Chapter Text
Snufkin felt a hand gently being placed on his shoulder, despite his nature of wanting to run away he didn’t want to be rude. “What do you mean by that Snufkin?” He heard Moominmamma ask him. It started to feel really hot under her hand, not just under her hand but his whole body started to heat up, sweat ran down his face. Swallowing the lump forming in his through and managed to reply “Mamma, I really think this is a story you won’t like to hear, it’s kinda dark.” Looking only to see Moominmamma’s gentle eyes “Honey you do know you can tell me anything I won't get mad.” She said while gently rubbing his back.
He really had to think about this, and the dull throbbing pain wasn’t helping him focus on what he needed to do. Skin that stretched, pulling on the stitches, making him painfully away about the stitching on his shoulder. Bringing his other hand up to rub around the cut wincing slightly, “Alright, as long as you don’t tell anyone else. Mamma, promise me.” Looking up to see Moominmamma nodding giving me plenty of space to think about where to go next, boy am I grateful for her. Taking a deep breath in “Alright the first time I died it was after the second year I left Moominvalley-
-Snufkin has just made it out of moominvalley a little late, the snow has already started snowing before he was even able to clean up camp. Snorkmaiden was the one to help him pack up, she was heading over to the moomins to hibernate with them. If she didn’t droppe by he would’ve been at the campsite three feet under snow, that by no means would be good. But even though he was out of the valley it did not mean he was out of the way of the cold, it’ll be about three more days. As the moon got higher in the sky the level of the snow showed no sign of stopping. Now it was quickly making its way up to his knees, that’s it, he needed to find somewhere to get out of this snow. Looking around everything was so white and unrecognizable, but a cave soon showed itself. Scrambling over the frozen bushes and around the tree trunks to get to the mouth of the cave. Tripping on a low hanging branch making him stumble in, it wouldn’t be that bad on it’s own. But right as Snufkin hit the cold floor a wall of snow fell covering the entrance, making everything become dark and freezing.
With redin fingers Snufkin tried to make a fire with the kindling in his pack and whatever branches he was able to find. There must’ve been someone who camped here before because a small pile of logs were stacked closer to the back. It may only last a few weeks but with luck he won't be in here for more than a few hours, but that thought was quickly shut down as the faint light of the sun shone through the restricting snow, blowing into his hands, rubbing them together, then putting them closer to the fire, but nothing seemed to warm them up. By the looks of the dark blue his fingers where turning, frostbite was setting in, despite the low burning fire.
Stomach growling, reminding him that he hasn’t gotten any food since he left the valley. With less mobility in his fingers, dumping out his bag was the best option at this point. Sorting through his inventory there were a few small jars of different jams, one jars of honey, coffee beans, tobacco, and a now frozen water bottle. While those were his only food items among it was his pipe, pan, tarot deck, fishing rod, and a few other essentials. Normally food would be gathered when he walked, but with no other sources he was forced to separate them out, in the end there was enough to last two weeks, three if needed.
He spent many nights puffing on his pipe, it warmed him, and was a good way to ebb of the growing hunger. Others were doing readings, none of them looked good, or just sleeping. Once of what he thought was a day, he tried to dig at the now ice wall until his long past frostbitten fingers bleed.
After what he could only tell to be two weeks the fire wood ran out, somehow he was still going as after three his food. Giving up on tarot readings because all he was able to do was lay and smoke. But even that didn’t last long, he ran out of tobacco only two days later.-
-Snufkin didn’t even need to finish his story, it's not like he could. Moominmamma looked like she was on the verge of tears. Making him instantly regret telling her. There was no doubt that mamma noticed him recoiling, so whipping her eyes “Thank you for telling me.” She gave Snufkin a tight hug “Now you look tired, please lay down and get some sleep.” Nodding and doing as told, mamma moved some hair from his face before covering him with a blanket.
While this was the first time Snufkin feels safe since the start of this whole experience, sleep still didn’t come. All night the idea that ‘Mamma would talk about what he told her to the others. Make fun about him being so stupid as to get in a situation like that, or maybe she didn’t even believe the story and was laughing at him. No stop mammas not like that, she would never!’ Running his hands over his face wanting to scream, ‘how could he ever think Moominmamma would do something like that!?!’
The door was cracked open bringing his attention to it, two heads peeped in. It was Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden, and Snufkin couldn’t even but smile, “Snufkin! You're awake!” Moomin said maybe a little too loud causing his ears to ring, while he wasn’t going to say anything about it, he didn’t even have to as Snorkmaiden took that task “Hush Moomin, tone your voice down a little please?” With that Moomin put his paws over his mouth and muttered a sorry. The mood in the room was lightened from the earlier conversation, a small laugh escaped his lips. The room froze, the others two watched him with bewilderment before smiles crept on their faces. Their laughs grew stronger, but Snufkin pulled away and the laughs turned to tears. He opened his arms not even caring about distance or physical contact, at this point he was so desperate for it. The other two he started for a little before hugging him back “God I’ve missed you two.” Snufkin whimpered nuzzling into their fur. Without words they both agreed but the silence was something none of them wanted to break. But they squeezed Snufkin in their arms and soon they fell asleep hugging each other.
Maybe one day he’ll they’ll them what happened, but for now after such a difficult time all he wanted to do was be in their arms and sleep.