#whomper

They arrive at Moominvalley with some other folks they know from Spruce Creek; the Jailer Hemulen whose interest was piqued by talk of a stage performance, his smaller cousin who nervously clanked her knitting needles at all times, then finally there were the Park Keeper and the Park Wardress, having grown tired of the restrictive prison of Spruce Creek Park and looking for an excuse to break from the routine a little.

They are gladly welcomed by the nuclear family of Moomins; Moominmamma, Moominpappa, and Moomintroll. Moomintroll was also happily in a relationship with a Snork Maiden, planning to wed her in the near future.

The Valley's secrets grew apparent and vile as time passed, sacrificial deaths, strange rituals, odd philosophies, the intoxicating Smell of Spring and all with an unending grin on everyone's face.

The Park Keepers and the Jailer disappear one after another, likely because of the innocuous but anarchistic Snufkin in the Valley's midst.

The Snork Maiden, in an attempt to comfort the very paranoid Small Hemulen after the disappearance of her cousin, said that her brother, too, had gone, but there was nothing to be upset about, she has the Valley to help her through tough times and she barely even thinks of him anymore. Many members have also disappeared throughout the years, though one by the name of Sniff simply moved away, and he was the only one to do so.

The Fillyjonk becomes enamoured with the joys that the Valley exhibited, being showered with love and praise, while her aunt, standoffish as she is, refused to accept the pleasantries of the Valley and tries to convince her niece to leave.

This culminates in Emma's frustration growing to the point of trying to escape on her own, but was caught by the members of the Valley before she reached the outskirts.

Finally, it was time for the bonfire, the center piece of all Midsummer festivals. Signs with rules written on them were thrown into a pile, a pole sticking up from the middle. Now, what was left was a person to become part of the fire.

The Fillyjonk is given a choice to either have her aunt or a member of the Valley be burned. The Fillyjonk chose her aunt to burn for the bonfire.

Screams of agony, everyone echoing it to imitate grieving as was part of the ritual... The Fillyjonk sobbed, the Small Hemulen sat next to her.