Kosh was back at his nest trying to rest; however, he was unable to get back to sleep. He soon felt hotter than he did an hour ago when he had encountered Mr. Thicknose. The shaking chills soon started taking over his body; just as things seemed to get better, Kosh's condition has gotten worse. In addition to the chills, his coughing fits were getting worse and more frequent. His eyes would water every time he experienced a coughing fit.
"I haven't felt like this since I was little," Kosh said once the coughing fit stopped.
Meanwhile, the herd was having a meeting; it was different without Kosh there to stir up trouble with Topsy.
"Where's the big galoot? He's responsible for a lot of the sweet bubbles gone missing from the bushes at the Thundering Falls!" Mr. Maia sneered.
"He has fallen ill; and really, Mrs. Maia? Stooping to name calling? *tsk tsk tsk* So immature," Topsy said.
"Who asked you, anyway?" Mrs. Maia retorted.
"You did when you were wondering about Kosh's whereabouts," Topsy replied.
Mrs. Maia rolled her eyes.
"I'd love to give that girl a tail-whip to the buttocks," Topsy whispered to Grandpa.
"I'm sure lots of us would like to do the same thing," Grandpa whispered back.
Back at Kosh's nest, Kosh was panting heavily; if he didn't take care of himself, he could die since his fever just keeps getting higher. The pain in his throat was getting worse and so was his headache. However, he could still move around; but, it's only to get a drink and to relieve himself; other than that, he would continue to lie down in his nest. He wiped at his forehead with the back of his right forepaw since some drops of sweat were about to get into his eyes.
"So dizzy; nauseous and so hot," Kosh moaned.
Just when he was about to get up and go to a relief spot, he threw up the few treestars he ate earlier along with the dinner he ate the night before. Luckily for him, the chunks that came up were tiny since he chewed thoroughly. However, his sore throat made vomiting that much more painful. To make matters worse, Grandpa Longneck had just been walking by and saw it happen; Kosh face palmed himself since the elder saw him throwing up. However, Grandpa didn't make a big deal out of it since he has seen others throw up before and he has done so himself more often in his younger years.
"*groan* Sorry you had to see that," Kosh admitted.
"Ah, don't be silly; your body was obviously trying to tell you something," Grandpa said.
"I didn't get enough time to get to a relief spot; it's one of those times when it happens suddenly; I'm just glad my bowels didn't void themselves while I was throwing up; I hate both things; vomiting and diarrhea," Kosh stated.
"I don't know anyone who likes seeing anyone puking and crapping at the same time or doing those things themselves; I sure didn't; and I still do hate it," Grandpa explained.
Kosh nodded. He then stood up and cleaned up the vomit and then disposed of the leaves.
"There's no reason to be embarrassed," Grandpa reassured him.
"If my father saw me like this; he'd think I'm just weak; REAL males don't get sick; they're tough! That's what he would probably say," Kosh exclaimed.
"Sounds just like my father; with the way he treated me and being taught that illnesses and emotions were for females and gay males; that's why I always tried to make it look like I was completely healthy even when I was very sick; you can fake being well with a cold; but, with a stomach virus, it's a bit harder since you never know if you're gonna throw up or get diarrhea; or both at the same time," Grandpa explained.
"Oh, so your father didn't want you showing any weakness and your mother became overprotective just to help you get better faster; and you just wanted to get better on your own and not have your mother there to do EVERYTHING for you," Kosh claimed.
Grandpa nodded.
Meanwhile at the Tall Trees, the Gang of Five were lazing around underneath a large, fully bloomed tree.
"Petrie hope illness no spread to more of us; me no like seeing others sick," Petrie stated.
"I do not like it either, Petrie," Ducky added.
Littlefoot looked over and noticed his grandma in the distance; she appeared to be checking up on Mr. Thicknose. The eldest member of the herd somehow has been hit harder with the virus than Kosh; it was mostly due to his advanced age.
"Oh, no, no, no; poor Mr. Thicknose; I do wish he does not die; he is still a bit too young," Ducky commented.
The gang got a bit closer; but, not enough to be seen. They saw that Mr. Thicknose was lying down on his side and breathing heavily; apparently, he was having trouble breathing since his chest was moving up and down at a fast pace. To make matters worse, he was shaking uncontrollably; which meant that his body temperature was very high.
"Just the other day, Mr. Thicknose told us of this one plant that will help with the uncontrollable shakes, coughing fits and fever; but, it grows far into the Mysterious Beyond; we have to hurry; and make sure to get enough for the herd; hopefully we could get Hyp, Mutt and Nod to go along with it; their fathers might be at risk, too, just like our families and everyone else," Littlefoot explained.
The others nodded and followed Littlefoot in the direction Mr. Thicknose said for them to go and get the plant. While on the way, they met up with the bullies and explained that if they don't come along, they won't be able to gather enough plants to cure the herd and many of them could lose their parents; or in Littlefoot's case, his grandparents. The bullies eventually agreed since they have all lost their mothers when they were little; although, Mutt's mother died while he was still in his egg; and Nod's mother and Hyp's mother died while on the journey to the Great Valley. After that, the eight of them continued on their journey.