Sniff and the Coming of Winter (part 2)The forest seemed endless, and time seemed to pass slowly. For a moment he thought he must be nearing the end of the world, because the trees appeared to stretch endlessly toward the sky, like the arms of some gigantic beast reaching out to snatch him up and carry him off. His paws hurt terribly, and he wondered if he'd ever reach the end of them before he died of thirst or starvation.But eventually the forest suddenly did come to an end, and Sniff was quite surprised and alarmed to find himself at the foot of a mountain, standing before the entrance of a huge cavern. The sight of the vast, gaping hole that seemed to be bored straight into the rock itself left him speechless, and he stood there for a moment, trying to decide whether to turn around and go back the way he came, or press onwards into the darkness beyond.He decided against turning around. What good would it do? All that would happen is that he would find himself back at that silly campfire and the even sillier man watching it. Better to face whatever lay ahead alone, he told himself sternly.Sniff peered into the blackness within the cave, and suddenly he felt a rush of cold air pass by, causing the fur on his neck to stand on end. A low moan followed, and he realized that something was moving inside the cave. Something big, and fast, and possibly... hungry?His long ears stood up straight in fright. Now what was going to happen to him? Hadn't he suffered enough in the past several hours? Wasn't it bad enough that he got lost and scared half to death, and then ended up stranded here in this awful place, with no other direction to go but forward into a horrible, nasty cave? It made him feel like a mouse in a cat's trap, waiting to be eaten.Feeling like he had no other choice, Sniff crept into the cave, his legs trembling with every step. Maybe, just maybe there was an exit on the other side that would take him back home, and then he would be safe once more. But right now he couldn't see anything except a pitch-black tunnel stretching off into the depths of the earth.He walked on for what felt like hours, the tunnels twisting and turning every which way. Sometimes the tunnel split into two or three, and he would follow one direction, only to find himself back where he started. Other times he would start following another route, only to discover that it led nowhere. Soon Sniff felt more lost than ever, wandering aimlessly along, never knowing which way to turn next.With each step he took, his fear grew stronger, and soon he found himself breathing fast and hard, his heart thumping violently in his chest. He was certain now that he would be trapped in this wretched cave forever, and would never again see his beloved friends and family.Finally he slumped to the ground, out of breath and exhausted, but most of all he was frightened out of his wits, and all alone. Tears flowed from his eyes, and he began sobbing softly to himself, rocking gently back and forth.He thought about his rare coin collection back home, and his shelf full of semi-precious gemstones, not to mention the little box on his bed-stand where he kept all the small shiny things he'd found lying about- bits of colored glass and inexpensive jewelry made to look more expensive than they really were. They had little monetary value, but he loved collecting them anyway, and having them close at hand gave him a strange sense of comfort.He thought of the Moomins, of Snufkin and Little My, and all of his friends. He thought about his poor little pet cat, and whether or not she would be able to feed herself without him. But most of all he thought of his parents, and how little time he'd spent with them, even after reuniting. He hardly knew them at all, and now he feared he would never get to know them better. He missed everyone. He missed everything. Suddenly Sniff heard a strange sound coming from down the corridor behind him. Slowly he turned his head, and was greeted by a huge pair of bright green eyes.Sniff shrieked in terror and leapt backwards, scrambling up the nearest stalagmite, hoping to get away from the creature below. He hung there like a cat on a branch, yelling bloody murder, eyes shut tight."Get away!" he yelled furiously, shaking his paws madly, trying to make the creature disappear. "I'm warning you! Get away!"It wasn't long before Sniff realized that nothing was happening, so he opened his eyes and looked down. Instead of chasing after him, the monster simply sat there, staring at him with its massive round eyes, seemingly unmoved by his screams."What are you?" Sniff asked, still gasping for breath. "Are you some kind of demon sent to torment me?"Its eyes blinked, and Sniff could have sworn he saw a faint smile cross its lips. It didn't answer, and instead lowered its huge, shaggy head to reveal Moomin himself, riding on top of the great beast like a knight on a horse!Sniff's eyes widened in shock. What manner of creature had Moomin made friends with now? It looked like a giant bear or a wolf, with long white fur and huge fangs that gleamed in the darkness. Strangest of all was that it was holding a harp, and humming a peculiar tune."Moomin! Can it really be you?" Sniff cried, feeling tears of joy welling up in his eyes. "How did you get here? And what is that thing??""I followed you when I realized that you might get into trouble all by yourself," Moomin explained, giving Sniff a reassuring smile. "And it looks like you did!"Then Moomin looked down at the beast, and