Crumbling Defenses

Bobby's denial was starting to wear thin as he struggled to keep his eyes open and his body upright. The relentless sun beating down on him, combined with the scorching sand beneath his feet, seemed to be taking its toll. Nevva's concerned expression and Saint Dane's mocking gaze only added to his frustration. "I'm fine, I tell you," Bobby insisted, but his voice was weak and unconvincing. He stifled another sneeze, but this time it was too much to bear. A massive, explosive "Achoo!" burst forth from his lungs, sending him stumbling backward. Nevva rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. "Bobby, I told you to take a break! You're not fine, you're clearly under the weather." Bobby's face burned with embarrassment as he succumbed to another sneeze, and another, each one more violent than the last. He stumbled and fell to his knees, his body wracked with uncontrollable sneezing fits. Saint Dane chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Ah, Bobby Pendragon, brought low by a simple cold. How the mighty have fallen." Bobby's eyes flashed with anger, but he was powerless to stop his sneezing. He felt like a laughingstock, a weak and feeble Traveler who couldn't even withstand a minor illness. Nevva helped him to his feet, supporting him as he stumbled and sneezed his way across the sand. "We need to get you to a cooler place, Bobby," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "You can't keep working like this." Bobby nodded, still sneezing, as Nevva led him away from the beach and toward a nearby hut. He felt like he was losing control, like his body was betraying him. And Saint Dane's mocking gaze only made things worse. As they entered the hut, Bobby collapsed onto a nearby couch, still sneezing uncontrollably. Nevva handed him a glass of water and a cloth to wipe his nose. "Rest, Bobby," she said. "We'll take care of things here. You just focus on getting better." Bobby nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and embarrassment. He knew he wasn't the first Traveler to fall ill, and he wouldn't be the last. But it was hard to shake the feeling that he was failing, that he was letting his friends and allies down. As he lay there, sneezing and sniffling, Bobby couldn't help but wonder what Saint Dane was planning. Was this just a coincidence, or was there something more sinister at play? He knew he had to get better, and fast, if he was going to stop Saint Dane and save the Travelers.