Chapter Text
The first snow was just beginning to fall in Moomin valley. The beautiful sight of rolling hills being blanketed in a sheet of crisp white always seems to bring a strong feeling of melancholy to Moomintroll, for while the sight is pretty it also covers the fresh footprints that were all that’s left of Snufkin until next spring. Every winter Snufkin travels south from Moomin Valley for the sake of distance. For the sake of recollecting himself. For the sake of being completely alone for a while. It was Snufkin's nature. Moomintroll knew this well, Snufkin had done so since they first met, but that didn’t stop the deep pit that formed in the young Moomin’s stomach every time the weather itself was beckoning him to hibernate. To just forget his friend for the winter. This time, however, he was not able to embrace sleep as he had before. Something kept him awake every morning. Something kept relentlessly tapping at the back of his mind. Was it the farewell letter that Snufkin had left in his mailbox? But he did that every year! Was it the contents of the letter? But the letter was a mere,
“Dearest, Moomintroll, Sleep well. It is time for me to travel once more. First warm spring day you'll have me here again. I look forward to seeing Moomin Valley again in the spring with things to say and a new song for you to wake up to.
Yours truly, Snufkin”
Was it the “things to say?” What things? Had Snufkin wanted to tell Moomintroll something? What was it? Was it the fact that instead of “Cheerio,” he wrote “Dearest, Moomintroll?” He always wrote cheerio! Why had it change? Did the young Moomin do something wrong? And what's with the comma and why did Moomintrolls heart do backflips when he thought about it? Why did Moomintroll heart do backflips when he dared to think about how long Snufkin stayed when in previous years Snufkin left whenever he pleased? Why did Snufkin seem to have such a hard time leaving this year? Why can’t he get Snufkin off his mind?!
Thoughts like this invaded Moominstrolls mind previously, but they had never been this prevalent. This prevalence began to deeply concern the Moomin. Something must be wrong.
After two weeks of seemingly endless thoughts of Snufkin, the letter, his leave, and with no one to confide in this winter, Moomintroll made a decision. He’s going to find Snufkin.