began petting its unruly fur. "This fellow lives here in this cave! Isn't he something?" he went on. "Say hello to Sniff, won't you?"The creature didn't speak at first, and simply continued playing its harp. But then it began to play a different tune."Oh, Sniff, my dear one, why dost thou so often hide thyself in the dark?" it sang. "Why art so shy when the wind blows? Oh, Sniff, why art thou so sad? Why art thou so pale?"Sniff stared wide-eyed at the beast. "What's that supposed to mean?" he said to it, feeling somewhat annoyed."Don't take it personally, Sniff. I'm afraid this creature can only sing and not talk," Moomin said, giving it another affectionate pat. "He's very shy, you see."Sniff stared at the weird white-furred thing, who was still incessantly playing its harp and humming to itself."You must be joking!" he shouted.Moomin just smiled at him. "He's just very lonely, that's all," he said. "He's really nice, and it would be so nice to show him to my parents.""But... but..." Sniff stammered."Come down won't you, Sniff?" Moomin implored him. "I promise he's perfectly tame!"Sniff didn't know what to say or think, but eventually he decided it was safe. "Well... okay," he said reluctantly. "As long as it doesn't try to eat me."He climbed down the stalagmite slowly, and the moment he set foot on the cavern floor, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief. There was no danger here, no horrible monsters lurking around every corner waiting to pounce upon him. In fact, Sniff found himself smiling, feeling quite happy that he wouldn't have to wander through those tunnels alone any longer. His fear seemed to fade away completely, replaced by a curious sense of excitement. The prospect of seeing his friends and family again was almost too much to bear."Let's go straight home together, shall we?" he asked Moomin happily.Sniff nodded, wiping away his tears. "Yes, let's," he agreed. And so they made their way through the tunnels side by side, heading back toward the entrance of the cave. The strange creature with the harp clearly had the path memorized, and soon they were safely outside once more.The sun was low in the sky, bathing the trees in light and casting a deep orange glow over the valley. A gentle breeze blew gently across the clearing, carrying with it scents of pine needles and damp earth. Everything was cool and peaceful, making Sniff feel relaxed and content.As Moomin unmounted the creature, it began singing an odd lilting melody. "It is with a heavy heart that I tell thee that I must leave you now," it burbled, strumming its harp softly. "So, until next time, farewell, dear friend Sniff!"With that the creature slunk away back into the cave, where it disappeared amongst the shadows. Sniff watched it go, uncertain as to whether or not he cared much for the beast. He certainly appreciated being rescued, but other than that...Moomin waved goodbye after it, then turned to Sniff. "You'll be very glad to know that I've discovered a way home!" he announced.Sniff's eyes widened in astonishment. "A way home?" he repeated. "But how? I thought we were lost for good!""There's a path just east of here that leads to our part of the valley, not far from Moominhouse," Moomin explained. "We weren't so very lost after all!""Oh, that's wonderful!" Sniff exclaimed, clapping his paws together. "Let's hurry there right away!"They hurried off along the path, which wound its way around the mountainside. Soon they came to a fork in the road, and Moomin pointed to the left."See? You can just about see the smoke from our chimney!" he told Sniff. "No doubt about it. That's Moominhouse!"Sniff walked ahead eagerly, peering anxiously out onto the landscape before them. Sure enough, there was a large plume of smoke rising from a nearby chimney. It wasn't hard to spot, even though it was hidden behind some trees."I can't believe it," he muttered to himself. "All this time we were just a detour away... Oh, I feel like such a dunce!"Suddenly Sniff felt awfully useless, and he sat down on a rock to stare dejectedly at his feet. How could he have been so stupid as to get lost in the first place? He could have wandered endlessly through these woods forever, trying fruitlessly to find his way home, if it hadn't been for Moomin.Moomin saw how unhappy Sniff seemed, and went to stand beside him."What's wrong, Sniff?" he asked. "Aren't you happy to be going back home?""I am," Sniff replied, not bothered to look up. "But it's all my fault for getting us into this mess. If I hadn't been so obsessed with making money, none of this would have happened. This whole trip has been a complete waste!""Come now, Sniff, it wasn't all bad," Moomin said. "I thought our adventures were rather exciting! Didn't you enjoy yourself?""Not at all," Sniff said. "I was half out of my wits with worry. When I got lost in that cave, I thought I'd never see the sun again. I thought I'd never see you or anyone else again..."Sniff buried his face in his paws. "I'm sorry I stormed off and left you behind," he continued. "I'm sorry for being such an awful friend...""Never mind that," Moomin said soothingly. "It wasn't your fault. You were only doing what you thought best. Anyway, things couldn't have worked out better, since we're here now, safe and sound."Sniff looked up at Moomin, who smiled encouragingly at him. "So don't worry about anything," he said. "Just think about how nice it will be when we arrive home, and see everyone again."Sniff gave him a curious look. "I don't know