Chapter Text
Moomintroll didn't fret about many things, what could one fret about? When everything in the world was wonderful, he understood everything in the valley well. Mamma and Papa slept in the other room, they were always close. Sniff always came over to play on the weekends, and he's only a couple years older and his fur is quite short and it's not white, but he looks similar enough to Moomintroll that he must be a friend. Although he whines quite a bit, Moomintroll wouldn't mind if Papa hadn't been so irritable about it, but he knew best, so Moomin agreed.
Moomintroll was only four years old but Mamma said you're very grown up already and he was so happy to hear it. He thought he knew everything there was to know, home seemed to be all he needed to know about. Friends came and went within the house, Moomintroll never went anywhere too far.
But he feared the unknown terribly, and that's why it rattled him so when he heard it. Something scampering across his bedroom floor, little claws sounding so sharp that it awoke him in the dead of night. It snuck in through the window, evident by warm late afternoon breeze. Moomins don't have very sharp claws, what ever could that be?
He still slept in the basket he'd slept in as a newborn, soft and full of blankets that smelled like Mamma, which he covered himself in as he heard tiny footsteps in the dark. It didn't say hello, it didn't introduce itself, Moomin felt unfamiliarly frightened at that. Mamma and Papa always made sure a guest was well introduced before he could play with them, so what was this? His fur bristled, he felt cool air on his tail, unhidden by the blanket, before he even felt the sharp little fingers wrap around the bushy end of it.
He felt that he'd leapt out of his fur although truly all he'd done was flailed and rolled away, throwing his back against the opposite side of the basket. He cowered like a small animal and his eyes went wide as he stared at what had invaded his room and so rudely grabbed his tail without asking.
Little brown eyes stared back at him, slowly blinking once. Peeking over the edge of his basket. Though, these eyes were bigger than a moomins, wider. Moomintroll had never seen a creature with so little fur, it only had hair on its head and a little on the parts of its body he could see, and a swaying tail that was thin but prickly. Unlike Moomin, who was covered in fur all over, unlike Sniff who had fur even if it was short. Never ever before had he seen someone like this. He must be so cold, did someone take his fur away? And he had no snout! How could he smell?
“...What are you?” He asked after a beat of silence, curiosity getting the better of him.
He kneeled like a real animal, wide eyes staring as he tilted his head at Moomintroll. He put one of his strange thin-fingered paws on the edge of the basket and leaned forward. His little nose twitched and Moomintroll didn't dare move.
“Back away, please.” He fretted, pressing his snout into his paws, entirely terrified of a creature who looked no bigger than he was.
He simply crawled closer, both hands in his basket now, he pressed his pointy nose very close to the tip of Moomintroll’s snout until they were touching, and it twitched once more. Smelling, perhaps? What could he possibly be smelling on him?
“Are you gonna eat me?” Moomintroll thought of the frightening words that he'd overheard from Papa, about a creepy no-good cat-looking thing who lives nearby. And once, Sniff had told him that there were terrifying creatures in the woods who might eat them both. Moomintroll pretended to not be scared, he tried to be brave, but staring face to face with the strange, suspiciously cat looking creature, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. Was this what they meant?
But then the creature giggled, his weird hand coming up to cover his mouth. He sat back with his legs out like a dog, and his tail thumped against the floor a few times.
“Eat.” He repeated, seeming to understand this one, and looked around with shifty eyes. “You have treats?”
“Treats?” Moomintroll was terribly confused.
He eagerly nodded, staring expectantly at him, and it took Moomintroll a moment to understand.
“Mamma might I guess.” He held tight onto his tail, still afraid of the strange thing, but he sat up a bit.
“Mamma.” The creature copied his words once more.
“But, what are you?” He asked again, daring to lean forward.
The creature stared blankly at him before he seemed to catch on. “Snufkin.” He replied.
He'd never heard of a Snufkin before, so perhaps It was a name. He was still dreadfully curious, but Mamma said it was rude to press someone for information, and the creature—Snufkin, seemed innocent enough.
“That's great, I'm Moomintroll.” He returned the favor.
“Moomin.” Snufkin tested his words once again.
