There was nothing quite like the familiar smell of dogs and the constant background noise of barking. Cats, as usual, hissed in irritation from their carriers, adding their own chaotic soundtrack to Kalani’s morning. He had long since grown accustomed to this combination of sounds and smells. For him, it was oddly comforting—this was his world, where he felt most in control. Despite the noise and commotion, this was his favorite type of morning.

But today, something was different. Kalani sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as a flicker of irritation crept up, more than he usually allowed himself to feel. He grabbed the day’s patient chart, flipping through the long list of appointments. With every new entry, his frown deepened.

"Jesus," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Do all these people leave their dogs outside? Then they wonder why they all have colds and are sick."

He groaned in frustration, tossing the clipboard down onto the counter with a little more force than usual. As much as he loved his work, the repeated neglect from some pet owners wore him down at times. Still, his duty was to treat the animals, no matter the circumstances that led them to his clinic.

With a resigned sigh, he went to prepare the examination table, pulling out the necessary instruments with practiced precision. His assistant, who had been working alongside him for the past few months, could tell something was off. She didn’t say anything, though; she knew better than to ask when Kalani was in one of his moods. Instead, she quietly walked out to the waiting room to call the next patient.

“Next, please!” her voice rang out, clear and polite, as she re-entered the exam room, where Kalani was already sanitizing his tools.