how you can be so cheerful sometimes, Moomin," he said."I guess it comes down to one simple thing," Moomin said. "I always try to remind myself that life isn't really all that serious anyway. After all, we're just tiny little creatures living in a huge world full of dangers, and yet we survive... somehow."Sniff smiled softly. "Thank you, Moomin," he said quietly. "And thank you for putting up with me. I can hardly put up with myself sometimes.""Don't mention it," Moomin said. "Besides, things are always more, shall we say... interesting when you're involved!" He laughed cheerfully, and Sniff joined in, feeling lighter now that his worries had been lifted. The two of them set off once more toward their destination, and as they did so they talked happily together, sharing memories of past adventures.Soon they reached the path leading directly to Moominhouse, which stood amongst the tree like a big blue stovepipe. For a moment they stood together looking out over the valley below, which stretched out beneath them, seemingly endless. The sunlight glinted off the snow, casting a soft glow over everything.Then they took off running, waving and shouting cheerfully at Moominmamma and Moominpappa, who were out on the verandah waiting for them. They ran straight inside without stopping, laughing and chattering excitedly."Well, son, it's about time you got back," Moominpappa said, lifting his pipe."We were so worried about you," Moominmamma added, hugging her son tightly. "Whatever happened to you two?""The truth is, we've been lost in the forest for hours," Sniff confessed sheepishly. "It seems I was terribly mistaken about the way home...""Oh, but we had a great time, mamma," Moomin said. "I saw a big white creature that only sang and played the most beautiful music on its harp. And so many other things that I don't even know where to begin!"Moominpappa raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And where is this musical beast?" he asked."Oh, he had to stay home. He didn't like leaving his cave," Moomin replied. "It's too bad, you would have liked him. Or her. I wasn't too sure.""Didn't like leaving its cave?" Moominpappa repeated. "You mean, it refused to come along?""That's right, pappa," Moomin confirmed. "Anyway, it's very shy, and doesn't talk much. But it's actually quite friendly, so perhaps we could go visit it again sometime!""Yes, perhaps we could," Moominpappa agreed. The Moomins continued talking and laughing while Sniff watched, smiling and thinking about how glad he was to be with familiar company again. It wasn't long before he felt like he was intruding on their reunion, so he tactfully retreated and made his way back out the door.He stepped out onto the verandah that extended out from Moominhouse, where he watched the sun slowly sink behind the mountains into the west. Then he looked down upon the valley beyond, the tiny village nestled peacefully beneath him. All was quiet and peaceful. Only a few windows remained lit by flickering candles, each house waiting until dawn.After a while he heard Moomin's voice calling after him. "Sniff, where did you go?"A moment later, Moomin was peering through the front door. "There you are, Sniff!" he said. "For a moment I thought you'd lost yourself again."Sniff grinned sheepishly. "Just wanted some fresh air, that's all," he said. "I should probably be on my way back to my house now, anyway...""You're welcome to stay the night," Moomin said, joining him on the verandah."I don't want to intrude," Sniff said, shaking his head. "But thanks anyway. Besides, aren't you going to start hibernating tonight?""Not until the first snowfall," Moomin explained."Hmm, well then, I guess I could stay a little longer..." They then sat together on the front steps, watching the sky slowly grow darker above them. As the evening wore on, the stars came out one by one, illuminating the darkness with their pale light. Soon the moon rose high overhead, bathing the whole landscape in silver."You're going to be gone a long time, you know," Sniff said after a while. "While you're hibernating, I mean. Same as last year. And the year before that."Moomin was thoughtful for a moment. "Yes, I suppose you're right," he finally replied. "I never really thought of it that way before."Moomin turned to Sniff. "You don't hibernate, do you?" he asked.Sniff shook his head. "I don't," he said. "I do sleep quite a lot. There's not much else to do, really."Moomin looked down at the ground. "I suppose you must miss us terribly," he said. "Like I miss Snufkin when he goes away."Sniff laughed awkwardly. "It's not as bad as all that," he told him. "I'm all grown-up, and grown-ups can be alone as long as they must, if it comes down to it."Now it was Sniff's turn to look at the ground. He thought about all the things that he would miss if the Moomins were to move away suddenly, and never come back. He thought about what it might be like to live in a world without any Moomins at all..."I have to admit though, it does get awfully boring around here without you..." Sniff confessed.Moomin smiled kindly. "Don't worry, Sniff," he assured him. "If there's anything you need or want, just come and wake me up. You'll always find me here."Sniff chuckled. "Moomin, you always say the sappiest things...""Well, that's because I am a sap," Moomin said proudly. "What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic.""No offense meant, of course..." said Sniff."None taken," said Moomin. Just then, Moominmamma appeared carrying a large