“Do you repeat everything?” Moomin asked innocently. Perhaps, he was a creature who couldn't speak like he does, maybe he was a species who liked to mimic others. Though Moomin never heard of someone like that before. Or maybe he just had never heard these specific words before.
Snufkin suddenly glared at him. “No.” He said, and it seems he understood that question well enough to be bothered by it.
“I'm sorry.” Moomintroll whispered, the sudden mean look on his face made him rethink declaring him innocent. Maybe he would eat him after all.
But as soon as he said that, Snufkin's expression dropped right back to placid curiosity.
“You look like…” Snufkin began, and Moomintroll leaned in. Finally, perhaps he'd say something that wasn't confusing.
“Er…The—” Snufkin scratched behind his own ear and looked frustrated. “Like, the big one.” He gestures with his hands outstretched.
“A big Moomin?” Moomintroll tried.
“Moomin, yep.” Snufkin nodded, and pointed to the top of his head. “Hat as well.”
The words “as well” felt so proper from his little confused voice, which so far it seemed he didn't know that many words, that it made Moomin giggle. But he got excited at managing to understand his strange riddle.
“My Papa!” Moomintroll said, a bit loud, and Snufkin looked confused at him still. “That's my Papa, you mean!” His tail swayed excitedly.
“Oh, yep.” Snufkin gently nodded.
At Moomintroll’s joy, he seemed to grow a bit excited too, not quite smiling, but his eyes went wide. “Can I have a treat?”
“Huh?” Moomintroll’s tail ceased swaying.
Snufkin pointed at himself, like that explained it better.
“You’re hungry?” Moomintroll asked, tilting his head.
Snufkin turned his head to the side as well, mimicking him again. “Yep.”
Mamma and Papa always told Moomintroll that it was important to be kind and welcoming to everyone he meets, and he should always help those in need. Whenever Sniff or anyone comes over Mamma always has a snack for them, surely it would be good manners to find a snack for Snufkin? He wasn't supposed to wander in the kitchen without Mamma…
But Snufkin was a guest, was he not? And Moomin could do something so helpful for him, all on his own! Like a proper host! he supposed it was worth it then, it was like practice, for when he has a house and guests of his own. He tipped his head up, suddenly feeling rather proud of himself. Just like Mamma and Papa, he glowed, how exciting, his very own guest!
“I will get you something to eat.” Moomin said proudly.
Snufkins tail began to sway again and his ears twitched. Moomin swore he was about to smile. “Okay.” He said quietly.
“And we’re friends?” Moomintroll opened one eye.
“Okay.” Snufkin nodded.
“But I'm the host, okay? you have to follow me.” Moomintroll says. “And you have to behave.”
Snufkin was about to glower at him again for the implication but Moomintroll was already toddling up onto his paws. Overcome with fun ideas, he didn't waste a second before he took hold Snufkin's hand. It felt strange in his paw, he was all smooth skin and short fur, he had none of the thick white fluff that covered a Moomin. Only on the top of his head, even his tail seemed to be a wiry type of fur, not like Moomin’s at all.
He had too little fur and too much skin to resemble anything that Moomintroll was familiar with. Which at first he'd found odd and frightening, but now he was so curious, what kind of creature could Snufkin be? He's rather interesting looking when he isn't in the dark.
Moomintroll led his new guest out of his bedroom, careful not to let the door creak. Snufkin didn't say a word, he was not nearly as chatty as Sniff, but Moomintroll did not fret about it. He closed his eyes as he crawled carefully down the stairs, he imagined that he had a house of his own, and his new friend, a weary traveler who stopped by for the night. And it was Moomintroll’s responsibility to make sure he made a good impression!
Moomintroll didn't yet know how to go down the stairs without holding tight onto the railing, so it took some time. Meanwhile, Snufkin had taken to all four limbs and crawled down the steps like some sort of strange monkey. Moomin found it so silly that he joined him, although, with his shape it may have made more sense for him to do so than Snufkin.
