It was the day before New Year’s Eve, and the cabin’s cozy living room was alive with festive warmth. Soft string lights draped over the windows cast a gentle glow, while the air was rich with the aroma of freshly baked cookies and savory snacks. The tables, already prepped for tomorrow’s celebration, were adorned with colorful plates stacked high with treats.  
Athena, the poised and elegant husky, lounged gracefully by the crackling fireplace. Her sharp, mismatched eyes, one a piercing blue, the other a warm chestnut, carefully surveyed the room with quiet intelligence.  
Nearby, her younger brother Obito, an oversized and adorably clumsy malamute puppy, was sprawled across the rug like a fluffy, living throw blanket. His enormous paws twitched in his sleep, pink toe beans exposed, while the firelight shimmered across his black, tan, and grey fur. Every so often, his nose wriggled, as though he were chasing the scent of treats in his dreams.
The quiet peace of the living room shattered when the humans burst in. “What happened to all the snacks?!” one exclaimed, staring in horror at the empty table. Plates that were once filled with cookies, crackers, and cheese cubes sat bare, crumbs the only evidence of their prior existence.  
Athena’s ears perked, her sharp gaze narrowing at the scene. She rose to her feet, regal and composed, surveying the chaos. Obito, woken by the commotion, flopped up onto his oversized paws with all the grace of a baby moose.  
“Snacks? Did someone say snacks?” Obito barked excitedly, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air.  
“Someone ate everything,” their human groaned. “We need those for tomorrow’s party!”  
Athena tilted her head, her detective instincts already kicking in. Something didn’t add up. Humans were many things, clumsy, slow, but snack thieves? Not likely. She turned to Obito, who was sniffing aggressively at the empty table, his tail wagging furiously.  
“Obito,” Athena said with quiet authority, “we have a case to solve.”  
Obito froze mid-sniff, his tongue hanging out as he blinked at her. “A case? Like… a mystery?”  
“Yes.” Athena’s eyes gleamed with purpose. “The snacks didn’t just vanish. Something or someone took them. We need to find out who.”  
Obito let out a dramatic gasp, his paws slipping on the polished wood as he tried to turn around too quickly. “I’m on it!”  
Athena sighed. “This will be a long day.”  
Athena, dignified and serious, began her investigation by sniffing the floor, leading her nose from the table to a faint trail of crumbs. Obito, meanwhile, charged around the room like a fluffy wrecking ball, sniffing wildly at anything and everything.  
“I FOUND A CLUE!” Obito barked, his tail wagging like a windmill.  
Athena glanced over to see him with his head shoved under a couch cushion, nose buried in fluff. With a dramatic yank, Obito pulled out… a long-lost squeaky toy.  
“Obito,” Athena said patiently, “that is not a snack.”  
“But it could’ve been related!” Obito insisted, his puppy brain unwilling to let go of the idea. He tried to pounce on the toy but ended up faceplanting into the rug with a loud *thud*.  
Ignoring him, Athena followed the crumbs with precision. The trail wound across the room, past the fireplace, and led to a suspiciously overturned rug. She pawed delicately at the corner and revealed a small pile of popcorn hidden beneath.  
Athena’s ears flicked in triumph. “Interesting.”  
Obito, spotting Athena’s discovery, bounded over to “help.” Unfortunately, his enthusiasm outweighed his coordination. His massive paws landed directly on the rug, sending popcorn flying like confetti.  
“OBITO!” Athena snapped as crumbs rained down on her head.  
“Oops!” Obito barked, looking sheepish. “Did I help?”  
Athena shook her fur free of debris, suppressing the urge to lecture him. “Just… follow me.”  
Together, the two dogs trailed the scattered popcorn crumbs toward the sliding glass door that led outside. Athena’s sharp eyes caught something unusual, a tiny paw print in the snow just beyond the door.  
“Look at this,” Athena murmured, pointing with her nose. “It wasn’t a dog. Something smaller.”  
Obito squinted, then gasped. “Aliens?!”  
Athena closed her eyes briefly. “Not aliens, Obito.”  
She pawed the door open, and the cold air whooshed inside. The trail continued through the snow-covered yard, leading toward the shed. Athena moved with careful elegance, her paws light and confident, while Obito trailed behind, clumsily sinking into snowdrifts with every step.  
“Wait for me!” Obito huffed, his face popping out of the snow like a furry groundhog.  
As they neared the shed, Athena’s ears twitched. She heard faint rustling and tiny chittering sounds inside. Quietly, she motioned for Obito to stay put, a gesture he promptly ignored. Obito barreled forward, his oversized paws slipping on the icy ground, and slammed headfirst into the shed door with a loud *BANG*.  
The rustling inside stopped. Silence hung in the air. Then, all at once, the door burst open, and a group of raccoons came tumbling out, startled and panicked. One raccoon clutched an entire string of sausages in its tiny paws, while another had a mouthful of crackers.  
“HEY! THOSE ARE OUR SNACKS!” Obito barked, leaping into action.  
Chaos ensued. The raccoons scattered like furry bandits, weaving through the snow as Obito gave chase, slipping, tumbling, and faceplanting at every turn. Athena watched for a moment, unimpressed but determined.  
With sharp precision, Athena darted ahead of the raccoons, anticipating their path. She used her speed and intelligence to herd them back toward the shed. “Obito, block the door!” she shouted.  
“I’m on it!” Obito barked. He scrambled into position, his massive paws flopping in the snow as he skidded to a stop.  
One by one, the raccoons scurried back into the shed, their stolen snacks left behind in the snow. Athena trotted forward, her head held high as she closed the door with a firm push of her paw.  
Athena sat proudly beside the pile of recovered snacks, her chestnut and blue eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction. Obito, panting and covered in snow, flopped beside her, grinning ear to ear.  
“We did it!” Obito said between breaths. “We saved the snacks!”  
Athena tilted her head toward him, a hint of fondness in her otherwise serious expression. “I saved the snacks. You… assisted.”  
Obito beamed as if she’d given him the greatest compliment in the world. “I’m a hero!”  
When the humans discovered the snacks and the evidence of the raccoon raid, they showered both dogs with praise. Athena was hailed as the “brilliant detective,” while Obito earned extra belly rubs and treats for his “bravery” (though most of it involved falling down).  
That night, as the house grew quiet again, Athena curled up beside the fire, content and regal. Obito snored loudly next to her, his massive paws twitching as he dreamed of snacks.  
The case of the missing party snacks was solved, just in time for New Year’s Eve. And though Athena knew she’d done most of the work, she couldn’t imagine solving mysteries without her clumsy, lovable little brother.  
“Good job, Obito,” she whispered softly, as a faint smile tugged at her muzzle.  
In his sleep, Obito wiggled his oversized paws and muttered, “Snacks…”  
Athena sighed and closed her eyes. Tomorrow was going to be another long day.  

🍾🥂🍾