ceramic bowl with a lid, her hands covered by a pair of patterned oven mitts. Curled wisps of steam rose from the bowl, and the delicious smell of some kind of stew wafted through the air.Sniff's eyes lit up at the sight, and his stomach growled loudly. He remembered that he hadn't eaten a single thing since his late breakfast that morning, and he was famished."Are you going home now, Sniff?" Moominmamma asked."Yes, I really should be going," Sniff told her. "I need to check on my cat... She hasn't been fed all day...""I thought as much," Moominmamma said, nodding. "Let me put this in a basket for you so you can carry it with you when you leave. I'm sure you must be hungry after wandering around all day."Sniff smiled gratefully as she did just that, and handed the basket to him. Alongside the stew was a loaf of freshly baked bread, several fat slices of cheese, a jar of honey, and even a couple of jars of jam. It was enough to keep Sniff from going hungry for a long while yet!"Thank you, Moominmamma," he said. "That's very kind of you...""You're quite welcome. And thank you for being such a good friend to our son," Moomin added. "We couldn't ask for better than you.""Oh please, you're flattering me," Sniff protested. "I'm no saint, after all!""Of course you're not," Moomin agreed. "But we appreciate you nonetheless."Sniff smiled brightly, and did his best to hold back happy tears. "Thank you..." he said quietly."Alright then," Moomin said, smiling back. "We'll see you tomorrow, then?" Sniff nodded, and the two friends then embraced warmly before waving farewell. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by everything that had happened today, Sniff made his way off toward his own house, basket in tow. The sun had long set over the mountains, and the night had fallen quickly, leaving only the moon and the stars to light his path.Looking up into the dark blue sky, Sniff felt a strange sense of peace settle upon him. His shoulders seemed lighter somehow, and he began to hum softly to himself.Soon he was back home, where he found his cat curled up sound asleep next to the stove, snoring softly. Sniff took a seat beside her, gently stroking her fur. She opened one eye slowly, but didn't move from her sleeping spot. Yawning lazily, she stretched out her legs, and then closed her eyes again.Satisfied that she was alright, Sniff sat down at his table and ate the whole bowl of stew in mere moments. No longer hungry, he then made his way to bed and curled up under the sheets.The first snowfall was coming, and winter would arrive soon, signaling the beginning of the Moomins' long hibernation. It wasn't something he was looking forward to, but he was mature enough to handle such things. Besides, there were plenty of other things to occupy his time during those months ahead. Things like reading books and starting new businesses, which would keep him busy until spring finally arrived.For now, Sniff felt safe and secure within his blankets, listening to the soft sounds of nature outside. Nothing could disturb his sleep tonight. In the end, he knew that it was going to be a long and somewhat lonely winter, but he also knew that it wasn't going to last forever. It was a comforting thought, and soon he drifted off into peaceful slumber.Sniff and the Coming of Winter (part 1)Sniff had been living in Moominvalley for as long as he could remember. His earliest memory was being found by Moominmamma, who quickly became a sort of adopted mother to him. He also remembered the first time she fed him her own cooking and how delicious it tasted- he never knew that food could taste so good!And then there were all those other things about which Sniff simply couldn't forget. The way Moominpappa always told stories at night before bedtime- stories of his past adventures, and the adventures he still planned to have; the way they would all sit around the fire after dinner with their heads together discussing what they'd heard or read during the day; the way Moominmamma used to sing lullabies when Sniff was very little... These were memories he'd never forget.His life had changed when he was eventually reunited with his real parents. Muddler and Fuzzy were their names, and he was always grateful to have them again because now he had two sets of parents instead of just one. But although he loved them all dearly, nothing could ever replace the love he felt for the Moomin family.In fact, if you asked Sniff right now, he wouldn't be able to tell you why exactly. It was just something he knew. And perhaps this was why he felt so lonely sometimes. Ever since his reunion with his parents he had gone to visit Moominhouse less and less often. Perhaps it was because he felt an obligation to stay close to his long-lost mother and father, but whatever the reason, he hadn't spent much time there lately.But when he did visit, it was just as he remembered it from his younger days. Full of life and full of love, filled with laughter and songs, and every room brimming over with happiness. Even when the occasional Moomin-ish melancholy set in, it didn't last long. There was too much going on here in Moominvalley to allow sadness to creep in. In fact, it was hardly ever allowed anywhere near. At least, that's how it seemed to Sniff.Sniff had grown more independent now that he was older, and got along quite well without needing constant supervision. In fact, he considered himself very grown up indeed. Of course, he wasn't entirely certain what "grown up" meant, especially since