Chapter Text
It was Mid-Spring and everything was calm and peaceful. Moomintroll had been outside all afternoon with Sniff, Little My, and Snorkmaiden. The four were picking flowers and gathering berries for Moominmama, she planned to make a few pies that afternoon. Moomintroll decided to take a rest while the other three kept going. He curled himself up under a tree until he was just a lump of white fur and a tail.
He planned to stay like that until someone came and got him but that plan was swamped when about an hour later Little My and Snorkmaiden ran over to him and began shaking him while screaming “we have to go we have to go!” over and over.
Moomintroll sat up and looked at the two and confusion “Go for what” He yawned and rubbed his eyes, but the two just grabbed his arms and began pulling him “Bandits” Little My hissed out while continuing to tug his arm. The troll looked between the two in confusion “Bandits? What bandits?” He stood, looking around the still calm valley. “Those bandits” The two shouted in unison as they pointed to a group of oddly dressed fellows moving in.
“Oh… Bandits” And the three began running.
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Snufkin walked along with the group, stopping frequently to watch a bird or a small creep jumping around the trees. Whenever they stopped to raid he would just watch. “Snufkin” A voice hissed his way causing him to turn, it was his father The Joxter “Why aren’t you doing anything! You’re making us look bad.” He sounded angry. Snufkin just shook his head “I don’t find anything intriguing about this.” He refused to make eye contact, he knew what face his father was giving him. Joxter placed his hand on his shoulder and sighed heavily “Look I know this isn’t what you find ideal to do all day but you need to get the hang of it for when you’re older... So how about giving it a try at that next house?” For once he didn’t have a drop of venom in his voice. Snufkin looked up at him before nodding in defeat. “Fine… I’ll try it” He mumbled. “That’s My boy!” Joxter grabbed his arm and began dragging him along to catch up with the group.
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When they arrived many people had fled either back into their homes or away from the area in full. They busted door after door open and raided the house of anything useful. Moomintroll watched them walk up to their door from his window and heard them beginning to bang and kick at the door. He turned to the others who had decided to stay in the house “That’s them at the door” he informed them, Moominmama and Moominpapa filed out of the room armed with a frying pan and a gun.
Snufkin stepped out of the way as he watched them kick the door into woodchips.
After everyone had entered he contemplated just turning and running into the forest to avoid having to ever do this but he did make a promise, so in he went. There was a lot of chaos, so he followed his instincts and bolted up the stairs until he reached the very top. “Maybe there is something useful up here” he whispered to himself as he began opening each door and looking through the rooms. Taking small things like trinkets, soaps, and candles, as well as anything that seemed like it would be useful for survival. He got to the last room on the floor and opened it, to his surprise there were people in it. Little My jumped at him, biting at his arms while the rest tried to knock him over. Snufkin just laughed slightly, not understanding what they were trying to accomplish. Moomintroll had stayed back, encase they failed.
Snufkin picked up Little My by her bun and tossed her off, he then kicked Sniff and Snorkmaiden off of his feet and walked into the room, but before he could get a look around Moomintroll tackled him from behind. Snufkin felt his lungs stop working for a second, causing him to begin to choke and cough. Moomintroll jumped off of him and flipped him over, even if he was trying to raid them he couldn’t help but make sure if he was okay. When Snufkin finally caught his breath he gazed up at Moomin and-
Woah…
Moomintroll was sitting on Snufkin to keep him from being able to get away but he had no thoughts of it at the time. They sat there staring at each other before Snorkmaiden and the others entering broke the silence “You caught him?” She sat on the floor next to the two while Little My and Sniff locked the door. “Yea… I guess I did!” he beamed. Snufkin suddenly tensed and hissed, causing the three to jump to hold him down, but they stopped when they realized he did because Little My was biting his tail “Get off you little sh-” He was cut off with questions and comments “Who are you?” and “It can talk?” and “What do we do with it?” all at once. It drove him crazy, so he began thrashing around and kicking, trying to get from under Moomintroll. The three began to hold him down while Little My scuddled away towards the window. “I’M NOT AN IT” he screeched, continuing to kick “LET ME GO!” he popped his claws out and began scratching. Snorkmaiden and Sniff both got away before they could get scratched but the troll refused to let him go. “Why?” He pushed down on Snufkin’s chest harder.
Snufkin stopped scratching and looked him in the eyes again, panting. “Get off of me and I’ll tell you” He was talking low enough so that only Moomin could here him. Moomintroll slowly stood and backed away, finally feeling the sting of all the scratches.
Snufkin sat up before standing and looking around the room, placing his hands on his hips and whistling “Wanna know the first rule of meeting strangers?” He was plotting his escape, Moomintroll gave a confused but angry look “That doesn’t answer my question!” He stepped towards him. Snufkin pulled a knife from his pocket and lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Moomin “Unlock the door and I won’t stab him” his voice was low, but lacking the venom his father was able to give off in a single word. Snorkmaiden unlocked the door and he grabbed Moomintrolls arm. Running down the stairs and out the door, he doesn’t know what made him do this, why did he do this? He heard shouting after him and turned to see Moominpapa and Moominmama along with Sniff and Snorkmaiden. He knew once he got into the forest he would be home free but how much closer would that be?
“Not exactly a damsel, kiddo” It was Joxter, Snufkin looked over to him and scoffed “Help!?” he hissed. Between Moomin trying to pull away from him and the four chasing after him, he had no idea if he could make it. Joxter laughed and took out four small black beads and threw them down, after a good few minutes the beads expanded into large clouds of black smoke.
When the smoke cleared the four saw they were too late “Oh dear” Moominmama mumbled as she watched the smoke clear to show the empty path.
"Oh dear indeed"