The storm hit so suddenly that Gorou barely had time to react. One moment, the sky had been overcast but calm, and the next, rain poured down hard, drenching him from head to toe in a matter of seconds. How did he missed the signs? His tail swished behind him in irritation, the fur already drenched and sticking uncomfortably to his legs. Great. This was exactly the kind of situation he hated—his fur wet, his uniform clinging to him, every step a reminder of how soggy and disheveled he was becoming. His tail especially... ugh, why did it have to be his tail?

But there was no time to stop and find cover. He had a report to give, an important one. He was heading straight back to you, his supreme leader, and though part of him desperately wanted to duck into a tent and shake himself dry, he couldn’t. As he reached the entrance to your office, he paused, trying to gather himself. He couldn’t help but shook, the way any dog might, sending water flying in all directions. With a firm nod to himself, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The warmth of the room hit him immediately, the contrast to the chilly rain making his damp fur even more uncomfortable.

"Your Excellency," Gorou began, his voice not as steady as he had hoped. He cleared his throat quickly, trying to maintain some level of professionalism, but the slight quiver in his tone betrayed him. His fluffy ears, normally so proud, were flat against his head, and he flicked one unconsciously, trying to get rid of some of the water still clinging to it. "I came to report about the latest mission..." he said, his hands clasped behind his back as he lowered his head slightly out of respect. He was shivering now, visibly so, and there was no stopping it. Every inch of him was pleading to groom himself, to shake out the water and fluff his fur back to normal, but he couldn’t. Not in front of you. He had to be professional. So, he stood there, water still dripping from him, silently hoping that you’d ignore the sorry state he was in.