A Hunters Gift

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Keter Neutralized

Special Containment Procedures: Provisional Site-72 has been established around a remote woodland area in ████████ United States - the believed origin point of SCP-X. An Area of forest around the site, converging with natural obstacles, has been cleared and acts as a fully encompassing barrier. Any animal or unauthorized individual(s) attempting to cross the barrier are to be shot on sight with the bodies of these potentially infected to be cremated at 2000°C to ensure the destruction of any biological particles.

Captured SCP-XXXX-A and SCP-XXXX-B instances are to be contained in Grade-C Contaminant Cells either on-site or at Biological Site-95 if further research is required. All personnel interacting with instances of SCP-XXXX-A/B must wear Level C protective equipment at all times.

Description: SCP-X refers to an infectious disease affecting mammals; the cause of the disease is unknown however the infection shares traits similar to ones seen in viral pathogens and is spread via exposure to bodily fluids or the consumption of tissue from an infected animal.

The primary symptom of an SCP-X infection is induced physical metamorphosis of the afflicted subject, resulting in the subject's physical features shifting into that of a canine over the course of several hours. The time for this metamorphosis to begin and end is dependent on the size of the animal infected, with larger subjects taking far longer for both. Growth induced by the transformation is also dependent on size, while all infected subjects tend to increase in mass and stature, smaller animals such as mice, rabbits, and squirrels tend to have a growth cap of 11-14kg. The secondary symptom of an SCP-X infection is a crippling desire to feed - exclusively on flesh - which on-sets quickly after infection. Below is a timeline regarding the progress of the infection and metamorphosis on an average human subject:

Timeline of Infection and Symptoms:

Initial Infection: Subject is exposed to bodily fluids/and/or consumes infected tissue.

01 Hours Post Infection: Subject feels a compulsion to consume raw meat. This urge will grow over the course of the metamorphosis.

02 Hours Post Infection: Noticeable growth of incisors and canine teeth, presumably to aid in the consumption of flesh.

03 Hours Post Infection: Cells newly produced in the subject possess exclusively foreign DNA, testing has revealed this to be similar but not identical to that of the Canis genus. The digestion of protein and fat no longer requires glycogen. It has also been theorized that stem cells produced around this point are pluripotent as opposed to multipotent.

05 Hours Post Infection: An obvious increased production of growth hormones. Regular cell division increases exponentially until the end of the process.

06 Hours Post Infection: Immense pain, some subjects have been observed enter an unconscious state around this time, presumably due to shock.

07 Hours Post Infection: Metamorphosis becomes clearly noticeable from the outside perspective, contortion of bones, muscle and organs begins.

12 Hours Post Infection: Subjects anatomy is almost completely changed, the new skeletal structure and positioning of muscles causes the subject to begin adopting a canine like stature.

12-17 Hours Post Infection: Metamorphosis is complete. Resulting appearance and behavior varies depending on the subjects in-take of raw meat in the first 6 hours of the process; Subjects that consumed substantial amounts of raw meat appear near indistinguishable from wolves, growing varying colours of fur all over their body and appearing generally healthy. Subjects that consumed insubstantial amounts of raw meat are extremely disfigured; possessing exposed course muscular tissue instead of skin, incorrect proportions, extra limbs, heads, and eyes positioned all over the body. These subjects have heightened aggression and substantially less intelligence than their counterparts, they also possess more of their original behaviors. The distinction between the two is made via SCP-XXXX-A for the former and SCP-XXXX-B for the later.

Though specimens derived from humans still show a significant drop in intelligence, well fed SCP-XXXX-A instances of this origin have been observed to understand human speech, have followed commands given to them and have even been seen adopting tool use in a limited capacity.

Addendum: [TO BE ADDED/WIP: Exploration Log 1, Interview Log with a talking SCP-XXXX-A instance, Exploration Log 2 which will finish off the article and tie up the narrative]

SCP-XXXX Expedition Log-A:

Date: 27/04/19██ 06:00
Objective: Specimen Retrieval

Team: 3 member fire-team belonging to Mobile Task Force Lambda 17
Team Leader: Alpha Operative A. Shepard
Tracker/Spotter: Delta Operative M. Kristensen Kincade
Riflemen: Delta Operative D. Freyha

Notes: Team Leader issued with standard recording device.