Snufkin welcomed himself into the living room, and Moomintroll excitedly skipped after him. He considered lighting the fireplace, because Papa always did, but he didn't dare put his paws near it, he was too afraid of getting burned. His new friend stopped in the center of the room, where he stood still and looked around. He kept turning in circles, staring up at the ceiling and the walls, as if he'd never been inside before.
“What are you looking for?” Moomintroll asked.
But Snufkin didn't seem to know the words for what he was curious about. That or he didn't care enough to ask, because he simply looked back at Moomintroll with blank eyes. He was a confusing creature, that was for certain, Moomintroll never felt like he had to guess what his other friends were thinking, he'd never met someone so quiet as Snufkin. But he sort of liked it, because Snufkin listened well and followed his lead when he told him to and it made Moomintroll feel rather special.
“Come on then.” Moomintroll pushed Snufkin from behind, a look of confusion across his face as he allowed himself to be moved into the dining room.
“Now, you mustn't be loud.” Moomintroll told him, sitting him down in a seat at the head of the table. He's not sure how happy his parents would be if they saw he was looking after a guest without them, so he'd rather not get caught.
Snufkin responded with complete silence.
“Right…I suppose you won't be.” Moomintroll acknowledged, perhaps it was a rather foolish rule to set.
Moomintroll ran into the kitchen, light on his paws, and retrieved a plate from the lowest cabinet. What for, he wasn't sure yet, but he knew it was part of Mamma's routine, and he wanted to do this right, which means doing it exactly how Mamma and Papa would.
When he placed it down in front of Snufkin, he seemed confused. He was still sitting in the chair incorrectly, facing Moomintroll rather than facing the table.
“For what?” He asked. He had a very quiet voice, it didn't seem that he was able to get very loud. His pitch was not as high as Moomin's, but it was certainly close, though the way he spoke was much more mellow.
“Oh, you're right, there's no food there.” Moomintroll huffed. But he didn't know how to cook, nor was he allowed to. “Hmph. That's no good.”
But if he couldn't make food, what could he do? He had to offer something, he couldn't be a terrible host who doesn't even feed his guests.
“Oh, I know!” His ears sprang up. “Are you thirsty? I know where Mamma keeps her juice.”
“Okay.” Snufkin thoughtlessly nodded.
“Wait here.” He commands, stepping back into the kitchen.
The pitcher of lemonade was well sealed and hidden away in a bucket of ice in the mud-room. It was…Heavier than Moomintroll expected, it always looked so light when Mamma poured it. But he didn't want to look lost in front of Snufkin, so he wrapped both arms around it and held it tight to his chest, and tried not to trip on his way back to the table.
Then he set down two cups on either side for them both. He lifted the pitcher as he spoke.
“Let's pretend, okay?” Moomintroll had to use both hands to lift, and he managed to gradually fill one glass without spilling too much.
“Okay.” Snufkin nodded.
“This is my house, and I'm your host. That's why I get to pour the pitcher.” Moomintroll said. “And you are…”
He pondered for a moment. “You're a traveler.” He nodded. “Mhm, and you've seen the whole word.”
“...Traveler.” Snufkin mimicked.
“You know what that is, don't you?”
“I know.” Snufkin quickly said. “Traveler. Like The Joxter.”
“Oh, sure.” Moomintroll had no idea what that was, but he'd agree with whatever it took for Snufkin to want to play with him. “You can be that.”
He pushed the glass closer to his new friend, settling down in a seat across the table from him.
Snufkin didn't have much table manners, but Moomintroll could have guessed that much already. He'd begun drinking with his tongue before he noticed that Moomin was not, at which he quickly attempted to copy him. With both of his sharp hands around the glass and a fierce look of concentration on his face.
But he seemed to have grown comfortable now, compared to when Moomintroll first saw him in his room. He was prowling around the dark corners, watching him without speaking and his tail stayed bushy like he was ready to bolt. However now, he sat slouched and comfortable, little eyes on Moomintroll with a more tranquil curiosity. His tail hung out the back of the chair, peacefully swaying, and he'd begun to smile when Moomin talked to him, although he still did not say much. Snufkin was odd, he seemed to understand Moomintroll well and fine, but when he spoke, it seemed he had no clue what to say or where to put his words.