no one else seemed to know either.Whatever the precise definition, to Sniff being grown up and independent meant living in his own home, away from Moominhouse. No longer sleeping under someone else's roof, being able to make his own decisions, to take care of himself, and to do anything whatsoever he pleased, whenever he chose to. All these things made Sniff feel like a big boy. As far as he was concerned, he had already reached adulthood.Of course, his new home wasn't terribly far from Moominhouse, which allowed him to visit his adopted family frequently. If he wanted to go see Moomintroll, he only needed to walk down the road and cross the bridge, and there he was, back where he belonged. And if no one was there to greet him, he merely had to stroll up the front door and knock politely, and someone would come running out to open the door for him. Just like old times.And today, Sniff intended to do just that. It was mid-morning in late autumn, and the sun was shining brightly through the window. Sniff sat upright in bed, stretched, yawned, and gazed wistfully outside. The leaves of the oak trees had long since changed color, contrasting with the evergreen of the juniper and the spruce. They looked beautiful against the cloudy sky.Sniff sighed deeply and rolled over onto his side. He really must get up soon. He couldn't keep lying there forever. He lay awake for some minutes, thinking about how cold it was outside and how warm his blanket felt against his fur. Sleep called to him, but he refused to let it win. He thought about the wonderful smell of coffee brewing, and of freshly-baked something-or-other, and decided not to risk missing breakfast.Suddenly he found himself wishing he was sitting in Moominmamma's kitchen, drinking coffee and eating whatever else she had whipped up that morning. Or perhaps a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top would suit him better? Or a piece of apple pie? Wouldn't that be nice?Still he lay there, trying to will himself to get out of bed and actually join the rest of the world. The house was quiet, except for the gentle sound of the cuckoo clock ticking on the wall above Sniff's head. He listened to it for a while, wondering what time it was. It was probably already past nine o'clock or perhaps even later. When one was independent, it didn't matter when you woke up, though society demanded that you should at least do something productive when you did.He glanced at the clock. Ten twenty-five. Not bad. Still plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, maybe head into town and earn some coin, and then spend most of the afternoon exploring the woods surrounding Moominvalley. Yes, that sounded good!Finally he opened his eyes and sat up straight in bed. Now he was ready to face the day. He went to the closet, pulled on his thickest sweater to keep out the cold, and headed out the door.The air outside smelled fresh and crisp after yesterday's rain. The clouds overhead were still white and fluffy, promising snowfall yet. Sniff smiled appreciatively. After such a lovely summer, autumn was almost as welcome as spring.The ground felt somewhat cold beneath his paws as he made his way towards his destination. Although winter was approaching fast, there was still enough warmth during the day to make it bearable to walk around without a coat. But it wouldn't be long before everyone was bundling up again.Soon he was crossing the wooden bridge spanning the stream below. From here Moominhouse was only a short distance away, and the sight of the tall, blue, cylindrical dwelling cheered him greatly. As usual, Moominpappa was sitting on the verandah smoking a pipe and reading his morning newspaper."Good morning, Sniff," he said without looking up. "Have you read the news?""Hello, Moominpappa," Sniff greeted. "I haven't seen the newspaper yet today."Moominpappa took a deep puff on his pipe and blew a few smoke rings into the air. "Going to be winter soon," he said. "Big snowfall coming in a few days. Maybe even a blizzard. Isn't that exciting?"Sniff nodded. That meant the Moomins would begin hibernating for the season; they'd all gather inside and sleep until spring came round once more. Even now, Sniff could imagine them snoring softly inside their quiet little house. Among them would be Moomintroll, leaving Sniff without his closest friend, someone to talk to explore the valley with, for several months.But Sniff put all of that out of his mind for now, and headed for the front door of Moominhouse. As soon as he entered he was greeted by a cheerful voice."Welcome back!" said Moominmamma. She was in the kitchen, standing beside the stove and stirring a pot full of something delicious smelling. "How are you feeling this fine autumn morning?""Fine, thanks," answered Sniff, immediately making a beeline towards the table, where he was delighted to find there were still leftovers from breakfast waiting for him. Without hesitation, he began stuffing himself with a big slice of spiced cake, and gulping down huge swallows of coffee. Luckily both were still warm, which lightened Sniff's mood considerably."Where's Moomin?" he asked between bites."Gone to gather pine needles in the wood," Moominmamma replied. "That's all we can eat before we start hibernating a week from now.""Oh yes, I remember now," Sniff said, his face scrunched up at the thought of eating such a thing. "Doesn't sound terribly appetizing.""It's tradition, dear," explained Moominmamma. "And besides, they're quite nutritious.""Well, if