[Agent Shepard looks into the lens of the device then pans it to a view of the forest edge.]

Agent S: "Team Leader Aloys Shepard reporting entry into quarantine zone at 0-6 hundred hours."

Freyha: "As Usual-"

[Device is turned off to conserve energy]

[Device is turned on, the team are now deep into the woodland.]

Kincade: "-are they making us do this anyway?"

[Freyha pivots her head over her shoulder]

Freyha "What do you mean? It's literally our job."

Kincade: "I mean - it's class D work… couldn't we be doing something a little more interesting?"

Freyha: "Like what?"

Kincade: Like-

[Shepard paces over to Kincade and drives his fist into Kincades hair.]

Shepard: "Just be thankful we get to have a nice picturesque, scenic, walk." [Shepard sways his arms outward while looking deeper into the forest] "Lot of guys just like us get stuck in Nepal running after some Wild - Unholy - Lovecraftian - tangerine on wheels."

Shepard: "Nope. We just got ourselves a lovely stroll…"

Kincade: "Okay okay - All I'm saying is - 'only reason they're not sending D-Class is cuz they outlawed the death sentence in this state."

Freyha: Ha!

Shepard: " 'This state?' Do you know even know what state we're in?"

Kincade: "…Uh… no…"

Shepard: "You're telling me you got on a plane to here from Georgia and you ain't got a CLUE where you are?"

Kincade: "Yeah."

Shepard: "Heh… Jesus Christ."

Freyha: "Why didn't we just go in on a helicopter anyway?"

Shepard: "Where the fuck would we land?"

Freyha: "Just blow it up, duh."

Kincade: "I don't think they hold us in trust enough for explosives, Dixie."

Shepard: "Now - we are a team of highly trained and efficient professionals of course they'd trust us with-"

Kincade: SQUIRREL!

Shepard: WH-

[View of device is obstructed, multiple gunshots heard coinciding with flashes of light]

Shepard: "GOD SHIT- what.. phew…"

Kincade: "I said: 'Squirrel'. Should've known."

Shepard: "What the fuck was that, Kincade?"

Kincade: "A Squirrel."

Shepard: "I'm sure it was at one point but you're supposed to ask for permission to fire. Lab's gonna be pissed that you blew that thing to bits."

Kincade: "Uhuh…"

Shepard: "Look, just keep your gun point down and your safety on like you're supposed to, alright?"

Kincade: "…sorry for ruining your squirrel… or should I say squirrels? [Kincade lightly kicks a piece of cadaver across the forest floor.] "heh."

Freyha: "Definitely 'squirrels', Mike." [Kincade spins around, looking down to match the line of sight of the camera; a small SCP-XXXX-B instance is seen chewing on a chunk of meat.]

[The instance quickly runs into the forest underbrush upon gaining the teams attention.]

Shepard: "Aren't you meant to be the spotter?"

Kincade: "Cool off, just give me a minute, alright?" [Kincade bends down, inspecting the ground and then the treeline - moving away from the rest of the team.]

[Freyha turns to face Shepard, crossing her arms]

Freyha: "Alright, what's with you today?"

Shepard: "Hm?"

Freyha: "Ever since we got onto that plane you've been acting up, 'specially on Mike."

Shepard: "Look, I just think Mike needs to rail it in a bit, he isn't acting prof-"

Freyha: "Talk to me, not the camera… is there something bothering you?"

Shepard: "Its just - well - John's been looking to get into the unit and I don't think they'll trust him under my wing if - y'know - it doesn't even look like Kincade's behaving."

Freyha: "Hm. Kincade's good at what he does, they see that, a little banter isn't gonna make you look incompetent sweetheart. You did with him though, honest; I'm sure they'll trust you with John."

Shepard: "Thanks, Frey."

[Kincade comes out of the underbrush, pointing backwards with his thumb]

Kincade: "Spotted a clearing about half a miles away off from here through the trees, man-made from the shape of it."

Shepard: "Think we'll find something there?"

Kincade: "I'd assume so."

Shepard: "Lets move then."

[The team begins to walk through dense forest toward the clearing]

Kincade: "So, what were you too gibbering about?"

Shepard: "Nothing much, just bout what we'll have for lunch."

Kincade: "Oh fuck- we're in for on-site meals today aren't we? God I hate the food these places have… 'cept the waffles."

