Euphoric

Morning in the Valley

Snufkin arose to the sound of birds chirping softly. He sat up and stretched, feeling a familiar tug at his ribs. He glanced down and drowsily began adjusting the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest. He quickly got dressed, exited his tent, and began to head up to Moominhouse. 

Moomin was outside playing tag with Sniff and Little My. They were all laughing and seemed to be having a great time. (That's a lie, Sniff couldn't keep up with the other two and was yelling at them to slow down.) Snufkin approached them. 

"Good morning, Moomin!" He said cheerfully. Today was going to be a good day, he could tell. 

Moomin waved back. "Do you want to join us Snufkin? Tag is really fun you know!" Moomin paused, letting a tired Sniff tag him on the shoulder. Snufkin smiled. "I'd love to join you, it sounds like fun." He said, playfully backing away as Moomin approached. 

The four of them ran around for some time, tagging each other, and having fun. (It should be noted that Sniff was tagged the most out of them all.) The sun rose higher and higher into the sky, and noon was approaching. Birds chirped happily and Moominmamma was washing the laundry in the yard. 

"Ha, Little My! You'll never catch me! I'm so fast I-" Before Snufkin could finish his sentence, the familiar voice of My could be heard loudly behind him. Snufkin, absolutely terrified, began to run in the opposite direction. He was breathing heavily and was so occupied on escaping Little My that he tripped over a rock and fell down. 

"Snufkin, are you alright? Moomin called out. Snufkin sat up and brushed off his shirt. "Yes, but my shirt's all dirty...." Moominmamma overheard and ran over to him. "Snufkin, do you want me to wash your shirt? I'm already doing the laundry and it really wouldn't be much trouble." Snufkin, remembering the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest, declined. "It's alright, Moominmamma. A little dirt never hurt anyone." He stood up, brushed some more of the dirt off of him, and began walking back toward the creek. "See you later, everybody. I'm going to go fishing." He waved goodbye and continued his excursion to the small creek he liked to fish at.

Snufkin sat on the bank of the stream after retrieving the fishing rod he had left sitting there the day before. There was a soft breeze, causing the leaves on the trees to rustle all around him. He sat for a few minutes with no luck catching anything before he heard the familiar voice of Moomin getting closer.

"Oh, Snufkin. I'm so bored! Have you caught any fish yet?"
Snufkin shook his head. "No, not yet I'm afraid." Moomin sat down next to Snufkin and gazed into the water. The two sat in silence for a moment before Snufkin spoke up.
"Look, Moomin. There's something I've been meaning to tell you." Moomins soft little ears perked up. "Secrets?" He exclaimed. Snufkin chuckled. "Well, yes. It is a secret. So don't tell anyone, alright?" Moomin nodded excitedly. 

Snufkin lifted up his tunic enough to where the bandages wrapped around his chest were visible. He quickly hid them again before anyone nosy (Little My cough cough) could see them. Moomin let out a gasp. "I... I don't actually know what that is." He said, confused. Snufkin sighed. How to explain this... He wondered. "Moomin, I didn't always look like a boy." Moomin tilted his head. "What do you mean? You are a boy, aren't you?" 

Snufkin sighed again. "Yes, I am. But I didn't always look like one. See, I was born a girl. That's why I use these bandages. My body doesn't match what I know is right." Moomin nodded, eyes wide. "Ohh! I get it... I think. But wait, I have a question." Snufkin looked at him. "What is it?"

"Don't those bandages hurt?"

Snufkin looked back down at the water, where a small fish was nibbling at the bait. "Well yes, they do. But there's not much else I can use." 

Moomin's eyes lit up and he stood suddenly, scaring away the fish. "I know! I can ask Mamma to make you something better!" He jumped around excitedly and pulled Snufkin up onto his feet. "Come on, Snufkin! We need to go measure you! Oh, I'm so excited! We can embroider it with pretty threads and dye it pretty colors..." He trailed off, pulling Snufkin along as he ran to the house. Snufkin smiled. It was good to have Moomin as someone he could rely on, and it was nice that he cared so much.