you say so..." Sniff gave her an uncertain look, but Moominmamma merely smiled reassuringly and continued to stir the pot. When he finished eating, Sniff got to work putting away the dishes. Moominmamma watched him curiously."You never used to clean up after yourself like this when you were younger," she observed."No, I didn't," admitted Sniff. "But I'm getting older now.""Yes, you are indeed," agreed Moominmamma. "I'm glad to see you taking on some responsibilities. You've been very helpful lately.""Maybe I just feel a bit more grown up these days," suggested Sniff."Perhaps," said Moominmamma, smiling. "I suppose things change over time. Did you have any plans for today?""Not really," admitted Sniff. "I was thinking of going out to find Moomin and see if he wants to help me set up a hot cider stand. I've got some other ideas too..."Moominmamma smiled in a way that suggested she found his money-making plans amusing, but Sniff didn't notice. "That sounds lovely, dear," she said, nodding approvingly. "Just make sure Moomin is back home in time for dinner.""Of course I will," promised Sniff, who had no intention of letting anything get in the way of his business venture. As always, he was very excited by the prospect of making more money, and this time he was certain his idea was going to be a success. After all, who doesn't like a nice hot beverage on a cold autumn day like this? And what better place than right in the middle of the village square? He looked forward to seeing how many people flocked to his stall each day. With all that in mind, Sniff left Moominhouse and headed off towards the woods, in the hopes of finding Moomin and inviting him along to join him. The weather was still cold, and seemed to be getting colder as made his way deeper into the forest. A sudden chilly wind rushed past, leaving Sniff shivering as he trudged across the nearly frozen ground. His breath clouded before him and condensed into tiny ice crystals, making it hard to see ahead.It felt good though, rather invigorating even, so he kept walking, determined to reach his goal. Soon he spotted a small clearing not far away, and saw Moomin bent over a pile of fallen pine needles, gathering them up his paws."There you are! Thought I'd lost you," called Sniff cheerfully, running towards him.Moomin turned around, startled, but smiled once he recognized his friend. "Oh hello, Sniff!" he greeted. "What brings you all the way out here?""Looking for you," said Sniff. "I wanted to invite you to my new business venture.""A business venture?" said Moomin, looking a trifle dubious. "Oh Sniff, not another one of your money-making schemes!"Sniff grinned, unfazed by Moomin's reluctance. "This one's different!" he said. "This time I've got an idea that's sure to work!""I don't know..." muttered Moomin, looking at the pine needles he had collected. "I'm supposed to be gathering these for winter...""Come on, try it out with me first," urged Sniff. "If it doesn't work, then we'll give up. No harm done.""All right," said Moomin, giving in reluctantly. "But only for a little while, I've got to get enough for the whole season, you know...""Of course, of course," Sniff said hurriedly, tugging on Moomin's arm. "Let's go! It won't take long." Moomin found himself being pulled along behind Sniff without much resistance, causing his collection of needles to fall back down onto the ground. He watched as the little pile quickly disappeared into the distance, leaving him wondering if he should ever gather enough this year if this sort of thing kept happening. But Sniff was his friend, so there was nothing he could do about it except follow him and try to keep up with his enthusiasm."Where are we going anyway?" Moomin asked."To collect some apples," Sniff replied."What for?""For cider, of course!" Sniff explained. "We'll also need spices, a cider press, some wooden planks, a few nails..."Moomin said nothing, but simply followed Sniff through the trees, hoping desperately that this would turn out to be worthwhile. It didn't sound like a job that would be finished in a single afternoon for one, let alone by only two people. Still, he knew Sniff wouldn't stop until he succeeded... or failed spectacularly. That was just the kind of person he was.As for Sniff, he wasn't particularly worried. He already knew he was on to something big. All he needed was someone else to believe in him too, and he'd soon be able to turn his dream into reality. If he could just convince Moomin of that fact, everything would be fine. It was a long while before Sniff suddenly came to a stop at a fork in the path, where an old signpost stood pointing in two directions. The hand-painted letters had long faded away, leaving only faint traces of their shapes."Which way now?" asked Moomin.Sniff was silent for a moment. He was certain he had gone the right way, but this part of the valley didn't look familiar at all. In fact, it looked quite strange indeed. There were tall, mossy trees growing everywhere, and the ground beneath his feet was covered in layers upon layers of dead leaves. They crumbled underfoot whenever he stepped, creating an unpleasant sort of crunching noise."Hmm... I think I might have taken a wrong turn somewhere," Sniff admitted hesitantly."Well, that's a bit worrying," said Moomin, frowning. "Perhaps we should retrace our steps a bit.""No, no, we're almost there," insisted Sniff. "I'm sure of it." But the truth was he wasn't sure at all. This was very unlike any area of the valley he had ever seen