Moomintroll was rambling at his new quiet friend, who listened so Intently that it was easy to forget he was talking his ear off.
“See, Mamma said that moominhouse is a safe place for everyone, that's what she told the Muddler, but I heard it too.” His legs were swinging and his tail curled, remembering his parent’s words. “And that's what Moomin's do, you know, we have to always be kind and understanding to everyone we meet. We’re supposed to ‘have our hearts open for anyone who needs it’ and I'm gonna be really good at it! I need all the practice I can get, I'll have my own house and I'm gonna be just as kind as Mamma some day.”
Snufkin nodded along absentmindedly, licking the inside of his glass in search of more to drink.
“…Snufkin?” Moomintroll asked, watching him closely. “Be very honest—am I a good host?”
Snufkin made a quiet sound, some sort of hum. He seemed to think on it for a moment, which made Moomin worry that perhaps he hadn't been as welcoming as he could have been. Moomins tail poised in anticipation, he really hoped he'd say yes, he wasn't sure what it was but he wanted Snufkin to be impressed very badly.
“I think so.” Snufkin finally said, his brown eyes glancing up at Moomintroll with a wry smile.
“Really? You do?” Moomintroll set his paws on the table and leaned forward.
“Yep.” Snufkin quickly nodded.
“Oh, that's really great Snufkin!” He bounced in his chair, abruptly leaping down to the floor. “You know, I think you're great too.”
Snufkin looked confused, his little eyes went wide.
“Really, you're much more fun than Sniff—but don't tell him I said that!” Sniff never wants to play what Moomintroll suggests, it's the one thing he doesn't like about him that he didn't hear from someone else.
Snufkin, if it was even possible, seemed bashful. His shoulders lifted and he averted his eyes. His tail twitched and went still, and his mouth edged into a shy smile.
“Thanks.” He murmured, still looking away from Moomintroll.
“I think I could be even better, though.” Moomintroll began, already diverting the topic once more. “If I knew how to, I'd light the fire for you.”
He took a few steps nearer to the kitchen doorway. What else does a guest need, besides a drink? He pondered for a moment. Snufkin did say he was hungry, but Moomintroll wasn't sure what type of food he ate. He was a very different looking creature, after all.
“Oh, I've got something!” Moomin turned back to his friend. “Do you like cookies?”
Snufkin tilted his head at him.
“Um, it's…It's like a sort of treat?” Though he wondered if that was true, what does a ‘treat’ for Snufkin entail? They certainly don't have cookies in the wilderness.
But at that special word, Snufkin quickly nodded. “Yes, I'm hungry.” He said.
Mamma kept a jar of cookies atop the cabinets, now, he was definitely, certainly, not supposed to mess with that—but, well, Mamma may not find out if he did, right? She shouldn't mind if he was very careful. He'd just have to make sure to be very careful.
“In here, come on!” Moomin leapt into the kitchen, still practically bouncing on his paws. Snufkin followed lightly, hardly making a sound.
Moomintroll clambered up onto the kitchen counter and grasped his claws into the cabinet to keep upright. He reached up to the top, where he knew there sat the cookie jar, but his paw barely reached, his claws grazed the side of something made of glass, but it was not near enough to get a hold of.
It was dark, the early beginning of night after a long afternoon, and Moomintroll didn't think to put a light on. He didn't want anyone to know he was awake, he wanted his new friend to himself for a while before Mama and Papa noticed. But now he sort of wished he had, because he was searching blindly, the darkness hit those corners heavily and he could not see what he was aiming for. He could only feel the jar as his paw lightly grazed it once again.
“Help me, Snufkin?” Moomintroll leapt up, his paw attempting to grab the top of the cabinet before he landed on his feet again.
Snufkin sauntered toward him cautiously.
“Give me a boost.” Moomintroll told him. “Push me a little, yes?”
Snufkin quickly caught on this time, with a nod, he moved to pull a chair over to the counter. He climbed up onto it so that he could be behind Moomintroll, and lightly pushed him up.
It didn't do much, and he worried that maybe he was too heavy. He couldn't be that heavy, could he? But Snufkin's limbs were much thinner than his, and it seemed he was having a difficult time.
