Larkspur Snowbridge Market
Tobin
“An adult man as tall as a doorway, wrapped in a thick blue scarf, with broad boots dusted in snow and a brass key ring at his belt.”
Tobin is a careful bridge-tender who stands as tall as a doorway and likes the comfort of steady routines. He cares intensely about keeping the market’s crossings calm and predictable, even when everyone else seems in a hurry.
7 stories feature Tobin
Where you've met them
The Corner Everyone Needs
Two busy stalls both claim the same sheltered corner under the bridge, and neither will fit anywhere else because their goods need protection from the freezing wind. The argument is keeping customers away and slowing the whole lane, so someone has to help the sellers share the space in a way that keeps their food, cloth, and tools safe in the cold.
Snow on the Fish Stall
The fur-lined roof of the fish stall sags after an overnight snowfall, and the market cannot open until it is cleared. But the snow is too heavy to lift by hand, and every shake sends more powder sliding onto the paths below, so the whole market must work together to protect the shoppers.
The Tired Dogs at Market
A family of sled dogs arrives with no place to rest, because the usual kennel corner has been taken over by frozen crates from a delayed supply sled. The dogs are tired, hungry, and blocking the main lane, so someone must quickly solve the crowding before the market turns noisy and unsafe.
The Ice Crack Grows
A sudden crack opens in the ice beside the tea stalls, making the water below rise and splash into the walkways. The market’s wooden planks are still safe for now, but everyone knows the crack may spread fast, so a careful plan is needed before shoppers lose their crossing.
The Bell That Wouldn’t Ring
The annual bell-ringing at Larkspur Snowbridge Market is about to begin, but the big bell has frozen solid after a night of bitter cold. The opening ceremony, the stall owners’ signals, and the whole market rhythm depend on that sound, so someone has to free it before the day’s trade falls apart.
The Lantern on the Run
A warm market lantern breaks loose in the morning wind and rolls under the snowbridge, starting tiny drifts that could melt the packed ice beneath the busiest crossing. Sellers must find a safe way to stop it before the bridge becomes too slick for carts, boots, and sleds.
The Bell Under Snowbridge
Mira hears a strange little clink from the bridge bell just as Sella drops a bright bundle of dyed cloth. Now the crossing, the stairs, and the river steps all seem to be part of the same mystery.