"We really didn't have any idea of what would happen if they caught us. This was day six I think, all the news stories told us something different and the internet wasn't much better. There were eight of us at first. We had a few shotguns and pistols we picked up on the way, but I wish we managed to find some more guns as we got out of the city. There was a pack of those Ferals, Formers I think, about fourteen of them. We're confident at first, we had those guns and the most they could do was run at us... god I didn't realise they could move that fast and take bullets like they did, and those were just the ones who had got infected. We took down four before they were on us, tore Carly and Trevor apart in a few seconds. Some of us got jumped, forced to the ground too. I got lucky, I got into a car and just started shooting. Only four of us were still standing when the other Ferals scarpered off, leaving corpses behind or dragging people away kicking and screaming. Managed to sink their teeth into some of us before they did too. Someone was in a pretty bad way, can't remember his name. But we brought him along as we left the city, tried to patch him up as best we could. We didn't want to take chances following the captured... we thought they were already dead. And to be fair, they were."

  "I only wish I had seen the emergency broadcasts about the Virus. It started slow. Two of us were having all sorts of symptoms, unrelated. The guy who was in a bad way was spasming, crying out in pain and wouldn't stop coughing. The other couldn't stop hearing voices, started getting snappy and just... wouldn't stop sweating. Felt weak too. I thought a wound had got infected, or they were exhausted. But when the moment came... I can still remember that screaming, the snapping bones and those... those growths erupting from their skin along with the fur. It only took a few seconds, but I knew then why everyone was so terrified of those things... they weren't human anymore. They were Ferals too. Snarling at us, not even remembering us for who we were. Just more prey. And the crackling... god the crackling - it sounded like a fire burning anything it touched as their wounds just stitched themselves together before our eyes. And then they attacked. I managed to blow one's brains out with my shotgun and drove the other one off. But the last person I was with... Isebelle, she realised that she got bitten."

  "I tried to stop her from putting the gun to her head that day... but thinking back... after seeing what I have since then... I know there wasn't anything we could have done. Once bitten, that's it. You're either dead... or you turn into a monster. I just hope that the day I'm bitten, someone can put a bullet in my head... I wouldn't wish that transformation on my worst enemy..."

  Sgt. Frederic Roberts, Cascadian Guardsman.

  Note: Eighteen hours after interview, Sgt. Roberts was captured after being infected by a pack of Ferals led by two Purebreeds. Most of his squad were killed or infected in the attack. Status unknown. Suspected KIA or Turned Feral.?

  Although it has received many classifications and names from different governmental, scientific and medical bodies during the Outbreak, to most, the plague that wiped out much of human civilisation is known simply as The Retrovirus. Its origins remain unknown, as during the earliest days of the Outbreak, cases had emerged all across the world at mostly the same time. From North America to South East Asia, the Retrovirus had managed to spread across the planet far before humanity was ready. All that is known for certain regarding its early recorded history is that the first infected were victims of brief, but brutal attacks in major population centres, leaving hundreds to thousands injured. Reports have been scattered and conflicted, but many implied the attackers were large, monstrous beings that just as quickly disappeared before a major response could arrive. Unfortunately for most of those victims, within a few days, they would be transformed and altered in a gruesome fashion, becoming the first Ferals in official records. What started off as isolated outbreaks evolved into a global pandemic, and then into an actual war for survival as their numbers skyrocketed, fuelled by their own rapid breeding and by infecting humans in almost every encounter, they soon started overthrowing entire countries with their sheer numbers, strength and a surprising amount of cunning on the part of Feral pack leaders and the Alphas.

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  Despite considerable resources being applied to every medical and scientific research division that could be assembled in some form or another, attempts to stop the Retrovirus through such means have failed. Whilst there is much about the Retrovirus that still isn't understood, what is known is that the virus almost constantly mutates and evolves, and furthermore, is capable of self-repair down to both DNA and RNA strands. Coupled with the fact that the Retrovirus directly attacks and alters host DNA directly, the few surviving medical experts have stressed that the Retrovirus is practically uncurable, as even if a treatment was provided, it would rapidly mutate and render it useless.

  There are mixed reports on infection and symptoms. Whilst there have been unconfirmed anecdotes of waterborne and sample contamination, it is universally known that the primary vector of infection is through a direct bite from a Feral or infected human (although claw infections have been noted, they have not been confirmed outright). Infection from such a bite is guaranteed, regardless of the victim or Feral in question. Symptoms are likewise difficult to pinpoint, as they vary from infected to infected, but there are many reports of sharp pains throughout the body, lesions, vomiting, hallucinations and sudden bouts of hostility. Within a few days, there are two outcomes. Roughly 2-5% of victims rapidly determinate and die from extensive blood loss and organ failure. But the vast majority are suddenly and rapidly transformed into new Ferals. Even critically injured and seemingly dead individuals have suddenly become Ferals at the worst possible moment.

  Standard procedure in the case of known infection is for the immediate execution of any surviving infected, followed by the burning of the bodies down to the bone, to prevent the risk of transformation and further infection. Whilst most Ferals would happily kill the infected just as quickly as anyone else, some have been reported to drag survivors away, likely to add to their own numbers.

  Eight years on, the Retrovirus is still considered the greatest threat to human civilisation, even compared to the threat of the Ferals still operating throughout the world, especially within the Badland Regions.

  Despite investigations and rampant suspicions, attempts to find a link between the Retrovirus and the Nyúlfur have proven unsuccessful, and likely will not be achieved. No reports of Nyúlfur infecting humans have ever been recorded. In addition, as per general convention, the Kill on Sight Order remains in effect, and Nyúlfur must be eliminated whenever found due to their actions…

  Primer on the Retrovirus - Circa 2019.