“I almost got it.” Moomintroll stood on the tips of his paws, as Snufkin used his entire upper body to try and lift him off the ground.
Then suddenly he did it, and Moomintroll managed to close those last few inches between him and the jar. He grinned as he felt the cool glass against his paw before it slipped away. Snufkin grunted, and with one last shove, Moomintroll was lifted. He dared to grab the top of the cabinet with both paws, intending to hold onto it this time.
It was a grave mistake, one that he unfortunately should have calculated for. Because rather than taking hold of the wooden cabinet, his paws grasped onto something metal. Large and solid. And it came down with him. He was thrown off balance when something hard thudded against his head, then with it came the pot, he tried to let go at the last second and that caused the lid to come off.
He wasn't sure where he landed, nor where the pot landed, only that he hit the floor hard. The metal harshly struck his arm on the way down, and the lid came with it. He didn't know what that resulted in, but there was a strong pain in his arm and in his paw and he screwed his eyes shut in agony. He curled up on the floor, tail thumping, and held on tight to the pain in his arm. He would admit, he was afraid, he'd never felt pain this intense. Like his arm had been crushed, although he knew that wasn't true.
Snufkin squeaked something, but Moomintroll paid him no mind. He pried his eyes open, and felt an instant panic when he saw the reddish-pink staining through his white fur. He lifted his paw away for a moment, there was a cut along the side of his arm and it was bruised all around it. He'd never seen a scrape so big, it was huge and red and so much bigger than the little cuts he'd gotten in the past from brambles.
He threw his paw back down, too frightened to look at it any longer.
“Ow, ow!” He cried, regretting that immediately.
Snufkin sat up from his spot on the floor, he had a hand on his head like it hurt. But he didn't react to that, rather, he prowled toward Moomintroll.
Moomintroll instinctively backed up from him, but he was rather fast. He looked eerily calm, and Moomintroll didn't realize he was crying until Snufkin was so close to him and he realized that he was gasping and sputtering and couldn't get another word out. He sniffled, holding his injured arm close to his body. Staring into Snufkin's calm eyes eased him only slightly. Snufkin gently pried his arm away from his chest, and his eyes flickered down to take a close look at his injury. Moomintroll didn't understand why he'd do that, it's quite a horrible thing to look at, really. But he didn't dare move in fear that it’d cause more pain—and strangely, he trusted Snufkin.
He wanted to seem brave in front of him, so he tried to stop crying. But the teardrops were relentless and his throat kept tempting him to whimper once more. More blood welled in the wound and he shut his eyes tight. Only then, Snufkin suddenly pulled his arm close and ran his tongue through his bloody fur. Moomintroll snapped his eyes open, confused and alarmed, but Snufkin seemed unperturbed, as if it were totally normal behavior.
What if he intended to eat him after all? Oh, Moomintroll should have fed him before, What if the smell of blood made him hungry? He was too taken aback to think to pull his arm back or push Snufkin away. Maybe he knew what he was doing, he wanted to hope he did and that he wasn't going to bite him.
He continued to do it until the bleeding stopped again, and Moomintroll had ceased his trembling. Then, Snufkin smoothed his hands over the cut and covered it. He glanced subtly up at Moomintroll and flashed him a shy smile.
“You're alright.” He whispered, his voice tripped over the words like they were unfamiliar to him.
That was all it took for Moomintroll to be reassured. He had a very nice smile, one that made him feel like he was in safe hands, and gradually his fur stopped bristling.
“What's happened? Moomintroll?”
Mamma's voice rang out, and there she was in the doorway looking confused. That quickly faded to distress when she saw the pink tinge in his fur, and the tears in his eyes, and Snufkin.
“Mama!” He shouted, forgetting what happened for a moment for the sake of having his mother's comfort.
“Oh, Moomintroll!” She quickly made her way across the room. He hardly noticed Snufkin bolt away from her, too overwhelmed with relief as she scooped him up into her arms.
“What on earth happened?” She took his paw and looked over the wound. “How—?”
