Saguna's consciousness slammed back into his physical body like a stone dropped into still water.
The first sensation was cold, bone-deep, aching cold that had nothing to do with temperature. His limbs felt heavy, disconnected, as if he'd been asleep for days rather than the minutes it had felt like in the spirit realm. When he tried to open his eyes, the lids seemed weighted with lead.
"Saguna!" Osa's voice, tight with panic. "Come on, wake up!"
"His breathing stopped for nearly a minute," Radji said, his analytical tone failing to hide his fear. "Whatever happened to him in there—"
"I'm here," Saguna managed, his voice coming out as barely more than a croak. "I'm back."
The relief in his friends' faces was immediate and overwhelming. Osa was kneeling beside him, water hovering anxiously around his hands as if ready to provide healing at a moment's notice. Radji sat nearby, his earth connection extended protectively around their small group.
