Bernard suddenly couldn't breathe! His eyes bulged as his lungs burned, his throat burned, and the world expanded around him. He was shrinking, falling into his own clothes while he gasped and suffocated on air! Panic filled his mind. What was happening!? And then he was surrounded by coolness, and his throat and lungs stopped burning. He darted forward, ahead of the shimmering mass of brilliantly colored fish that packed this area. They followed, the entire school changing direction to stay with him. No! Bernard darted from side to side, confused and scared. What was happening? Where was he?
Some long, feathery shapes appeared in front of him and he moved toward them instinctively. He.. swam towards them. He slowed as he reached the underwater ferns and nibbled one, enjoying the taste. The rest of the mass of fish drifted around him, also eating. He was obviously the alpha. Oh, crap! Bernard remembered the simple wording of his wish. He had not specified anything. He was the top alpha of this school of fish! In truth, it felt normal now that he had calmed down some, but he still remembered his human life and did not want to be a fish!
Question was, how could he change back? Hungry. Bernard ate some more, then lunged towards another male that dared to come too close. It swam away quickly, and Bernard felt satisfaction at maintaining his territory. He dimly realized that he could not really grasp the concept of territory - it was more a basic instinct to keep other males in line. He struggled to regain his thoughts. The fish brain was too small to hold his human identity. If he did not find a way out soon, Bernard would fade away until all that was left was a normal fish!