#mallowmarsh

In my child AU, Moomin finds an old witch’s spellbook from Moominmamma’s side of the family. She never explained the book’s power to him, and it’s debatable if even she fully understood it, so when Moomintroll spots a recipe for a “powerful new addition to the family,” he assumes that it’s for a potion that would grant good luck in conceiving a child, or something of that sort. He and Snufkin had been discussing parenthood, after all. The spell says the recipe takes the whole winter to brew, so Moomintroll follows the instructions and settles down for hibernation, hoping to surprise Snufkin with a potion and the suggestion of fatherhood.

Months later, it’s Snufkin, back from his travels, who first discovers their son. He can’t shake the feeling of being watched after walking into his and Moomintroll’s house, and is spooked when he learns that Moomintroll isn’t even awake yet. The two of them later find the cooking-pot-turned-cauldron overturned and a black, fuzzy demon baby crawling in the shadows.

Nyxnukka may be a demon/cryptid baby, but he’s also very sweet. He loves to draw pictures for his dads that always look more menacing than they really are. (The trees aren’t on fire, he’s drawing autumn leaves; his friends are covered in raspberry juice, not blood) He crawls on the walls and ceiling before he learns to walk; this frightens Snufkin and Moomintroll before they realize Nyxnukka is too good at clinging to things to fall and hurt himself.