before. So he decided to trust his instincts and continue onward. Perhaps they would lead him straight to what he was looking for after all? And so the two of them continued forward, following the same path they had been following since leaving Moominhouse, or at least what they thought was the same path. Although neither of them spoke, both were thinking deeply, trying to make sense of whatever it was they were seeing. It was certainly still Moominvalley, there was no doubt about that, but it was a part of it that they had never explored before. At times, it felt as if they were traveling through a completely unknown landscape, and yet at other moments it was strangely familiar.Eventually they found themselves at the shores of a huge lake, which stretched far off into the distance. It was quiet and peaceful, unspoiled by activity, Moomin-ish or otherwise. The sandy beach was dotted by stones of various sizes, smooth and rounded by centuries of wear. A gentle breeze blew from across the water, stirring the surface gently and sending ripples toward shore. Nothing seemed to indicate that anyone had ever come here before.Sniff sat down on a rock, and put his head in his paws. He was too distracted by his own thoughts to notice the picturesque beauty of the place. He couldn't understand how he had gotten himself so entirely lost, especially since he was fairly certain he hadn't made a wrong turn anywhere. And yet here he was, at some strange lake he'd never seen before. As Sniff sat there muttering to himself, he suddenly thought he could hear a faint voice calling out from somewhere. Both he and Moomin glanced up, searching for the source of the sound. It seemed to be coming from the lake itself."Hello? Is someone there?" Sniff asked curiously.There was no immediate answer, but the sound began to slowly grow louder. Sniff frowned in concentration as he listened closely, eventually realizing that the sound was actually coming from inside the water, and they heard the voice again, slightly clearer this time.It was a low, rhythmic sound, almost like a song being sung underwater. Sniff leaned closer, straining to pick out more words, but they were drowned out by the wind and the waves. Finally, however, he managed to catch the words clear enough to understand."Good afternoon..." the voice said faintly. "Good evening... Good morning..."As he listened, Sniff could see some bubbles rising up from the water, moving around erratically in the current. Suddenly a huge, strange creature rose out of the lake with a loud splashing sound, its wet body gleaming brightly in the sunlight. It was easily thirty meters long, and had a long, slender neck ending in a huge, bulbous snout. As it emerged from the water, it let out a few deep puffs of air, then turned to face the pair sitting nearby, staring down at them with curious, glassy eyes.Sniff jumped up in alarm, but Moomin remained perfectly calm. "Hello. Who might you be?" he asked."My name is Ambrose, and I'm very glad to meet you," the creature said, giving them a weird smile. "Come closer so I can show you how friendly I am."Moomin cautiously approached the enormous thing, who smiled even wider."Please don't be afraid," it told them. "You are my guests. I won't hurt you."The creature reached out one massive arm, and gestured invitingly. It extended its hand toward Sniff, who hesitated just briefly, then timidly stepped closer and took hold of it. His fur bristled with fear momentarily, but when he realized that this thing really wouldn't harm him, he relaxed immediately. But only a little.Suddenly the creature took several slow strides forward, until it was nearly on top of them. Then it crouched down, putting one massive paw on each of their shoulders."Now, tell me your names," Ambrose urged them."My name is Moomintroll- Moomin for short- and this is Sniff," Moomin said. "We're very glad to meet you!"The creature grinned again, exposing rows of sharp teeth. "As am I. I hardly ever get visitors," it said. "I've always wanted to have friends, but everyone thinks I'm dangerous. Now that you know I'm not going to eat you, we'll be good friends! Won't we?"But Sniff didn't seem quite convinced. "Are you sure you won't eat us?" he wondered suspiciously.Ambrose laughed. "Of course not!" he said. "Why I don't think I've ever eaten anything besides fish and perhaps a few... small animals who had the misfortune of drowning in the lake."The thought of such a thing made Sniff suddenly feel very ill. This creature may have been acting friendly, but how could he be certain that it wasn't just pretending to be amiable in order to lure him into a trap?"I almost drowned myself once," Moomin replied, seemingly undisturbed by what the creature had said. "In fact, I was rescued by a mermaid. She took me to her island and gave me some fish soup and then she said she'd made a new friend.""How nice," Ambrose said, making an odd gurgling sound in his throat."I don't remember that ever happening, Moomin," Sniff said."Oh, you weren't there, Sniff," Moomin said. "It's too bad, it was very exciting!""I miss everything," Sniff complained with a groan."Well, maybe that was a dream then," Moomin said."Ah, but if it was a dream, it might not ever end," the creature said in a sing-song voice. "And now I must go back under the water. Goodbye, my friends. Thank you for speaking with me today. And thank you most of all for visiting me." Then it disappeared beneath the surface of the lake, leaving the two travelers alone again. The