Desert Diagnosis

A few days had passed since Link's near-cardiac arrest, and the group's situation had taken a turn for the worse. Sparrow, who had been monitoring his body closely, woke up to a dull ache in his lower back and legs. He winced, rubbing the affected area, but there were no other symptoms to speak of. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he knew he had to inform Impa. Meanwhile, Zelda was struggling to stay warm. She had been shivering uncontrollably, her body temperature dropping to alarming levels. Her breathing had become shallow and labored, and Impa had to constantly tend to her, using her knowledge of the desert plants to create makeshift remedies to ease her symptoms. Link, on the other hand, had developed a persistent cough. It was dry and hacking, and it seemed to be getting worse by the day. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't seem to shake it off. Impa, who had been keeping a close eye on all of them, gathered them together to discuss their situation. "We can't stay out here," she said, her voice firm. "The disease is progressing, and we need to get you all proper medical attention." Sparrow nodded in agreement. "I think you're right. I'm experiencing some lower body pain, but nothing too severe. But Zelda and Link... they're not doing so well." Zelda's eyes were glassy, her body trembling with cold. "I... I don't know how much longer I can keep this up," she stammered. Link coughed, his body wracked with the effort. "We need to get back to the castle," he said, his voice weak. "The royal physician can help us." Impa nodded. "I agree. The desert is not a place for the sick. We need to get you all back to the city, to the sick room, where you can receive proper care." The group nodded in agreement, and Impa quickly began to pack up their belongings. As they set off, Sparrow couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. They were heading back to civilization, back to a place where they could receive the help they so desperately needed. As they trudged through the desert sand, the group's spirits were low. They knew they had a long and arduous journey ahead of them, but they also knew it was necessary. They had to get back to the castle, and to the safety of the sick room. The desert, which had seemed so unforgiving just days before, now seemed even more menacing. But the group was determined to push on, to make it back to the city and to the care of the royal physician. They knew it was their only hope. As they walked, the sun beating down on them, Sparrow couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Would they be able to recover from the milk disease? Only time would tell. But for now, they had to focus on getting back to the castle, and to the safety of the sick room.