The first snowfall of the season was naturally the most magical.
It was the first milestone of the colder months and approaching winter, and with it the holiday season and the new year. The cold weather meant more snow, more snow meant people stayed inside, people staying inside meant less rescues, and less rescues meant the Paw Patrol finally had time to relax. It was their unofficial vacation from being serious and strong and dutiful. A time where they could unwind and enjoy the holidays. Every pup would easily list December as their favorite month of the year.
The first snowfall, however, usually came at the end of November. The snow would fall around the Lookout overnight where the pups would discover it in the morning.
And there was one pup who was always ready for it.
The bulldog pulled his yellow hardhat on with a purpose.
It's here, the bulldog thought excitedly. It's finally here! I've waited all year and it's finally here! Ohmygodohmygod!
Rubble ran in a circle the second he stepped out of his puphouse as a snowflake landed on his nose. This is the year! It's gonna be my year! I'm finally gonna build a perfect snow castle! And all the other pups will love it and say "Rubble, you're so cool" and it'll stay up all winter and be indestructible and it'll be great and amazing and I can't wait!
Another snowflake landed on his ear. Rubble smiled as he gently shook it off. I can't wait to get started, he thought, before his stomach growled.
. . . right after breakfast.
The cold hardly bothered Rubble as he strolled inside the Lookout. Only one other pup was waiting for him. The only other pup who was ever awake that early.
"Goooood morning, Chase," Rubble sang as he walked by.
"Someone's happy," Chase smiled, laying on the ground with his head next to a bowl of kibble. "What's got you so smiley?"
"Oh, nothing, it's just that it's snowing! Or haven't you heard?"
"Oh, I've heard," Chase laughed. "Usually only pup treats get you so excited. Or kibble. Or rabbits. Or when I let you win at Pup Pup Boogie. I didn't realize snow was on the same level as any of those."
"First of all, you don't let me win, you're just bad at it," Rubble said with a smirk as he filled his pup bowl. "And second of all, I'm right to be excited, because pup treats come every day, but snow only comes once a year! And this year, I'm gonna build the biggest snow castle anyone's ever seen! It's gonna be bigger than the Lookout, just wait and see!"
"Easy, tiger. I don't think the snow is good enough for that yet. It's not packing snow, it's just flurries. It's nice to sit and watch but not really nice for building stuff with."
"Hmm," Rubble said between bites, undeterred. "And I suppose you're an expert on snow?"
"I am," Chase laughed defensively. "I'm the one who has to direct the traffic whenever it snows like this!"
"Maybe we should just call Everest and see what she has to say about what I can and can't build," Rubble challenged as he finished his bowl and walked towards the door. "I'll bet she knows all about snow. And I'll bet you five treats she'll take my side."
"You're on," Chase said, letting him pass. "You're something else, Rubble."
"C'mon, if there's anyone who can build anything, it's me! The best construction pup in town!"
"You're the only construction pup in town."
"And therefore the best!"
"Rubble on the double," the shepherd smiled with a mock salute from his place on the floor. "Good luck."
"Won't need it!" Rubble said confidently as he bounded outside. And so it begins.
Four inches of powdery snow covered the grass around the Lookout in all directions. Rubble tightened his hardhat. He could work with it. He could build with it. He pulled a pile of snow together with his paws, circling it proudly. It's a start. All good castles start with piles. Just ask any castle builder.
Rubble bounded to the far side of the property, just before the bridge, pulling snow into a small wall. There we go. All good castles have strong walls, too.
Rubble ran back to the pile he just dragged together, only to realize he couldn't find it at all. In the time it took him to walk from one side of the Lookout to the other, it had disintegrated, slumping back into the ground. Rubble laughed, pulling the pile back. Means nothing. Chase wasn't right.
He took off his hardhat, scooping snow inside to use it as a pail. When he flipped it upside down, the snow slushed out and fell on the ground without keeping form. Rubble laughed again. This is perfectly fine. Chase wasn't right. I can build anything.
The bulldog ran back to the wall by the bridge, discovering that it too had fallen over. Rubble built it back up. This will work, he told himself confidently. It'll be the biggest snow castle anyone's ever seen. And when the pups wake up, they'll be so impressed.
Rubble glanced at Rocky's puphouse, which was the closest to his wall. Rocky loves good engineering. I'm sure he'll be over the moon when it's complete. When he looked back to his wall, it had already collapsed. Big, flaky snow kept landing on his ears. Rubble sighed. This is fine. This is fine. Persevere!
As Rubble dug his paws into the ground, the flakes melted in his hands. Hmm, he thought. It's melting faster than I can even touch it. Rubble shook his head. Doesn't matter. Just gotta be fast. I can be fast. I'm the fastest pup around!
His next pile collapsed all the same. And his second, and his third. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He meant business. He could build anything. And build he would. He opened his eyes with a purpose. All I gotta do is be fast. Be vigilant. Be the best dang construction pup on this side of the Mississippi. Rubble took another deep breath.
This is gonna be so worth it when I'm done.
Rubble put his paws on the ground.
Let's dig it.
Rubble raced around the Lookout, pulling piles together as quickly as he could. Two piles stood side-by-side at the Lookout door, a small moat between them. A six foot wall stood by the bridge, about six inches high. Near each of the six puphouses was a small pile that Rubble pulled together as quietly as he could, so as not to disturb the sleeping pups inside.
And between each of the structures was a long path of frantic bulldog pawprints.
At the end of a very tiring five minutes, Rubble sat down and admired his work. Only for it to fall apart before his eyes, sliding back to the damp dirt. Rubble sighed. This is embarrassing. What a total failture.
Rubble glanced back to the Lookout, hoping Chase wasn't there to see, only to realize Chase was right behind him, in uniform.
"You left this over there," Chase said, handing the bulldog his hardhat as he pulled his own cap over his head. "Any luck so far?"
"I'm working on it," Rubble said, taking his hardhat and filling it up with snow again.
"I was right, wasn't I?"
Rubble sat down in resignation, letting the snow drip out of his hardhat and into the ground.
"Maybe a little," he said, defeated.
"Good snow will come," Chase said, patting Rubble on the head. "And when it does, all of us will help you. And we'd be happy to let you, the best construction pup in town, take the lead. How does that sound?"
Rubble wagged his tail. "Amazing!"
"Keep your five pup treats," Chase laughed as he walked towards his puphouse. "I'm gonna go into town and direct the traffic for a bit, make sure there's no accidents. Wanna come with?"
"You know it!" Rubble yipped as he followed Chase over.
It wasn't how he planned on spending that morning. In his vision, he had been the king of a snow castle, and the other pups would romp around and play in it. But this was an alright substitute. There was worse company than Chase, and worse ways to spend a snowy morning than watching the people of Adventure Bay go about their busy days from the comfort of Chase's heated police cruiser.
It wasn't what he had expected to be doing that morning. But Rubble didn't care. He didn't mind.
There's always tomorrow to try again.
A/N: Welcome to Snowshots! There will be nine stories in this saga, all of them nice little non-stories that take place in December. There's a loose canon to them but they're otherwise isolated stories that can be read in any order. See you then!