The next day, we start to head off. It'll still be a while before we find the missing herd member. From what I can tell, though, the sloth is still alive. I found a tuft of fur not far away.
As we are continuing on our way, it starts to rain. Not just rain. It's storming. My fur is soaked. I'm shivering from the cold. "C'mon! There's a cave nearby!" I shout. I lead the herd north.
The cave that I lead them to is nice and dry. I pile a bunch of leaves around for some nests. "Alright! Let's get some rest an' wait out this storm!" I speak. I'm still shivering. My fur is still soaked completely through. I sneeze. I start coughing into my paw.
"Buck, are you alright?" Ellie asks.
"Yeah. 'm fine. 'm just a li'l cold, is all," I answer, trying to brush off Ellie's concern. I shiver some more.
Ellie comes closer. "You're sure you're fine? You look a little sick."
"'m fine!" I growl. I break off and begin coughing again. Shivers continue to wrack my body. Ellie moves until she's standing right next to me. She wraps her trunk around me and pulls me to her. "Wot are ya…?" I ask, startled.
"I'm getting you warm. You're soaked and freezing," Ellie explains.
"Ya don't 'ave ta…" I mumble. I'm nervous at the prospect of having someone as close to me as Ellie is. I'm not used to being near anyone. I've been alone for years and I haven't had anyone care about me in all of that time.
"I know, but I want to. You're getting sick from all of that rain," Ellie points out.
I sigh and nod my head slowly, mindful of my budding headache. I start coughing again. My throat starts to hurt. I groan and put my paws to my throat. "Owww. My throat 'urts…" I moan.
"Why is he having such a hard time with the weather? We're fine!" Manny inquires.
"Buck is smaller than us!" Ellie points out.
"An' I haven't actually been in th' best health since I lost my eye. 't was infected fer a time. That illness made 't easier fer me ta get sick," I put in. I sneeze. I begin coughing again.
"You should get some rest," Ellie suggests.
I look up at her. I'm too tired to argue. I merely nod my now aching head. I stumble over to my pile of leaves. I curl up into a shivering, slightly damp pile of fur. I close my single eye. I'm asleep almost instantly.
I wake up again sometime in the middle of the night. My throat feels scratchy. I begin coughing roughly into my paws. My head hurts. It's making me nauseous. I look around. The herd is still asleep. I try to get to my paws, only to collapse back on my nest. I hurt too much to move.
I see Ellie stir. She sees me on my nest. She gets up from her nest and comes over to me. "Are you alright, Buck?" Ellie whispers the question.
"No, not really. My head 'urts. My throat 'urts. My headache is makin' me nauseous," I don't bother lying.
"Do you need anything?" Ellie asks.
"Water would be nice. My throat feels scratchy," I reply.
Ellie smiles before she leaves. Ellie returns a moment later with a nut bowl filled with water. I cup my paws in the water and pour it down my throat. I let the coolness of it soothe the itchiness away. "Thanks," I smile.
"You're welcome. Do you need anything else?" Ellie asks.
I'm about to reply when my stomach starts to seize up. I groan, one arm wrapped around my stomach. "I…I don't feel so good…" I moan. More cramps torment my stomach. "I…I think 'm gonna…be sick…" I gasp.
Ellie's eyes widen a bit before softening at my weakened form. "It's alright, you know. We won't think any less of you," Ellie places her trunk over my shoulders.
"No! Not in 'ere. Can ya 'elp me out of th' cave?" I ask desperately.
Ellie nods her head. She gently picks me up and places me on her head. She brings me a short distance away from the cave, just beyond sight of it. She places me under a tree. I'm glad for her perfect timing. It is at that moment that my stomach gives a lurch. I hunch over and begin vomiting in the grass. I feel Ellie place her trunk over my shoulders. I hardly pay any attention, though, as I continue to heave and retch.
Finally, after a few minutes, I stop vomiting. Ellie passes me a leaf. I use it to wipe the vomit from my face. I turn to Ellie. "Thanks. Ya won't tell anyone 'bout this, right?" I ask nervously.
