Campaign, Ike!
Well then, two things can really be done:
1) We've all heard that the best defense is a good offense. Attempt to reform my thoughts toward the single purpose of hostility, and force the ashwraith back through sheer willpower.
2) Shriek in as unearthly a manner as possible to attract attention and help with the thought-focusing.
And if that doesn't work, nonspecifically resist and retreat.
You keep retreating, but the creature is getting closer and closer. You just can't focus enough to do anything. Her hands reach out and touch the sides of your head. They feel cold and have the texture of ash, but they are not very strong. It feels like they're falling apart just by you shaking your head.
"I will make you not resist. It will be better. We will be better."You see a dark red glow in the head shaped cloud of dust, where her eyes would have been.
"Together."Your scream is cut short as your throat floods with ash. The ash is swirling around your head and body. You try to cough but that only makes things worse. Everything becomes grey.
You fall unconscious.
LenglonYou wake up.
You feel strange. A bit weak, but mostly just dizzy. You think you'll be fine in a while, just need some time. Maybe something to eat.
You are lying on the table you were standing on when the procedure started, in that small storage room filled with stone furniture. Besides you is something warm. Turning to look, you see Zechariah lying on the table beside you, his wings open underneath him.
River is standing over him with his hands on his chest and his eyes closed.
The hair near his hands (which you now notice have no wires around them) stand on end for a second and Zechariah stirs.
River opens his eyes, smiles (revealing his teeth in the process) and leans over Zechariah.
DAFYou wake up.
You are lying on your back on something hard, rough and cold. That is made even more uncomfortable from the fact that you are completely naked, save for a metal wire around your neck and something soft and warm touching your side. Besides the feeling of being cold, there's also the feeling of extreme hunger and dizziness that adds to your discomfort.
You open your eyes and are greeted by shiny black fur, razor sharp teeth and a pair of amber eyes staring into yours, all a few centimetres away from your face.
"Hello!" the teeth move to accompany the enthusiastic voice, revealing even more of their kind, carrying warm, moist air towards your face.
"Are you feeling well?"