Chapter Text
Snufkin felt perhaps a bit silly. He admittedly had been a bit foolhardy, but the Mountain, so close yet so far, had excited him! He was just one day away from seeing his dear Moomintroll after over a year and his heart had certainly grown fond.
But now he was walking on in the dark, not having stopped to make camp or eat in his excitement, and still a bit too far to justify pressing on into the night.
He scanned around with his night eyes for somewhere that might be suitable to set up his tent. He wouldn’t bother foraging for plants or fishing so late at night, he could certainly last until he arrived at Moominhouse to get something to eat.
It was Moominhouse after all, and Moominmamma would undoubtedly have a meal or some leftovers that he could help himself to.
He knew it might seem unwise to knowingly eat the Moomins' food, but they did know, and Moomintroll could simply free him once more as Snufkin would free a fish from his line.
Snufkin looked forward to seeing the Troll again. Letters had been nice, but nothing could compare to the sight of his smile or the feeling of their paws held together.
Snufkin broke from his reverie suddenly as a voice called out.
“Hello!”
Snufkin blinked in surprise and noticed a campfire not far off, a figure sat at it. Snufkin drummed his fingers against the straps of his pack briefly as his tail gave a flick.
He hated this, the social obligation of it. He craved the company of Moomintroll, but not that of a random traveller.
If he didn’t say something soon though he’d be being quite rude. He gave a small sigh that he hoped the distance would drown out.
“Hullo!” He raised a paw and made his way fireside.
As he came into the light of the campfire he saw that it was a Whomper who had addressed him. They were about his age it seemed, maybe a bit older. Snufkin had been travelling since he was four but the Whomper still had a seasoned air.
“Bit late to still be walking, isn’t it?”
Snufkin shrugged. “Perhaps, but I can see in the dark well enough.”
“Hm, but you’ve gotta rest sometime, right? Why not settle down, I’d love some company,” The Whomper gave him a smile.
Snufkin conceded, sitting opposite to the Whomper and setting down his pack.
“So what brings you over this way? New wanderings?” The Whomper eyed him, watching him carefully in a way that made Snufkin feel he was a curious bug being studied.
Snufkin shook his head. “A familiar path but not an old one.”
The Whomper hummed. “Northward, up the mountain? Or veering?”
Snufkin inclined his head. “North.”
“So you’ve been up that way before?” The Whomper’s smile had dropped into something a bit less inviting.
Snufkin gave a frown. “Yes? Why?”
“You’ve just got to watch yourself in a place like that, you’ve heard the stories, haven’t you?”
Snufkin’s tail gave an annoyed flick, worried he knew what the Whomper might be getting at. “Can’t say I have.”
The Whomper gave him a hard look now. “There’s a family of Fae that live there, you must’ve missed them when you were there last.” The Whomper explained. “The valley might seem beautiful and amazing, but that’s just the kind of place Fae like to make their dwellings, draws people in, you know?”
Snufkin gave a huff at the Whomper’s presumptions, though a small part of him recalled that he had been very well drawn to and distracted by the splendour of the valley when he first arrived.
“Actually I didn’t miss them at all.” He said firmly.
The Whomper’s eyes widened in surprise at this. “You’re kidding me, right? Geez, there really has to be a better way to inform more people about this sort of stuff.”
The Whomper leaned a cheek into his hand. “Well, hate to break it to you pal, but you’re under a thrall, you told them your name, didn’t you?”
Snufkin frowned, tail flicking in agitation. “I’m not under any thrall! I come and go as I please!”
The Whomper gave a snort. “Yet you’re going back to a Fae. That’s what they want you know? That’s their whole deal. Keep travellers dependent on them in some way or another. Needing their food, making you suggestible to them, affecting your mood, longing to return to them. I’ve never seen it myself, but the fact that you’re so up in arms about it is a pretty good indication too.”
Snufkin gave a hiss. “I don’t think you know a single thing about Fae! Or at least not these ones!”
The Whomper tsked. “Wow, that is bad, I’d say you should turn around and find somebody who knows how to break a curse like this, but it doesn’t seem like you’re capable of making that call.”
Snufkin rose up and grabbed his bag. “I think I’ve had quite enough of your company.” He didn’t bother putting the bag back on, he just walked away, he’d walk straight to the Valley, who needed to sleep?
“You’re kind of just proving my point!” the Whomper called after.
Snufkin’s tail bristled and lashed at the Whomper’s words. Ridiculousness it was, they’d never met the Moomins before and that much was obvious!
He’d been quite right to not want to approach the traveller in the first place, he would’ve been better off without, it had only lost him time that he could’ve spent making his way back to his dear Moomintroll.