"Don't worry. I won't," Ellie assures me. I lower my head a little, exhausted from vomiting. Ellie picks me up again and places me back on her head. I curl up on Ellie's head, savoring the warmth of her fur. I close my eye and fall back to sleep.
The next day, I wake up back in my nest. I figure Ellie must've put me here after I fell asleep. I'm feeling much better. My throat doesn't hurt so much anymore. My fur is dry, at least, though it's messy from me sleeping on it. I lick my fur so that it lies flat again. My head hurts a little, but that kind of pain is manageable. It's decided that we'll continue looking for the herd's friend today. Ellie was skeptical of my condition, but I managed to convince her that I'm very much fine.
As we're about to continue, I hear a gasp. I see Ellie staring at a long snake. The snake is preparing to strike her. I leap up and stab the snake with my knife. The snake dies instantly.
"Ellie! Are you okay?" Manny asks.
"I'm fine," Ellie gasps out. She's still in shock.
"Why are we following you again? I thought you were supposed to help us! My mate was nearly bitten! She could've died! All because of you!" Manny shouts at me.
"Yet, she wasn't, 'cause I killed th' snake! I am 'elpin' ya! Calm down!" I shout back.
"Calm down? How can you say that! How could you possibly know what it's like to have someone you love nearly get hurt? How could you know what it's like to have a family?" Manny shouts.
My eye widens. I know the herd can see the pain in it. "Yer right…I couldn't know," I gasp. I turn and run off with tears gathered in the corner of my eye.
I finally stop at the edge of a pond. I fall to my knees and begin sobbing. I can no longer hold the pain back. I feel something touch my left shoulder. I turn my head slightly. Through my tear-filled vision, I see Ellie. She's standing there with a concerned look in her eyes. I turn my face away. "Go away…" I mumble. Tears are still falling from my eye.
"Buck, I'm sorry for what Manny said. He wasn't thinking," Ellie apologizes.
"Just leave me alone. I don't wanna be near anyone right now…" I shake with suppressed sobs.
Against my wishes, Ellie wraps her trunk around me and pulls me to her. At first, I fight it. My rebellion doesn't last long before I break down. I begin sobbing into Ellie's fur. I faintly hear Ellie whisper words of comfort as I continue to cry.
After a few minutes, my sobs turn into whimpers. My tears slow down. I pull away from Ellie. I wipe my eye free of the tears. I look up at Ellie. Embarrassment is clear on my face. "'m sorry…" I mumble.
"Don't be, Buck. It's alright. What is it that's upset you, besides Manny's big mouth?" Ellie asks.
"I don't wanna talk 'bout 't," I whisper, just loud enough for Ellie to hear.
"That's okay, Buck. You don't have to tell me," Ellie says in an understanding tone.
"Ya won't tell th' others that I was cryin', will ya?" I ask, nervously.
"Buck, there's nothing wrong with crying. I won't tell the others, though, if that's what you want," Ellie reassures me.
"Thanks," I speak.
"Are you alright, now?" Ellie asks.
I slowly nod my head. I wash my face in the pond so that the others won't suspect anything. "Let's go back," I start. Ellie nods her head in agreement. We start heading back.
When we get there, Manny looks over at me sheepishly. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. I was afraid for Ellie and I took it out on you. I'm sorry," Manny apologizes.
"It's fine. Now, let's get goin'!" I speak as if nothing has happened. We continue on our way.
As we keep walking, Ellie stays closer to me. She leans towards my right ear. "Are you sure you're alright?" Ellie asks.
I wave my paw in the air. "Of course I am!" I chuckle softly.
"Really? It's just…" Ellie falters.
I smile at Ellie. "I know yer worried 'bout me, but ya don't 'ave ta be. I'll be fine," I assure her. I try to make my smile more convincing as to fool her into believing that I'm alright. As far as I'm concerned, I am alright (for now).
"Okay, Buck. I believe you," Ellie replies, causing me to sigh in relief that my convincing smile worked. We leave the conversation at that as we continue the journey.