Harumi (ENG)

Prologue

[Episode 21]

Two silhouettes could be seen on top of a cliff. If you dared to approach, you could tell the other one was a white creature with a tail.

Moomin Valley's famous Moomintroll.

Another person was wearing a forest green coat that fluttered in the chilly breeze. An orange feather was placed in his green cylindrical hat.

The person was Moomin's best friend Snufkin.

The view of the sea opens from the cliff in rough weather, everything seemed to be colored in different shades of gray.

The two circled the boats flying in the distance, in which the Hattifatternes were traveling towards an uninhabited island where they could be at peace.

Moomin felt a heavy feeling in his chest and decided to ask his friend a question that was bothering him.

"When are you going to leave?" heard a bit of a snappy question in the wind.

"Snufkin, when?", Moomintroll asked, turning his eyes from the gray sea to his friend. There was now a veiled desperation in the question.

"I haven't decided yet", was the simple answer from Snufkin, who kept his eyes straight ahead.

"So will you stay for a while?", Moomintroll asked hopefully, turning his eyes back looking straight ahead.

Snufkin closed his eyes for a moment and didn't answer the question.

"Do you know where you're going?" Moomintroll asked, looking down from the cliff curiously.

"I don't", Snufkin answered to his friend as his yellow scarf fluttered in the wind.

Moomin sat down on the cliff looking thoughtful, "Wandering is fun, isn't it?"

"Well, mostly", stated Snuff.

"It's the best way to enjoy solitude," continued Snufkin, putting his hand in his pockets, a small smile appearing on his lips.

"We're hibernating, but we're not even alone when we sleep," Moomin said to his friend as he looked back at him.

"If I had to stay here for the whole winter, I would definitely fall into a hibernation", Snufkin stated, glancing at his friend before turning his gaze back towards the horizon.

With that, the two fell back into silence with their eyes fixed on the horizon.

~

Moomintroll had decided to go with Snufkin, he wanted to be with his friend, in his company. He had received permission after a little persuasion from his parents and had immediately headed over to Snufkin's tent to tell about his plan.

Now the two left Snufkin's tent.

"Without a doubt, it would be fun if you came along, Moomintroll," said Snufkin, causing Moomintroll to celebrate.

"Yippee, I'll come with you!", Moomintroll cheered happily.

Snufkin smiled a little, but then said, "No". Leaving Moomintroll confused.

"Why not?"moomintroll asked, confused.

"I'm going alone", Snufkin explained to his friend. "I'm going south to be alone".

"My soul requires it after the time spent here, just as my soul requires being here after being alone. And coming back is always just as fun", continued Snufkin, turning to look at Moomintroll who stood in front of the tent by the river, who had a rather sad expression on his face.

"Yes, but what about me?", Moomintroll asked sadly from his best friend. Causing Snufkin to turn towards him.

"I'll see you again next spring, as always. I promise you that I'll be back on the first day of spring", Snufkin assured his friend, turning his eyes back to the flowing river.

"I'm sitting on the railing of the bridge and through the window you can hear me playing my harmonica. I'll come up with a new melody for you for spring," Snufkin promised, turning to look at the bridge with Moomintroll, which was located a little higher up in the river.

~

Discouraged, the Moomin walked through the leaves of the withered trees towards the Moomin House. However, he couldn't guess how soon he wouldn't remember Snufkin's departure thanks to the events that were about to happen.

And Snufkin couldn't imagine how things would have changed when he arrived back or when he next traveled south again.