Freyha: "Saw this place had Diet-Pepsi in the canteen while gearing up."

Kincade: "You shittin me?"

[Shepard raises his hand, motioning for the team to halt.]

Shepard: "We got a body - 2'oclock - Kincade, you check it out with me - Freyha, you cover our 6."

[Kincade and Shepard approach the rotting carcass of an SCP-XXXX-A instance. Much of the tissue had been removed, leaving the skeleton visible.]

Kincade: "Shame. This is exactly what they wanted to catch, looks like we were a few weeks too late though."

Shepard: "How'd you reckon it died?"

Kincade: "From the looks of it… signs of a struggle, dozens of bite marks, no killing blow to the juggular… I'd say eaten alive."

Shepard: "That's unusual."

Kincade: "Yep."

Shepard: "Looks like it was peering down this rabbit hole, maybe it got ambushed?"

Kincade: "Or…"

[Kincade grabs a nearby stick and begins to sharpen it before impaling some of the carcass onto it]

Kincade: "Stand back, I'm gonna need some room."

[Shepard stands back as Kincade lowers his posture and inserts the stick into the rabbit hole. There is a sudden tug onto the stick, Kincade then pulls the stick outl; two small SCP-XXXX-B instances hold onto it with their jaws.]

[Shepard and Kincade closely inspect the creatures]

Shepard: "You think they did this?"

Kincade: "Swarmed it, most likely."

Shepard: "Alright, set down the cage, we'll come back for these two once we check out the clearing."

[Kincade sets down a fold-able cage, putting both instances into it.]

Shepard: "Alright, let's keep going."

[The team begin to walk toward the clearing, soon arriving to the treeline.]

Kincade: [Pointing toward the clearing] "Over there, looks like a trailer!"

[Shepard and Freyha look over to where Kincade is pointing]

Kincade: "Must have food, might be worth checking out." [Gestures forward.]

Shepard: "Alright, lets take a look. Only fire on my get-go, seems there aren't a lot of big ones left."

Freyha: "What if we do find a big one? C'mon you saw the briefing, that thing was twice the size of me."

Kincade: "We wont, they'll be steering away from clearings, too easy for prey to get away."

Freyha: "You sure?"

Kincade: "I'll bet my lunch waffle on it."

[The team begin walking toward the trailer, weapons raised.]

Freyha: "Fuck, the smell…"

Shepard: "Augh, damn that's horrid, worse than before."

Kincade: "Must be why we've been seeing so many of them round here - meat."

Freyha: "These things do love meat."

Kincade: "And don't you?"

[Freyha lightly slaps Kincade across the neck as he leans into the trailer window]

Kincade: "Oh fuck off-"

Freyha: "Since when were you such a baby?"

Kincade: "Not that - " [Kincade motions to the interior of the trailer, making room for Freyha near the window.]

Pvt Freyha: "Is that what I think it is?"

[Shepard walks into the trailer, a table surrounded by built in leather seats is present at the end of a small kitchen area, a deceased SCP-XXXX-B instance is laying on the table - impaled with a steak knife.]

[Kincade enters the trailer, shaking a frying pan in the kitchen area.] "What'd ya reckon dix, you up for a fry up?"

Freyha: "Oh fuck."

Kincade: "Now who's the baby- oh."

[Shepard spins round, revealing an extremely large SCP-XXXX-A instance sitting outside - looking at the team.]

Shepard: "Maybe it didn't see us…?"

Kincade: "It definitely sees us."

SCP-XXXX-A Instance: H-e-hrgh…

[Both Kincade and Shepard initially lean in curiously; as Freyha begins to reach slowly for her side arm, Kincade puts his arm in-front of her protectively and reaches for his own]

SCP-XXXX-A Instance: Help.

[All members of the team pause for a moment]

Kincade: [Whispering] "Well that's new."

Shepard:[Whispering] "I'm calling this in, we don't have a cage big enough for this thing. Keep your gun ready Kincade."

Kincade: [Whispering] "On it."

Shepard: [Looks down] "Fuckin' radio needs two batteries." [Shepard reaches up toward the camera before turning it off]

[END LOG]

Team successfully detained a large SCP-XXXX-A instance and 2 small SCP-XXXX-B instances before calling for a containment team to assist in returning the specimen to the site.

Team Status: No casualties sustained - all equipment accounted for.