Erend snapped back to consciousness the moment he heard the shouts from his three Dragonborn friends. It felt as though he had been pulled out of a deep pool after drowning. He felt as though water had filled his lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe.
That feeling was terrifying.
It felt as though his mind had been slipping away from his brain and becoming someone else's.
He looked around and saw a dark red mist.
"What happened to me?" Erend thought.
A moment later, he realized that the red mist around him was evaporating blood.
That blood was coming from his own body.
Then, as though he had just caught up with reality, Erend felt the pain as the appendages tightened around his body.
He groaned.
Then he saw Eccar and the others coming toward him.
Through their telepathic connection, Erend could feel how worried they were about him.
He did not know what had happened, but he knew one thing.
Whatever it was, it did not matter right now.
