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33. Don't forget to breathe

His return was as painful as it was sudden.
It wasn't like waking up from a dream but more like being thrown into ice cold water. An ironic comparison, considering he had become practically resistant to cold temperatures. But it was the best he could come up with.
He awoke gasping for air, his senses overloading as his brain tried to take in everything at once.
Fharan had to close his eyes again as the surrounding light blinded them and tried to concentrate on his breathing instead of the humming noise around him.
He had to surpress a pained hiss as his lungs took in the shilly air as if it was their first time. Every breath feeling like taking in shards of glass and he knew too well how that felt like.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and a yell that let him crunch his brows together in discomfort.
In seconds silent steps drew close to his side and a questioning hum reached his ear as warmth hovered just above his arm.
He took another deep breath, slowly feeling how his body started to settle and left his eyes closed for just another moment.

How are you doing cub?, he heard Afrits quiet and soothing voice in his mind as he did not react to his first inquirery. The warm hand of his bond carefully wrapped around his arm and slowly turned him towards where he suspected the older male had settled down.
Fharan tried to open his eyes again and after a few blinks they finally adjusted to the dim light. It still seemed painfully bright to him though.

After giving his surroundings a brief look he fully turned to Afrit.
His bond was crouching next to his bed, silently staring at him with his shimmering eyes, waiting for a reply.
Fharan opened his mouth to speak but a violent coughing fit cut him off. Afrit hummed soothingly and his hand wandered from Fharans arm to his back.

As the coughing eased Fharan realized that their bond seemed to be contently humming with energy ever since Afrit had entered the room. It appeared to have grown as well, having attempted to reconnect over the gap that had separated them.

Breath, Afrit murmured, his hand leaving Fharans back and he realized only now that he had indeed stopped breathing. He forced his lungs to work once more.

"I'm alright.", he eventually replied to his bonds earlier question and was slightly surprised about how raspy his voice sounded.
He turned his attention back to his body and checked if his statement was indeed true.
He felt heavy, stiff and a bit fuzzy but everything else seemed to be fine. It was all just a little foreign, as if his soul had forgotten that it had once possessed a physical form.

Afrits voice brought him back to the present. "Do you need anything?", he asked, aloud this time. Fharan carefully shook his head. "I'm fine.", he repeated.
He slowly sat up properly, Afrit quietly staring at him, his attentive gaze not leaving him for even a second.

"So, we are at the shrikas base?!", it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yess.", Afrit replied.
"It seems as if you caused a bit of a stir on your way here.", Fharan commented as people, in human as well as in animal shape, started to gather at the still open door. He only recognized Rasha who was standing slightly dishevelled at the front of the forming crowd, intently staring at Afrit.

Afrit frowned a bit and briefly turned away from Fharan to take a quick look towards the door as well before turning back to his bond. His normally human pupils had thinned into slits. Fharan saw the question in those eyes. He nodded.
There was no need for words between them, especially now where their bond was stronger than it had ever been.

Afrit drew slightly away from the bed and started to shift. Fharan watched as he bend in the most inhumane ways, parts of his body shrinking as others started to grow. His cloths melted into his skin, the latter now starting to turn black.
The chattering group outside had grown quiet as Afrit had started to change. Fharan could hear exclamations of surprise and awe as his bonds form solidified. The whole process taking merely a few seconds.

One should probably mention that Afrit had not just turned into the usual cat like creature who's size was greatly altered but into something closer to the shrika's original form.
If Fharan stood up Afrit would now almost reach his hips. His current form had now more similarities with a black panthera than a cat.

As he detached his gaze from Afrits new appearance and looked over to Rasha, he could see the surprise about the sudden change within her eyes, then realization accompanied by a brief boost of panic.
He was distracted as Afrit bumped his head against his shoulder. His big bright silver-white eyes staring at him.
It was Fharans turn to look questioningly at his bond.
Your hands are shaking, the voice in his mind informed him. He looked down in surprise and indeed, his bond was right. He hadn't even noticed.

Fharan lifted his left hand and moved his fingers a bit. He noticed no other abnormalities beside the slight shaking.
He looked back to Afrit who's gaze had not wavered.
"It will fade.", he said and gently placed his hand on the others head.
A deep content rumble escaped the creatures throat. Then he once more bumped his head against his side.
Move, he instructed him and Fharan moved to the head of the bed, leaning his back against the wall while Afrit lightly jumped onto the bed next to him. There he made himself comfortable and lay his head onto Fharans thigh. The deep rumpling became a soothing purr. 

Fharan could feel how the tension that had come with the brief disruption of their bond finally eased. He placed his hand back onto Afrits soft fur, just letting it rest there.

After he had settled down Afrit directed his attention towards the quietly whispering crowd at the door, half his mind still keeping track of his bonds breathing.
He could hear their every word and he was sure Fharan could as well.

That's why he could immediately tell when Cir drew closer. There was tension in the air and the mummers ceased.
In the blink of an eye the group outside dispersed and only Rasha remained.

Moments later Cir appeared in the doorway, eyes settling on the pair on the bed. A slight widening of his eyes was his only reaction to Afrits change in appearance. But his gaze barely lingered on the other shrika before focusing on Fharan. Afrits ears twitched ever so slightly.
Fharan recipocaded Cir's gaze in equal measure. For a few moment there was just silence as Afrits purring abruptly died down.

"I see our guest has awoken.", Cir eventually commented, clearly only addressing Afrit and Rasha. The latter did not reply.