Behind the campfire

A cold dip

A young mumrik is setting up camp for the night, the trees are somewhat shielding from the cold fall breezes. When everything is said and done, the mumrik sits down and warms her cold paws, she lets out a sigh which turns into a small cloud and disapears into the night sky.

When your small paws are warm enough for your liking, you take a smal bucket and head down to a nearby river for some water. On your way there however, your echoing steps seems to be echoing more and more, it almost sounds like someone elses fotsteps. You pay the thought no more mind and decide to ignore it.

When you reach the river, you fill your bucket with cold, fresh, water. You smile to yourself and stand up, when you turn around, you bump into something and fall backwards, straight into the river. "Oh dear-" a male voice exclaims "-are you alright? Here, take my hand".  You move your (h/c) coloured hair from your face, you are met with a hand to wich you take a hold on and pull yourself out of the cold water.

"T-thank you m-mister" you stammer, before you is a young mumrik, clad in green with a hat casting a shadow over most of his face. "I am truly sorry, let me help you to your camp", with that he holds you up and walks with you to your campingspot. When you reach it you quickly sit down by the fire, warming your cold paws once again. Your clothes are drenched.

You are shaking from the top of your head to the tip of your tail, the other mumrik sits down beside you and puts his coat over you, warming you up. The water have soaked even the bandage around your arms, allowing some blood from healing wounds to come through. "My name is Snufkin, please, let me help you get something warm to drink", with that said he starts rummaging through his backpack, pulling out tea and something to warm the water in.

As the water is warming up, Snufkin sees your arms "Oh, your wounds need new dressing" he pulls out what you asume is a firstaid kit. "O-oh, no, it is quite alright, I can do it myself" you say, you don't want the shame of showing wounds that are self made. "Please, it is the least I can do", he is persistent and won't let it go. You let out a sigh in defeat and holds your arms out, you feel your face warm up as the shame starts to settle in while he is unwrapping your arms.

When your arms are naked you are waiting for the sound of desgust from the other mumrik, but it never comes. He cleans the fresh wounds and starts to wrap them up in new bandages, "Wounds and pain on the outside won't take the pain on the inside away, only temporarily ease it" his words fills the silence of the forest, they were kind and caring. You smile, and a small tear rolls down your cheek.

When the other mumrik were done wrapping your arms, the teawater was done. He serves you a big cup of steaming tea, as you took a sip, you felt the warmth spread through your body. You start to relax your tired, cold body, your tail begins to sway slightly, "Thank you" you finally say in a low, shaky voice. Snufkin simply smiles and picks up a harmonica and starts playing, the tunes are beautiful as they sail around the trees.

As the night were creeping along, you let out a small yawn. "You should go to bed and rest for the night, you can come to me if you would ever need something", you two stand up, you give him his coat back and place a small kiss on his cheek, "Thank you" you said and head into your tent.

That night, you slept well, not waiking up a single time from nightmares.