Pack
He absorbed the essence of another to make himself stronger and hoped, in so doing, that he would be able to tune in to those Roderick once had ties to.
The greasy ash clogged his nasal passages. It gagged his throat. With a roar, he shook his head but didn't sneeze or cough. He couldn't, or this effort would go to waste. Bit by bit, his system absorbed the dust, and immediately he felt the difference. The strength, not much, not given the pinch he'd actually ingested, but enough for him to feel the rush. Which made the next snort, and the one after, easier and easier.