On the 16th day of February, a soft blanket of snow covered the world outside, dusting the trees and rooftops in a shimmering white that glittered in the winter sunlight. The air was crisp and cold, but inside, warmth and excitement filled the home. Today was a special day, not just any day, but the snow dogs human mum’s birthday. And Athena and Obito had a mission.
Athena, the elegant and intelligent husky, stood at the edge of the living room, her blue and chestnut eyes glinting with determination. At just one year old, she was already a sight to behold, her sleek black, grey, and white fur shimmering in the sunlight, her posture poised and graceful. Every movement she made was measured and purposeful, but today, it was all for their Mum. Athena was ready for the surprise, and she had a plan in mind, one that would require all her wit, elegance, and, if needed, a little bit of stubbornness.
Of course, there was one challenge standing in her way, Obito.
Obito, her rambunctious seven-month-old Malamute brother, was as clumsy as he was lovable. His massive paws, still too big for his body, sometimes tripped him up, making him stumble in the most ridiculous of ways. His fur was a patchwork of black, tan, and grey, and his amber brown eyes shone with a goofy enthusiasm that was impossible to resist. He had a heart of gold, but when it came to surprises, well… Obito’s version of a surprise usually involved food and chaos.
Athena could already hear him. His excited not so little paws clattered across the floor as he bounded toward her, tail wagging like an unstoppable force.
“Athena! What’s happening? Is it time for playtime? FOOD?!” Obito’s voice was full of hopeful energy.
Athena let out a quiet sigh, flicking her tail. “Obito, we have a mission. It’s Mum’s birthday today, remember? We need to get ready.”
Obito tilted his head to the side, as if that piece of information hadn’t quite sunk in yet. “Birthday? FOOD? Play?” He sat down, his oversized paws tripping over each other as he tried to look serious, but the excitement was bubbling over.
Athena took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing with focus. “We’re going to make her birthday the best one yet, but we need to work together. So no more messing around. Got it?”
Obito, ever the good sport, gave her an enthusiastic nod, his tail thumping on the ground. “Got it! Teamwork!” he barked, his voice a little too loud.
With that, they set off.
First, Athena led the way into the hallway, where a small collection of carefully chosen gifts lay waiting. Athena had snuck into their mum’s desk earlier to “borrow” some brightly colored ribbons, which she now wrapped with delicate precision around a few special treats. There were dog biscuits from the local bakery, extra special, with heart-shaped designs, and a few of their favorite toys, each with its own story. A chewed-up squeaky ball, a rope tug-of-war toy, and, of course, a chewy bone that Obito had already taken a liking to.
Obito, not understanding the intricacies of wrapping presents, was more focused on the shiny ribbons than the task at hand. His clumsy paws knocked over a few items and sent one of the toys rolling across the floor, but Athena, ever the perfectionist, was quick to fix the mess. As she worked, Obito did what he did best, he followed her around, occasionally adding his own touch by carrying a toy in his mouth, wagging his tail furiously.
“Okay, Obito, time for the card,” Athena said, after a few more moments of quiet organizing. She padded over to their mum’s desk again, where she had carefully “borrowed” a sheet of construction paper. Athena’s sharp, intelligent eyes focused as she drew a big red heart, adding her name and Obito’s in paw-written letters.
*To Mum, from Athena and Obito. Happy Birthday!*
With a satisfied wag of her tail, Athena placed the card carefully with the presents. But just as she was about to turn around, Obito, being the ever-enthusiastic, food-obsessed pup he was, bounded over and grabbed the card in his mouth. In his excitement, he slobbered on it a bit and managed to chew the edges, transforming Athena’s neat work into a soggy mess.
“Agh, Obito!” Athena exclaimed, her voice a mixture of exasperation and affection. “That’s for Mum, not for chewing!”
But Obito, with a big, goofy grin, dropped the card at her paws and then proceeded to roll onto his back, waving his paws in the air. “I didn’t do it! It’s just for fun!” he said, somehow convinced of his own innocence.
Athena shook her head but couldn’t help the fond smile tugging at her lips. She gave the card a final, loving nudge into place and took a step back to admire their work.
There was just one more thing to take care of. The doormat. Athena, ever the diva, disliked getting her paws wet more than anything. The cold, damp mat by the door sent shivers down her spine just thinking about it. But, with the surprise ready, there was no time to waste. She took a deep breath and prepared herself to face the dreaded wetness.
Obito, on the other hand, was already happily trampling across it, his massive paws leaving wet prints everywhere. His huge, fluffy tail was wagging so fast that he seemed to be in his own little world.
“Obito, wait for me!” Athena muttered, trying to gracefully avoid stepping on the wet mat.
But, as always, Obito wasn’t listening. His paws squelched through the mat as he turned to look back at Athena. “I’m ready!” he yipped.
Athena’s eyes narrowed in determination. She might not like the wet mat, but she wasn’t going to let it stop her. With a deep breath and a fierce stomp of her own paw, Athena stepped onto the mat, her blue and chestnut eyes locked forward.
“See? It’s not that bad,” she muttered to herself, though she was secretly glad to be done with it.
By the time their humans car appeared in the driveway, Athena and Obito were ready. They placed their surprise in front of the door, the treats, toys, and slightly chewed card all neatly arranged. Mum would be here any minute, and Athena could feel the excitement bubbling inside her.
The door swung open, and their mum gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of her birthday surprise. Athena’s heart swelled with pride as she watched her mum crouch down to greet them, her hands immediately scooping up both dogs for a warm hug.
“Oh, you two are incredible,” mum said, her voice thick with affection. “Thank you so much.”
Obito, who had been eagerly wagging his tail, couldn’t contain his joy any longer. He bounded up, knocking the presents slightly askew, and gave his mum a big, slobbery kiss on the cheek.
Athena, her heart full, looked up at her mum with her two-toned eyes shining. She knew this moment was worth every little misstep, every wet paw print, and every messy moment with Obito.
Together, they had made mum’s birthday a special one, one filled with love, laughter, and just the right amount of puppy chaos.

🎂🎁🎉