Coffee for Two

Chapter 2: Sunset Climb

   Snufkin. A blush crept across the young troll's face. Just repeating his name in his head felt sacred, felt forbidden, yet Moomin couldn't stop himself. He sighed to himself, watching customers file in and out of the shop, dwindling in numbers until none were left. The sky was streaked with orange and clouds raced across the sky, spread thin by the wind and flung far out. Moomin hurried down the path of his house to look for a little green tent by the river, as Snufkin had told him. The mumrik was already leaning on the bridge before Moomin could even look to find the tent. Taking the pipe out of his mouth, he blew smoke rings up into the sun-washed skies before saying, "Hello Moomintroll." Moomin gave him a warm smile and replied, "Snufkin! I'm so very excited to go on an adventure, I hope we'll get to see something amazing!"
Snufkin only nodded in return, swung his backpack over his shoulder, and began to walk. The troll followed, falling in step besides the mumrik. They walked along in silence as they passed by rustling trees painted gold by the setting sun.
"Theres a nice view of the valley up in the Lonely Mountains,"said Snufkin, interrupting the quiet,"I found a little niche on the way here after escaping a park keeper." Moomin gasped. "Oh do tell me more! What did you do to that park keeper?"
"Mm, let's see. Ah, of course I had knocked down the fence of his park by accident after trying to take a rather large melon. He came out in a huff and chased after me, yelling all sorts of bad words. So I took off with the melon, but not before I tore up a 'No loitering' sign."
Moomin hung onto each word with awe, visualizing his new friend rolling away with a comically huge melon while an angry park keeper gave chase. "Oh how daring, I could never have done anything like that!" Snufkin only gave a small smile, in which they fell into silence as they continued along the steepening path.
Looking around and humming to himself, Moomin racked his brain frantically for stuff to say to the mumrik. It had been 15 minutes since the last time he attempted small talk, and he was very out of breath from the upward climb among rocky grounds. As they reached a narrow path in the mountain flanked by trees and a long fall downwards, Moomin cleared his throat and said,"Err, Snufkin, do you happen to know all the trees that you see in Moominvalley?" Screaming internally, he thought to himself, 'Nice going, Moomintroll.' Snufkin gave him a sideways glance, then said, "You know, Moomin, it's alright to not converse. I just have this feeling you and m-" Before Snufkin could finish, the ground below him gave out and he found himself showered in dirt and rocks as he fell.
   Moomin yelped and dove after his friend. Grabbing onto a tree root, he reached out for the falling mumrik. His paw made contact with the other boy's paw, and with great effort, the troll pulled Snufkin from his untimely death. The two scrambled up onto the path, panting and covered in dirt.
"Wow," breathed Snufkin, adjusting his hat,"Thank you, Moomintroll." Moomin felt his face turn red, and stammered,"It's n-no big big d-deal." Snufkin smiled in return and pulled Moomin up as he stood. "We'll proceed with caution, we're almost there," he said, plucking a leaf from Moomin's dirty fur. The troll nodded, and they pushed ahead to the secret little niche.
   Owls hooted as the last rays of the sun pierced the deepening navy sky. Stars began to twinkle in the heavens as night drew closer. Moominvalley was sprinkled with the small yellow lights of homes spread across the gentle green slopes. The small niche Moomin and Snufkin stood upon had a soft bed of grass that tickled their ankles and swayed with the buttercups in the breeze. A few small trees grew up around the niche, and a certain flowering one had a mumrik grasping its branch as he gazed upon the glittering valley. "Its beautiful, even at dusk," whispered Snufkin. Moomin nodded, following the river with his eyes till he saw a worn tent and a wooden bridge and a small dirt path leading to a tall blue house. If he squinted, he could make out a light in the kitchen, and one in Moominpapa's study. He turned to Snufkin, and when the boy returned his gaze, Moomin grasped his paw and said, "Thank you for bringing me, Snufkin. I hope we can go on more adventures together." The mumrik did not move his paw. "Ah, we'll see Moomin. I am a solitary creature, you know."
   "Oh!" Moomin released his paw, and put his own behind his back. "Not to say that this wasn't enjoyable," Snufkin finished. He gave the same small smile and went back to admiring the view of Moominvalley. Moomin gazed a little longer, then turned back. In his mind, he compiled a small list about his new friend.
                             Snufkin
• Travels to the South
• Likes being alone
• H̶a̶n̶d̶s̶o̶m̶e̶
• lives in a patched up green tent
• experienced traveler
• nice smile
   Moomin turned around and began to collect some buttercups. When he had enough, he sat down by Snufkin and began to craft a small flower crown. The mumrik took one look and stood up to collect the small pink flowers in the tree he had borrowed for balance. Before Moomin could give his creation to Snufkin, he had already plopped a neatly woven flower crown over his ears. The mumrik sat down and leaned forward, indicating to Moomin that he could place the crown over his hat. "Why, you've beat me at flower-crown making! How unfair," teased the troll. Snufkin chuckled as he raised his head. They sat in the grass, the stars dancing above them around a full moon that shone bright against a dark blue sky. Crickets began to chirp when Moomin said suddenly, "Do you plan to stay here, in Moominvalley, for a while, Snufkin?"
Snufkin looked at Moomin to see him watching the glimmering lights. Before the troll could notice him staring, he turned and said, "Yes, I think I will."