to the blue sky, while breathing out rhytmic puffs of clouds. Maybe he should put the tent up? Or maybe it could wait… If he wasn't going to stay it would just be an awfully unnecessary amount of trouble. And although this town seemed allright enough, he prefered to camp out in the wilderness. Much more calm that way and at the same time, so much more excitement… adventures, just waiting to be had.
He wasn't that far from the forest. Perhaps he should go on and set up camp there after the garden party? Yes, that might be better.
After that he must have nodded off because he woke up to the sound of music and cheers. The sun was on its way down and the moon was slowly taken its place.
It seemed like the party had already started. But the time couldn't be more than six, if judging by the sun's position. He stretched and got up. He brushed the grass off his pants and collected his things together before going off into town again.
He was met by a long queue outside the gates. He couldn't really see inside because of the high, very neatly cut bushes. Snufkin disliked them instantly. Although the music that came from somewhere behind those bushes, sounded rather nice and all around there was laughter and the sound of drinks being poured into glasses.
By the gates there were also two guards standing on each side, neither one of them looking even the slightly bit amused. Snufkin wondered if it was forbidden. They were hemulens of course, Snufkin thought to himself ironically. Large and stern-looking creatures in uniforms and they checked every guest as they went in. When it was Snufkin's turn they looked at him sceptically.
"And who are you?" one of them asked, fixing his gaze on him.
"I'm Snufkin", said Snufkin.
The hemulen's gaze searched him slowly, until it came to rest on his backpack.
"What have you got there?"
"Just my tent, blankets and food supplies."
"I see. May I have a look?"
It was not a question, but Snufkin cooperated nontheless. He had nothing to hide. He handed the guard his backpack and waited somewhat impatiently as it was searched through. When it was obvious that the bag did indeed belong to none else than a simple tramp, the hemulen handed it back.
"Allright, then. You may enter."
"Thank you."
Snufkin hurried pass them and entered a sort of organized chaos. Children were running around, waiters wandered about carrying trays of high champagne glasses with the same grace as first class ballerinas, people danced to the music, they raised their glasses in one cheer after another and in the middle of it all was a small stage, on which an orchestra played energic, rhytmic party scores.
"Would you like a drink, sir?"
Snufkin nearly jumped. A waiter had sneaked up on him without notice.
"Ehm, yes, please."
He was given one of those glasses and he took a sip. Well, not too bad, he thought. The drink had a beautiful golden colour with bubbles raising to its surface.
He began looking around for the creature he had met earlier that day, but couldn't seem to find him. There were too much people. In lack of something else to do, he slowly walked near the stage to be closer to the music. That part was at least nice.
"But Mrs Hemulen, I just want some candy! Please?"
At that small, piercing voice, Snufkin turned around and his eyes fell upon a large group of kids under the charge of an elderly hemulen.
An orphanage, he thought and automatically felt angry, even though he knew nothing about this particular orphanage in question. His own encounters with the park keeper, the tales from Moominpappa's youth and not to speak of his own, secret experiences as a child, had given him a very bad view of the whole thing with orphanages and hemulens as a combination.
The child who had asked for candy, didn't give up so easy.
"Please?" it begged over and over. "Just a polka stick, please?"
"Actually, I wouldn't mind a polka stick either…" another little voice added.
Snufkin saw the old hemulen get red in the face. A kind of face that he himself probably would have feared, had he been that young. She grunted and turned around. Looking down at the children, she spat in their faces:
"Stop that pathetic 'please'! For goodness sake, I gave you bananas this very morning! And you liked them, didn't you? What do you need some stupid candy for? It'll only destroy your teeth!"
Snufkin huffed and the children whined. But unfortunately the hemulen heard him.
"What's the matter with you, young man?" Her eyes burned into him behind her glasses. Snufkin felt only a little uncomfortable. She wasn't in charge over him, after all.
"I could buy them some polka sticks if ma'm can't afford it", he said confidently. He could, actually. Polka sticks weren't expensive. Not the smaller ones. Or he could buy them a box of candies to share. Yes, that he could afford even with his very limited economy. And it was a sacrifice he found that he would do more than happily.
The hemulen snarled.
