Rabies

Art by Kolkolukija on FurAffinity.

It wasn’t always like this. The world was vibrant once, alive with the hum of countless voices, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the rhythmic flow of rivers cutting through the land. I remember that, though it’s slipping from me now, like water through a sieve. The cities stood tall, their lights reaching for the stars, and the forests whispered ancient secrets to those who listened. We thought we were untouchable, that nothing could undo the empires we built, the families we nurtured, the lives we lived.

But it came for us, creeping in with a bite, a scratch, a breath too close to the wrong soul. The sickness wasn’t loud at first—it was quiet, insidious, hidden in the shadows. By the time we realized what it was, it was too late. It wasn’t just a disease; it was a thief, stealing not only lives but everything that made us who we were. And now...now I feel it in me.

The edges of my vision blur, colors fading into a red haze. My thoughts...they’re scattering, like birds startled from the trees. I want to hold onto them, to remember what it was like to be me, but they’re slipping away, replaced by hunger, rage, need. My claws ache, my teeth itch, and my heart pounds with something I can’t control. I can feel it—this thing—clawing at my mind, whispering, demanding. The memories are almost gone now. I just...I just want to see the sun one more time before I forget what it is.

This world, this broken, dying world, was once beautiful. I know it was. But it’s gone now, and soon...so am I.

⦿ The world is ravaged by rabies, an incurable virus that turns any mammal into a violent, feral beast.

⦿ Mammals are the main carriers of the disease. Reptiles like crocodiles, avians like eagles, or fish like sharks are immune to the virus but not immune to having their innards reorganized.

⦿ Set in a world where anthropomorphic animals thrive.