“My arm hurts so much, Mamma!” Moomintroll cried.
She smoothed her paw over his injured arm, looking over the wound quickly. “Oh it's not broken, don't you worry, dear.” Mama's voice was gentle and soothing. “We’ll bandage you up and you'll be alright.”
Pappa stormed into the room before she could get started with that. He didn't even have his hat on, it seemed they'd both just rolled out of bed. At the sight of him, Snufkin ducked behind the table.
“What was that sound—Mamma—” his eyes went wide as he saw the blood. “Goodness gracious, Mamma, what's happened?”
“That's what I hoped to know.” Mamma held onto him tighter.
“We just wanted to reach up on the cabinet, Mamma.” Moomintroll sniffled.
“We–? Oh, I hardly even noticed.”
She quickly glanced around, in search of Snufkin, surely. He poked his head back up from where he'd hidden, his eyes trained on Moomintroll.
“He was right beside Moomintroll, Pappa.” She spoke calmly. “I think—”
“What are you doing here, Snufkin?” Pappa suddenly said, spoken so harshly that Moomin almost didn't think it was him saying it. And how could he know his new friend's name? He hadn't told it to him.
“Pappa—” Mamma began.
“No, I'd like to know. What did you do to my son?”
But he didn't do anything. Moomintroll helplessly thought, but he couldn't speak. He suddenly felt very guilty, because he didn't know why Pappa was scolding Snufkin when it was his idea to climb the cabinets. Or why he was scolding Snufkin at all, he didn't usually seem this mean when he was upset with Moomintroll.
Mamma had set him down in a chair, going to fetch some bandages, and Moomintroll watched Pappa and Snufkin fearfully. Snufkin stood tall and still as Pappa stared him down, his hands bunched into fists at his sides and his tail was bristling with quiet anger. He had a fierce look on his face, like he may jump and bite Pappa if he felt inclined.
“It's not his fault, Pappa.” Moomintroll finally spoke up, the guilt being too much to bear. His tail kept twisting and he was nervously toying with his paws.
Pappa turned his head just a bit to glance at Moomintroll.
“I-I just found him in my room…It was my idea to go in the kitchen.” Moomintroll confessed. “Honest, Pappa, please don't be mad at him.”
Mamma paused from bandaging his arm, sighing quietly.
“Did you sneak in?” Pappa asked Snufkin, who responded by narrowing his eyes and glaring at him even harder.
“Well?” Pappa lost his patience. “Where's your father, hm?”
“That's quite enough, Pappa.” Mamma stood up, having finished wrapping Moomin's arm. She looked frustrated too. It was all so confusing, his parents never got mad, especially not at each other.
Pappa looked at her, and it was as if she'd snapped him out of a trance. They both shared a strange look, something Moomin couldn't understand, but it made Pappa suddenly seem guilty.
“Are you alright, Snufkin?” Mamma turned to him. “Oh, you've got a bruise.”
Mamma made to reach her paw toward him, and to Moomin's shock, Snufkin growled at her. Baring his teeth and puffing out his tail. He half expected Pappa to turn back to being furious once again, but he looked almost remorseful. Mamma didn't seem afraid, either. She just waited until he stopped.
“Go on, Snufkin.” Pappa sighed. “Don't be troublesome.” And with that he stepped away, not sparing another look at him.
Moomintroll didn't want to look at anyone for the rest of the night. He felt guilty and foolish, for hurting himself and for getting his new friend in trouble. Surely, Snufkin wouldn't want to be his friend after this, that was all his fault, wasn't It? He should have been more careful. And at the same time, he felt strangely fearful of Pappa, for the first time in his life. Why had he met Snufkin with so much hostility? Was there something wrong with him? …Should Moomintroll have felt the same?
Mamma checked Snufkin over for any injuries, but he was fine. Then she cleaned up Moomin's arm and looked a bit closer at it, but she said It was nothing that she couldn't fix on her own. Still, they were both fretting, Mamma kept asking if it hurt and Pappa kept needing to be reassured that his arm wasn't broken. Pappa was visibly angry and distressed and Moomintroll couldn't understand it at all, other than that he was sure it was his fault. If he'd not fallen over, nothing would be wrong, and Pappa wouldn't be so upset. He curled up on the sofa where Mamma had set him, he felt very bad and very terrible for stressing his parents out like this. And his tail wouldn't stop twitching nor could he stop fidgeting with it.
