Chapter Text
Spring had started again and graced Moominvalley with its presence. Upon seeing the bright sun and newly blooming flowers, Moomin ran out the door as soon as he could get away. He made his way over to the bridge that ran over the river. Usually, if Snufkin were back, he’d hear him playing his harmonica from there. Today, he heard no music but raced to the familiar spot just in case. As luck would have it, the green-clad boy was there sitting on the bridge. Moomin wanted to greet him, but he noticed Snufkin was staring ahead at something, likely unaware of his presence.
Moomin tried looking in the same direction. “What are you looking at Snufkin?” He asked his friend. For the first time since he arrived, Snufkin looked at him, “It looks like someone is moving in over there.” He answered, pointing to a spot across the way. There did indeed seem to be some figure moving a box into a home built into a hill. “Let’s go say ‘hi’.” Snufkin suggested. Moomin smiled and nodded, “Ok!”
The two of them made their way over to the home built into the hill. It was a rather small hill with a door and two windows on the side of it. The door was wide open and decorated with a great assortment of flowers all strung onto a vine they did not bloom from. Many boxes and furniture items sat outside the hill house. Snufkin stuck his head in the door and peered inside. There didn’t appear to be any lights lit due to the piercing darkness within. “Hello?” He called into the darkness, starting to wonder if the homeowner had left. “Is someone th-?” A voice started to ask before a small round nose squished into Snufkin’s pointy one. The owner of the voice and small nose pulled back with an, “Oh!” It was a girl. She had green eyes, freckles, long auburn hair, and a wide-brimmed hat like Snufkin’s. The hat on her head had a round top and was decorated with a black stripe ‘round it alongside a flower and two beads strung behind it. Her hat was the same shade of blue-green as her dress, which was covered at the top by a darker cloak.
As she looked up into Snufkin’s kind face her cheeks took on a rosy hue, similar to that of the flowers decorating her door. “I’m sorry!” She quickly apologized. Snufkin only smiled softly.
“It’s alright.” He reassured her, “We saw you were moving in, so we came to welcome you. I’m Snufkin and this is Moomin.” He told her. “Hello!” Moomin greeted, finally gaining the girl’s attention. The girl in the teal hat smiled warmly. “Well, it’s nice to meet you both. I’m Lumini.” She introduced herself. “Lumini? That’s pretty.” Moomin commented. Lumini blushed slightly again,
“Thank you.”
Snufkin eyed the boxes and furniture outside again. “Boy, that sure is a lot of stuff you still need to bring in.” Lumini nodded in agreement. “I’m starting to worry if I took too much.” She tapped gently on her cheek as she eyed her belongings. “Why don’t Snufkin and I help you bring it all in?” Moomin proposed. “Oh no! I don’t want to burden you.” Lumini said. “It’s really no trouble.” Snufkin added as he picked up two chairs, “You’ll get it done a lot faster with help anyhow.” Lumini was about to interject again when Moomin walked over and grabbed a box. The girl sighed and stacked two boxes before bringing them in. She supposed there was no way she’d get them to leave the job to her, and if they were going to be her neighbors she’d have to get used to them being around.
Soon enough, the three of them managed to get every item inside the little hill house. Not only had they brought in the boxes and luggage, but Snufkin and Moomin had insisted on helping her unpack, tidy up and light all the candles and such inside. The two boys sat at the table. Lumini brought in a tray of three glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. “Thank you both again. It was very kind of you to help me out so much.” She said as she placed the tray in front of them and began pouring the glasses full. “Oh, it was no trouble at all.” Moomin said with a smile. She handed them their glasses. They thanked her.
“Lumini, where did you come from?” Snufkin asked her, after taking a drink from his glass. Lumini poured herself some lemonade. “Oh, nowhere special. I just come from a small city up north called Topkia.” She took a small sip of the drink in her hands. “I don’t think I’ve heard of that before. Then again, I don’t much pay attention to the names of places I go to.” Snufkin said, thoughtfully. “Do you travel much Snufkin?” Lumini asked him.
“Yes, every winter.”
“I see.”
“Do you travel much, Lumini?”
“No, I usually stay in one place. I planned to live in Topkia my whole life, but things changed and I just needed to get away. I think a change of pace will be good for me.”
Snufkin nodded. “I understand.”
‘Well, you won’t find a nicer place than Moominvalley.” Moomin added. Lumini smiled at him. “I can see that already. If you two are any indication, the people here seem to be very kind.”
“You got that right.” Moomin laughed.