"Such rudeness! Has none learned you basic manners?"
Snufkin frowned.
"I'm sorry, but I can't see how that's your business."
The hemulen let out a grunt, but didn't say anything. A little girl pulled at her skirt.
"Mrs Hemulen, the polka sticks you know…"
"Quiet, child!" The hemulen raised a paw and slapped the girl over her face.
In that moment, Snufkin could have done the same to the hemulen. Actually, he could have slapped her more than once and show the others what a disgraceful guardian she was. And then those poor children hopefully would get rid of her. But where would they be put instead? To another orphanage with another bitter old hag to slap them around?
He didn't hit her, of course he didn't. But instead, in a brief moment of flaring anger, threw the remains of his drink straight in her face. The hemulen gasped, shocked by the action. Her paws flew up to her head to try and wipe the sticky, sweet liquid off.
"You don't beat children", he said, shivering with tension. "That if anything, we do not call basic manners."
"How dare you…" She launched at him and Snufkin stepped away. "You're none to tell me what I can or can't do!"
"What's going on here?" a stranger's voice interfered from nowhere. Both Snufkin and the hemulen looked to their right and there stood a guard, towering over them.
Oh, why did he have to turn up now?
"Well, this young mumrik here is bothering me and my children and threw cider in my face, that's what's going on!" the hemulen shouted.
"No, that's not-" Snufkin began, but the guard interrupted him:
"Is that so? Well, then, come here little tramp-"
Before Snufkin had a chance to move away, he was grabbed by the arm and sharply pulled against the guard. He let out an involuntary "ouch" as the big paw grasped around his thin, upper arm.
"It wasn't like that!" he cried as he struggled to get free. "I only threw the cider at her because-"
"If I were you, I'd be careful with the words." The guard gave him a merciless shake, making his arm ache even more. In the corner of his eye, Snufkin was able to just make out the blurry shapes of another guard closing up. They were going to drag him off.
"I'll leave willingly on my own if you just let me go!"
"Well, I'm not so sure you should be on your own. The old hemulen here is right. You look rather young…"
No, no, no, no, no! As he realized that they might not simply throw him out the gates and then leave him be, Snufkin gave the guard a mighty kick in the crotch. The guard hissed in pain and let go of Snufkin, who wasted no time. He immediately took off at full speed towards the gates. Behind him he heard the same guard shouting:
"After him! After him!"
Everywhere guests were in the way. Snufkin zig-zagged through the crowds with one goal in mind: getting away. He pushed them aside, jumped over creeping kids on the ground and slipped in between tall people's legs. How the guests reacted to this new chaos, he didn't have time to think about. The only thing he thought about was how to get away. There were guards waiting at the gates as well. Perhaps, if he could just hide a little in the crowds, he would win enough time to climb over the fence…
Quickly, he changed course and aimed at the neat bushes instead. But he was too fast. He ran into the waiter who had served him earlier and one of them must have pulled over the nearby cresset that marked the beginning of the lawn, because then there were high screams as the grass took on fire. Parents rushed to save their children and in the midst of this new, horrible turn of events, Snufkin stopped. Only for a few seconds though, before he launched at the bushes before the fire did and frantically climbed up the fence. Sitting there at the top, he dared to glance back at the garden, his heart pounding violently. He didn't see anyone on the grass. Everyone seemed to be safe… But the bushes would soon catch fire and so he jumped down and was on the other side. Finally. The street that laid ahead of him was dark, empty and a welcome fog had settled over the town. He ran. Ran and ran. He thought he still heard cries of: "After him!" and the sound of hurrying feet chasing him. But he wasn't sure. Maybe it was all in his head. Panting, he ran into the fog, not daring to look over his shoulder. He didn't stop once until he was out of the town and protected by the trees of the forest. Lovely, wonderful forest! He stayed off the paths and walked as quietly as he could. Without knowing for how long, he walked and walked, until his body finally gave in and he collapsed in a thick bush.
Hi! I wanted to try and write a story about Snufkin getting into trouble with the law, since well… I couldn't find many stories with that as a theme and I find it quite interesting. I'll see how this turns out, although I've already written some of the following chapters so hopefully I'll be able to upload them pretty soon :)