Pappa came back, guiding Snufkin over to the tea table in the living room and Mamma was trailing after them. He was not very gentle as he sat him down in a chair at the table.
“I'll need to find some way to contact the Joxter.” Pappa sighed.
At that word, Snufkin's head turned straight toward Pappa, and for a second he looked a little less like a wild vicious animal.
“Perhaps he'll turn up on his own.” Mamma helpfully said.
“I suppose you could be right.” Pappa muttered. “But you never know with that one.”
“I'll look around the garden?” Mamma offered.
“Yes, thank you Mamma.” Pappa let out another heavy sigh, he curled his tail with Mamma's and they brushed their snouts before she set off for the front door.
With Mamma gone the tension felt even heavier. Moomintroll instinctively curled even further into the cushions, pulled his knees up, and wrung his tail in his paws. Flashing nervous glances between both Snufkin and Pappa, he feared that one of them may attack the other at any moment.
Snufkin seemed very tense, unlike the quiet friend who copied his movements and stared at him curiously, who mumbled and smiled at him and was surprisingly nice for a stranger. Now he looked wild, he hadn't spoken a word, he'd only growled when Mamma or Pappa came close to him and glared at Pappa Everytime he was near.
“Pappa?” Moomintroll murmured.
“Yes, Moomin?”
“...I'm very sorry.” His eyes drifted over to Snufkin.
Pappa was silent for a moment. “...It's quite alright, Moomin.” He sighed. “I'm not upset with you, I know it was an accident.”
“But—you were mad at Snufkin.” Moomintroll’s voice grew even quieter.
Pappa stared at him, looking surprised. He began to say something, and then stopped immediately after. He sighed once again, sounding exhausted. “No, no Snufkin, I'm not upset with you.” He turned to him, but Snufkin did not seem to believe it at all.
“I'm troubled by something else.” Pappa looked between them both, he was trying to sound reassuring. “And it's nothing you should worry about.”
Moomintroll could tell that he was still unhappy, so it did little to make him feel less bad. But if Pappa said it wasn't something to worry about, then he supposed he should try not to think about it anymore.
Some minutes passed in silence until Mamma returned. She came inside with a hopeful smile on her face as she looked at Pappa.
“Joxter will be here shortly.” Mamma said. “He was on the bridge—I think he was looking for Snufkin.”
Pappa scoffed, already looking mad again. Mamma frowned. “Pappa, don't be cross with him.”
“He ought to know where his son is, I find that very irresponsible.” Pappa said.
Mamma was about to say something more, but suddenly the door creaked and then swung open. They both turned to see, and Moomintroll found himself too curious to not look.
He peered around the door, and standing there was a man who he'd never seen before. He wore a red hat and long coat, and just like Snufkin, he was a very strange looking creature, but he looked very similar to Snufkin too. He had a strange look on his face, his eyes were big, with irises that were deep blue with tiny cat-like pupils, and his eyes narrowed as he glanced around the room.
When Snufkin saw him, his eyes went wide and the fur on his tail smoothed out. He threw himself off his chair, bumping into Pappa as he did, but he merely shoved his way past in order to get across the room faster. Snufkin ran right into the strange man, wrapped his arms around his leg and gripped his claws into his coat.
The man put his hand on Snufkin's head and smiled, he bent down. “Run along, Snufkin, there's food for you.” His voice was low as he spoke, almost a whisper. He gestured back toward the woods beyond the door.
But Snufkin wouldn't move, he held onto the man's coat like it would slip from his hands at any moment. He turned his head a bit to glare at Pappa again.
Moomintroll took a moment to look at them both next to each other, and now it was his turn for his eyes to go wide. That creepy man must be Snufkin's Papa! That's why he ran to hug him.
“Joxter.” Pappa greeted coldly.