sun was setting behind them, casting the scene in a golden glow."Do you suppose that was real?" Moomin asked."I don't know," Sniff mumbled, feeling sickened by the whole episode. "Real or no, he certainly didn't do anything to help us find our way back home!""Hmm, you're right about that," agreed Moomin. "He was an awfully friendly sort of fellow though, wasn't he?"Sniff grumbled something unintelligible and slumped down onto the ground beside Moomin. They sat together in silence as dark grey clouds gathered overhead, and a sudden gust of wind blew across the beach, causing the sand to dance wildly in the breeze before settling back down again.After a while, Moomin spoke up. "It's no use sitting around and moping, Sniff," he said, standing up. "Let's just keep walking, okay?""Okay," Sniff sighed. It was quite obvious that his plans for a cider stand had been dashed, but he knew it was best to put the whole thing behind him as quickly as possible. Now all he wanted to do was to find his way back to someplace he recognized, and unlose himself. Besides, he was getting hungry. He hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. So the pair of them started off along the path once again, heading straight away from the lake, hoping they would soon reach a more familiar part of Moominvalley.As they walked, Sniff remembered something Moominmamma had once told him: "If you ever get lost, all you need to do is remember where you've been, and make your way backwards." It was good advice, although Sniff doubted that any ordinary person like himself could possibly manage to retrace his steps backward through the valley without getting hopelessly confused. Still, it was worth trying at least.They trudged onward for a while, and gradually the scenery began to change. The trees grew more sparse, and eventually they came upon a wide clearing, surrounded by tall grass. In the center of the clearing a campfire was burning, and sitting nearby was an odd-looking man, closely watching the fire."G'morning," he said, his gaze never leaving the fire."You mean good afternoon, don't you?" Moomin replied politely."Whatever you say," the stranger said. "What brings you here?"Moomin explained briefly about their adventure so far, and asked if the man knew which direction Moominhouse was."Nope," the man replied. "Been watching the fire. Got to make sure it doesn't go anywhere.""That's not very helpful," Sniff said, feeling his frustration increase."Sorry. I'm just a little preoccupied," the man said, never once looking up. "I need to keep an eye on the fire. If it goes out, or if someone starts throwing rocks at it, I'll know they're planning to steal my things. It's my job, fire-watching.""Your job?" Moomin repeated."It pays pretty well," the man said, shrugging. "So long as nobody comes here and fools around, I can sit here and watch this fire forever.""How very interesting," Moomin said, leaning forward and peering into the fire himself. "Is the fire really all that important?""Important enough to pay for my food and shelter," the man replied. "Without fires to cook food over, we wouldn't have much of a life, would we?""Indeed," Moomin concurred, his eyes beginning to take on the same dull gleam as the man's.The conversation went on in this vein for several minutes, until finally Sniff broke it off. "Really, Moomin, don't you think we should be going?" he said, his voice coming out more whiny than usual. "This character is just a half-wit, what's the use of sitting around talking and carrying on like this!"Moomin looked away from the fire, frowning. "Here now, Sniff, there's no need to be so rude!" he said. "I'm sure he has his own reasons for living the way he does! Besides, we were only having a bit of fun! Don't worry, we won't stay here too long, I promise!"Sniff groaned, and threw up his paws in frustration. For someone whose life had been spent traveling through strange lands and facing unknown dangers, Moomin seemed surprisingly naive sometimes. There was nothing wrong with having a few pleasant conversations every now and then, but there was a limit to how many times one could indulge oneself in such activities, especially when one's stomach was growling as loudly as his."Well, I for one have had enough of such nonsense," he declared, as he turned and began stomping down the path. "I'm going back home, with or without you!"Moomin's eyes widened, obviously surprised by this outburst. But rather than arguing further, he simply remained sitting by the fire and resumed staring at it, as if entranced."If you insist," he said, sounding resigned. "But I hope you realize that means you'll have to walk all the way back by yourself..."Sniff stopped for a moment, feeling a sudden surge of fear creep up his spine. But it quickly passed, and he continued onward, his paws pounding the ground indignantly."I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much," he said angrily, stamping harder still. But even though he might have meant it, the words sounded hollow and insincere. And yet somehow he couldn't quite bring himself to admit that to Moomin, who didn't seem to understand why Sniff was so upset.Sniff could faintly hear Moomin calling after him in the distance, but he refused to pay any attention. Instead he kept walking faster and faster, determined to put as much distance between him and Moomin as possible. He wanted desperately to find someplace he knew, somewhere that would tell him he was on his way home. Anywhere but where he was now. end part 1