THE INFECTION & CURE.

to become infected, you have to transfer some sort of bodily fluid from an infected individual; through blood, saliva, scratches, etc. once you are infected, you've got a total of 1 - 24 hours to inject yourself with a cure, or you turn into a feral. the time varies for every person, based on their DNA and blood type, so a transformation could take almost an entire 24 hours before any signs begin to surface.

ferals have been named after their behaviour; they stop at absolutely nothing to get flesh of any sort. they're animalistic, fast, and relentless. the only time someone can become a feral is their first transformation. after the infection has time to fully combine with the individual's DNA, they will calm down, and blend in better with the average walking dead that roam san francisco. unless, of course, the infected person's DNA bonds with the virus.

unfortunately, even a bond between the infection and a person's DNA wont make them immune to the virus. instead of becoming feral, and then slipping into limbo, you transform back into your humanized mind and state after the feral beast has run dry of its energy. and then, up until the feral recharges, you remain human. the infected don't register you as food, considering the infection makes you smell like the dead to their senses, so living amongst the streets in hiding from actual humans is possible.

for individuals trying to live with the infection coursing through their veins, it's important to stay away from other uninfected humans; once your feral recharges and lashes out, you wont recognize them as your friends any longer.

the cure for the infection is a temporary serum that usually lasts three months. it maintains the infection from taking over, but as soon as the cure wears out, the infection's transformation begins again. unfortunately, after ever few dosages of the cure, like any other medicine, a tolerance begins to build within the body. after several cures are used, the dosages will need to start being doubled to take any effect.

** the infection can also be spread to animals, however the cure isn't compatible with their DNA.