So that's the Joxter. Moomintroll thought. He'd never seen him before at all, but Pappa seemed to know him. He wondered if he'd ever mentioned him before, but he can't recall.
“Moominpappa.” The Joxter acknowledged him.“Is something the matter?”
There was something ominous about him. Something threatening in the way his eyes looked at Pappa that made Moomintroll nervous.
Before Pappa could speak, Mamma interjected.
“Moomin and Snufkin had an accident while they were playing.” Mamma spoke in a gentle voice with a smile, she gestured toward Moomintroll. He nearly jumped out of his fur when the Joxter's eyes locked directly on him.
“Oh?”
“Nothing serious, we’re just a bit concerned is all.” Mamma told him.
Joxter looked down at Snufkin and tipped his head back, in search of any injury. He didn't react, just kept looking up at him as if he were the only person in the room. It was so unlike when he growled at Mamma earlier, he didn't seem to fear the Joxter at all.
“I think it's best if you bring him home.” Pappa finally spoke.
The Joxter snapped his head up, and there was a strangely surprised look on his face for just a second, before he narrowed his eyes again.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Joxter.” Pappa replied firmly. “I think you should go now.”
The Joxter stared at Pappa. His eyes wide and an unreadable look on his face. From where he stood, in front of the endless dark beyond the doorway, Moomintroll found him terrifying. He looked as if every time his eyes landed on someone he was threatening them. He looked as if he was at most thinking about hurting Pappa and that made him shiver.
He knows he shouldn't judge someone by how they look, but he loves Pappa and he doesn't know the Joxter. It's his unspoken intentions that frighten him, for he can only assume, and right now it feels like his Pappa is in danger near this man. And Moomintroll feels very helpless, surrounded by angry adults, and he doesn't understand why they're upset or how to make it end.
The Joxter’s face twitched, and then his mouth slowly upturned into a bitter smile. His head turned down a bit and slight shadow fell over his eyes, he trained his eyes on Pappa.
“You've grown a distaste for me.” He said, quite matter-of-factly.
Pappa did not dissuade that claim, he didn't argue back, he kept a firm look on his face and just looked right back at him. Once more then Joxter's expression twitched, about to change, but he held that menacing smile for a while longer.
Pappa finally spoke again. “I'd like to not see you tonight any longer.” He snapped. “My attention is for my son, tonight. Not you.”
The Joxter's eyes turned toward Moomintroll again. But any sort of amusement for the situation that he'd been holding had fallen away.
“He's hurt. It's nothing personal.” Pappa spoke.
“I can quite tell.” The Joxter snapped, his voice finally rose above disinterest and amusement, and he sounded irritated.
If for only a second, before his face relaxed again and he put on a very blank expression. Big eyes still glaring at Pappa.
Moomintroll wished he'd leave, then he felt guilty for it, but he truly did. He wished he'd turn and walk away and then he could go to bed and forget all this hostility, and maybe he could see Snufkin again but he didn't ever want Joxter to come back. Pappa went on not giving him any reaction, and finally he fell back, dropping his menacing stare to slide a hand down to grip Snufkin's shoulder.
“Very well, Moomin.” The Joxter briskly replied. “I'll be sure you don't see me.”
He moved so quickly that Moomintroll couldn't catch any hint of emotion in him. Mamma walked up to him and said goodbye, but he did not speak a word to her. He just lifted Snufkin off the ground and vanished back into the dark.
Beyond the door, Moomintroll knew he was walking down the path now. It felt as if freezing air had followed him through the doorway and left behind when he closed it. He felt cold and unsettled and unhappy. Something was very wrong with that man, for what reason did he have to look at Pappa like that?
Moomintroll turned his head to finally risk a glance back at Pappa, but then he wished that he hadn't. He'd never seen him so angry, so furious. It was as if the Joxter had seeped the energy out of him with each long second he stood in the room, and then it all came out at once after he was gone. His ears were twitching and his tail thumped and his eyes kept glaring at the door as if the Joxter was still standing there. His fists clenched, and then all the same they fell flat and he let out a heavy, exhausted sigh.
There was something very very off there, something to do with the Joxter. Now he was certain, he didn't want to see him ever again.