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# 1. The First Awakening

The radiation had the strongest effect on animals that were closer to the epicenter of the Catastrophe and the first major concentrations of Flur.

Their bodies began to change rapidly. Forelimbs became more dexterous, spines straightened, and their skulls and brains developed at an incredible rate. Over time, most gained the ability to speak, think in complex ways, create tools and sophisticated instruments, build settlements, organize communities, and pass on knowledge.

This is how the beastfolk came to be.

The beastfolk retained the physiological and psychological traits of their species: aspects of their original appearance and recognizable features such as ears, noses, eyes, fur, and more. They also retained characteristics inherent to their species — the strength of a bear, the agility of a cat, the keen sense of smell of a dog, the dexterity of a raccoon, the perseverance of a beaver, the caution of a ferret, the speed of a hare, and the sharp eyesight of birds of prey. But beyond these traits, they gained something animals had never possessed before: higher intelligence, generational memory, the ability to learn quickly, debate, build cities, and forge alliances.

Flur also granted many beastfolk long lives, robust health, and increased resistance to disease. But its effects were not the same for everyone. Some species became physically stronger, others faster, still others more resilient, while some became better suited to crafts, scouting, or warfare.

One thing, however, remained consistent: all animals that underwent this transformation and evolution eventually developed roughly similar ranges of height and weight. A bear, of course, was still larger and stronger than a hamster, but hamsters and hares no longer closely resembled their ancestors either. They had gained considerable height, size, and weight, comparable to those of the humans who had once inhabited the world.

Over time, the beastfolk became a single intelligent race, while retaining an enormous diversity of appearances.