You guessed right. I got sick as expected. It is still night time but I got severe chills and my body got so hot. Pinky seemed uncomfortable with my heat but tolerated it since he is concerned with my well being.
My eyes felt too heavy to open and I can hear Ghost, who transformed back to his regular form, trying to convince me to allow him to bring me back to Lion's castle.
Against my better sense of judgement, I continued to be stubborn and snuggled further to Pinky. Pinky is starting to panic and tried to form his branches to some sort of makeshift "branch cave". Ghost is confused on what to do and is starting to panic also. He tried to rummage into his rucksack that he brought and tried to find something that can help me to no avail. He isn't a magic user like Lion and can't perform even simple magic.
My fever got worse and I'm starting to have difficulty in breathing. Ghost can't leave me as he is afraid that a predator might harm me as I am too vulnerable right now and Pinky is not capable of defending us against strong predators.
My body got heavy and soon I'm starting to regret my decision. I wasn't acting mature and now my foolish decisions are affecting my well being.
My breathing got faster and more shallow as I feel like I'm drowning. I can feel myself sweating a lot and my ears started to hurt a lot.
I might have a respiratory infection or worse, problem with my thermoregulation, I thought, briefly remembering my past medical experience.
I wanted to tell Ghost that I want to go back but I don't even have enough energy to open my eyes, much less opening my mouth to talk.
My ears, which have been hurting for a while, started to muffle sound.
I guess I'm dying here.
Soon I lost my consciousness.
....
I dont know where I am this time. I can feel that I'm lying on a bed that is neither too soft or too hard. I still can't open my eyes and I feel so exhausted. My hearing is back to normal and I can hear Ghost's voice and a stranger's voice in an argument and Sly's voice?????!!
Please don't eat me.
I can breath easily now but I still can't move my body. Omg I hope I'm not paralyzed.
I continued to listen to them while my eyes are still closed as I'm still too weak to move.
I cannot understand what they are saying and soon I gave up trying to listen and went back to sleep.
....
I can finally open my eyes.
I'm lying on what seems to be a canopy bed with gorgeous bed curtains. The room seemed to be some sort of a small hut that is decorated with what seemed to be flowers and herb like leaves.
I noticed that I was naked but was wrapped with bandages in some parts that is stuffed with colorful leaves.
Good thing I was covered in a thick blanket.
I sat up and felt myself getting nauseous. I decided to go back to sleep. I don't want to puke.
....
There's no window in my room and I have no way of knowing if it's night time or morning.
I can feel myself getting strong, even though I can't seem to recall on eating something.
I got down on the bed and noticed that the bed is floating. Under the bed seems to be some sort of glowing warm stones.
I wrapped myself with the blanket and tried to find my clothes.
There's bubbles that emit lights from the ceiling and it glowed a soft golden light.
Where are my clothes?! Cuss word.
Despite the fact that I'm naked though wrapped in a blanket, I can feel the room warm and cozy. I noticed that there's strange plants in a corner.
I soon gave up trying to find my clothes as there's barely enough furniture inside the hut.
There's a desk and a chair in one side and I sat down. Should I go out? No way, I'm naked.
I just sat down, contemplating on what to do next.
Even though there's no window, I noticed that there's a door. Should I open it and go out?
At the end, I went back to the bed, wrapped myself with the blanket more tightly and laid down on the bed.
I regret my actions. I was too stubborn and too full of pride.
I was suppose to know better since I'm no longer that young but I acted foolishly. I silently apologized in my mind to the novel characters I read that I criticized for being dumb. Now I'm the dumb one.
I acted immaturely. I thought I was capable of doing in what was clearly out of depth.
I was a coward and I still am.
I was too overconfident in myself. I was too proud.
It's all my fault.
Pinky and Ghost became collateral damage as a result of my pride and foolishness.
And I also hurt Lion.
I was overthinking. I was too focused on improving myself that I forgot about the simple quote, "don't fix what was not broken".
Sometimes, going with the flow is the wise thing to do.
Suddenly the door opened.
....
Lion walked in, carrying something of what seems to be a basin full of magical leaves, herbs, bandages and several vials of sparkling water. He looked surprised seeing me at first then relief flooded his eyes.
I sat up and looked at him. I got teary eyed and choked up on seeing him looked concerned.
I'm sorry, I whispered.
He looked surprised at first and slowly walked towards me. He placed down the basin on the floor and sat down on the bed, carefully observing me. He studied my eyes with such intensity that made my heart beat faster than usual. With trembling hands, he hesitantly embraced me then his hug began to tighten around me. He nuzzled my ears and said softly, what are you sorry for?