It hurt to breathe...it hurt a lot...it was very fortunate that he didn't always have to, then. Even so, he didn't have much air left in his lungs to hold on to after that desperate attempt. He would have to breathe sometime. 

Of course, there wouldn't be any more of that until this sudden coughing fit stopped, which he really hoped it would soon since it only made things worse at the moment. Luckily for him, it seemed that the pain had started to settle slightly into a slightly less intense stinging once he spit out whatever was still choking him. 

...well, it was only a little blood; it seemed that he was one of the blessed ones after all. As long as he could eventually swallow, he would probably heal. 

With that comfort in mind, he lifted his head from staring at the ground to make sure that the others were alive. They seemed to be moving, except for Shea, but she looked alive from here. Akila was checking on her, at least, though he couldn't really grasp what Tanikazi was saying at the moment.