Snow Tracks and Tail Wags

The first snow of the year fell quietly over the small town, blanketing the streets and yards in a layer of untouched white. Inside a cozy little house at the corner of Maple Lane, a beagle named Toby sat at the window, nose pressed against the glass. His tail swished slowly, unsure of what to make of the strange, glistening world outside.

When his owner finally opened the back door, Toby took one cautious step into the cold fluff. His paws sank deep, and he froze for a moment—then bounded forward in delight. The crunch beneath his feet, the chill on his nose—it was all new and exhilarating.

As Toby sniffed the ground, he noticed tiny prints trailing across the snow. Intrigued, he lowered his nose and followed the winding path through the yard and into the woods behind the house. The scent was light but fresh, something alive and small. His tail wagged faster.

The tracks led to a hollow under a tree, where Toby found a small rabbit trembling in the cold. The two locked eyes for a moment—neither quite sure what to do. Toby’s playful bark broke the silence, and the rabbit darted off. But instead of chasing, Toby sat down and tilted his head, watching it disappear into the white.

When he returned home, his ears and whiskers dusted with snow, his owner laughed and wrapped him in a warm towel. Toby curled up by the fire, his little adventure complete, dreaming of paw prints and snow trails and the new friend who had taught him that not every chase needed an ending.